overcoming

How to Overcome the Devil, Part I

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We do not know from day to day when the Lord may call us to a different job, to a different location, to a different country. He may call different individuals as workers in various parts of the world, but each one, as a stone in the wall, is building up the work of God. For each of us to do our part in His work, we must develop characters that will see us through any and every circumstance that may come into our lives. In this article, we will look at developing that experience that is going to get us through to the heavenly kingdom.

A Deceiving Dragon

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9.

Why do we have worries and disasters, tears, sorrow, pain, suffering, and death? The answer is given in this verse¾because Satan was cast out to this earth. There is a dragon, called the Devil and Satan, loose in this world, reeking havoc.

This text tells us that he deceives the whole world. Every man and woman who has ever been born has been deceived at some time by this arch deceiver.

Satan was cast out to the earth, and he was not cast out alone. The angels wbo chose to believe him were cast out with him. Together they go about to deceive the whole world.

If only we could just faintly, even in a small degree, understand the significance of this clause, “deceives the whole world.” Satan deceives. He has deceived you, and he has deceived me. In fact, every time we sin we have been deceived by Satan, deceived into thinking that his plan is superior to God’s plan. For whatever reason, he deceives us by one means or another, and he has many ways of deceiving.

Master Deceiver

Satan is a master artist of deception. From the time you were born, he has been studying your life. He has a careful record of your life.

At one time, I studied the Bible with a lady whose six-year-old daughter had recently passed away. Oh, how she grieved over the death of that daughter.

In her house there was a stairway leading up to the second story where the bedrooms were located. As she climbed those stairs one day, she looked up towards her daughter’s bedroom and there at the head of the stairs, for one fleeting moment she saw her daughter standing there looking at her and smiling, and then she vanished away. This mother just knew that her daughter was alright, that she was in heaven and had come down to give her assurance and peace.

This lady knew then that the Bible was wrong¾or at least the way we were interpreting the state of the dead was wrong. Of course, it was no one’s interpretation; it was what the Bible says! “The dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Ecclesiastes 9:5.

But because of this experience, she decided that everything else she had learned in the Bible was wrong. She rejected everything. She was deceived. The devil knew right where to strike at her heart to bring the deception that will cost her salvation, unless she chooses to change sometime.

Master File

Satan has a master file of your life. He has traced every event of your life. He has it all on his computer memory. He has studied it; his angels who are concerned with you have studied it. They know your special desires; they know your special weaknesses. They know your felt needs; they know your insecurities. They know your weaknesses; they know what offends and what irritates you the easiest. They know it all.

I often ask people, Is there anything or any circumstance in the world that could cause you to be lost? Is there anything that could cause you to give up the truth, cause you to be lost? If you know of anything in life that could cause you to give up your salvation, rest assured that Satan is going to use all his power to bring that very thing about in your life. He is here to cause your destruction.

Young lady, what is it that could cause you to be lost? Is it your looks? Are you proud of your looks? Could somebody come along and flatter you and sweep you off your feet, as the serpent did Eve? “It was Satan that spoke, not the serpent. Eve was beguiled, flattered, infatuated.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 36. Satan first flattered her to gain her confidence. Are there needs in your life? Are you lonely at times? Do you need some kind of attention and affection? If the right young man should come along, could he cause your eternal destruction? Could he cause you to give up what you know to be right in the area of being unequally yoked? Could he cause you to transgress?

God wants you to be fulfilled; He wants you to be happy; but rest assured that if there is something you need or desire desperately, Satan will seek to fulfill it first.

You will be tested. What is it that could cause you to be lost? Is it money, or is it lack of money? Is it position, or is it lack of position? Is it vain philosophy, or is it something in the church? Is it somebody talking about somebody or is it something that the Nominating Committee could do? What is it that could cause your loss of confidence in God? What is it that could cause you to give up your experience?

Satan has a temptation – probably more than one – that is tailor made for you. Your temptation will probably not be the same as my temptation, because Satan knows that your temptation probably would not work on me. I have temptations, but my temptations probably will not be the same as your temptations, because mine are tailor made. Satan knows that the temptations he brings me probably would not work with you.

If anyone has the idea that you can get to those pearly gates by being spoon fed all the way, it will not, cannot happen. Someday, some way, we must take the field of the battle and meet the devil face to face alone, as far as humanity is concerned. However, we are never truly alone, because God’s power is ever with us if we choose and ask for it.

We must meet the battle of life, and we must be individually conquerors.

Where God Leads

And so it says, in Revelation 12:9, “The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.”

Yet there was One who was not deceived. Of all the people who have ever lived in the world, only One has never been deceived, Christ Jesus. At the same time, there has never been anyone who has been tempted more than He has.

As mentioned previously, Satan has a file folder on us that includes anything we have ever done. He knows what it is that can bring us to destruction, if it is possible. But for Christ, Satan had prepared for 4,000 years. He used all of his computers in figuring out how to cause Him to be lost. He put all of his energy into Christ’s destruction, into His deception. He knew Him like a book, and there in the wilderness he met Him face to face. He had been seeking to weaken Him, to cause Him to give up His faith and confidence, from the time He was born, but the time was right for that face to face confrontation that we must all meet some place, some time.

For 40 days Christ was without food. He had been led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1.) He went where the Holy Spirit told Him to go. We all know, do we not, that if we go where God leads us, He will take care of us? The Bible assures us that our food and water will be sure. (See Isaiah 33:16.)

Jesus went where God led Him and left Him. He trusted His Father implicitly and completely to provide for His needs. He had a bed at home in Nazareth, and food awaited Him there, but that is not where God led Him. God led Him out to a wilderness in a foreign country, and there He left Him without food and shelter.

The Bible account of this experience states that there were also wild beasts in the wilderness. Christ was there without any visible means of protection. What should He do when the nighttime came? There was nothing to do but to lie down in the sand and go to sleep. When the morning came, the children of Israel, when they were led out into the wilderness, found a dew-like material that was food, manna, on the ground, but when Jesus awoke there was no manna.

When Elijah was sent out by the brook, ravens brought him food (1 Kings 17:1-6), but there were no ravens with food in their mouths when Jesus was in the wilderness. He knew all the promises in the Bible; He knew all the experiences of the Bible; He knew all the events of the Bible. He knew how God had cared for those before Him, but care was not given to Him. However, there He stayed, day after day.

Jesus was unique in that He had the power to provide for Himself, yet God had ordained that He should come down and live as a man among men and that He would trust in Him completely, and Him only, for His sustenance. That is what we have to do. Jesus could not be our example if He made things for Himself, if He so took care of Himself. He had to depend explicitly on God.

Day after day Jesus continued to pray and trust.

Temptation of Appetite

We do not know what all Satan said to Christ in the wilderness, but he was and still is a master deceiver. “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ ” Matthew 4:2, 3. Ellen White, writing of this trying time, states:

“As man could not, in his human strength, resist the power of Satan’s temptations, Jesus volunteered to undertake the work, and bear the burden for man, and overcome the power of appetite in his behalf. He must show in man’s behalf, self-denial and perseverance, and firmness of principle that is paramount to the gnawing pangs of hunger. He must show a power of control over appetite stronger than hunger and even death.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 272.

“All was lost when Adam yielded to the power of appetite. The Redeemer, in whom was united both the human and the divine, stood in Adam’s place, and endured a terrible fast of nearly six weeks. The length of this fast is the strongest evidence of the extent of the sinfulness and power of debased appetite upon the human family.” Ibid.

Suppose you had gone a week or even two weeks without food. You had been praying day and night that God would take care of you; you had been claiming the promises of the Word of God. All you had in the house was a little tithe money, and an angel appeared to you and said, “The Lord has heard your prayer. He wants you to take the tithe money and buy yourself some food.”

Might it be a temptation to believe that was from God?

Jesus Not Deceived

Why was it that Jesus was not deceived like we usually are? The answer is given in 11 Thessalonians 2:8-10: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the [lawless one] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

This passage clearly states that Satan possesses glory and power. It looks like righteousness, but in actuality it is unrighteousness. It is a deception. The Bible says that Satan comes down as an angel of light; he has power to work miracles. (See 11 Corinthians 11:14; Matthew 24:24.)

Jesus loved truth more than He loved life itself. He would rather die than sacrifice one precept of the Bible, sacrifice one aspect of truth.

All This May Be Yours

From the wilderness, the devil took Christ to the pinnacle of the temple. He again tempted Him, saying, “Demonstrate Your faith. Show me your faith.” (Matthew 4:5-7.)

Then he led Him out to the side of a hill and, from that elevated site, showed Him the kingdoms of the world. There they were laid out in all their glory¾the marble, the gold, the silver. Christ could see the most beautiful portions of Pompeii, of Rome, of Jerusalem, of Alexandria, and the other great cities of the day¾the seaport cities, the inland cities, the cities of India. He could see them all, with the mosques and temples, the gardens, and the hanging gardens.

He could see the people there, the beautiful women, the men, and the little children. Oh, Satan knew how He would love to hold the children on His lap and take them to heaven with Him. How He loved those children, those for whom He came to die and to save. Satan chided, “They are all Yours. I give them to You. I will quit deceiving them. You can have them all. You can be their King and Master; after all, that is why You came. All You need to do is bow down and worship me; just bow on one knee; that will do.” (Verses 8, 9.)

Perhaps Jesus turned from the panoramic scene of the kingdoms of the world to view another scene, the scene of Himself on a narrow path strewn with stones, thorns, and thistles. There was blood upon those rocks, and as that path stretched tortuously up, at the top of that path He saw a cross with splinters in it, and hanging on that cross was a man, and as He looked, He recognized that it was Himself.

Ah, there was a choice¾a mere act of homage or the cross. I am so happy that Jesus chose the cross, for it was through that choice that He gained the victory over temptation, gained the victory over deception, gained the victory over Satan, and brought us victory. For it is in that blood that we can be saved, that we can find salvation from the temptation and the deceptions of Satan.

Do you spend time at the cross every day? Do you suppose that you can overcome Satan on your own? Do you think you are strong enough to do so? There at the cross of Calvary Satan was overcome. That is where we must go if we want to find victory over Satan. If we want to be undeceived, we must go to the cross too.

To be continued . . .

Steps to Life was founded by Pastor Marshall Grosboll and his wife Lillian. In 1987, a television program was developed and started to air on the local Wichita, Kansas, television station. A Bible Correspondence School was also started which still exists today. Returning from a camp meeting in July 1991 held in Washington state, Marshall and his family met with tragedy as the airplane he was piloting went down, killing all aboard including his wife and two young children.

Victory in Jesus, Part IV

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In the September 2007 and October 2007 issues of LandMarks, we reviewed keys that will help us to overcome temptation and sin. In summary:

1) We must not place ourselves in the way of temptation. The Bible tells us: “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14. “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” Job 31:1.

2) If we are placed in the way of temptation because of circumstances, God will be with us as He was with Daniel and Joseph. (1 Corinthians 10:13.)

3) We should notice situations that bring temptation and try to stay away from such situations as much as possible. For instance, if you are impatient, perhaps it is because you are intemperate. “It is impossible for intemperate persons to be patient. They must first reform bad habits, learn to live healthfully, and then it will not be difficult for them to be patient.” Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, 393.

4) Temptation to sin starts in the mind. We must be ready to fight when the thought enters. Temptation is not a sin. Just because we are tempted with bad thoughts and sin does not mean that we are not Christians. Temptation is a problem when we yield to it. (II Corinthians 10:5, 6.)

5) A key to overcoming is to stay busy, so you do not have time to be looking for temptation. Idleness is not sanctioned in the Bible. (See II Thessalonians 3:10; Proverbs 6:6–11; 24:30–34; Matthew 25:26; Hebrews 6:12; Genesis 3:19.) We are given the blessing of work to keep us from idleness.

6) Do not become discouraged if it takes a long time to overcome. (See Mark 16:9; Luke 18:1–8.)

7) We must keep our focus in the right direction instead of looking at the hopelessness of a situation. (See Matthew 19:29.) Look at the big picture! Is there anything to which we want to cling and for which we would give up heaven? Is there any experience too hard to pass through to make it to heaven?

8) Memorize the promises in God’s Word and start to repeat them when tempted. (See Matthew 4:4; Psalm 119:11–16.)

9) In the Bible it says that if your hand offends you to cut it off. (Matthew 5:29-30.) For example, the right kind of music can be helpful and the wrong kind a hindrance. If the music to which you are listening is not helping in your spiritual experience, then perhaps it should be cut off and cast away.

We continue with this important counsel.

Constant Prayer

10) Pray when the temptation first comes. (See Mark 14:38; Matthew 26:41.)

I have found that if I parlay with the devil, I am no match, but if I pray when the temptation first comes, God gives the power to resist. Usually, if I do not pray, then I am sunk, so to speak, as far as falling for temptation.

“In the daily life you will meet with sudden surprises, disappointments, and temptations. What saith the word? ‘Resist the devil,’ by firm reliance upon God, ‘and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.’ ‘Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.’ [James 4:7; Isaiah 27:5.] Look unto Jesus at all times and in all places, offering a silent prayer from a sincere heart that you may know how to do His will. Then when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard for you against the enemy.” The Adventist Home, 214.

“If you will only watch, continually watch unto prayer, if you will do everything as if you were in the immediate presence of God, you will be saved from yielding to temptation and may hope to be kept pure, spotless, and undefiled till the last.” Ibid., 338.

“There is no danger that the Lord will neglect the prayers of His people. The danger is that in temptation and trial they will become discouraged, and fail to persevere in prayer.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 175.

“If the Saviour of men, with His divine strength, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of prayer—fervent, constant prayer! When Christ was the most fiercely beset by temptation, He ate nothing. He committed Himself to God, and through earnest prayer, and perfect submission to the will of His Father, came off conqueror. Those who profess the truth for these last days, above every other class of professed Christians, should imitate the great Exemplar in prayer.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 52, 53.

“None will be placed beyond the reach of temptation; for in every character there are weak points that are in danger when assailed… In earnest prayer and living faith is their only safety.” Counsels on Health, 411.

“If we look at the picture of the days that were before the flood, and then turn our attention to the habits and practices of society today, we shall see that our earth is fast ripening for the plagues of the last days. Men have corrupted the earth by their sinful course of action. Satan is playing the game of life for the souls of men. Those who are doers of the words of Christ will find that they will have to watch and pray continually in order that they may not be led into temptation.” Counsels on Stewardship, 135.

“Daily beset by temptation, constantly opposed by the leaders of the people, Christ knew that He must strengthen His humanity by prayer. In order to be a blessing to men, He must commune with God, pleading for energy, perseverance, and steadfastness. Thus He showed His disciples where His strength lay. Without this daily communion with God, no human being can gain power for service.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 323.

“While you pray, dear youth, that you may not be led into temptation, remember that your work does not end with the prayer. You must then answer your own prayer as far as possible by resisting temptation, and leave that which you cannot do for yourselves for Jesus to do for you.” God’s Amazing Grace, 166.

Replace and Praise

11) When overcoming a bad habit, we must replace it with something good. (See Romans 12:21; Luke 11:21–26.)

12) Praise the Lord for what He has done for you. (See Psalms 103:1–3; 107:13–15.) An attitude of gratitude will lift your spirits even when you do not feel like it and things are not going the best.

Choose Associates Carefully

13) We must choose those with whom we associate wisely, because those are the ones who have an influence on us for good or for evil. There is danger in worldly associations. “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26.

“There is danger in departing in the least from the Lord’s instruction. When we deviate from the plain path of duty, a train of circumstances will arise that seems irresistibly to draw us farther and farther from the right. Needless intimacies with those who have no respect for God will seduce us ere we are aware. The fear of offending worldly friends will deter us from expressing our gratitude to God, or acknowledging our dependence upon him.” Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 115.

“Wrench yourself away from hurtful associations. Count the cost of following Jesus, and make it, with a determined purpose to cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Eternal life is worth your all, and Jesus has said, ‘Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.’ [Luke 14:33.] He who does nothing, but waits to be compelled by some supernatural agency, will wait on in lethargy and darkness. God has given his word. God speaks in unmistakable language to your soul. Is not the word of his mouth sufficient to show you your duty, and to urge its fulfillment?” Christian Education, 117.

“Great care should be taken by Christian youth in the formation of friendships and in the choice of companions. Take heed, lest what you now think to be pure gold turns out to be base metal. Worldly associations tend to place obstructions in the way of your service to God, and many souls are ruined by unhappy unions, either business or matrimonial, with those who can never elevate or ennoble. Never should God’s people venture upon forbidden ground. Marriage between believers and unbelievers is forbidden by God. But too often the unconverted heart follows its own desires, and marriages unsanctioned by God are formed. Because of this, many men and women are without hope and without God in the world. Their noble aspirations are dead; by a chain of circumstances they are held in Satan’s net.” Review and Herald, February 1, 1906.

“The association of the God-fearing with the unbelieving in these societies does not make saints of sinners. When God’s people voluntarily unite with the worldly and the unconsecrated, and give them the pre-eminence, they will be led away from Him by the unsanctified influence under which they have placed themselves. For a short time there may be nothing seriously objectionable; but minds that have not been brought under the control of the Spirit of God will not take readily to those things which savor of truth and righteousness. If they had had heretofore any relish for spiritual things they would have placed themselves in the ranks of Jesus Christ. The two classes are controlled by different masters and are opposites in their purposes, hopes, tastes, and desires. The followers of Jesus enjoy sober, sensible, ennobling themes, while those who have no love for sacred things cannot take pleasure in these gatherings, unless the superficial and unreal constitute a prominent feature of the exercises. Little by little the spiritual element is ruled out by the irreligious, and the effort to harmonize principles which are antagonistic in their nature proves a decided failure.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 542.

“Association with worldly-minded men and women dims the spiritual perception; for it is in direct disobedience to the plain injunctions of the word of God. In worldly society an earthly influence is at work, an atmosphere of poisonous miasma is there which is disastrous to personal piety. Those who truly love God will not cultivate the society of those who do not love Jesus. They will have some realization of their own individual weakness, and they will study prayerfully the word of God, that they may feed upon the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God, and they will find that Christian society and conversation is food to the soul, that in the society of those who love God, they breathe in the atmosphere of heaven. Christians will exercise love and sympathy one for another. The encouragement given one to another, the esteem manifested one for another, the helps, the instruction, the reproofs, warnings, the Christian counsel that should be found among the followers of Christ, will further them in the spiritual life; for Christian fellowship is according to God’s plan. Christians are to cultivate self-restraint, love, forbearance, and unity one to another by the cords of brotherly love. Thus they will together exercise faith, hope, and love toward God; they will have tender consideration for all of like precious faith, and will draw toward those who love God. There will be fellowship such as the world knows not of.” Review and Herald, November 27, 1894.

Surrender to God

14) Surrender to God when you first wake up, before you jump out of bed, before the devil has time to start sending you temptations. Ask God for help throughout the day. “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct [it] to You, And I will look up.” Psalm 5:3.

“Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, ‘Take me, O Lord, as wholly 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. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. 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.” The Faith I Live By, 125.

“The Christian life is one of daily surrender, submission, and continual overcoming. Every day fresh victories will be gained. Self must be lost sight of, and the love of God must be constantly cultivated. Thus we grow up into Christ. Thus the life is fashioned according to the divine model.” Lift Him Up, 65.

Study Christ’s Life

15) We must spend time studying the life of Christ. As we study His life, we become like Him and are changed. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13.

“The power of evil is so identified with human nature that no man can overcome except by union with Christ. Through this union we receive moral and spiritual power. If we have the spirit of Christ we shall bring forth the fruit of righteousness, fruit that will honor and bless men, and glorify God.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 230.

“It is the will of God that each professing Christian shall perfect a character after the divine similitude. By studying the character of Christ revealed in the Bible, by practicing His virtues, the believer will be changed into the same likeness of goodness and mercy. Christ’s work of self-denial and sacrifice brought into the daily life will develop the faith that works by love and purifies the soul.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 249.

“It is only by acquaintance and association with Christ that we can become like him, the one faultless example.” The Signs of the Times, September 10, 1885.

Take Care

16) Work for others. Get your mind off yourself and your situation. Jesus our example went about doing good, helping others. (Acts 10:38.)

17) Take care of your body so you can have the best possible health. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” III John 2.

“One of the greatest aids in the perfecting of pure and noble characters in the young, and strengthening their capacity to resist temptations to do evil, to indulge appetite or to fall into any debasing excesses, is the possession of sound physical health. The mind and body are intimately connected. If the former is to be firm and well-balanced, the latter should be in the best possible condition. Conscience and right principles of life should be sustained by firm, quiet nerves, a healthful circulation, and the activity and strength of general health.” The Health Reformer, November 1, 1877.

Favorite Promise

My personal favorite promise for help in fighting temptation and overcoming the devil is I Corinthians 10:11–13:

“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].”

“With the consecrated worker for God, in whatever place he may be, the Holy Spirit abides. The words spoken to the disciples are spoken also to us. The Comforter is ours as well as theirs. The Spirit furnishes the strength that sustains striving, wrestling souls in every emergency, amidst the hatred of the world, and the realization of their own failures and mistakes. In sorrow and affliction, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone,—these are the times when, in answer to the prayer of faith, the Holy Spirit brings comfort to the heart.

“It is not a conclusive evidence that a man is a Christian because he manifests spiritual ecstasy under extraordinary circumstances. Holiness is not rapture: it is an entire surrender of the will to God; it is living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; it is doing the will of our heavenly Father; it is trusting God in trial, in darkness as well as in the light; it is walking by faith and not by sight; it is relying on God with unquestioning confidence, and resting in His love.” The Acts of the Apostles, 51.

“All are accountable for their actions while in this world upon probation. All have power to control their actions, if they will. If they are weak in virtue and purity of thoughts, and acts, they can obtain help from the Friend of the helpless. Jesus is acquainted with all the weaknesses of human nature, and if entreated, will give strength to overcome the most powerful temptations. All can obtain this strength if they seek for it in humility. Jesus gives all a blessed invitation who are burdened, and laden with sin, to come to him, the sinner’s friend.” An Appeal to Mothers, 31, 32.

“You may see that you are sinful and undone; but it is just on this account that you need a Saviour. If you have sins to confess, lose no time. These moments are golden. ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (I John 1:9). Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled; for Jesus has promised it. Precious Saviour! His arms are open to receive us, and His great heart of love is waiting to bless us.” God’s Amazing Grace, 139.

“Abundant grace has been provided that the believing soul may be kept free from sin; for all heaven, with its limitless resources, has been placed at our command. We are to draw from the well of salvation.…

“We are living in the day of preparation. We must obtain a full supply of grace from the divine storehouse. The Lord has made provision for every day’s demand.” Ibid., 181.

“He who repents of his sin and accepts the gift of the life of the Son of God, cannot be overcome. Laying hold by faith of the divine nature, he becomes a child of God. He prays, he believes. When tempted and tried, he claims the power that Christ died to give, and overcomes through His grace. This every sinner needs to understand. He must repent of his sin, he must believe in the power of Christ, and accept that power to save and to keep him from sin. How thankful ought we to be for the gift of Christ’s example!” A New Life, 40.

“He who through His own atonement provided for man an infinite fund of moral power, will not fail to employ this power in our behalf…. In the whole Satanic force there is not power to overcome one soul who in simple trust casts himself on Christ.” Ibid., 41.

Results

Weak points can become strong ones. From the heroes of faith chapter, Hebrews 11, we read, “… quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” Verse 34. “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” II Corinthians 12:9.

It is like exercising. If you want strong muscles, you must exercise them, or they will be weak. As your muscles become strong when you exercise them, so also does the Christian experience become strong as it is exercised.

“Before honor is humility. The Lord can use most effectually those who are most sensible of their own unworthiness and inefficiency. He will teach them to exercise the courage of faith. He will make them strong by uniting their weakness to His might, wise by connecting their ignorance with His wisdom.” Conflict and Courage, 126.

“The Lord sees and understands, and He will use you, despite your weakness, if you offer your talent as a consecrated gift to His service; for in active, disinterested service the weak become strong and enjoy His precious commendation. The joy of the Lord is an element of strength. If you are faithful, the peace that passeth all understanding will be your reward in this life, and in the future life you will enter into the joy of your Lord.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 34.

“There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart and lives a life wholly consecrated to God. All who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to His service will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical, mental, and spiritual power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. Christ gives them the breath of His own Spirit, the life of His own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in mind and heart. Through the grace given us we may achieve victories that because of our own erroneous and preconceived opinions, our defects of character, our smallness of faith, have seemed impossible.

“To everyone who offers himself to the Lord for service, withholding nothing, is given power for the attainment of measureless results.” God’s Amazing Grace, 208.

“He who is fully consecrated to the service of God will be made strong for the battle. He will be strengthened with ‘all might.’ He who feels his weakness, and wrestles with God as did Jacob, saying, ‘I will not let thee go, except thou bless me’ (Genesis 32:26), will go forth with the fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit. The atmosphere of heaven will surround him. He will go about doing good. His influence will be a positive force in favor of the religion of Christ.” In Heavenly Places, 314.

“Men’s weakness shall find supernatural strength and help in every stern conflict to do the deeds of Omnipotence, and perseverance in faith and perfect trust in God will ensure success. While the past confederacy of evil is arrayed against them He bids them to be brave and strong and fight valiantly for they have a heaven to win, and they have more than an angel in their ranks, the mighty General of armies leads on the armies of heaven. As on the occasion of the taking of Jericho, not one of the armies of Israel could boast of exercising their finite strength to overthrow the walls of the city, but the Captain of the Lord’s host planned that battle in the greatest simplicity, that the Lord alone should receive the glory and man should not be exalted. God has promised us all power; for the promise is unto you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Conflict and Courage, 118.

“The Redeemer of the world came from heaven to help man in his weakness, that, in the power which Jesus came to bring him, he might become strong to overcome appetite and passion and might be victor on every point.” Counsels on Health, 125.

“If the Christian feels his weakness, his inability, by putting his trust in God, he will find the grace of Christ sufficient for every emergency….

“Man has little power, and can accomplish but a small work at his very best… God is omnipotent, and at every point where we need divine help and seek for it in sincerity, it will be given. God has pledged His word that His grace will be sufficient for you in your greatest necessity, in your sorest distress. Christ will be to you a present help if you will appropriate His grace.” God’s Amazing Grace, 260.

Summary

Why is overcoming important? It is the key, if we are going to go to heaven. Through our overcoming experiences, we can help others by sharing with them what God has done for us.

There are three things we must fight against as we become overcomers: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

We must acknowledge that our condition is that of hopeless sinners in need of help. Christ and His merits is the solution. We must cooperate with Him.

“Never give up your faith and hope in God. Cling to the promises. Do not trust in your feelings, but in the naked word of God. Believe the assurances of the Lord. Take your stand upon the plain thus saith the Lord, and rest there.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 4, 410.

[All emphasis added.]

Jana Grosboll serves Steps to Life as its Network Administrator. She may be contacted by e-mail at: janagrosboll@stepstolife.org.

How to Overcome the Devil, Part II

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In Revelation 12, we are told that the devil deceives the whole world, but there are some who gain the victory: “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.” Verses 10, 11, first part. As we come to the cross where Christ gained the victory, we can have the victory too. The verse does not end there. Another word follows—and. “… and by the word of their testimony.”

Gaining the victory over Satan takes the efficacy of the cross, the victory of Christ, but we must also have the same victory in our lives. The union of the Divine with the human must be present. We must unite our lives with Christ’s.

What did Jesus say to those who desire to be His disciples? “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24–26. Oh, how few today have found that personal victory over Satan, but we may have the experience in our lives that happened in Jesus’ life!

Experimental Religion

“The young want just what they have not; namely, religion. Nothing can take the place of this. Profession alone is nothing. Names are registered upon the church books upon earth, but not in the book of life. I saw that there is not one in twenty of the youth who knows what experimental religion is.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 504.

What is “experimental religion”? That is when it becomes yours. That is when you have experimented with the promises of God and found them to be true. That is when you develop a personal testimony. Not one in twenty, we are told, have an experimental knowledge of religion. Oh, they may know how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt; they may know about Jesus in the wilderness; they may know a lot about Bible stories such as Daniel and the lions’ den, but they have never been delivered from the lions’ den. They have never been delivered from Egypt. They have never surrendered all of their life or self to the naked promises of God.

Not one in twenty knows what an experimental religion is, “but unless the spell which is upon them be broken, they will soon realize that the portion of the transgressor is theirs.” Ibid., 505.

“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Revelation 12:12.

How can we overcome the devil? From verse 11 we read that, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” There must be a union of the Divine with the human. Jesus’ experience must become ours. We must be able to testify that God is true. We must stand the test; we must overcome; we must have a testimony.

We cannot be saved by good sermons. We cannot be saved by listening to tapes and CDs or by watching videos and DVDs. They might all be right and good in themselves, but consider the example Jesus left for us. After He was with the disciples for three and a half years, He left them, and they each had to develop an experience of their own.

His experience was no longer sufficient for them. They had to develop their own experience. And so it is that God gives us various experiences and various trials to teach us and to give us this experience that we need, to teach us to trust Him.

Testimony of Victory

The question is, Do you have this experience? Do you have a testimony of victory in your own life?

This is a very serious question. Think of the three Hebrew slaves who were in Babylon when the decree went forth to worship the golden image set up on the plain of Dura. How easy it would have been for them to find it convenient at that particular moment to kneel down and begin to pray to God for help. They would not, after all, have been worshipping the image,
you understand; they would have been praying to the God of heaven. Do you think you could have rationalized like that? What would you have done? Would you have kneeled down and begun to pray to God?

If that had occurred, you could have come from that experience saying, “The Lord saved me from death,” but you would not have had a testimony. The three Hebrews received their testimony by going to the fiery furnace.

When we are at the point of an experience such as losing our job because we will not work on the Sabbath, and we step out on God’s promises, that is when we have a testimony. It is when we come to the place where everything is against us, we have nothing but the promises of God upon which to rely, and we take the stand that God can work. That is when we find that He is true. That is when we receive a testimony.

Too many of us do not have a testimony to bear for God because we have never tried Him. We have always knelt down when the decree went forth. Of course, we are pacified; we still think we are good Christians because we are not praying to the idol—we are praying to God, but we are kneeling down to the idol. We are afraid of that fiery furnace.

The testimony comes when we stand the test through the strength of God, and the test comes to everyone. Satan deceives the world, but we overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony, through the union of the Divine with the human. Jesus’ experience must become ours.

A Different Spirit

Peter noticed that there was something different about Mary, as she attended his meetings, conducted in the Portuguese language, in Quebec. Mary spoke Portuguese. But Peter noticed she had a far away look in her eyes, so he arranged to visit her as he visited all the interests from his meetings.

As Peter visited with Mary, he reviewed things the meeting attendees had been learning. Oh, she was thrilled about what she was learning; she believed the truths he was presenting, but there was something he had said that last night that bothered her, and that was when he saw that far away look in her eyes. The topic that brought that look to her eyes was about the state of the dead.

Mary, like a lot of young girls, had needed some attention, someone to love her, some years before when she was living in Paris alone. Through a friend, she met John, a tall, young man—blond, well mannered, muscular. He was everything that she ever wanted. He was respectful, and he understood her. She fell in love with him. They saw each other a number of times, and even though he visited her in her apartment, she remained pure. They were not cohabiting together. Then the time came that she moved to Quebec, Canada, and he moved with her.

What could be wrong with this boyfriend? It so happened that he was a spirit boyfriend. She did not know at first, but he turned out to be a spirit that had supposedly lived in ages past. Oh, the devil is working so hard on our young people to entrance them through their relationships. Usually, the devil can find a human being, too, that he can work through—just the right one, through whom he can create infatuation within a young man or a young woman whom God wants for His service, and who will distract them from God. In Mary’s case, it appeared as though Satan could not find anyone else, so he sent one of his angels.

Cost of a Testimony

Now, Mary had had this relationship for many years. Her heart was entwined around her boyfriend. But as Peter studied with her, the Spirit of the Lord worked, and this young woman wanted the victory that Jesus had. She wanted salvation. Consequently, she did something that I find very few young people are willing to do, sad to say. She broke the relationship. She and Peter knelt down and prayed, and she committed herself to the Lord.

The spirit boyfriend visited her that night. First, he tried to sweet talk her. When that did not work, he did something he had never before done. He became upset with her; in fact, he hit her in the mouth.

In spite of his warnings, she decided to go forth and be baptized. When the time came for her baptism, she told the evangelist, Peter, as she came into the baptismal pool, “He is here. He is right here in the baptistry with us.” She knew his presence; she had lived with him in her life for a long time.

As Peter commenced with the baptism, he tried to immerse her in the water of the baptistry, but a force held her up. Three times he tried to baptize her; he pushed with all of his might to get her under the water, but something pushed her up. The third time, she lifted right up out of the baptistry and landed in the congregation—wet, dripping, but not baptized.

What would you have done? Would you have continued with the baptism? Mary did. She walked back into the baptistry, and she was baptized.

She was asked to give her testimony at camp meeting that year, and she agreed to do it. As she was preparing, writing down her thoughts, the devil visited her again through her spirit boyfriend, John. He tore up her notes, and told her, “If you give that testimony, you will be dead in two weeks.”

Now, you and I have all heard stories like this, and we know when the devil says it, it happens, right? The person in some way is dead in two weeks. The devil has us all believing. But she decided to give her testimony anyway. She went ahead and gave it. She did not die in two weeks.

The devil is only as strong as God allows him to be. There is a protection that God puts around us. Do not believe everything Satan says. I am sure he would have liked to cause her death. I am sure he would have done anything to bring it about. But day by day she lives under the protection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the same as you and I do.

Ah, dear friend, the devil is seeking to deceive the whole world; he is deceiving the whole world today. But he can be overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.

I invite you to come to the foot of the cross. Allow some of that blood to drip on you as you meditate upon the sacrifice of Christ. Then step out on the promises of God and determine to do what God says, come what may, and see how the Lord will work so that you might have a testimony also.

Steps to Life was founded by Pastor Marshall Grosboll and his wife Lillian. In 1987, a television program was developed and started to air on the local Wichita, Kansas, television station. A Bible Correspondence School was also started which still exists today. Returning from a camp meeting in July 1991 held in Washington state, Marshall and his family met with tragedy as the airplane he was piloting went down, killing all aboard including his wife and two young children.

Pen of Inspiration – The Victorious Life

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Dear Friend:

The Lord has given me a message for you, and not for you only, but also for other faithful souls who are troubled by doubts and fears regarding their acceptance by the Lord Jesus Christ. His word to you is, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” You desire to please the Lord, and you can do this by believing His promises. He is waiting to take you into a harbor of gracious experience, and He bids you, “Be still, and know that I am God.” You have had a time of unrest; but Jesus says to you, “Come unto Me, … and I will give you rest.” The joy of Christ in the soul is worth everything. “Then are they glad,” because they are privileged to rest in the arms of everlasting love.

Put away your distrust of our heavenly Father. Instead of talking of your doubts, break away from them in the strength of Jesus, and let light shine into your soul by letting your voice express confidence and trust in God. I know that the Lord is very nigh to give you victory, and I say to you, Be helped, be strengthened, be lifted out of and away from the dark dungeon of unbelief. Doubts will rush into your mind, because Satan is trying to hold you in captivity to his cruel power; but face him in the strength that Jesus is willing to give you, and conquer the inclination to express unbelief in your Saviour.

Do not talk of your inefficiency and your defects. When despair would seem to be sweeping over your soul, look to Jesus, saying, He lives to make intercession for me. Forget the things that are behind, and believe the promise, “I will come to you,” and “abide with you.”

God is waiting to bestow the blessing of forgiveness, of pardon for iniquity, of the gifts of righteousness, upon all who will believe in His love and accept the salvation He offers. Christ is ready to say to the repenting sinner, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” The blood of Jesus Christ is the eloquent plea that speaks in behalf of sinners. This blood “cleanseth us from all sin.”

It is your privilege to trust in the love of Jesus for salvation, in the fullest, surest, noblest manner; to say, He loves me, He receives me; I will trust Him, for He gave His life for me. Nothing so dispels doubt as coming in contact with the character of Christ. He declares, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out;” that is, there is no possibility of My casting him out, for I have pledged My word to receive him. Take Christ at His word, and let your lips declare that you have gained the victory.

Is Jesus true? Does He mean what He says? Answer decidedly, Yes, every word. Then if you have settled this, by faith claim every promise that He has made, and receive the blessing; for this acceptance by faith gives life to the soul. You may believe that Jesus is true to you, even though you feel yourself to be the weakest and most unworthy of His children. And as you believe, all your dark, brooding doubts are thrown back upon the archdeceiver who originated them. You can be a great blessing if you will take God at His word. By living faith you are to trust Him, even though the impulse is strong within you to speak words of distrust.

Peace comes with dependence on divine power. As fast as the soul resolves to act in accordance with the light given, the Holy Spirit gives more light and strength. The grace of the Spirit is supplied to cooperate with the soul’s resolve, but it is not a substitute for the individual exercise of faith. Success in the Christian life depends upon the appropriation of the light that God has given. It is not an abundance of light and evidence that makes the soul free in Christ; it is the rising of the powers and the will and the energies of the soul to cry out sincerely, “Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.”

I rejoice in the bright prospects of the future, and so may you. Be cheerful, and praise the Lord for His loving-kindness. That which you cannot understand, commit to Him. He loves you and pities your every weakness. He “hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” It would not satisfy the heart of the Infinite One to give those who love His Son a lesser blessing than He gives His Son.

Satan seeks to draw our minds away from the mighty Helper, to lead us to ponder over our degeneration of soul. But though Jesus sees the guilt of the past, He speaks pardon; and we should not dishonor Him by doubting His love. The feeling of guiltiness must be laid at the foot of the cross, or it will poison the springs of life. When Satan thrusts his threatenings upon you, turn from them, and comfort your soul with the promises of God. The cloud may be dark in itself, but when filled with the light of heaven, it turns to the brightness of gold; for the glory of God rests upon it.

God’s children are not to be subject to feelings and emotions. When they fluctuate between hope and fear, the heart of Christ is hurt; for He has given them unmistakable evidence of His love. He wants them to be established, strengthened, and settled in the most holy faith. He wants them to do the work He has given them; then their hearts will become in His hands as sacred harps, every chord of which will send forth praise and thanksgiving to the One sent by God to take away the sins of the world.

Christ’s love for His children is as tender as it is strong. And it is stronger than death; for He died to purchase our salvation, and to make us one with Him, mystically and eternally one. So strong is His love that it controls all His powers, and employs the vast resources of heaven in doing His people good. It is without variableness or shadow of turning—the same yesterday, today, and forever. Although sin has existed for ages, trying to counteract this love and obstruct its flowing earthward, it still flows in rich currents to those for whom Christ died.

God loves the sinless angels, who do His service and are obedient to all His commands; but He does not give them grace; they have never needed it, for they have never sinned. Grace is an attribute shown to undeserving human beings. We did not seek after it; it was sent in search of us. God rejoices to bestow grace upon all who hunger and thirst for it, not because we are worthy, but because we are unworthy. Our need is the qualification which gives us the assurance that we shall receive the gift.

It should not be difficult to remember that the Lord desires you to lay your troubles and perplexities at His feet, and leave them there. Go to Him, saying: “Lord, my burdens are too heavy for me to carry. Wilt Thou bear them for me?” And He will answer: “I will take them. ‘With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee.’ I will take your sins, and will give you peace. Banish no longer your self-respect; for I have bought you with the price of My own blood. You are Mine. Your weakened will I will strengthen. Your remorse for sin I will remove.”

“I, even I, am He,” the Lord declares, “that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put Me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.” “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye Me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.” “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Respond to the calls of God’s mercy, and say: “I will trust in the Lord and be comforted. I will praise the Lord; for His anger is turned away. I will rejoice in God, who gives the victory.”

The last writings of Ellen White, written in California, June 14, 1914. Taken from Testimonies to Ministers, 216–220.

Question and Answer – Perfect on Earth?

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Question

Are we really supposed to be perfect on earth or is that a prophecy for when we go to heaven?

Answer

The Bible says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27.

The Bible was given to us as a light of truth by which to shape our lives. It explains itself fully in every matter God wishes to reveal to His people. Revelation 14:12 expounds on the question of perfection by saying, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

It would be impossible for us to keep God’s commandments without the faith of Jesus. Jesus’ faith was based unwaveringly on faith in His Father. When He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was facing untold agony and suffering, bearing the weight of the sins of the world. In spite of His plea for relief were it possible, He ultimately said, “Thy will be done.” He had complete confidence in His Father that the Father’s will was perfect.

Revelation clearly points out that it is the overcomer who will be restored to the Tree of Life. (See Revelation 2:7.) “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Revelation 2:11. “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5. There are many other promises addressed to those who overcome the world.

Overcoming the world is an unattainable task without the power of Christ and the aid of the Holy Spirit. God provides us with many promises to encourage us in our battle to conquer the odds. Luke 18:27 says, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” And Paul says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And Jesus said in Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”

“Before the believer is held out the wonderful possibility of being like Christ, obedient to all the principles of the law. But of himself man is utterly unable to reach this condition. The holiness that God’s word declares he must have before he can be saved is the result of the working of divine grace as he bows in submission to the discipline and restraining influences of the Spirit of truth. Man’s obedience can be made perfect only by the incense of Christ’s righteousness, which fills with divine fragrance every act of obedience. The part of the Christian is to persevere in overcoming every fault. Constantly he is to pray to the Saviour to heal the disorders of his sin-sick soul. He has not the wisdom or the strength to overcome; these belong to the Lord, and He bestows them on those who in humiliation and contrition seek Him for help.

“The work of transformation from unholiness to holiness is a continuous one. Day by day God labors for man’s sanctification, and man is to co-operate with Him, putting forth persevering efforts in the cultivation of right habits. He is to add grace to grace; and as he thus works on the plan of addition, God works for him on the plan of multiplication. Our Saviour is always ready to hear and answer the prayer of the contrite heart, and grace and peace are multiplied to His faithful ones. Gladly He grants them the blessings they need in their struggle against the evils that beset them. There are those who attempt to ascend the ladder of Christian progress; but as they advance they begin to put their trust in the power of man, and soon lose sight of Jesus, Author and Finisher of their faith.” The Acts of the Apostles, 532.

Food for Life – Spiritual Power

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“For every soul struggling to rise from a life of sin to a life of purity, the great element of power abides in the only name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12. If any man thirst for restful hope, for deliverance from sinful propensities, Christ says, let him come unto Me, and drink. John 7:37. The only remedy for vice is the grace and power of Christ.

“The good resolutions made in one’s own strength avail nothing. Not all the pledges in the world will break the power of evil habit. Never will men practice temperance in all things until their hearts are renewed by divine grace. We cannot keep ourselves from sin for one moment. Every moment we are dependent upon God.

“True reformation begins with soul cleansing. Our work for the fallen will achieve real success only as the grace of Christ reshapes the character and the soul is brought into living connection with God.

“Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to God’s law, and in this He set an example for every human being. The life that He lived in this world we are to live through His power and under His instruction.

“In our work for the fallen the claims of the law of God and the need of loyalty to Him are to be impressed on mind and heart. Never fail to show that there is a marked difference between the one who serves God and the one who serves Him not. God is love, but He cannot excuse willful disregard for His commands. The enactments of His government are such that men do not escape the consequences of disloyalty. Only those who honor Him can He honor. Man’s conduct in this world decides his eternal destiny. As he has sown, so he must reap. Cause will be followed by effect.

“Nothing less than perfect obedience can meet the standard of God’s requirement. He has not left His requirements indefinite. He has enjoined nothing that is not necessary in order to bring man into harmony with Him. We are to point sinners to His ideal of character and to lead them to Christ, by whose grace only can this ideal be reached.

“The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us partakers of the divine nature, and His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin.

“The Saviour overcame to show man how he may overcome. All the temptations of Satan, Christ met with the word of God. By trusting in God’s promises, He received power to obey God’s commandments, and the tempter could gain no advantage. To every temptation His answer was, It is written. So God has given us His word wherewith to resist evil. Exceeding great and precious promises are ours, that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4.

“Bid the tempted one look not to circumstances, to the weakness of self, or to the power of temptation, but to the power of God’s word. All its strength is ours. Thy word, says the psalmist, have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee. By the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Psalms 119:11; 17:4.

“Talk courage to the people; lift them up to God in prayer. Many who have been overcome by temptation are humiliated by their failures, and they feel that it is in vain for them to approach unto God; but this thought is of the enemy’s suggestion. When they have sinned, and feel that they cannot pray, tell them that it is then the time to pray. Ashamed they may be, and deeply humbled; but as they confess their sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness.

“Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on the merits of the Saviour. By prayer, by the study of His word, by faith in His abiding presence, the weakest of human beings may live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold them by a hand that will never let go. Ministry of Healing, 179–182.

Recipe for September 1996:

Savory Millet Casserole

1 Cup Whole Millet

1 46 oz. Can Tomato Juice

1 Tbsp. Onion Powder

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

4 Tbsps. Sesame Seeds

1/2 Cup Chopped Cashews

1 Can Chopped Olives (4 oz.)

1 tsp. Sea Salt

3/4 tsp. Sage

3/4 tsp. Savory

1/2 tsp. Sweet Basil

1 Can sliced Mushrooms (4 oz.)

Mix all ingredients and bake in a shallow covered casserole dish at 325 degrees for 2–3 hours or until liquid is absorbed. In the middle of the baking time, stir thoroughly, and sprinkle the cashews over the top.

Editorial – Will You be an Overcomer?

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“The last great day is right upon us. Let all consider that Satan is now striving for the mastery over souls. He is playing the game of life for your souls. Will there be sins committed by you on the very borders of the heavenly Canaan? Oh what revealings! The husband will know for the first time the deception and falsehood that have been practiced by the wife whom he thought innocent and pure. The wife for the first time will know the case of her husband, and the relatives and friends will see how error and falsehood and corruption have been clustering about them; for the secrets of all hearts will stand revealed. The hour of Judgment is almost here,—long delayed by the goodness and mercy of God. But the trump of God will sound to the consternation of the unprepared who are living, and awaken the pale nations of the dead. The great white throne will appear, and all the righteous dead will come forth to immortality. Whatever have been the little sins indulged will ruin the soul, unless they are overcome. The small sins will swell into the greater sins. Impure thoughts, private, impure actions, unrefined, low, and sensual thoughts and actions in the marriage life, the giving loose reins to the baser passions under the marriage vow will lead to every other sin, the transgression of all the commandments of God. Men that God has entrusted with noble talents will be, unless closely connected with God, guilty of great weakness, and not having the grace of Christ in the soul will become connected with greater crimes. This is because they do not make the truth of God a part of them. Their discipline has been defective, the soul culture has not been carried forward from one advance to another, inborn tendencies have not been restrained, but have degraded the soul. For all the natural weaknesses Jesus has made ample provision, that they may be overcome through his grace. If not overcome, the weakness will become a tyrant, a conqueror, to overcome them, and the heavenly light will become beclouded and extinguished.” Review and Herald, May 24, 1887.

“You may feel that you cannot meet the approval of heaven. You may say, ‘I was born with a natural tendency toward this evil, and I cannot overcome.’ But every provision has been made by our heavenly Father whereby you may be able to overcome every unholy tendency. You are to overcome even as Christ overcame in your behalf. He says, ‘To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.’ It was sin that imperiled the human family; and before man was created the provision was made that if man failed to bear the test, Jesus would become his sacrifice and surety, that through faith in him, man might be reconciled to God, for Christ was the lamb ‘slain from the foundation of the world.’ Christ died on Calvary that man might have power to overcome his natural tendencies to sin. But one says, ‘Can I not have my own way, and act myself?’—No, you cannot have your way, and enter the kingdom of heaven. No ‘my way’ will be there. No human ways will find place in the kingdom of heaven. Our ways must be lost in God’s ways.” Review and Herald, February 23, 1892.

“When there is a determined purpose born in your heart to overcome, you will have a disposition to overcome, and will cultivate those traits of character that are desirable, and will engage in the conflict with steady, persevering effort. You will exercise a ceaseless watchfulness over your defects of character; and will cultivate right practices in little things. The difficulty of overcoming will be lessened in proportion as the heart is sanctified by the grace of Christ. Earnest, persevering effort will place you on the vantage-ground of victory; for he who strives to overcome in and through the grace of Christ, will have divine enlightenment, and will understand how great truths can be brought into little things, and religion can be carried into the little as well as into the large concerns of life.” Youth’s Instructor, September 7, 1893.

“Every one who is to receive the overcomer’s reward must first overcome every sin; and not until he overcomes through divine grace, can he entertain hope of entering the haven of eternal bliss.” Testimonies to the Church Regarding Individual Responsibility and Christian Unity, 13.

The End

Overcoming

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Sometimes the word perfection strikes people as being too harsh or unattainable. In the book, The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection, by A. T. Jones (Leaves of Autumn Books, Inc., Payson, Arizona [1978], 118), it says, “The service in the earthly sanctuary shows also that in order for the sanctuary to be cleansed, and the course of the gospel service there to be finished, it must first be finished in the people who have a part in the service. That is to say: In the sanctuary itself, transgression could not be finished, an end of sins and reconciliation for iniquity could not be made, and everlasting righteousness could not be brought in, until all this had been accomplished in each person who had a part in the service of the sanctuary.”

The sanctuary is the central part of the message that defines us as Seventh-day Adventists. It goes on to say, “Therefore the very first work in the cleansing of the sanctuary was the cleansing of the people. That which was preliminary and essential to the cleansing of the sanctuary itself, to the finishing of the transgression and bringing in everlasting righteousness there, was the finishing of transgression, and the making an end of sins, and making reconciliation for iniquity, and bringing in everlasting righteousness in the heart and life of each one of the people themselves. When the stream that flowed into the sanctuary was thus stopped at its source, then, and then alone, could the sanctuary itself be cleansed from the sins and transgression which, from the people, by the intercession of the priests, had flowed into the sanctuary.” Ibid., 118, 119.

Perfection was required on the day of atonement. It was only when sin stopped flowing into the sanctuary that it could be cleansed; otherwise the blood of the sacrificial lambs would continually defile it. In the earthly sanctuary, Jesus has given us an example.

James 1:27 identifies what is needed to belong to the true church—true religion! “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble [in their affliction KJV], and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” Notice that this is not just a social visit. It is for a specific purpose to help them in their need or affliction. God has a special care for the widows and orphans, and if you touch the orphan, you have touched the apple of God’s eye.

We are told to “keep unspotted from the world.” Paul says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14. We can understand peace, even though there is misunderstanding as to how to pursue it. Don’t let the trouble be on you, but let you be the peacemaker. So “pursue peace … and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord.” These words sometimes strike fear or terror in people, but they are necessary, for God is holy and only holy people will be with Him in eternity.

In Jesus’ prayer to His Father, He said, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” John 17:14–16.

What is the world spoken of here? We speak about Babylon and to come out of her and it is related, because Babylon is the world. However, Jesus here says, “You should [not] take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” Verse 16.

“The world” gets to us through our senses. Satan gains entrance into our minds through the senses. He does not know what we are thinking, but he is a master at watching us our whole lives. We are to guard the avenues of the soul, which includes what we allow into our minds through our senses. We always talk about the temptations and how they need to be resisted. Joseph was tempted daily from the outside. The entire universe was watching what Joseph would do when confronted by Potiphar’s wife. Joseph’s intentions were pure, and when tempted he said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9. Joseph’s integrity cost him many years in prison, but God’s hand was over him, preparing him to be a ruler in Egypt.

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” James 1:13, 14. According to James, the temptation comes from within, and we are enticed through our own desires. Through the senses the desire is worked up and becomes enticed. When you give in and agree to the temptation, it is then sin. When a person realizes he is tempted, and in the strength of the Lord resists and repents of it, he beats the desire. All are tempted through the world but we all have free will to choose either to give in to the temptation or resist.

There are many Adventists who do not really believe that it is possible to live the Christian life and continually overcome, claiming that even Paul struggled every day. They quote Paul in Romans 7 where he says he wanted to do what was right, but he couldn’t do it, always catching himself doing what he shouldn’t be doing, and they identify with him. In Romans 8, Paul writes that he was successful in overcoming that vacillating life of in and out of sin. In verses 5 and 6 he tells us, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

He points out that it is not just being tempted or enticed, but there is a choice in what to think about and where to direct your mind. He says, “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.” This is making a deliberate choice on what to focus. It can be compared to driving. While your focus is on the road ahead you are unlikely to sway from your lane, but if you start focusing on something out to the side, you could be off the road in seconds. It is a natural law that you will go where you are looking.

The first half of Romans 8 deals with focusing the mind. This is the key, and it is your choice whether you set it on the Spirit or on the flesh. No one can do it for you.

Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34. He said, it is not what goes into the mouth but what comes out, that defiles a person. We know that the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). Who you really are will eventually come out and be made public. You cannot hold it in. Some people are great actors. The word actor in Greek means hypocrite. It was a profession just as today in Hollywood we have actors in this world that profess. In Greece they would be called hypocrites. An actor cannot act continually without what is in the heart coming out sooner or later.

True Christians are to be apart from the world. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15–17. Jesus said that the world will pass away and all the lusts, but whoever does the will of God will abide forever. He said, “I always do the will of My Father.” He did not say, “Yes, I pray five times and I study so long.” No, He said, “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father.” John 5:30.

One of the worst-case scenarios at the end of time is found in Matthew 7. There is a group of people who go around converting people in the world with great success, but then the Lord will say, “I never knew you; depart from Me.” Matthew 7:23. The reason for this is that they did not do the will of His Father. Jesus said that they might have done all the right things, but it was not from the heart, not from the will.

Jesus spoke of “all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” 1 John 2:16. These are the three things of which the world consists. The word lust means passion or passionately liking something. It is far more than just a like or a dislike. It involves selfishness. For example, I want everything for me. I want nice clothes and my belly full. The lust of the eyes would be greed. You have enough, but you want more, and you also want what the other person has. You see it and you want it. The pride of life is the self-identity that we have. It may not be really true, but I build myself up to think highly of who I am, considering myself better than others. It is who I am in my own estimation, disregarding who I am in Christ. Others might see me differently than I see myself. This is the pride of life.

These are the three things that include everything in this world and provide the motives for everything we do. It applies to each business transaction, how we present ourselves in the church and in our homes. Sadly, this includes selfishness, greed and our ego or pride.

In Galatians 5:19–23, Paul talks about the fruits of the Spirit and the works of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” We must be aware of the works of the flesh and fight against those kinds of fruits, for a tree is known by its fruits.

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6. Here is the description of how Eve fell. Three things Satan promised Eve that were going to happen. Then, when she bit into it, it seemed like it had happened. The fruit tasted good. It was like black light. You can see things under black light that you have never seen before, but remember—it is black light, not light!

Isaiah 14:13 says, “For you [Satan] have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation.’ ” Above the stars, me! I’m going to be over all this. And then, “sit on the mount of the congregation” and look over my kingdom; I am going to have it all!

“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Verse 14. In other words, Satan would have the adoration that belonged to Christ. He said, “I’m somebody; I’m not just a servant around here.”

God did not create sin. He wants each person to think freely and choose wisely. Which direction are you putting your thoughts, inward or outward? Satan turned his inward. He said, “I don’t have to do what God says; I can do what I want to do.” That is exactly what many children do. They get to be old enough and then say, “You’re not going to tell me what to do again.” That is the same thinking that started the sin problem. Satan was a free thinker, and he turned inward saying, “I am going to do.” As long as our mind is running in the same direction there is no difference. The problem begins with what is in our hearts.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14, 15.

How can this be? Jesus did not have a wife. He did not have children that were born to Him. He didn’t suffer a broken arm, or get cancer or those kinds of things, so how could He be tempted in all points as we are?

When you examine carefully the temptations Jesus endured in the wilderness, they boil down to just three. He overcame sin on a very basic level. The problem we have is not dissecting our temptations to the basic level. We are often so concerned about our own little situation and do not recognize the root problem, preferring to just take a pill and make it go away.

Let’s examine the temptations that Jesus endured. “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.” Matthew 4:2. I remember years ago something that happened in Ireland. The English were fighting against the Irish and England had rounded up some Irish men and put them in jail. The Irish prisoners went on a hunger strike that lasted about 35 or 38 days. They refused to give in to the English, resulting in ten or twelve of them dying. Forty days is about the maximum anyone can last fasting.

Stones into Bread

After forty days, the first thing Jesus would think is, “I need something to eat.” It was at that point that Satan came as an angel of light suggesting that He turn the stones into bread. Didn’t He need to take care of Himself? After all, didn’t He have to live and save the world? Wasn’t that the reason for Him being there? He tried to put doubt in Jesus’ mind that His Father would take care of Him, so wouldn’t it be better to try and take care of Himself?

How often we readily fall for this same temptation and stop waiting on the Lord. We pray, and things keep happening. Then an idea may come and we take matters into our own hands, forgetting to wait on the Lord and do what we think is best. Jesus refused to accept the temptation from Satan.

Cast Thyself Down

“Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: “He shall give his angels charge over You,” and, “In their hands they shall bear You up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone.” ’ ” Matthew 4:5, 6.

Basically, the devil said, “You want people to believe You. You want people to know who You are. You didn’t change the stones into bread, ok. But, hey, the Bible says You can do this. It’s permissible to show them that you are the One.” The devil tempted Jesus to prove who He was to all. But Jesus replied, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Verse 7.

Fall Down and Worship Me

“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” ’ ” Matthew 4:8–10. As soon as Jesus saw this presentation, He turned so that He was not drawn by the desires.

In His humanity, Jesus overcame every temptation that we have to overcome. We need to bow down in the morning and surrender our lives to Him. Then in the evening bow again, asking forgiveness for where we have fallen short during the day. Jesus led a holy life. He was the second Adam who did not sin.

Paul contrasts the two natures: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Galatians 5:16, 17. Here we get the idea that when we walk in the Spirit, we are not part of the world. We live in the world, but are not part of it, with all the lust and passionate desires controlling our lives.

When He was arrested, Jesus’ disciples did not understand, because their hearts were still in this world. They told Him, “No, we’ll die for you. No problem!” And they may have died if there would have been a battle between Him and the high priest, his guards and Herod. Peter whipped out the sword, and he was going to fight. Peter rebuked Jesus because He humbled Himself ready to meet death and allowing them kill Him. Peter said, “No, you can’t do that.” Jesus said to him: “You favor things that be of men, not that be of God” (Matthew 16:23). Peter did not know his true motivation.

As Jesus preached to the people, they realized that He was getting serious, and they were not prepared to face the real issues that He was coming down to so they all left. Finally, when only the twelve were there, Jesus asked, “Are you also going to leave?” But they said, “Where would we go?”

Galatians 5:18–21 says, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like.” He was not finished with the list but ended that way because there would be too many to mention.

He continued, “Just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Jesus had none of these characteristics in Himself. The Bible says that, if possible, the very elect would be deceived (Matthew 24:24). But the very elect are not deceived because Satan’s temptations have no appeal to their senses.

We need to understand why we always want more money or bigger houses, etc. The reason is because of greed. We must admit and confess our wrong fruits and repent; otherwise we will never be overcomers. Some people walk with the Lord for a time and then say, “I’ve had enough of this self-sacrifice. I’ve had enough of this self-denial. Everybody else is doing those things that I am restricting and they are still here; it hasn’t hurt them.” They start living for self. Jesus was tempted on all points as we are, and He overcame and promises us the victory also in His strength.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23. Jesus was perfect. He went about healing and doing good for the thirty years that He lived on earth. When you think about this, don’t think of the three and a half years that He ministered, but think of the thirty years that He lived, when He was in the shop, when He worked, when He delivered the furniture and when He talked with the people. And when He got home His brothers would say things like: “You’re just no good. You don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t know how to run this business.” Read the chapter in The Desire of Ages about Judas. Mrs. White definitely says that they thought Jesus was making a big mistake by not listening to Judas. Unbelievable! Why? Because Judas had a fine way about him, and he knew what to do. Because of his demeanor, all the rest of the disciples saw eye to eye with him, and when he doubted what Jesus did, that doubt influenced their minds. They never would have believed that Judas was the one who would betray Him.

But Judas was too smart. Because of his evil greed and his selfishness, he thought he could make a good deal. Judas thought, “This is enough now. I’ve been with Jesus three years and I have lost a lot of money because I was in business. Jesus doesn’t know how to handle money and even when the situation was right to make Him king He did not accept it.” Selfish people can be helpful people, but they help so they can help themselves. Judas thought he had made a good deal with the priests, so he thought that if Jesus was who He said He was, there would be no way that He would allow Himself to die; that would be silly. He was convinced, so decided to push the issue. Thinking himself pretty smart, he came up with a little plan. Jesus was captured, and he thought that if Jesus was not who He said He was, he would have the thirty pieces of silver.

Judas had no idea what He was all about, because Jesus gained the victory right from the beginning. He already dealt with the issue of dying, dying to self, not wanting anything of this world or its ensuing pride. Jesus said, “The ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30. Exactly nothing! Satan could not appeal to Him, so he was furious and threw the final vehemence at Him because there was nothing with which he could accuse him. That is why we need the mind of Jesus.

There will come a time when people in the world are no longer appealing to Christ for forgiveness in the sanctuary, for all sins will be forgiven. The blood will cease to flow in the heavenly sanctuary and Jesus will have no more work to do and will no longer need to intercede. He will take off His high priestly robe and put on His kingly robe and claim His people who He has cleansed from sin. Heaven will be free of sin. There will be no more temptation because the one who began sin will finally be done away with and there will be joy in heaven.

May God help us to see and understand this issue as we study how to overcome sin at its root, and let God put His seed in us every day.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

John Korponay and his wife, Robin, moved to Wichita from Washington state in July, 2012, after John had accepted a position at Steps to Life. John and Robin are life-long Adventists with much experience in self-supporting work. He may be contacted by email at: johnkorponay@stepstolife.org.

Editorial – The Goal

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Jesus . . . gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a special people.” Titus 2:13, 14. “They are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:5. She will be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:27. Without spot and blameless. 2 Peter 3:14.

This is the goal to be attained by everyone who will be saved, and it is possible for us all, “being confident of this very thing that He who has begun a good work in you will finish it unto the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6.

Concerning the goal Ellen White comments much:

“The result of union with Christ is purification of heart, a circumspect life, and a faultless character. Yet those who have attained to this degree of Christian perfection are the last to claim that they have any merits of their own.” Signs of the Times, March 10, 1887.

“The thorough work of preparation must go on with all who profess the truth, until we stand before the throne of God without fault, without a spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. God will cleanse you if you will submit to the purifying process.” Maranatha, 90.

“When tempted to murmur, censure, and indulge in fretfulness, wounding those around you, and in so doing wounding your own soul, oh! let the deep, earnest, anxious inquiry come from your soul, Shall I stand without fault before the throne of God? Only the faultless will be there. None will be translated to heaven while their hearts are filled with the rubbish of earth. Every defect in the moral character must first be remedied, every stain removed by the cleansing blood of Christ, and all the unlovely, unlovable traits of character overcome.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 705.

While we must keep our eye on the goal we must never be discouraged if we should stumble on the way:

“Cease the contemplation of others’ mistakes and errors. We should remember that our own ways are not faultless. We make mistakes again and again . . . No one is perfect but Jesus.” That I May Know Him, 136.

“No one is perfect but Jesus. Think of Him and be charmed away from yourself, and from every disagreeable thing, for by beholding our defects faith is weakened. God and His promises are lost from sight.” Manuscript Release, vol. 11, 263.

“Jesus loves His children, even if they err. They belong to Jesus and we are to treat them as the purchase of the blood of Jesus Christ. Any unreasonable course pursued toward them is written in the books as against Jesus Christ. He keeps His eye upon them, and when they do their best, calling upon God for His help, be assured the service will be accepted, although imperfect. Jesus is perfect. Christ’s righteousness is imputed unto them, and He will say, Take away the filthy garments from him, and clothe him with change of raiment. Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies. Where Christians are faithful to each other, true and loyal to the Captain of the Lord’s host, never betraying trusts into the enemy’s hands, they will be transformed into Christ’s character. Jesus will abide in their hearts by faith.” Letter, 17A, 1891.

“We may take courage, and believe that we shall overcome every imperfection of character. Our Redeemer has taken our nature, fought our battles, and in his name we shall conquer. Human nature may take hold of the strength of God, and be victorious.” Youth’s Instructor, December 28, 1899.

“When He sees men lifting the burdens, trying to carry them in lowliness of mind, with distrust of self and with reliance upon Him, He adds to their work His perfection and sufficiency, and it is accepted of the Father. We are accepted in the beloved. The sinner’s defects are covered by the perfection and fullness of the Lord our righteousness. Those who with sincere will, with contrite heart, are putting forth humble efforts to live up to the requirements of God, are looked upon by the Father with pitying, tender love; He regards such as obedient children, and the righteousness of Christ is imputed unto them.” Our High Calling, 51.

“All who desire to be among the number who will stand before God without fault must begin without delay the practical work of overcoming. The Lord permits trials to come in order that we may be cleansed from earthliness, from selfishness, from harsh un-Christlikeness of character. He desires to create in every heart a deep and earnest longing to be cleansed from every stain of sin, that we may come forth purer, holier, and happier from every trial which He permits. Our souls become darkened by selfishness, but if we can only see Jesus, there will be a dying to self. Changes will be made in word and action.” Upward Look, 298.

The End

Getting Out of a Bad Marriage, part 1

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In the eighth chapter of Romans, the epistle reaches its highest point. The seventh has presented to us the deplorable condition of the man who has been awakened by the law to a sense of his condition, bound to sin by cords that can be loosened only by death. It closes with a glimpse of the Lord Jesus Christ as the One Who alone can set us free from the body of death.

Our union with Christ and with His righteousness may be and should be just as close and complete as our union has been with sin. The figure of marriage shows that to be so. We were held in union with sin—married to the old man—to the body of sin. That was an unlawful connection; consequently, the body of sin was a body of death to us, because we could not be separated from that body except by death. That body and ourselves were identified—we were married; therefore, we were one, and the body of sin was the controlling influence in that union; it dominated everything.

Now Christ comes to us; and when we yield ourselves to Him, He looses the bonds that have bound us to the body of sin. Then we enter into the same intimate relation with our Lord Jesus Christ that we previously sustained with the body of sin. We become united to Christ—married to Him—and then we are one. As in the other case, where the body of sin was the controlling influence, so in this second marriage, Christ is the controlling influence.

Notice how perfectly that figure of marriage is carried out. We are represented as the woman. The husband is the head of the family; and so Christ is our head, and we yield ourselves to Him. We are one with Him. What a precious thought it is, that we are one flesh with Christ! In this we see the mystery of the incarnation appearing again. If we can believe that Christ was in the flesh, God incarnate in Christ, we can believe this—Christ dwelling in us and working through us—through our flesh, just the same as when He took flesh upon Himself and controlled it. It is a mystery that we cannot understand, but we acknowledge it; and that gives us freedom.

He says that our old man was crucified with Him. That is true, but it is not raised with Him. Christ came to minister, not to be ministered unto; but He came to minister to us, not to be the minister of sin. Therefore, when we and the body of sin together are crucified with Christ and are buried together, we are raised up to walk in newness of life; but the body of sin remains buried, so we are free from it. Now what follows?

Freedom from Condemnation

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1.

Why is there no condemnation to those who are in Christ? Because He received the curse of the law that the blessing might come on us. Nothing can come to us while we are in Him without first passing through Him; but in Him, all curses are turned to blessings and sin is displaced by righteousness. His endless life triumphs over everything that comes against it. We are made “complete in Him.” Colossians 2:10.

Some say, “I do not find this scripture fulfilled in my case, because I find something to condemn me every time I look at myself.” To be sure; for the freedom from condemnation is not in ourselves, but in Christ Jesus. We are to look at Him, instead of at ourselves. If we obey His orders and trust Him, He takes the responsibility of making us clear before the law. There will never be a time when one will not find condemnation in looking at himself.

The fall of Satan was due to his looking at himself. The restoration for those whom he has made to fall is only through looking to Jesus. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” John 3:14. The serpent was lifted up to be looked at. Those who looked were healed. Even so with Christ. In the world to come, the servants of the Lord “shall see His face,” and they will not be drawn away to themselves. The light of His countenance will be their glory, and it is in that same light that they will be brought to that glorious state.

The text does not say that those who are in Christ Jesus will never be reproved. Getting into Christ is only the beginning, not the end, of Christian life. Association with Christ will more and more reveal to us our failings, just as association with a learned man will make us conscious of our ignorance. As a faithful witness, He tells us of our failings. But it is not to condemn us. We receive sympathy, not condemnation, from Him. It is this sympathy that gives us courage and enables us to overcome.

When the Lord points out a defect in our characters, it is the same as saying to us, “There is something that you are in need of, and I have it for you.” When we learn to look at reproof in this way, we shall rejoice in it instead of being discouraged.

The law without Christ is death. The law in Christ is life. His life is the law of God; for out of the heart are the issues of life, and the law was in His heart. The law of sin and death works in our members, but the law of the Spirit of life in Christ gives us freedom from this. It does not give us freedom from obedience to the law; for we had that before, and that was bondage, not freedom. What He gives us is freedom from the transgression of the law.

This is made very plain in verses 3 and 4. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Romans 7:12. There is no fault to be found with it but with us, because we have transgressed it. Christ’s work is not to change the law in any particular but to change us in every particular. It is to put the law into our hearts in perfection in place of the marred and broken copy.

The law is strong enough to condemn; but it is powerless, with respect to what man needs—namely, salvation. It was and is “weak through the flesh.” The law is good, and holy, and just; but man has no strength to perform it. Just as an ax may be of good steel and very sharp yet unable to cut down a tree because the arm that has hold of it has no strength, so the law of God could not perform itself. It set forth man’s duty; it remained for him to do it. But he could not, and therefore Christ came to do it in him. What the law could not do, God did by His Son.

There is a common idea that this means that Christ simulated sinful flesh, that He did not take upon Himself actual sinful flesh but only what appeared to be such. But the Scriptures do not teach such a thing. “In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17. He was “made of a woman, made under the law, that He might redeem them that were under the law.” Galatians 4:4, 5.

He took the same flesh that all have who are born of woman. A parallel text to Romans 8:3, 4 is found in II Corinthians 5:21. The former says that Christ was sent in the likeness of sinful flesh “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.” The latter says that God “made Him to be sin for us, although He knew no sin, “that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

All the comfort that we can get from Christ lies in the knowledge that He was made in all things as we are. Otherwise we should hesitate to tell Him of our weaknesses and failures. The priest who makes sacrifices for sins must be one “who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that He Himself also is compassed with infirmity.” Hebrews 5:2.

This applies perfectly to Christ. “For we have not an High Priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15. This is why we may come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy. So perfectly has Christ identified Himself with us that He even now feels our sufferings.

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5. Note that this depends on the preceding statement, “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Verse 4. The things of the Spirit are the commandments of God, because the law is spiritual. The flesh serves the law of sin (see the preceding chapter and Galatians 5:19–21. where the works of the flesh are described.) But Christ came in the same flesh to show the power of the Spirit over the flesh. “They that are in the flesh can not please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Christ dwell in you.” Romans 8:8, 9.

Now no one will claim that the flesh of a man is any different after his conversion from what it was before. Least of all will the converted man himself say so; for he has continual evidence of its perversity. But if he is really converted and the Spirit of Christ dwells in him, he is no more in the power of the flesh. Even so, Christ came in the same sinful flesh, yet He was without sin because He was always led by the Spirit.

“The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7.

Opposing Forces

The flesh and the Spirit are in opposition. These are always contrary the one to the other. The Spirit never yields to the flesh, and the flesh never gets converted. The flesh will be of the nature of sin until our bodies are changed at the coming of the Lord. The Spirit strives with the sinful man, but the man yields to the flesh and so is the servant of sin.

Such a man is not led by the Spirit, although the Spirit has by no means forsaken him. The flesh is just the same in a converted man as it is in a sinner; but the difference is that now it has no power since the man yields to the Spirit, which controls the flesh. Although the man’s flesh is precisely the same as it was before he was converted, he is said to be not “in the flesh” but “in the Spirit,” since he, through the Spirit, mortifies the deeds of the body.”

“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:10. Here we have the two individuals of which the apostle speaks in II Corinthians 4:7–16. “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” Though our body should fail and be worn out, yet the inward man, Christ Jesus, is ever new. And He is our real life. “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3.

This is why we are not to fear those who can kill only the body and after that have no more that they can do. Wicked men can not touch the eternal life which we have in Christ, Who can not be destroyed.

Surety of the Resurrection

“But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11. Jesus said of the water that He gave, which was the Holy Spirit, that it should be in us a well of water springing up unto eternal life. (See John 4:14; compare John 7:37–39.) That is, the spiritual life which we not live in the flesh by the Spirit is the surety of the spiritual body to be bestowed at the resurrection when we will have the life of Christ manifested in immortal bodies.

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.” Romans 8:12. All the work that the flesh can do avails nothing, for its works are sin and therefore death. But we are debtors to the Lord Jesus Christ, “Who gave Himself for us.” Consequently, everything must be yielded to His life. “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Verse 13.

Those who yield to the strivings of the Spirit, and continue so to yield, are led by the Spirit; and they are the sons of God. They are taken into the same relation to the Father that the only-begotten Son occupies. (See I John 3:1.)

We Are Sons Now

There is a notion held by some people that no man is born of God until the resurrection. But this is settled by the fact that we are now sons of God. “But,” says one, “We are not yet manifested as sons.” True, and neither was Christ when He was on earth. There were but very few who knew Him to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. And they knew it only by revelation from God. The world knows us not because it knew Him not. To say that believers are not sons of God now because there is nothing in their appearance to indicate it is to bring the same charge against Jesus Christ. But Jesus was just as truly the Son of God when He lay in the manger in Bethlehem as He is now when sitting at the right hand of God.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:16. We know that we are children of God because the Spirit assures us of that fact in the Bible. The witness of the Spirit is not a certain, ecstatic feeling but a tangible statement. We are not children of God because we feel that we are, neither do we know that we are sons because of any feeling, but because the Lord tells us so. He who believes has the Word abiding in Him, and that is how “he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.” I John 5:10.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7. “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” I John 4:16–18.

Christ gave Himself to deliver those who through fear of death were all their lives subject to bondage. (See Hebrews 2:15.) He who knows and loves the Lord can not be afraid of Him; and he who is not afraid of the Lord has no need to be afraid of any other person or thing. One of the greatest blessings of the gospel is the deliverance from fear, whether real or imaginary. “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4.

Joint-heirs with Christ

If we are sons of God, we stand on the same footing that Jesus Christ does. He Himself said that the Father loves us even as He loves Him. (See John 17:23.) This is proved by the fact that His life was given for ours. Therefore the Father has nothing for His only-begotten Son that He has not for us. Not only so, but since we are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, it follows that He can not enter upon His inheritance before we do. To be sure, He is sitting at the right hand of God. But God in His great love for us “hath quickened us together with Christ, . . . and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places.” Ephesians 2:5, 6. The glory which Christ has He shares with us. (See John 17:22.) It means something to be a joint-heir with Jesus Christ! No wonder the apostle exclaims, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” I John 3:1.

Suffering with Him

“If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:17. “For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:18. Suffering with Christ means, therefore, enduring temptation with Christ means, therefore, enduring temptation with Him. The suffering is that which comes in the struggle against sin. Self-inflicted suffering amounts to nothing. It is not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. (See Colossians 2:23.) Christ did not torture Himself in order to gain the approval of the Father. But when we suffer with Christ, then we are made perfect in Him. The strength by which He resisted the temptations of the enemy is the strength by which we are to overcome. His life in us gains the victory.