Chapter 1 of Steps to Christ This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Steps to Christ by Ellen G. White. Chapter 1. God's Love for Man Nature and revelation alike testify of God's love. Our Father in Heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature. Think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and planes all speak to us of the Creator's love. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all his creatures in the beautiful words of the psalmist. The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou give us them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand and satisfyest the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145, 15 and 16. God made man perfectly holy and happy, and the fair earth, as it came from the Creator's hand, bore no blight of decay or shadow of the curse. It is transgression of God's law, the law of love, that has brought woe and death. Yet even amid the suffering that results from sin, God's love is revealed. It is written that God cursed the ground for man's sake, Genesis 3.17, the thorn and the thistle, the difficulties and trials that make his life one of toil and care, were appointed for his good as a part of the training needful in God's plan for his uplifting from the ruin and degradation that sin has wrought. The world, though fallen, is not all sorrow and misery. In nature itself are messages of hope and comfort. There are flowers upon the thistles, and the thorns are covered with roses. God's love is written upon every opening bud, upon every spire of springing grass, the lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers and their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees the forest with the rich foliage of living green, all testified to the tender fatherly care of our God and to his desire to make his children happy. The word of God reveals his character. He himself has declared his infinite love and pity. When Moses prayed, Show me thy glory, the Lord answered, I will make all my goodness pass before thee. Exodus 33.18 and 19. This is his glory. The Lord passed before Moses 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. Exodus 34, 6, and 7. He is slow to anger and of great kindness because he delighteth in mercy. Jonah 4, 2, and Micah 7, 18. God has bound our hearts to him by unnumbered tokens in heaven and in earth. Through the things of nature and the deepest and tenderest earthly ties that human hearts can know, he has sought to reveal himself to us. Yet these but imperfectly represent his love, though all these evidences have been given. The enemy of good blinded the minds of men so that they looked upon God with fear. They thought of him as severe and unforgiving. Satan led men to conceive of God as a being whose chief attribute is stern justice, one who is a severe judge, a harsh, exacting creditor. He pictured the Creator as a being who is watching with jealous eye to discern the errors and mistakes of men that he may visit judgments upon them. It was to remove this dark shadow by revealing to the world the infinite love of God that Jesus came to live among men. The Son of God came from heaven to make manifest the Father. No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1.18. Neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomesoever the Son will reveal him. Matthew 11.27. When one of the disciples made the request, Show us the Father, Jesus answered, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hath thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father, and how sayeth thou then, Show us the Father? John 14.8.9. In describing his earthly mission Jesus said, The Lord hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. Luke 4.18. This was his work. He would about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by Satan. There were whole villages where there was not a moan of sickness in any house, for he had passed through them and healed all their sick. His work gave evidence of his divine anointing. Love, mercy, and compassion were revealed in every act of his life. His heart went out in tender sympathy to the children of men. He took man's nature that he might reach man's wants. The poorest and humblest were not afraid to approach him. Even little children were attracted to him. They loved to climb upon his knees and gaze into the pensive face, benignant with love. Jesus did not suppress one word of truth, but he uttered it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact and thoughtful kind of tension in his intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. He spoke the truth, but always in love. He denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity. But tears were in his voice as he uttered his scathing rebukes. He wept over Jerusalem, the city he loved which refused to receive him, the way, the truth, and the life. They had rejected him, the Saviour, but he regarded them with pitying tenderness. His life was one of self-denial and thoughtful care for others. Every soul was precious in his eyes. While he ever bore himself with divine dignity, he bowed with the tenderest regard to every member of the family of God. In all men he saw fallen souls whom it was his mission to save. Such as the character of Christ is revealed in his life. This is the character of God. It is from the Father's heart that the streams of divine compassion, manifest in Christ, flow out to the children of men. Jesus, the tender, pitying Saviour, was God manifest in the flesh, 1 Timothy 3.16. It was to redeem us that Jesus lived and suffered and died. He became a man of sorrows that we might be made partakers of everlasting joy.  He permitted him to leave the bosom of his love, the adoration of the angels, to suffer shame, insult, humiliation, hatred, and death. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53.5. Behold him in the wilderness, in Gethsemane, upon the cross, the spotless Son of God took upon himself the burden of sin. He who had been one with God felt in his soul the awful separation that sin makes between God and man. This rung from his lips the anguished cry, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew 2746. It was the burden of sin, the sense of its terrible enormity, of its separation of the soul from God. It was this that broke the heart of the Son of God. But this great sacrifice was not made in order to create in the Father's heart a love for man, not to make him willing to save. No, no. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, John 316. The Father loves us, not because of the great propitiation, but he provided the propitiation because he loves us. Christ was the medium through which he could pour out his infinite love upon a fallen world. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, 2nd Corinthians 519. God suffered with his Son. In the agony of Gethsemane, the death of Cavalry, the heart of infinite love paid the price of our redemption. Jesus said, Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life that I might take it again, John 1017. That is, my Father so loved you that it even loves me more for giving my life to redeem you, in becoming your substitute and surety, by surrendering my life, by taking your liabilities, your transgressions, I am endeared to my Father, for by my sacrifice God can be just, and yet the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus. None but the Son of God could accomplish our redemption, for only he who was in the bosom of the Father could declare him. Only he who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it manifest. Nothing less than the infinite sacrifice made by Christ in behalf of fallen man could express the Father's love to lost humanity. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.  Christ was to identify himself with the interest and needs of humanity. He who was one with God has linked himself with the children of men, by ties that are never to be broken. Jesus is not ashamed to call them brethren, Hebrews 2 11. He is our sacrifice, our advocate, our brother, bearing our human form before the Father's throne, and through eternal ages, one with the race he has redeemed, the Son of man. And all this that man might be uplifted from the ruin and degradation of sin, that he might reflect the love of God and share the joy of holiness. The price paid for our redemption, the infinite sacrifice of our Heavenly Father in giving his Son to die for us, should give us exalted conceptions of what we may become through Christ. As the inspired Apostle John beheld the height, the depth, the breadth of the Father's love towards a perishing race, he was filled with adoration and reverence. And failing to find suitable language in which to express the greatness and tenderness of this love, he called upon the world to behold it. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God. 1 John 3.1 What a value this places upon man. Through transgression the Sons of man become subjects of Satan. Through faith and the atoning sacrifice of Christ, the Sons of Adam may become the Sons of God. By assuming human nature, Christ elevates humanity. When men are placed where, through connection with Christ, they may indeed become worthy of the name, Sons of God. Such love is without a parallel. Children of the Heavenly King, precious promise, theme for the most profound meditation, the matchless love of God for a world that did not love him. The thought has a subduing power upon the soul and brings the mind into captivity to the will of God. The more we steady the divine character in the light of the cross, the more we see mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness blended with equity and justice. And the more clearly we discern innumerable evidences of a love that is infinite and a tender pity surpassing a mother's yearning sympathy for her wayward child. End of Chapter 1, Recording by Donald Hines, Alvarado, Texas, December 2009. Chapter 2 of Steps to Christ. The sinner's need of Christ. Man was originally endowed with noble powers and a well balanced mind. He was perfect in his being and in harmony with God. His thoughts were pure, his aims holy. But through disobedience his powers were perverted and selfishness took the place of love. His nature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossible for him in his own strength to resist the power of evil. He was made captive by Satan, and would have remained so forever had not God specially interposed. It was the tempter's purpose to thwart the divine plan in man's creation and fill the earth with woe and desolation, and he would point to all this evil as a result of God's work in creating man. In his sinless state man held joyful communion with him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Collegians 2, 3. But after sin he could no longer find joy at holiness, and he sought to hide from the presence of God. Such is still the condition of the unrenewed heart. It is not in harmony with God and finds no joy in communion with him. The sinner could not be happy in God's presence. He would shrink from the companionship of holy beings. Could he be permitted to enter heaven? It would have no joy for him. The spirit of unselfish love that reigns there, every heart responding to the heart of infinite love, would touch no answer in chord in his soul. His thoughts, his interests, his motives would be alien to those that actuate the sinless dwellers there. He would be a discordant note in the melody of heaven. Heaven would be to him a place of torture. He would long to be hidden from him who is its light and the center of its joy. It is no arbitrary decree on the part of God that excludes a wicked from heaven. They are shut out by their own unfitness for its companionship. The glory of God would be to them a consuming fire. They would welcome destruction that they might be hidden from the face of him who died to redeem them. It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one. The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God. Neither indeed can be. Job 14.4. Romans 8.7. Sin, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere. But here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they cannot change the heart. They cannot purify the springs of life. There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul and attract it to God, to holiness. The Savior said, Except a man be born from above, unless he shall receive a new heart, new desires, purpose, and motives leading to a new life, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3.3. Margin. The idea that it is necessary only to develop the good that exists in man by nature is a fatal deception. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him. Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. 1 Corinthians 2.14. John 3.7. Of Christ it is written, In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The only name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. John 1.4 and Acts 4.12. It is not enough to perceive the loving kindness of God, to see the benevolence, the fatherly tenderness of his character. It is not enough to discern the wisdom and justice of his law, to see that it is founded upon the eternal principle of love. Paul the Apostle saw all this when he exclaimed, I consent unto the law that it is good. The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just and good. But he added, in the bitterness of his soul anguish and despair, I am carnal, sold under sin. Romans 7.16, 12, and 14. He longed for the purity, the righteousness to which in himself he was powerless to attain, and cried out, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death? Romans 7.24, margin. Such is the cry that has gone up from burdened hearts in all lands and in all ages. To all there is but one answer. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. John 1.29. Many are the figures by which the Spirit of God has sought to illustrate this truth, and make it plain to souls that long to be freed from the burden of guilt. When, after his sin and deceiving Esau, Jacob fled from his father's home, he was weighed down with a sense of guilt, lonely and outcast as he was, separated from all that had made life dear, the one thought that above all others pressed upon his soul was the fear that his sin had cut him off from God, that he was forsaken of heaven. In sadness he lay down to rest on the bare earth, around him only the lonely hills, and above the heavens bright with stars. As he slept, a strange light broke upon his vision, and low from the plane on which he lay, vast shadowy stairs seemed to lead upward to the very gates of heaven, and upon them angels of God were passing up and down, while from the glory above the divine voice was heard in a message of comfort and hope. Thus was made known to Jacob that which met the need and longing of his soul a saviour. With joy and gratitude he saw revealed away by which he, a sinner, could be restored to communion with God. The mystic ladder of his dream represented Jesus, the only medium of communication between God and man. This is the same figure to which Christ referred in his conversation with Nathaniel when he said, ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man John 151. In the apostasy man alienated himself from God. Earth was cut off from heaven. Across the gulf that lay between there could be no communion. But through Christ, earth is again linked with heaven. With his own merits Christ has bridged the gulf which sin had made so that the ministering angels can hold communion with man. Christ connects fallen man in his weakness and helplessness with the source of infinite power. But in vain are men's dreams of progress. In vain all efforts for the uplifting of humanity. If they neglect the one source of hope and help for the fallen race, every good gift and every perfect gift, James 117, is from God. There is no true excellence of character apart from him, and the only way to God is Christ. He says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but my me. John 146. The heart of God yearns over his earthly children with a love stronger than death. In giving up his Son, he has poured out to us all heaven in one gift. The Savior's life and death and intercession, the ministry of angels, the pleading of the Spirit, the Father working above and through all, the unceasing interest of heavenly beings, all are enlisted in behalf of man's redemption. Oh, let us contemplate the amazing sacrifice that has been made for us. Let us try to appreciate the labor and energy that heaven is expending to reclaim the lost, and bring them back to the Father's house. Motives stronger and agencies more powerful could never be brought into operation. The exceeding rewards for right doing, the enjoyment of heaven, the society of the angels, the communion and love of God and his Son, the elevation and extension of all of our powers throughout eternal ages. Are these not mighty incentives and encouragements to urge us to give the heart's loving service to our Creator and Redeemer? And, on the other hand, the judgments of God pronounced against sin, the inevitable retribution, the degradation of our character, and the final destruction are presented in God's Word to warn us against a service of Satan. Shall we not regard the mercy of God? What more could he do? Let us place ourselves in right relationship to him who has loved us with amazing love. Let us avail ourselves of the means provided for us that we may be transformed into his likeness and be restored to fellowship with the ministering angels, to harmony and communion with the Father and the Son. End of Chapter 2, Recording by Donald Hines, Alvarado, Texas, December 2009. Chapter 3 of Steps to Christ. Repentance. How shall a man be just with God? How shall the sinner be made righteous? It is only through Christ that we can be brought into harmony with God with holiness. But how are we to come to Christ? Many are asking the same question as did the multitude on the day of Pentecost, when, convicted of sin, they cried out, What shall we do? The first word of Peter's answer was, Repent. Acts 2, 37, 38. At another time, shortly after, he said, Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts 3, 19. Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see it sinfulness. Until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life. There are many who fail to understand the true nature of repentance, multitudes sorrow that they have sinned, and even make an outward reformation, because they fear that their wrong doing will bring suffering upon themselves. But this is not repentance in the Bible sense. They lament the suffering rather than the sin. Such was the grief of Esau when he saw the birthright was lost to him forever.  But there was no genuine repentance for sin, no conversion of purpose, no abhorrence of evil. Judas is scarier after betraying his Lord, exclaimed, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. Matthew 27.4. The confession was forced from his guilty soul by an awful sense of condemnation and a fearful looking for of judgment. The consequences that were to result to him filled him with terror. But there was no deep heartbreaking grief in his soul that he had betrayed the spotless Son of God and denied the Holy One of Israel. Pharaoh, when suffering under the judgments of God, acknowledged his sin in order to escape further punishment, but returned to his defiance of heaven as soon as the plagues were stayed. These all lamented the result of sin, but did not sorrow for the sin itself. But when the heart yields to the influence of the spirit of God, the conscience will be quickened, and the sinner will discern something of the depth and sacredness of God's holy law, the foundation of his government in heaven and on earth. The light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world illumines the secret chambers of the soul, and the hidden things of darkness are made manifest. John 1.9. Sin takes hold upon the mind and heart. The sinner has a sense of the righteousness of Jehovah and feels the terror of appearing in his own guilt and uncleanliness before the searcher of hearts. He sees the love of God, the beauty of holiness, the joy of purity. He longs to be cleansed and to be restored to communion with heaven. The prayer of David after his fall illustrates the nature of true sorrow for sin. His repentance was sincere and deep. There was no effort to palliate his guilt. No desire to escape the judgment threatened inspired his prayer. David saw the enormity of his transgression. He saw the defilement of his soul. He loathed his sin. It was not for pardon only that he prayed, but for purity of heart he longed for the joy of holiness to be restored to harmony and communion with God. This was the language of his soul. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is severed. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord impudeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.  For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Purge me with hissep, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Within me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. Psalm 51.14 A repentant such as this is beyond the reach of our own power to accomplish. It is obtained only from Christ, who ascended up on high and has given gifts unto men. Just here is a point on which many may err, and hence they fail of receiving the help that Christ desires to give them. They think that they cannot come to Christ, unless they first repent, and that repentance prepares for the forgiveness of their sins. It is true that repentance does precede the forgiveness of sins, for it is only the broken and contrite heart that will feel the need of a Savior, but must the sinner wait till he has repented before he can come to Jesus? Is repentance to be made an obstacle between the sinner and the Savior? The Bible does not teach that the sinner must repent before he can heed the invitation of Christ. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11.28 It is the virtue that goes forth from Christ that leads to genuine repentance. Peter made the matter clear in his statement to the Israelites when he said, Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5.31 We can no more repent without the Spirit of Christ to awaken the conscience than we can be pardoned without Christ. Christ is the source of every right impulse. He is the only one that can implant in the heart enmity against sin. Every desire for truth and purity, every conviction of our own sinfulness is an evidence that his Spirit is moving upon our hearts. Jesus has said, I, if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me. John 12.32 Christ must be revealed to the sinner as the Savior dying for the sins of the world, and as we behold the Lamb of God upon the cross of Calvary. The mystery of redemption begins to unfold to our minds and the goodness of God leads us to repentance. In dying for sinners Christ manifested a love that is incomprehensible and as the sinner beholds this love it softens the heart, impresses the mind, and inspires contrition in the soul. It is true that men sometimes become ashamed of their sinful ways and give up some of their evil habits before they are conscious that they are being drawn to Christ. But whenever they make an effort to reform from a sincere desire to do right, it is the power of Christ that is drawing them. An influence of which they are unconscious works upon the soul and the conscience is quickened and the outward life is amended. And as Christ draws them to look upon his cross, to behold him whom their sins appear, the commandment comes home to the conscience, the wickedness of their life, the deep-seated sin of the soul is revealed to them. They begin to comprehend something of the righteousness of Christ and exclaim, What is sin that it should require such a sacrifice for the redemption of its victim? Was all this love, all this suffering, all this humiliation demanded that we might not perish but have everlasting life? The sinner may resist this love, may refuse to be drawn to Christ, but if he does not resist, he will be drawn to Jesus. A knowledge of the plan of salvation will lead him to the foot of the cross in repentance for his sins which have caused the sufferings of God's dear Son. The same divine mind that is working upon the things of nature is speaking to the hearts of men and creating an inexpressible craving for something they have not. The things of the world cannot satisfy their longing. The spirit of God is pleading with them to seek for those things that alone can give peace and rest. The grace of Christ, the joy of holiness. Through influences seen and unseen, our Savior is constantly at work to attract the minds of men from the unsatisfying pleasures of sin to the infinite blessings that may be theirs in him. To all these souls who are vainly seeking to drink from the broken cisterns of this world, the divine messages addressed, Let him that is a thirst come, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. You who in heart long for something better than this world can give recognize this longing as the voice of God to your soul. Ask him to give you repentance, to reveal Christ to you in his infinite love, in his perfect purity. In the Savior's life, the principles of God's law, love to God and man, were perfectly exemplified. Benevolence, unselfish love, was the life of his soul. It is as we behold him, as the light from our Savior falls upon us, that we see the sinfulness of our own hearts. We may have flattered ourselves, as did Nicodemus, that our life has been upright, that our moral character is correct, and think that we need not humble the heart before God, like the common center. But when the light from Christ shines into our souls, we shall see how impure we are, we shall discern the selfishness of motive, the enmity against God that has defiled every act of life, then we shall know that our own righteousness is indeed as filthy rags, and that the blood of Christ alone can cleanse us from the defilement of sin, and renew our hearts in his own likeness. One ray of the glory of God, one gleam of the purity of Christ penetrating the soul, makes every spot of defilement painfully distinct, and lays bare the deformity and defects of the human character. It makes apparent the unhallowed desires, the infidelity of the heart, the impurity of the lips. The sinners acts of disloyalty in making void the law of God or exposed to a sight, and his spirit is stricken and afflicted under the searching influence of the Spirit of God. He loathes himself, as he views the pure, spotless character of Christ. When the prophet Daniel beheld the glory surrounding the heavenly messenger that was sent unto him, he was overwhelmed with the sense of his own weakness and imperfection. Describing the effect of the wonderful scene, he says, They remain no strength in me, for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retain no strength. Daniel 10.8. The soul thus touched will hate its selfishness, abhor its self-love, and will seek through Christ's righteousness for the purity of heart that is in harmony with the law of God and the character of Christ. Paul says that as touching the righteousness which is in the law, as far as outward acts were concerned, he was blameless, Philippians 3.6. But when the spiritual character of the law was discerned, he saw himself a sinner. Judged by the letter of the law, as men apply it to the outward life, he had abstained from sin. But when he looked into the depths of its holy precepts, and saw himself as God saw him, he bowed in humiliation and confessed his guilt. He says, I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died, Romans 7.9. When he saw the spiritual nature of the law, sin appeared in its true hideousness, and his self-esteem was gone. God does not regard all sin as of equal magnitude. There are degrees of guilt in his estimation, as well as in that of man. But, however trifling this or that wrong act may seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God. Man's judgment is partial, imperfect, but God estimates all things as they really are. The drunkard is despised and told that his sin will exclude him from heaven, while pride, selfishness and covetousness too often go unrebuke. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God, for they are contrary to the benevolence of his character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ, but pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings he came to give. The poor publican who prayed, God be merciful to me a sinner, Luke 1813, regarded himself as a very wicked man, and others looked upon him in the same light. But he felt his need, and with his burden of guilt and shame he came before God, asking for his mercy. His heart was open for the Spirit of God to do its gracious work and set him free from the power of sin. The Pharisees' boastful self-righteous prayer showed that his heart was closed against the influence of the Holy Spirit. Because of his distance from God, he had no sense of his own defilement. In contrast with the perfection of the Divine Holiness, he felt no need, and he received nothing. If you see your sinfulness, do not wait to make yourself better. How many there are who think they are not good enough to come to Christ? Do you expect to become better through your own efforts? Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil. There is help for us only in God. We must not wait for stronger persuasions, for better opportunities, or for holier tempers. We can do nothing of ourselves. We must come to Christ just as we are. But let none deceive themselves with the thought that God and his great love and mercy will yet say even the rejecters of his grace. The exceeding sinfulness of sin can be estimated only in the light of the cross. When men urge that God is too good to cast off the center, let them look at cavalry. It was because there was no other way in which man could be saved. Because without this sacrifice it was impossible for the human race to escape from the defiling power of sin and be restored to communion with holy beings. Impossible for them again to become partakers of spiritual life. It was because of this that Christ took upon himself the guilt of the disobedient and suffered in the sinner's stead. The love and suffering and death of the Son of God all testify to the terrible enormity of sin and declare that there is no escape from its power, no hope of the higher life, but through the submission of the soul to Christ. The impenitent sometimes excuse themselves by saying of professed Christians, I am as good as they are. They are no more self-denying, sober or circumspect in their conduct than I am. They love pleasure and self-indulgence as well as I do. Thus they make the faults of others an excuse for their own neglect of duty. But the sins and defects of others do not excuse anyone, for the Lord has not given us an airing human pattern. The spotless Son of God has been given as our example, and those who complain of the wrong course of professed Christians are the ones who should show better lives and nobler examples. If they have so high a conception of what a Christian should be, is not their own sin so much a greater, they know what is right and yet refuse to do it. Beware procrastination. Do not put off the work of forsaking your sins and seeking purity of heart through Jesus. Here's where thousands upon thousands of air to their eternal loss. I will not hear dwell upon the shortness and uncertainty of life, but there is a terrible danger. A danger not sufficiently understood in delaying to yield to the pleading voice of God's Holy Spirit in choosing to live in sin, for such this delay really is. Sin, however small it may be esteemed, can be indulged in only at the peril of infinite loss. What we do not overcome will overcome us and work out our destruction. Adam and Eve persuaded themselves that in so small a matter as eating of the forbidden fruit there could not result such terrible consequences as God had declared. But this small matter was the transgression of God's immutable and holy law, and it separated man from God and opened the floodgates of death and untold woe upon our world. Age after age there has gone up from our earth a continual cry of mourning, and the whole creation groaneth and travaileth together in pain is a consequence of man's disobedience. Heaven itself has felt the effects of his rebellion against God. Calvary stands as a memorial of the amazing sacrifice required to atone for the transgression of the divine law. Let us not regard sin as a trivial thing. Every act of transgression, every neglect or rejection of the grace of Christ is reacting upon yourself. It is hardening the heart, depraving the will, benumbing the understanding, and not only making you less inclined to yield, but less capable of yielding to the tender pleading of God's Holy Spirit. Many are quieting a troubled conscience with the thought that they can change a course of evil when they choose, that they can trifle with the invitations of mercy and yet be again and again impressed. They think that after doing despite to the Spirit of Grace, after casting their influence on the side of Satan, in a moment of terrible extremity they can change their course. But this is not so easily done. The experience, the education of a lifetime, has so thoroughly molded the character that few then desire to receive the image of Jesus. Even one wrong trait of character, one sinful desire persistently cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power of the gospel. Every sinful indulgence strengthens the souls aversion to God. The man who manifests an infidel hardyhood or a stolid indifference to the divine truth is but reaping the harvest of that which he himself is sown. In all the Bible there is not a more fearful warning against trifling with evil than the words of the wise man that the sinner shall be holding with the cords of his sin, Proverbs 522. Christ is ready to set us free from sin, but he does not force the will, and if by persistent transgression the will itself is wholly bent on evil, and we do not desire to be set free. If we will not accept his grace, what more can he do? We have destroyed ourselves by our determined rejection of his love. Behold, now is he accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 2 Corinthians 6, 2, Hebrews 3, 7, and 8. Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. The human heart, with its conflicting emotions of joy and sorrow, the wandering wayward heart which is the abode of so much impurity and deceit, 1 Samuel 16, 7. He knows its motives, its very intents and purposes.  Throw its chambers open to the all-seeing eye, exclaiming, Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me to the way everlasting. Psalm 139, 23 and 24. Many accept an intellectual religion, a form of godliness, when the heart is not cleansed. Let it be your prayer. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 5110. Deal truly with your own soul. Be as earnest, as persistent as you would if your mortal life were at stake. This is a matter to be settled between God and your own soul, settled for eternity. A supposed hope and nothing more will prove your ruin. Study God's word prayerfully. That word presents before you, in the law of God and the life of Christ, the great principles of holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Hebrews 1214. It convinces of sin. It plainly reveals the way of salvation. Give heed to it as the voice of God speaking to your soul. As you see the enormity of sin, as you see yourself as you really are, do not give up to despair. It was sinners that Christ came to save. We have not to reconcile God to us, but, oh wondrous love, God in Christ is reconciling the world unto himself. 2 Corinthians 519. He is wooing by his tender love the hearts of his airing children. No earthly parent could be as patient with the faults and mistakes of his children, as is God with those he seeks to save. No one could plead more tenderly with the transgressor. No human lips ever poured out more tenderer treaties to the wanderer than does he. All his promises, his warnings, are but the breathing of unutterable love. When Satan comes to tell you that you are a great sinner, look up to your Redeemer and talk of his merits. That which will help you is to look to his light. Acknowledge your sin, but tell the enemy that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and that you may be saved by his matchless love. 1 Timothy 115. Jesus asked Simon a question in regard to two debtors. One owed his Lord a small sum, and the other owed him a very large sum. But he forgave them both. And Christ asked Simon which debtor would love his Lord the most. Simon answered, he to whom he forgave the most. Luke 743. We have been great sinners, but Christ died that we might be forgiven. The merits of his sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father on our behalf. Those to whom he is forgiven most will love him most, and will stand nearest to his throne to praise him for his great love and infinite sacrifice. It is when we most fully comprehend the love of God that we best realize the sinfulness of sin. When we see the length of the chain that was let down for us, when we understand something of the infinite sacrifice that Christ has made on our behalf, the heart is melted with tenderness and contrition. The conditions of obtaining mercy of God are simple and just and reasonable. The Lord does not require us to do some grievous thing in order that we may have forgiveness of sin. We need not make long and weary some pilgrimages or perform painful penances to commend our souls to the God of heaven or to expiate our transgression. But he that confesseth and forsakeeth his sin shall have mercy. The apostle says, confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that you may be healed, James 5.16. Confess your sins to God who only can forgive them and your faults to one another. If you have given offense to your friend or neighbor, you are to acknowledge your wrong and it is his duty freely to forgive you. Then you are to seek the forgiveness of God, because the brother you have wounded is the property of God, and in injuring him you sinned against his Creator and Redeemer. The case is brought before the only true mediator, our great High Priest, who was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin, and who has touched with the feeling of our infirmities and is able to cleanse from every stain of iniquity, Hebrews 4.15. Those who have not humbled their souls before God in acknowledging their guilt have not yet fulfilled the first condition of acceptance. If we have not experienced that repentance, which is not to be repented of, and have not with true humiliation of soul and brokenness of spirit confessed our sins, abhorring our iniquity, we have never truly sought for the forgiveness of sin, and if we have never sought, we have never found the peace of God. The only reason why we do not have remission of sins that are past is that we are not willing to humble our hearts and comply with the conditions of the Word of Truth. Explicit instruction is given concerning this matter. Confession of sin, whether public or private, should be heartfelt and freely expressed. It is not to be urged from the sinner. It is not to be made in a flippant and careless way, or forced from those who have no realizing sense of the abhorrent character of sin. The confession that is the outpouring of the inmost soul finds its way to the God of infinite pity. The psalmist says, The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalm 3418. True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only. They may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them, or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty. In the days of Samuel the Israelites wandered from God. They were suffering the consequences of sin, for they had lost their faith in God, lost their discernment of his power and wisdom to rule the nation, lost their confidence in his ability to offend, and vindicate his cause. They turned from the great ruler of the universe, and desired to be governed as were the nations around them. Before they found peace they made this definite confession. We have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 1 Samuel 1219. The very sin of which they were convicted had to be confessed. Their ingratitude oppressed their souls and severed them from God. Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere repentance and reformation. There must be decided changes in the life.  This will be the result of genuine sorrow for sin. The work that we have to do on our part is plainly set before us. Wash you, make you clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Isaiah 1, 16, and 17. If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Ezekiel 33, 15. Paul says, speaking of the work of repentance, ye sorrowed after a godly sort. What carefulness it wrought in you. Ye, what clearing of yourselves. Ye, what indignation. Ye, what fear. Ye, what vehemint desire. Ye, what zeal. Ye, what revenge. In all things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 2 Corinthians 7, 11. When sin has deaden the moral perceptions, the wrongdoer does not discern the defects of his character, nor realize the enormity of the evil he has committed, and unless he yields to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, he remains in partial blindness to his sin. His confessions are not sincere and in earnest. To every acknowledgment of his guilt he adds an apology and excuse of his course. Declaring that if it had not been for certain circumstances, he would not have done this or that for which he is reproved. After Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit, they were filled with a sense of shame and terror. At first their only thought was how to excuse their sin and escape the dreaded sentence of death. When the Lord inquired concerning their sin, Adam replied, laying the guilt partly upon God and partly upon his companion, the woman whom thou gave us to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. The woman put the blame upon the serpent, saying, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Genesis 3, 12 and 13. Why did you make the serpent? Why did you suffer him to come into Eden? These were the questions implied in her excuse for her sin, thus charging God with the responsibility of their fall. The spirit of self-justification originated in the father of lies and has been exhibited by all the sons and daughters of Adam. Confessions of this order are not inspired by the Divine Spirit and will not be acceptable to God. True repentance will lead a man to bear his guilt himself and acknowledge it without deception or hypocrisy. Like the poor publican, not lifting up so much as his eyes unto heaven, he will cry, God be merciful to me as sinner, and those who do acknowledge their guilt will be justified, for Jesus will plead his blood in behalf of the repentant soul. The examples in God's word of genuine repentance and humiliation reveal a spirit of confession in which there is no excuse for sin or attempt at self-justification. Paul did not seek to shield himself. He paints his sin in its darkest hue, not attempting to lessen his guilt. He says, many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priest, and when they were put to death I gave my voice against them, and I punished them often every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme, and, being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Acts 26, 10, and 11. He does not hesitate to declare that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 1st Timothy 1.15 The humble and broken heart, subdued by genuine repentance, will appreciate something of the love of God and the cost of Calvary, and as a son confesses to a loving father, so will the truly penitent bring all his sins before God, and it is written, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1st John 1.9 End of Chapter 4, Recording by Donald Hines, Alvarado, Texas, December 2009. God's promise is, you shall seek me and find me when you shall search for me with all your heart, Jeremiah 29, 13. The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change could never be wrought by which we are to be restored to his likeness. By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these, dead in trespasses and sins. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. No soundness in it. We are held fast in the snare of Satan, taken captive by him at his will. Ephesians 2, 1. Isaiah 1, 5, and 6. 2 Timothy 2, 26. 3. God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to him. The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, the surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle. But the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness. The government God is not, as Satan would make it appear, founded upon a blind submission, an unreasoning control. It appeals to intellect and the conscience. Come now and let us reason together is a Creator's invitation to the beings He has made. Isaiah 1, 18. God does not force the will of His creatures. He cannot accept an homage that is not willingly and intelligently given. A mere forced submission would prevent all real development of mind or character. It would make man a mere automaton, such as not the purpose of the Creator. He desires that man, the crowning work of His creative power, shall reach the highest possible development. He sets before us the height of blessing to which He desires to bring us to His grace. He invites us to give ourselves to Him that He may work His will in us. It remains for us to choose whether we will be set free from the bondage of sin to share the glorious liberty of the sons of God. In giving ourselves to God, we must necessarily give up all that would separate us from Him. Hence the Savior says, whosoever He be of you that forsakeeth not all that He hath, He cannot be my disciple. Luke 14, 33. Whatever shall draw away the heart from God must be given up. Mammon is the idol of many. The love of money, the desire for wealth, is the golden chain that binds him to Satan. Reputation and worldly honor are worshiped by another class. The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. But these slavish bands must be broken. We cannot be half the lords and half the worlds. We are not God's children unless we are such entirely. There are those who profess to serve God while they rely upon their own efforts to obey His law, to form a right character and secure salvation. Their hearts are not moved by any deep sense of the love of Christ, but they seek to perform the duties of the Christian life as that which God requires of them in order to gain heaven. Such religion is worth nothing. When Christ dwells in the heart, the soul will be so filled with his love with the joy of communion with him that it will cleave to him, and in the contemplation of him self will be forgotten. Love to Christ will be the spring of action. Those who feel the constraining love of God do not ask how little may be given to meet the requirements of God. They do not ask for the lowest standard, but aim at perfect conformity to the will they redeemer. With earnest desire they yield all and manifest an interest proportionate to the value of the object which they seek. A profession of Christ without this deep love is mere talk, dry formality, and heavy drudgery. Do you feel that it is too great a sacrifice to yield all to Christ? Ask yourself the question, what has Christ given for me? The Son of God gave all life and love and suffering for our redemption. And can it be that we, the unworthy objects of so great love, will withhold our hearts from him? Every moment of our lives we have been partakers of the blessings of his grace. And for this very reason we cannot fully realize the depths of ignorance and misery from which we have been saved. Can we look upon him who our sins have pierced and yet be willing to do despite to all his love and sacrifice? In view of the infinite humiliation of the Lord of Glory shall we murmur because we can enter into life only through conflict and self-abasement? The inquiry of many a proud heart is, why need I go in penance and humiliation before I can have the assurance of my acceptance with God? I point you to Christ. He was sinless and more than this he was the Prince of Heaven. But in man's behalf he became sin for the race. He was numbered with the transgressors. He bear the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53-12. But what do we give up when we give all? A sin polluted heart for Jesus to purify, to cleanse by his own blood, and to save by his matchless love. And yet men think it hard to give up all. I am ashamed to hear it spoken of, ashamed to write it. God does not require us to give up anything that is for our best interest to retain. In all that he does he has the well-being of his children in view. Would that all who had not chosen Christ might realize that he has something vastly better to offer them than they are seeking for themselves? Man is doing the greatest injury and injustice to his own soul when he thinks and acts contrary to the will of God. No real joy can be found in the path forbidden by him who knows what is best and who plans for the good of his creatures. The path of transgression is the path of misery and destruction. It is a mistake to entertain the thought that God is pleased to see his children suffer. All heaven is interested in the happiness of man. Our Heavenly Father does not close the avenues of joy to any of his creatures. The divine requirements call upon us to shun those indulgences that would bring suffering and disappointment that would close to us the door of happiness in heaven. The world redeemer accepts men as they are with all their wants, imperfections, and weaknesses, and he will not only cleanse from sin and grant redemption through his blood, but will satisfy the heart longing of all who consent to wear his yoke, to bear his burden. It is his purpose to impart peace and rest to all who come to him for the bread of life. He requires us to perform only those duties that will lead our steps to heights of bliss to which a disobedient can never attain. The true, joyous life of the soul is to have Christ formed within the hope of glory. Many are inquiring, how am I to make the surrender of myself to God? You desire to give yourself to him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you. But you need not to spare. What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man. The power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men. It is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart. You cannot of yourself give to God its affections. But you can choose to serve him. You can give him your will. He will then work in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ. Your affections will be centered upon him. Your thoughts will be in harmony with him. Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go. But if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians. Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you allow yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast. And thus, through constant surrender to God, you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith. End of chapter 5, recording by Donald Hines, Alvarado, Texas, December 2009. Chapter 6 of Steps to Christ. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Steps to Christ by Ellen G. White. Chapter 6. Faith and Acceptance. As your conscience has been quickened by the Holy Spirit, you have seen something of the evil of sin, of its power, its guilt, its woe, and you look upon it with abhorrence. You feel that sin has separated you from God, that you are in bondage to the power of evil. The more you struggle to escape, the more you realize your helplessness. Your motives are impure. Your heart is unclean. You see that your life has been filled with selfishness and sin. You long to be forgiven, to be cleansed, to be set free. Harmony with God, likeness to him? What can you do to obtain it? It is peace that you need. Heaven's forgiveness and peace and love and the soul. Money cannot buy it. Intellect cannot procure it. Wisdom cannot attain it. You can never hope by your own efforts to secure it. But God offers it to you as a gift, without money and without price. Isaiah 55.1 It is yours if you will but reach out your hand and grasp it. The Lord says, Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1.18 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you. Ezekiel 36.26 You have confessed your sins, and in heart put them away. You have resolved to give yourself to God. Now go to him, and ask that he will wash away your sins and give you a new heart. Then believe that he does this because he has promised. This is the lesson which Jesus taught while he was on earth, that the gift which God promises us we must believe we do receive, and it is ours. Jesus healed the people of their diseases when they had faith in his power. He helped them in the things which they could see, thus inspiring them with confidence in him concerning things which they could not see, leading them to believe in his power to forgive sins. This he plainly stated in the healing of the man sick with palsy, that you may know that the Son of man have power on earth to forgive sins. Then set he to the sick of the palsy. Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. Matthew 9.6 So also John the Evangelist says, speaking of the miracles of Christ, these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name. John 20.31 From the simple Bible account of how Jesus healed the sick we may learn something about how to believe in him for the forgiveness of sins. Let us turn to the story of the paralytic of Bethsaida. The poor sufferer was helpless. He had not used his limbs for thirty-eight years, yet Jesus bathed him. Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. The sick man might have said, Lord, if thou wilt make me whole, I will obey thy word. But no, he believed Christ's word, believed that he was made whole, and he made the effort at once. He willed to walk, and he did walk. He acted on the word of Christ, and God gave the power. He was made whole.  You cannot atone for your past sins. You cannot change your heart and make yourself holy. But God promises to do all this for you through Christ. You believe that promise. You confess your sins and give yourself to God. You will to serve him, just as surely as you do this, God will fulfill his word to you. If you believe the promise, believe that you are forgiven and cleansed. God supplies the fact. You are made whole, just as Christ gave the paralytic power to walk when the man believed that he was healed. It is so, if you believe it. Do not wait to feel that you are made whole, but say, I believe it. It is so. Not because I feel it, but because God has promised. Jesus says, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11, 24 There is a condition to this promise, that we pray according to the will of God.  So we may ask for these blessings, and believe that we receive them, and thank God that we have received them. It is our privilege to go to Jesus and be cleansed, and to stand before the law, without shame or remorse. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walked not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8.1 Henceforth, you are not on your own. You are bought with a price. You are not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1, 18-19 Through this simple act of believing God, the Holy Spirit has begotten a new life in your heart.  Now that you have given yourself to Jesus, do not draw back. Do not take yourself away from him, but day by day say, I am Christ's. I have given myself to him, and ask him to give you his Spirit, and keep you by his grace. As it is by giving yourself to God and believing him that you become his child, so you are to live in him. The apostle says, As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. Colossians 2.6 Some seem to feel that they must be on probation, and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they can claim his blessing. But they may claim the blessing of God even now. They must have his grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot resist evil. Jesus loves to have us come to him just as we are, sinful, helpless, dependent. We may come with all our weaknesses, our folly, our sinfulness, and fall at his feet in penitence. It is his glory to encircle us in the arms of his love, and to bind up our wounds, to cleanse us from all impurity. Here is where thousands fail. They do not believe that Jesus pardons him personally, individually. They do not take God at his word. It is the privilege of all who comply with the conditions, to know for themselves that pardon is freely extended for every sin. Put away the suspicion that God's promises are not meant for you. They are for every repentant transgressor. Strength and grace have been provided through Christ to be brought by ministering angels to every believing soul. None are so sinful that they cannot find strength, purity, and righteousness in Jesus who died for them. He is waiting to strip them of their garments, stained and polluted with sin, and to put upon them the white robes of righteousness.  God does not deal with us as finite men deal with one another. His thoughts are thoughts of mercy, love, and tenderest compassion. He says, Let the wicked forsake his way in the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return into the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins. Isaiah 55, 7, 44, 22. I have no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth, said the Lord God, wherefore turn yourselves and live ye, Ezekiel 18, 32. Satan is ready to steal away the blessed assurances of God. He desires to take every glimmer of hope and every ray of light from the soul. But you must not permit him to do this. Do not give ear to the tempter, but say, Jesus has died that I might live, he loves me, and wills not that I should perish. I have a compassionate Heavenly Father, and although I have abused his love, though the blessings he has given me have been squandered, I will arise and go to my Father and say, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy Son. Make me as one of thy hired servants. The parable tells you how the wanderer will be received. When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15, 18-20. But even this parable, tender and touching as it is, comes short of expressing the infinite compassion of the Heavenly Father. The Lord declares by his prophet, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31.3. While the sinner is yet far from the Father's house, wasting his substance in a strange country, the Father's heart is yearning over him, and every longing awakened in the soul to return to God is but the tender pleading of his spirit, wooing and treating, drawing the wanderer to his Father's heart of love. With the rich promises of the Bible before you, can you give place to doubt? Can you believe that when the poor sinner longs to return, longs to forsake his sins, the Lord sternly withholds him from coming to his feet in repentance? Away with such thoughts. Nothing can hurt your own soul more than to entertain such a conception of our Heavenly Father. He hates sin, but he loves the sinner, and he gave himself in the person of Christ that all who would might be saved and have eternal blessedness in the kingdom of glory. What stronger or more tender language could have been employed than he has chosen in which to express his love towards us? He declares, Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget. Yet will I not forget thee. Isaiah 49.15. Look up, you that are doubting and trembling. For Jesus lives to make intercession for us. Thank God for the gift of his dear Son, and pray that he may not have died for you in vain. The Spirit invites you today. Come with your whole heart to Jesus, and you may claim his blessing. As you read the promises, remember, they are the expression of unutterable love and pity. The great heart of infinite love is drawn toward the sinner with boundless compassion. We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 1-7. Yes, only believe that God is your helper. He wants to restore his moral image and man. As you draw near to him, with confession and repentance, he will draw near to you with mercy and forgiveness. End of Chapter 6, Recording by Donald Hines, Alvarado, Texas, December 2009. Chapter 7 of Steps to Christ. The Test of Discipleship. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 3-17 A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place, or trace all the chain of circumstances in the process of conversion, but this does not prove him to be unconverted. Christ said to Nicodemus, The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but can't not tell whence it cometh, and whether it goeth. So is everyone that is born of the Spirit. John 3-8. Like the wind, which is invisible, yet the effects of which are plainly seen and felt, is the Spirit of God and its work upon the human heart. That regenerating power which no human eye can see begets a new life in the soul. It creates a new being in the image of God. While the work of the Spirit is silent and imperceptible, its effects are manifest. If the heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God, the life will bear witness to the fact. While we cannot do anything to change our hearts or to bring ourselves into harmony with God, while we must not trust at all to ourselves or our good works, our lives will reveal whether the grace of God is dwelling within us. A change will be seen in the character, the habits, the pursuits. The contrast will be clear and decided between what they have been and what they are. The character is revealed, not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tenancy of the habitual words and acts. It is true that there may be an outward correctness of deportment without the renewing power of Christ. The love of influence and the desire for the esteem of others may produce a well-ordered life. Self-respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil. A selfish heart may perform generous actions. By what means then shall we determine whose side we are on? Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are Christ's, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. All we have and are is consecrated to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His Spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things. Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, Galatians 5, 22, 23. They will no longer fashion themselves according to their former lust, but by the faith of the Son of God they will follow in His steps, reflect His character, and purify themselves even as He is pure. The things they once hated they now love, and the things they once loved they hate. The proud and self-assertive become meek and lowly in heart. The vain and supercilious become serious and unobtrusive. The drunken become sober, and the profligate pure. The vain customs and fashions of the world are laid aside. Christians will seek not the outward adorning, but the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. 1 Peter 3, 3, and 4. There is no evidence of genuine repentance unless it works reformation. If he restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, confess his sins, and love God and his fellow men, the sinner may be sure that he has passed from death unto life. When as airing sinful beings we come to Christ and become partakers in his pardoning grace, love springs up in the heart. Every burden is light, for the yoke that Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure. The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness becomes bright with beams from the Son of Righteousness. The loveliness of the character of Christ will be seen in his followers. It was his delight to do the will of God. Love to God, zeal for his glory, was the controlling power in our Saviour's life. Love beautified and ennobled all his actions. Love is of God. The unconsecrated heart could not originate or produce it. It is found only in the heart where Jesus reigns. We love because he first loved us, 1 John 4, 19, RV. In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, subdues enmity, and ennobles the affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around. There are two errors against which the children of God, particularly those who have just come to trust in his grace, especially need to guard. The first, already dwelt upon, is that of looking to their own works, trusting to anything they can do to bring themselves into harmony with God. He who is trying to become holy by his own works and keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith that can make us holy. The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of God. That since by faith alone we become partakers of the grace of Christ, our works have nothing to do with our redemption. But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but the service of love. The law of God is an expression of his very nature. It is an embodiment of the great principle of love, and hence is the foundation of his government in heaven and earth. If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of him that created him, the new covenant promise is fulfilled, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them. And if the law is written in the heart, will it not shape the life? Obedience, the service and allegiance of love is the true sign of discipleship. Thus the scripture says, this is the love of God that we keep his commandments. He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 5 3 2 4. Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, and faith only that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience. We do not earn salvation by our obedience, for salvation is the free gift of God to be received by faith. But obedience is a fruit of faith. Ye know that he was manifest to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him, sineth not. Whosoever sineth hath not seen him. 1 John 3 5 and 6. Here is the true test. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions will be in harmony with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of his holy law.  He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 1 John 3 7. Righteousness is defined by the standard of God's holy law, as expressed in the 10 precepts given on Sinai. That so-called faith in Christ, which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God, is not faith, but presumption. By grace ye are saved through faith. But faith, if it hath not works, is dead. Ephesians 2-8, James 2-17. Jesus said of himself before he came to earth, I delight to do thy will, oh my God, yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalm 48. And just before he ascended again to heaven, he declared, I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love. John 15-10. The scripture says, Hereby we do know that we know him. If we keep his commandments, he that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2-3-6. Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. 1 Peter 2-21. The condition of eternal life is now just what it has always been, just what it was in paradise before the fall of our first parents. Perfect obedience to the law of God. Perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin with all its train of woe and misery to be immortalized. It was possible for Adam before the fall to form a righteous character by obedience to God's law. But he failed to do this, and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now he offers to take our sins and give us his righteousness.  Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned. More than this, Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to him. And so long as you do this, he will work in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure. So you may say, The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2 20. So Jesus said to his disciples, It is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your father which speaketh in you. Matthew 10 20. Then with Christ working in you, you will manifest the same spirit and do the same good works, works of righteousness, obedience. So we have nothing in ourselves of which to boast. We have no grounds for self exaltation. Our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and in that rock by his spirit working in and through us. When we speak of faith, there is a distinction that should be borne in mind. There is a kind of belief that is wholly distinct from faith, the existence and power of God, the truth of his word, are facts that even Satan and his host cannot at heart deny. The Bible says that the devils also believe and tremble. But this is not faith. James 19. Where there is not only a belief in God's word, but a submission of the will to him, where the heart is yielded to him, the affections fixed upon him, there is faith, faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Through this faith, the heart is renewed in the image of God, and the heart that in its unrenewed state is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Now delights in its holy precepts, exclaiming with the psalmist, Oh, how love I thy law, it is my meditation all the day. Psalms 1, 1997. And the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. Romans 8, 1. There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God. Yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, do not draw back into spare. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes. But we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No. Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John. These things right I unto you, that ye sin not, and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. 1 John 2, 1. And do not forget the words of Christ, the Father himself loveth you. John 16, 27. He desires to restore you to himself, to see his own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to him, he that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more fervently, believe more fully. As we come to distrust our own power, let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall praise him who is the health of our countenance.  For your vision will be clearer, and your imperfection will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to his perfect nature. This is evidence that Satan's delusions have lost their power, that the vivifying influence of the Spirit of God is arousing you. No deep-seated love for Jesus can dwell in the heart that does not realize its own sinfulness. The soul that is transformed by the grace of Christ will admire his divine character. But if we do not see our own moral deformity, it is unmistakable evidence that we have not had a view of the beauty and excellence of Christ. The less we see to esteem in ourselves, the more we shall see to esteem in the infinite purity and loveliness of our Saviour. A view of our sinfulness drives us to him who can pardon, and when the soul, realizing its helplessness, reaches out after Christ, he will reveal himself in power. The more our sense of need drives us to him and to the Word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of his character, and the more fully we shall reflect his image. CHAPTER VIII Growing up into Christ. The change of heart by which we become children of God is in the Bible spoken of as birth. Again, it is compared to the germination of the good seed sown by the husbandmen, in like manner those who are just converted to Christ are, as newborn babes, to grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 2, 2, Ephesians 4, 15. Or like the good seed sown in the field, they are to grow up and bring forth fruit. Isaiah says that they shall be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61.3 So, from natural life, illustrations are drawn to help us better to understand the mysterious truths of spiritual life. Not all the wisdom and skill of man can produce life in the smallest object in nature. It is only through the life which God himself has imparted that either plant or animal can live, so it is only through the life from God that spiritual life is begotten in the hearts of men. Unless a man is born from above, he cannot become a partaker of the life which Christ came to give, John 3, 3, margin. As with life so it is with growth. It is God who brings a bud to bloom and the flower to fruit. It is by his power that the seed develops, first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear, Mark 4, 28. And the prophet Hosea says of Israel that he shall grow as the lily, they shall revive as the corn and grow as the vine, Hosea 14, 5, and 7. And Jesus bids us consider the lilies how they grow, Luke 12, 27. The plants and flowers grow not by their own care or anxiety or effort, but by receiving that which God has furnished to minister to their life. The child cannot, by any anxiety or power of its own, add to its stature. No more can you, by anxiety or effort of yourself secure spiritual growth. The plant, the child, grows by receiving from its surroundings that which ministers to its life, air, sunshine, and food. What these gifts of nature are to animal and plant, such is Christ to those who trust in him. He is their everlasting light, a sun and a shield. Isaiah 16, 19, Psalms 84, 11. He shall be as the dew unto Israel. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass. Hosea 14, 5, Psalm 72, 6. He is the living water, the bread of God, which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world. John 6, 33. In the matchless gift of his Son, God is encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe. All who choose to breathe this life-giving atmosphere will live and grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. As the flower turns to the sun, that the bright beams may aid in perfecting its beauty and symmetry, so should we turn to the sun of righteousness, that heaven's light may shine upon us, that our character may be developed into the likeness of Christ. Jesus teaches the same thing when he says, Abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, that abide in the vine. No more can ye, except ye abide in me. Without me ye can do nothing. John 15, 4, 5.  Apart from him you have no life. You have no power to resist temptation or to grow in grace and holiness. Abiding in him you may flourish. Drawing your life from him you will not wither nor be fruitless. You will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Many have an idea that they must do some part of the work alone. They have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, but now they seek by their own efforts to live a right. But every such effort must fail. Jesus says, Without me ye can do nothing. Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness, all depend upon our union with Christ. It is by communion with him daily, hourly, by abiding in him that we are to grow in grace. He is not only the author, but the finisher of our faith. It is Christ first and last and always. He is to be with us, not only at the beginning and the end of our course, but at every step of the way. David says, I have set the Lord always before me, as he is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Psalm 16.8. Do you ask, how am I to abide in Christ? In the same way as you received him at first. As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. The just shall live by faith. Colossians 2.6. Hebrews 10.38. You gave yourself to God to be his holy, to serve and obey him, and you took Christ as your Savior. You could not yourself atone for your sins or change your heart, but having given yourself to God you believe that he for Christ's sake did all this for you. By faith you became Christ, and by faith you are to grow up in him by giving and taking. You are to give all your heart, your will, your service. Give yourself to him to obey all his requirements, and you must take all Christ, the fullness of all blessing, to abide in your heart, to be your strength, your righteousness, your everlasting helper, to give you power to obey. Consecrate yourself to God in the morning. Make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, take me, O Lord, as holy thine. I lay all my plans at thy feet. Use me today in thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in thee. This is a daily matter.  Surrender all your plans to him, to be carried out or given up, as his providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ. A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there should be an abiding, peaceful trust. Your hope is not in yourself, it is in Christ.  So you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell upon self, but look to Christ. Let the mind dwell upon his love, upon the beauty, the perfection of his character, Christ in his self-denial, Christ in his humiliation, Christ in his purity and holiness, Christ in his matchless love. This is the subject for the soul's contemplation. It is by loving him, copying him, depending wholly upon him that you are to be transformed into his likeness. Jesus says, Abide in me. These words convey the idea of rest, stability, confidence. Again he invites, Come unto me, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11, 28. The words of the psalmist express the same thought. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. And Isaiah gives the assurance, In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. Psalms 37, 7 Isaiah 30, 15. This rest is not found in inactivity. For in the Savior's invitation the promise of rest is united with the call to labour. Take my yoke upon you, and ye shall find rest. Matthew 11, 29. The heart that rests most fully upon Christ will be most earnest and active in labour for him. When the mind dwells upon self, it is turned away from Christ, the source of strength and life. Hence it is Satan's constant effort to keep the attention diverted from the Saviour, and thus prevent the union and communion of the soul with Christ. The pleasures of the world, life's cares and perplexities and sorrows, the faults of others, or your own faults and imperfections, to any or all of these he will seek to divert the mind. Do not be misled by his devices. Many who are really conscientious, and who desire to live for God, he too often leads to dwell upon their own faults and weaknesses, and thus by separating them from Christ he hopes to gain the victory. We should not make self the centre and indulge anxiety and fear as to whether we shall be saved. All this turns the soul away from the source of our strength. Commit the keeping of your soul to God, and trust in him. Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in him. Put away all doubt. Dismiss your fears. Say with the apostle Paul, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2.20 Rest in God. He is able to keep that which you have committed to him.  When Christ took human nature upon him, he bound humanity to himself by a tie of love that can never be broken by any power save the choice of man himself. Satan will constantly present allurements to induce us to break this tie, to choose to separate ourselves from Christ. Here is where we need to watch, to strive, to pray, that nothing may entice us to choose another master, for we are always free to do this. But let us keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, and he will preserve us. Looking unto Jesus, we are safe. He can pluck us out of his hand. In constantly beholding him, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3.18 It was thus that the early disciples gained their likeness to the dear Saviour. When those disciples heard the words of Jesus, they felt their need of him. They sought, they found, they followed him. They were with him in the house, at the table, in the closet, in the field. They were with him as pupils with a teacher, daily receiving from his lips lessons of holy truth. They looked to him as servants to their master to learn their duty. Those disciples were men subject to like passions as we are. James 5.17 They had the same battle with sin to fight.  Even John, the beloved disciple, the one who most fully reflected the likeness of the Saviour, did not naturally possess that loveliness of character. He was not only self-assertive and ambitious for honour, but impetuous and resentful under injuries. But, as the character of the Divine One was manifested to him, he saw his own deficiency and was humbled by the knowledge, the strength and patience, the power and tenderness, the majesty and the meekness that he beheld in the daily life of the Son of God, filled his soul with admiration and love. Day by day his heart was drawn out towards Christ until he lost sight of self in love for his master. His resentful, ambitious temper was yielded to the molding power of Christ. The regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit renewed his heart. The power of the love of Christ wrought a transformation of character. This is the sheer result of union with Jesus. When Christ abides in the heart, the whole nature is transformed. Christ's spirit, his love, softens the heart, subdues the soul, and raises the thoughts and desires toward God and Heaven. When Christ ascended to Heaven, the sense of His presence was still with His followers. It was a personal presence, full of love and light. Jesus the Saviour who had walked and talked and prayed with them, who had spoken hope and comfort to their hearts, had, while the message of peace was still upon his lips, been taken up from them into Heaven, and the tones of his voice had come back to them, as the clouds of angels received him. Lo, I am with you all way, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 2820. He had ascended to Heaven in the form of humanity. They knew that he was before the throne of God, their friend and Saviour still, that his sympathies were unchanged, that he was still identified with suffering humanity. He was presenting before God the merits of his own precious blood, showing his wounded hands and feet in remembrance of the price he had paid for his redeemed. They knew that he had ascended to Heaven to prepare places for them, and that he would come again and take them to himself. As they met together after the ascension, they were eager to present their request to the Father in the name of Jesus. In solemn awe they bowed in prayer, repeating the assurance, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16, 23, and 24. They extended the hand of faith higher and higher with the mighty argument, it is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us, Romans 8, 34. And Pentecost brought them the presence of the Comforter, of whom Christ had said, he shall be in you.  John 14, 17, and 16, 7. Henceforth, through the Spirit, Christ was to abide continually in the hearts of his children, their union with him was closer than when he was personally with them, the light and love and power of the indwelling Christ shown out through them, so that men beholding marveled, and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4, 13. All that Christ was to the disciples, he desires to be to his children to-day, for in that last prayer, with the little band of disciples gathered about him, he said, neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. John 17, 20. Jesus prayed for us, and he asked that we might be one with him, even as he is one with the Father. What a union is this? The Saviour has said of himself, the Son can do nothing of himself, the Father to dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 5, 19, 14, 10. Then if Christ is dwelling in our hearts, he will work in us, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2, 13. We shall work as he worked, we shall manifest the same Spirit, and thus, loving him and abiding in him, we shall grow up into him in all things which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4, 15. End of Chapter 8, Recording by Donald Hines, Alvarado, Texas, December 2009. Chapter 9 The Work and the Life God is the source of life and light and joy to the universe, like rays of light from the sun, like the streams of water bursting from a living spring, blessings flow out from him to all his creatures, and wherever the life of God is in the hearts of men, it will flow out to others in love and blessing. Our Saviour's joy was in the uplifting and redemption of fallen man, for this he counted not his life dear unto himself, but endured the cross, despising the shame. So angels are ever engaged in working for the happiness of others. This is their joy. That which selfish hearts would regard as humiliating service, ministering to those who are wretched and in every way inferior in character and rank, is the work of sinless angels. The Spirit of Christ's self-sacrificing love is the Spirit that pervades heaven and is the very essence of its bliss. This is the Spirit that Christ's followers will possess, the work that they will do. When the love of Christ is enshrined in the heart, like sweet fragrance it cannot be hidden. Its holy influence will be felt by all with whom we come in contact. The Spirit of Christ in the heart is like a spring in the desert, flowing to refresh all and making those who are ready to perish, eager to drink the water of life. Love to Jesus will be manifested in a desire to work as he worked for the blessings and uplifting of humanity. It will lead to love, tenderness, and sympathy towards all the creatures of our Heavenly Father's care. The Savior's life on earth was not a life of ease and devotion to himself, but he toiled with persistent, earnest, untiring effort for the salvation of lost mankind. From the manger to Calvary he followed the path of self-denial and sought not to be released from arduous task, painful travails, and exhausting care and labor. He said, The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 2028. This was the one great object of his life. Everything else was secondary and subservient. It was his meat and drink to do the will of God and to finish his work. Self and self-interest had no part in his labor. So those who are the partakers of the grace of Christ will be ready to make any sacrifice that others for whom he died may share the heavenly gift. They will do all they can to make the world better for their stay in it. This spirit is the sheer outgrowth of a soul truly converted. No sooner does one come to Christ than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus. The saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart. If we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and are filled with the joy of his indwelling spirit, we shall not be able to hold our peace. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, we shall have something to tell. Like Philip when he found the Savior, we shall invite others into his presence. We shall seek to present to them the attractions of Christ and the unseen realities of the world to come. There will be an intensity of desire to follow in the path that Jesus trod. There will be an earnest longing that those around us may behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1.29 And the effort to bless others will react in blessings upon ourselves. This was the purpose of God in giving us a part to act in the plan of redemption. He has granted men the privilege of becoming partakers in the divine nature and, in their turn, of diffusing blessings to their fellow men. This is the highest honor, the greatest joy that it is possible for God to bestow upon men. Those who thus become participants in labors of love are brought nearest to their Creator. God might have committed the message of the Gospel and all the work of loving ministry to the heavenly angels. He might have employed other means for accomplishing his purpose. But in his infinite love he chose to make us co-workers with himself, with Christ and the angels, that we might share the blessing, the joy, the spiritual uplifting which results from this unselfish ministry. We are brought into sympathy with Christ through the fellowship of his sufferings. Every act of self-sacrifice for the good of others strengthens the spirit of beneficence in the giver's heart, allying him more closely to the Redeemer of the world, who was rich yet for your sakes became poor, that ye, through his poverty, might be rich. Second Corinthians 8-9. And it is only as we thus fulfill the divine purpose in our creation that life can be a blessing to us. If you will go to work as Christ designs at his disciple's shell, and win souls for him, you will feel the need of a deeper experience and a greater knowledge in divine things, and will hunger and thirst after righteousness. You will plead with God, and your faith will be strengthened, and your soul will drink deeper drafts at the well of salvation. Encountering opposition and trials will drive you to the Bible in prayer. You will grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ, and will develop a rich experience. The spirit of unselfish labor for others gives depth, stability, and Christ-like loveliness to the character, and brings peace and happiness to its possessor. The aspirations are elevated. There is no room for sloth or righteousness. Those who thus exercise the Christian graces will grow and will become strong to work for God. They will have clear spiritual perceptions, a steady growing faith, and an increased power in prayer. The spirit of God moving upon their spirit calls forth the sacred harmonies of the soul in answer to the divine touch. Those who thus devote themselves to unselfish effort for the good of others are most surely working out their own salvation. The only way to grow in grace is to be disinterestedly doing the very work which Christ has enjoined upon us to engage to the extent of our ability in helping and blessing those who need the help we can give them. Strength comes by exercise. Activity is the very condition of life. Those who endeavor to maintain Christian life by passively accepting the blessings that come through the means of grace, and doing nothing for Christ, are simply trying to live by eating without working, and in the spiritual, as in the natural world, this always results in degeneration and decay. A man who would refuse to exercise his limbs would soon lose all power to use them. Thus, the Christian who will not exercise his God-given powers not only fails to grow up in Christ, but he loses the strength that he already had. The Church of Christ is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. Its mission is to carry the gospel to the world, and the obligation rest upon all Christians. Everyone to the extent of his talent and opportunity is to fulfill the Savior's commission. The love of Christ, revealed to us, makes us debtors to all who know him not. God has given us light, not for ourselves alone, but to shed upon them. If the followers of Christ were awake to duty, there would be thousands where there is one today proclaiming the gospel in heathen lands, and all who could not personally engage in the work would yet sustain it with their means, their sympathy, and their prayers, and there would be far more earnest labor for souls in Christian countries. We need not go to heathen lands or even leave the narrow circle of the home if it is there that our duty lies in order to work for Christ. We can do this in the home circle, in the Church, among those with whom we associate, and with whom we do business. The greater part of our Savior's life on earth was spent in patient toil in the carpenter's shop at Nazareth. Ministering angels attended the Lord of Life as he walked side by side with peasants and laborers, unrecognized and unhonored. He was as faithfully fulfilling his mission while working at his humble trade as when he healed the sick or walked upon the storm-tossed waves of Galilee. So in the humblest duties and lolliest positions of life we may walk and work with Jesus. The apostle says, Let every man wherein he is called therein abide with God. 1 Corinthians 7.24 The businessman may conduct his business in a way that will glorify his master because of his fidelity. If he is a true follower of Christ he will carry his religion into everything that is done and reveal to men the Spirit of Christ. The mechanic may be a diligent and faithful representative of him who toiled in the lowly walks of life among the hills of Galilee. Everyone who names the name of Christ should so work that others, by seeing his good works, may be led to glorify their Creator and Redeemer. Many have excused themselves from rendering their gifts to the service of Christ because others were possessed of superior endowments and advantages. The opinion has revealed that only those who are especially talented are required to consecrate their abilities to the service of God. It has come to be understood by many that talents are given to only a certain favored class to the exclusion of others who, of course, are not called upon to share in the toiles or the rewards. But it is not so represented in the parable. When the master of the house called a servant, he gave to every man his work. With a loving spirit we may perform life's humblest duties as to the Lord. Collagen Street, 23. If the love of God is in the heart, it will be manifested in the life. The sweet savor of Christ will surround us and our influence will elevate and bless. You are not to wait for great occasions or to expect extraordinary abilities before you go to work for God. You need not have a thought of what the world will think of you. If your daily life is a testimony to the purity and sincerity of your faith, and others are convinced that you desire to benefit them, your efforts will not be wholly lost. The humblest and poorest of the disciples of Jesus can be a blessing to others. They may not realize that they are doing any special good, but by their unconscious influence they may start waves of blessing that will widen and deepen, and the blessed results they may never know until the day of final reward. They do not feel or know that they are doing anything great. They are not required to weary themselves with anxiety about success. They have only to go forward, quietly, doing faithfully the work that God's providence assigns. And their life will not be in vain. Their own souls will be growing more and more into the likeness of Christ. They are workers together with God in this life, and are thus fitting for the higher work and the unshadowed joy of the life to come.