Rock of Faith is the living presence of God ( 4 )
Quotations from the writings of Ellen G. White with the phrase . . .
| The Rock of faith is the living presence of Christ |
| The Rock of faith is the living presence of Christ in the church. Upon this the weakest may depend, and those who think themselves the strongest will prove to be the weakest, unless they make Christ their efficiency. . . . The Lord "is the Rock, his work is perfect." Deut. 32:4; "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." Ps. 2:12. {FLB 310.8} |
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| "The head of every man is Christ." God, who put all things under the Saviour's feet, "gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all." 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:22, 23.The church is built upon Christ as its foundation; it is to obey Christ as its head. It is not to depend upon man, or be controlled by man. Many claim that a position of trust in the church gives them authority to dictate what other men shall believe and what they shall do. This claim God does not sanction. The Saviour declares, "All ye are brethren." All are exposed to temptation, and are liable to error. Upon no finite being can we depend for guidance. The Rock of faith is the living presence of Christ in the church. Upon this the weakest may depend, and those who think themselves the strongest will prove to be the weakest, unless they make Christ their efficiency. "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm." Jer. 17:5; The Lord "is the Rock, His work is perfect." Deut. 32:4; "Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him." Ps. 2:12. {DA 414.3} |
| This Rock of Faith is the living presence of God |
| But the presence of God is guaranteed to the Christian. This Rock of faith is the living presence of God. The weakest may depend upon it. Those who think themselves the strongest may become the weakest unless they depend upon Christ as their efficiency, their worthiness. This is the Rock upon which the church may build successfully. God is near in Christ's atoning sacrifice, in his intercession, his loving, tender, ruling power over the church. Seated by the eternal throne, he watches them with intense interest. As long as the members of the church shall through faith draw sap and nourishment from Jesus Christ, and not from man's opinions and devisings and methods; if, having a conviction of the nearness of God in Christ, they put their entire trust in him, they will have a vital connection with Christ, as the branch has connection with the parent stock. The church is established not on theories of man, on long, drawn-out plans and forms. It depends upon Christ, its righteousness. It is built on faith in Christ, "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." {HM, June 1, 1897 par. 8} |
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| The presence of God is guaranteed to the Christian. This Rock of faith is the living presence of God. The weakest may depend upon it. Those who think themselves the strongest may become the weakest unless they depend on Christ as their efficiency, their worthiness. This is the Rock upon which we may build successfully. God is near in Christ's atoning sacrifice, in His intercession, His loving, tender ruling power over the church. Seated by the eternal throne, He watches them with intense interest. As long as the members of the church shall through faith draw sap and nourishment from Jesus Christ, and not from man's opinions and devisings, and methods; if having a conviction of the nearness of God in Christ, they put their entire trust in Him, they will have a vital connection with Christ as the branch has connection with the parent stock. The church is established not on theories of men, on long-drawn-out plans and forms. It depends upon Christ their righteousness. It is built on faith in Christ, "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." . . . {SD 77.3} |
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