Dead to Sin and Alive in Christ

• Consecration

God's promise is, “Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. SC 43.1

The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness. By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: “Dead in trespasses and sins;” “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;” “no soundness in it.” We are held fast in the snare of Satan, “taken captive by him at his will.” Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26. God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him. SC 43.2

The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness. SC 43.3

The government of God is not, as Satan would make it appear, founded upon a blind submission, an unreasoning control. It appeals to the intellect and the conscience. “Come now, and let us reason together” is the Creator's invitation to the beings He has made. Isaiah 1:18. God does not force the will of His creatures. He cannot accept an homage that is not willingly and intelligently given. A mere forced submission would prevent all real development of mind or character; it would make man a mere automaton. Such is not the purpose of the Creator. He desires that man, the crowning work of His creative power, shall reach the highest possible development. He sets before us the height of blessing to which He desires to bring us through His grace. He invites us to give ourselves to Him, that He may work His will in us. It remains for us to choose whether we will be set free from the bondage of sin, to share the glorious liberty of the sons of God. SC 43.4

In giving ourselves to God, we must necessarily give up all that would separate us from Him. Hence the Saviour says, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33. Whatever shall draw away the heart from God must be given up. Mammon is the idol of many. The love of money, the desire for wealth, is the golden chain that binds them to Satan. Reputation and worldly honor are worshiped by another class. The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. But these slavish bands must be broken. We cannot be half the Lord's and half the world's. We are not God's children unless we are such entirely. (Ellen White, Steps to Christ pp 43.1 - 44.1)

 

Is this the source for your quote?
https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/108.160

I'm not familiar with that reference notation style, but this is what Google returned.

Be sure to provide a source for any and all quotations. Thanks!

 

It's okay Tao Jones. I'll be more specific with the quotes. Thanks for reminding me of that.

 

My blessings are so numerous and incredible it is hard to list them or even prioritize them in terms of importance so I will mention only two here. (1) I was raised by loving Christian parents who never gave me cause to doubt their love and who sacrificed to insure I, and my siblings, all received a good education in our faith. What an amazing and indispensable gift they gave us! (2) I was an awkward teenager who did not fit into the popular crowd and my teenage years were very unhappy ones. When I began University, I prayed intently for God to introduce me to my soulmate and so He did. We met and married at the tender ages of 18 & 19; a time in life where we did not have the wisdom to consider what one should seek in a spouse. We only knew we didn't want to be parted from one another. Clearly, Our Lord directed us together and today our love is a treasure beyond compare. The list of my numerous blessings goes on and on. Yesterday my prayers included the thought - thank you for the talents you have given me and ones you did not give me.

 

Well said and thank you for saying it! Please allow me to add that God always gives us a way out; a means of help with temptation. In my case, I find when I pray for it, He will remind me as I come near to an occasion of sin. I can use my free will to ignore His warning or to heed it.

 

Amen and amen!

 

A perfect summary and a great analogy. Well done!

 

This is a great discussion which provokes many positive thoughts in me. Myfortress, thank you for starting this thread.
For me, the negative example of the Pharisees has helped me to understand Paul's words. Christ chastised them for their hollow righteousness and the way they wielded it like a whip and a chair to discourage sinners from coming to God. Putting this in most pertinent terms, managing another day free from PMO, solely for the sake of posting a greater number of days would be tantamount to being a Pharisee (and undoubtedly unsustainable). Conversely, managing another day free from PMO as an act of love to Our Precious Lord draws us to Christ and fills a heart with joy and love. As joy and love builds in us, we cannot help but seek a means to share it with others by our actions and our words. The Holy Spirit working in us and through us!

 

I wish I could like this a thousand times. Thank you for taking the time to post it; such helpful advice. Marvelous!

 

I am struggling bad right now, I get drunk every night after work, pmo until I go to sleep, eat lots of junk food. I am in a pit that I have no will to climb out of.