For SDA's, Necessity Or Is It Theory.

[Gibs]

This is not my words but of EGW of which I concur.

"Jesus declares to us that there is a greater sin than that which caused the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is the sin of those who have had the light of truth, and are not moved to repentance. It is the sin of rejecting the light of the most solemn message of mercy to the world. It is the sin of those who see Jesus in the wilderness of temptation, bowed down as with mortal agony because the sins of the world, and yet are not moved to thorough repentance. Christ fasted nearly six weeks to overcome, in behalf of man, the indulgence of appetite, and vanity, and the desire for display and worldly honor. He has shown us how we may overcome as he overcame; but it is not pleasant to human nature to endure conflict and reproach, derision and shame, for his sake. It is not agreeable to deny self, and to be ever seeking to do good to others. It is not pleasant to overcome as Christ overcame; and many turn away from the Pattern which is plainly given them to copy, and refuse to imitate the example that the Saviour came from the heavenly courts to set for them. {RH, July 27, 1897 par. 9}

It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for those who have had our privileges, and the great light which shines in our day, but who have neglected to follow the light and to give their hearts fully to God. {RH, July 27, 1897 par. 10}

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne." {RH, July 9, 1901 par. 1}

In these words an individual work is laid out for each one of us. We are to make determined efforts to overcome as Christ overcame. From this warfare no one is excused. If for us the gates of the holy city swing ajar, if we behold the King in His beauty, we must now overcome as Christ overcame." {RH, July 9, 1901 par. 2}

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[phkrause]

This is not my words but of EGW of which I concur.

"Jesus declares to us that there is a greater sin than that which caused the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is the sin of those who have had the light of truth, and are not moved to repentance. It is the sin of rejecting the light of the most solemn message of mercy to the world. It is the sin of those who see Jesus in the wilderness of temptation, bowed down as with mortal agony because the sins of the world, and yet are not moved to thorough repentance. Christ fasted nearly six weeks to overcome, in behalf of man, the indulgence of appetite, and vanity, and the desire for display and worldly honor. He has shown us how we may overcome as he overcame; but it is not pleasant to human nature to endure conflict and reproach, derision and shame, for his sake. It is not agreeable to deny self, and to be ever seeking to do good to others. It is not pleasant to overcome as Christ overcame; and many turn away from the Pattern which is plainly given them to copy, and refuse to imitate the example that the Saviour came from the heavenly courts to set for them. {RH, July 27, 1897 par. 9}

It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for those who have had our privileges, and the great light which shines in our day, but who have neglected to follow the light and to give their hearts fully to God. {RH, July 27, 1897 par. 10}

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne." {RH, July 9, 1901 par. 1}

In these words an individual work is laid out for each one of us. We are to make determined efforts to overcome as Christ overcame. From this warfare no one is excused. If for us the gates of the holy city swing ajar, if we behold the King in His beauty, we must now overcome as Christ overcame." {RH, July 9, 1901 par. 2}

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[BobRyan]

Your post is the essence of the Christmas message for us today. "Take up your cross and follow Me" out of this world of sin - -and into eternal life.

[Gibs]

Yes, believe is a little deeper than the surface meaning used today. Yes the Gentiles must come and truly believe He is the Messiah as well as the Jews who would not come and have that faith and trust even though they had plain Word on how He would come and what He would be. But to them He was just a man.

Believe and know it with certainity that He was truly God in a human body prepared that He could die and shed His Blood as all the sacrifices showed all up through the years.

Yes we are to work out our salvation there is not doubt and that work is a work of faith in Him that He is who He says He is and then fall on Him and be broken and follow Him in full surrender of all self heart and our spirit.

Then He can impart into us His Divine Spirit to give us His strength.

A little more from EGW,

False Sanctification and Holiness

"Beware of Doctrine "Just Believe."--We shall meet with false doctrines of every kind, and unless we are acquainted with what Christ has said, and are following His instruction, we shall be led astray. One of the most dangerous of these doctrines is that of false sanctification. There are those who claim to be holy, and yet are breaking God's commandments. Their assertion that they are sinless is false and should not be received. . . . {Ev 595.2}

Another doctrine that will be presented is that all that we have to do is to believe in Christ--to believe that He has forgiven our sins, and that after we are forgiven, it is impossible for us to sin. This is a snare of Satan. It is true that we must believe in Christ. He is our only hope of salvation. But it is also true that we must work out our individual salvation daily in faith, not boastingly but with fear and trembling. We are to use every power of our being in His service, and after we have done our utmost, we are still to regard ourselves as unprofitable servants. Divine power will unite with our efforts, and as we cling to God with the hand of faith, Christ will impart to us His wisdom and His righteousness. Thus, by His grace, we shall be enabled to build upon the sure foundation."--Manuscript 27, 1886. {Ev 595.3}

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[12tribes]

Yes the sinful flesh has no desire to keep God's Law

Romans 8:7

(7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

We need to be walking in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-17

(16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

(17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.