Manuscript Releases, vol. 5 [Nos. 260-346]

Cooperation of God and Man in Salvation

A Partaker of the Divine Nature—He who cooperates with God, striving earnestly to separate himself from the world and its corrupt influences, becomes a partaker of the divine nature, “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Can those who realize that they are members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, degrade a nature that, through the merits of Christ, is related to angels, to Christ, yea, and to God Himself? Can those who realize the possibilities before them, who know that they are called to receive an immortal inheritance, to reign as kings and priests on the earth, fail to use every power of their being in an effort to become one with Christ? ... 5MR 339.1

Men will never reach the spiritual or intellectual heights that God wishes them to attain, until they become partakers of the divine nature. They may gain a measure of intellectual power; but of what use is intellectual strength without spiritual power? Man, in all his moral degradation may be made pure and unselfish, and he may bear in his life the divine credentials.—Manuscript 18, 1892, pp. 2, 7. (“Bought With a Price,” December, 1892.) 5MR 339.2

Eyes Fixed on Jesus—Every one of us can make our election sure, or we can make it a failure. “If ye do these things ye shall never fall.” If we live on the plan of addition, God will work for us on the plan of multiplication. 5MR 339.3

The one who appreciates the word of eternal life will be a most diligent worker. He is to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling. Why the fear, you say, why the trembling? Lest he shall in some way make crooked paths for his feet. He is to place himself in such a position that he can keep his eyes fixed on Jesus. He is to behold Him and His character. Those who do this live on the plan of addition, not the plan of subtraction. 5MR 340.1

“Add to your faith.” You have faith in Jesus Christ as your Saviour. All should have faith in Him as a Saviour. We are to work in accordance with that faith. We show our faith by working, by keeping our eyes fixed on the mark of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus. 5MR 340.2

He who beholds Jesus, realizing what He is to us and what we are to Him, will be diligent. He will live on the plan of addition, adding to his faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. This is a process of growth. He who cooperates with Christ will not be found tomorrow where he is today. Every day he will follow on to know the Lord, that he may know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. Of those who live in this way it will be written at last, “Ye are complete in him.”—Manuscript 102, 1899, pp. 2, 3. (“Remarks Made in the School Chapel” Avondale, Australia, July 9, 1899.) 5MR 340.3

The True Fruit of Conversion—2 Peter 1 gives the genuine work of sanctification. Read and understand this chapter. There is need that the grace of God be seen and realized in our influence in the religious life and character. “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and Jesus our Lord.” Then comes the true fruit of genuine conversion in living on the plan of addition. These precious, elevating principles are to be brought into our daily experience. The promises of God accepted in genuine faith have a fragrant influence upon the life and the character, making the human agent to reflect the image of the Divine. 5MR 340.4

The plan of progression in sanctification is brought to view in this chapter in plain lines. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Then the progression and growth in grace and qualifications of character are given, working on the plan of addition. 5MR 341.1

God works for the striving ones who exercise faith and practice godliness in the home life, in the church life, and in the small and larger interests that will unfold as we advance upward, climbing on the ladder that Peter has presented to every believer. If these practical workings of duties are faithfully attended to, God works on His part on the plan of multiplication, imparting grace to the one who imparts in his life the grace given him in representing genuine sanctification to the world in his own character. “If these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things [the true representation of Christ's character] is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”—Manuscript 45, 1900, pp. 6, 7. (“What Is the Chaff to the Wheat?” April 28, 1900.) 5MR 341.2

Believe Unto Salvation—Let us begin to believe unto salvation. Let us come to God in faith, fully assured that as we surrender all to Him, He will make us Christlike in character. Then, one with Christ, we can reveal Him to the world. Then our fitful, haphazard work will cease. 5MR 342.1

Will He not restore in us the divine image? Then let us have faith in Him. Let us now, just now, place ourselves where He can give us His Holy Spirit. Then we can give to the world a revelation of what true religion does for men and women.—Letter 153, 1902, p. 9. (To Elder and Mrs. S. N. Haskell, September 27, 1902.) 5MR 342.2

What It Means to Hunger and Thirst—“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness,” craving for a knowledge of the word of God as children hunger for bread. This hungering and thirsting for righteousness means praying, believing, receiving Christ as an indwelling Saviour. This is continual sanctification.... 5MR 342.3

But when God gives men work to do, they are to do that work, irrespective of what others may think or do, looking not at the mistakes of their brethren. And in humility and meekness, they are to strive to preserve unity and harmony. From the root of humility, meekness, and lowliness, springs the most precious greatness of mind—greatness which leads men to conform to the image of Jesus. Those who possess this greatness gain an experience that is of the highest value to them. They have patience and trust in God, and a faith that is invincible. Their true heart-consecration and devotion keeps self out of sight. Having a sense of their own weakness, they appreciate the help which the Lord gives them. They crave the grace of God, that they may do that which is right and pure and true.—Letter 68, 1896, pp. 3-5. (To Elder S. McCullagh, July 12, 1896.) 5MR 342.4

Nourishment for All the Needs of the Soul—The soul needs spiritual food and drink. This is supplied in the words of Christ. Those who receive Him as a personal Saviour, and look constantly to Him, receive nourishment sufficient for all the needs of the soul. Those who are united with Christ through the daily, hourly exercise of the faith which works by love and purifies the soul, receive the forgiveness of their sins, and are sanctified unto eternal life.—Manuscript 12a, 1901, p. 1. (“To Those Who Are Worried Over Minor Matters,” February 12, 1901.) 5MR 343.1

To Work as Christ Worked—A heart that feels its constant dependence on the Lord Jesus is necessary to success in the Christian life. Christ's disciples must work as He worked. As they give themselves wholly to Him for service, the similitude of His character is stamped upon their hearts by His Spirit.... 5MR 343.2

The message that Christ bore we are to bear. There is a satisfaction of soul that all may have,—a sanctification that will reveal the outworking of the principles of truth in the daily life. It rests with us individually to place ourselves where God can give us this sanctification. We are to reveal the purity of character that Christ revealed, that we may set a right example before those who are seeking the right way.... 5MR 343.3

They will need to cling close to the One who gave His life for them, that they might have power to become the sons of God, power to obtain the victory over sin. They are to live the Christ-life, revealing purity and holiness. Never are they to gloss over sin. Never are they to have perverted appetites and passions. These appetites and passions are to be uprooted and cast away. The children of God are not to be slaves of passion. Their lives are to show that the truth has sanctified their souls. The reason is to be sanctified and carefully guarded as a precious, heaven-sent gift. Their hearts are to be gladdened by the rich promises given them, and the bright prospects before them. Every feature of their experience is to be radiant with heaven's brightness. Their lives are to be filled with thanksgiving.... 5MR 344.1

Complete union with Christ and with one another is absolutely necessary to the perfection of believers. Christ's presence by faith in the hearts of believers is their power, their life. It brings union with God. “Thou in me.” Union with God through Christ makes the church perfect.—Manuscript 182, 1905, 3-7. (“The Christian Life,” undated.) 5MR 344.2

Live on the Bread of Life—The heart needs a power that is found only in the word of God. This power is the bread of life, which, if a man eat thereof, he shall live forever. He is not merely to taste occasionally of the bread which comes down from heaven. He is to live on the words which are spirit and life to the receiver. The earnest grasp of truth, the personal appropriation of the words of Christ, works a transformation in the character. 5MR 344.3

“Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me.” “It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Pardon and sanctification come as a result of receiving and practicing Christ's words.—Letter 130, 1901, p. 2. (To Brother and Sister Sanderson, September 27, 1901.) 5MR 345.1

Sanctified by the Spirit—A great hindrance to the advancement of the work has been brought by church members who, though knowing the truth, have not been sanctified by the truth. It is through sanctification of the truth that we are enabled to appreciate the teachings of Christ, given to guide men and women in all the conduct of life.—Letter 272, 1903, p. 1. (To “My Dear Brethren and Sisters Gathered in Council at Nashville,” December 20, 1903.) 5MR 345.2

Every Soul May Enjoy Sanctification—It is the privilege of every soul to be favored with the rich blessing of sanctification, through the work of the Spirit of God upon the heart. But before this can be our experience, self must die, and we must learn to trust in the Lord as His dear children. By faith we must claim as our own His precious promises.—Letter 202, 1907, p. 1. (“To the Brethren Who Are Laboring in Merced,” June 13, 1907.) 5MR 345.3

To Shine Without Superficial Attempt—Those who would experience more of the sanctification of the truth in their own souls, should present the truth to those who are ignorant of it. Never will they find a more elevating, ennobling work.... 5MR 346.1

Christ's followers have no need to try to shine. If they will behold constantly the life of Christ, they will be changed in mind and heart, into the same image. Then they will shine without any superficial attempt.—Manuscript 31, 1908, pp. 2, 4. (“Deeper Consecration,” May 17, 1908.) 5MR 346.2

What the Holy Spirit Does for Man—If our minds are controlled by the Holy Spirit, we shall understand the lesson taught by the parable of the leaven. As the leaven operates on the meal, so the Holy Spirit operates on the human heart, absorbing all the capabilities and powers, bringing soul, body, and spirit into conformity to Christ. Man cannot make this change. It can be made only by the Holy Spirit. In those who submit to the control of the Spirit, new thoughts, new feelings, new purposes are awakened. The mind is changed; the faculties are set to work.... 5MR 346.3

The moment we surrender ourselves to God, believing in Jesus we have the righteousness of Christ. We realize that we have been redeemed from sin, and appreciate His sacrifice to purchase our freedom.... This sanctification we must all experience, else we can never gain eternal life. It is obtained by a union with Christ, a union which no power of Satan can break. Christ demands undivided heart-service, the entire use of mind, soul, heart, and strength.—Manuscript 68, 1898, pp. 2, 6-9. (“The Leaven of Truth,” June 9, 1898.) 5MR 346.4

Sanctification, Habitual Communion With God—God will more than fulfill the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him. He desires us to remember that when we are humble and contrite, we stand where He can and will manifest Himself to us. He is well pleased when we urge past mercies and blessings as a reason why He should bestow on us higher and greater blessings.... He is honored when we set apart the seventh day as sacred and holy. To those who do this the Sabbath is a sign, “that they may know,” God declares, “that I am the Lord that doth sanctify them.” Sanctification means habitual communion with God. There is nothing so great and so powerful as God's love for those who are His children by adoption.—Manuscript 80, 1900, pp. 8, 9. (“A Holy People,” July 4, 1900.) 5MR 347.1

Sanctification Through Willing Obedience—True sanctification comes through willing obedience. We are distinctly and decidedly taught that the proper observance of the Sabbath brings a knowledge of what constitutes true sanctification. Reputation and even life itself might better be sacrificed than the truth of the word of God.—Letter 66, 1900, p. 3. (To W. L. H. Baker, May 2, 1900.) 5MR 347.2

God's Part in Sanctification—“Why,” says one, “how can we do all this if the Lord is coming so soon?” Why, the Lord can do more in one hour than we can do in a whole lifetime, and when He sees that His people are fully consecrated, let me tell you, a great work will be done in a short time, and the message of truth is to be carried into the dark places of the earth, where it has never been proclaimed.... 5MR 347.3

It is the word of infinite power that He wants you to eat and drink; He wants you to eat His flesh and drink His blood, and then the power of God will be in your midst. Then the voice will be touched with a peculiar power.—Manuscript 93a, 1899, pp. 4, 9. (“Closing Address,” July 23, 1899.) 5MR 348.1