Speaking of the 1888 message, that most precious message, Mrs. White wrote, "The light that is to lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and BY THE ACTION OF OUR OWN BRETHREN has been in a great degree kept away from the world." 1 S.M.235. *emphasis mine
Not only has it been kept away from the world but from the church as well. And, she warned, "The prejudices and opinions that prevailed at Minneapolis are NOT DEAD BY ANY MEANS; the seeds sown there in some hearts are READY TO SPRING UP and bear a like harvest." T.M.467. *emphasis mine
The 1888 message presented in clear, distinct lines how true "spiritual formation" (forming a Christian character) can be achieved.
"Habitually dwelling upon Christ and His all-sufficient merits increases faith, quickens the power of spiritual discernment, strengthens the desire to be like Him, and brings an earnestness into prayer that makes it efficacious." Gospel Worker, 166.
If that were the only statement from the SoP that we could find on 1888 "spiritual formation," it would be sufficient. HOwever, in the SoP there is a plethora of statements emphasizing the necessity of continually looking to Jesus and trusting in His all-sufficient merits alone in order to find the approval of God, teaching that the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are the fountain that has been opened for sin. This fountain of the merits of Christ is opened, not for the spiritually proud, but for the poor in spirit only:
"The Gospel is to be proclaimed to the poor. NOT TO THE SPIRITUALLY PROUD, THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE RICH AND IN NEED OF NOTHING, is it revealed, but to those who are humble and contrite. One FOUNTAIN has been opened for sin, a fountain for the POOR IN SPIRIT." D.A.300.
"Those who know that they cannot possibly save themselves, or of themselves do any righteous action, are the ones who appreciate the help that Christ can bestow. They are the poor in spirit, whom He declares to be blessed." M.B.7.
"Faith is the condition upon which God has seen fit to promise pardon to sinners. Not that there is any virtue in faith whereby salvation is merited, but because faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy (fountain) provided for sin." F.W.100,101.
Conclusion:
"Unless he makes it his lifebusiness to behold the uplifted Saviour and to accept the merits which it is his privilege to claim, the sinner CAN NO MORE BE SAVED than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus." T.M.93. *emphasis mine
Unless we habitually dwell upon Christ and His all-sufficient merits, and claim them, there can be no spiritual formation for it is the only way for us to obtain the gift of the Holy Spirit to help our infirmities and to form a Christian character.
This last statement is found under the subtitle, "Rejecting The Light," in 1888 from T.M.93.
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Not only has it been kept away from the world but from the church as well. And, she warned, "The prejudices and opinions that prevailed at Minneapolis are NOT DEAD BY ANY MEANS; the seeds sown there in some hearts are READY TO SPRING UP and bear a like harvest." T.M.467. *emphasis mine
The 1888 message presented in clear, distinct lines how true "spiritual formation" (forming a Christian character) can be achieved.
"Habitually dwelling upon Christ and His all-sufficient merits increases faith, quickens the power of spiritual discernment, strengthens the desire to be like Him, and brings an earnestness into prayer that makes it efficacious." Gospel Worker, 166.
If that were the only statement from the SoP that we could find on 1888 "spiritual formation," it would be sufficient. HOwever, in the SoP there is a plethora of statements emphasizing the necessity of continually looking to Jesus and trusting in His all-sufficient merits alone in order to find the approval of God, teaching that the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are the fountain that has been opened for sin. This fountain of the merits of Christ is opened, not for the spiritually proud, but for the poor in spirit only:
"The Gospel is to be proclaimed to the poor. NOT TO THE SPIRITUALLY PROUD, THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE RICH AND IN NEED OF NOTHING, is it revealed, but to those who are humble and contrite. One FOUNTAIN has been opened for sin, a fountain for the POOR IN SPIRIT." D.A.300.
"Those who know that they cannot possibly save themselves, or of themselves do any righteous action, are the ones who appreciate the help that Christ can bestow. They are the poor in spirit, whom He declares to be blessed." M.B.7.
"Faith is the condition upon which God has seen fit to promise pardon to sinners. Not that there is any virtue in faith whereby salvation is merited, but because faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy (fountain) provided for sin." F.W.100,101.
Conclusion:
"Unless he makes it his lifebusiness to behold the uplifted Saviour and to accept the merits which it is his privilege to claim, the sinner CAN NO MORE BE SAVED than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus." T.M.93. *emphasis mine
Unless we habitually dwell upon Christ and His all-sufficient merits, and claim them, there can be no spiritual formation for it is the only way for us to obtain the gift of the Holy Spirit to help our infirmities and to form a Christian character.
This last statement is found under the subtitle, "Rejecting The Light," in 1888 from T.M.93.
sky
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