Josip Benko Professor Gallos God and Human Life October 14, 2011 There is Always a Way I never

thought I would see the day when I would pick up a book written by Ellen G. White. I was handed a copy of Steps to Christ during the sixth grade, however I knew nothing about her. I did not know who she was or what she did. I was indifferent to itit was just another book written by a crazed Christian who had a vision of some sort and wanted to make money off of it. So I left the book on my bookshelf where it was lost amidst the mess of papers and other books. A few years later, I walked excitedly into a new church. On my way through the lobby I saw a stand with one book, Steps to Christ. I picked up the book, read the first few pages, but put it back and forgot about it again. It was not until my first year in college that I asked God to help me find some Bible books to read. I began to learn a bit more about Ellen G. Whiteabout her life and some of the incredible events that took place. One that stood out the most was when in vision she held an 18-pound Bible in her hand while she was in vision (EWG Estate 1999). God led me to Steps to Christ again. This time I was smart, or so I thought. I decided to challenge God and I told Him, If You want me to read this book make sure that it is an assignment because I do not have time to read anything else besides my books for class. Two years later, I sit in front of my computer with a smirk on my face because God answered my prayer. Steps to Christ discusses how to come to know Jesus Christ at a personal level. It covers the topics of repentance, confession, faith, acceptance, growing in Christ, and prayer. It also covers Gods love for mankind, what to do with doubts and fears, and the type of work and life

we should have in Christ. White takes the audience through a process that will help bring people closer to God. The first step is repentance; however, we have to know what this means. Before we can begin to understand repentance, we first need to understand the human condition, how a sinner can be saved, have a clear understanding of faith and grace, and understand the relationship between faith and obedience. Following these steps leads us to submit to the will of God. The problem that humanity faces is sinthe Transgression of Gods law of love, (White 5). The Bible begins with how sin entered our world. Adam and Even disobeyed Gods command not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. As a result the couple was banished from the Garden of Eden, and the Earth was cursed with the disease of sin. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). There are no buts or what ifs. God spoke it clearly: the reaction to our transgressions is death. White, however, begins with exemplifying Gods love for us. She describes in the first chapter that, God permitted Jesus to leave the bosom of His love, the adoration of the angels, to suffer shame, insult, humiliation, hatred, and death (White 8). The result of sin is death, but because of Gods infinite love and mercy, Jesus came down to die in our place. Now it is up to us to progress in our walk with Christ. In order for a sinner to be saved the individual must follow a process, or the steps that White covers in this book. Each step is broken down by chapters: repentance, confession, faith, acceptance, growing into Christ, and prayer. During the repentance stage, a sinner recognizes the sins in his or her life. However, recognition of sin is not enough. Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life (White 14). People may cry and feel that they have repented, but if their confession comes from guilt again it is not true

repentance. It has to be a realization of how desperately they need God. The consequence that were to result filled him with terror, but there was no deep, heartbreaking grief in his soul that he had betrayed the spotless Son of God and denied the Holy One (White 15). Here White is talking about how Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. After betraying Jesus Judas says, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood (Matthew 27:4). He felt overwhelmed, but did not repent in his heart. I used to think that all it took to change my life was baptismit felt right to give my life to God. It was not until I meet my fiance two years ago that I truly experienced repentance. We began to talk about the Bible and how amazing God is. She recited verses, told me Bible stories that I have never even heard of, and explained events that took place during the same time period when each book was written. After hearing her talk for a while, and seeing how on fire she was for God, I began to cry. I cried because in that moment I realized how far I had fallen from God. I wanted everything she had. I wanted to know everything she knew about the Bible. I wanted to be on fire like she was. This is what I believe is the true repentance that White is talking about. Hearing me cry over the phone, my fiance asked me why I was crying. I told her because I had just realized how far I had fallen from God. I began to tell her about how I misuse the Sabbath Day, and how I love playing shooting games, and that I do not read my Bible. Soon after my confession session with her, I prayed with her and I confessed to God. One amazing fact about Gods character is that it calls to you. Like David my heart, longed for the joy of holinessto be restored to harmony and communion with God, (White 15). Confessing my sins to God is the second step of the walk toward Him. Confess your sins to God, who only can forgive them (White 25).

The next step is faith and acceptancebelieving in God and accepting Him. But what is faith? Faith is the belief in something unseen or something where there is no physical proof. This is why John wrote his book. John wrote the book for the second generation Christians, those whom did not have the physical touch of Jesus. But these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in His name (John 20:31). John specifically choses to document Jesuss spoken miracles. By the time John sat down to write his book most, if not all, the disciples were dead, and Jesus had long ago ascended to heaven. In order for these particular miracles to work, the recipients had to accept and believe that it would happen. White says, Then believe that He does this because He has promised. This is the lesson that Jesus taught while He was on earth, that the gift which God promised us, we must believe we do receive, and it is ours (White 33). Without faith and acceptance in Jesus we cannot move forward in our walk towards God. Christ is the only one who is able to forgive our sins. Through His death we can find salvation as long as we accept and have faith in His promises. In order to build this relationship, we need constant communication with God, as in any relationship. I have class every day. I have at least five to eight hours of homework and studying every other day. Yet, I still call my fiance every night and spend at least an hour talking to her. That is the same dedication God wants from us. If I did not call her everyday, and instead spent 15 minutes once a week talking to my fiance, we would both feel awkward or have nothing to say to each other. Those 15 minutes would feel more like bothersome task, a mandatory conversation instead of treasured time. White advises us to, consecrate [your]selves to God in the morning; make this your very first work (White 46). When we wake up in the morning we should talk to God. The best way is through prayer. Prayer is important because it is the

opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him (White 61). We pray to be able to receive God in our lives. In receiving God, we can fight off the temptations that Satan is constantly throwing at us. My favorite part of prayer is that it does, not bring God down, but brings us up to Him, (White 61). Can you imagine going up to God, away from this sinful world and having time with the Father? Without daily communication with the Father we cannot grow stronger. Prayer also opens the heart for Gods influential Holy Spirit to bless us every day. However, you cannot come to God in prayer without faith. Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarded of them that seek after Him (Hebrews 11:6). All of these steps, however, would have been impossible to complete if it was not for Gods incredible grace. The Hebrew word for grace, hen, means "favor, mercy, kindness, graciousness (Fowler 1999). Grace is Gods unmerited favor. It is Gods willingness to save us when we do not deserve itand because He first loves us, we can love Him back. It is a Calvary pardon that we do not deserve. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Saving grace is a gift of salvation from God that we could never earn or deserve. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godnot by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8, 9). The Bible also describes a difference between faith and grace. Faith is a relationship with God based on our trust in Him. The great heroes of the Bible had faith in God because they knew and trusted Him. They counted on Him to keep His word and to be honest, good, omnipotent, and caring on their behalf. One example is Job. He had such a devout faith in God that he was able to say, Though He slays me, yet will I hope in Him (Job 13:15).

Following all these steps and understanding faith, grace, and who God is creates a desire for obedience. In Hebrews 10:16 John writes, God writes His law of love in our hearts. This is the first step of obedience. White states that, obediencethe service and allegiance of loveis the true sign of discipleship (White 40). Being obedient is two-foldhaving faith in God and giving up your own desires to do His will. It is impossible to separate the two. 1 John 2:4 states, He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. You cannot have faith without following Gods will. Submitting to His will requires humbling yourself. It does not mean that we have to preach on Sabbath morning or participate in door-to-door ministry. God has a mission for all of us. He created us for a specific purpose. Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith only that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience (White 40).

Reference: Fowler A. J. (1999). Commentaries & study outline. Retrieved from: http://www.christinyou.net/pages/grace.html White G. W. (2000). Steps to Christ. Harvest Time Books: Altamont "Ellen G. White Estate: Questions and Answers About Ellen G. White." Ellen G. White Estate: The Official Ellen White Web Site. 1999. Web. 16 Oct. 2011. http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/faq-egw.html