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197

SECTION VI

Our Nature and Christ’s Nature



198

Chapter 36


What About Our
Fallen Human Natures?



      Did Ellen White forget about the fall of Adam? Did she take into no account the effects of thousands of years of decline upon our human natures?
      By no means. She was well aware of the fall. In fact, she writes that there have been “a succession of falls,” (see 1BC 1082) but measured against the freely and fully provided power of God that is available to Christians, neither the first fall nor any of the succeeding falls of man have any significance. In this chapter we will find her boldly declaring that the fallen human nature of man may, by the power of God, be changed, subdued, overcome, transformed, dignified, purified, softened, elevated, consecrated, restored, rebeautified, ennobled, reconstructed from its ruins, brought under the control of Christ, assimilated with Christ’s nature, united with divine nature, and brought to the perfection of the character of Christ.

      The sacrifice of the Son of God was made that human nature might be elevated, and restored to its original purity. 5RH 527

      The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old life, but a transformation of the nature. There is a death to sin and self, and a new life altogether. 4ST 503

      Transformation of character is wrought through the operation of the Holy Spirit, which works upon the human agent, implanting in him, according to his desire and consent to have it done, a new nature. The image of God is restored and renewed by grace, and is enabled more and more perfectly to reflect the character of Christ in righteousness and true holiness. 3RH 292

      The greatest manifestation of (the gospel’s) power is seen in human nature brought to the perfection of the character of Christ. MH 36

      The forgiveness of sins is not the sole result of the death of Jesus.

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      He made the infinite sacrifice, not only that sin might be removed, but that human nature might be restored, rebeautified, reconstructed from its ruins, and made fit for the presence of God. 5T 537

      Good works are spontaneous with (the children of God); for God has transformed their natures by His grace. 2ST 72

      In living out the truth of God, man is continually assured that supernatural help will be granted to him, and while he retains his human nature, yet through an unseen agency he receives the impress of the divine nature through the truth as it is in Jesus. 3RH 196

      Through the help provided, man, in his fallen nature, can do the very things God expects him to do. 5RH 515

      The moral image of God may be restored in our fallen natures, through faith in Christ, and obedience to the commandments of Jehovah. 2RH 185

      . . . there is a power in the truth of God to transform human nature. 3T 550

      If man by faith takes hold of the divine love of God, he becomes a new creature through Christ Jesus. The world is overcome, human nature is subdued, and Satan is vanquished. 1ST 39

      By walking in the light and working out the will of God, you may overcome your selfish nature. 4T 214

      Our fallen nature must be purified, ennobled, consecrated by obedience to the truth. 1ST 328

      There is no difficulty within or without that can not be surmounted in His strength. Some have stormy tempers. But He who calmed the stormy sea of Galilee will say to the troubled heart, “Peace, be still.” 4ST 409

      There is no nature so rebellious that Christ can not subdue it, no temper so stormy that He can not quell it, if the heart is surrendered to His keeping. 4ST 409

      Christ came to this world and lived the law of God, that man might have perfect mastery over the natural inclinations which corrupt the soul. MH 130

      The law is an expression of the thought of God; when received in Christ, it becomes our thought. It lifts us above the power of natural desires and tendencies, above temptations that lead to sin. DA 308

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      Those who come into sacred relation with the God of Heaven are not left to the natural weakness and infirmity of their natures. 2ST 192

      A living faith in Christ will bring every action of the life and every emotion of the soul into harmony with God’s truth and righteousness. 4T 527

      We must realize that through belief in Him it is our privilege to be partakers of the divine nature, and so escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. Then we are cleansed from all sin, all defects of character. We need not retain one sinful propensity. 4RH 175

      As Jesus was in human nature, so God means His followers to be. In His strength we are to live the life of purity and nobility which the Saviour lived. MH 426

      Mind and character may, with care, be molded after the Divine Pattern. 4T 438

      From a study of His life and labors and His struggles with temptation, we are to learn how to become partakers of the divine nature, and overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. 6RH 7

      (Christ) has given to men a pattern of what they may be in their humanity, through becoming partakers of the divine nature. YI 296

      Man may conquer perverted appetite. Though the moral image of God was almost obliterated by the sin of Adam, through the merits and power of Jesus it may be renewed. Man may stand with the moral image of God in his character; for Jesus will give it to him. Unless the moral image of God is seen in man, he can never enter the city of God as a conqueror. 2RH 401

      Our fallen nature must be purified, ennobled, consecrated by obedience to the truth. 5T 235

      Through Christ, and Christ alone, the springs of life can vitalize man’s nature, transform his tastes, and set his affections flowing toward heaven. Through the union of the divine with the human nature Christ could enlighten the understanding and infuse His lifegiving properties through the soul dead in trespasses and sins. 1SM 341

      Since the divine law is as changeless as the character of God, there could be no hope for man unless some way could be devised whereby

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his transgression might be pardoned, his nature renewed, and his spirit restored to reflect the image of God. Divine law had conceived such a plan. 3ST 22

      To bring man back to harmony with God, to so elevate and ennoble his moral nature that he may again reflect the image of the Creator, is the great purpose of all the education and discipline of life. 1RH 327

      We want the love of God formed within to subdue and soften our human nature and to bring us into conformity to His holy character. 1SM 174

      Christ, our Mediator, is the one who gives the Holy Spirit; and by the office work of the Holy Spirit, the atonement made on Calvary is brought in contact with the soul of man to transform his character, and change his nature. . . . YI 178

      Human nature becomes united with the divine nature, Christ lives in the human soul, and acts through all the powers of body, soul, and spirit. 3RH 308

      Those who consent to enter into covenant with God are not left to the power of Satan or to the infirmity of their own nature. MH 93

      As Jesus was in human nature, so God means His followers to be. In His strength we are to live the life of purity and nobility which the Saviour lived. 8T 289

      When man was lost, the Son of God said, I will redeem him, I will become his surety and substitute. He laid aside His royal robes, clothed His divinity with humanity, stepped down from the royal throne, that He might reach the very depth of human woe and temptation, lift up our fallen natures, and make it possible for us to be overcomers, - the sons of God, the heirs of the eternal kingdom. 2RH 230

      In our own strength it is impossible for us to deny the clamors of our fallen nature. Through this channel Satan will bring temptation upon us. Christ knew that the enemy would come to every human being, to take advantage of hereditary weakness, and by his false insinuations to ensnare all whose trust is not in God. And by passing over the ground which man must travel, our Lord has prepared the way for us to overcome. It is not His will that we should be placed at a disadvantage in the conflict with Satan. He would not have us intimidated and discouraged by the assaults of the serpent. “Be of good cheer,” He says; “I have overcome the world.” John 16:33; DA 122-3

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      . . . He has opened the way by which young men and young women may become partakers of the divine nature. The good they may accomplish by uniting themselves to Christ they will never know until, as overcomers, they enter the kingdom of Christ. YI 415

      . . . man might become a partaker of the divine nature, be an overcomer, and have a place with Christ upon His throne in glory. 2ST 438

      Through faith man is to be a partaker of the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset. 3ST 30

      “The prince of this world cometh,” said Jesus, “and hath nothing in Me.” John 14:30. There was in Him nothing that responded to Satan’s sophistry. He did not consent to sin. Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation. So may it be with us. Christ’s humanity was united with divinity. He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And He came to make us partakers of the divine nature. So long as we are united to Him by faith, sin has no more dominion over us. God reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast hold upon the divinity of Christ, that we may attain to perfection of character. DA 123

      He lived the law of God, and honored it in a world of transgression, revealing to the heavenly universe, to Satan, and to all the fallen sons and daughters of Adam, that through His grace, humanity can keep the law of God. He came to impart His own divine nature, His own image, to the repentant, believing soul. YI 343-4

      Christ is the finished standard of the character to which every one may attain by becoming a partaker of the divine nature. “Ye are complete in Him.” YI 196

      The noble life which Christ has made it possible for us to live - one of obedience and service - will make us partakers of the divine nature. 3ST 459

      All that was possible for man to endure in the conflict with Satan, Christ endured in His human and divine nature combined. Obedient, sinless to the last, He died for man, his substitute and surety, enduring all that men may endure from the deceiving tempter, that man may overcome by being a partaker of the divine nature. 1SM 342

For Further Study:
2RH 115
2RH 419
2RH 523
2RH 575
3RH 445
4RH 551
1ST 328
1ST 371
3ST 422
4ST 242
4ST 243
4ST 333

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4ST 428
YI 305
DA 176
DA 391
DA 668
COL 61
MH 176
MH 451
4T 461
9T 187



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