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Christ’s Purpose to Sanctify and Cleanse the Church, July 19
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of
whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant
you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by
his Spirit in the inner man.
Ephesians 3:14-16
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He [Christ] declares,
“All
power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” This
unlimited power it is our privilege to claim.
The glory of God is His character. While Moses was in the mount, earnestly
interceding with God, he prayed, “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” In answer
God declared, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim
the name of the Lord before thee.” ...
The glory of God—His character—was then revealed: “The Lord passed by
before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious,
longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands,
forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the
guilty.”
This character was revealed in the life of Christ. That He might by His own
example condemn sin in the flesh, He took upon Himself the likeness of sinful
flesh. Constantly He beheld the character of God; constantly He revealed this
character to the world.
Christ desires His followers to reveal in their lives this same character....
Today it is still His purpose to sanctify and cleanse His church “with the
washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” ... No greater gift than the character
that He revealed can Christ ask His Father to bestow upon those who believe on
Him. What largeness there is in His request! What fullness of grace every follower
of Christ has the privilege of receiving!
God works with those who properly represent His character. Through them
His will is done on earth as it is done in heaven. Holiness leads its possessor to be
fruitful, abounding in every good work. He who has the mind that was in Christ
never becomes weary in well-doing. Instead of expecting promotion in this life,
he looks forward to the time when the Majesty of heaven shall exalt the sanctified
ones to His throne....
O that we might more fully appreciate the honor Christ confers upon us!
By wearing His yoke and learning of Him, we become like Him in aspiration,
in meekness and lowliness, in fragrance of character, and unite with Him in
ascribing praise and honor and glory to God as supreme.—
The Signs of the Times,
September 3, 1902
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