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Bruce Westphal

Steps to Christ (Bruce Westphal)

Steps to Christ, Chapter 1: God’s Love For Man

Steps to Christ, Chapter 2: The Sinner’s Need of Christ

Steps to Christ, Chapter 3: Repentence

Steps to Christ, Chapter 4: Confession

Steps to Christ, Chapter 5: Consecration

Steps to Christ, Chapter 6: Faith and Acceptance

Steps to Christ, Chapter 7: The Test of Discipleship

Steps to Christ, Chapter 8: Growing Up in Christ

Steps to Christ, Chapter 9: The Work and the Life

Steps to Christ, Chapter 10: A Knowledge of God

Steps to Christ, Chapter 11: The Privilege of Prayer

Steps to Christ, Chapter 12: What to Do With Doubt

Steps to Christ, Chapter 13: Rejoicing in the Lord

Chapter seven, the test of discipleship from the book Steps to Christ by Ellen G. White. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold all things are become new. Second Corinthians five verse 17. A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place or trace all the chain of circumstances in the process of conversion, but this does not prove him to be unconverted. Christ said the Nicodemus, the wind bloweth. Where at Listeth and thou here is the sound thereof, but can't not tell when it cometh and whether it goeth, so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. John chapter three, verse eight, like the wind which is invisible yet the effects of which are plainly seen and felt is the spirit of God in its work upon the human heart that regenerating power, which no human eye can see begets a new life in the soul. He creates a new being in the image of God. While the work of the spirit is silent and imperceptible, its affects our manifest. If the heart has been renewed by the spirit of God, the life will bear witness to the fact. While we cannot do anything to change our hearts or to bring ourselves into harmony with God, while we must not trust to all to ourselves or our good works, our lives will reveal whether the grace of God is dwelling within us. A change will be seen in the character, the habits, the pursuits, the contrast will be clear and decided between what they have been and what they are. The character is revealed not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts. It is true that there may be an outward correctness of the deportment without the renewing power of Christ. The love of influence and the desire for the esteem of others may produce a well-ordered life. Self-respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil. A selfish heart may perform generous actions by what means. Then shall we determine whose side we are on? Who has the heart with whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse, who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are Christ's, our thoughts are with him and our sweetest thoughts are of him. All we have and are is consecrated to him. We long to bury his image, breathe his spirit, do his will and please him in all things. Those who become new creatures in Christ, Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the spirit. Love, joy, peace, long, suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Galatians chapter five, verse 22 and 23. They will no longer fashion themselves according to the former lusts, but by the faith of the son of God. They will follow in his steps, reflect his character and purify themselves even as he is pure. The things that they once hated, they now love and the things they once loved, they hate. The proud and self-assertive become meek and lowly in heart. The vain and super sillus become serious and unobtrusive. The drunken becomes sober and the propagate pure the vain customs and fashions of the world are laid aside. Christians will seek not the outward adorning but the hidden man of the heart and that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. Verse Peter chapter three, verse three and four. There is no evidence of genuine repentance unless it works. Reformation. If he restore the pledge, give again that he has robbed, confess his sins and love God and his fellow men. The sinner may be sure that he has passed from death unto life. When as earring sinful beings, we come to Christ and become part takers of his pardoning. Grace, love springs up in the heart. Every burden is light for the yolk that Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes a delight and sacrifice a pleasure. The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness becomes bright with beams from the son of righteousness, The loveliness of the character of Christ will be seen in his followers. It was his delight to do the will of God. Love to God. Zeal for his glory was the controlling power in our savior's life. Love beautified and ennobled all his actions. Love is of God. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. It is found only in the heart where Jesus reigns. We love because he first loved us. One John chapter four, verse 19. In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, subdues, enmity and ennobles. The affections. This love cherished in the soul sweetens a life and sheds a refining influence on all around. There are two errors against which the children of God, particularly those who had just come to trust in his grace especially need to guard the first already dwelt upon is that of looking to their own works, trusting to anything they can do to bring themselves into harmony with God. He who was trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law is attempting and impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone through faith that can make us holy. The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of God that since by faith alone we become part takers of the grace of Christ. Our works have nothing to do with our redemption. But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but the service of love, the law of God is an expression of his very nature. It is an embodiment of the great principle of love. Hence, hence is the foundation of his government in heaven and earth. If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in their life When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of him that created him, the new covenant promise is fulfilled. I will put my laws into their hearts and in their minds and I will write them. Hebrews chapters 10 verse 16, and if the law is written in the heart, will it not shape the life obedience, the service and allegiance of love is the true sign of discipleship. Thus, the scripture says, this is the love of God that we keep his commandments. Verse John chapter five, verse three, he that says, I know him and keeps not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. Verse John chapter two, verse four, instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith and faith only that makes us part takers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience. We do not earn salvation by our obedience. For salvation is the free gift of God to be received by faith, but obedience is the fruit of faith. He know that he was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin. Whosoever abides in him sins not whosoever sins has not seen him neither known him. Verse John chapter three verses five and six. Here is the true test. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions will be in harmony with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of his holy law. Little children let no man toe you. He that does righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous. Verse John chapter three, verse seven, righteousness is defined by the standard of God's holy law as expressed in the 10 precepts given on Sinai that so-called faith in Christ, which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God is not faith but presumption by grace are you saved through faith? Ephesians chapter two, verse eight, but faith, if it has not works is dead. James chapter two, verse 17, Jesus said of himself before he came to earth, I delight to do thy will. Oh my God, ye, the law is within my heart. Psalms chapter 40 verse eight, and just before you send it again to heaven, he declared, I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love. John chapter 15, verse 10. The scripture says, hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments. He that says he abides in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. Verse John chapter two, verse three, verse six, because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that you should follow his steps verse Peter chapter two, verse 21, the condition of eternal life is now just what it has always been, just what it was in paradise before the fall of our first parents. Perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any other condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin with all this train of woe and misery to be immortalized. It was possible for Adam before the fall to form a righteous character by obedience to God's law, but he failed to do this and because of his sin, our natures are fallen and we cannot make ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have no righteousness of our own and which to meet the claims of the law of God, but Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now he offers to take our sins and give us his righteousness. If you give yourself to him and accept him as your savior, then sinful as your life may have been for his sake, you are accounted. Righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your character and you are accepted before God. Just as if you had not sinned more than this, Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continued surrender of your will to him and so long as you do this, he will work in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure. So you may say the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians chapter two, verse 20. So Jesus said to his disciples, it is not ye that speak but the spirit of your father, which speaks in you. Matthew chapter 10, verse 20 Then was Christ working in you. You will manifest the same spirit and do the same good works, works of righteousness, obedience. So we have nothing in ourselves of which to boast. We have no ground for self exaltation. Our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and in that wrought by his spirit working in and through us. When we speak of faith, there is a distinction that should be made and born in mind. There is a kind of belief that is holy, distinct from faith. The existence in power of God, the truth of his word are facts that even Satan and his host cannot at heart deny. The Bible says that the devils also believe in tremble, but this is not faith. James chapter two, verse 19, where there is not only a belief in God's word but a submission to the will to him where the heart is yielded to him, the affections fixed upon him. There is faith. Faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Through this faith, the heart is renewed in the image of God and the heart that is in its unrenewed state is not subject to the law of God. Neither indeed can be now delights in the holy precepts. Exclaiming what? The psalmist. Oh, how I love thy law. It is my meditation all the day. Psalms 1, 19 97 and the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirits. Romans chapter eight verse one. There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God. Yet they realize that their character is imperfect. They're life faulty and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit to such, I would say do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down to weep in the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and not rejected of God. No Christ is at the right hand of God who also makes intercession for us, said the beloved John, these things right eye onto you that ye sin not, and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ, the righteous one. John chapter two, verse one, and do not forget the words of Christ. The Father himself loves you. John chapter 16, verse 27. He desires to restore you to himself to see his own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you but yield yourself to him, he that has begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more fervently, believe more fully as we come to distrust our own power. Let us trust the power of our redeemer and he shall praise him who is the health of our counts. The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes for your vision will become clearer and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to his perfect nature. This is evidence that Satan's delusions have lost their power, that the vivifying influence of the spirit of God is arousing you. No deep seated love for Jesus can dwell in the heart that does not realize its own sinfulness. The soul has transformed by the grace of Christ will admire his divine character. But if we do not see our own moral deformity, it is unmistakable evidence that we have not had a view of the beauty and excellence of Christ. The less we see to esteem in ourselves, the more we shall see to esteem in the infinite purity and loveliness of our savior. A view of our sinfulness drives us to him who can pardon? And when the soul realizing its helplessness reaches out after Christ, he will reveal himself in power. The more our sense of need drives us to him and to the word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of his character and the more fully we shall reflect his image.

Ellen G. White

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Steps to Christ (Bruce Westphal)

Steps to Christ, Chapter 7: The Test of Discipleship

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Other Teachings in Series

Steps to Christ, Chapter 1: God’s Love For Man

Steps to Christ, Chapter 2: The Sinner’s Need of Christ

Steps to Christ, Chapter 3: Repentence

Steps to Christ, Chapter 4: Confession

Steps to Christ, Chapter 5: Consecration

Steps to Christ, Chapter 6: Faith and Acceptance

Steps to Christ, Chapter 7: The Test of Discipleship

Steps to Christ, Chapter 8: Growing Up in Christ

Steps to Christ, Chapter 9: The Work and the Life

Steps to Christ, Chapter 10: A Knowledge of God

Steps to Christ, Chapter 11: The Privilege of Prayer

Steps to Christ, Chapter 12: What to Do With Doubt

Steps to Christ, Chapter 13: Rejoicing in the Lord

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