The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 471

maintain a constant warfare against it. Here is where Christ’s help is
needed. Human weakness becomes united to divine strength, and faith
exclaims: “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57.
The Scriptures plainly show that the work of sanctification is
progressive. When in conversion the sinner finds peace with God
through the blood of the atonement, the Christian life has but just begun.
Now he is to “go on unto perfection;” to grow up “unto the measure
of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Says the apostle Paul: “This
one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13, 14.
And Peter sets before us the steps by which Bible sanctification is to be
attained: “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue
knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience;
and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to
brotherly kindness charity.... If ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” 2
Peter 1:5-10.
Those who experience the sanctification of the Bible will manifest a
spirit of humility. Like Moses, they have had a view of the awful majesty
of holiness, and they see their own unworthiness in contrast with the
purity and exalted perfection of the Infinite One.
The prophet Daniel was an example of true sanctification. His long
life was filled up with noble service for his Master. He was a man
“greatly beloved” (Daniel 10:11) of Heaven. Yet instead of claiming to
be pure and holy, this honored prophet identified himself with the really
sinful of Israel as he pleaded before God in behalf of his people: “We
do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousness, but
for Thy great mercies.” “We have sinned, we have done wickedly.” He
declares: “I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the
sin of my people.” And when at a later time the Son of God appeared, to
give

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