Steps to Christ Notes

Foreword

• Steps to Christ has influenced humanity significantly.
• Printed in over 70 languages, inspiring many worldwide.
• Written by Ellen G. White (1827-1915), a religious speaker and writer.
• The book directs readers to Jesus Christ.
• Reveals victory through saving grace and the keeping power of Christ.

Table of Contents

• Lists chapters: God's Love for Man, The Sinner's Need of Christ, Repentance, Confession, Consecration, Faith and Acceptance, The Test of Discipleship, Growing up Into Christ, The Work and the Life, A Knowledge of God, The Privilege of Prayer, What to Do With Doubt, Rejoicing in the Lord.

God's Love for Man

• Nature and revelation both testify to God's love.
• God is the source of life, wisdom, and joy.
• Sin brought woe and death, yet God's love is still revealed.
• $God is love$ is evident in nature.
• God reveals His character as merciful, gracious, and abundant in goodness (Exodus 34:6, 7).
• Jesus came to reveal the Father and remove the dark shadow of fear.
• Jesus healed and showed compassion, revealing divine anointing.
• Christ's life reveals God's character; divine compassion flows from the Father's heart.
• Jesus lived, suffered, and died to redeem us.
• God loves the world and gave His Son as a propitiation.

The Sinner's Need of Christ

• Sin perverted man's powers, replacing love with selfishness.
• Man became captive to Satan and unable to resist evil alone.
• Unrenewed hearts aren't in harmony with God and find no joy in Him.
• Heaven offers no joy to the sinner; they long to be hidden from God.
• Escape from sin requires a power from within, a new life from above, which is Christ.
• A new heart, desires, purposes, and motives are needed for a new life.
• It's not enough to perceive God’s loving-kindness or the justice of His law.
• Only Christ can take away the sin of the world.
• Christ is the only medium of communication between God and man.

Repentance

• Repentance includes sorrow for sin and turning away from it.
• True repentance involves a change of heart and abhorrence of evil.
• Many sorrow because they fear suffering, not because of the sin itself.
• Influence of Holy Spirit quickens conscience, revealing God’s law.
• David's prayer illustrates true sorrow for sin; he longed for purity of heart.
• Repentance is obtained only from Christ.
• You don't need to repent before coming to Christ; His virtue leads to repentance.
• Christ is the source of every right impulse and plants enmity against sin.
• Seeing Christ on the cross unfolds the mystery of redemption and leads to repentance.

Confession

• Confess and forsake sins to receive mercy (Proverbs 28:13).
• Confess faults to one another and sins to God.
• Those who haven't humbled themselves before God haven't met the first condition of acceptance.
• Confession should be heartfelt and freely expressed, not forced.
• True confession acknowledges specific sins, whether public or private.
• Confession isn't acceptable without sincere repentance and reformation.
• Wrongdoers often don't discern their character defects without the Holy Spirit.
• Excuses and self-justification are not inspired by the Divine Spirit.
• Genuine repentance doesn't excuse sin or attempt self-justification.

Consecration

• Seek God with all your heart to find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
• Whole heart must be yielded to God for renewal in His likeness.
• Warfare against self is the greatest battle.
• God appeals to intellect and conscience, doesn't force the will of His creatures.
• Giving ourselves to God means giving up what separates us from Him.
• Relying on own efforts to obey God's law is worthless; only Christ can fill the soul with love.
• Christ gave all for our redemption; we should not withhold our hearts from Him.
• God requires nothing that isn't for our best interest; transgression leads to misery.
• Soul’s joyous life is having Christ formed within, the hope of glory.

Faith and Acceptance

• Conscience is quickened by Holy Spirit; we abhor sin and long to be free.
• Peace, forgiveness, and love come as a gift from God, without price.
• Confess sins, give yourself to God, and ask for a new heart; believe He does this because He has promised.
• Believe you receive the gift promised by God, and it is yours.
• From Jesus' healing, learn to believe in Him for forgiveness of sins.
• Like the paralytic, believe Christ’s word that you are made whole.
• God fulfills His word as surely as you do this.
• Don't wait to feel whole, but believe because God promised.

The Test of Discipleship

• New creatures in Christ have new lives (2 Corinthians 5:17).
• Though exact conversion details might be unclear, the life will bear witness.
• Character is revealed by habitual words and acts, not occasional deeds.
• Outward correctness isn't enough without Christ's renewing power.
• If we are Christ's, our thoughts are with Him, and all we have is consecrated to Him.
• New creatures bring forth fruits of the Spirit and follow in Christ's steps.
• There is no evidence of genuine repentance unless reformation occurs.

Growing Up Into Christ

• Change of heart is like birth or germination of good seed.
• New converts grow up to stature in Christ (1 Peter 2:2).
• Only God can produce and sustain life; spiritual life is begotten through Him.
• We grow by receiving what God furnishes: Christ is our light, shield, dew, rain, living water, and bread.
• Turn to the Sun of Righteousness to develop Christ-like character.
• We depend on Christ to live a holy life; apart from Him, we can do nothing.
• Daily, hourly communion with Him helps us grow in grace.
• Consecrate yourself to God each morning and let Him mold your life after Christ's.

The Work and the Life

• God's life in the hearts of men will flow out to others in love and blessing.
• Christ's joy was redeeming fallen men; angels work for others' happiness.
• Love to Jesus manifests as a desire to work for humanity's blessing and uplifting.
• The grace of Christ prepares us to make sacrifices and share heavenly gifts.
• Blessing others blesses ourselves; we become co-workers with God.
• Unselfish labor for others brings depth, stability, and Christ-like loveliness to character.
• Grow in grace by doing Christ’s work: helping and blessing others.
• The church is God’s agency for men’s salvation; all Christians must fulfill His commission.

A Knowledge of God

• God seeks to make Himself known through nature, providence, and His Spirit's influence.
• God's created works teach obedience and trust; nature obeys Creator’s will.
• God cares for all creation and tenderly watches over everyone.
• When heart is open we find precious lessons in our surroundings & daily events.
• The Bible reveals His character, actions toward men, and redemption.
• Study the Holy Scriptures to become acquainted with the Saviour.
• Fill your heart with God’s words: they’re living water and bread from heaven.

The Privilege of Prayer

• We need to pour out our hearts to God for spiritual life and energy.
• Prayer opens our hearts to God, enabling us to receive Him.
• Jesus taught His disciples to present daily needs and cast cares upon Him.
• Our heavenly Father is waiting to bestow His blessings.
• Neglecting prayer encloses us in darkness and temptation.
• Prayer is the key to unlock heaven’s storehouse of omnipotence.
• Those that seek Him diligently and hunger and thirst will be filled.

What to Do with Doubt

• Skepticism can trouble those new to the Christian life.
• God provides evidence but allows for doubt; faith rests on evidence, not demonstration.
• Finite minds can’t fully comprehend the Infinite One.
• There are mysteries in the Bible too deep to be comprehended by humans.
• Scripture’s difficulties evidence its divine inspiration; its grandeur inspires faith.
• Study Bible, don't rely solely on others' testimony; strengthen intellect.

Rejoicing in the Lord

• God’s children represent Christ, showing His goodness and mercy.
• Christians are light bearers, reflecting Christ to the world.
• False representations of God gladden Satan, leading to mistrust.
• Focus on the bright spots, God's love, promises, forget resent and worry.
• We must praise our lord instead of doubting him.
• We may be in peril but should also be full of praise for our good deeds.