Pearls Of Great Price
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Acceptance: `We gain heaven not through our own merits but through the merits of Jesus Christ. . . . Let your hope not be centered in yourself, but in Him.' (TMK79.3)
Ambition: `Kneeling in faith at the cross, [we have] reached the highest place to which man can attain.' (SD222)
Answerability: `Everywhere people are perishing for lack of a knowledge of the truths that have been committed to us.' (7T62)
Appetite: `Through appetite, Satan had accomplished the ruin of Adam and Eve, and through all succeeding generations, this had been his strongest weapon in corrupting the human race.' (2SP89.2)
Atonement: ``By His perfect obedience He has satisfied the claims of the law, and my only hope is found in looking to Him as my substitute and surety, who obeyed the law perfectly for me. By faith in His merits I am free from the condemnation of the law. He clothes me with His righteousness, which answers all the demands of the law. I am complete in Him who brings in everlasting righteousness. He presents me to God in the spotless garment of which no thread was woven by any human agent.'' (1SM396)
Baal Worship: The apostasy prevailing today is similar to that which in the prophet's [Elijah's] day overspread Israel. In the exaltation of the human above the divine, in the praise of popular leaders, in the worship of mammon, and in the placing of the teachings of science above the truths of revelation, multitudes today are following after Baal. Doubt and unbelief are exercising their baleful influence over mind and heart, and many are substituting for the oracles of God the theories of men. It is publicly taught that we have reached a time when human reason should be exalted above the teachings of the Word. The law of God, the divine standard of righteousness, is declared to be of no effect. The enemy of all truth is working with deceptive power to cause men and women to place human institutions where God should be, and to forget that which was ordained for the happiness and salvation of mankind.' (PK170)
Balance: `We have preached the law until we are as dry as the hills of Gilboa that had neither dew nor rain. We must preach Christ in the law, and there will be sap and nourishment in the preaching that will be as food to the famishing flock of God.' (RH03-11-90)
Beholding We Are Changed: `Let the student take the Bible as his guide and stand firm for principle, and he may aspire to any height of attainment. All the philosophies of human nature have led to confusion and shame when God has not been recognized as all in all. But the precious faith inspired of God imparts strength and nobility of character. As His goodness, His mercy, and His love are dwelt upon, clearer and still clearer will be the perception of truth; higher, holier, the desire for purity of heart and clearness of thought. The soul dwelling in the pure atmosphere of holy thought is transformed by intercourse with God through the study of His word. Truth is so large, so far-reaching, so deep, so broad, that self is lost sight of. The heart is softened and subdued into humility, kindness, and love.' (MH465)
Be Strong: `There is no one living who has any power that he has not received from God, and the source whence it comes is open to the weakest human being.' (DA667)
Bible Study: `There is one great central truth to be kept ever before the mind in the searching of the Scriptures - Christ and Him crucified. Every other truth is invested with influence and power corresponding to its relation to this theme. It is only in the light of the cross that we can discern the exalted character of the law. . . . When Christ in His work of redemption is seen to be the great central truth in the system of truth, a new light is shed upon all the events of the past and the future. They are seen in a new relation, and possess a new and deeper significance.' (TMK208.2)
Birth Defects: `The book of Genesis gives quite a definite account of social and individual life during the first twenty-five hundred years of man's history, and yet we have no account of an infant born blind, deaf, crippled, deformed, or imbecile. There is not an instance upon record in that book, of a natural death in infancy, childhood, or early manhood. There is no account of men and women dying of disease. The violation of physical law, and human suffering as the consequence, has so long prevailed, that many look upon the present state of sickness, suffering, debility, and premature death, as the appointed lot of humanity. But God did not create the race in its present feeble condition. This is not the work of Providence, but the work of man. It was brought about by violation of the laws of God. Through the temptation of appetite, Adam and Eve first fell from their holy and happy estate. Through the same temptation have the race become enfeebled. They have permitted appetite and passion to take the throne, and to bring into subjection reason and conscience.’ (RH12-13-81)
Calling: `Men acknowledge Christ in history, while they turn away from the living Christ. Christ in His word calling to self-sacrifice, in the poor and suffering who plead for relief, in the righteous cause that involves poverty and toil and reproach, is no more readily received today than He was eighteen hundred years ago.' (DA56)
Cancer: `Many times when meat is eaten, it decays in the stomach, and creates disease. Cancers, tumors, and pulmonary diseases are largely caused by meat eating.' (CD383)
Carnivores: `It was contrary to His plan to have the life of any creature taken. There was to be no death in Eden. One animal was not to destroy another animal for food.' (4SG120; CD396)
Cautions: `Watch brethren, the first dimming of your light, the first neglect of prayer, the first symptom of spiritual slumber. To be wavering and half-hearted in allegiance to truth is to choose the darkness of error and satanic delusion. If one sin is cherished in the soul, or one wrong practice retained in the life, the whole being is contaminated. The man becomes an instrument of unrighteousness.' (4T124, DA313)
`We have no time to lose. The end is near. The passage from place to place to spread the truth will soon be hedged with dangers on the right hand and on the left. Everything will be placed to hinder the way of the Lord's messengers, so that they will not be able to do that which it is possible for them to do now. We must look our work fairly in the face and advance as fast as possible in aggressive warfare . . . Soon it will be more difficult than we can imagine. God help us to keep in the channel of light, to work with our eyes fastened on Jesus our leader, and patiently, perseveringly press on to gain the victory.' (2TT375)
Character: `The character is revealed, not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts.' (SC57-8)
Christianity: `Many who profess His name have lost sight of the fact that Christians are to represent Christ. Unless there is practical self-sacrifice for the good of others, in the family circle, in the neighborhood, in the church, and wherever we may be, then whatever our profession, we are not Christians. If we are Christians, we shall not pass by on the other side, keeping as far as possible from the very ones who most need our help. When we see human beings in distress, whether through affliction or through sin, we shall never say, This does not concern me.' (DA504)
Church: Purpose Of: `The Saviour has given His precious life in order to establish a church capable of ministering to the suffering, the sorrowful, and the tempted.' (MH106)
Church: Today: `The professed followers of Christ are no longer a separate and peculiar people. The line of demarcation is indistinct. The people are subordinating themselves to the world, to its practices, its customs, its selfishness. The church has gone over to the world in transgression of the law, when the world should have come over to the church in obedience to the law. Daily the church is being converted to the world. All these expect to be saved by Christ's death, while they refuse to live His self-sacrificing life. They extol the riches of free grace, and attempt to cover themselves with an appearance of righteousness, hoping to screen their defects of character; but their efforts will be of no avail in the day of God.' (COL315/6)
`Not one in a hundred among us is doing anything but engaging in common worldly enterprises.' (8T148)
`I was shown the churches in different states that profess to be keeping the commandments of God and looking for the second coming of Christ. There is an alarming amount of indifference, pride, love of the world, and cold formality existing among them. And these are the people who are fast coming to resemble ancient Israel, so far as the want of piety is concerned. Many make high claims to godliness and yet are destitute of self-control. Appetite and passion bear sway; self is made prominent. Many are arbitrary, dictatorial, overbearing, boastful, proud, and unconsecrated. Yet some of these persons are ministers, handling sacred truths.' (4T403)
Church: Leaving The: `We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. We cannot now enter into a new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the truth.' (2SM390).
`We should remember that the church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which Christ bestows His supreme regard.' `Nothing in this world is so dear to God as His church. With jealous care He guards those who seek Him. The Lord has not forsaken His people.' (2SM396,397)
Completed Work: `The Lord would have His people sound in the faith – not ignorant of the great salvation so abundantly provided for them. They are not to look forward, thinking that at some future time a great work is to be done for them; for the work is now complete.' (1SM394, 395)
`The atonement for a lost world was . . . full, abundant, and complete.' (DA565/6)
Condemnation: Our: `Our condemnation in the judgment will not result from the fact that we have been in error, but from the fact that we have neglected heaven-sent opportunities for learning what is truth.' (DA490)
Criticism: `They will question and criticise everything that arises in the unfolding of truth, criticise the work and position of others, criticise every branch of the work in which they have not themselves a part. They will feed upon the errors and mistakes and faults of others, `until,' said the angel, `the Lord Jesus shall rise up from his mediatorial work in the heavenly sanctuary, and shall clothe himself with the garments of vengeance, and surprise them at their unholy feast; and they will find themselves unprepared for the marriage supper of the Lamb.' Their taste has been so perverted that they would be inclined to criticise even the table of the Lord in his Kingdom.' (5T690)
Destiny: `Viewed from its human side, life is to all an untried path. It is a path in which, as regards our deeper experiences, we each walk alone. Into our inner life no other human being can fully enter. As the little child sets forth on that journey in which, sooner or later, he must choose his own course, himself deciding life's issues for eternity, how earnest should be the effort to direct his trust to the sure Guide and Helper!' (Ed255)
Devotion: `Not in idle mourning, in mere bodily humiliation and multitudinous sacrifices, is the true spirit of devotion manifested, but it is shown in the surrender of self in willing service to God and man.' (DA278)
Discipline: Child: `On the part of too many parents there is a blind and selfish sentamentalism, miscalled love, which is manifested in leaving children, with their unformed judgment and undisciplined passion, to the control of their own will. This is the veriest cruelty to the youth and a great wrong to the world. Parental indulgence causes disorder in families and in society. It confirms in the young the desire to follow inclination, instead of submitting to the divine requirements. Thus they grow up with a heart averse to doing God's will, and they transmit their irreligious, insubordinate spirit to their children and children's children.' (PP142)
`To deal passionately with a child or youth will only arouse his resentment. When a parent or teacher becomes impatient, and is in danger of speaking unwisely, let him remain silent. There is wonderful power in silence.' (CSW177)
`Before you cause your child physical pain, you will, if you are a Christian father or mother, reveal the love you have for your erring little one.' (CT118)
Discipline: God's: `God speaks to His people in blessings bestowed, and when these are not appreciated, He speaks to them in blessings removed, that they may be led to see their sins, and return to Him with all their hearts.' (PP470)
`Some are exercised by the simple discipline the Lord gives them in gentleness and love. Others require the slow discipline of suffering.' (FW86)
Disunity: `The secret of unity is found in the equality of believers in Christ. The reason for all division, discord, and difference is found in separation from Christ. Christ is the center to which all should be attracted; for the nearer we approach the center, the closer we shall come together in feeling, in sympathy, in love, growing into the character and image of Jesus. With God there is no respect of persons.' (TMK99)
Duty: `Most Christians act as though they had graduated after they were baptized. They bring no sheaves to Christ. They are not laborers together with God. We are not to enclose ourselves in our houses, and devote our whole attention to our families. This is the height of selfishness. The whole world is lying in iniquity and darkness, and we should not be content to shut away our light from perishing souls.' (ST05-13-89)
`Examine under the microscope the smallest and commonest of wayside blossoms, and note in all its parts the exquisite beauty and completeness. So in the humblest lot true excellence may be found; the commonest tasks, wrought with loving faithfulness, are beautiful in God's sight.' (ML172)
Efficiency: `A knowledge of divine truth prepares men better to perform the duties of everyday life.' (DA254)
Eleventh-Hour Conversions: `Some among the redeemed will have laid hold of Christ in the last hours of life, and in heaven instruction will be given to those who, when they died, did not understand perfectly the plan of salvation. Christ will lead the redeemed ones beside the river of life, and will open to them that which while on this earth they could not understand.' (1SM262.2)
Eternal Life: `None need lose eternal life. Everyone who chooses daily to learn of the heavenly teacher, will make his calling and election sure.' (OFC144)
`Our only hope of eternal life is through bringing the appetites and the passions into subjection to the will of God,' (DA122)
Evangelism: (Ev-Angel-Ism): `Our influence upon others depends not so much upon what we say as upon what we are.' (DA142)
`There is an eloquence far more powerful than the eloquence of words in the quiet, consistent life of a pure, true Christian. What a man is has more influence than what he says.' (MH469)
`The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth, because of . . . the church members who have never been converted, and those who were once converted, but who have backslidden.' (CD455)
Evil: Development Of: `The development of evil in this age of the world is largely due to and strengthened by that which is placed in the stomach for food - largely due to the indulgence of appetite.’ (SpM209, TSDF26)
Faith: `We need not seek to quench our thirst at shallow streams; for the great fountain is just above us, of whose abundant waters we may freely drink, if we will rise a little higher on the pathway of faith.' (MB19)
`It is not enough to believe about Christ; we must believe in Him. The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour; which appropriates His merits to ourselves. Many hold faith as an opinion. Saving faith is a transaction by which those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with God. Genuine faith is life. A living faith means an increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a conquering power.' (AG140)
Faithlessness: `Do you feel that because you are a sinner you cannot hope to receive blessing from God? Remember that Christ came into the world to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition, which makes His redeeming power a necessity. Renouncing all self-dependence, we may look to the cross of Calvary and say, "In my hand no price I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling." ' (MH65)
`Many feel that they lack faith, and therefore remain away from Christ. Let these souls, in their helpless unworthiness, cast themselves upon the mercy of their compassionate Saviour. Look not to self, but to Christ. . . . Then grasp His promises as leaves from the tree of life: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. As you come to Him, believe that He accepts you, because He has promised. You can never perish while you do this.' (MH66)
`God does not leave the sinner until He shows the remedy for sin. The only-begotten Son of God has died that we might live. The Lord has accepted this sacrifice in our behalf, as our substitute and surety, on the condition that we receive Christ and believe on Him. The sinner must come in faith to Christ, take hold of His merits, lay his sins upon the Sin Bearer, and receive His pardon.' . . . Thus the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the repenting, believing sinner. He becomes a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King, an heir of God, and joint heir with Christ.' (1SM215)
Fanaticism: `All who leave the beaten track of custom and advocate health reform will be opposed and accounted radical, let them pursue ever so consistent a course.' (CH153)
Flesh Foods: `Many who are now only half converted on the question of meat eating will go from God's people to walk no more with them.' (CD382)
Forgiveness: `There are no sins He will not forgive in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.' (7BC913)