Page 21 - How to Be a Victorious Christian - eBook

It is not merely a rearranged life in which he shifts priorities; in which, for example,
he moves sports or money, jobs or dress, entertainment or eating, and so on, from a
high place of priority to a lower place. 7

The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a

transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether.
This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.
-The Desire of Ages, p. 172.

It is an experience that all, without exception, must have who are to be recognized as
members of the family of God. There are none who came into the world born again,
who might be referred to as natural Christians and therefore not needing the

experience.

A natural Christianl This deceptive idea has served many as a garment of self-
righteousness, and has led many to a supposed hope in Christ, who had no
experimental knowledge of Him, of His experience, His trials, His life of self-
denial and self-sacrifice. Testimonies, vol. 2, pp. 177, 178.

Your birth, your reputation, your wealth, your talents, your virtues, your piety,
your philanthropy, or anything else in you or connected with you, will not form a
bond of union between your soul and Christ.-Ibid., vol. 5, pp. 48, 49.

In the new-birth transformation, life meets a change so marked as to be
represented by death. From living, active life, to death What a striking figure! None

need be deceived here. If this transformation has not been experienced by you, rest
not. Seek the Lord with all your hearts. Make this the all-important business of your
lives. -Ibid., vol. 2, p. 179. 8

"Rest not" till you have received this transformed nature, Mrs. White exhorted. We
may remember that God, in unsleeping love, is active to bring every person to

Himself.

What are the signs by which we may know whether we are born again? The Bible
supplies many. For example, the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-12) relate to men and women
who have had the experience. Galatians 5 contrasts the evil works and attitudes of
the unregenerate (verses 19-21), with the fruit of the Spirit as seen in the regenerate
(verses 22, 23).

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