Many professed Christians leave the perfecting of their characters to God. They pray daily that God would make them holy and perfect, but they do nothing themselves for it; years go by and they are not yet sinless and perfect. Why not? Did God not hear their prayers, and why did He not answer them and make them perfect and holy?
Does God not want His children to be sinless? And is He not omnipotent, that nothing is impossible to Him?
Could God not have sent an angel to the tree of knowledge to stop Adam and Eve from eating the forbidden fruit, and by so doing avoid sin from entering into the world?
David prayed to God, “Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but Thou, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for Thy mercies’ sake.” Psalm 6:2-4
This was a sincere prayer, “Save me, for I am weak.” Save me from sin. Then, what happened one day? “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. . . . And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her.” 2 Samuel 11:2, 4
Why did God not save David from this sin? David had prayed to God to save him from sin because he was weak. When the temptation came upon David suddenly, why did God not save him from it?
Peter loved Jesus. He said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with Thee, both into prison, and to death.” Luke 22:33. But a few hours later he denied Him three times. “And he denied Him, saying, Woman, I know Him not.” Luke 22:57. Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him, but gave him no power to overcome this temptation to sin.
Paul writes, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Romans 7:19
Most likely, Paul prayed to God every day since he was a child, asking help to overcome sin; yet Paul persecuted the church of God, committing sins without realizing it. Is this a condition of a person who is saved? No, certainly not.
Millions of prayers are pronounced every day, “Lord, save me from sin.” “Help me not to sin anymore.” Yet the next day they continue to sin again.
Why does God not answer their prayers? The reason for it is that many professed Christians leave their salvation to God, and they themselves do nothing.
But the Bible is clear, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12. “And having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13
The Bible did not say, “having believed all,” but, “having done all,” then we can stand when tempted to sin, and in the judgment of God.
“Let no man present the idea that man has little or nothing to do in the great work of overcoming; for God does nothing for man without his cooperation. . . . We are to strive, wrestle, agonize, watch, pray, lest we shall be overcome by the wily foe.” –Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 381
Satan’s greatest deception today is, “Do not try to save yourself, let God save you. Leave it in His hands. Works are not important. You are saved by faith.”
But the Spirit of Prophecy is clear. “We hear a great deal about faith, but we need to hear a great deal more about works. Many are deceiving their own souls by living an easygoing, accommodating, crossless religion.” –Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 382
When our best efforts are made to obey the commandments of God, then Jesus will add His merit and power to it. But many make a great mistake by not putting out their best efforts. Their efforts are half-hearted and intermittent, and therefore they fail time and time again.
When the rich young man asked Jesus, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Jesus answered, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:16-17. Jesus did not say, “If thou wilt enter into life, only believe.”
What saved Peter? “And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:62. He was desperate and that saved him. What saved Paul? He said, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:24. He also realized his helpless condition.
David didn’t take his sin lightly either. He said, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of Thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.” Psalm 38:3-4
This desperate hatred towards their sins and their hunger and thirst for righteousness saved these men from the power of sin.
After learning his lesson, Paul is now counseling others, “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:4. They have been striving, but not unto blood. For this reason sin remained in their lives and characters.
We are to pray without ceasing. Sister White writes, “No man is safe for a day or an hour without prayer.” –The Great Controversy, p. 530
We need to read the Bible every day, attend all church meetings, involve ourselves in soul-saving work, be faithful in tithes and offerings, be faithful in health reform, and also in dress reform. If one requirement is neglected, God will not help us to resist temptation.
Jesus said, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
Even after many years in the truth, we must continue to watch constantly, and pray without ceasing.
“I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with the marks of God’s approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them. . . . Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels left these and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones.” –Early Writings, p. 269-270
In the end of his life, Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
The life of Paul was fighting a war against temptation and sin, and he was victorious. How did he do it? He said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13. He said also, “I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31
“The strongest evidence of man’s fall from a higher state is the fact that it costs so much to return. The way of return can be gained only by hard fighting, inch by inch, hour by hour. In one moment, by a hasty, unguarded act, we may place ourselves in the power of evil; but it requires more than a moment to break the fetters and attain to a holier life. The purpose may be formed, the work begun; but its accomplishment will require toil, time, perseverance, patience, and sacrifice.” –Ministry of Healing, p. 452
“The moment the sinner believes in Christ, he stands in the sight of God uncondemned; for the righteousness of Christ is his: Christ’s perfect obedience is imputed to him. But he must cooperate with divine power, and put forth his human effort to subdue sin, and stand complete in Christ.” –Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 429-430
Drastic efforts are needed, as Jesus said, “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. . . . And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee.” Matthew 5:29-30. Jesus did not say, “Only believe.” No, we must put out a real fight against sin.
When we become desperate, and fight unto blood against sin, putting out every fiber in our being against sin, then God will add His power to it, and the victory becomes possible.
This is the message of Christ’s righteousness, and, according to Sister White, only a few understand how it works – others fail out of salvation. We may feel as strong as Peter, but fail when tested.
God’s power is always available when human effort is put out to the utmost. So terrible is the power of sin, and so embedded in us that we must put out our greatest effort, and adding to it the power of God, and of Jesus, and also the help of the Holy Spirit and of the angels; our church brothers and sisters also contribute to the victory over sin. And then sin can be overcome and the perfect image of Jesus will be seen in us. AMEN.
Timo Martin