276
Evangelism
These souls, left to themselves, are often tempted, and do not
discern the evil of the temptation. Let them feel that it is their privilege
to solicit counsel. Let them seek the society of those who can help
them. Through association with those who love and fear God they will
receive strength.
Our conversation with these souls should be of a spiritual, en-
couraging character. The Lord marks the conflicts of every weak,
doubting, struggling one, and He will help all who call upon Him.
They will see heaven open before them, and angels of God descending
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and ascending the ladder of shining brightness which they are trying
to climb.—
Testimonies For The Church 6:92, 93
(1900).
Church Membership—Very close and sacred is the relation be-
tween Christ and His church,—He the bridegroom, and the church the
bride; He the head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ,
then, involves connection with His church.—
Education, 268
(1903).
Satan Discourages Joining the Church—It is his [Satan’s] stud-
ied effort to lead professed Christians just as far from heaven’s arrange-
ment as he can; therefore he deceives even the professed people of
God and makes them believe that order and discipline are enemies to
spirituality; that the only safety for them is to let each pursue his own
course, and to remain especially distinct from bodies of Christians
who are united and are laboring to establish discipline and harmony of
action. All the efforts made to establish this are considered dangerous,
a restriction of rightful liberty, and hence are feared as popery. These
deceived souls consider it a virtue to boast of their freedom to think
and act independently. They will not take any man’s say so. They
are amenable to no man. It was and now is Satan’s special work to
lead men to feel that it is God’s order to strike out for themselves
and choose their own order independent of their brethren.—
Letter 32,
1892
.
A Worthless Form Apart From Christ—It is the grace of Christ
that gives life to the soul. Apart from Christ, baptism, like any other
service, is a worthless form. “He that believeth not the Son shall not
see life.”—
The Desire of Ages, 181
(1898).
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Conversion, Not Just Baptism—Salvation is not to be baptized,
not to have our names upon the church books, not to preach the truth.
But it is a living union with Jesus Christ to be renewed in heart, doing
the works of Christ in faith and labor of love, in patience, meekness,