From Self-Centered to Christ-Centered Living

The Review and Herald, February 26, 1901 par. 11-15

“Those who do not become saints here can never be saints in heaven. God will accept in His service nothing less than the entire being,–body, soul, and spirit. At the coming of Christ many who now pass for Christians will be found wanting. They would not put on the righteousness of Christ. As they stand face to face with the Judge of all the earth, they will see their true condition. In the light of the law of God, they will see the destitution of their souls.”

“It is impossible for one to be a Christian and yet remain a spiritual dwarf. Those who are truly united to Christ will grow daily, they will attain to the full stature of men and women in Him. They will not, while claiming to be doers of the word of God, disobey its plain requirements. Why is there so little growth in Christian experience, so little manifestation of Christ in the life? Why is the religious life so dwarfed?–It is because there is so much of self and so little of Christ.”

“The law condemns all sin, and requires all virtue. It demands of man an outward respect, and it requires purity of soul. “Behold,” writes the psalmist, “thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” The law was exemplified in the life of Christ. He is a pattern for all humanity. He lived the law. His purity and beneficence, His devotion to the truth, and His zeal for God’s glory reveal the perfection of the law. His every act was a revelation of the glory of the Father. He was all that the law required Him to be.”

“What the law demanded of Adam and Eve in Eden, and what it demanded of Christ, the second Adam, it demands of every human being. I call upon those who profess to believe the truth to reach a higher standard. I present before you Jesus, the Majesty of heaven, who left the royal courts, and for our sake became poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich. Look at the scenes in His life of suffering. Think of His agony in Gethsemane, when, oppressed by the powers of darkness, He prayed, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” See Him betrayed by Judas, forsaken by His disciples, condemned by priests and rulers, and delivered by Pilate to a shameful death. All this He endured that man might be elevated and ennobled, and by partaking of the divine nature, be exalted to the right hand of God.”

“Shall Christ have died for us in vain? Shall we claim to be children of light, and yet walk and work in darkness and sin? Shall we not rather show that the converting power of God is molding and fashioning us? Shall we not obey the injunction, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation,” “having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation?” The Review and Herald, February 26, 1901 par. 11-15.

These passages offer essential lessons and insights for Christian living:

Becoming Saints on Earth:
- Lesson: To be saints in heaven, we must strive to become saints here on earth. God requires our entire being—body, soul, and spirit.
- Insight: Genuine faith should transform us, leading us to put on the righteousness of Christ.
Spiritual Growth and Christlikeness:
- Lesson: True Christians should not remain spiritual dwarfs. They should grow daily and reflect Christ’s character.
- Insight: Lack of spiritual growth often results from self-centeredness. To manifest Christ in our lives, we must yield to His transformative power.
The Perfection of God’s Law:
- Lesson: God’s law condemns sin and requires virtue, both outwardly and in the purity of our souls.
- Insight: Jesus exemplified the law in His life. His obedience and devotion to the truth reveal the perfection of God’s law.
A Higher Standard:
- Lesson: We are called to a higher standard of living, patterned after the life of Jesus.
- Insight: Christ’s sacrifice for us should motivate us to live in a manner that reflects His love and obedience to God’s law.
The Transforming Power of God:
- Lesson: We must let the converting power of God shape us into Christlike individuals.
- Insight: Our obedience and holiness should be a testimony to those around us, glorifying God and drawing others to Him.