The Spirit and Life of Christ in the Soul

compiled from the writings of Ellen G. White by Frank Klin

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency, that
through His grace we might be complete in Him. The Lord has provided that we should always be
under the teaching and influence of the Holy Spirit. We shall then discover that the law of God is
holy, just, and good, and we would learn to delight in the law of God. We love the requirements of
the law, and from our hearts render obedience to its requirements. [1]

And He “who did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22) wrought out this life of perfect righteousness not for
Himself but for us, that the image of God might be again revealed in our lives. The law was within
the heart of Christ, and He came to do the will of God, in order that the same law might be written
in our hearts, and that we might be restored to the blessedness of doing God’s will; that the form
might become the reality in us. This is accomplished for each individual by his acceptance of the
work of Christ for him through faith in the Word of God, by opening the door of his heart to Christ,
that He may become the very life of his life, so that he may be “saved by His life.” Romans 5:10.
This is righteousness by faith. This is being “found in Him, not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God
by faith.” Philippians 3:9. [2]

Unless there is genuine conversion of the soul to God; unless the vital breath of God quickens
the soul to spiritual life; unless the professors of truth are actuated by heaven-born principle, they
are not born of the incorruptible seed which liveth and abideth forever. Unless they trust in the
righteousness of Christ as their only security; unless they copy His character, labor in His Spirit,
they are naked, they have not on the robe of His righteousness. The dead are often made to pass
for the living; for those who are working out what they term salvation after their own ideas, have
not God working in them to will and to do of His good pleasure. This class is well represented by
the valley of dry bones Ezekiel saw in vision. [3]

The divine Spirit reveals its working on the human heart. When the Holy Spirit operates upon
the mind, the human agent will understand the statement made by Christ, "He shall receive of
Mine, and shall show it unto you." Subjection to the Word of God means the restoration of one's
self. Let Christ work by His Holy Spirit, and awaken you as from the dead, and carry your minds
along with His. Let Him employ your faculties. He has created your every capability that you may
better honor and glorify His Name. Consecrate yourself to Him, and all associated with you will
see that your energies are inspired of God, that your noblest powers are called into exercise to do
God's service. The faculties once used to serve self and advance unworthy principles, once
serving as members of unrighteous purposes, will be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ and
become one with the will of God. [4]

It is the Holy Spirit that imparts repentance to us. Jesus draws us to Himself through the
agency of His divine Spirit; and through faith in His blood we are cleansed from sin: "for the blood
of Jesus Christ His Son, cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). "If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (verse 9). [5]

Every true turning to the Lord brings abiding joy into the life. When a sinner yields to the
influence of the Holy Spirit, he sees his own guilt and defilement in contrast with the holiness of
the great Searcher of hearts. He sees himself condemned as a transgressor. But he is not,
because of this, to give way to despair; for his pardon has already been secured. He may rejoice
in the sense of sins forgiven, in the love of a pardoning heavenly Father. It is God's glory to
encircle sinful, repentant human beings in the arms of His love, to bind up their wounds, to
cleanse them from sin, and to clothe them with the garments of salvation. [6]

But suppose that we sin after we have been forgiven, after we have become the children of
God, then need we despair?--No: for John writes: "My little children, these things I write unto you,
that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
st
righteous" (1 John 2:1). Jesus is in the heavenly courts, pleading with the Father in our behalf.
He presents our prayers, mingling with them the precious incense of His own merit, that our
prayers may be acceptable to the Father. He puts the fragrance into our prayers, and the Father
hears us because we ask for the very things which we need, and we become to others a savor of
life unto life. [7]

Even those whose course has been most offensive to Him He freely accepts. When they
repent, He imparts to them His divine Spirit, and sends them forth into the camp of the disloyal to
proclaim His mercy. Souls that have been degraded into instruments of Satan are still, through
the power of Christ, transformed into messengers of righteousness and are sent forth to tell how
great things the Lord hath done for them and hath had compassion on them. [8]

The Holy Spirit ever abides with him who is seeking for perfection of Christian character. The
Holy Spirit furnishes the pure motive, the living, active principle, that sustains striving, wrestling,
believing souls in every emergency and under every temptation. The Holy Spirit sustains the
believer amid the world's hatred, amid the unfriendliness of relatives, amid disappointment, amid
the realization of imperfection, and amid the mistakes of life. Depending upon the matchless
purity and perfection of Christ, the victory is sure to him who looks unto the Author and Finisher of
our faith. We shall be more that conquerors through Him who hath loved us, and given Himself for
us. He has borne our sins, in order that through Him we might have moral excellence, and attain
unto the perfection of Christian character. [9]

The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul. We do not now see Christ and
speak to Him, but His Holy Spirit is just as near us in one place as another. It works in and
through every one who receives Christ. Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the
fruits of the Spirit,--"love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." "Ye have an
unction from the Holy One," writes John, "and ye know all things. I have not written unto you
because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. . . .Let that
therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from
the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father." [10]

We are to have free access to the atoning blood of Christ. This we must regard as the most
precious privilege, the greatest blessing, ever granted to sinful man. And how little is made of this
great gift! How deep, how wide and continuous is this stream. To every soul thirsting after
holiness there is repose, there is rest, there is the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit, and
then the holy, happy, peaceful walk and precious communion with Christ. Then, O then, can we
intelligently say with John, "Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." Talk
it, pray it. Let it be the theme of sacred song,--to be washed, to be cleansed; the believing soul
claims that love, and by its virtues stands before the throne of God pardoned, justified, sanctified.
. . . Its cleansing virtue gives strength and vigor to faith, power to prayer, and happiness in
cheerful obedience. [11]

1. 1894, Manuscript Releases Vol. 14, page 84 par.3

2. Bible Echo, May 4, 1896, par. 5
3. Advent Review and Sabbath Herald Jan. 17, 1893, par. 8
4. Special Testimonies To Ministers & Workers Series A 1897, TM page 396 par.1
5. 1892, Selected Messages Vol. 3, page 196 par. 4
6. 1917, Prophets & Kings, page 668 par.3
7. 1892, Selected Messages Vol. 3, page 197 par.1
8. 1905, Ministry of Healing, page 99 par.3
9. Advent Review & Sabbath Herald, November 30, 1897 par. 10
10. The Home Missionary, July 1, 1897 par. 19
11. Letter 87, 1894-Sons and Daughters of God page 224 par.6