Sinning has become so common among us that there is a group of people who think sinning is inevitable. They think they are stuck with sinning, that it’s so hard to stop sinning that they just give up and continue sinning with whatever sins they are slaved in. Is this true? Are we stuck with sinning? Lets examine the evidence.

Remember, offers by Satan to cross over from loyalty to God to loyalty to him (Satan) do not constitute sin. It is only as you cross over from loyalty to God to loyalty to Satan that your action counts as being sin. How did Jesus do here?

Jesus 1^st temptation

Satan’s offer to Jesus

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Matthew 4:3

  Christ’s response to Satan’s first offer to sin

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

 Jesus 2^nd temptation

Satan’s offer to Jesus

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Matthew 4:6

Christ’s response to Satan’s second offer to sin

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Matthew 4:7

Jesus 3^rd temptation

Satan’s offer to Jesus

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Matthew 4:8-9

Christ’s response to Satan’s third offer to sin

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:10

The result of Jesus resisting Satan’s offers to sin

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Matthew 4:11

Conclusion

Satan left Jesus after his 3^rd unsuccessful attempt to get Jesus to pull Himself away from His loyalty to His Father in Heaven.

Satan’s attempt to create doubt in Jesus mind.

Notice in Satan’s first 2 temptations he started his temptations with the word “If”. He thought he could create doubt in the mind of Jesus, but it didn’t work. Jesus stuck with the Scriptures which were very specific and his stronghold.

Do you linger with Satan’s doubts to you as to whether you can do what’s right?

Remember what Jesus said about His relationship with His Heavenly Father?

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. John 8:28

And in verse 29 He continues.

And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. John 8:29

Notice that whatever Jesus did was in connection with His Father’s will. He took what His Heavenly Father told Him and spoke and did those things.  Jesus was entirely dependent upon His own Heavenly Father. We are entirely dependent on our Heavenly Father the same as Jesus was dependent on His Heavenly Father when He was here on this earth.

 By the way, if Jesus never sinned, why would He need to be overcoming anything? Doesn't overcoming imply that you have fallen into sin and that brings the need to overcome it?

 How Jesus did it was that Jesus did not give in to Satan’s temptations. Jesus rejected all of Satan’s efforts to get Him to separate Himself from His Father in Heaven.

 We can do the same. We must have the mind of Christ. 

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:13

The reason we cannot do this on our own is because

 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

Essentially we wrestle against Satan and his host of wicked angels. Only Jesus Christ and His heavenly angels are strong enough and powerful enough to deal with Satan and his angels. We are told 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

What are temptations? 

Let’s look at temptations. What are they? Aren’t they Satan’s offers to you to get you to take your hold off your Heavenly Father? Don’t you trust your Heavenly Father to guide you? Temptations are Satan's “sales pitches” for you to take your hold off your Heavenly Father and to place your hold on Satan and trust him for what you shall think and do and what you shall not think and do? What did Christ say about Satan when he was on the earth? Jesus was in conversation with some Jews, Pharisees and scribes being among them. Here’s what Jesus said to them.

 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he [the devil] is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44

So, if you want the truth, Satan is not a good choice to take any advise from. He will lie to you, one way or another. He will even tell the truth sometimes as he told Eve when he was tempting her. What did he say that was the truth?

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:5

Did Eve, did Adam, do you and I today know the difference between good and evil? Yes we have all become all to well acquainted with sin (evil) and it’s results. Satan told the truth here, but it was with the intent to get Eve to sin, much as it is with us to get us to sin, to break our hold on our Heavenly Father.

You DO NOT HAVE TO BE CONTROLLED BY SATAN!

You can come out from under Satan’s control and

LIVE FREE IN JESUS CHRIST

by simply

REJECTING SATAN’S OFFERS

to you to sin

in the name of JESUS CHRIST.

This REALLY WORKS.

Ellen White addresses this subject of overcoming as Christ overcame. Here it is from volume 3 of the Testimonies.

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Those who overcome as Christ overcame will need to constantly guard themselves against the temptations of Satan. The appetite and passions should be restricted and under the control of enlightened conscience, that the intellect may be unimpaired, the perceptive powers clear, so that the workings of Satan and his snares may not be interpreted to be the providence of God. Many desire the final reward and victory which are to be given to overcomers, but are not willing to endure toil, privation, and denial of self, as did their Redeemer. It is only through obedience and continual effort that we shall overcome as Christ overcame.  3 Testimonies, page 491.2 

 The controlling power of appetite will prove the ruin of thousands, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have had moral power to gain the victory over every other temptation of Satan. But those who are slaves to appetite will fail in perfecting Christian character. The continual transgression of man for six thousand years has brought sickness, pain, and death as its fruits. And as we near the close of time, Satan's temptation to indulge appetite will be more powerful and more difficult to overcome.   3 Testimonies, page 491.3 

We can overcome as Christ overcame

The means by which we can overcome the wicked one is that by which Christ overcame,--the power of the word. God does not control our minds without our consent; but if we desire to know and to do His will, His promises are ours: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." "If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching." John 8:32; 7:17, R. V. Through faith in these promises, every man may be delivered from the snares of error and the control of sin.  Desire of Ages, page 258.5

     Every man is free to choose what power he will have to rule over him. None have fallen so low, none are so vile, but that they can find deliverance in Christ. The demoniac, in place of prayer, could utter only the words of Satan; yet the heart's unspoken appeal was heard. No cry from a soul in need, though it fail of utterance in words, will be unheeded. Those who will consent to enter into covenant relation with the God of heaven are not left to the power of Satan or to the infirmity of their own nature. They are invited by the Saviour, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me." Isaiah 27:5. The spirits of darkness will battle for the soul once under their dominion, but angels of God will contend for that soul with prevailing power. The Lord says, "Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? . . . Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children." Isaiah 49:24, 25.  Desire of Ages, page 258.6

Enoch was an example of those who will be translated

Enoch walked with God three hundred years previous to his translation to heaven, and the state of the world was not then more favorable for the perfection of Christian character than it is today. And how did Enoch walk with God? He educated his mind and heart to ever feel that he was in the presence of God, and when in perplexity his prayers would ascend to God to keep him. He refused to take any course that would offend His God. He kept the Lord continually before Him. He would pray, "Teach me Thy way, that I may not err. What is thy pleasure concerning me? What shall I do to honor Thee, my God?" Thus he was constantly shaping his way and course in accordance with God's commandments, and he had perfect confidence and trust in his heavenly Father, that He would help him. He had no thought or will of his own; it was all submerged in the will of his Father.  1 Sermons And Talks, page 32.2 

    Now, Enoch was a representative of those who will be upon the earth when Christ shall come, who will be translated to heaven without seeing death. But be sure that if your hearts are inclined not to do God's will, not to keep the way of the Lord but to follow your own way, then you are not in harmony with the God of heaven. We want to pray with David, "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law" [Psalms 119:18]. Many close their eyes lest they shall see the truth. They do not want to see the defects in their life and character, and they are disturbed if you mention anything about God's law. In this they show that they have a human standard of their own; that their will is not the will of God. We want that you should not be deceived by Satan, the first great adversary of God's law. We want to bear in mind that God's law is the only standard by which He will judge man. 

1 Sermons And Talks, page 32.3 

     If we are to enter heaven at last, we must bring all of heaven into this life that we can. The religion of Christ never degrades the receivers; it never brings them down upon a low level. Truth is ever elevating in its influence, lifting them up on the high platform of truth. The religion of Jesus Christ has a refining influence upon men and women. When the truth of God finds access to the heart, it commences its refining process upon the character. Men who are coarse and rough become humble, teachable, learning, ever learning, in the school of Christ. The mighty cleaver of truth has taken them out of the world. Then there is the work to be done for them to fit them for God's temple. They are hewed and squared and chiseled and fitted for the mansions in heaven. Those who are naturally full of self-esteem become meek and lowly; they have a change in character. In the beginning, God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." But sin has almost obliterated the moral image of God in man. Jesus came down to our world that He might give man a living example, that he might know how to live and how to keep the way of the Lord. He was the image of the Father. His beautiful and spotless character is before man as an example for him to imitate. We must study the copy and follow Jesus Christ, then we shall bring His loveliness and beauty into our character. In doing this we are standing before God through faith, winning back by conflict with the powers of darkness the power of self-control, the love of God that Adam lost. We are through Jesus Christ living and keeping the laws of God.  1 Sermons And Talks, page 33.1 

Practical application to refusing entrance of sin into your life

Since about February 2015 I have been experimenting with something regarding overcoming sinning. I have seen Satan’s temptations as “sales pitches” to me to break my hold on my Heavenly Father. Whenever I recognize a thought as being a temptation to sin, or to break my hold on my Heavenly Father, I immediately think, not necessarily voicing it audibly, “I reject this (that) in the name of Jesus Christ”. Usually the temptation ceases. Occasionally I’m not fully concentrating on the temptation and I may have to repeat that phrase another time or 2 or so until I’m fully engaged with the refusal of the sin thought into my mind. In other words, I am rejecting what Satan’s wants me to do. This is what is known as “overcoming”. I’ve had tremendous success with this as long as I’m rejecting the temptation in the name of Jesus Christ. This way I’m becoming a “free man” in Jesus Christ.

It used to be that I’d be thinking the sinful thoughts and then realize I was already in the process of sinning. It seems that the Holy Spirit would warn me ahead of time that there was a temptation at the doorstep of my mind. I’d usually not recognize the temptation was that close and would go ahead with my thoughts as though there was nothing important to evaluate and reject. It would frustrate me for being there. I’d need to ask forgiveness. This was a habit pattern. But over a period of time I’d get familiar with the sinning thoughts and see them coming and reject the temptation before I actually took hold of the temptation. I was really, really very slow at responding to the Holy Spirit’s impression on my mind that there was a temptation close at hand.

The repeating pattern of the temptation coming to me, my accepting the temptation into my mind, then my recognizing it as something I didn’t really want, my grief at recognizing that I was now sinning, something I really didn’t want in my life, my discouragement in recognizing that I’d “done it again”, my hesitation in asking forgiveness, my finally accepting that I needed to ask for forgiveness, and then asking for forgiveness, and my feelings getting in the way even after that with the regret of sinning, continued for some years. It was an endless spiral of discouragement I was in.

But since about February 2015 my habit pattern has changed. The realization that temptations are merely “sales pitches” by Satan to get me to release my grip on my Heavenly Father made the temptation recognizable ahead of time so that I could reject it before I accepted it into my life. I’ve become familiar with the temptations as they are coming to me as thoughts, and in the name of Jesus Christ I reject them before I accept them into my mind with my permission. This really works. It’s so simple and causes me no grief and no regret for being in the temptation because I don’t accept the temptation into my life. I reject it so that it does not enter into my mind and become a part of me. 

Remember

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

All things means ALL things. That is all things that are within my scope of capability. Am I capable of resisting temptations? Absolutely. Christ came to “…save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

There’s one more thing I do. When I realize I’m headed in the right direction doing the right thing, I will think or say “I accept this (or that) in the name of Jesus Christ”. It’s one thing to reject Satan’s offer to sin. It’s another thing to accept Holy Spirit’s leading to do something that is right.  I want to affirm the Spirit’s leading.

When you become one with Christ, you become one of “his people”. Remember

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29

 Now, going back to my experience in rejecting Satan’s offers to break my hold upon God. This doesn't mean I don’t ever sin again, but I’ve lessened it so much that it’s freeing to me to know that I don’t have to knowingly sin. I do take hold of the promise that

 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

There’s always a way out, always, as long as our human probation is open to us.

Overcome as Christ Overcame

 April 10, 1893 Overcome As Christ Overcame.

By Mrs. E. G. White.

     "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted."  Signs of the Times, April 10, 1893 par. 1 

     The world's Redeemer passed over the ground where Adam fell because of his disobedience to the law of Jehovah. The only-begotten Son of God came to our world as a man, to reveal to the world the fact that men through divine power could keep the law of God. Satan, the fallen angel, had declared that no man could keep God's law, and he pointed to the disobedience of Adam as proving the declaration true. But the Son of God placed himself in man's stead, and passed over the ground where Adam fell, and endured temptation stronger than ever was or ever will be brought to bear upon the human race. Jesus resisted the temptations of Satan in the same manner in which every tempted soul may resist the evil one. He referred the tempter to the inspired record and said, "It is written." Christ overcame the temptations as a man, by relying solely upon the word of God; and every man may overcome as Christ overcame.  Signs of the Times, April 10, 1893 par. 2  

     We need not place the obedience of Christ by itself as something for which he was particularly adapted, because of his divine nature; for he stood before God as man's representative, and was tempted as man's substitute and surety. If Christ had a special power which it is not the privilege of a man to have, Satan would have made capital of this matter. But the work of Christ was to take from Satan his control of man, and he could do this only in a straightforward way. He came as a man, to be tempted as a man, rendering the obedience of a man. Christ rendered obedience to God, and overcame as humanity overcome. We are led to make wrong conclusions because of erroneous views of the nature of our Lord. To attribute to his nature a power that it is not possible for man to have in his conflicts with Satan, is to destroy the completeness of his humanity. The obedience of Christ to his Father was the same obedience that is required of man. Man cannot overcome Satan's temptations except as divine power works through humanity. The Lord Jesus came to our world, not to reveal what God in his own divine person could do, but what he could do through humanity. Through faith man is to be a partaker of the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset. It was the Majesty of heaven who became a man, who humbled himself to our human nature; it was he who was tempted in the wilderness and who endured the contradiction of sinners against himself.  Signs of the Times, April 10, 1893 par. 3   

     We are not to serve God as if we were not human, but we are to serve him as those who have been redeemed by the Son of God and through the righteousness of Christ we shall stand before God pardoned, and as though we had never sinned. We shall never gain strength in considering what we might do if we were angels; but as obedient children we are to turn in faith to Jesus Christ, and show our love to God through obedience to his commands. Jesus "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Jesus says, "Follow me." "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Jesus leads the way. Do not wait and continue in disobedience, hoping circumstances may change, making it easier for you to obey. Go forward, for you know the will of God. "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."  Signs of the Times, April 10, 1893 par. 4   

     The Garden of Eden, with its foul blot of disobedience, should be carefully compared with the Garden of Gethsemane, where the world's Redeemer suffered superhuman agony when the sins of the whole world were rolled upon him. Listen to the prayer of the only-begotten Son of God, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." And the second time he prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." And the third time he prayed, saying the same words. Oh, it was here the mysterious cup trembled in the hands of the Son of God! Shall he wipe the bloody sweat from his agonized countenance and let man go? The wail, wretchedness, and ruin of a lost world roll up before him. "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." "And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him."  Signs of the Times, April 10, 1893 par. 5   

     The conflict is ended. Jesus consents to endure the curse of sin. He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Here we see what was involved in Adam's disobedience, and what the obedience of the Son of God means to us. Adam did not consider what would be the consequences of disobedience. He did not set his mind in defiance against God, nor did he in any way speak against God; he simply went directly contrary to his express command. And how many today are doing the very same thing, and their guilt is of much greater magnitude, because they have the example of Adam's experience in disobedience and its terrible results to warn them of the consequences of transgressing the law of God. So they have clear light upon this subject, and no excuse for their guilt in denying and disobeying God's authority. Adam did not stop to reckon what would be the result of his disobedience.  Signs of the Times, April 10, 1893 par. 6 

     With the after sight we are privileged to have in this age, we can see what it means to disobey God's commandments. Adam yielded to temptation, and we have sin and its consequences laid distinctly before us. Reasoning from cause to effect, we see it is not the greatness of the act of disobedience which constitutes sin, but the fact of variance from God's expressed will in the least particular, for this is a virtual denial of God, a rebellion against the laws of his government. The happiness of man is found in obedience to the laws of God. In obedience to God's law he is surrounded as with a hedge and kept from the evil. No man can depart from God's specified requirements, and set up a standard of his own which he decides he can safely follow, and still find peace and joy. Were each one left to follow his own way, there would be a variety of standards to suit different minds, and the government would be taken out of the Lord's hands, and man would grasp the reins. The law of self would be erected. The will of man would be made supreme; and the high and holy will of God would be dishonored, disrespected. To what extent man would choose to follow the promptings of his selfish heart it is impossible to tell. But whenever man chooses his own way, there is controversy between the man and God. Signs of the Times, April 10, 1893 par. 7 

April 17, 1893 Overcome As Christ Overcame

By Mrs. E. G. White.

(Concluded.)

     Since the fall of our first parents, obedience has not been deemed an absolute necessity. Men have followed the imagination of their own hearts, which the Lord has said is "evil, and that continually." The Lord Jesus declares, "I have kept my Father's commandments." How? as a man? "Lo I come to do thy will, O God." To the accusations of the Jews he stood forth in his pure, virtuous, holy character, and challenged them to point out a defect in his life. He said, "Who of you convinceth me of sin?" The world's Redeemer came not only to be a sacrifice for sin, but to be an example to man in all things. He was a teacher, such an educator as the world never saw or heard before. He spake as one having authority, and yet he invites the confidence of all. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893 par. 1   

     The only-begotten Son of the infinite God has, by his words and in his practical example, left us a plain pattern which we are to copy. By his words he has educated us to obey God, and by his own practice he has showed us how we can obey God. This is the very work he wants every man to do, to obey God intelligently, and by precept and example teach others what they must do in order to be obedient children of God. Jesus has helped the whole world to an intelligent knowledge of his divine mission and work. He came to represent the character of the Father to our world; and as we study the life, the words, and works of Christ, we are helped in every way in the education of obedience to God; and as we copy the example he has given us, we are living epistles known and read of all men. We are the living human agencies to represent to the world the character of Christ. Not only did Christ show us how we may become obedient children, but he showed us in his own life and character just how to do those things which are right and acceptable with God, so there is no reason why we should not do those things which are pleasing in his sight.  Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893 par. 2

     We are ever to be thankful that Jesus has proved to us by actual life that man can keep the commandments of God, contradicting Satan's falsehood that man cannot keep them. The great Teacher came to our world to stand at the head of humanity, to thus elevate and sanctify humanity by his holy obedience to all the requirements of God, showing it is possible to obey all the commandments of God. He has demonstrated that a lifelong obedience is possible. Thus he gives men to the world, as the Father gave the Son, to exemplify in their life the life of Christ.  Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893 par. 3

     Christ redeemed Adam's disgraceful failure and fall, and was conqueror, thus testifying to all the unfallen worlds and to fallen humanity that through the divine power granted to him of heaven man can keep the commandments of God. Jesus, the Son of God, humbled himself for us, endured temptation for us, overcame in our behalf, to show us how we may overcome; by the closest ties he bound up his interest with humanity, and gave positive assurance that we shall not be tempted above that we are able; for with the temptation he will make a way of escape.  Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893 par. 4

     The Holy Spirit was promised to be with those who were wrestling for victory, demonstrating the power of might by endowing the human agent with supernatural strength, and instructing the ignorant in the mysteries of the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit is to be our helper. Of what avail would it have been to us that the only-begotten Son of God had humbled himself, endured the temptations of the wily foe, and wrestled with him during his entire life on earth, and died, the just for the unjust, that humanity night not perish, if the Spirit had not been given as a constant working, regenerating agent to make effectual in our cases what had been wrought by the world's Redeemer?  Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893 par. 5

     The Holy Spirit implanted in the disciples, enabled them to stand firmly against idolatry, and to exalt the Lord alone. The Holy Spirit guided the pens of the sacred historians that the record of the precious words and works of Christ might be presented to the world. The Holy Spirit is constantly at work seeking to draw the attention of men to the great sacrifice made upon the cross of Calvary, to unfold to the world the love of God to man, and to open to the convicted soul the precious promises in the Scriptures. It is the Holy Spirit that brings to the darkened minds the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. It is the Holy Spirit that makes men's hearts burn within them with an awakened intelligence of the truths of eternity. It is the Holy Spirit that presents before the mind the moral standard of righteousness and convinces of sin. It is the Holy Spirit that produces godly sorrow which worketh repentance that needeth not to be repented of, and inspires faith in Him who alone can save from all sin. It is the Holy Spirit that works to transform character by withdrawing the affections of men from those things which are temporal and perishable, and fixing them upon the immortal inheritance, the eternal substance which is imperishable. The Holy Spirit recreates, refines, and sanctifies the human agents, that they may become members of the royal family, children of the Heavenly King.  Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893 par. 6

     Jesus says: "Follow me." "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Consider it not a hard duty. The commandments of God are his expressed character flowing out of a heart of love in thoughtful plans that man may be preserved from every evil. They are not to exercise an arbitrary authority over man, but the Lord would have men act as his obedient children, members of his own family. Obedience is the outgrowth and fruit of oneness with Christ and the Father. "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."  Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893 par. 7

     When we unmistakably hear his voice and obey, every murmuring thought will be repressed; and we will leave all consequences with Him who gave the commandment. If, as we see the footprints of Jesus, we step in them and follow him, we shall have love and power.  Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893 par. 8

     The question is often asked, "What difference does it make which day we keep for the Sabbath?" But it does make a difference; for the same principle is involved as was involved in Adam's case. He was put to the same test. For he was to prove by obedience his loyalty to God or by disobedience to forfeit the right to the tree of life. Satan presented this same specious question. What difference does it make whether you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or of any other tree of the garden? Adam's sin consisted in doing the thing the Lord had forbidden him to do, and this opened the flood gates of woe on our world. We should carefully meditate upon the life of Christ, and desire to understand the reason why he came at all. We should search the Scriptures as Christ has enjoined upon us to do, that we may know those things that are testified of him. By searching we may find the virtues of obedience in contrast with the sinfulness of disobedience. "As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."  Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893 par. 9

     The Lord Jesus has bridged the gulf that sin has made. He has connected earth with heaven, and finite man with the infinite God. Jesus, the world's Redeemer, as our example, could only keep the commandments of God in the same way that humanity can keep them. "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."  Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893 par. 10

     "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." The glory mentioned is character, and by faith we become changed from character to character. "And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." "Ye are the light of the world. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893 par. 11

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