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Renunciation of self ( 27 )

Quotations from the writings of Ellen G. White with the phrase . . .

renunciation of self

It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that this renunciation of self is to be made. At every advance step heavenward it is to be renewed. All our good works are dependent on a power outside of ourselves; therefore there needs to be a continual reaching out of the heart after God, a constant, earnest confession of sin and humbling of the soul before Him. Perils surround us; and we are safe only as we feel our weakness and cling with the grasp of faith to our mighty Deliverer. {MH 455.5} {NL 63.2}

No outward observances can take the place of simple faith and entire renunciation of self. But no man can empty himself of self. We can only consent for Christ to accomplish the work. Then the language of the soul will be, Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul. {COL 159.3} {RC 260.3}
It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that this renunciation of self is to be made. At every advance step heavenward it is to be renewed. All our good works are dependent on a power outside of ourselves. Therefore there needs to be a continual reaching out of the heart after God, a continual, earnest, heartbreaking confession of sin and humbling of the soul before Him. Only by constant renunciation of self and dependence on Christ can we walk safely. Christ's Object Lessons, page 159.4 RC 260.4 {ST, January 6, 1904 par. 2}

Thoughts of God and of heaven are ennobling. There is no limit to the height you may reach, for it will be like swimming in waters where there is no bottom. . . . There is nothing belittling in the pure religion of Christ. The gospel received will bow down the loftiness of human understanding and lay the haughtiness of man low, that God alone may be exalted. But in this it does not dwarf the intellect and cripple the energies. . . . True religion unfolds and calls out the mental energies. Conviction and repentance of sin, renunciation of self, and trust in the merits of the blood of Christ cannot be experienced without the individual being made more thoughtful, more intellectual, than he was before. No one will become mentally imbecile by having his attention directed to God. Connection with God is connection with all true wisdom. {TMK 135.4}

Shall we not in this new year seek to correct the errors of the past? It behooves us individually to cultivate the grace of Christ, to be meek and lowly of heart, to be firm, unwavering, steadfast in the truth; for thus only can we advance in holiness, and be made fit for the inheritance of the saints in light. Let us begin the year with an entire renunciation of self; let us pray for clear discernment, that we may understand our Saviour's claims upon us, and that we may always and everywhere be witnesses for Christ (Signs of the Times, Jan. 4, 1883). {LHU 15.5}

Shall we not in this new year seek to correct the errors of the past? It behooves us individually to cultivate the grace of Christ, to be meek and lowly of heart, to be firm, unwavering, steadfast in the truth; for thus only can we advance in holiness, and be made fit for the inheritance of the saints in light. Let us begin the year with an entire renunciation of self; let us pray for clear discernment, that we may understand our Saviour's claims upon us, and that we may always and everywhere be witnesses for Christ. {ST, January 4, 1883 par. 14}

"If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." True faith will be revealed; for it works by love and purifies the soul. There is the renunciation of self, of pride, of all sin, and an entire reliance upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. There is evidence that the soul has communion with God, is constantly seeking his grace, and imparting that grace to others. {ST, December 14, 1891 par. 4}

Renunciation of Self. I thank the Lord this morning for His keeping power. I awake very early, unable to sleep. During the past night my mind has been greatly burdened. I am charged to bear to those in Los Angeles and all who shall assemble in these meetings who minister in word and doctrine, the message that they need to be reconverted, for they do not understand the philosophy of the genuine missionary work that should be done by those who are acquainted with present truth. In the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of John, God's will is plainly outlined before them. It is their privilege to understandingly watch unto prayer, [and] believe that God means just what He says. The Lord charges them to stand faithfully, to believe every verse in these chapters, and to live them out before their brother ministers. {18MR 168.1}

There are many workers that have become religious dwarfs, because, though having a name to be workers, they fold their hands and do nothing to strengthen and bless others. Many are apparently busy in the work of God, and yet their hearts are not pure, their efforts are not unselfish. They are proud and self-sufficient, and therefore inefficient. They know not what it is to have heart holiness, and therefore are lifted up in their own estimation; for they are not right with God. God will accept of nothing less than the whole heart. There must be an entire renunciation of self, and every physical, mental, and moral faculty must become perfectly sanctified to the Master's use. If ever we have fellowship with Christ in his glory, we must have fellowship with him in his humiliation. Ample provisions have been made whereby man may have divine power through the exercise of faith. Oh, that we all might urge our petitions to the throne of grace, pleading that we might have views of the glory of God, even here in this mortal state! Feeble and dim may be our visions of Him who dwelleth in light, and yet we may see and be charmed with the beauty of the divine character, and by beholding may be changed into his image, that we may see him as he is when he shall come to be admired by all his saints. We shall look upon his glory then, and no shadow will intervene. God help us to be followers of Jesus, to love as he loved, to work as he worked, and finally be crowned with glory, honor, and immortality. {SSW, August 1, 1893 par. 2}

through the renunciation of self

Whatever may be our temperament, we are to form a character after the divine Pattern; we have no excuse for retaining the mold and superscription of our nature; for Christ has died that we may have his mold and superscription. We cannot retain self and yet be filled with the fullness of God. We must be emptied of self. If heaven is gained by us at last, it will be only through the renunciation of self, and the receiving of the mind of Christ. Pride and self-sufficiency must be crucified, and the vacuum supplied with the Spirit and power of God. Are we willing to pay the price required of us for eternal life? Are we ready to sit down and count the cost, and conclude that heaven is worth the sacrifice of dying to self, of having our will brought into perfect conformity with the will of God? Until we are willing, the transforming grace of God will not be manifested upon us. When we present our emptied nature to God, he will by his Holy Spirit supply the vacuum made by the renunciation of self, and give us of his fullness. The Lord would not have us perish. He would have us consecrate to his service all there is of us; for he desires to bless us more than we desire to be blessed. He would have us abide in Christ, receive his blessing, and diffuse it to others while we live, that we may enjoy a blessed eternity. Life is short, but eternity is endless. {ST, November 21, 1892 par. 4}

The only hope for us if we would overcome is to unite our will to God's will, and work in cooperation with Him, hour by hour and day by day. We cannot retain self and yet enter the kingdom of God. If we ever attain unto holiness, it will be through the renunciation of self and the reception of the mind of Christ. Pride and self-sufficiency must be crucified. Are we willing to pay the price required of us? Are we willing to have our will brought into perfect conformity to the will of God? Until we are willing the transforming grace of God cannot be manifest upon us. {AG 225.3}

The only hope for us if we would overcome is to unite our will to God's will and work in co-operation with Him, hour by hour and day by day. We cannot retain self and yet enter the kingdom of God. If we ever attain unto holiness, it will be through the renunciation of self and the reception of the mind of Christ. Pride and self-sufficiency must be crucified. Are we willing to pay the price required of us? Are we willing to have our will brought into perfect conformity to the will of God? Until we are willing, the transforming grace of God cannot be manifest upon us. {MB 143.2}

Whatever your temperament may be, whatever your hereditary and cultivated tendencies may be, there is a character to be formed after the divine pattern. We have no excuse for retaining our own mold and superscription of nature, for Christ has died that we may have His mold and His superscription. We cannot retain our own self and be filled with the fullness of God. We must be emptied of self. If heaven is gained by us at last, it will be only through the renunciation of self and in receiving the mind, the spirit, and the will of Christ Jesus. . . . {HP 155.3}

renounce self

Praise God for these precious words. Praise God, praise His holy name that we have been led to the cross of Christ, and we understand that our only hope is to renounce self and all dependence in anything and everything, and take Jesus as our Saviour, a complete Redeemer. "Unto you therefore which believe, He is precious." He can be precious only to those who believe. "Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments." "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." {15MR 266.1}

God bids you become a worker with Him in His vineyard. Commence just where you are. Come to the cross and there renounce self, the world, and every idol. Take Jesus into your heart fully. You are in a hard place to preserve consecration and to exert an influence which shall lead others from sin and pleasure and folly to the narrow way, cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. {2T 263.2}

On Sabbath afternoon Ellen White spoke again in the chapel. She had chosen her text, Zechariah 3:1: "And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him." Then the Lord led her mind into an unexpected channel. Addressing by name some before her, she bore testimony of encouragement to certain individuals in the audience. In words of hope for Mrs. A. B. Oyen, she exhorted her to take Christ as her Saviour, looking away from the imperfections of self to Jesus, believing that He alone could remove her defects and give her His righteousness. Speaking to her in pointed language, Ellen White said, "Jesus stands at the door of your heart my sister, knocking for entrance, inviting you to let Him in. Will you hear His voice? Will you open the door? Will you renounce self and welcome Jesus? . . . What answer have you to give?"-- Ibid. {3BIO 310.7}

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