Counsels of Caution–
Boasting

In the next eight chapters are a variety of warnings found in Ellen White’s writings which tend to be warnings against self-deception in various forms. The reader should give attention especially to the first chapter of this section regarding boasting. These statements make abundantly clear the distinction between the goal and the self-view in Ellen White’s thinking.
An astonishing number of writers seem to be unaware of this distinction. They pose the question, “Can man stop sinning even through the power of Christ?”
They then assert, “Ellen White says NO!” and set forth as their evidence one of her warnings against boasting, such as

Those who are really seeking to perfect Christian character will never indulge in the thought that they are sinless. 1RH 251

This is done in spite of her literally thousands of assurances that man can, through the power of Christ, stop sinning, and in spite of the places where she combines the two concepts into a single sentence or paragraph, such as:

Those whom Heaven recognizes as holy ones are the last to parade their own goodness. YI 539

No one who claims holiness is really holy. 1ST 490

True sanctification will not lead any human being to pronounce himself holy, sinless, and perfect. 3ST 207

We can only marvel at such a strange misreading of Ellen White’s writings, and hope that the evidence presented in this book will help the reader to avoid such errors.

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Those who are really seeking to perfect Christian character will never indulge in the thought that they are sinless. Their lives may be irreproachable, they may be living representatives of the truth which they have accepted; but the more they discipline their minds to dwell upon the character of Christ, and the nearer they approach to His divine image, the more clearly will they discern Its spotless perfection, and the more deeply will they feel their own defects. 1RH 251

You will feel your unworthiness. You will have no disposition to claim perfection of character, but only to exalt the perfection of your Redeemer. The more thorough and rich your experience in the knowledge of Jesus, the more humble will be your views of self. 2RH 253

We may always be startled and indignant when we hear a poor, fallen mortal exclaiming, “I am holy, I am sinless!” Not one soul to whom God has granted the wonderful view of His greatness and majesty, has ever uttered one word like this. 2RH 254

He who has a vital connection with Christ will not be influenced by unholy ambitions to desire the places of honor among his brethren. He will not make the proud boast, “I am holy; I am sanctified.” In making this assertion, his claim is proved false; for the spirit manifested is a contradiction of the statement. 2RH 254

If we are not cleansed by the blood of Christ, we are altogether wanting. We know that there is no one, however earnestly he may be striving to do his best, who can say, “I have no sin.” He who would say this would be under a dangerous deception. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 5RH 220

God does not look with favor upon those self-confident ones who loudly exclaim, “I am sanctified, I am holy. I am sinless.” These are Pharisees, who have no foundation for their assertion. 5RH 315

Those who are indeed purifying their souls by obeying the truth will have a most humble opinion of themselves. The more closely they view the spotless character of Christ, the stronger will be their desire to be conformed to His image, and the less will they see of purity or holiness in themselves . . . . Yet we should never be content with a sinful life. It is a thought that should arouse Christians to greater zeal and earnestness in overcoming evil, that every defect in character, every point in which they fail to meet the divine standard, is an open door by which Satan can enter to tempt and destroy them; and, furthermore, that every failure and defect on their part gives occasion to the tempter and his agents to reproach Christ. We are to exert every energy of the soul in the work of overcoming, and to look to Jesus for strength to do what we can not do of ourselves. No

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sin can be tolerated in those who shall walk with Christ in white. The filthy garments are to be removed, and Christ’s robe of righteousness is to be placed upon us. By repentance and faith we are enabled to render obedience to all the commandments of God, and are found without blame before Him. 5RH 384

The more closely one views Christ, the less disposed will he be to make high claims to holiness. He will have a humble opinion of himself and of his own goodness, but Christ will be revealed in his character. 6RH 296

It is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, which Jesus said He would send into the world, that changes our character into the image of Christ; and when this is accomplished, we reflect as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord. That is, the character of the one who thus beholds Christ is so like His that one looking at him sees Christ’s own character shining out as from a mirror. Imperceptibly to ourselves, we are changed day by day from our own ways and will into the ways and will of Christ, into the loveliness of His character. Thus we grow up into Christ, and unconsciously reflect His image. 6RH 303

It is never safe for us to feel that we are possessed of virtues, and that we may congratulate ourselves on our excellences of character, and our present state of purity and piety. YI 178

No proud boasting of superior attainments will be heard from the lips of those who are being sanctified through the truth. YI 199

Those who follow Christ in His humiliation and suffering are partakers of the divine nature. They make no claims to goodness, they accept self-denial and the cross as their portion from the Lord. YI 313

The nearer we come to Jesus, the more clearly we discern the purity of His character, the more clearly shall we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the less shall we feel like exalting ourselves. Those whom Heaven recognizes as holy ones are the last to parade their own goodness. Men who have lived near to God, men who would sacrifice life itself rather than knowingly commit a wrong act, men whom God has honored with divine light and power, have confessed the sinfulness of their own nature. They have put no confidence in the flesh, have claimed no righteousness of their own, but have trusted wholly in the righteousness of Christ. So will it be with all who behold the Saviour. YI 539

The clearer their view of the Saviour’s loveliness, the more humble will be their opinion of themselves. YI 559

No one who claims holiness is really holy. Those who are registered

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as holy in the books of Heaven are not aware of the fact and are the last ones to boast of their own goodness. 1ST 490

When you come to Christ you will not boast, “I am holy.” Let God, alone, say that of you, for you know not your own heart. This boast is a sure evidence that you know not the Scriptures nor the power of God. Let God write in His books, if He will, that you are an obedient child, keeping His statutes with a cheerful heart, and the records will reveal it before angels and men at the day of reward. 2ST 173

Those who receive the law and the testimony, and assimilate the truth of God, are partaking of the divine nature, growing up unto the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus, and the word of truth is working their sanctification. Though they make no boasting profession of holiness, but manifest a meek and quiet spirit, working the works of Christ, they will stand before the throne of God, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. They will be sanctified and glorified through obedience to the commandments of God, wrought by divine power, through the faith of the Son of God. 2ST 205

We should walk humbly with God, make no proud boasts of perfection of character, but in simple faith claim every promise in the Word of God; for they are for the obedient, not for the transgressors of God’s law. 2ST 372

When the conflict of life is ended, when the armor is laid off at the feet of Jesus, when the saints of God are glorified, then and then only will it be safe to claim that we are saved and sinless. True sanctification will not lead any human being to pronounce himself holy, sinless, and perfect. Let the Lord proclaim the truth of your character. 3ST 207

. . . if there was any one who could hope to be justified in claiming perfection of character, it was Paul; but we hear from his lips no presumptuous boasting. 3ST 209

Those who have felt the sanctifying and transforming power of God, must not fall into the dangerous error of thinking that they are sinless, that they have reached the highest state of perfection, and are beyond the reach of temptation. The standard the Christian is to keep before him is the purity and loveliness of Christ’s character. Day by day he may be putting on new beauties, and reflecting to the world more and still more of the divine image. 3ST 356

God’s children never claim to be perfect, because they are often weakened by temptation, but they honestly strive for the victory. 3ST 457

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As we strive to meet the perfection that God requires, insensibly to us the human will become molded to the divine. Christ’s nature will be revealed in human nature; the words will become gentle and courteous, and ways kind and helpful. Tho we may be largely unconscious of the change, yet the transformation is being surely wrought. Beholding day by day the glory of the Lord, we are molded into conformity to His Spirit and will. 4ST 478

A few moment’s reflection should reveal the unassailable logic of Ellen White’s distinction between the goal and the self-view. Consider, for example, the virtue of humility. How might we estimate our own humility? How could we testify of it to others? Would not such a testimony actually reveal spiritual pride, the opposite of humility?
Consider our confusion if we heard a minister say, “I am an outstanding example of true humility. I am probably the most humble minister in this conference. If you want to see a man who is really humble, just take a look at me.” What a strange contradiction in terms and in human experience!
On this topic, as on others, Ellen White demonstrates her fidelity to the scriptures. In the book of Job, the oldest book in the Bible, we read

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me; if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul. . . . Job 9:20, 21

The apostle Paul writes. . .

I judge not mine own self. 1Corinthians 4:3

. . . he that judgeth me is the Lord. 1Corinthians 4:4

I count not myself to have apprehended . . . (but) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13, 14

Likewise, Ellen White writes that the truly righteous man is “unconscious of his own goodness and piety . . . All who come within the sphere of his influence perceive the beauty and fragrance of his Christian life, while he himself is unconscious of it . . . His life is hid with Christ in God; yet he does not boast of this, nor seem conscious of it.” The Sanctified Life, pp. 12,13

. . . elevated almost to an angel’s sphere, but he will be unconscious of his goodness. My Life Today, p. 279

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. . . imperceptibly to themselves, they become one with the Father and the Son. Sons and Daughters of God, p. 296

In chapter eighteen we read a series of Ellen White’s encouraging statements that we may, through His enabling power, grow into the full stature of our Lord Jesus Christ. For example:

Those who will permit God to work in them will grow up into the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. YI 305

Everyone who professes the name of Christ is required to grow up to the full stature of Christ, the Christian’s living head. 5T 264

But now notice the unfailing distinction between the self-view and the goal:

The Lord does not design that we shall ever feel that we have reached to the full measure of the stature of Christ. 2ST 488

Let us keep our eyes on Christ and leave judging to the Lord. Nothing less than total Christlikeness as our goal; nothing other than an unworthy sinner as our self-view. This is the attitude recommended to Christians by the Bible writers and Ellen White.

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Counsels of Caution– Boasting

Counsels of Caution–
Boasting