Special Testimony to Battle Creek Church

Ideal of Christian Character

The Religion of Jesus Christ never degrades the receiver, it never makes him course or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hard-hearted. On the contrary, it refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment, purifies and ennobles the thoughts, by bringing them into captivity to Jesus Christ. God's ideal for his children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. The living God has given in his holy law a transcript of his character. The greatest teacher the world has ever known is Jesus Christ. And what is the standard he has given for all who believe in him, to reach?—“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” As God is perfect in his high sphere of action, so man may be perfect in his human sphere. The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. There is opened before us a path of continual advancement. We have an object to reach, a standard to gain which includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated. There should be continual striving and constant progress onward and upward toward perfection of character, (See 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Romans 15:4; Colossians 2:8-10.) PH154 53.1

This is the will of God concerning every human being, “even your sanctification.” In urging your way upward, heavenward, every faculty must be kept in the most healthy condition to do the most faithful service. The powers with which God has endowed men, are to be put to the stretch. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” Man cannot possibly do this of himself; he must have divine power. What shall the human agent do in the great work?—“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” PH154 53.2

Without the divine working, man could do no good thing. God calls every man to repentance. Yet man cannot even repent unless the Holy Spirit works upon his heart. But the Lord wants no man to wait until he thinks he has repented before he takes his step toward Jesus. The Savior is continually drawing men to repentance; they need only to submit to be drawn, and their hearts will be melted in penitence. PH154 54.1