A Lesson to Learn and Practice—I point you to the words of the apostle Paul in the fourth chapter of Ephesians. This whole chapter is a lesson that God desires us to learn and practice (Manuscript 55, 1903).
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The Means of Unity Explained—In the fourth chapter of Ephesians the plan of God is so plainly and simply revealed that all His children may lay hold upon the truth. Here the means which He has appointed to keep unity in His church, that its members may reveal to the world a healthy religious experience, is plainly declared (Manuscript 67, 1907).
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7 (chs. 1:7; 2:7, 8; Romans 3:24; Titus 2:11). What Is Grace?—The Lord saw our fallen condition; He saw our need of grace, and because He loved our souls, He has given us grace and peace. Grace means favor to one who is undeserving, to one who is lost. The fact that we are sinners, instead of shutting us away from the mercy and love of God, makes the exercise of His love to us a positive necessity in order that we may be saved (The Signs of the Times, June 5, 1893).
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20-24 (Hebrews 12:14; see EGW comment on 1 Thessalonians 4:3). The Secret of Holiness—No man receives holiness as a birthright, or as a gift from any other human being. Holiness is the gift of God through Christ. Those who receive the Saviour become sons of God. They are His spiritual children, born again, renewed in righteousness and true holiness. Their minds are changed. With clearer vision they behold eternal realities. They are adopted into God′s family, and they become conformed to His likeness, changed by His Spirit from glory to glory. From cherishing supreme love for self, they come to cherish supreme love for God and for Christ....
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Accepting Christ as a personal Saviour, and following His example of self-denial—this is the secret of holiness (The Signs of the Times, December 17, 1902).
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(2 Corinthians 3:18.) Grace Essential Every Day and Hour—The sanctification of the soul is accomplished through steadfastly beholding Him [Christ] by faith as the only-begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth. The power of truth is to transform heart and character. Its effect is not like a dash of color here and there upon the canvas; the whole character is to be transformed, the image of Christ is to be revealed in words and actions. A new nature is imparted. Man is renewed after the image of Christ in righteousness and true holiness.... The grace of Christ is essential every day, every hour. Unless it is with us continually, the inconsistencies of the natural heart will appear and the life will present a divided service. The character is to be full of grace and truth. Wherever the religion of Christ works, it will brighten and sweeten every detail of life with more than an earthly joy and a higher than earthly peace (Letter 2a, 1892).
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29. No Corrupt Communication—We are counseled to let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth; but a corrupt communication is not simply something that is vile and vulgar. It is any communication that will eclipse from the mind the view of Christ, that will blot from the soul true sympathy and love. It is a communication in which the love of Christ is not expressed, but rather sentiments of an un-Christlike character (Letter 43, 1895).
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30 (Colossians 2:10; Revelation 7:2, 3; 14:1-4; see EGW comment on Ezekiel 9:2-4; Acts 2:1-4, 14, 41). Reaching the Mark of Perfection—The mighty power of the Holy Spirit works an entire transformation in the character of the human agent, making him a new creature in Christ Jesus. When a man is filled with the Spirit, the more severely he is tested and tried, the more clearly he proves that he is a representative of Christ. The peace that dwells in the soul is seen on the countenance. The words and actions express the love of the Saviour. There is no striving for the highest place. Self is renounced. The name of Jesus is written on all that is said and done.
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We may talk of the blessings of the Holy Spirit, but unless we prepare ourselves for its reception, of what avail are our works? Are we striving with all our power to attain to the stature of men and women in Christ? Are we seeking for His fullness, ever pressing toward the mark set before us—the perfection of His character? When the Lord’s people reach this mark, they will be sealed in their foreheads. Filled with the Spirit, they will be complete in Christ, and the recording angel will declare, “It is finished”(John 19:30) (The Review and Herald, June 10, 1902).
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32. Kind Words Never Lost—It should be our aim to bring all the pleasantness possible into our lives, and to do all the kindness possible to those around us. Kind words are never lost. Jesus records them as if spoken to Himself. Sow the seeds of kindness, of love, and of tenderness, and they will blossom and bear fruit (Manuscript 33, 1911).
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2 (see EGW comment on Romans 8:26, 34; Revelation 8:3, 4). The Acceptable Offering—The offering that is made to God without a spirit of reverence and gratitude, He does not accept. It is the humble, grateful, reverential heart that makes the offering as a sweet-smelling savor, acceptable to God. The children of Israel might have given all their substance, but given in a spirit of self-sufficiency or Pharisaism, as though God were indebted to them for their favors, their offerings would have been unaccepted, and utterly contemned by Him. It is our privilege, by diligently trading on our Lord′s goods, to increase our store, so that we may impart to those who have fallen into distress. Thus we become the Lord′s right hand to work out His benevolent purposes (Manuscript 67, 1907).
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2, 27. Christ′s Life an Oblation to God—“Christ also hath loved us,” writes Paul, “and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”Ephesians 5:2. This is the oblation of a life-gift in our behalf, that we may be all that He desires us to be—representatives of Him, expressing the fragrance of His character, His own pure thoughts, His divine attributes as manifested in His sanctified human life, in order that others may behold Him in His human form, and, comprehending God′s wonderful design, be led to desire to be like Christ—pure, undefiled, wholly acceptable to God, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing (Manuscript 159, 1903).
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25 (John 1:4; Revelation 2:1; 21:23). Only One Source of Light—Christ “loved the church, and gave himself for it.” It is the purchase of His blood. The divine Son of God is seen walking amid the seven golden candlesticks. Jesus Himself supplies the oil to these burning lamps. He it is that kindles the flame. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”John 1:4.
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No candlestick, no church, shines of itself. From Christ emanates all its light. The church in heaven today is only the complement of the church on earth; but it is higher, grander—perfect. The same divine illumination is to continue through eternal ages. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the light thereof. No church can have light if it fails to diffuse the glory it receives from the throne of God (Manuscript 1a, 1890).
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25-27 (Malachi 3:17). The Case Which Contains His Jewels—The church of Christ is very precious in His sight. It is the case which contains His jewels, the fold which encloses His flock (Manuscript 115, 1899).
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27 (John 14:15). Reaching the Condition of Sinlessness—Those only who through faith in Christ obey all of God′s commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression. They testify to their love of Christ by obeying all His precepts (Manuscript 122, 1901).
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4 (Colossians 3:20, 21). More Powerful Than Sermons—Parents, God desires you to make your family a sample of the family in heaven. Guard your children. Be kind and tender with them. Father, mother, and children are to be joined together with the golden links of love. One well-ordered, well-disciplined family is a greater power in demonstrating the efficiency of Christianity than all the sermons in the world. When fathers and mothers realize how their children copy them, they will watch carefully every word and gesture (Manuscript 31, 1901).
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10-12 (see EGW comment on 2 Corinthians 11:14; Revelation 12:17). Battling With Unseen Powers—[Ephesians 6:10-18 quoted.] In the Word of God are represented two contending parties that influence and control human agencies in our world. Constantly these parties are working with every human being. Those who are under God′s control and who are influenced by the heavenly angels, will be able to discern the crafty workings of the unseen powers of darkness. Those who desire to be in harmony with the heavenly agencies should be intensely in earnest to do God′s will. They must give no place whatever to Satan and his angels.
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