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If Children, then Heirs, January 9
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with
Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together.
Romans 8:17
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All who enter into a covenant with Jesus Christ become by adoption
the children of God. They are cleansed by the regenerating power of
the Word, and angels are commissioned to minister unto them. They are
baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
They pledge themselves to become active members of His church in the
earth. They are to be dead to all the allurements of worldly desires; but in
conversation and godliness, they are, through sanctification of the Spirit to
exert a living influence for God.
“Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ,”—what an exalted, dignified
position! Separate and distinct from the world, secure from the wily snares
of Satan! By their baptismal vows, God’s professed followers have pledged
themselves to stand in opposition to evil. The enemy of souls will work
with all craft to corrupt their minds. He will seek to introduce his methods
into their service for the Master. But there is safety for them if they will
heed the injunction: “... be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his
might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil.
Man is honored by being made a co-partner in God’s firm, by being
accepted as a worker in the great centers He has established.... By appoint-
ment, the Lord our Redeemer is heir of God, and those who are co-laborers
with Him in the work of saving souls, are joint heirs with Him.... To be
an overcomer is to be placed in the ranks of those who have the far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory
To what greater honor could we aspire than to be called the children
of God? What greater rank could we hold, what greater inheritance could
we find, than that which comes to those who are heirs of God and joint
heirs with Christ
[16]
31
Ellen G. White
Manuscript 57, 1907
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32
Letter 49, 1896
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33
The Youth’s Instructor, December 8, 1892
.
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