Selected Quotes from Ellen G. White's Writings - Loud-cry.com

actions. Love is of God. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate orcarnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,produce it. It is found only in the heart where Jesus reigns. "We love,neither indeed can be." Romans 8:7. But "God so loved the world, that Hebecause He first loved us." 1 John 4:19, R.V. In the heart renewed by divinegave His only-begotten Son," that man might be reconciled to God. Throughgrace, love is the principle of action. It modifies the character, governs thethe merits of Christ he can be restored to harmony with his Maker. His heartimpulses, controls the passions, subdues enmity, and ennobles themust be renewed by divine grace; he must have a new life from above. Thisaffections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds achange is the new birth, without which, says Jesus, "he cannot see therefining influence on all around.” SC 57-59.kingdom of God."“A real work is wrought by the Holy Spirit upon the human character, and The first step in reconciliation to God is the conviction of sin. "Sin is theits fruits are seen; just as a good tree will bear good fruit, so will the tree that transgression of the law." By the law is the knowledge of sin." 1 John 3:4;is actually planted in the Lord's garden produce good fruit unto eternal life.Romans 3:20. In order to see his guilt, the sinner must test his character byBesetting sins are overcome; evil thoughts are not allowed in the mind; evilGod's great standard of righteousness. It is a mirror which shows thehabits are purged from the soul temple. The tendencies, which have beenperfection of a righteous character and enables him to discern the defectsbiased in a wrong direction, are turned in a right direction. Wrongin his own.dispositions and feelings are rooted out. Holy tempers and sanctifiedThe law reveals to man his sins, but it provides no remedy. While itemotions are now the fruit borne upon the Christian tree. An entirepromises life to the obedient, it declares that death is the portion of thetransformation has taken place. This is the work to be wrought.” YSRP 50.transgressor. The gospel of Christ alone can free him from the“The reason why the unbelieving world are not saved is that they do notcondemnation or the defilement of sin. He must exercise repentance towardchoose to be enlightened. The old nature, born of blood and the will of theGod, whose law has been transgressed; and faith in Christ, his atoningflesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The old ways, the hereditarysacrifice. Thus he obtains "remission of sins that are past" and becomes atendencies, the former habits, must be given up; for grace is not inherited.partaker of the divine nature. He is a child of God, having received the spiritThe new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, new tendencies.of adoption, whereby he cries: "Abba, Father!"Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have becomeIs he now free to transgress God's law? Says Paul: "Do we then makepartakers of the divine nature, and in all their habits and practices, they willvoid the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." "How shallgive evidence of their relationship to Christ. When men who claim to bewe, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" And John declares: "ThisChristians retain all their natural defects of character and disposition, in whatis the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and Hisdoes their position differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciatecommandments are not grievous." Romans 3:31; 6:2; 1 John 5:3. In the newthe truth as a sanctifier, a refiner. They have not been born again...” YSRPbirth the heart is brought into harmony with God, as it is brought into accord53. with His law. When this mighty change has taken place in the sinner, he has“When a man professes to be sanctified, and yet in words and workspassed from death unto life, from sin unto holiness, from transgression andmay be represented by the impure fountain sending forth its bitter waters,rebellion to obedience and loyalty. The old life of alienation from God haswe may safely say, that man is deceived. He needs to learn the veryended; the new life of reconciliation, of faith and love, has begun. Then "thealphabet of what constitutes the life of a Christian. Some who profess to berighteousness of the law" will "be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh,servants of Christ have so long cherished the demon of unkindness that but after the Spirit." Romans 8:4. And the language of the soul will be: "Othey seem to love the unhallowed element, and to take pleasure in speaking how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97.words that displease and irritate. These men must be converted, before"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Psalm 19:7. WithoutChrist will acknowledge them as his children.” YSRP 54.the law, men have no just conception of the purity and holiness of God or oftheir own guilt and uncleanness. They have no true conviction of sin and feelCONVERSION AND OBEDIENCEno need of repentance. Not seeing their lost condition as violators of God's“It is the work of conversion and sanctification to reconcile men to Godlaw, they do not realize their need of the atoning blood of Christ. The hopeby bringing them into accord with the principles of His law. In the beginning,of salvation is accepted without a radical change of heart or reformation ofman was created in the image of God. He was in perfect harmony with thelife. Thus superficial conversions abound, and multitudes are joined to thenature and the law of God; the principles of righteousness were written uponchurch who have never been united to Christ.” GC 467-468.his heart. But sin alienated him from his Maker. He no longer reflected the“Ten thousand times ten thousand may profess to obey the law and thedivine image. His heart was at war with the principles of God's law. "Thegospel, and yet be living in transgression. Men may present in a clear15 16