In the course of my research on the Godhead I came across statements that referred to "grasping" the divine nature. Thinking there were few of them, I looked to see if Mrs. White wrote or spoke much of "grasping the divine nature." I was pleasantly surprised to find numerous amazing quotations on the subject. This page includes many of those quotations, listed in chronological order. I don't list all of the quotations where the phrase is used, but most of them. I also include quotations where she speaks of "laying hold of the divine nature." Mrs White also speaks of needing to "grasp" the divine nature to overcome. This is a subject that is little understood or spoken of. I hope that will change.
Before the page ends, I also reveal a changing emphasis, from grasping the divine nature to abiding in Christ as a result of a vision that apparently came in 1909 when she was writing someone on John 15. It is fascinating that she makes some of the most wonderful statements regarding grasping the divine nature in the same manuscript that she speaks of having the vision on abiding in Christ in December of 1909. After that statement she virtually stops speaking of "grasping."
In 1911 Mrs. White's emphasis changes again, this time to raising converted children as a result of visions of the night given on that subject. Some of these sermons are couched in comments on John 15. To establish what I am speaking of you will find a list of documents on Abiding in Christ around 1909, and another list of documents on raising converted children in 1911 and 1912 and some additional years.
It goes without saying, all the quotations on this page come from the writings of Ellen G. White. Many of these documents are unpublished. I hope they will become better known.—Dan
1 Corinthians 3:9 "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."
“Philippians 2:12-13 "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
2 Peter 1:4"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
Those who halt in the Christian life, and make no advance beyond the first stages of religion, do not realize the necessity of becoming partakers of the divine nature, to push the triumphs of the cross. The Lord is willing to heal their backsliding, and to quicken them anew; for he is of great mercy and tender compassion. He has a heaven full of blessing to bestow upon them. There is no failure on the part of Christ; he is able and willing to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him. {YI June 29, 1893, par. 7}
I make an appeal to the youthful disciples of Christ to arouse, no longer to indulge in pleasure-seeking, in self-love and ease; no longer be controlled by inclination, and by the lusts of the carnal heart. Do not settle down in Satan’s easy-chair, and say that there is no use, you cannot cease to sin, that there is no power in you to overcome. There is no power in you apart from Christ, but it is your privilege to have Christ abiding in your heart by faith, and he can overcome sin in you, when you cooperate with his efforts, putting your will on the side of God’s will. He says, “I have overcome the world.” In him you lift up the banner as one who conquers. “We are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” You may have a constant testimony in your life to the power of the grace of Christ, and may understand what are the operations of the Spirit of God. You may be living epistles, known and read of all men. You are not to be a dead letter, but a living one, testifying to the world that Jesus is able to save. {YI June 29, 1893, par. 8}
But Christ, by the example He has set before us, encourages the members of the human family to be men, obeying the Word of God within the sphere of their humanity. He Himself became a man, not a bond slave to Satan to work out his attributes, but a man in moral power, obedient to the law of God which is a transcript of His character. Those who would rebel against subjection to a wise and good law emanating from God, are slaves to an apostate power. Jesus became a man that He might mediate between man and God. He clothed His divinity with humanity, He associated with the human race, that with His long human arm, He might encircle humanity, and with His divine arm grasp the throne of Divinity. And this, that He might restore to man the original mind, which he lost in Eden through Satan’s alluring temptation, that man might realize that it is for his present and eternal good to obey the requirements of God. Disobedience is not in accordance with the nature which God gave to man in Eden. {Lt121-1897.4}
My brother, my sister, are you prepared to be partakers of Christ’s self-denial and self-sacrifice? What is life? Why is it that we who are human live not the life of the brute creation? Oh, it is because Christ so loved fallen human beings that He laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and stepping down from His high command in the heavenly courts, came to this world as a man, that humanity might touch humanity, and divinity grasp the throne of the Infinite. Our life is of value to God and of value to ourselves, because of the great price that has been paid for it. Those who live mere animal lives are not fulfilling God’s purpose for them. He designs His blood-bought heritage to live lives filled with great possibilities and probabilities. Christ became poor that we might inherit eternal riches. Every man, through the merits of the blood of Christ, may become a new creature in Christ, possessing a new nature. {Lt160-1903.28}
In his fallen nature man can do the very things God expects him to do, through the help provided for him. He can walk and work and live by faith on the Son of God. God is not pleased with those who are satisfied with a mere animal life. He has formed man after the divine similitude. He designs that he shall possess the character of God by obeying His law, the expression of His divine character. The Lord has given man mind, intellect, affections. These gifts are entrusted to man to be exercised and improved. God has given him a conscience, which must be carefully cherished and appreciated. He has given him knowledge and virtue. These entrusted capabilities are to hold the supremacy which God has assigned to them. {Lt 195, 1899, par. 4} ... The Lord expects man to exercise the faculty of faith. It is the real, vital essence of Christianity to grasp the unseen by faith, reaching out constantly to lay hold of the spiritual efficiency found in Christ. If man does not constantly improve by exercising the gifts of God, it is not possible that he has that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. To cultivate a few of God’s entrusted talents is not enough. The conscience is to be in touch with the life and character of God. This is spiritual walking with Jesus Christ, partaking of the divine nature, having overcome the corruptions that are in the world through lust. Every entrusted gift is to be cultivated and employed in the Master’s service. Life eternal is attained only by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. {Lt 195, 1899, par. 5} ... The more nearly self is brought into perfect submission to God, the more clearly will we understand the power that God will manifest in behalf of His people. The Lord will fulfill His promise to His people. We have failed because the fruit we have borne has not been proportionate to the light and advantages given. The endowment from heaven is just as much for us as it was for the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. {Lt 195, 1899, par. 7}
The Lord has chosen to accomplish nothing in the redemption of the human race without the co-operation of the human agent. Christ took human nature that humanity might uplift humanity by laying hold of divine power. Immeasurably inferior is the part the human agent sustains in this work; but, linked up with the divinity of Christ, he can accomplish all things. {RH August 6, 1901, par. 1}
Christ clothed His divinity with humanity and came to this world to live a life free from spot or stain of sin, that human beings, by laying hold of the divinity, might become partakers of the divine nature, thus escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust. To those who receive Christ as a personal Saviour, the veil that conceals the glory of God from human discernment is drawn aside. With the eye of faith they behold eternal realities. {Lt253-1904.6}
What we want is that every member of the church should realize that he himself has a soul to save or a soul to lose. And they have their families that may be educated and trained for the future immortal life. Everything is to be done for the future life. We are getting ready for the future life. Christ gave His own life that humanity might stand by humanity, that just as soon as your humanity should grasp His divinity, His power would come upon you, and you could, what? Overcome the temptations that are in the world through lust. That is what you can do. And this is the work that is to be carried on in every meeting. We want to see the salvation of God. {Ms155-1904.73}
Everyone has a work to do for the Master. There is an individual work to be done in giving the last message of mercy to the world. Not one is to be sleeping at this time. Humanity must be clothed with divinity, because for our sakes He became poor that we might be made rich. He wants us to show that humanity can grasp divinity and can stand. When the sick come to our sanitariums, they will see divinity in humanity ready to help humanity, for as many as received Him to them He gave power to become the sons of God. That is our work, to become the sons of God. And how? Humanity must grasp divinity through Christ. It is the robe of Christ’s righteousness that is the channel, and every one in this house is to be a channel to reach others. Those who are partakers of Christ with His sacrifice shall become the sons of God, and through Christ’s righteousness we shall escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. {Ms186-1905.11}
Mother and fathers, in their family, must give the influence to that family that they are under the control of a personage who left the royal courts of heaven, who laid off His royal crown, who laid aside His royal robe and stepped down from His high command over the angels. For our sakes He left His riches and became poor—born of poor parentage. He might have come and convinced the world if He had only come and taken a multitude of angels with Him, He might have convinced them that He was the Son of God. But no, no. He would stand with His divinity clothed with humanity, that His humanity might encircle all the temptations that should come upon humanity, and much stronger as Jesus Christ was the strength and the power of His people to overcome through Christ. Christ stood in His perfection—not a blot nor a stain upon His character. What? did He bear all this for you and me? He did. Why? That your humanity might have the overcoming power to resist and overcome the darkness in the world through the power of Jesus Christ, divinity united with humanity, that every soul that lives might lay hold of that divinity and overcome every temptation that should come to them. {Ms191-1905.15}
Some may say it was easy for Christ to obey. [He was] tempted in all points as the human family are tempted. He brought His divine nature for us to unite [with our human nature], taking hold of His divinity in our sorely tempted stress of temptation. He bore our sins in His own body, that every human agent might escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. There is positive necessity that the human family, by faith, lay hold on the divine. {Lt 61, 1906, par. 4} There is a work to be done for all humanity, to live now, just now, on the plan of addition. Christ’s divine nature is to be clothed with human garb, that the human, fallen order can connect with His divine nature and represent the oneness in the prayer of Christ. Men scorn the idea of subjection, and Christ came to reach the rebels so averse to the idea of subjection. Jesus, becoming man, reveals to the whole human family that He is to restore the original purpose of God and bring man—lost in his rebellion while in beautiful Paradise—to realize it is the natural thing to obey God. Man was created to obey God, and his own happiness was ruined in obeying Satan. {Lt 61, 1906, par. 5} What can I say to lead the human family to become sensible and answer the prayer of Christ, for Christ’s life was a sample of what their lives must be if they are restored to their obedience through being partakers of the divine nature? Christ, as the Son in human nature, was obedient. There is a great revival now to take place, that the people shall walk and work after the Pattern, following in Christ’s footsteps, else Satan will lead them his way and they be blind to their spiritual interest and know not at what they stumble. Christ calls you to answer His prayer to the Father and strive for that oneness of purpose and spirit, that angels shall take charge of you and lift up for you a standard against the enemy by following His example in all things. He came to leave for you all a perfect character. Not one can enter the abode of purity unless he cleanses his soul from every underhanded connivance and brings himself to a life of sacred obedience. Oh, how many will be disappointed with unclean, unsanctified characters! {Lt 61, 1906, par. 6}
He places Himself in that position of humanity in our world. What for? Why, He left the royal courts, He took humanity upon Himself and laid off the royal crown, laid aside the kindly robes, and clothing His divinity with humanity. He come down to be one with us, even from babyhood; He grew up to manhood and had an experience, as we have had. He took poverty. He might have taken scores of angels with Him, to testify He was the Son of God; but no. Then He could not be tempted in all points like as we are; but He comes right to man in his humanity, and that humanity and divinity combined is your only hope today. You can claim that divine power from Jesus Christ, because you can be partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption, escaped it, not been doing it; in God you have escaped it. That would place you in a position where your soul would be tarnished, you dishonored; but you have escaped the corruption through the looking unto Jesus, and imitating His character and His life, so that you are a partaker of the divine nature. There is where our strength comes, and we must, every one of us, have it, or we are lost; there is no other hope for us. {Ms119-1906.24} “As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” [Verse 18.] How? Did He send us without any spiritual help to which to look—upon Christ as a human being? Why? He sent us because Christ had that power; and He came, clothing His power with humanity, that humanity might grasp divinity, and that you might rejoice in being partakers of the divine nature. “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified.” How? “Through the truth.” [Verses 19, 17.] Do you try, every one, to teach your children, your household, what the truth is, that it is a sanctifying power? They must know what the Word is, they must understand its power; they must take hold with all the strength of their being; and then what? Why, the divine nature comes in; you are a partaker of the divine nature, and you have overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. That is our only hope. {Ms119-1906.25} … “That they all may be one.” “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.” [Verses 21, 20.] {Ms119-1906.28} Well, what does that mean? You are to be a laborer together with God. You are to take right hold of the souls that are perishing around you, and forget your ease, forget your unbelief; but you just take steps heavenward—step after step do you advance in the path of righteousness and truth and holiness. Why? Because we must represent the work that Christ has done for His people in humanity. We must represent it in humanity. Your heaven and my heaven must commence here below. It is right in this world that we are to have a little heaven. We are not to wait until we get to heaven and expect to launch out with all our human habits and practices where Christ is. Why, you could not have any place there. No. Well, now, here He prays for those that “shall believe on Me through their word;” through our word; through our works; through our labor; through our carrying the Christian character day by day, by our lifting up the cross of Calvary higher and still higher, to be partaker of the divine nature. {Ms119-1906.29} … “I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one.” [Verse 23.] {Ms119-1906.36} Now you just think of that. Your perfection is to be a partaker of the divine nature, and to overcome the temptation of the enemy, that is in the world here through lust. {Ms119-1906.37} … And now here seems to be the largest presentation that taxes our faith to the utmost; and what is it? “I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me.” [Verse 23.] {Ms119-1906.41} Just think of it; just consider it. He wants our conduct to be such that the Father can have that interest and love for us that He has for His Son. He wants no uncanny speech in us; He wants us to take home the divine nature, having overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. {Ms119-1906.42 … I want to tell you that Christ has the richest treasures to open to us in His Word. He has got a power for us to lay hold of, if we will lay hold of it; but we must walk in His way, not in our feeble and imperfect way. We must take all the Scriptures as our guide, and study this, and the mighty blessing of God will just as surely come upon us, and this in Revelation will be fulfilled: {Ms119-1906.48}
We know not how long we may be permitted to be in this world. We do not know; and while we are here, we want to lay hold of the eternal strength, that we may be an example to all that are around us. We cannot afford to make any mistake in this time of trial, in this time of test. We are being tested here. Christ has died for us, and we shall be successful if we lay right hold upon Christ to do for ourselves. {Ms 138, 1906, par. 4} “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers (Now take this in—oh, it means everything!) of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” [Verses 3, 4.] {Ms 138, 1906, par. 5} “His divine nature.” [Verse 4.] A question was asked if Christ brought His divine nature. Of course He did. He was humanity and divinity combined. Here He was tempted in all points like as we are, that He might know how to succor those that are tempted; and then every soul that will follow His example and His teachings shall be a partaker of that divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. If you want heaven, why, you must every one strive for it. {Ms 138, 1906, par. 6} ... Here is our spiritual life insurance policy, and here it is the securing of what? A life that measures with the life of God. It is an eternal life that we are to grasp. Oh, in these things we want to become acquainted with Jesus Christ by a practical knowledge of Him, by being partakers of His divine nature, that we may be in a position that we can claim His promises, and in doing this we shall be an example to all that are around us. {Ms 138, 1906, par. 12} ... Well, what is it? Why, Satan is coming down, in great power, and he comes to deceive and leads astray the very elect; and you cannot afford it; you cannot afford to be led away. You want that help that comes from Christ, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. You are to be a partaker of the divine nature. There is nothing else that can save us. Christ comes in His divine nature....{Ms 138, 1906, par. 20} ... His Word, He says, is spirit, and His Word is life. Well, it is essential for us, and we want right here in this world to be in a position where we are partakers of the divine nature, where we are living upon the plan of addition, and all the time accumulating knowledge, that our feet shall stand on the platform, the Rock of Ages, upon eternal truth, the foundation which nothing can wreck. That is what we need. {Ms 138, 1906, par. 22}
Now, I do not know what experiences we may have to come to in our world, if we will only escape the corruption that is in the world through lust, by taking hold and being partakers of the divine nature. That is what we need. You never will be lonesome; you never will be homesick. Why? Angels of God are around us. And we should be so grateful, so full of thankfulness, that the whole angelic host is interested in our welfare. We are not left alone to struggle on to be an overcomer in our own strength. The heavenly angels are watching to see our minds turning toward the heavenly, and then they have the perfect power to take charge of that mind. {Ms 143, 1906, par. 19} ... Now we have the revelations that God gave, even to children; and if fathers and if mothers could only realize, and educate their children to live upon this plan of addition from their very childhood, what families we might have—a church in every family. The father is the house-band of the family circle; the mother is the queen and educator of these children that are under her care; not a slave to educate these children; but she is to be just as tender and careful and true to teach these children how to bear the responsibilities of childhood from their earliest years. Why? Because a life, a life of wrestling, of trial, and of victory is before them. {Ms 143, 1906, par. 25} Therefore she must educate line upon line, and precept upon precept, not to see how beautifully they can be dressed, and how they can look to excite praise, and wear out her life in that kind of work, but teach them how to lay right hold upon the things that are of value, that they may be clothed with humility and meekness, and be fitted to take their position in the family circle—the older members of the family to take care of the younger members; and thus the education, just like a church, goes on in the family. And what next? Then she is prepared that these children shall, as they are educated in the Word of God, come into church fellowship, be baptized, and there is a whole family that is where? Taking hold of the divine nature. How many fathers educate about that divine nature? Partakers of the divine nature—think of it, and talk of it. {Ms 143, 1906, par. 26} [This originally came from a letter sent to Willie White Lt 61, 1906]
And when we consider Christ, the precious Saviour—that He gave the great sacrifice of Himself—He does not ask anything of any soul that is here to make a larger sacrifice than He, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Here He consented to leave the royal courts; He consented that He would take human nature upon Himself. He laid aside His kingly crown; He laid off His royal robe; He clothed His divinity with humanity, that divinity might touch humanity; and that humanity could hopefully lay hold of divinity, to have that power that they could escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. {Ms144-1906.4} Not one of us needs to fall, if we will lay right hold of the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. But we cannot have this great reward if we want to mingle with the world, and if we want to climb to the highest ideas in this world, to have our name noted. No. If we are willing to be partakers of Christ and His sufferings; if we are willing to bear the reproach for Christ’s name, then the crown of immortal life will be placed upon the brow of the overcomer. We shall see the King in His beauty. He came right to this world to stand here, to bear the sins of the world, the results of the sins of the world, and in His humanity overcame the temptations of the wicked one. {Ms144-1906.5} Now, we want you all to understand that it is by being partakers of the divine nature that we shall escape the corruption that is in the world through lust—if you will bow in humiliation before God; if you will live a life of sacrifice, as Christ has given you an example in His Word. Do not hunger and thirst for what this one may think of you, or what the other one may think of you, if you do not enter into temptation with them. Keep yourselves upon a high, exalted level. Keep yourselves where you can indeed lay hold of the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. {Ms144-1906.6}
God gave His only begotten Son to the human race, that man might become a partaker of the divine nature by accepting the remedy for sin and allowing the divine grace of Christ to work in his life. The power of divinity working in humanity can bring man into right relation with God. Fallen man, by laying hold of the divine power brought within his reach, can become one with God. Everlasting life is the blessing that Christ came to give to the world. {Lt38-1907.10} ... Grace abounds with Christ, and those who take their position on the side of the Redeemer become new creatures. In character they become one with God. Herein is love! God places the virtues of His character upon those who receive Him. Through His infinite sacrifice, He lifts the human race from its position of slavery to the will of Satan and makes men and women sons and daughters of the heavenly King. Only when we understand this great truth can we understand the words of Christ, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” [Revelation 3:21.] {Lt 38, 1907, par. 18}
Through the agency of the Holy Spirit, God works a moral change in the lives of His people, changing them into the likeness of Christ. ... {Lt 82, 1907, par. 11} The Word of God contains our life insurance policy. To eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God means to study the Word and to carry that Word into the life in obedience to all its precepts. Those who thus partake of the Son of God become partakers of the divine nature—one with Christ. They breathe a holy atmosphere, in which only the soul can truly live. They carry in their lives an assurance of the holy principles received from the Word: their lives are worked by the power of the Holy Spirit, and they have an earnest of the immortality that will be theirs through the death and resurrection of Christ. Should the earthly body decay, the principles of their faith sustain them; for they are partakers of the divine nature. Because Christ was raised from the dead, they grasp the pledge of their resurrection, and eternal life is their reward. {Lt 82, 1907, par. 12}
Christ has said, “Ye are the light of the world.” [Matthew 5:14.] Where shall His light be found if not among those who love God and keep His commandments? If you keep His commandments in truth, the light will shine forth through Oakland, through Berkeley, and through all these neighboring cities. “Ye are the light of the world;” and then He says further, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” [Verse 16.] It is the good works that are needed. We need the power to lay hold of divinity, a power that will never fail us so long as we keep our hold upon it. That power makes us a “partaker of the divine nature,” and enables us to escape “the corruption that is in the world through lust.” [2 Peter 1:4.] Let us now come humbly before God, confessing our sins, and let us by faith take hold of the divine nature. Then the angels of God will come into our midst. {Ms71-1907.17} There are two powers at work in our world. One is the power of Satan. He seeks to stir up our minds to lead us to disobey God. Then there is the power of Christ. He clothed His divinity with humanity, that we in our humanity might obtain strength from His divinity. He is the saving power of the world. We want to be kept by the power of God through Christ unto salvation. {Ms71-1907.18}
What did Christ do? Why, He laid off His royal robe, He laid aside His royal crown, He clothed His divinity with humanity and came as a little child of poor parents. He did not take life as a prince to rule, and yet divinity was clothed with humanity so that humanity might grasp the divinity and have that power to overcome the defects of the human character. To this end He worked at the carpenter’s trade with His father, humbling Himself to take temptations from the very first intelligence, and carrying through that great plan that in God men should stand as God designed they should stand—“partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” [2 Peter 1:4.] {Ms164-1907.16}
Christ when He was upon earth, did not have the advantages that we have, but the Lord of life and glory laid off His royal crown, laid aside His royal robe, and clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity might come close to humanity, and that all that were connected with Him might be capable through their obedience to His Word; they might be capable to overcome the corruptions that are in the world through lust. Now, our Redeemer lived a life of industry. No one can describe that life of Christ. His humanity was to be tempted like every human being upon the face of the earth, and He is to stand before the world as a representative of an overcomer—in His humanity. {Ms188-1907.7} ... And at the same time, for any one that needed wisdom and grace and help, there was His divinity, and they could escape the corruption that is in the world through lust by listening to His teaching. He would encircle them in the arms of His divinity and give them health and strength and courage, that they should be overcomers. He is doing that very work for us today. ... {Ms188-1907.8} ... His humanity was just as our humanity and temptation. And yet He never failed on a single point, neither need we if we will lay hold of His divine power. But we have but a sprinkling of faith, when we ought to read the Word and have great faith. {Ms188-1907.9} ... What we need is a confidence in a power that is out of ourselves, but is so great, and embraces so much, and is given so freely that we can grasp it by living faith, be partakers of the divine nature, and thus escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. {Ms188-1907.16} ... Now, let us serve Him, let us serve the Lord with full purpose of heart, and His blessing will rest upon us. The satisfaction that I have in knowing that I am doing everything I can brings me up where I can lay hold of the strength of Christ, and I know He will not fail me. Let us every one come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness, and He will give us strength and grace. {Ms188-1907.35}
"You can go to God in prayer; you can ask, and receive; you can believe, hanging your helpless soul on Christ. It means that humanity can work the will and ways of God. Humanity and divinity are combined for this very purpose."
Jesus Christ gave His own precious life. And what for? To make it possible that we might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And when we consider that in order to do this, He clothed His divinity with humanity, that divinity might lay hold upon divinity, that humanity might be partaker with Christ and lay hold of divinity. That is how we can escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. And God want the truth to shine forth in unmistakable evidence to the world. They will know it. Certainly they will. {Ms191-1907.12}
Verses 3, 4. What a privilege is this! What a work is before us! Having escaped. Well, how do we escape? Why, Christ in the heavenly courts laid aside His royal crown. He laid aside His royal robe. He clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity by taking hold of Christ in obedience might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Now this is our great privilege, and every one of us wants to be in that position that we will never think that anything is a sacrifice that we can make in behalf of others, to bring them under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God. {Ms 192, 1907, par. 7}
Sermon/Conflict and Victory
Oakland, California
March 7, 1908
This manuscript is published in entirety in RH 07/09/1908.
It means much to be an overcomer. The besetments of the enemy and all his evil agencies must be firmly resisted. Every moment we must be on guard. Not for one instant are we to lose sight of Christ and of His power to save in the hour of trial. Our hand must be placed in His, that we may be upheld by the power of His might. {Ms35-1908.4} ... “Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” [Verse 10.] We are now in this great hour of temptation that is to try all the world. In order to gain the victory over every besetment of the enemy, we must lay hold on a power out of and beyond ourselves. If we are self-sufficient, and think that we may go on just as we please, and yet hope to come out on the right side finally, we shall find that we have made a terrible mistake. As those who hope to receive the overcomer’s reward, we must press forward in the Christian warfare. At every advance, we shall meet with opposition. {Ms35-1908.8} “Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” [Verse 11.] Here again we are admonished to faithfulness, in view of the conflict. We must not yield any point that we have already gained. From now on till Jesus comes, the battle will wax fiercer and still fiercer. We shall have to meet and resist men who are regarded as very wise and learned, but who are not spiritually wise unto salvation. Our only hope of saving our own souls and of helping others to be saved is to receive the righteousness of Jesus Christ. {Ms35-1908.9} In this Scripture is brought to view the hour of temptation that is to try them that dwell upon the earth. There is no escape for any one from this conflict. If in your life there are defective traits of character that you are not striving to overcome, you may be assured that the enemy will take advantage; for he is watching vigilantly, seeking to spoil the faith of every one. We must maintain a constant, living connection with Christ, who has power to give victory to every soul that will maintain an attitude of faith and humility. {Ms35-1908.10} ... We are not to rest quietly, with the thought that the devil will have nothing to do with us; but we can have the assurance that we shall not be left helpless, to be overcome by him. Yet if we, like many others, put forth no special effort to resist him, he will work to lead us away from the truth. If we give him the least encouragement, he will not wait for an invitation to come into our hearts. He will take possession of the mind, and then, although we may even think that we are being wonderfully led by the Lord, we shall be deceived. Our minds have been bought with an infinite price, and we cannot afford to give them over to the control of the enemy. We have no right to follow impulse and regard it as the guidance of heaven. We must have evidence that we are receiving the stamp of the divine character, such as will be acknowledged in the heavenly courts. {Ms35-1908.17} ... The Lord desires us to pray much. He desires us to maintain a firm hold on His divine power. His blessings are to be sought, not merely for our own benefit, but for the benefit of our fellow men. In view of the power of our influence for good or ill, we cannot afford to deviate from the right way; for if we do wrong, we may lead some one else astray. “Make straight paths for your feet,” writes the apostle Paul, “lest that which is lame be turned out of the way.” [Hebrews 12:13.] If with clear, sanctified vision we keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, and walk by faith, we shall not stumble and fall. By beholding, we shall become changed into the likeness of the divine. {Ms35-1908.21} Our Saviour laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and left the glories of heaven to come to this world. He clothed His divinity with humanity. He designed that fallen humanity might touch His humanity and receive from Him power to be partakers of the divine nature and to overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. He is our pattern, and I beseech of you, my brethren, to lay hold of the power that is ours through the union of the divine and the human in Christ. He overcame for us, and we may claim His merits. We may plead His power, His virtue. And as we co-operate with Him, and live in harmony with His law, He will cleanse our natures from sin and impart to us His righteousness. {Ms35-1908.22}
"The divine nature is to be imparted to every true seeker after Jesus Christ."
Key Article
Ms 37, 1908
Sermon/Abiding in Christ
... “This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” [John 15:12.] This is a wonderful statement. In our lives we are to exemplify the love of Christ. Then, like Him, we shall labor most earnestly for the salvation of sinners. He desires that we shall abide in Him, that He may work through us in keeping before the world such a representation of the infinite love of God as He Himself gave. Through our lives the despondent may receive an assurance that it is possible to be partakers of the divine nature, and by taking hold of this divinity, win the victory that all must win who shall enter in through the gates into the city. {Ms37-1908.15} It seems impossible for us to comprehend Christ’s great love for us. We can only behold the wonderful sacrifice that He made in manifesting that love. He who was one with the Father laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and in coming to this world clothed His divinity with humanity. Had He come in all His glory, escorted by myriads of angels, no man could have endured the sight. But He took upon Himself humanity, that He might perfect in His own life a humanity that we can lay hold of and be united with divinity. The divine nature is to be imparted to every true seeker after Jesus Christ. Divinity must be united with humanity. Thus humanity may be partakers of the divine nature, that men may be able to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. {Ms37-1908.16} ... In so far as we lack perfection of character, thus far do we fail of attaining that which God has provided for us through Jesus Christ. If we do not lay hold upon the provisions of His grace, we shall have a cheap experience governed by our own impetuous, changeable disposition. We cannot glorify God by our own efforts. We must become partakers of the divine nature, abiding in Him as the branches abide in the vine. {Ms37-1908.18} God helping me, I am determined to be an overcomer. Through Christ, I shall obtain the victory. Then His joy will remain in me, and my joy be full. I will talk of His goodness; I will tell of His power. Through a dependence upon the divinity of Christ, I may overcome as He overcame. {Ms37-1908.19} ... Here is brought to view our work. There is something that we are to make known to the world. If Jesus Christ is revealed in us, the world will see that humanity may lay hold of divinity. There will be no excuse for us if we fail in overcoming as God requires of us. The question we must now decide is, Will we put on the armor of righteousness? Will we lay hold of the divinity of Jesus Christ, that we may receive strength to overcome? {Ms37-1908.21} ... Can we desire more than this? Then why, with such a promise, should we manifest unbelief? Why should we be halfhearted in our efforts to follow Christ? What excuse can we have for occupying such a position? May the Lord God of heaven tear away the film that dims our perception, hindering us from discerning the requirements of Jesus Christ and following Him. May we, by living faith, grasp the hand of Infinite Power. This is our privilege; and if we take Christ at His word, He is honored and glorified. Then our joy will be full, and we shall not appear as a company of mourners. Happy are the people who have laid hold of the divine nature, and escaped the corruption that is in the world. {Ms37-1908.23} ... Every day of our lives, we need a manifestation of the converting power of God. There must be a continual yielding of self to do the will of God. Our will is not a sanctified will unless it is in harmony with His will. And if it is in harmony with His will, our actions will bear testimony to that fact. God will not leave us in darkness, not knowing whether we are serving Him or not. We have the Word, and our actions will bear testimony as to whether or not we are obeying that Word. {Ms37-1908.28} We need not go about like a band of mourners. We may commit our case to God, saying, “I will do Thy will, whatever comes. I will honor Thy name.” Now that is just what every one of us will have to do if we are to have the divine nature and be enabled to distinguish between right and wrong, and to overcome every evil thing. {Ms37-1908.29} ... God calls upon His people to come into line. There is a great work to be done in a short time, and there is no time for hesitation. Plead with God, saying, “I make an entire surrender. I give myself away to Thee.” Then be joyful. The Word is in you, purifying and cleansing your character. God does not want His children to go about with anxiety and sorrow expressed in their faces. He wants the lovely expression of His countenance to be revealed in every one of us who are partakers of the divine nature; for we have power to escape the corruptions of the world. {Ms37-1908.35} May God help you to labor for eternity. He wants you to have eternal life, and you may have it. If you will come to Christ, confess your sins in humility, and put them away, He will use you and will enable you to help others. You may be workers together—together! If you separate from God you can do nothing—workers together with Him. That is our privilege. May God help us as we strive for the victory. {Ms37-1908.36}
"Through faith in Him it is mine to lay hold of divinity and stand on vantage ground with God.”
There is a possibility of the believer in Christ obtaining an experience that will be wholly sufficient to place him in right relation to God. Every promise that is in God’s book holds out to us the encouragement that we may be partakers of the divine nature. This is the possibility—to rely upon God, to believe His Word, to work His works, and this we can do when we lay hold of the divinity of Christ. This possibility is worth more to us than all the riches in the world. There is nothing on earth that can compare with it. As we lay hold of the power thus placed within our reach, we receive a hope so strong that we can rely wholly upon God’s promises; and laying hold of the possibilities there are in Christ, we become the sons and daughters of God. {Ms99a-1908.2} ... Christ stood by every word of God, and He prevailed. If we would always take such a position as this when tempted, refusing to dally with temptation or argue with the enemy, the same experience would be ours. It is when we stop to reason with the devil that we are overcome. It is for us to know individually that we are right in the warfare, to take the affirmative in the sight of God, and there to stand. It is thus that we will obtain the divine power promised, through which we obtain, “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” [2 Peter 1:3.] {Ms99a-1908.5} There is such a thing as being partaker of the divine nature. We shall all be tempted in a variety of ways, but when we are tempted we need to remember that a provision has been made whereby we may overcome. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] He who truly believes in Christ is made partaker of the divine nature and has power that he can appropriate under every temptation. He will not fall under temptation or be left to defeat. In time of trial he will claim the promises and by these escape the corruptions that are in the world through lust. {Ms99a-1908.6} ... We think it costs us something to stand in this position before the world; and so it does. But what has our salvation cost the heavenly universe? To make us partakers of the divine nature, heaven gave its most costly treasure. The Son of God laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and came to our earth as a little child. He pledged Himself to live from infancy to manhood a perfect life. He engaged to stand in a fallen world as the representative of the Father. And He would die in behalf of a lost race. What a work was this! If He should fail, if He should be overcome by temptation, a world would be lost. {Ms99a-1908.7} I hardly know how to present these points; they are so wonderful, wonderful. Behold Him in the cities, and traveling from place to place, the crowds pressing Him on every side. He gave comfort and power to all who came to Him. None were sent away unhelped. He had brought this power from heaven for these very souls. And Christ was overcoming by His very deeds in behalf of men. So absorbed was He in the carrying out of His mission, that His own family could not draw Him away from His work. {Ms99a-1908.8} ... Christ suffered all this, that He might obtain your salvation and mine. By His life of sacrifice and death of shame, He has made it possible for us to take hold of His divinity and to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. There is a battle going on between the powers of darkness and the children of light—a battle that means humiliation of self at every step. Where are those who will stand? There are some who will. Where are those who understand what it means to be partakers of the divine nature and to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust? If you are partakers of the divine nature, you will day by day be obtaining a fitting for that life that measures with the life of God. Day by day you will purify your trust in Jesus and follow His example and grow into His likeness until you shall stand before Him perfected. {Ms99a-1908.12} ... There is a responsibility resting upon parents in this matter that is scarcely discerned by them. Christ gave His life for our children, and parents are to be overcomers that they may lead the children step by step up the ladder that leads heavenward. Make it your business to teach them the Word as it is. This is the knowledge the children and youth must have if they are to overcome as Christ overcame. They need the simplicity of true godliness. I rejoice that we have Loma Linda where we can educate our youth for missionary work for Christ. Here they can have opportunities to learn the simplicity of true godliness. They need not reach up for high attainments in worldly knowledge, but they can have the language of Christ by studying His teachings. This is the power of godliness to them that believe. {Ms99a-1908.20} My brethren and sisters, I urge you to bring up your children in simplicity. Don’t scold them when they do wrong, but take them to the Lord, and tell Him all about it. When you kneel before God with your children, Christ is by your side, and angels of God are all around you. Teach them to ask God to forgive them for being cross and impatient. Bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Let us be men and women of prayer. Let us take hold of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. Then we shall have the eternal life insurance policy, a life that measures with the life of God. Then when the ransomed are redeemed from the earth, the city of God will be opened to you, and you can present yourselves before the Lord, saying, Here am I and the children whom Thou hast given me. Then the harp will be placed in your hand, and your voice will be raised in songs of praise to God and to the Lamb by whose great sacrifice you are made partakers of His nature and given an immortal inheritance in the kingdom of God. {Ms99a-1908.21} [This manuscript is published in entirety in RH 01/14/1909.]
The Lord bears long with man’s perversity and depravity; He is a long-suffering God. The transgressor is very obstinate in his rebellion; but could the impenitent soul be impressed with the long-suffering of God, every barrier would be broken down. Christ came to our world in human form, that He might reveal to the human race the divine nature in contrast with the sinful, human nature. He clothed His divinity with humanity and was tempted in all points, yet without sin. In all His earthly experience He did not lose one jot or tittle of His purity. By faith in Christ, humanity may grasp the divinity that was revealed in His life and character. Through faith in Him, they may obtain grace essential to make them partakers of the divine nature and to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. {Lt62-1909.8}
He laid off His royal robe and His kingly crown and came as a divine Teacher, that humanity could have speech with Him, and learn of Him His meekness and His perfection, that they may in their humanity reach toward divinity by being partakers of His divine nature. {Lt189-1909.16} ... For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that Christ in His humanity might grasp divinity and that the human nature shall be able, through faith, to grasp the divine nature, having overcome. Romans 4 and 5. {Lt189-1909.17}
Warn every student that he must be wide-awake. Let this truth be firmly fixed upon the mind by our ministers and by all who in faith are acting a part to rid the human mind of error, that there can be no higher education than that which came forth from Him who gave His life that humanity might grasp divinity, and fallen man become one with God. The teacher who is so foolish as to think that he can give to the student a more perfect knowledge than that given by the great Teacher Christ Jesus is ignorant of what constitutes the higher education. {Lt98-1909.8}
"It is our privilege to lay hold of the divine nature and say, “Lord, you promised it. We ask Thee to give us a spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice. Help us to understand what it means to abide in Thee.”
This is a highly instructive excerpt; read prayerfully!
God gave Christ to the world to reveal to men that humanity united with divinity could overcome the temptations that are in the world through lust. This union we must experience. We must be living branches of the True Vine, daily laying hold of our Redeemer, that we may bear the fruits of a Christian character. Christ is our only hope. “I am the Vine,” He declares, “ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” [Verse 5.] {Ms19-1909.6} ... The Saviour declares, “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” [Verse 10.] He compares Himself and His work and experience of abiding with the Father with the experience and work to which He has ordained us, because He represents humanity and divinity combined. It is our privilege to lay hold of the divine nature and say, “Lord, you promised it. We ask Thee to give us a spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice. Help us to understand what it means to abide in Thee.” {Ms19-1909.20} To abide in Christ means that you shall be a partaker of the divine nature. Humanity lays hold upon divinity, and you have divine power. But if you cling to old habits and practices of self-indulgence, and refuse to carry the burden of souls, you will lose your own soul. You will not value your own soul highly, and you will not carry on a straightforward work. It is the privilege of every believer to purify his soul, that he may have that life that measures with the life of God in the kingdom of glory. This is what we all desire—to live through the ages of eternity in the kingdom of glory. But we can never do it if we continue to follow our own habits and inclinations. O that this burden might be rolled upon souls, and that they might realize that if they will be overcomers, they can help others to overcome. {Ms19-1909.21} “These things have I spoken unto you,” the Saviour said, “that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” [Verse 11.] The work of overcoming is not a joyless work; no, indeed. It means communication with heaven. You can go to God in prayer; you can ask, and receive; you can believe, hanging your helpless soul on Christ. It means that humanity can work the will and ways of God. Humanity and divinity are combined for this very purpose. O what a different world we should have if every professed Christian would come to Christ just as he is, practice self-denial, permit the fruitless branches to be cut away, and the good branches to be improved. Such an experience of constantly abiding in Christ would result in souls being brought to a knowledge of the truth. Let the petition come up before God, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do today? Let Thy light shine upon me.” Terrible trials are to come upon our world, and the world is preparing itself for this. We too must be prepared, that we may have the protection of our heavenly Father. And if we lose our life in the conflict, let us have faith to believe that it will be restored to us again. {Ms19-1909.22}
Let us consider the sacrifice of God and of Christ in our behalf. So great was the interest of God in our world that He gave His only begotten Son to come to the earth as a little child and to live a life like that of every human being, that through Him humanity might reach divinity. Christ suffered abuse and rejection and was finally crucified at the hands of wicked men; but through His sinless life and atoning death, He made it possible for humanity to lay hold of divinity and become partakers of the divine nature, and to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. {Ms49-1909.11}
God sent His Son into the world that He might learn by actual experience the needs of humanity. Through humanity combined with divinity He must reach man and enable him to lay hold upon the divine nature. {Ms73-1909.26} Let us not turn from the representation because we cannot be one with the world and at the same time be one with Christ. We do not deserve heaven if we come to Christ in that way. Let us make an entire surrender to God. God wants us to withdraw from association with those who would lead us to withdraw from Him. He wants His people to lay hold with strong determination to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. He wants them to make a covenant with God by sacrifice, to consecrate themselves to God, to bear the suffering part of religion as well as to share its joys. If they cannot do this, the cannot enter the gates of the city of God and have right to the tree of life. {Ms73-1909.27} Let us ever remember that eternal life has been secured for us at the cost of God’s only begotten Son. Considering this, should we not study to know what sacrifices we can make for His cause, what part we can act in advancing the glory of God for the great hereafter? Humanity can grasp the divinity of Christ. This is for us if we will lay hold of it by an intelligent faith. Let us learn what it means to deny self as Christ denied self. He laid aside all that He had with the Father and, clothing His divinity with humanity, came to earth that He might teach men and women how they might overcome. We are living in a time of test. Shall we not decide to stand on the side of Christ in this matter. {Ms73-1909.28} Do you not want the gates of the city of God to be opened freely to you, and you be welcomed in with your children? Do you not want the crown of glory placed upon your brow? Do you not want that life that measures with the life of God? If we enjoy these eternal blessings, we have sacrifices to make in this life. We must reveal that we possess a faith that lays hold upon the living God and a righteousness that overcomes sin. May God bless us here today. How much are we willing to sacrifice in order to co-operate with Jesus Christ in our individual salvation? What are we willing to do that we may be enlightened and may enlighten others? Satan is working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness to set in operation means by which to bring suffering upon God’s people. Let us cultivate the simplicity of true godliness. Let us in our human nature take hold of the divine, that that nature may mold our life, our character, our words and works. Then we shall go straight forward in the name of Jesus Christ. {Ms73-1909.29}
Will you not ask the Lord to forgive your sin and pardon your transgressions? Place yourselves where His blessing can rest upon you. It is you privilege in your human nature to take hold of the divine nature. You cannot of yourself do this work. It was because you could not do it of yourself that God sent Jesus to stand without reproach among men, and by His life of purity and sinlessness to give evidence that humanity can be partakers of the divine nature and overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. {Ms75-1909.9} … All heaven is interested in your salvation, and angels of God are waiting to do for you what they did for the early disciple on the day of Pentecost. Do your duty to your children, and for those who are ignorant of the truth. Carry out the teachings of the Word in your homes. You must stand in harmony with the God in heaven if you would lay hold of divine power. Humanity may reach divinity through faith in Christ. Then humanity can reach out to humanity, imparting the hope of the gospel to souls who are perishing out of Christ. {Ms75-1909.17} … Will you not at this meeting get hold of God? Will you not determine to win the crown of glory? Before you is the suffering of the Son of God. Will you not consider what He suffered—He who was without a stain of sin? Repent of your sins, and you will be received by Christ. Let your humanity grasp divinity, and in the power of divinity labor with sanctified powers for the souls who are in danger of losing eternal life. {Ms75-1909.21}
Key Article
“In His Word Christ has provided me with every advantage. Through belief of this Word and an acceptance of the blood of Christ in my behalf, I can overcome. Christ has made an infinite sacrifice, that I might receive a higher education than the world can give. Through faith in Him it is mine to lay hold of divinity and stand on vantage ground with God.” Christ should be everything to us. Let us not offend the Son of God by putting Him to open shame. But let us depend upon His power, and overcome through His grace, bearing witness to those around us that we are His people and that He is our God. {Ms79-1909.10} … “Now ye are clean, through the word which I have spoken unto you.” [Verse 3.] If you will take that word and carry it out in its fulness, you will find that you have a strength you have not realized before. You may be isolated from your fellow men, but you will have a strong arm to lean upon. God has given Jesus that you might break the power of the enemy. By every deceivable device Satan worked to hinder the Saviour from carrying out the work that God designed should be accomplished through Him; but in the strength of a Thus saith the Lord, the Son of God withstood the temptations of the fallen angel. By the same word and in the same strength you also are to overcome. {Ms79-1909.12} … Lay hold of the strength of divinity, and learn to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. It is your privilege at this meeting to gain victory after victory—not as the result of another’s struggle for the mastery over sin, but because your own soul is bowed before God, because your own heart cries out after the living God. If you will draw nigh to God, His promise is that He will draw nigh to you. {Ms79-1909.15} ... Christ came in humanity, that humanity might grasp divinity and overcome in His name. Your humanity must lay hold of Jesus Christ. Believe that He saves by His grace. Then you will not be content to say nothing of your faith, but you will seek to enlighten the ignorant. Will you not labor together in confidence for the upbuilding of His kingdom? Will you not make every sacrifice, that you may be accounted a full child of God? {Ms79-1909.17} … The remainder of this chapter is just as full of precious instruction and encouragement as the first part. The Word of God is full of comfort and counsel and encouragement. Ask God to impress its truths upon your mind, that you may be converted. You say, I am converted. Are you? Some may be, but there are a great many who unless they are transformed will never see the kingdom of heaven and the salvation of God. We need a new conversion daily; we need our strength of mind renewed, that we may lay hold of the overcoming power that there is in the gospel. {Ms79-1909.22}
We are to unite in giving the invitation to others. If we will come into right relation to God, He will let His blessing rest upon us, leading us to believe in Christ and to do His work. It is the privilege of every soul here to become a partaker of the divine nature, if he will follow the light God has given. We have a knowledge of Christ and of the way of salvation. We need to realize daily what a helper we have in Jesus. Let all understand that they can be co-workers with Jesus Christ. It is your privilege to receive grace from Christ that will enable you to comfort others with the same comfort wherewith you yourselves are comforted of God. {Ms87-1909.16} … Your humanity may lay hold of the divinity of Christ by living faith, and you may learn to carry out in this institution the principles of heaven. This will make you a blessing to all in the institution. {Ms87-1909.18} … We want to see the King in His beauty. Then daily let us keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, the perfection of human character, and laying hold of His divinity we shall have the strength of divinity to aid us in overcoming every evil tendency and desire. {Ms87-1909.20} Christ came to earth to suffer and to die, that we might lay hold on eternal life. He gave Himself, that we might become partakers of the divine nature and overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. If we have our reasoning faculties, we should know better than to follow a course of jealousy and evil surmising. The Lord bids us work out our salvation with fear and trembling. If we perfect a Christian character, we must put away from our lives every evil thing. There must be no evil surmising cherished in mind or heart. When we are truly converted to God, we shall hate these things that separate us from Him. {Ms87-1909.21} … What we need is to be true Christians, to keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, and to follow His example. In His human life Christ’s character was perfect—just as ours may be. We can grasp the divinity of Christ by living faith and in our humanity reveal Christ to the world. {Ms87-1909.23}
Are you learning in your daily experience what Christ has done for you by the sacrifice of His life? He has made it possible for your humanity to grasp divinity, that in the strength of divinity you might labor for humanity as He did. We do not learn of Him as we might. We do not bring into our Christian experience the glory and the joy that we might have. It is the privilege of every believer to overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the word of his testimony. {Ms95-1909.7} … “Ye are laborers together”—together—“with God.” [1 Corinthians 3:9.] O if that word “together” were left out, how different would be the outlook! “Ye are laborers together with God,”—the mighty God. Heavenly agencies co-operate with you as you seek to grasp the divinity of Christ. They work intelligently with you as you strive for that life that measures with the life of God. When you grasp the arm of Omnipotent power, you will be able to teach and train your children aright. Not by beating their bodies, but by enlightening their minds in regard to what sin is, will you convert them. {Ms95-1909.10} … I would that every parent in our ranks might have that life that is the result of grasping the power of infinity. We are living in the last days of this earth’s history, when Satan is working in every conceivable way to bring coarseness and roughness into the character. But Christ, the example of every believer, was full of refinement and love and thoughtfulness for others. Satan is seeking to fill the youth with love for the world and its pleasures. He is pleased when parents act as though they considered show and display necessary for themselves and for their children. These are not at all necessary. Parents, teach your children to be truthful, like Samuel. Teach them to bring themselves into right relation to God. If they will take the Word of God as it reads, and follow its instruction, the salvation of God will be with them, and the Holy Spirit will communicate through them. {Ms95-1909.12} … But parents, how will you feel if on that day you see your children shut out of the kingdom of God? and know that it is because you have not done your duty toward them? God wants you to come into line regarding this matter; He desires that you shall bring your children into harmony with God and heaven. He wants you to lay hold of the mighty power of God, that He may work for you, and through you, for others. {Ms95-1909.23}
"In Christ it is our privilege to come to God and to lay hold of Him with living faith, and to say, “I believe in myself I can do nothing, but through the provision thou hast made, I believe that humanity can grasp divinity. I grasp it in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” Now that is the very work many neglect to do. What is at stake? Your souls."
Key Article!
To be discarded and all this, what was it for? That man might with the capability of serving God be partakers of the divine nature. You think of that. With every temptation resisted, men become partakers of the divine nature, have overcome the temptations that are in the world through lust. Now what we want is the “ifs” and “ands” of what we are to be in our world, to let our light shine forth to the world in its bright rays, that we shall not be overcome with the temptations of the devil. How? Why, because you can be a partaker of the divine nature in Christ. That is what we are to be. {Ms115-1909.34} In Christ it is our privilege to come to God and to lay hold of Him with living faith, and to say, “I believe in myself I can do nothing, but through the provision thou hast made, I believe that humanity can grasp divinity. I grasp it in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” Now that is the very work many neglect to do. What is at stake? Your souls. {Ms115-1909.35} … Now, if we want, rays of light will shine upon our pathway, and we will recognize that light as coming from One that clothed His divinity with humanity; that laid aside His royal robe; that laid off His kingly attire and clothed himself with the simple garments of humanity, and came into our world in order that we may have an example, every one of us. Now obedience in these disciples is just what Christ wants to present. {Ms115-1909.46} … A mighty power had God given to the human family, but whoever you are, you can lay hold of Him by a simple faith and trust in His promises, and believe, and then what? Work out his salvation, just as the disciples were called to work out with Christ. {Ms115-1909.49} … We are to act out as far as we possibly can, that we will understand that we must be partakers of the divine nature, if we shall be overcomers through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. And don’t let us stop and think we can indulge in this luxury and that luxury. All things in our dress that cost means, we want you to understand that that very means is needed in order to bring the truth to foreign countries, and to the world. {Ms115-1909.57} … So that victory is of highest value to you, because you can see that you are in connection with One that is fully capable of bringing you out conqueror, yea, more than conqueror, through Him that dost loveth you. We want now to begin to make earnest work. Day and night my mind is traveling. Day and night I am working up plans; what can I do to save the perishing souls out of Christ who don’t have a sense of that humanity? The great sacrifice was made that humanity might grasp divinity, and thus divinity gives us the victory as we lay hold of it by the living principle of works, and faith, and by the living testimony that we shall bear to the world. {Ms115-1909.59} Now, I am not going to detain you any longer. But I want to say, I have felt intensely on these points. I want to know if there are those in this congregation, and I know there are by their countenances, I want to know who will stand with me in the battle. In November I shall be 82 years old, and I have been in the battle ever since I was 15 years old, and now I want to say I have no more thought of giving up the work than I had when God bid me go to work in His name, and He would be with me, and I know He has. I want to tell you, my dear friends, we have a living Saviour; we have an almighty power in Jesus Christ, and He will work out our salvation with us, and we may stand on vantage ground, if we will. But there are to be missionaries in such a congregation as this that will give themselves to the work of bringing the truth before the people. We are not to sit in our homes enjoying what has cost Christ so much. No, no; humanity must grasp divinity, and then push the battle to the gates. Push the battle at every step for souls to join the ranks on the Lord’s side. {Ms115-1909.60} … We want now to humble our hearts before God. Bring your children with you. It means everything to have a life, for humanity to lay hold upon divinity and divinity to obtain the victory for us and for our children. God help us is my most earnest prayer. {Ms115-1909.66}
What we want is to serve the living God. He has given us Christ the precious Saviour, His only begotten Son. He has given us Jesus, the precious One, to come and take humanity upon Himself, and there to be with the human agencies upon the earth, with divinity and humanity combined, that every soul that will believe the words of Christ will be in that position that they can be partakers, to grasp the divinity, and by living faith in the divinity, carry out the purposes of God that are expressed. They will be overcomers through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. {Ms117-1909.12} Now, Christ gave His life for the world. There was sufficient power that He, the Son of the living God, could embrace humanity, they partaking of the divinity of Christ that was clothed in humanity, that every soul might be an overcomer by being a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. {Ms117-1909.13}
We want life, we want eternal life in the kingdom of glory, everlasting life. Christ came to die for us. He left the royal courts. He clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might approach humanity and educate humanity to lay hold of His divinity, so that they might be partakers of the divine nature having overcome, what? The evil dispositions. The temptations that are in the world through lust. {Ms118-1909.11}
Verses 33-35. We are the people of His care, and He wants that we shall improve upon the great sacrifice that He has made in giving us Jesus, His only begotten Son. He sent Him into the world to come up in humanity, that humanity might grasp the divinity of Christ and have no excuse for sin. Every soul of us, if we are sinful, can repent, and humanity grasps divinity and humanity and divinity combined works out that all the corruptions that are in the world. Lust cannot overcome them, if we connect humanity with divinity. This is the very work that is before us. {Ms120-1909.21} … We do a great deal in our sanitariums to help the sick. They do not know how to treat their sick, and when we come in and we pray and we work, the Lord gives us the victory, and life is spared; then they are willing to be converted. They prayed for those that are not converted. They do not wait for them to be converted, but they come right in and offer their prayers to Jesus Christ who knows the heart, Jesus Christ who gave His life a sacrifice for man, that humanity might lay hold upon divinity. {Ms120-1909.28} Christ was sent into the world and they crucified Him in the most cruel manner, but He was not left in the grave. He came up, and proclaimed over the sepulcher, He proclaimed the resurrection. He was the life and the strength and the grace through the obedience in His humanity. He did not lose His divinity. He held fast His divinity. They saw humanity and divinity combined. There they were combined, and that is what God wants of us today. I would not be here at my age, traveling as I am, if I did not think some souls would be benefited. {Ms120-1909.29}
"We want souls converted, and we want every soul to place themselves in right relation to God in simplicity, that He can move upon the human heart, and that you will be aroused so that your humanity shall see its privilege to lay hold of the very reason Christ was given to our world. Lay hold of what? Divinity. Divinity in Christ by a living faith. You can present that divinity to the Father; you can plead for your children and the unconverted and your own souls, and you can overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust, because your humanity has laid hold with divinity. Therefore the divinity of Christ is for the conqueror."
Verse 40. “untoward.” They did not take to Christ. Why? “For God so loved the world ... should not perish.” [John 3:16.] Although they might lose their lives, yet their names are registered in the Lamb’s book of life, and they will come forth. Christ will bring them forth from the dead, and then He takes them, after that first resurrection, to the gate of the city, and He swings back the gate upon the glittering hinges, and the nations that have kept the truth shall enter in. And there He places the fathers and the mothers who have considered that the greatest work they could do in this world was to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Why? Because every soul that is really educated will educate their companions—every soul that will take hold of the righteousness of Christ—for humanity has the privilege of grasping divinity in Jesus Christ that they may overcome the temptations that are in the world through lust. This is what every one of us have to understand, and then to come in right relation to God. {Ms121-1909.18} … He gave His life for humanity. And from the humanity in you, fathers, and the humanity in you, mothers, let us just grasp the divinity that is in Jesus Christ, so that you can express Him in your family in words, in tender words, in affectionate words. Thus you can have a power so that you can educate and train your children for the future life. How long? One that measures with the life of God. That life of heaven you can possess. I beg of you, for Christ’s sake, to consider not so much how you shall decorate your children with finery, or how much property you shall gain so as to exceed your neighbor, but what can you do that the humanity in your children, and in your own life, can grasp divinity in the life of Christ, and be overcomers day by day, and bind the children to Jesus. {Ms121-1909.27} What a world we should have if we would do this! There is a tremendous responsibility resting upon the fathers and mothers, and the older brothers and older sisters. Altogether you can be a household of faith, and praise God and glorify God, and you can be happy, and you can win your neighbors to Christ. Your influence will tell for the glory of God. Parents, will you begin in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—will you begin to have praying seasons in your house, and then with your neighbors’ children, and feel just as much interest that they shall be saved? They have souls. The humanity that is in you sanctified can grasp divinity, and there you can have power that your words will be applied to the hearts of the very ones that you ought to save. God help us. {Ms121-1909.28} … The disciples met together to pray, and they sacrificed everything possible that they might reach the people where they were. And they did reach them, hundreds and thousands were converted. Why? Because the message came to them in its simplicity, in its truthfulness. In its very life it came to them, and this is the very work that we want to do and see done in Portland. I felt that I could not lay off my armor. I shall be, next November, 82 years old, and I have been laboring since I was fifteen years old in public labor. But we want souls. We want souls converted, and we want every soul to place themselves in right relation to God in simplicity, that He can move upon the human heart, and that you will be aroused so that your humanity shall see its privilege to lay hold of the very reason Christ was given to our world. Lay hold of what? Divinity. Divinity in Christ by a living faith. You can present that divinity to the Father; you can plead for your children and the unconverted and your own souls, and you can overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust, because your humanity has laid hold with divinity. Therefore the divinity of Christ is for the conqueror. {Ms121-1909.32} But we leave this with you now, and we will have other words to speak in regard to this matter. But O, I want to see the children, I want to see them converted, and I want to see the fathers and mothers and the aged that now feel that no great responsibility rests upon them. Yes there is. I will tell you what it is—to keep ever before you the divinity of Christ. “God so loved the world ... everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] {Ms121-1909.33} You think of it. Don’t let it pass from your mind, but work it out in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and if you do, then when the crown is laid upon your head, and the heads of your children, you will take these crowns and lay them at the feet of Jesus. The reward is already for us, and shall you make no great importance of that divinity that humanity can grasp? It is your only hope, and Christ preserved that divinity unsullied. Had He not, we should all perish, and you are to be co-laborers with Jesus Christ in this work of salvation. {Ms121-1909.34} God help us that we may understand what it means with divinity and humanity combined. We must have the divinity of Christ by a living faith and act it out in living power. {Ms121-1909.35}
He will take us just as we are, sinful and blotted. What did He come to the earth for? He came in humanity, that humanity might grasp divinity. He came, that He might come close to humanity, and that His teaching should reach the hearts of humanity. And then as Christ is revealed as the Saviour of the world, here is a message that is to come to those that are in darkness. Will you follow Him? Will you follow the Redeemer? We want you to. Jesus wants you. Your humanity is to grasp divinity by a living faith. That is why Christ came, that humanity might touch humanity, and that divinity might be turned to pardon the transgression of sinners. Now we ask you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, humble yours hearts before God. We want to walk humbly before Him. We want to confess our weakness. We want to put on Christ. We want to glorify the Son of God, and we ask every one of you to give your hearts to Him. {Ms122-1909.31} … What we want is the simplicity of true godliness, and when we get that we have an overcoming power to resist the devil. Humanity can grasp divinity and overcome the temptations that are in the world through lust. And now I leave these words with you, and I ask you to just give your heart to God. What more would He do for you? He died for every one of you that you might have eternal life in His kingdom if you accept Him and are washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. {Ms122-1909.34}
Key Article
Verse 10. Will you remember the mission? That is His pass into our world. He left the royal courts, and by the will of His Father He came in our world as a little child. But did He leave His divinity behind Him? No, indeed. He took His divinity with Him. Humanity and divinity combined, to give the lesson to every human being upon the face of the earth that if they would in their humanity have faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ that humanity may overcome all the besetments of the evil that there is in the world, through grasping a living faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ. Thus they could be overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. That is a great victory. {Ms123-1909.19} Verses 10-16. Thank the Lord for that testimony, because it is possible. It is possible for humanity to grasp divinity, and when humanity lays holds upon divinity, then the power that comes with that divinity will help every living soul out of their tempers, out of their disposition, out of their unbelief. God wants us to understand that it is a battle that we are in. {Ms123-1909.20} … Self-denial is to be practiced by everyone that shall accept of Jesus Christ. Who was he? The Son of the living God. He laid aside His royal robe. He laid aside His royal crown, and He clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity may grasp humanity, and that divinity might be grasped by humanity in the living faith of Jesus Christ, that He is their Saviour. We want every one of us to be in a position that we shall understand that we must work out our faith with fear and trembling. {Ms123-1909.24} … The idea of sin being upon Him, and separating Him from His Father, it was such that He felt He could not endure it, and the bloody sweat came from His brows, and moistened the sod of Gethsemane. And this is what my Saviour suffered, that humanity might grasp divinity, and that we through the power of divinity might be overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. {Ms123-1909.35} … I come to Thee, my Saviour, and I ask Thee that Thou wouldest give that help that humanity may recognize divinity through Jesus Christ and grasp that divinity, that they may work the good warfare, that they may press the battle to the gates, and the city of God, the gates be thrown back upon their glittering hinges, and the nations that have kept the truth shall enter in. {Ms123-1909.39} We want heaven. We want life, eternal life in the kingdom of glory. Let Thy blessing rest upon this people. Give comfort to the desponding. Lift up the hearts of the despairing, and may they see the Saviour in Jesus Christ, that humanity may grasp divinity, and that the glory of God may be revealed. A little nearer, Lord. A little nearer to this people. Comfort their hearts. Let them see where their hope is. It is to believe every word that has proceeded from the lips of Jesus Christ, and then be obedient to all His requirements. {Ms123-1909.40}
Only think of Him. The Father gave Him. The Father gave His Son to die for the sins of the world. And to think of the great sacrifice He made. O, what sacrifices are we willing to make to co-operate with God? Christ clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity might grasp divinity in those who would see and understand His works. {Ms124-1909.19} … Now I know that my Redeemer liveth. I know that it is my privilege to take hold of divinity. {Ms124-1909.30}
Now, here is what the Lord has spoken. Verses 18-23. How many are mocking their God, and selling their souls for gold and for silver, when there is an eternity of bliss that is presented to them if they will keep His commandments? He shows them there is some importance to keeping His commandments. It is verity and truth that He wants them to keep. Why? That they may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world through lust. How? He gave His only begotten Son to come to our world. Why? That humanity might have the example of sinless humanity. That it might grasp the divinity in Christ Jesus, and every sinner that could come to God through Christ, and believe His arm would encircle them to care for them, to protect them. {Ms125-1909.34} … Christ gave His life in order that He might bring every son and daughter of Adam, that He might bring them to the truth. And therefore it is of some consequence to you when God gives His only begotten Son to our world that this world might be brought back to God by their obedience. He came in humanity that humanity might touch humanity, and that divinity might grasp divinity by that living faith that God will acknowledge you as His children, and a crown of immortal glory is prepared to be placed upon the head of every soul that will be obedient. {Ms125-1909.45}
What is Christ come to the world for? He saw that humanity did not recognize divinity. He was a human being from His babyhood, but yet here was Christ the Saviour that was helping. Here was humanity helping humanity and humanity was seeing how they could lay hold upon the divinity of Christ. There was humanity laying hold upon divinity and in that way many souls were saved. {Ms129-1909.5} Now, I think that is the work that you are doing. Christ came to our world and from a little child that humanity in the human agents around Him were instructed how to lay hold on divinity. Now, this is the very instruction that you are giving, to lay hold on divinity. That makes the work of Christ a very important one. It is a work that many do not realize. {Ms129-1909.6} Whenever He saw children He would take them in His arms and bless them and that would make the mothers interested in Christ. Every soul feels their weakness and how the enemy has worked to carry out his purposes, but the Lord sent Jesus to be our Saviour. The Lord is ready to pardon all the transgressions if they come to Him and accept His pardon, and humanity lays hold upon divinity. {Ms129-1909.7} I am very glad to see the efforts that are being made. God will bless those that undertake it. We want, every one of us, to be helpers one of another because that is Christ’s work. Christ laid off His royal crown, He laid off His royal robe, He clothed divinity with humanity, that divinity might grasp humanity and humanity might grasp divinity. So there is a combination that if every soul will take hold of Christ as their personal Saviour and give themselves to Him, He will receive them and be their Saviour. {Ms129-1909.8}
Now let us see the result. Verse 7. Because you will ask nothing amiss—if you abide in Christ. Christ came from the heavenly courts to help and strengthen, to bring to you, in the form of humanity divinity, the divine Son of God. He came from the heavenly courts, that you might be a partaker of the divine nature having overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust, and you never can do it unless you take right hold of the divinity of Christ by prayer and then claim the promise. You must have a soul-saving experience. ... {Ms130-1909.22} Verse 7. You want to study the words. It shall be done unto you because your humanity—the simplicity of a living faith—grasps the promises of God and those promises are laying hold of the divinity of Jesus Christ. {Ms130-1909.23} ... He calls upon every man and every woman to form characters upon His divine similitude, and there it is that humanity grasps divinity. You know it is your business to be a laborer, that is your work, and if you work in harmony with God you will have a church that is a power.... {Ms130-1909.32} ... I cannot afford to lose my soul. I am going about at my age because people do not understand how to save the souls about them. I want to say to everyone of you, for Christ’s sake do what you can. If you are converted to Christ, have His words and His Spirit. Lay hold of Christ’s life and that divinity and humanity combined will bring you an experience where you will have a rejoicing in the heavenly courts. You will have a golden harp and crown and then everlasting salvation. {Ms130-1909.37} ... Now remember, you can help us save souls. You can help me. You can help me so that I shall realize that there is a work being accomplished for those that need it. And you can take your children with you to the heavenly city. Are you educating them for this? We want to act as though it were a reality with us. {Ms130-1909.36} I cannot afford to lose my soul. I am going about at my age because people do not understand how to save the souls about them. I want to say to everyone of you, for Christ’s sake do what you can. If you are converted to Christ, have His words and His Spirit. Lay hold of Christ’s life and that divinity and humanity combined will bring you an experience where you will have a rejoicing in the heavenly courts. You will have a golden harp and crown and then everlasting salvation. {Ms130-1909.37} [In this talk, Ellen White made several mentions of families in the context of soul-winning.]
Verses 11, 12. That will be the representation that is made upon your minds; from the very tress that you see around you, you understand more about God. You understand more about your Creator. When persons come and urge my advice whether they shall make their home in the city, my voice says, In the country. In the country—go to work in the country. Till the soil, do anything, but do not mingle in the congested cities unless you have a work to do for those that are already there and a message that you can bear. You may do your best, and then you may have schools, you may have sanitariums. Then letters will come to me: “Sister White, now after our schools have done their work for these students, how shall we get them connected with the higher education of the world?” Who wants it? Tell me who wants it? Verse 11. What was that? Why, He gave you Christ, He gave His only begotten Son that humanity might grasp divinity in Jesus Christ. You take Christ in your soul and then you will find you have wisdom; you need not take them to the world to get something of the world to finish their education. No, indeed; the Bible, the precious Bible—study it and then teach them to carry it out in their life. “For ye shall go out with joy,” etc. Verse 12. Now this is the written word and these are figures that you are to apply and you are to understand what it means. {Ms131-1909.22}
Here is Christ. He came to our world to die for us, that we might have everlasting life. Do let everyone improve it and be determined they will not have Christ die for them in vain. He passed through all that agony on the cross that none of you can suffer any more than He did. And yet He did all this in behalf of a work to save a ruined world. He came here to our humanity, that humanity might grasp divinity and lay hold upon the divinity that Christ brought into the world. And now let us be thankful always for Christ’s sake. {Ms133-1909.15}
“I have given them thy word ... wouldst keep them from the evil.” [Verses 14, 15.] Now the One that made that prayer, you may be sure if you are in temptation and in trial in the world, that you shall put your trust and confidence in Him, and He will be with you. Will we go groaning and mourning because we do not feel just as we want to? Feeling has nothing to do with it. It is the promises that are left us that we are to grasp, and that we are to enjoy, and that we are to present to others. But if we go along mourning as if we had no Saviour, we dishonor Him, and we must not do that. We must keep our minds uplifted, and think what a sacrifice He had made that our humanity might grasp His divinity, and therefore that we have hope and confidence and trust in the Lord Jesus. {Ms135-1909.11}
The prospect that was before me as I sat there with me pen in my hands and had lost consciousness, why, the scene that was presented, and the works that were being done by Christ! The influence of His Holy Spirit that was being resisted, because they did not come up to the standard that it was their privilege to come up to, and for which the Lord sent Jesus to make it possible that humanity might grasp divinity, and divinity might lift up humanity to become one with Jesus Christ. Humanity and divinity combined could bring in a position of oneness to God that is presented. And when we consider, as when I began to come to myself, the privileges that we were to claim from this chapter—it seemed to me that I was in heaven. It seemed to me my whole being was brought into a unity with Jesus Christ, and that we could have this unity, the human being could take hold of the divine nature, and become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in world through lust. {Ms139-1909.13} ... Now, study these things. Where you will be in the future at any time, we know not. We know not what trials you will be brought into, but if we do not half live the Scriptures, if we are not benefitted by the divine nature, to be a partaker of that nature, so that we can escape the corruption that is in the world through lust, we are lost. ... {Ms139-1909.15} ... Christ left the royal courts; He clothed His divinity with humanity. He came to our world to show us what humanity must be if we ever enter the courts above. If your passions are not overcome, it is time to begin the work. It is time in your families to pray to God until you know that He bestows His Spirit upon you, and that humanity is grasping divinity. When humanity grasps divinity, I tell you there will be a devotion, a sanctification, in every part of our work that is connected with our printing establishments, and every part of our work that is connected with the ministry, and every part of it that is connected with the medical line. It will blend, and the glory of God will be revealed. {Ms139-1909.20} This thing was presented to men in such a way that I have felt an impossibility to present it as it were, that you might understand it, that humanity must grasp divinity, and then you are a partaker of the divine nature. Christ laid off His golden crown, He laid off His kingly robe, and He came into our world to teach just how that you could grasp divinity, that you may be prepared for any trial or any difficulty. And just so it was with the school of the prophets. They went by themselves, they prayed to God until the Holy Spirit rested upon them, and then they went to communicate the light that God had given them. What we want is a living Saviour. What we want is that connection with God that we can understand the temptations of Satan. {Ms139-1909.21}
There is a possibility of the believer in Christ obtaining an experience that will be wholly sufficient to place him in right relation to God. Every promise that is in God’s Book holds out to us the encouragement that we may be partakers of the divine nature. This is the possibility—to rely upon God, to believe his Word, to work his works; and this we can do when we lay hold of the divinity of Christ. This possibility is worth more to us than all the riches in the world. There is nothing on earth that can compare with it. As we lay hold of the power thus placed within our reach, we receive a hope so strong that we can rely wholly upon God’s promises; and laying hold of the possibilities there are in Christ, we become the sons and daughters of God. {RH January 14, 1909, par. 2}
Why did Christ come to this world? He saw that humanity was separated from divinity. Therefore he laid aside the glory he had in heaven, and came to this world to unite in himself divinity and humanity. With his divinity he could grasp the throne of the Infinite, while with his humanity he could reach fallen man. It is by our humanity laying hold upon his divinity that we can be saved. We thereby become ‘partakers of the divine nature.’ {RH December 30, 1909, par. 5}
“We are seeking for the life that measures with the life of God; therefore our natures must be brought into conformity with the will of God. We must so conduct our life-work that we can go to God in confidence and open our hearts to him, telling him our necessities, and believing that he hears, and will give us grace and strength to carry out the principles of the Word of God. What we want is heaven, the victor’s crown, an entrance through the gates to the city of God, the right to eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the paradise of God. We want to see the King in his beauty. Then let us daily keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, the perfection of human character, and laying hold of his divine nature, we shall have the strength of divinity to overcome every evil tendency and desire. {RH January 13, 1910, par. 9}
After January of 1910 I don't seem to find any more of these "grasp" or "laying hold" statements. However, in 1908 and 1909 we find many statements and they are indeed wonderful. Why do they cease? Reason include the work being done on Prophets and Kings, as shown in a letter that follows, as well as work on manuscripts and articles that were ongoing. However she received new direction regarding the wonder of abiding in Christ at some point in 1909 or before, as suggested in the paragraphs that follow, and new direction relative to the raising of children.
Mrs. White had been writing on the subject of abiding in Christ prior to 1909 when she first wrote of the vision she received on the subject that follows. However, after that time she considered it with, as she put it, "an intensity that I never regarded it before." The following quotes are the two times she writes on that communication from what I can tell.
December 1909
"I was placed in that relation that I could understand what it means to be a branch of the true vine. And it was so wonderful, and yet so simple, that we could every one, be a branch of the true vine. This lesson in the fifteenth of John has been regarded by me with an intensity that I never regarded it before...."
"I had a very singular experience in my home. I was writing on this subject to one of our people, and while I was writing, I lost all consciousness of anything around me. I was placed in that relation that I could understand what it means to be a branch of the true vine. And it was so wonderful, and yet so simple, that we could every one, be a branch of the true vine. This lesson in the fifteenth of John has been regarded by me with an intensity that I never regarded it before, and I will read it through now. {Ms139-1909.4} … Verses 5-7. Now the will of the man is placed as the will of the Son, as the will of Christ, and therefore nothing will transpire with them that shall attain this oneness. It is a wonderful position. I never saw it as I did on this special occasion. {Ms139-1909.6} … Verses 13-16. Why, this came upon me with such power, of the power that we are not grasping the grace that we might have. Now Christ tells things just as they are. We can be laborers together with Jesus Christ in God, to glorify God. {Ms139-1909.9} … The prospect that was before me as I sat there with me [my?] pen in my hands and had lost consciousness, why, the scene that was presented, and the works that were being done by Christ! The influence of His Holy Spirit that was being resisted, because they did not come up to the standard that it was their privilege to come up to, and for which the Lord sent Jesus to make it possible that humanity might grasp divinity, and divinity might lift up humanity to become one with Jesus Christ. Humanity and divinity combined could bring in a position of oneness to God that is presented. And when we consider, as when I began to come to myself, the privileges that we were to claim from this chapter—it seemed to me that I was in heaven. It seemed to me my whole being was brought into a unity with Jesus Christ, and that we could have this unity, the human being could take hold of the divine nature, and become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in world through lust. {Ms139-1909.13}
Here are the key points:
(1) She received a vision of what it meant to be a branch: "While I was writing, I lost all consciousness of anything around me. I was placed in that relation that I could understand what it means to be a branch of the true vine. And it was so wonderful, and yet so simple, that we could every one, be a branch of the true vine."
(2) She had great interest in the subject: "This lesson in the fifteenth of John has been regarded by me with an intensity that I never regarded it before...."
(3) She realized it was a wonderful position she never seen before: " It is a wonderful position. I never saw it as I did on this special occasion."
(4) She felt she was in heaven and being brought into unity to Christ: "It seemed to me that I was in heaven. It seemed to me my whole being was brought into a unity with Jesus Christ...."
March of 1910
She wrote of this again in 1910 in the month of March. To the best of my knowledge she only wrote of this experience twice. However, from this time, she spent much time writing and speaking on what it means to abide in Christ! Notice the following from Mrs. White's pen:
"I was sitting in my chair just before starting on a long journey, and I lost myself, and I will tell you what was presented to me. “I am the true vine. ...” [Verse 1.] Whatever your disposition, whatever your temperament, unless you are molded and fashioned after Christ’s likeness you will never meet Him in peace. “I am the vine,” was presented in such clearness. Those that promise to bear fruit, to work to the glory of God, He pruneth, that they may bring forth more fruit. Now do not consider your trials are an abuse to you. They are to bring you into living connection with God. They are to teach you to resist the devil, and to cling to Jesus Christ. You want to get rid of your old hereditary tendencies and passionate disposition, and learn of Jesus to be meek and lowly. Why? Because there is a heaven to win and a hell to shun. You cannot afford to miss obtaining victories. May God put His Holy Spirit upon you and me, that we may fight the battles of the Lord and come off victorious. {Ms73-1910.10} … Get your eye fastened upon the Lamb of Calvary who for our sakes gave His own life that we might be saved. He is a true Branch, and as I sat in my chair and this was presented to me, I thought I never saw anything so beautiful in my life. I lost all consciousness of everything around me. Strive to be a true branch of the living vine. Let men and women report what they will; they will have that to answer for, but we will not suffer on that account, religiously, unless we give ourselves up, taking heed to it. Think of Christ’s sufferings. Could we suffer more? He hung on Calvary’s cross, our Redeemer, the nails driven through His hands and feet, the Pharisees mocking and deriding Him. And you will have just such experiences, but what then? We have a heaven to win. We have a Christ to look to. We have One that will uphold and sustain us at every step. Well, then, let us not give up to any discouragements. {Ms73-1910.22}
With the stronger interest —"intensity never felt before"— in the subject of abiding in Christ, her focus seems to have shifted some from "grasping" to"abiding." Thus we find sermons and manuscripts on abiding in Christ in 1911. After 1911 there is little mention of either. I also discovered that she was busily going around Southern California at one point, invariably speaking on two subjects: abiding in Christ and raising children, often in the same sermon. Because most of these talks were never published they remain unknown for the most part, as you will see in several lists that follow. After that I show a list of her speaking on children to demonstrate the new focus on that subject.
Listed below are sermons in which Mrs. White spoke on abiding in Christ. I have listed some earlier ones as well, to reveal that the greatest number of her sermons on abiding in Christ in any particular year, came in 1909, starting May 15.
You will notice that her speaking on abiding in Christ somewhat ebbed after that. But it was not due to less interest or changing convictions on the subject, rather a new emphasis on raising children, as revealed in the manuscripts and publications listed later on this page.
As mentioned, many of these sermons on abiding in Christ have never been published. The actual information listed reflects my way of cataloging the sermons in my own database.
•Ms7-1891: Sermon "Christian Service in the Living Church," given June 10, 1891 in Petoskey Michigan. Portions of this manuscript are published in 4BC 1159; Ev 338; TDG 170; 6MR 65-66; 9MR 158, 375. [This is an example of a sermon that comes much earlier.]
•Ms145-1906: Sermon "Lessons From the Fifteenth of John," given November 3, 1906 at the Laguna Street Church in San Francisco, California. Previously unpublished.
•MS170-1907: A Message to Parents written in 1907. Previously unpublished.
•Ms182-1907: Sermon "Thoughts on John 15," given May 11, 1907 in San Pasqual, California. Previously unpublished.
•Ms37-1908: Sermon "Abiding in Christ," given March 10, 1908 in Oakland, California. The manuscript is published in entirety in 2SAT 292-298.
•Ms45-1908: Sermon “That Ye Should Go and Bring Forth Fruit,” given May 5, 1908 in Lodi, California. Previously unpublished.
•Ms92-1908: Talk "Lessons From the Fifteenth Chapter of John," given August 22, 1908, Glendale, California. Portions of this manuscript are published in 7BC 982; 8MR 290; 9MR 381.
•Ms141-1908: Sermon "Lessons from John 15," given November 15,1908, in Healdsburg, California. Previously unpublished.
•Ms 19, 1909: Sermon "Abiding in Christ," given May 15, 1909, in Takoma Park, Washington, D.C. Published in entirety in GCB 05/17/1909.
•Ms79-1909: Sermon “That It May Bring Forth More Fruit,” given August 26, 1909 at the Council Grove Camp Meeting in Council Grove, Kansas. Portions of this manuscript are published in UL 252.
•Ms97-1909: Sermon "I Am the True Vine," given October 16, 1909 in San Jose, California. The manuscript is published in entirety in 1SAT 397-405.
•Ms 114, 1909: Sermon Philadelphia Church. Previously unpublished.
•Ms 119, 1909: Sermon "Thoughts on John 15," given June 29, 1909, Nashua, New Hampshire. Previously unpublished.
•Ms 139, 1909: Sermon "Fruit-bearing Branches," given December 12, 1909 in Mountain View,California. Previously unpublished. [Key article when vision was first mentioned.]
•Ms 140, 1909: Sermon "Thoughts on John 15," given December 18, 1909 in Oakland, California. Previously unpublished.
•Ms 73, 1910 White Talk on Acts 1, given March 19, 1910, in Oakland, California. Previously unpublished. [Key article on the True Vine in which mention is made of the vision referenced above.]
•Ms 77, 1910: Talk "Thoughts on John 15," given March 26, 1910 in Los Angeles, California. Previously unpublished.
•Ms 81, 1910 "Thoughts on John 15," given April 9, 1910 at San Fernando Academy, California. Previously unpublished.
•Ms 86, 1910 Sermon "Lessons from the Fifteenth Chapter of John," given August 21, 1910 at the Camp Meeting in Berkeley, California. Previously unpublished.
•Ms 70, 1911 Sermon "Thoughts on John 15, given April 22, 1911 at the Carr Street Church in Los Angeles, California. Previously unpublished.
•Ms 17, 1912: Sermon "Accepting the Promise," given March 16, 1912 in Los Angeles, California. Previously unpublished.
•Ms 18, 1913: Sermon “I Am the true Vine,” given June 7, 1913 in St. Helena, California. Previously Unpublished.
Mrs. White began speaking more on raising converted children going into 1911. This was the result of God's directing. First notice what she wrote Dr. F. M. Rossiter of North Yakima, Washington regarding what was going on at that time:
"My message to you is, Do not be discouraged. Study diligently in the Bible regarding the duty of husbands and wives to one another. Also strive to bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. During the last year my mind has been much upon the duties of parents to their children. There is a great work to be done by parents to win their children to a love of the truth. {Lt20-1912.2} Just now, what strength I have is given mostly to bringing out in book form what I have written in past years on the Old Testament history from the time of Solomon to the time of Christ. Last year the Acts of the Apostles was put in print and is being widely circulated; and now we are making good progress with this Old Testament history. We are advancing as fast as possible. {Lt20-1912.3} I have faithful and conscientious helpers who are gathering together what I have written for the Review, Signs, and Watchman, and in manuscripts and letters, and arranging it in chapters for the book. Sometimes I examine several chapters in a day, and at other times I can read but little, because my eyes become weary, and I am dizzy. The chapters that I have been reading recently are very precious." {Lt20-1912.4}
She wrote the following to Elder J. A. Burden in 1912:
"As you labor for the advancement of the work in those lines to which you are specially called, seek to impress upon parents the great need of faithful work in the home. Help them to see how they can take their children with them in their service for Christ. If their religious impressions are true, if they have learned of the great Teacher, they will not correct their children in anger. To manifest anger is to give evidence of an unbalanced judgment; to indulge in scolding and fretting and unholy passion is to dishonor before the children the One whom they profess to serve. {Lt22-1912.3} Parents should be taught to seek prayerfully for calmness of spirit, for well-balanced judgment, for a firm control of temper. To scold and shake an erring child is to lose the opportunity to express in the right away the patience and forbearance that should ever characterize the Christian. It is to give a wrong mold to the character which it is the privilege of the parent to fashion after the perfect pattern. When the patience is worn out, and the temper beyond control, [it] is no time to administer correction. Only harm will be the result of punishment given under such conditions; for it gives satanic agencies a chance to work upon the mind. Let the mother do the work of correction at a time when she can sit down with the child and talk calmly about the wrong that has been done, showing him how the Holy Spirit of God has been grieved." {Lt22-1912.4}
She also explained in her own talks that God had instructed her to admonish parents in regards to their children:
"In the night season I was before a congregation, and I was telling fathers and mothers, “Never speak a word in passion. Wait until you are cooled off yourself.” {Ms66-1911.24}
"We have met here that we might be a help and strength and speak a word, perhaps, in season. I want to tell fathers and mothers that many of them lead their children into disorderly words and actions by their own harsh words. Take them aside and pray with them. What are we seeking for? We are after a life that measures with the life of God. ... {Ms68-1911.14} This is the message that has been given to me or you would not see me at my age traveling around as I am and speaking to the people. But just as long as God gives me strength I shall be in His work, speaking these word. Work for the salvation of your children. Do not scold them or fret at them, because you may close the door that you never can open again. You may close the door by finding fault or by hasty punishment so that you never can break down the barrier. ... {Ms68-1911.15}
"The Lord gave me a decided message for the people. My burden was for our families who are unprepared to meet the Lord. A special burden was upon me to point out to our people the need of seeking the Lord with close searching of heart and earnestness of purpose." {Lt64-1911.5}
"Recently there have been repeatedly given to me messages of warning and instruction to parents, pointing out the need of diligent effort, and of seeking the Lord with close searching of heart and with earnestness of purpose." {RH February 1, 1912, par. 1}
"And if they need correction, never do as I have seen some do in meeting—shake their children. It makes them mad. That does not convert them. I am night after night pleading with parents, telling them, Here is a family, and you are God’s representative to present to that family what they must do in order to inherit eternal life. You must yourselves give the example." {Ms81-1912.5}
As a result of God's leading, Mrs. White began admonishing parents on the right way to raise their children, as evidenced in the articles and manuscripts listed below, many of which have never been, or minimally, published. The lack of publishing was due to the busyness related to completing Prophets and Kings and gathering information for articles as mentioned in one of the citations above. Letters have also been included in which she writes on the subject.
Lt 32a-1910 White Daniells, A. G.; Prescott, Brother and Sister. Previously unpublished.
Ms 74-1910 White Remarks at Oakland, California
RH October 12 1911 White Need Of A Godly Example [Teaching]
ST November 14 1911 White Parents Should Be Christlike
Ms17-1911 White Sermon on Philippians 2. [Only brief paragraphs on children.]
Ms25-1911 White Thoughts on Second Peter. Previously unpublished.
Ms45-1911 White Thoughts on Second Peter. [Key article on Dress]
Ms58-1911 White An Appeal to Fathers and Mothers. Previously unpublished.
Ms60-1911 White To Fathers and Mothers. Previously unpublished.
Ms61-1911 White Individual Responsibility of Fathers and Mothers, Previously unpublished.
Ms62-1911 White Her Experience Disciplining Children. Previously unpublished.
Ms63-1911 White Message To Parents And Ministers. Previously unpublished.
Ms64-1911 White Parents to be Teachers. Previously unpublished.
Ms65-1911 White Fragments Messages to Parents. Previously unpublished.
Ms66-1911 White Parents and Preparation For Heaven. Previously unpublished.
Ms68-1911 White Passion Never Cures Passion. Previously unpublished.
Ms69-1911 White Remarks at Paradise Valley Sanitarium. Previously unpublished.
Ms70-1911 White John 15 And Parenting. Previously unpublished.
Ms71-1911 White Witnessing For Jesus and Raising Children. Previously unpublished.
Ms72-1911 White Sermon on Luke 9. Previously unpublished.
Ms73-1911 White Sermon on 2 Peter 1. Previously unpublished.
Ms75-1911 White Sermon on John 14. Previously unpublished.
RH February 1, 1912 White A Message to Parents on Character
Lt10-1912 White Letter to Howard Rand
Lt20-1912 White Letter to F. M. Rossiter, St. Helena, California, May 14, 1912.
Lt22-1912 White Letter to Brother and Sister Burden, St. Helena, California, May 16, 1912. Previously unpublished.
Ms7-1912 White Of Such Is The Kingdom Of Heaven. Previously unpublished.
Ms15-1912 White An Appeal for Unity. Published in entirety in LLM 601-606.
Ms53-1912 White A Neglected Word. Portions of this manuscript are published in 1NL 85-88.
Ms77-1912 White Working In Unity To Reach Children. Previously unpublished.
Ms78-1912 White Repent and Be Converted. Previously unpublished.
Ms80-1912 White Conversion of Children at Carr St. Church. March 20, 1912. Previously unpublished.
Ms81-1912 White White Reformation of Children at Carr St. Church, March 23, 1912. Previously unpublished.
Ms82-1912 White Sermon at Sanitarium Chapel. Previously unpublished. [Key article in which Ellen White speaks how she disciplined a group of "rude" boys.]
If you want to research this topic for yourself, do a search of the database of Mrs. White's writings of the word "parents," looking for articles that have many paragraphs with the word "parents." Then look for the word "mothers," doing the same thing. Do the same for "daughters." You will find many articles on raising children in this way. Of course it takes time, but word pairs and word-use in multiple paragraphs, are the keys to finding articles on the subject in Ellen White's writings. If you want to learn more about how to do this, you will find the Researching The Writings Of Ellen White section most helpful.
You can find more information on Abiding in Christ at this link.