5. Is God’s grace needed only when we first come to Christ? Why is God’s grace needed during our Christian life? Hebrews 12:28.
NOTE: ‘How different with the true child of God. How truly may it be said of him that God is in all his thoughts. When he rises in the morning, he enters his closet and from a full soul gives him thanks that he has been preserved through the night, and pleads for grace whereby he may serve God acceptably through the day. And while he engages in the necessary duties of life, how often is his heart uplifted to God in praise and thanksgiving in remembrance of past favours and for every new expression of His love and favour toward him, and in pleading for heavenly wisdom to guide him in all his affairs, both spiritual and temporal, that whatever he does may be done to His glory. And especially in the hour of affliction how closely the heart of a Christian cleaves to its God. And as he takes his Bible and for a few moments leaves the busy concerns of this life to hold communion with his God, how precious are these seasons, when he can read God’s holy word and feel His glory shed upon every line; and that it is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, and then to draw near to God and feel His love so shed abroad in his heart as to beget within him an intense desire to be cleansed from all sin, and to be preserved blameless unto the coming of his Lord that he may be a fit subject of His heavenly kingdom. How truly is God in all his thoughts.’ Uriah Smith: Review & Herald, April 9, 1861.
6. What precious privilege is offered to all Christians through the sacrifice of Jesus? Hebrews 4:14-15.
NOTE: ‘Now Jesus says, Lay it all on Me; I will take your sin, I will give you peace. Destroy no longer your self-respect, for I have bought you with the price of My own blood. You are Mine; your weakened will I will strengthen; your remorse for sin I will remove. Then turn your grateful heart, trembling with uncertainty, and lay hold upon the hope set before you. God accepts your broken, contrite heart. He offers you free pardon. He offers to adopt you into His family, with His grace to help your weakness, and the dear Jesus will lead you on step by step if you will only put your hand in His and let Him guide you.’ Mind, Character & Personality, volume 2, page 451.
‘Jesus knows the needs of His children, and He loves to listen to their prayers. Let the children shut out the world and everything that would attract the thoughts from God, and let them feel that they are alone with God, that His eye looks into the inmost heart, and reads the desire of the soul, and that they may talk with God. In humble faith you may claim His promises, and feel that although you have nothing in yourself whereby you may claim the favour of God, because of the merits and righteousness of Christ, you may come boldly to the throne of grace, and find grace to help in time of need. There is nothing that can make the soul so strong to resist the temptations of Satan in the great conflict of life, as to seek God in humility, laying before Him your soul in all its helplessness, expecting that He will be your helper and your defender.’ Our Father Cares, page 24.