the great controversy-第106节

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〃whole　spirit　and　soul　and　body　be　preserved　blameless　unto　the　coming　of
our　Lord　Jesus　Christ。〃　1　Thessalonians　5：23。　Again　he　writes　to　believers：
〃I　beseech　you　therefore；　brethren；　by　the　mercies　of　God；　that　ye　present
your　bodies　a　living　sacrifice；　holy；　acceptable　unto　God。〃　Romans　12：1。　In
the　time　of　ancient　Israel　every　offering　brought　as　a　sacrifice　to　God　was
carefully　examined。　If　any　defect　was　discovered　in　the　animal　presented；　it
was　refused；　for　God　had　commanded　that　the　offering　be　〃without　blemish。〃
So　Christians　are　bidden　to　present　their　bodies；　〃a　living　sacrifice；　holy；
acceptable　unto　God。〃　In　order　to　do　this；　all　their　powers　must　be
preserved　in　the　best　possible　condition。　Every　practice　that　weakens
physical　or　mental　strength　unfits　man　for　the　service　of　his　Creator。　And
will　God　be　pleased　with　anything　less　than　the　best　we　can　offer？　Said
Christ：　〃Thou　shalt　love　the　Lord　thy　God　with　all　thy　heart。〃　Those　who　do
love　God　with　all　the　heart　will　desire　to　give　Him　the　best　service　of
their　life；　and　they　will　be　constantly　seeking　to　bring　every　power　of
their　being　into　harmony　with　the　laws　that　will　promote　their　ability　to　do
His　will。　They　will　not；　by　the　indulgence　of

474

appetite　or　passion；　enfeeble　or　defile　the　offering　which　they　present　to
their　heavenly　Father。

Peter　says：　〃Abstain　from　fleshly　lusts；　which　war　against　the　soul。〃　1
Peter　2：11。　Every　sinful　gratification　tends　to　benumb　the　faculties　and
deaden　the　mental　and　spiritual　perceptions；　and　the　word　or　the　Spirit　of
God　can　make　but　a　feeble　impression　upon　the　heart。　Paul　writes　to　the
Corinthians：　〃Let　us　cleanse　ourselves　from　all　filthiness　of　the　flesh　and
spirit；　perfecting　holiness　in　the　fear　of　God。〃
2　Corinthians　7：1。　And　with　the　fruits　of　the　Spirit〃love；
joy；　peace；　long…suffering；　gentleness；　goodness；　faith；　meekness〃he
classes　〃temperance。〃　Galatians　5：22；　23。

Notwithstanding　these　inspired　declarations；　how　many　professed　Christians
are　enfeebling　their　powers　in　the　pursuit　of　gain　or　the　worship　of
fashion；　how　many　are　debasing　their　godlike　manhood　by　gluttony；　by　wine
drinking；　by　forbidden　pleasure。　And　the　church；　instead　of　rebuking；　too
often　encourages　the　evil　by　appealing　to　appetite；　to　desire　for　gain　or
love　of　pleasure；　to　replenish　her　treasury；　which　love　for　Christ　is　too
feeble　to　supply。　Were　Jesus　to　enter　the　churches　of　today　and　behold　the
feasting　and　unholy　traffic　there　conducted　in　the　name　of　religion；　would
He　not　drive　out　those　desecrators；　as　He　banished　the　money…changers　from
the　temple？

The　apostle　James　declares　that　the　wisdom　from　above　is　〃first　pure。〃　Had
he　encountered　those　who　take　the　precious　name　of　Jesus　upon　lips　defiled
by　tobacco；　those　whose　breath　and　person　are　contaminated　by　its　foul　odor；
and　who　pollute　the　air　of　heaven　and　force　all　about　them　to　inhale　the
poisonhad　the　apostle　come　in　contact　with　a　practice　so　opposed　to　the
purity　of　the　gospel；　would　he　not　have　denounced　it　as　〃earthly；　sensual；
devilish〃？　Slaves　of　tobacco；　claiming　the　blessing　of　entire
sanctification；　talk　of　their　hope　of　heaven；　but　God's　word　plainly
declares　that　〃there　shall　in　no　wise　enter　into　it　anything　that　defileth。〃
Revelation　21：27。

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〃Know　ye　not　that　your　body　is　the　temple　of　the　Holy　Ghost　which　is　in　you；
which　ye　have　of　God；　and　ye　are　not　your　own？　for　ye　are　bought　with　a
price：　therefore　glorify　God　in　your　body；　and　in　your　spirit；　which　are
God's。〃　1　Corinthians　6：19；　20。　He　whose　body　is　the　temple　of　the　Holy
Spirit　will　not　be　enslaved　by　a　pernicious　habit。　His　powers　belong　to
Christ；　who　has　bought　him　with　the　price　of　blood。　His　property　is　the
Lord's。　How　could　he　be　guiltless　in　squandering　this　entrusted　capital？
Professed　Christians　yearly　expend　an　immense　sum　upon　useless　and
pernicious　indulgences；　while　souls　are　perishing　for　the　word　of　life。　God
is　robbed　in　tithes　and　offerings；　while　they　consume　upon　the　altar　of
destroying　lust　more　than　they　give　to　relieve　the　poor　or　for　the　support
of　the　gospel。　If　all　who　profess　to　be　followers　of　Christ　were　truly
sanctified；　their　means；　instead　of　being　spent　for　needless　and　even
hurtful　indulgences；　would　be　turned　into　the　Lord's　treasury；　and
Christians　would　set　an　example　of　temperance；　self…denial；　and
self…sacrifice。　Then　they　would　be　the　light　of　the　world。

The　world　is　given　up　to　self…indulgence。　〃The　lust　of　the　flesh；　and　the
lust　of　the　eyes；　and　the　pride　of　life〃　control　the　masses　of　the　people。
But　Christ's　followers　have　a　holier　calling。　〃Come　out　from　among　them；　and
be　ye　separate；　saith　the　Lord；　and　touch　not　the　unclean。〃　In　the　light　of
God's　word　we　are　justified　in　declaring　that　sanctification　cannot　be
genuine　which　does　not　work　this　utter　renunciation　of　the　sinful　pursuits
and　gratifications　of　the　world。

To　those　who　comply　with　the　conditions；　〃Come　out　from　among　them；　and　be
ye　separate；　。　。　。　and　touch　not　the　unclean；〃　God's　promise　is；　〃I　will
receive　you；　and　will　be　a　Father　unto　you；　and　ye　shall　be　My　sons　and
daughters；　saith　the　Lord　Almighty。〃　2　Corinthians　6：17；　18。　It　is　the
privilege　and　the　duty　of　every　Christian　to　have　a　rich　and　abundant
experience　in　the　things　of　God。　〃I　am　the　light　of

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the　world；〃　said　Jesus。　〃He　that　followeth　Me　shall　not　walk　in　darkness；
but　shall　have　the　light　of　life。〃　John　8：12。　〃The　path　of　the　just　is　as
the　shining　light；　that　shineth　more　and　more　unto　the　perfect　day。〃
Proverbs　4：18。　Every　step　of　faith　and　obedience　brings　the　soul　into　closer
connection　with　the　Light　of　the　world；　in　whom　there　〃is　no　darkness　at
all。〃　The　bright　beams　of　the　Sun　of　Righteousness　shine　upon　the　servants
of　God；　and　they　are　to　reflect　His　rays。　As　the　stars　tell　us　that　there　is
a　great　light　in　heaven　with　whose　glory　they　are　made　bright；　so　Christians
are　to　make　it　manifest　that　there　is　a　God　on　the　throne　of　the　universe
whose　character　is　worthy　of　praise　and　imitation。　The　graces　of　His　Spirit；
the　purity　and　holiness　of　His　character；　will　be　manifest　in　His　witnesses。

Paul　in　his　letter　to　the　Colossians　sets　forth　the　rich　blessings　granted
to　the　children　of　God。　He　says：　We　〃do　not　cease　to　pray　for　you；　and　to
desire　that　ye　might　be　filled　with　the　knowledge　of　His　will　in　all　wisdom
and　spiritual　understanding；　that　ye　might　walk　worthy　of　the　Lord　unto　all
pleasing；　being　fruitful　in　every　good　work；　and　increasing　in　the　knowledge
of　God；　strengthened　with　all　might；　according　to　His　glorious　power；　unto
all　patience　and　long…suffering　with　joyfulness。〃　Colossians　1：9…11。

Again　he　writes　of　his　desire　that　the　brethren　at　Ephesus　might　come　to
understand　the　height　of　the　Christian's　privilege。　He　opens　before　them；　in
the　most　comprehensive　language；　the　marvelous　power　and　knowledge　that　they
might　possess　as　sons　and　daughters　of　the　Most　High。　It　was　theirs　〃to　be
strengthened　with　might　by　His　Spirit　in　the　inner　man；〃　to　be　〃rooted　and
grounded　in　love；〃　to　〃comprehend　with　all　saints　what　is　the　breadth；　and
length；　and　depth；　and　height；　and　to　know　the　love　of　Christ；　which　passeth
knowledge。〃　But　the　prayer　of　the　apostle　reaches　the　climax　of　privilege
when　he　prays　that　〃ye　might　be　filled　with　all　the　fullness　of　God。〃
Ephesians　3：16…19。

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Here　are　revealed　the　heights　of　attainment　that　we　may　reach　through　faith
in　the　promises　of　our　heavenly　Father；　when　we　fulfill　His　requirements。
Through　the　merits　of　Christ　we　have　access　to　the　throne　of　Infinite　Power。
〃He　that　spared　not　His　own　Son；　but　delivered　Him　up　for　us　all；　how　shall
He　not　with　Him　also　freely　give　us　all　things？〃　Romans　8：32。　The　Father
gave　His　Spirit　without　measure　to　His　Son；　and　we　also　may　partake　of　its
fullness。　Jesus　says；　〃If　ye　then；　being　evil；　know　how　to　give　good　gifts
unto　your　children：　how　much　more　shall　your　heavenly　Father　give　the　Holy
Spirit　to　them　that　ask　Him？〃　Luke　11：13。　〃If　ye　shall　ask　anything　in　My
name；　I　will　do　it。〃　〃Ask；　and　ye　shall　receive；　that　your　joy　may　be　full。〃
John　14：14；　16：24。

While　the　Christian's　life　will　be　characterized　by　humility；　it　should　not
be　marked　with　sadness　and　self…depreciation。　It　is　the　privilege　of
everyone　so　to　live　that　God　will　approve　and　bless　him。　It　is　not　the　will
of　our　heavenly　Father　that　we　should　be　ever　under　condemnation　and
darkness。　There　is　no　evidence　of　true　humility　in　going　with　the　head　bowed
down　and　the　heart　filled　with　thoughts　of　self。　We　may　go　to　Jesus　and　be
cleansed；　and　stand　before　the　law　without　shame　and　remorse。　〃There　is
therefore　now　no　condemnation　to　them　which　are　in　Christ　Jesus；　who　walk
not　after　the　flesh；　but　after　the　Spirit。〃　Romans　8：1。

Through　Jesus　the　fallen　sons　of　Adam　become　〃sons　of　God。〃　〃Both　He　that
sanctifieth　and　they　who　are　sanctified　are　all　of　one：　for　which　cause　He
is　not　ashamed　to　call　them　brethren。〃　Hebrews　2：11。　The　Christian's　life
should　be　one　of　fa