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“In like manner you are a sinner. You cannot atone for your past sins; you cannot change your heart and make yourself holy. But God promises to do all this for you through Christ. You believe that promise. You confess your sins and give yourself to God. You will to serve Him. Just as surely as you do this, God will fulfill His word to you. If you believe the promise—believe that you are forgiven and cleansed—God supplies the fact; you are made whole, just as Christ gave the paralytic power to walk when the man believed that he was healed. It is so if you believe it.”
—E.G. White, Steps to Christ p.51
Amid the myriad of priceless jewels shared by Dr. Stephen Bauer in the late Wednesday afternoon seminar in Harrell Center, entitled “The Sufficiency of Christ’s Cross,” one stands out for its simplicity and profound depth. Dr. Bauer synthesized the entire book of Hebrews, saying, “Hebrews was not about justification. It was about holding on to your faith.”
Dr. Bauer navigated through various New Testament letters to illustrate a comprehensive understanding of the gospel that frees the believer to live a life of authentic and living faith. Given that Christ is the King of all Kings and the Elder Brother of the redeemed, the authority and preeminence of Christ ensure our conformity to His will and character. The greatest challenge is aligning with the will of Christ when our own will and character are so opposed to Him. According to Dr. Bauer, the Apostle Paul says it is only by faith.
So, what do we do when our behavior and feelings are out of sync with the process of redemption, rebirth, and regeneration? Dr. Bauer challenged a packed house of attendees, stating that the only path is to let our faith override our feelings. But what about temptation? According to Dr. Bauer, that’s when you tell Satan, “I’m a slave of Christ. That’s above my pay grade. Go argue with Christ.” Remember, “You don’t have to fight Satan. You only need to surrender to Christ.” Then trust what God says over what you feel.
—Christopher C. Thompson
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