Born Again
by Ellen White
We should all feel our individual responsibility as members of the visible church and
workers in the vineyard of the Lord. We should not wait for our brethren, who are as frail
as ourselves, to help us along; for our precious Saviour has invited us to join ourselves
to Him and unite our weakness with His strength, our ignorance with His wisdom, our
unworthiness with His merit. None of us can occupy a neutral position; our influence will
tell for or against. We are active agents for Christ or for the enemy. We either gather
with Jesus or scatter abroad. True conversion is a radical change. The very drift of the
mind and bent of the heart should be turned and life become new again in Christ. 4T 16
The power of Christ alone can work the transformation in heart and mind that all must
experience who would partake with Him of the new life in the kingdom of heaven.
"Except a man be born again," the Saviour has said, "he cannot see the
kingdom of God." John 3:3. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that
can lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the Divine Spirit. This
will lead to watchfulness. It will purify the heart and renew the mind, and give us a new
capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us willing obedience to all His
requirements. This is true worship. 9T 156
The power of Christ alone can work the transformation in heart and mind that all must
experience who would partake with Him of the new life in the kingdom of heaven.
"Except a man be born again," the Saviour has said, "he cannot see the
kingdom of God." John 3:3. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that
can lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This
will lead to watchfulness. It will purify the heart and renew the mind, and give us a new
capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us willing obedience to all His
requirements. This is true worship. 9T 156
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God,
Thou wilt not despise."[3 PS. 51:17.] Man must be emptied of self before he can be,
in the fullest sense, a believer in Jesus. When self is renounced, then the Lord can make
man a new creature. New bottles can contain the new wine. The love of Christ will animate
the believer with new life. In him who looks unto the author and finisher of our faith,
the character of Christ will be manifest. DA 280
It is the love of self that brings unrest. When we are born from above, the same mind
will be in us that was in Jesus, the mind that led Him to humble Himself that we might be
saved. Then we shall not be seeking the highest place. We shall desire to sit at the feet
of Jesus, and learn of Him. We shall understand that the value of our work does not
consist in making a show and noise in the world, and in being active and zealous in our
own strength. The value of our work is in proportion to the impartation of the Holy
Spirit. Trust in God brings holier qualities of mind, so that in patience we may possess
our souls. DA 330
In ourselves we are incapable of doing any good thing; but that which we cannot do will
be wrought by the power of God in every submissive and believing soul. It was through
faith that the child of promise was given. It is through faith that spiritual life is
begotten, and we are enabled to do the works of righteousness. DA 98
Circumstances cannot work reforms. Christianity proposes a reformation in the heart.
What Christ works within, will be worked out under the dictation of a converted intellect.
The plan of beginning outside and trying to work inward has always failed, and always will
fail. God's plan with you is to begin at the very seat of all difficulties, the heart, and
then from out of the heart will issue the principles of righteousness; the reformation
will be outward as well as inward. PH048 48
Those who would work in God's service must not be seeking worldly gratification and
selfish indulgence. The physicians in our institutions must be imbued with the living
principles of health reform. Men will never be truly temperate until the grace of Christ
is an abiding principle in the heart. All the pledges in the world will not make you or
your wife health reformers. No mere restriction of your diet will cure your diseased
appetite. Brother and Sister ----- will not practice temperance in all things until their
hearts are transformed by the grace of God.
Circumstances cannot work reforms. Christianity proposes a reformation in the heart.
What Christ works within, will be worked out under the dictation of a converted intellect.
The plan of beginning outside and trying to work inward has always failed, and always will
fail. God's plan with you is to begin at the very seat of all difficulties, the heart, and
then from out of the heart will issue the principles of righteousness; the reformation
will be outward as well as inward. SPTA NO.9 54
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