The Knowledge of Evil – Part 3

“All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.¹ As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. But peace shall be upon Israel. ² Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in His ways.” ³

It wasn’t until after I had read “the Testimony of Jesus,” which is “the Spirit of Prophecy,” I began to understand “the way, the truth, and the life” of a Christian. A Christian is “one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ.” ⁴ “The fact that men are in the church does not prove them Christians.” ⁵ “That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God…” ⁶ “Falsehearted professor, Jesus knows thy works.” ⁷

“Consider, my brethren and sisters, that the Lord has a people, a chosen people, His church, to be His own, His own fortress, which he holds in a sin-stricken, revolted world.” ⁸ “It is the purpose of God to glorify Himself in His people before the world.” ⁹ “The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory.” ¹⁰

“The law of God is an expression of His very nature; it is an embodiment of the great principle of love, and hence is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth.” ¹¹ “By the word and the Spirit of God are opened to men the great principles of righteousness embodied in His law. And since the law of God is “holy, and just, and good,” a transcript of the divine perfection, it follows that a character formed by obedience to that law will be holy. Christ is a perfect example of such a character.” ¹² “No one but Christ is given us as an example. He is our true Pattern, and each should strive to excel in imitating Him.” ¹³ “He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again. When He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” ¹⁴

“Everyone whose name is registered on the church roll is under obligation to represent Christ by revealing the inward adorning of a meek and quiet spirit.” ¹⁵ “Every person, upon becoming a member of the church, pledges himself to be a representative of Christ by living out the truth he professes.” ¹⁶ (If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus.) ¹⁷ “All who have professed to be followers of Christ have, in taking this step, pledged themselves to walk even as He walked.” ¹⁸ “The same devotion, the same self-sacrifice, the same subjection to the claims of the word of God, that were manifest in Christ, must be seen in His servants. Our mission to the world is not to serve or please ourselves; we are to glorify God by co-operating with Him to save sinners.”¹⁹

“There must be decided changes in the life; everything offensive to God must be put away.” ²⁰ “Your thoughts, your words, and your actions, as well as your appetites and passions, must be brought into subjection to the will of God.” ²¹

“The law of God will be satisfied with nothing short of perfection, of perfect and entire obedience to all its claims.” ²² “Sin must be given up, hated, and the righteousness of Christ must be accepted by faith.” ²³ “You cannot serve self and at the same time be servants of Christ. You must die to self, die to your love of pleasure…” ²⁴ “Self must be slain.” “If we ever attain unto holiness, it will be through the renunciation of self and the reception of the mind of Christ. Pride and self-sufficiency must be crucified.”²⁶ “Perfection of character cannot possibly be attained without self-sacrifice.”²⁷ “It will require effort, perseverance, and earnestness to obtain the victory over long-established habits which have become as second nature.”²⁸ it may take time to attain perfect submission to God’s will, but we can never stop short of it and be fitted for heaven.”²⁹ “We must expect difficulties. Trials will come. Christ, the Captain of our salvation, was made perfect though suffering. His followers will encounter the enemy many times and will be severely tried, but they need not despair. Christ says to them: “Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33.”³⁰ “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.
Amen.

1 Psalm 25:10
2 Psalm 125:5
3 Psalm 128:1
4 Merriam Webster’s Dictionary
5 COL p. 74
6 Romans 9:8
7 1Tp. 195
8 TMp. 16
9 9T p. 21
10 COL p. 415, 416
11 SC p. 60
12 GC p. 469
13 1T p. 126
14 1 Peter 2:22, 23
15 9T p. 22
16 4T p. 464
17 Ephesians 4:21
18 2T p. 32
19 COL p. 142, 143
20 SC p. 39
21 3T p. 538
22 1T p. 416
23 5T p. 632
24 2T p. 129
25 3T p. 475
26 MB p. 143
27 9T p. 53
28 2T p. 80
29 3T p. 538
30 8T p. 212