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Introduction
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I
have been a Christian for over 40 years. Sad to say, I know from personal
experience the guilt, frustration and sadness that comes into the Christian’s
life when sin seems to be the rule rather than the exception in the life.
Discouragement often takes over the believer when he reads such Bible verses as:
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin
might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto
God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal
body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Romans 6:11-12
“For
sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under
grace.” Romans 6:14
“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him,
neither known him.” 1John 3:19
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1John 3:9
When
the struggling Christian turns to the writings of Ellen White he finds similar
statements.
“Moral perfection is required of all. Never should we lower the standard of
righteousness in order to accommodate inherited or cultivated tendencies to
wrong doing. We need to understand that imperfection of character is sin. All
righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a perfect, harmonious whole,
and every one who receives Christ as a personal Saviour is privileged to
possess these attributes.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p.330
“He
who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can keep him from
sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of
God.”–Manuscript 161, 1897.
Again
and again discouragement sets in and the victorious life that the Bible and
Spirit of Prophecy appear to call the Christian to seems impossible to attain.
It is easy to then begin to reason; perhaps such statements about victory are
simply an ideal that the Christian is to strive to attain. God knows it is
actually impossible to live this kind of victorious life and He covers us with
the righteousness of Christ. After all, what else could God say? He certainly
cannot condone sinful behavior. The only kind of life He can call the Christian
to is one of complete obedience.
The
Lord has given us examples in both the Bible and history of individuals who have
learned lessons in life as they have either obeyed God or turned from His ways.
Paul tells us that “all these things happened unto them for examples: and they
are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come”
(1Corinthians 10:11). One such example is that of J. Hudson Taylor, the well
known 19th century missionary to China.
Taylor experienced frustration, confusion, and discouragement at the beginning
of his service for the Lord. At the age of thirty-seven he shared his inner most
feelings with his mother in a letter. In it we read of the feelings of failure
and defeat he felt because of his inability to be faithful to His Lord in all
things. Taylor wrote:
“My
own position becomes continually more and more responsible, and my need
greater of special grace to fill it; but I have continually to mourn that I
follow at such a distance and learn so slowly to imitate my precious master. I
cannot tell you how I am buffeted sometimes by temptation. I never knew how
bad a heart I had. Yet I do know that I love God and love His work, and desire
to serve Him only in all things. And I value above all things that precious
Savior in Whom alone I can be accepted. Often I am tempted to think that one
so full of sin cannot be a child of God at all; but I try to throw it back,
and rejoice all the more in the preciousness of Jesus, and in the riches of
that grace that has made us ‘accepted in the Beloved.’ Beloved He is of God;
beloved He ought to be of us. But oh, how short I fall here again! May God
help me to love Him more and serve Him better. Do pray for me. Pray that the
Lord will keep me from sin, will sanctify me wholly, will use me more largely
in His service.”
John
McCarthy, a fellow missionary in China, wrote Taylor a letter describing a
recent understanding he had come to concerning victory over temptation through
Christ. In the letter McCarthy wrote:
“To let my loving Savior
work in me His will, my sanctification is what I would live for by His grace.
Abiding, not striving or struggling; looking off unto Him; trusting Him for
present power; . . . resting in the love of an almighty Savior, in the joy of
a complete salvation, ‘from all sin’—this is not new, and yet ‘tis new to me.
I feel as though the dawning of a glorious day had risen upon me. I hail it
with trembling, yet with trust. I seem to have got to the edge only, but of a
boundless sea; to have sipped only, but of that which fully satisfies. Christ
literally all seems to me, now, the power, the only power for service, the
only ground for unchanging joy. May he lead us into the realization of His
unfathomable fullness . . . Not a striving to have faith…but a looking off to
the Faithful One seems all we need; a resting in the Loved One entirely, for
time and for eternity.”
God
used this letter to open Taylor’s eyes to the wonderful truth of our abiding in
Christ and His abiding in us; the truth of the mystery of the believer’s union
with Christ. From that day forward Taylor’s walk with God was one of peace, rest
and victory in Christ. This amazing change could be seen by his colleagues in
ministry who said, “Mr. Taylor went out, a new man in a new world, to tell what
the Lord had done for his soul.”
Taylor wrote his sister in England seeking to explain to her this wonderful
truth he had discovered and the marvelous experience he was having in His Lord.
He said:
“As
to work, mine was never so plentiful, so responsible, or so difficult; but the
weight and strain are all gone. The last month or more has been perhaps, the
happiest of my life; and I long to tell you a little of what the Lord has done
for my soul. I do not know how far I may be able to make myself intelligible
about it, for there is nothing new or strange or wonderful – and yet, all is
new! In a word, ‘Whereras once I was blind, now I see.’
“When my agony of soul
was at its height, a sentence in a letter from dear McCarthy was used to
remove the scales from my eyes, and the Spirit of God revealed the truth of
our oneness with Jesus as I had never known it before. McCarthy, who had been
much exercised by the same sense of failure, but saw the light before I did,
wrote (I quote from memory): ‘But how to get faith strengthened? Not by
striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One.’
“As I
read I saw it all! ‘If we believe not, he abideth faithful.’ I looked to Jesus
and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed!) I thought. ‘I have striven in
vain to rest in Him. I’ll strive no more. For has He not promised to abide
with me – never to leave me, never to fail me?’ And, dearie, He never will!”
Taylor went on in his letter to describe how the Lord had opened up his
understanding concerning Christ’s words that He is the vine and the believers
are the branches. He wrote: “Oh, the joy of seeing this truth!” Then he said:
“The
sweetest part, if one may speak of one part being sweeter than another, is the
rest which full identification with Christ brings. I am no longer anxious
about anything, as I realize this; for He, I know, is able to carry out His
will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how.
That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest positions
He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult His grace is sufficient.”
Yes,
J. Hudson Taylor found the secret of victory in his walk with God and great
peace in all circumstances of service for Christ. God offers to each of His
children this same victory and peace. Do you desire such victory and peace? My
prayer is that all who read this book will find just that – victory and peace in
Christ; a joy that seemed so impossible to maintain before.
However, every Christian who discovers this glorious truth of “Christ in us” has
followed a similar path as their fellow travelers. They had accepted Christ as
their Savior, but were burdened and bewildered by their Christian walk that was
so sporadic in obedience and unfruitful in service. They longed for a
consistently faithful walk with their Lord, but never found it. They struggled
with besetting sins, but the sins seemed to win the battle. They prayed and
studied their Bibles, but that didn’t seem to bring the victory they longed for.
After perhaps years of struggle they came to the point of despair and weariness.
Their sense of failure was overwhelming. The life of continual victory over sin
seemed impossible to attain. Then one day they discovered the reality of the
mystery of union with Christ; Christ living in them. Once discovered they were
amazed at how simple this marvelous truth was; yet it had eluded their
understanding for years. After this discovery their life was never again the
same. Their joy in the Lord was deep and abiding. Their life was now
consistently victorious, even over besetting sins. They no longer felt burdened
or anxious and their service became the most fruitful for the Lord.
The
truth of abiding in Christ and His abiding in us, and how we are to experience a
victorious Christian life is so simple and yet so elusive that most Christians
have never discovered it to the fullest. Today God is calling us to this
amazing experience in Christ. Why? Jesus is coming soon. All who are ready to
meet Him will be just like Him (1John 3:2). Their daily experience will have had
to become one of complete victory in Christ if they are to be “like” Jesus when
He comes. Therefore, this wonderful biblical truth is of no small consequence to
Christians living in our day. Jesus is coming soon and God is calling us to a
much higher experience with Him than most of us have ever had. This book is
dedicated to the goal of leading all who read it to understand and experience
the “abiding” God is offering to us; “Christ in us” the hope of glory for His
people (Colossians 1:27).
When this truth is
understood and discovered the believer will proclaim from the depths of his
heart, “Christ did it all.” The deliverance Christ gives lays all of man’s
boasting in the dust. Man can claim no glory for the victories over temptation
and sin. All the glory will go to God and will be proclaimed throughout all
eternity.
Those
living when Jesus returns will be living during a time in history that is very
different from any other previous time since the fall of Adam into sin. Ever
since the fall of man God’s mercy has been seen and felt in this world. God has
many times intervened to hold back Satan’s destructive efforts. Even now the
angels are holding back the destructive forces of this earth until God’s
children are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Revelation 7:1-3, Ephesians 4:30).
However, during the time after the judgment has ended all cases of man’s destiny
will have been decided. Those who have chosen to follow Christ will remain
faithful and those who have chosen Satan as their leader will stay in his camp
(Revelation 22:11-12). During that time the seven last plagues will fall without
any of God’s mercy mingled with these judgments from God (Revelation 15:6, 8;
16:1; 14:9-10).
The
time period just prior to Christ’s second coming is called the time of trouble,
which begins when Christ “stands up” having completed His mediatory work as high
priest of His people (Daniel 12:1). God does a mighty work of purification among
His people just prior to when Christ “stands up” and completes His high priestly
ministry after which the world enters the tribulation or time of trouble. Ellen
White wrote of this time period in the book, The Great Controversy.
“Says the prophet: ‘Who
may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he
is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap; and he shall sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and
purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering
in righteousness.’ [MAL. 3:2, 3.] Those who are living upon the
earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above, are
to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be
spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of
sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort, they must
be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative Judgment is
going forward in Heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being
removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of
putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth. This work is more clearly
presented in the messages of Revelation 14.
“When
this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready
for his appearing. ‘Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant
unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.’ [MAL. 3:4.]
Then the church which our Lord at his coming is to receive to himself will be
‘a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.’ [EPH.
5:27.] Then she will look forth ‘as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as
the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.’” The Great Controversy, p.425
Notice
several very important points in this statement. The prophet Malachi foretold of
a time just prior to Christ’s second coming when a great refining process would
take place among God’s people. This purifying process will cause God’s children
to have spotless characters. They will have been conquerors over every
temptation and sin in their life. Ellen White wrote of this experience.
“Christ is waiting with
longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church.
When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in
His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.”
Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 69
Note
that Ellen White says the character of Christ will be “perfectly reproduced in
His people.” This is not justification only where Christ’s righteousness is
imputed to the sinner. She refers here to Christ’s perfect character being
imparted to His people. Christ will be fully and perfectly manifesting His
character in and through them. That is the only way they can live in the sight
of a holy God without a mediator.
When
Ellen White refers to this purification process happening “through the grace of
God and their own diligent effort” she is referring to the diligent watchfulness
they have practiced in order to allow Christ to shine out in their life at every
point of temptation. They have been putting forth diligent effort in studying
God’s Word so they can be very aware of God’s will in their life. They have also
been diligent in keeping a moment-by-moment communion with their Lord.
Also,
since Christ is no longer mediating as their high priest they will have to have
attained a condition of complete victory over all sin in their lives. They will
be living in no known sin. They will not be sinning in thought, word or deed.
Christ is fully manifesting Himself in and through their lives. In relation to
this Ellen White wrote:
“’The prince of this
world cometh,’ said Jesus, ‘and hath nothing in Me.’ John
14:30. There was in Him nothing that responded to Satan’s
sophistry. He did not consent to sin. Not even by a thought did He
yield to temptation. So it may be with us.” Desire of Ages,
p.123
This
must be the experience of those who are ready to meet Jesus since they will no
longer have the mediatory intercession of Christ to turn to if they sin in
thought, word or deed. That may sound like an impossibility. Yet it is true. How
to experience that level of obedience to God is what this book is all about.
Jude also refers to the experience of that last generation of Christians who are
living when Jesus comes.
“Now unto him that is
able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless
before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24
Here we
read that Jude says those who allow Christ to “keep them from falling” into sin
will be able to stand in the “presence of his glory with exceeding joy” when He
returns and not be consumed. Jesus described His coming in glory, which is the
same Greek word used in Jude 24 for glory.
“And
then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the
tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the
clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30
In
contrast, those who have not experienced the purifying power of God will be
killed by the “brightness” of His coming (2Thessalonians 2:8).
Jude
also says that the Lord will present His people “faultless” when they stand in
the presence of his glory. This is the same Greek word used to describe that
last generation of Christians who give the three angels’ messages in power just
before Jesus comes (Revelation 14:5).
The
victory over temptation and sin must happen in our lives under the early rain
power of the Holy Spirit. If this does not happen the latter rain of the Spirit
will be of no benefit to us. Ellen White wrote:
“I saw that many were
neglecting the preparation so needful, and were looking to the
time of ‘refreshing’ and the ‘latter rain’ to fit them to stand in
the day of the Lord, and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw
in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had
neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive
the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight
of a holy God.” Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen
White, p. 112
It is a
deception of Satan if we believe we do not have to take seriously the sin
problem in our lives. Ellen White confirms this with the words:
“I saw that none could
share the ‘refreshing’ unless they obtained the victory over
every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the
world, and over every wrong word and action.” Ibid.113
The
early or former rain of the Spirit, which is the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
brings us to the spiritual maturity required in order to benefit from the latter
rain.
“The latter rain,
ripening earth’s harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the
church for the coming of the Son of man. But unless the
former rain has fallen, there will be no life; the green blade will not
spring up. Unless the early showers have done their work, the
latter rain can bring no seed to perfection.” The Faith I
Live By, p.333
Full
spiritual growth under the early rain baptism of the Spirit is necessary for us
to even be able to recognize the latter rain of the Spirit when it is falling.
“Unless we are daily
advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues,
we shall not recognize the manifestation of the Holy
Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all
around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.” Testimony to
Ministers, p.507
Hence,
it is absolutely vital that every Christian take seriously God’s call to be
filled with His Spirit and allow Jesus to manifest Himself in and through them.
Only then will they gain the victory over every temptation and sin in their
life. This is why Ellen White wrote:
“Nothing but the baptism
of the Holy Spirit can bring up the church to its right position, and prepare the people of God for the fast approaching
conflict.” 2MR 30
The
teachings that I am presenting in this book about the complete victory we can
have over the temptations and sins in our life are necessary for every Christian
to understand and experience if they are living when Jesus comes. I personally
believe God is calling that final generation into existence today.
About the Author
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At the time of the writing of
this book, Dennis Smith is serving as pastor in the Southern New England
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (New
Haven SDA Church). Dennis has served the church as an active layman, and in
pastoral and departmental positions for over 35 years.
Dennis received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from
Colorado State University. While at Colorado State, he became a Seventh-day
Adventist Christian. After working in engineering for a short time, he felt the
call to full time ministry. To fulfill that calling, Dennis attended Andrews
University Theological Seminary and received a Masters of Divinity degree.
Dennis has also done studies in the area of public health from Loma Linda
University.
Books Pastor Smith has written
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The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
This book presents the biblical teaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
the benefits of receiving this Gift in fullness, and why it is necessary for the
Christian to receive this special Spirit infilling in order to become like
Jesus.
Spirit Baptism & Evangelism
The relationship
between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and witnessing for Christ is presented
along with Christ’s method of evangelism. The spiritual problems last-day
Laodicean Christian’s face and the solutions to those problems are discussed.
Spirit Baptism & New Wineskin Fellowship
This book gives a
biblical and historical study into; how the early Christians “did church”, the
historical “falling away” from God’s original plan for His church, the
implications of how this apostasy is still influencing the church today, and why
“new wineskin” fellowship is necessary for the Christian to grow into the
fullness of Christ.
Spirit Baptism & Deliverance
The premise of this
book is that it is God’s will to deliver His children from every influence and
oppression of Satan in their lives; spiritually, emotionally and physically.
Along with powerful testimonies of deliverance, the biblical principles of how
these deliverances took place are presented in a manner that every Christian can
apply to their own life.
Spirit Baptism & Prayer
Prayer is the most
powerful force on earth. Prayer moves the arm of God on behalf of His people. In
this book the necessity of intercessory prayer for the unsaved and fellow
believers and how to become a prayer intercessor is delineated. The question:
“Why does God need our prayers?” is answered. What it means to pray in the
Spirit, persevere, unite and fast I prayer are presented.
Spirit
Baptism & Christ’s Glorious Return
This book gives the
characteristics of those who are ready for Christ’s return. The question is
answered; what do I have to do to be among that final generation whom God is
calling into existence today?
Spirit Baptism & Abiding in
Christ
This book explains how
the Christian is to obtain victory over every temptation and sin by allowing
Christ to live out His life in and through them. When this is experienced one’s
life will never again be the same. Victory is no longer a struggle and joy in
Christ is experienced as never before.
Spirit Baptism & Waiting on God
In this book, the biblical teaching of waiting on God is presented. we live in a
society that doesn't like to wait. Yet, the Bible presents waiting on God as
necessary for us to understand and experience in order to know Him intimately,
develop Christ's character, be guided by Him, and serve Him.
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