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Christ Prayed That We All Might Be One, October 14
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee,
that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou
hast sent me.
John 17:21
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Christ has left us a perfect, sinless example. His followers are to walk
in His footsteps. If they are not transformed in character, they can never
dwell with Him in His kingdom. Christ died to elevate and ennoble them,
and those who retain hereditary tendencies to wrong can not dwell with
Him. He suffered all that it is possible for human flesh to suffer and endure,
that we might pass triumphantly through all the temptations Satan may
invent to destroy our faith.
In Christ is our only hope. God has daily victories for His people to
gain.... By His heavenly gifts the Lord has made ample provision for His
people. An earthly parent can not give his child a sanctified character.
He can not transfer his character to his child. God alone can transform
us. Christ breathed on His disciples, and said, “Receive ye the Holy
Ghost.” This is the great gift of heaven. Christ imparted to them through
the Spirit His own sanctification. He imbued them with His power, that
they might win souls to the gospel. Henceforth Christ would live through
their faculties, and speak through their words. They were privileged to
know that hereafter He and they were to be one. They must cherish His
principles and be controlled by His Spirit. They were no longer to follow
their own way, to speak their own words. The words they spoke were to
proceed from a sanctified heart, and fall from sanctified lips. No longer
were they to live their own selfish life; Christ was to live in them.... He
would give to them the glory that He had with the Father, that He and they
might be one in God
Young men and young women should realize that to be one with Christ
is the highest honor to which they can attain.... Consecrate all that there is
of you—soul, body, and spirit—to the Lord. Yield every power you have
to the control of the Holy Spirit
[295]
33
The General Conference Bulletin, October 1, 1899
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34
The Review and Herald, May 9, 1899
.
305