Steps to Christ, pages 60 and 61

But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but the service of love. The law of God is an expression of His very nature; it is an embodiment of the great principle of love, and hence is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth. If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of Him that created him, the new-covenant promise is fulfilled, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." Hebrews 10:16. And if the law is written in the heart, will it not shape the life? Obedience--the service and allegiance of love--is the true sign of discipleship. Thus the Scripture says, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 5:3; 2:4. Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, and faith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience. {SC 60.2}

What happens if God implants the principle of love in our soul? And when does He do it? Is it gradual or instantaneous?

Steps to Christ, page 59

The loveliness of the character of Christ will be seen in His followers. It was His delight to do the will of God. Love to God, zeal for His glory, was the controlling power in our Saviour's life. Love beautified and ennobled all His actions. Love is of God. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. It is found only in the heart where Jesus reigns. "We love, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19, R.V. In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, subdues enmity, and ennobles the affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around. {SC 59.3}

When does God renew our hearts? When does the implanted principle of love modify our character, govern our impulses, control our passions, subdue our enmity, and ennoble our affections?

Consider this:

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God is love, and the one who abides in love (by thoughts, words, and actions) abides in God, and God abides in him. By this (in this way) love is perfected with us. 1 John 4:16-17 nasb.

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That's sowing to the Spirit to develop the spiritual fruit of love. Galatians 6:7-9; 5:22.
Compare this:

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I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 nkjv.

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I think the following is a key verse in response to Mike's question:

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Acts 5:32 NKJV "And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."

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The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Him.

Obey Him in what?

Greetings Br. Mike,

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What happens if God implants the principle of love in our soul? And when does He do it? Is it gradual or instantaneous?
When does God renew our hearts? When does the implanted principle of love modify our character, govern our impulses, control our passions, subdue our enmity, and ennoble our affections?

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When we are broken of the desire to sin. This is the point of where we repent and have a desire to convert. Then our Lord is there waiting to give us our needs.

Everything that we do are steps to Christ Jesus. The changed heart and the renewing of the right spirit is a daily work. We are surely a temple for the Holy Spirit and He is surely doing the work in us if we are Christ's.

It is step by step that the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. When we have a conviction of our sins we are knowledgeable and understanding to the point that love will not desire to separate itself from the Creator any longer. And thus we lean on the power and strength of Christ to overcome.

With our will joining to be His will, the conversion takes place.

Sr. Cheri

If and when God implants within us the governing principle of love are we born again with or without unknown defective traits of character? When is perfect obedience, perfect righteousness available to us? now or at the end of a long life of sinning and repenting?

"If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of Him that created him, the new-covenant promise is fulfilled, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." Hebrews 10:16. {SC 60.2}

"Here is the true test. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of His holy law. {SC 61.1}

"The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been,--just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents,--perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness. {SC 62.1}

“21I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7


2 Corinthians 4
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.


Ephesians 3
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

Greetings Bro. Mike,

You asked:

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If and when God implants within us the governing principle of love are we born again with or without unknown defective traits of character? When is perfect obedience, perfect righteousness available to us? now or at the end of a long life of sinning and repenting?

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"Know ye not, that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized int his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life." Romans 6:3,4.

"When the sinner has a view of the matchless charms of Jesus, sin no longer looks attractive to the him; for he beholds the Chriefest among ten thousand, the One altogether lovely." RC 76.

"Why is it so hard to lead a self-denying life? Because professed Christians are not dead to the world. It is easy living after we are dead." 1T 131.

I am remembering Enoch how he walked with God. His vast experiences continued. And each experience blessed him to know the Lord better.

We must be in perfect obedience with the will of Father. And it is a covenant that we will have the royal law written in our hearts and minds...when we are willing. Where is your will today? I pray for all, it is with the Father's will.


may the Lord lead,
Sr. Cheri

Cheri, thank you and amen! God is altogether powerful, and when we submit to Him as did Jesus our life will be a life of continual obedience and righteousness. Thank you Jesus! And it's all possible the instant our old man habits of sin are dead and buried and God implants within us the great principle of love.

"All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us. {DA 668.3}

Thank God obedience and righteousness are available to us now and forever - and not after years of discovering unknown defective traits of character. Imitating the example of Jesus has nothing to do with discovering unknown sin, it has everything though to do with maturing in the fruits of the Spirit. Jesus left "us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin." 1 Peter 2:21,22.

1 Corinthians
15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not!

This is starting to tip towards the error of salvation by works. Let's remember that we are saved only and completely by Christ and His grace, as we have faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8-10). Obedience is important; but we are saved always and only by grace:

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Trust all on the promises of the Lord. Trust God in darkness. That is the time to have faith. But you often let feeling govern you. You look for WORTHINESS in yourselves when you do not feel comforted by the Spirit of God, and despair because you cannot find it. You do not TRUST enough in Jesus, precious Jesus. You do not make HIS WORTHINESS to be all, all. THE VERY BEST YOU CAN DO WILL NOT MERIT THE FAVOR OF GOD. It is JESUS' WORTHINESS that will save you, HIS BLOOD that will cleanse you. But you have efforts to make. You must do what you can on your part. Be zealous and repent, then believe. 1T 167.

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