EGW Writings2 Corinthians 6
Ellen G. White · Page 3 of 3
Read 2 Corinthians 6 in the Bible2 Corinthians 6:18
From the Heart
Come Out From Among Them, May 17
FH 149.1
I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:18.From the Heart
Separation From the World, November 3
FH 319.1
You shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:18.EGW Writings — Ellen G. White. Ellen G. White Estate · all rights reserved
2 Corinthians 6:17-18
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)
Ms 80, 1886
4LtMs, Ms 80, 1886, par. 31
Shall we break the stony heart? Shall we travel the thorny path that Jesus trod? All the way from the manger to the cross we see the tracks of blood. Shall the pride of the world come in? Shall we seek to make the world our standard? Or shall we come out from among them? The invitation is, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, ... and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughter, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)
Ms 15, 1885
4LtMs, Ms 15, 1885, par. 11
Every soul who will be saved in Christ’s kingdom must comply with the conditions. “Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18. We have a personal work, an individual responsibility, a personal account to render; and it is our own salvation we must secure, for it is a matter of individual concern. Would we have the crown of life?—then we will receive it as conquerors. None others will have it. Unless we do our individual work, it will remain undone. The piety and obedience of others will not save us or be doing our work. Their efforts will never be registered against our names as ours. Every man, woman, and child will be rewarded as their works have been.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)
Ms 10, 1885
4LtMs, Ms 10, 1885, par. 7
“Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. ... And it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself even as He is pure.” [1 John 3:1-3.] You would think it a great honor to be noticed by an earthly monarch; but these words promise that you may become sons and daughters of the King of heaven. God promises to take into this close relationship those who love and serve Him, if they choose Him above any earthly treasure. We must follow Jesus in obedience. If we are meek and lowly, then we shall here know the comfort of His grace; and at last we shall see Him as He is and be granted a place in the city of God and a life that measures with the life of God.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)
Ms 20, 1885
4LtMs, Ms 20, 1885, par. 16
I said, “Jesus stands at the door of your heart, my sister, knocking for entrance, inviting you to let Him in. Will you hear His voice? Will you open the door? Will you renounce self and welcome Jesus?” “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, ... and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord of hosts.” 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18. Jesus came to save sinners, not to destroy them. He declares, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:17. You who are sin-sick need the aid of the great, all-powerful Physician. Let Him do His work for you. “Wilt thou be made whole?” [John 5:6.] He is saying to you. What answer have you to give?God’s Amazing Grace
The Role of Baptism, May 15
AG 143.4
Those who are baptized in the threefold name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, at the very entrance of their Christian life declare publicly that they have accepted the invitation, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18). “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (chapter 7:1)....Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)
Ms 28, 1886
4LtMs, Ms 28, 1886, par. 3
In order to become the sons and daughters of God, we must separate from the world. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate,” the Lord says, “and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)
Lt 47a, 1887
5LtMs, Lt 47a, 1887, par. 5
While you remain in your present position, the Spirit of God cannot abide in your heart, and hence you are not in harmony with God. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] You must comply with the conditions God has laid down in His Word before you can be acknowledged as a child of God.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)
Ms 16, 1887
5LtMs, Ms 16, 1887, par. 16
Many seem to think that they must beg pardon of all the world for being a Christian. John did not regard it so. He says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” [1 John 3:1.] The Christian does not take a step down to a low level; he is constantly progressing forward, and the religion of Jesus Christ never degrades the receiver. It refines his taste; it sanctifies his judgment. Why should it not, when he is in connection with a pure and holy God, and the power which is invested in God He imparts to His sons and daughters? “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, ... and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] Do we esteem the favor of high heaven above all the favors upon the earth? Here is the promise that we shall become members of the royal family, that we shall be children of the heavenly King. And when heart and flesh shall fail here, we have a hope as an anchor of the soul cast into that within the veil, both sure and steadfast. That anchor fastens into the broken body of Jesus Christ; and there is not one of us who is living in harmony and obedience to God [who] should [not] be full of joy.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)
Lt 47, 1887
5LtMs, Lt 47, 1887, par. 6
I view your case as a very dangerous one for the reason that you do not in your very heart love purity and holiness, and do not distinguish between the common and the sacred. You would not, should your life close as it is, ever be an inhabitant of heaven, because you have not clean hands and a pure heart. You do not set your powers and capabilities to work, to live and walk in the light God has given you. You are not united to the Living Vine. You are not bearing fruit to the glory of God. Said Christ, “It is My Father’s good pleasure that ye bear much fruit.” [John 15:8.] While you remain in the condition you have been in, the Spirit of God cannot abide in your heart, and you are not in harmony with God. “Come out from among them and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean and I will receive you,” saith the Lord, “and I will be a father unto you.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)
Ms 1, 1890
6LtMs, Ms 1, 1890, par. 31
Angels of God are all around us. You do not discern them with your human vision. Satan and his angels are here in this house today. Oh, we want to know these things, and fear and tremble, and to think much more of the power of the angels of God that are watching over and guarding us than we have done hitherto. We want to place ourselves under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel. We do not want to be serving Baal. We do not want to be giving ourselves up to the powers of darkness. Angels of God are commissioned from heaven to guard the children of men, and yet they draw away from their restraining influences and go where they can have communication with the evil angels; and then the evil angels fasten impressions in their minds that they will never get rid of so long as they live, just as going to the theater, billiard hall, and all such places lead them from the path of God to stand under the black banner of the prince of darkness. Oh, that we might all obey the injunction of the apostle read 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.6LtMs, Ms 1, 1890, par. 33
Burn the magical books; burn every last one of them; burn everything—yes, consume it—that will suffer a connection between you and the powers of darkness. “Come out from among them, and be separate, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.” [Verse 17.] This is what we should want to do. We want to bow in reverence to the God of heaven.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)
Lt 93, 1892
7LtMs, Lt 93, 1892, par. 27
Those who have been allied to the world should heed the invitation of the Lord. He says, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] For “though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.” [Psalm 68:13.] The bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness are to shine upon you, that you may be beautified with holiness.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)
Ms 26, 1891
7LtMs, Ms 26, 1891, par. 13
The heart is ever inclined to the concerns and objects of the world; but we must hear and obey the voice of God. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” [1 John 2:15.] “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ... For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” [Colossians 3:1-3.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)
Ms 14, 1893
8LtMs, Ms 14, 1893, par. 6
We must not put ourselves on the enemy’s ground. We are only here as probationers. We must not act as though there was no tempting devil. There are temptations that come to us, and we cannot accept them and give them a place in the mind unless we peril our souls. We want to know that our feet are in safe paths. You who associate with the disobedient and worldly-minded better heed the injunction, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] Is this not encouragement enough for us—to have living connection with the God of heaven?Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)
Lt 30, 1893
8LtMs, Lt 30, 1893, par. 8
The Lord calls upon the wife of Bro. Samuel Hare to be converted, soul, body, and spirit, that she may by faith claim grace and power day by day, so that she will not conform in spirit and practice to the world’s standard and maxims, but heed the words of the living oracles of God, which are His voice addressing her, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] Having these promises, that you shall become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, and heirs with Jesus Christ to the immortal inheritance, the exceeding and eternal weight of glory, “dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” [2 Corinthians 7:1.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)
Lt 93, 1893
8LtMs, Lt 93, 1893, par. 18
The apostle Paul said, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” [Galatians 6:14.] Here is brought to view a double crucifixion. It is a crucifixion to the believer to be compelled to separate the affections from those who love and enjoy the pleasures of the world, and it is a crucifixion to these pleasure-lovers to have their relatives separate from them in their worldly associations. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate,” saith God, and “touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.]8LtMs, Lt 93, 1893, par. 21
The world that could reject the divine, personification of the Infinite God, are repeating the same history as transpired when Jesus was in the world, refusing Jesus but choosing Barabbas. Shall we be on the world’s side of the question? There can be no confidence put in human nature only as it is refined and sanctified through faith in Jesus Christ. The world is not to be trusted. The love of the world brings to us no peace. The Lord would have both of you place yourselves, not in the great thoroughfare of the world, not in harmony with its customs, its practices, but the voice of exhortation comes to us individually, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate.” [2 Corinthians 6:17.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)
Lt 21, 1893
8LtMs, Lt 21, 1893, par. 2
Christ is not divided, and Christians cannot serve God and mammon. The Lord says, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and my daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)
Lt 113, 1893
8LtMs, Lt 113, 1893, par. 25
Could a child of God, an heir of heaven, be found in such society? The men who drink wine prepare the way for further excess. The tobacco devotee worships an idol, and the Lord speaks—listen, for He speaks to you—“Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, ... saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18. All the enjoyment you can have in their riotous mirth and in the conversation of these men, unfits you for the study of the Scriptures, for the hour of devotion, for the service of God. What if you should behold Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, in the midst of you—as He certainly is—would there not be a fainting of heart, even with you and your associates?Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)
Ms 91, 1894
9LtMs, Ms 91, 1894, par. 20
The time has come when the glory of the Lord is to fill the earth, and when the whole earth shall be lightened with His glory. The cry is sounding to the honest in heart to “come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and my daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” [Revelation 18:4, 5.] “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” [Revelation 14:12.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)
Ms 16, 1894
9LtMs, Ms 16, 1894, par. 15
“Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord God Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] Can we comprehend this? To be adopted sons and daughters of God. Sinners who caused Christ to lay off His royal robe, leave the royal courts, clothe His divinity with humanity, and come to this earth to be a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. For our sakes He became poor. Do we appreciate this precious gift made that we shall be lifted up from woe, from degradation, and that we shall be exalted to the throne of God with Him? Then come out and be separate.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)
Ms 105, 1894
9LtMs, Ms 105, 1894, par. 19
Every man, woman, and child has a soul to save or to lose. In the salvation of the soul each one must act as an individual, working out his own salvation with fear and trembling. There is to be no indifference, no carelessness in dealing with those things wherein eternal interests are involved. “For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” [Philippians 2:13.] Man must work in harmony with God; but it is impossible for him to do this unless he shall know from the divine word what is the will of God. No one can do this work in our place. it involves individual consecration of heart, mind, and spirit to God. We each have an individuality of our own. But are we to form characters to please our neighbors who are dishonoring God, and one with those who are in union with God; for believers in the truth are one in spirit. But we are not to be one with the disobedient and disloyal. God has not left us alone to fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil. The command to us is “come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.]9LtMs, Ms 105, 1894, par. 27
When those who are invited begin with one consent to make excuse, the Lord is dishonored, and his invitation is slighted. Selfish interests are consulted before eternal interests and worldly association is preferred rather than instructions from heaven. Those who refuse to hear the invitation which invites them to the consideration of heavenly things place themselves and their children outside divine influences, into an atmosphere that is not in harmony with truth and righteousness. They walk in the same path in which the world travels and are registered in the books of heaven as one with the world. They choose the association of unbelievers, in order that they may please self in keeping the friendship of their neighbors. Christ calls upon them saying “Follow me.” “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” [John 8:12.] But the answer comes back, we do not wish to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, we do not wish to cause dissension among our neighbors. It would be very unpleasant to obey your injunctions for it would cause a separation of our interests from that of our neighbors. We know that you have said, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and my daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] But the carnal heart says, “Such a separation would be very inconvenient. It would displease all the neighbors with whom I am acquainted who I have loved for many years. I cannot follow you Jesus; for I must not break up my associations with my neighbors. I will walk in the path in which they walk, for choosing to be in conformity with the will of God is choosing to obey his commandments and to abide in his love, but it is also choosing to be out of harmony with the world.”Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)
Ms 116, 1894
9LtMs, Ms 116, 1894, par. 10
Every branch that is in vital union with the living vine will bring forth fruit, and it is the Father’s good pleasure that ye bear much fruit. “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away. ... If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” [John 15:2, 6.] Does not this statement from the lips of the great Teacher alarm you who have settled down in an easy position? Those who bear no burdens, who gratify none but self, who lift no cross, are not followers of Jesus. Why is it that the church and the world confederate together in confidence? Has the world become converted, or has the church lost her holy and peculiar character, and become assimilated to the world? The reason is that her members have failed to live up to the <divine> instruction, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] Many of the professed followers of Christ feel no more burden for souls than do the worldings. The lust of the eye, the pride of life, the love of display, the love of ease, has separated the professed Christian from God, and the missionary spirit has been to a great degree extinguished in the church. What can be done to open the eyes of sinners in Zion, and to make hypocrites tremble? The spirit of truth must become a living principle in the soul. To those who ask what they shall do that they may work the works of God, the answer is, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” [John 6:29.] Those who have true faith will make it manifest; for their works will testify to the fact. They will be one with Christ as he is one with the Father. They will be continually drawing after Christ, and will ever be seeking to devise means whereby they may save perishing souls. They will cultivate love, they will deny self because they love Jesus who died for them, and who died for their neighbors as well as themselves. They will love the purchase of the blood of Christ, and will shine as lights in the world. Those who have light, will diffuse light.9LtMs, Ms 116, 1894, par. 13
But there are men who, while professedly serving God, are in fact serving mammon. Half and half work in the Christian life results in denying Christ rather than confessing him. Many do not value the union which Christ commanded should exist among brethren. They have left the cool snows of Lebanon for the turbid streams of the valley. The Word of God, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate” [2 Corinthians 6:17], has to a great extent lost its effect upon them. They listen to the great deceiver, who says “You will greatly augment your influence if you confederate with the world. You will greatly increase your popularity, and by connection with the world be able to do a much larger work.” Let those who are not completely deluded, pray as never before, pray that they may be kept from the bewitching snares of Satan, <prepared> to entangle unwary souls in these last days.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)
Lt 128a, 1895
10LtMs, Lt 128a, 1895, par. 7
The Lord Jesus, our Advocate, is longing and hungering for the hearts that He has given His life to redeem. Thank God, one young man responded, and all the others sitting on the seat with Him went forward. We had a precious season of prayer. The Spirit of the Lord was resting upon us. We believe that souls surrendered themselves to the Lord that day, and that there was rejoicing in the heavenly courts because of the souls consecrated to Jesus Christ. My heart was full of peace and hope and gladness, because so many had that day decided to come out from among the world and be separate. The promise is, “I will receive you, I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.]In Heavenly Places
Keep Off Satanic Ground, September 4
HP 254.3
You who associate with the disobedient and worldly-minded, heed the injunction: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18). Is this not encouragement enough for us—to have living connection with the God of heaven?Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)
Ms 20, 1895
10LtMs, Ms 20, 1895, par. 11
Teachers must be qualified to be ministers of righteousness. Their pathway must be kept free from any hindrance, in order that students may find in the school which they attend, a city of refuge. They should help those whom they are educating to disconnect from worldly influences and worldly associations, teaching them to obey the Word of God, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] What honor and exaltation is here given to humanity. Shall we not obey this invitation with grateful hearts?Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)
Lt 128, 1895
10LtMs, Lt 128, 1895, par. 9
Thank God, one young man responded, and the occupants of the seat all went forward. We had a precious season of prayer. The Spirit of the Lord was resting upon us under that tent. We believe that souls surrendered to the Lord that day, and that there was rejoicing in the heavenly courts over souls consecrated to Jesus Christ. My heart was full of peace and hope and gladness that several had decided to come out from the world and be separate. The promise is “I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] If their acquaintances and friends refuse to come to Jesus, that He shall take away their sins and give them His righteousness, then they must consent to tread the strait and narrow pathway without them.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)
Lt 84, 1895
10LtMs, Lt 84, 1895, par. 16
Will those who profess to be Seventh-day Adventists refuse to shine? Will they live a divided life? Christ says, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” You may think that you may serve both; but the great Teacher says, Ye “will hold to the one, and despise the other.” [Matthew 6:24.] Those who compromise with the world, despise the humble, self-denying, self-sacrificing principles that actuated the life of Christ. He lived not to please Himself. He was self-denying. In man’s behalf, He was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. Those who have the mind of Christ will “walk even as he walked.” [1 John 2:6.] They will live out the law of God, will feed upon Christ, be partakers of the divine nature, and stand as living sentinels for truth. In integrity of heart, they will voice the cry, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)
Ms 69a, 1896
11LtMs, Ms 69a, 1896, par. 44
God calls to them, “Follow Me and ye shall not walk in darkness. I am the Light of the world.” [John 8:12.] But they answer back, “Lord, I do not wish to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, for that will not please my neighbors. I do not want to cause any dissension among my neighbors; therefore, I will link up my interest with my neighbors, for it would be very unpleasant to obey Your injunction. I know that Thy Word is pledged: ‘Come out from the world and be ye separate and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you, I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.’ [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] But the carnal heart says, This will make it very inconvenient for me. I should displease my neighbors with whom I am acquainted, with whom I have lived for long years. I cannot follow You, Jesus. I must not break up my association with my neighbors. I will walk in the path they walk.”Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)
Ms 75a, 1897
12LtMs, Ms 75a, 1897, par. 9
If heaven is desirable, if we really desire to enter the abodes of bliss, in searching the Scriptures we shall learn of Jesus [that] there is to be a preparation of the heart and the character for the companionship of the holy and pure in the kingdom of God. If we [would] see the King in His beauty, we must attain the beautiful traits of character here. We are the Lord’s property by creation and by redemption. Satan’s power of deceiving is very strong. He deludes by his sophistry and by his power which he obtains over all who are living a divided life. Some flatter themselves that they can accomplish more good by serving God and mammon. If they [would] study their Bibles they would read the words of the Great Teacher, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” [Matthew 6:24.] The voice of the true Shepherd invites, “come out from among them and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean and I will receive you, I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)
Lt 26, 1897
12LtMs, Lt 26, 1897, par. 23
God is calling you, just now. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you; I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord of hosts.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] Come, before your eternal destiny shall be forever fixed. Come with your husband, come. You can come if you will. You can both now consecrate yourselves to God. Make Him your Friend, your Alpha and Omega, your sure Refuge.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)
Lt 11, 1897
12LtMs, Lt 11, 1897, par. 27
If our citizenship is above, what right have we to be engaging in political strife? We are not called to any such service. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] What more could we ask? We shall be members of the royal family, children of a heavenly King, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance. We shall have the crown of life that fadeth not away.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)
Ms 34, 1897
12LtMs, Ms 34, 1897, par. 37
There are constant temptations opening before the Sabbathkeeper. Yet in place of heeding the injunction, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters” [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18], he has joined himself in close business relation with men who have no respect for God’s Sabbath or for the men who keep it. [Those] who acknowledges the truth for this time and the binding claims of the law of God, are under constant temptation. They become familiar with profane men, with godless men. They are constantly surrounded by an atmosphere of worldliness that beclouds their discernment. They cannot see that their eternal interests suffer, that there is a worldly, freezing atmosphere about them that will make them unfit for Christ’s kingdom.