Who is the most translated woman writer of non-fiction in the entire history of literature, and the most translated American author of either gender? And what are the fruits of the writings of E.G. White? Let’s look closely and see if what she wrote elevated Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation or if what she wrote is deceiving and really just a bunch of nonsense --- righteousness by works! We will take a look at four of the forty books she wrote in her lifetime. (1) “STEPS TO CHRIST” (translated into over 165 languages). A book on how to know, follow and love Jesus Christ and carry His message of love to others. glowonline.org/literature-2/TALKING-WITH-GOD-2/ (2.) “THE DESIRE OF AGES” (translated into over 60 languages) on the life of our Saviour Jesus Christ. (3.) “THOUGHTS ON THE MOUNT OF BLESSING,” on Christ’s first sermon (Matthew chapters 5-7). (4.) “CHRIST OBJECT LESSONS” on the parables Christ taught. Trust me. If you plan to accomplish anything worthwhile in life you will always, always have to meet misunderstandings and opposition. Many things should be opposed – like impurity, sin, violence, unkindness and wickedness of all types and sizes. But realize also that truth has always been opposed -- often by wonderful people. The Apostle Paul was known as the Pharisee Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor of the Christians, before he became the Apostle Paul the persecuted one who wrote most of the New Testament. Paul writes, “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 2 Corinthians 11:24-26. Jesus says that if you follow Him you will be misunderstood. He says, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12. Jesus says that we should judge who people are and what they write by their fruits. He says, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” Matthew 7:16-17. Let’s apply Jesus’ FRUIT test to the books on the Life of Christ that were written by an author who claimed to love and serve Jesus Christ. Let’s examine and see if these books bring us closer to Jesus. Do they emphasize Jesus as the way of salvation? Do they teach us how to be “born again?” Do they help the reader understand the love of Christ in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? Do they point to Jesus like John the Baptist pointed to Jesus when he said “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? On the other hand do they talk about the author of the books rather than about Jesus? You read and you decide. I have found, personally a deeper love for Jesus Christ and a greater dependence on Jesus and His word which I seek to memorize Christ’s wonderful promises as a direct result of these four beautiful books on the life of Christ and the power of Christ. Give these four books the FRUIT test. See whether you don’t love Jesus more as a result of these four books. Notice, these books do not quote men -- they quote God’s Word. The author of these four books, in her book MINISTRY OF HEALING, writes “The same power that Christ exercised when He walked visibly among men is in His word. It was by His word that Jesus healed disease and cast out demons; by His word He stilled the sea and raised the dead, and the people bore witness that His word was with power. He spoke the word of God, as He had spoken to all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament. The whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ.” {Ministry of Healing, page 122} “The Scriptures are to be received as Gods word to us, not written merely, but spoken. When the afflicted ones came to Christ, He beheld not only those who asked for help, but all who throughout the ages should come to Him in like need and with like faith. When He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee;’ when He said to the woman of Capernaum, ‘Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace,’ He spoke to other afflicted, sin-burdened ones who should seek His help. Matthew 9:2; Luke 8:48.” {MH 122.2} “So with all the promises of Gods word. In them He is speaking to us individually, speaking as directly as if we could listen to His voice. It is in these promises that Christ communicates to us His grace and power. They are leaves from that tree which is for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2. Received, assimilated, they are to be the strength of the character, the inspiration and sustenance of the life. Nothing else can have such healing power. Nothing besides can impart the courage and faith which give vital energy to the whole being.” {MH 122.3} “To one who stands trembling with fear on the brink of the grave, to the soul weary of the burden of suffering and sin, let the physician as he has opportunity repeat the words of the Saviour--for all the words of Holy Writ are His: {MH 122.4} ‘Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. . . . Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee.’ ‘I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.’ ‘Fear not: for I am with thee.’ Isaiah 43:1-4, 25, 5.” {MH 122.5} ‘Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.’ Psalm 103:13, 14.” {Ministry of Healing, page 123.} During her lifetime Ellen G. White wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books; but today, including compilations from her 50,000 pages of manuscript, more than 100 titles are available in English. She is the most translated woman writer in the entire history of literature, and the most translated American author of either gender. Her writings cover a broad range of subjects, including religion, education, social relationships, evangelism, prophecy, publishing, nutrition, and management. Her life-changing masterpiece on successful Christian living, Steps to Christ, has been published in more than 165 languages. (1) STEPS TO CHRIST - whiteestate.org/books/sc/sc.asp Translated into over 165 languages – sold in the vast millions around the world - See two of the chapters from Steps to Christ above “Promise of Peace” and “Talking with God.” (1a) PROMISE OF PEACE - glowonline.org/literature-2/promise-of-PEACE/ -- Chapter 6 of Steps to Christ entitled “Faith and Acceptance” in the book. How can you have peace and a new life in an un-peaceful world? This tract tells the reader how they can be “born again” -- have their sins forgiven and have a new heart based on the power of God’s Word, God’s “exceeding great and precious promises.” Many have discovered the answer to the need Jesus saw in Nicodemus and in each one of us when He said “Except you be born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 and John 3:7. LEARN HOW to be “born again.” (1b) TALKING WITH GOD – a wonderful tract on prayer – chapter 11 from E.G. White’s book STEPS TO CHRIST glowonline.org/literature-2/TALKING-WITH-GOD-2/ “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel.” 2. DESIRE OF AGES (A book in over 60 languages on the Life of Jesus Christ whiteestate.org/books/da/da.asp “If Joseph and Mary had stayed their minds upon God by meditation and prayer, they would have realized the sacredness of their trust, and would not have lost sight of Jesus. By one days neglect they lost the Saviour; but it cost them three days of anxious search to find Him. So with us; by idle talk, evilspeaking, or neglect of prayer, we may in one day lose the Saviours presence, and it may take many days of sorrowful search to find Him, and regain the peace that we have lost.” Desire of Ages, page 83. “In our association with one another, we should take heed lest we forget Jesus, and pass along unmindful that He is not with us. When we become absorbed in worldly things so that we have no thought for Him in whom our hope of eternal life is centered, we separate ourselves from Jesus and from the heavenly angels. These holy beings cannot remain where the Saviours presence is not desired, and His absence is not marked. This is why discouragement so often exists among the professed followers of Christ.” Ibid. “Many attend religious services, and are refreshed and comforted by the word of God; but through neglect of meditation, watchfulness, and prayer, they lose the blessing, and find themselves more destitute than before they received it. Often they feel that God has dealt hardly with them. They do not see that the fault is their own. By separating themselves from Jesus, they have shut away the light of His presence.” “It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.” Ibid. “As we associate together, we may be a blessing to one another. If we are Christs, our sweetest thoughts will be of Him. We shall love to talk of Him; and as we speak to one another of His love, our hearts will be softened by divine influences. Beholding the beauty of His character, we shall be changed into the same image from glory to glory. 2 Cor. 3:18.” Desire of Ages, page 83. Desire of Ages contains hundreds of Bible Texts and is 835 pages long. Another quote from Desire of Ages “There are thousands today who need to learn the same truth that was taught to Nicodemus by the uplifted serpent. They depend on their obedience to the law of God to commend them to His favor. When they are bidden to look to Jesus, and believe that He saves them solely through His grace, they exclaim, ‘How can these things be?’ {Desire of Ages, page 175} “Like Nicodemus, we must be willing to enter into life in the same way as the chief of sinners. Than Christ, ‘there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ Acts 4:12. Through faith we receive the grace of God; but faith is not our Saviour. It earns nothing. It is the hand by which we lay hold upon Christ, and appropriate His merits, the remedy for sin. And we cannot even repent without the aid of the Spirit of God. The Scripture says of Christ, ‘Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.’ Acts 5:31. Repentance comes from Christ as truly as does pardon. “ {DA 175.4} “HOW, THEN, ARE WE TO BE SAVED? ‘As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,’ so the Son of man has been lifted up, and everyone who has been deceived and bitten by the serpent may look and live. BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD. John 1:29. The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour. Then the Spirit of God through faith produces a new life in the soul. The thoughts and desires are brought into obedience to the will of Christ. The heart, the mind, are created anew in the image of Him who works in us to subdue all things to Himself. Then the law of God is written in the mind and heart, and we can say with Christ, ‘I delight to do Thy will, O my God.’ Psalm 40:8.” {DA 175.5} “In the interview with Nicodemus, Jesus unfolded the plan of salvation, and His mission to the world. In none of His subsequent discourses did He explain so fully, step by step, the work necessary to be done in the hearts of all who would inherit the kingdom of heaven. At the very beginning of His ministry He opened the truth to a member of the Sanhedrin, to the mind that was most receptive, and to an appointed teacher of the people. But the leaders of Israel did not welcome the light. Nicodemus hid the truth in his heart, and for three years there was little apparent fruit.” {DA 176.1} (3.) THOUGHTS ON THE MOUNT OF BLESSING - whiteestate.org/books/mb/mb.asp “All who have a sense of their deep soul poverty, who feel that they have nothing good in themselves, may find righteousness and strength by looking unto Jesus. He says, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden.’ Matthew 11:28. He bids you exchange your poverty for the riches of His grace. We are not worthy of Gods love, but Christ , our surety, is worthy, and is abundantly able to save all who shall come unto Him. Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness. He presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character. He pleads before God in our behalf, saying: I have taken the sinners place. Look not upon this wayward child, but look on Me. Does Satan plead loudly against our souls, accusing of sin, and claiming us as his prey, the blood of Christ pleads with greater power.” Thoughts on the Mount of Blessings, page 8. (4.) CHRIST OBJECT LESSONS - whiteestate.org/books/col/col.asp Below is a passage from Christ Object Lessons from the pen of E.G. White. Notice how beautiful is the parable of the Prodigal Son that Jesus told us about in Luke chapter 15. “Little did the gay, thoughtless youth, as he went out from his fathers gate, dream of the ache and longing left in that fathers heart. When he danced and feasted with his wild companions, little did he think of the shadow that had fallen on his home. And now as with weary and painful steps he pursues the homeward way, he knows not that one is watching for his return. But while he is yet ‘a great way off’ the father discerns his form. Love is of quick sight. Not even the degradation of the years of sin can conceal the son from the fathers eyes. He ‘had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck’ in a long, clinging, tender embrace.” “The father will permit no contemptuous eye to mock at his sons misery and tatters. He takes from his own shoulders the broad, rich mantle, and wraps it around the sons wasted form, and the youth sobs out his repentance, saying, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.’ The father holds him close to his side, and brings him home. No opportunity is given him to ask a servants place. He is a son, who shall be honored with the best the house affords, and whom the waiting men and women shall respect and serve.” “The father said to his servants, ‘Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.’ “In his restless youth the prodigal looked upon his father as stern and severe. How different his conception of him now! So those who are deceived by Satan look upon God as hard and exacting. They regard Him as watching to denounce and condemn, as unwilling to receive the sinner so long as there is a legal excuse for not helping him. His law they regard as a restriction upon mens happiness, a burdensome yoke from which they are glad to escape. But he whose eyes have been opened by the love of Christ will behold God as full of compassion. He does not appear as a tyrannical, relentless being, but as a father longing to embrace his repenting son. The sinner will exclaim with the Psalmist, ‘Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.’ Ps. 103:13.” “In the parable there is no taunting, no casting up to the prodigal of his evil course. The son feels that the past is forgiven and forgotten, blotted out forever. And so God says to the sinner, ‘I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins,’ Isa. 44:22. ‘I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’ Jer. 31:34. ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.’ Isa. 55:7. ‘In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found.’ Jer. 50:20.” “What assurance here, of Gods willingness to receive the repenting sinner! Have you, reader, chosen your own way? Have you wandered far from God? Have you sought to feast upon the fruits of transgression, only to find them turn to ashes upon your lips? And now, your substance spent, your life-plans thwarted, and your hopes dead, do you sit alone and desolate? Now that voice which has long been speaking to your heart but to which you would not listen comes to you distinct and clear, ‘Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest; because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.’ Micah 2:10. Return to your Fathers house. He invites you, saying, ‘Return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.’ Isa. 44:22.” “Do not listen to the enemys suggestion to stay away from Christ until you have made yourself better; until you are good enough to come to God. If you wait until then, you will never come. When Satan points to your filthy garments, repeat the promise of Jesus, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’ John 6:37. Tell the enemy that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. Make the prayer of David your own, ‘Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.’ Ps. 51:7.” “Arise and go to your Father. He will meet you a great way off. If you take even one step toward Him in repentance, He will hasten to enfold you in His arms of infinite love. His ear is open to the cry of the contrite soul. The very first reaching out of the heart after God is known to Him. Never a prayer is offered, however faltering, never a tear is shed, however secret, never a sincere desire after God is cherished, however feeble, but the Spirit of God goes forth to meet it. Even before the prayer is uttered or the yearning of the heart made known, grace from Christ goes forth to meet the grace that is working upon the human soul.” “Your heavenly Father will take from you the garments defiled by sin. In the beautiful parabolic prophecy of Zechariah, the high priest Joshua, standing clothed in filthy garments before the angel of the Lord, represents the sinner. And the word is spoken by the Lord, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him He said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. . . . So they set a fair miter upon his head, and clothed him with garments.’ Zech. 3:4, 5. Even so God will clothe you with ‘the garments of salvation,’ and cover you with ‘the robe of righteousness.’ Isa. 61:10. ‘Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.’ Ps. 68:13.” “He will bring you into His banqueting house, and His banner over you shall be love. (Cant. 2:4) ‘If thou wilt walk in My ways,’ He declares, ‘I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by’--even among the holy angels that surround His throne. (Zech. 3:7.)” As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.’ Isa. 62:5. ‘He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love; He will joy over thee with singing.’ Zeph. 3:17. And heaven and earth shall unite in the Fathers song of rejoicing: ‘For this My son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ I commend to you Jesus Christ who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Read my book “Prophecy Made Easy for FREE! KNOW THE FUTURE NOW! – Jesus has revealed it to us in the book of Revelation! prophecymadeeasy
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 18:45:28 +0000
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