Luke 21:8

Christian, Be Not Deceived!

Cooperation with Christ in the Work of Salvation

(with some minor corrections made on this page of the EGW quotations)

References: "http://www.sdadefend.com/Books-new-order/M Venden 1.htm".

In our endeavor to obtain salvation we must cooperate with divine agencies. There is a certain work that we must engage in, certain tasks that we must perform in order to place ourselves in harmony with the divine so that Christ can do for us that which He is willing and waiting to impart to us.

God has created us free moral agents. This means that He respects our will, our desires, and the choices that we make. He does not interfere with them, set them aside or override them if we are intent upon having our own way. He allows us to act out our desires wherever they may lead unless we pray that His will rather than ours be done in our lives. This means that God's interaction with our will is secondary. That is, it takes place only if the primacy of our desires acquiesces in God's will for us. He will lead us if we allow Him to lead us and place our lives in His hands. There exists a divine principle of cooperation between us and God  which is stated as follows:

1. "While God was working in Daniel and his companions 'to will and to do of His good pleasure,' they were working out their own salvation. Philippians 2:13. Herein is revealed the outworking of the divine principle of co-operation, without which no true success can be attained. Human effort avails nothing without divine power; and without human endeavor, divine effort is with many of no avail. To make God's grace our own, we must act our part. His grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort." Prophets and Kings, pp. 486, 487.

2. "No man can of himself work out his own salvation, and God cannot do this work for him without his co-operation. But when man works earnestly, God works with him, giving him power to become a son of God." Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 371.

3. "We must make more earnest, decided efforts, if we would have the Lord Jesus abide with us as a counselor and helper."  Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 319.

4. "The Lord does not propose to perform for us either the willing or the doing. This is our proper work. As soon as we earnestly enter upon the work, God's grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort. Our souls are to be aroused to cooperate. The Holy Spirit works the human agent, to work out our own salvation. This is the practical lesson the Holy Spirit is striving to teach us."  Special Testimonies for Ministers and Workers, No. 4, p. 15.

​5. "The whole work of the Christian is comprised in willing and doing." Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 241.

6. "Let no man present the idea that man has little or nothing to do in the great work of overcoming; for God does nothing for man without his cooperation." Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 381."

7. "Let no one say that your works have nothing to do with your rank and position before God. . . . Effort and labor are required on the part of the receiver of God's grace...." Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 381.'

8. "Earthly blessings cannot be obtained without toil, and can we expect that spiritual and heavenly blessings will come without earnest effort on our part?" Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 359.

9. "Will man be saved in indolence? Can he be saved in doing nothing? Never, never! He must be a colaborer with Jesus Christ. He cannot save himself. 'We are labourers together with God' (1 Corinthians 3:9).” Faith and Works, p. 71.

10. Some say that Christ had borne all the burden, all the suffering, all the self-denial, and they are willing to let Him bear it. They say that there is nothing for them to do but believe; but Christ says: "If and man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24.)