Our Greatest Need Ron Spear - The Eternal Gospel Church

TO BE A CHRISTIANWe will never be saints in heaven unless we are first saints here:There are many, many, professed Christians who are waitingunconcernedly for the coming of the Lord. They have noton the garment of His righteousness. They may profess to bechildren of God, but they are not cleansed from sin. They areselfish and self-sufficient. Their experience is Christless. Theyneither love God supremely nor their neighbor as themselves.They have no true idea of what constitutes holiness. They donot see the defects in themselves. So blinded are they, thatthey are not able to detect the subtle working of pride andiniquity. They are clad in the rags of self- righteousness, andstricken with spiritual blindness. Satan has cast his shadowbetween them and Christ, and they have no wish to study thepure, holy character of the Saviour.Those who do not become saints here can never be saintsin heaven. Review and Herald, February 26, 1901.To be a Christian means to obey and follow Christ’s directives:Ungodliness is not Christianity. Do not think that you canstand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuelunless as faithful soldiers you obey His orders. In word andaction you must say, “I am a Christian.” Ibid., December 31,1901.To follow Christ means . . . to render obedience. We areunder service to God, and we must obey His commands.No soldier is counted a follower of his commander unless heobeys his general’s orders. Ibid., August 21, 1894.Christianity is simply living by every word that proceedethout of the mouth of God. Faith and Works, 122.We must follow the directions given through the Spiritof prophecy. We must love and obey the truth for this time.This will save us from accepting strong delusions. God hasspoken to us through His Word. He has spoken to us throughthe Testimonies to the church, and through the books that15