The Need of a Knowledge of God’s Word
NP
February 22, 1899
Portions of this manuscript are published in 3SM 21. +NoteOne or more typed copies of this document contain additional Ellen White handwritten interlineations which may be viewed at the main office of the Ellen G. White Estate.
We need to search the Scriptures diligently, that we may understand every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. From the pillar of cloud Christ gave directions as to how man should regard God and also one another. The children of Israel were enjoined to treat with love and compassion their own brethren and the stranger sojourning with them. It is essential that we understand and practice the principles given by the great Teacher to His servant Moses. 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 1
The Word of God is to be the great lesson book in all our schools. From Genesis to Revelation it is full of instruction in practical godliness. 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 2
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory that I had with thee before the world was.” [John 17:1-5.] 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 3
The prayer of Christ to His Father, contained in the 17th chapter of John, is to be our church creed. It shows us that our difference and disunion are dishonoring to God. Read the whole chapter, verse by verse. “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” [Verses 6-8.] 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 4
Let us see that we observe the conditions that God has laid down, by observing the unity that should exist among brethren. When Christ abides in the heart, unity is seen. Divine love flows from the heart in a strong current. The privileges and opportunities given to every soul are appreciated. 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 5
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that the thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” [Verses 20-22.] 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 6
If we have the mind and love of Christ in our hearts, it will be revealed by our treatment of one another. Our unity tells in powerful manner that we are children of God. It has an irresistible influence upon the world, showing that man in his humanity may be a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 7
Those who believe in Christ work out His character and act upon the principles given in the Old and New Testaments. “They are not of the world,” Christ said, “even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” [Verses 16, 17.] 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 8
The Word of God is to be studied, eaten. Thus we eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. This is Bible religion. Without this we cannot manifest godliness to the world. 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 9
“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” [Verses 22, 23.] This is the most wonderful promise that ever came from the lips of Christ. Why do we not show that we understand these words? 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 10
“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me, for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” [Verse 24.] We are plainly shown that by receiving Christ a change takes place, and we reveal to the world that [God] has truly sent His Son into the world. 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 11
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... In him was life; and the life was the light of men ... He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” [John 1:1, 4, 10.] How many who claim to be Christians are Christians in thought? How many have an abiding Christ? How many reveal to the world the glory that Christ declares He gave His people? Who among those who have been given great light reveal that light to the world in clear, distinct rays by their unity and love for one another? 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 12
All true Christians will carry out Christ’s principles. They will represent Him by their compassionate tenderness for each other. We read, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. ... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. ... And of his fullness have all we received, grace for grace.” [Verses 12, 14, 16.] 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 13
As we receive the precious gift of grace we are to impart the same to others. Thus we show that we are in partnership with Christ. God and man work in perfect harmony. When man receives the grace of Christ he cannot keep that grace from flowing forth in words and deeds to his fellow men. 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 14
Why do we not eat the bread of life? Why do we not drink the blood of the Son of God, that His life may be revealed in our lives, and that the world may see the wonderful privileges that are ours? If we are one with Christ, we receive power to show the world that God loves human beings as He loves His only begotten Son. 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 15
Shall Christ be always disappointed in His people? Will they always refuse to comply with the conditions He has laid down? Shall we not change this feature of this experience, and believe that God will work with power if, as professed Christians, we do not hinder Him by disregarding His requirements? What could not God do if we would place ourselves in right relation to Him and to each other! 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 16
“The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you, but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, ye shall abide in him. ... When he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at His coming. If we know that he is righteous, we know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” [1 John 2:27-29.] 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 17
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. ... For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. ... We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” [1 John 3:9, 11, 12, 14.] 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 18
Shall we not be doers of the Word? Shall we not work in partnership with Christ? “By one offering he has perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” [Hebrews 10:14-17.] God desires us to have all He has provided for us at such an immense cost. The reason why the great and grand truths which have been presented to us do not accomplish more is because we do not live these truths, and therefore they are powerless to influence us. We need a deeper appreciation of truth. 14LtMs, Ms 12, 1899, par. 19