“There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency.  Of all sins, it is the most hopeless, the most incurable.”  Christ’s Object Lessons, page 154:4.

 

“Peter’s fall was not instantaneous, but gradual.  Self-confidence led him to the belief that he was saved, and step after step was taken in the downward path, until he could deny his Master.  Never can we safely put confidence in self or feel, this side of Heaven, that we are secure against temptation.  Never can we safely put confidence in self or feel this side of Heaven, that we are secure against temptation.  Those who accept the Savior, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved.  This is misleading.”  Christ’s Object Lessons, page 155:1.

 

“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 fall into the very depths of sin.  We are admonished, ‘Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall’ 1Co. 10:12.  Our only safety is in constant distrust of self, and dependence on Christ.”  Christ’s Object Lessons, page 155:2.

 

“Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved.”  New Life, Page 42.1.

 

“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’ (Matthew 16:24).  Jesus kept the Commandments of God.”  New Life, page 42.3.

 

“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.’ ”  New Life, page 43.1.

 

NOTE:  “It is he that endureth unto the end that shall be saved.”  NL:43.2.  Compare with Matthew 24:13.  Then James 1:12.  Then First John 3:2.  Then First Corinthians 15:31.

 

“[314] 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’. . . [315]

 

“We should raise no human standard whereby to measure character.  We have seen enough of what men call perfection here below.  God’s Holy Law is the only Thing by which we can determine whether we are keeping His Way or not.  If we are disobedient, our characters are out of harmony with God’s Moral Rule of government, and it is stating a falsehood to say, ‘I am saved.’  No one is saved who is a transgressor of the Law of God, which is the foundation of His government in Heaven and in earth.”  Selected Messages, Book 1, page 314-315; Review & Herald, June 17, 1890.

 

“The unconditional pardon of sin never has been and never will be.  Such pardon would show the abandonment of the principles of righteousness which are the very foundation of the government of God.  It would fill the unfallen worlds with consternation.  God has faithfully pointed out the results of sin, and if these warnings are not true, how can we be sure that His promises will be fulfilled?  That so-called benevolence which would set aside justice, is not benevolence, but weakness.  God is the Lifegiver.  From the beginning, His Laws were ordained to give life.  But sin broke in upon the order that God had established, and discord followed.  As long as sin exists, suffering and death are inevitable.  It is only because the Redeemer has borne the curse of sin in our behalf, that man can hope to escape its dire results.”  Youth Instructor, June 13, 1901; Patriarchs And Prophets, page 522.

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