The Danger of Unrepentance
The wrath of God is not declared against unrepentant sinners merely because of the sins they have committed, but because, when called to repent, they choose to continue in resistance, repeating the sins of the past in defiance of the light given them. If the Jewish leaders had submitted to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, they would have been pardoned; but they were determined not to yield. In the same way, the sinner, by continued resistance, places himself where the Holy Spirit cannot influence him. {Acts of the Apostles 62.1}
As soon as the books of record are opened, and the eye of Jesus looks upon the wicked, they are conscious of every sin which they have ever committed. They see just where their feet diverged from the path of purity and holiness, just how far pride and rebellion have carried them in the violation of the law of God. The seductive temptations which they encouraged by indulgence in sin, the blessings perverted, the messengers of God despised, the warnings rejected, the waves of mercy beaten back by the stubborn, unrepentant heart--all appear as if written in letters of fire. {Great Controversy 666.2}
We read of chains of darkness for the transgressor of God’s law. We read of the worm that dieth not and of the fire that is not quenched. Thus is represented the experience of everyone that has permitted himself to be grafted into the stalk of Satan, who has cherished sinful attributes. When too late he will see that sin is the transgression of God’s law. He will realize that because of transgression, his soul is cut off from God, and that God’s wrath abides upon him. This is fire unquenchable. Thus the soul and body of every unrepentant sinner will be destroyed. Satan, the first transgressor, strives constantly to lead men into sin, and he who is willing to be led, who refuses to forsake his sins and receive forgiveness and grace unto salvation, will suffer the results of his course. {Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, 74.1}
Sin is the most fearful thing in the whole universe. So fearful is it that it could be pardoned only by the sacrifice of the Son of the infinite God. If unpardoned, it must be followed by eternal death. There is a time coming when every unrepentant transgressor of God’s law will know what it means to be a sinner, standing in God’s sight uncovered, without the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and with a full sense that there is no power in the law to save the transgressor. {Review & Herald, August 9, 1898 par. 16}
The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; but it is a part of the Gospel to warn the sinner of the doom that awaits the unbelieving and unrepentant soul. The love of God has been manifested in the gift of his dear Son to the world, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; but, while salvation is promised on condition of faith in God’s Son, condemnation is pronounced upon those that believe not. "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." God has indescribable love for the sinner, but he declares, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked; for it is his will that all men should have eternal life through faith in the Son of God. {Signs of the Times, April 18, 1895 par. 10}
The Lord promises a blessing to those who do his commandments, and declares that they shall enter in through the gates into the city, and shall have a right to the tree of life. But when God issues a command, he means that we shall obey him. Our circumstances, our surroundings, our financial prospects, are not to be considered in the matter, or made an excuse; for he will give strength to every one who sets about in sincerity to fulfill his word, because it is God that has spoken. {Signs of the Times, April 18, 1895 par. 11}
When in speech and action you give
way to passion, you are acting as a sinner, and as a sinner you are under
condemnation, needing to repent and be converted. But when the life is
surrendered to the cleansing power of the truth, a change takes place. God’s
Spirit is at work in the heart, bringing the truth forward into the strong
light of distinct consciousness. The spirit of stubborn resistance is taken
away, and a life-giving power takes possession of mind and heart. This
experience you need daily to have. As the repentant sinner pleads for the
cleansing efficacy of Christ’s grace, a voice speaks to him, saying, "A
new heart will I give thee. The soul is cleansed, the highest powers of the
being are roused to action." (
You have refused to give your mind
up to Christ, that He may bring your rebellious powers into conformity to His
will, and you have become as were the disciples when they strove for the
mastery. Christ did not rebuke them in anger. Placing a little child in the
midst of them, He said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little
children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore
shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom
of heaven. And whose shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth
Me. But whose shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it
were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he
were drowned in the depths of the sea."
(
The Lord wants you to humble
yourself before Him as a little child. When you do this, you will gain a
precious experience. I write you this because I desire you to know that the
Lord will work with you when you are willing to be controlled by His Spirit.
When you give yourself wholly to Him, a great change will be wrought in you.
You will have such a love for the truth that wherever you go, you will bear
witness to the Lord’s power. He will give you a genuine testimony to bear. Then
will the Lord pour out upon you His grace and power, and you will enter a new
and living way. Christ’s righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the
Lord will be your reward. Your words and works will be ratified in heaven. As
you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, God will work in you,
to will and to do of His good pleasure. Power to overcome will be given you.
When the enemy comes in against you like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will
lift up a standard against him. (
I have been given this message to
bear to you, and I have done as I am instructed. God forbid that Satan should
triumph over you. May God make you His servant, and through you glorify His
name. (