The Review and Herald
May 4, 1905
The Gift of Christ
God manifested his love for the world be sending his only begotten Son to save sinners. Christ took our nature, that through his grace we might be partakers of the divine nature. His divinity was bound up with humanity that humanity might stand on vantage-ground with God. RH May 4, 1905, par. 1
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. RH May 4, 1905, par. 2
“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God. God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. RH May 4, 1905, par. 3
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. RH May 4, 1905, par. 4
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God loves his brother also.” RH May 4, 1905, par. 5
We need to watch unto prayer, walking and working in constant dependence upon God. He in whose heart Christ is formed, he to whom Christ is the hope of glory, enlightening, sanctifying, strengthening, will be preserved from the false representations that will be made of God. RH May 4, 1905, par. 6
The false sentiments that prevail today are of the world; they belong to the world; they are worldly in spirit and character. The apostle declared, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us.” The teaching of the apostles is not to be set aside. Men are not to feel at liberty to speak disrespectfully of these teachings because they do not agree with all that they set forth. Those who teach the truth for this time must understand the Scriptures, that they may give the right interpretation of the Scriptures, exalting the principles of the truth, and in life and character revealing the spirit of the truth. God works with such ones as speak of the life and miracles of his Son. RH May 4, 1905, par. 7
He whose heart is filled with the love that proceeds from God, does not allow self-exaltation or dishonesty to find place in his life. He who is “born again,” of the Spirit, reveals Christ in the daily life. He is upright in all his dealings. He does no sly, cunning, underhand work. The good fruit that appears in his life testifies to the condition of his heart. RH May 4, 1905, par. 8
Christ's true followers are made complete in him, because he gives them of his Spirit. The blessed hope of seeing Christ as he is, and being like him, works in mind and heart like a quickening power, cleansing away impurity and depravity. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him,—the hope of seeing Christ as he is—“purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” RH May 4, 1905, par. 9
How wide the contrast between the ones thus described and those who, though professing the faith, have not the love of God in their hearts. The latter class have not been made Christian gentlemen by the purifying influence of the truth. They are transgressors of the law of God, and their work is opposed to the work of Christ. RH May 4, 1905, par. 10
Those who walk humbly with God are approved by him. Let us build ourselves up, through Christ, in the most holy faith. The truth of God alone is invincible. Those who profess to believe the Scriptures need now to know where they are standing. Christ will receive all who come to him confessing and forsaking their sins, and will give to them transformation of character. He offers to all the eternal-life insurance policy. The everlasting covenant is sealed with the blood of his crucifixion. Through his sacrifice on Calvary he makes peace for us. In him are hid the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He is the divine storehouse of all light. He alone can prepare us to enter the gates of the holy city. RH May 4, 1905, par. 11