Thanks to Mike and his "born again" theory I have run across this gem of a book from the Spirit of Prophecy called "New Life" by doing a search in the Spirit of Prophecy on "born again". It has many gems in it concerning our life as a Christian. I do not have this book as a hard copy and can only access it online. I am going to try to buy it.

quote:

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Never Be "satisfied"
New Life
Page 42-43

There are many who profess Christ, but who never become mature Christians. They admit that man is fallen, that his faculties are weakened, that he is unfitted for moral achievement, but they say that Christ has borne all the burden, all the suffering, all the self-denial, and they are willing to let Him bear it. They say that there is nothing for them to do but to believe; but Christ said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24). Jesus kept the commandments of God. . . .

We are never to rest in a satisfied condition, and cease to make advancement, saying, "I am saved." When this idea is entertained, the motives for watchfulness, for prayer, for earnest endeavor to press onward to higher attainments, cease to exist. No sanctified tongue will be found uttering these words till Christ shall come, and we enter in through the gates into the city of God. Then, with the utmost propriety, we may give glory to God and to the Lamb for eternal deliverance. As long as man is full of weakness--for of himself he cannot save his soul--he should never dare to say, "I am saved."

It is not he that putteth on the armor that can boast of the victory; for he has the battle to fight and the victory to win. It is he that endureth unto the end that shall be saved. [SELECTED MESSAGES, BOOK 1, PP. 313-315.]

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[ May 07, 2003, 04:20 PM: Message edited by: Avalee ]

Avalee, can you please post the link to that book so the rest of us can read it too? Thanx. Also, it's important to understand what she meant by prohibiting saying, I am saved. In the context of the quote you shared above she means we should not think or say we have no more room to grow in grace or mature in the fruits of the Spirit. In other places she means we should not think or say we are beyond temptation or falling.

Christ's Object Lessons, page 155, paragraph 2
Chapter Title: Two Worshipers
Those who accept Christ, and in their first confidence say, I am saved, are in danger of trusting to themselves. They lose sight of their own weakness and their constant need of divine strength. They are unprepared for Satan's devices, and under temptation many, like Peter, fall into the very depths of sin. We are admonished, "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." 1 Cor. 10:12. Our only safety is in constant distrust of self, and dependence on Christ.

Faith and Works, page 71, paragraph 2
Chapter Title: The Quality of Our Faith
By living faith, by earnest prayer to God, and depending upon Jesus' merits, we are clothed with His righteousness, and we are saved. "Oh, yes," some say, "we are saved in doing nothing. In fact, I am saved. I need not keep the law of God. I am saved by the righteousness of Jesus Christ." Christ came to our world to bring all men back to allegiance to God. To take the position that you can break God's law, for Christ has done it all, is a position of death, for you are as verily a transgressor as anyone.

Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, April 12, 1892, paragraph 9
Article Title: Sanctification Through the Truth
John says, "The light"--Christ--"shineth in darkness," that is, in the world, "and the darkness comprehended it not. . . . But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." The reason why the unbelieving world are not saved is that they do not choose to be enlightened. The old nature, born of blood and the will of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The old ways, the hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given up; for grace is not inherited. The new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, new tendencies. Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature, and in all their habits and practices, they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ. When men who claim to be Christians retain all their natural defects of character and disposition, in what does their position differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciate the truth as a sanctifier, a refiner. They have not been born again.

Thank you Mike...I take what God has said through the Spirit Of Prophecy for what it says not what man says it says...thanks anyway.

As far as putting the link online for the book it is not possible. I tried that already and all would come up is the EGW Search area. I am in the process of putting it all on my web site for others to access either to print or to read at their on time...

Here is the link to where a copy of A New Life is. http://www.geocities.com/midnightcry1950/Lifecontents.html

[ May 07, 2003, 04:08 PM: Message edited by: Avalee ]

Avalee, thanx for posting it on your website. BTW, do you think Sister White's comments about saying, I am saved, agree with John's comments? In other words, is it possible for us to know we are saved? The blessed assurance!

1 John
5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Hi Mike..as I am spending the time putting that book on my web site I do not have time to do a search on what the Spirit of Prophecy says right now.

I believe that we can know if we have that Blessed Assurance....eternal life. I do not believe we will be thinking about it all the time..or telling others, "I am saved and have eternal life". I believe if a person is truly honest with themselves they can know when they are completly right with God and have that peace in their minds.

Chap. 10 - Divine Enmity in the Soul

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Gen. 3:15. {TMK 16.1}

Adam and Eve stood as criminals before their God, awaiting the sentence which transgression had incurred. But before they hear of the thorn and the thistle, the sorrow and anguish which should be their portion, and the dust to which they should return, they listen to words which must have inspired them with hope. Though they must suffer . . . , they might look forward to ultimate victory. {TMK 16.2}

God declares, "I will put enmity." This enmity is supernaturally put, and not naturally entertained. When man sinned, his nature became evil, and he was in harmony, and not at variance, with Satan. The lofty usurper, having succeeded in seducing our first parents as he had seduced angels, counted on securing their allegiance and cooperation in all his enterprises against the government of Heaven. . . . But when Satan heard that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, he knew that though he had succeeded in depraving human nature . . . , yet by some mysterious process God would restore to man his lost power, and enable him to resist and overcome his conqueror. {TMK 16.3}

It is the grace that Christ implants in the soul that creates the enmity against Satan. Without this grace, man would continue the captive of Satan, a servant ever ready to do his bidding. The new principle in the soul creates conflict where hitherto had been peace. The power which Christ imparts, enables man to resist the tyrant and usurper. Whenever a man is seen to abhor sin instead of loving it, when he resists and conquers those passions that have held sway within, there is seen the operation of a principle wholly from above. The Holy Spirit must be constantly imparted to man, or he has no disposition to contend against the powers of darkness. {TMK 16.4}

Shall we not accept the enmity which Christ has placed between man and the serpent? . . . We have a right to say, In the strength of Jesus Christ I will be a conqueror. {TMK 16.5}

Amen Mike...how ashamed we should be for not wanting this enmity to be between us and Satan. We have a choice to make....what choices are we making each day?

The book, "A New Life", I have found out was published by R & H back in 1972 and is out of print. Received an email from EGW Estate today. However, they gave me a couple of places to look for it and I did find the book at one of the places for $1.95. www.lnfbooks.com I have just ordered the book and I know I will be receiving a blessing reading God's Word to us. Amen