Sin

But there is in human nature a tendency to be unappreciative of the longsuffering of God. Men show this lack of appreciation by continuing in sin, by not hating the awful thing (SIN) that made it necessary for Christ to offer Himself as a sacrifice. He died to save the sinner, not in transgression, but from transgression. But “because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” [Ecclesiastes 8:11.] “The wicked will do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand.” [Daniel 12:10.] There are limits even to the forbearance of God. It is possible to so far presume upon His mercy as to exhaust it, and then His protecting care is removed. If sin were immediately punished, there would be a change in the moral government of God. Instantaneous retribution would produce a fear of the sure consequences; but God delays the punishment of sin, because He would give the sinner ample time to turn from sin and seek righteousness. In His great mercy God does not at once consume the transgressor, yet punishment is no less certain to fall upon the impenitent. {Ms24-1901.16-18}

Christ’s Work for Mankind by Ellen White

Temptation, Thoughts & Real Coversion by M. Harris

Nothing less than perfect obedience can meet the standard of God’s requirement. He has not left His requirements indefinite. He has enjoined nothing that is not necessary in order to bring man into harmony with Him. We are to point sinners to His ideal of character and to lead them to Christ, by whose grace only can this ideal be reached. The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us “partakers of the divine nature,” and His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin. 
{MH 180.4, 5}

“Real piety begins when all compromise with sin is at an end.” MB 125

“Those who venture to cherish the sin which they love best, are tampering with Satan’s sorcery.” 
{ST May 18, 1882, par. 21}

“We should never give sanction to sin by our words or our deeds, our silence or our presence.” DA p.152

Interesting quotes on sin from the pen of Ellen White:

A prayerful study of the Bible would show Protestants the real character of the papacy and would cause them to abhor and to shun it; but many are so wise in their own conceit that they feel no need of humbly seeking God that they may be led into the truth. Although priding themselves on their enlightenment, they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. They must have some means of quieting their consciences, and they seek that which is least spiritual and humiliating. What they desire is a method of forgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering Him. The papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these. It is prepared for two classes of mankind, embracing nearly the whole world—those who would be saved by their merits, and those who would be saved in their sins. Here is the secret of its power. {GC 572.2}

The work of gaining salvation is one of copartnership, a joint operation. There is to be co-operation between God and the repentant sinner. This is necessary for the formation of right principles in the character. Man is to make earnest efforts to overcome that which hinders him from attaining to perfection. But he is wholly dependent upon God for success. Human effort of itself is not sufficient. Without the aid of divine power it avails nothing. God works and man works. Resistance of temptation must come from man, who must draw his power from God. On the one side there is infinite wisdom, compassion, and power; on the other, weakness, sinfulness, absolute helplessness. {AA 482.2}

“The little sins that men think are of so trivial a character that on their account they will not be brought into condemnation, are very offensive in the sight of God. Says one, ‘You are too severe, a man must be allowed these little defects of character.’ Let us hear the words of Christ. He says, ‘Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.’ People venture to commit sins that are grievous in the sight of God, and think that they are not to be called to task for them, because they say they are due to nervousness, to a peculiar temperament; but this is simply soothing the conscience, and crying, ‘Peace, peace, when there is no peace.’ Sin is sin, and it is the delusion of Satan to look upon it in any other light than that it is grievous. We may flatter ourselves that we are free from many things of which others are guilty; but if we have some strong points of character, and but one weak point, there is yet a communion between sin and the soul. The heart is divided in its service, and says, ‘Some of self and some of thee.’ The child of God must search out the sin which he has petted and indulged himself in, and permit God to cut it out of his heart. He must overcome that one sin; for it is not a trifling matter in the sight of God.
One says, ‘I am not the least jealous, but then I do get provoked and say mean things, although I am always sorry after giving way to temper.’ Another says, ‘I have this fault or that, but then I just despise such and such meanness as is manifested by a certain person of my acquaintance.’ The Lord has not given us a list of graded sins, so that we may reckon some as of little consequence, and say that they will do but little harm, while others are of greater magnitude and will do much harm. A chain is no stronger than is its weakest link. We might pronounce such a chain good on the whole, but if one link is weak, the chain cannot be depended on. The work of overcoming is to be the study of every soul who enters the kingdom of God. That impatient word quivering on your lips must be left unspoken. That thought that your character is not rightly estimated must be put from you; for it weakens your influence, and works out the sure result, making you of light estimation in the minds of others. You should overcome the idea that you are a martyr, and lay claim to the promise of Christ, who says, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’” Review and Herald, August 1, 1893.

“What is sin? The transgression of God’s law. God wants all connected with him to loathe sin, to hate anything that approaches to it. Transgression is a serpent with a deadly sting. Grant it no indulgence, for it will imperil the soul. Rather choose privation, suffering, hunger, reproach, imprisonment, and death, than the indulgence of sin.” {RH, June 3, 1880 par. 10}

“It is Satan’s constant effort to misrepresent the character of God, the nature of sin, and the real issues at stake in the great controversy. His sophistry lessens the obligation of the divine law, and gives men license to sin. At the same time he causes them to cherish false conceptions of God, so that they regard him with fear and hate, rather than with love. …. ” {GC88 568.4}

WHAT IS SIN?  “Now, I want to say to you before closing, that we have a wonderful friend in Jesus, who came to save His people from the transgression of the law. What is sin? The only definition of sin is that it is the transgression of the law. Then here is Jesus Christ, who comes right in and imparts His righteousness to us; we cannot overcome in our own strength, but by faith in Him. If you will believe on Jesus Christ, you will have Him today. You must believe that He is your Saviour now, and that He imputes to you His righteousness because He has died, and because He has been obedient unto every requirement of that transgressed law of God. If you do this, you will have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Adam and Eve lost Eden because they transgressed that law, but you will lose heaven if you transgress it.” {1888 128.3}

“When the mind is drawn to the cross of Calvary, Christ by imperfect sight is discerned on the shameful cross. Why did He die? In consequence of sin. What is sin? The transgression of the law. Then the eyes are open to see the character of sin. The law is broken but cannot pardon the transgressor. It is our schoolmaster, condemning to punishment. Where is the remedy? The law drives us to Christ, who was hanged upon the cross that He might be able to impart His righteousness to fallen, sinful man and thus present men to His Father in His righteous character.”  {1SM 341.2}  

“It is a terrible thing for human agents to sin, and to crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame. I have a message from God to you. It is, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” When you behold Him in His matchless love, bearing the sins of the world, when you behold Him exercising His compassion and love for sinners, and realize that it was for you that the innocent, holy, undefiled Lamb of God stood as one guilty to endure your punishment, that you who are sinful and deserving [of punishment], might stand innocent, clothed with the garments of Christ’s righteousness, your heart will be melted by His incomparable love, and you will accept Him as your sin-pardoning Saviour. You must not walk in darkness. God has given you wise counselors those who love and fear Him, and those who love the souls of all for whom Christ died. Do not turn from counsel, but take heed to words of instruction. The Lord is soon to come; make no delay. Come to Jesus every day, and tell Him you want strength, you want heavenly wisdom, to understand what is sin and how to forsake it. You cannot take your way and do your will and be perverse in spirit, and yet love Jesus and be acknowledged of Him as His child.” {14MR 74.2}

“There are many ideas in the world as to what is sin. The deist says that sin is dishonesty, a lack of patriotism, honour, and manliness. Those who have little idea as to what constitutes religion will tell you that sin is murder, adultery, robbery, and crime. But what does the word of God define it to be? John writes, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law.” Without the law we have no knowledge of what sin is. Those who have no respect for the law will be deceived by entertaining hopes of entering heaven.” {BEcho, November 5, 1894 par. 3}

“We as Seventh-day Adventists have no apology to make to the world for daring to stand for the right. Christ says to His people, “Ye are the light of the world.” They are set as light-bearers on the way to heaven. They are to reflect to the world the light shining upon them from Christ. Their life, character, and teaching should be such that through them the world will get a right conception of Christ and of His service. They are here to lead men from the condemnation of sin to loyalty to God. And what is sin? Let the word of God answer: “Sin is the transgression of the law,” 1 John 3:4. {BEcho, August 5, 1895 par. 4}

But those who are waiting to behold a magical change in their characters without determined effort on their part to overcome sin, will be disappointed. We have no reason to fear while looking to Jesus, no reason to doubt but that he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto him; but we may constantly fear lest our old nature will again obtain the supremacy, that the enemy shall devise some snare whereby we shall again become his captives. We are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. With our limited powers we are to be as holy in our sphere as God is holy in his sphere. To the extent of our ability, we are to make manifest the truth and love and excellence of the divine character. As wax takes the impression of the seal, so the soul is to take the impression of the Spirit of God and retain the image of Christ. {ST December 26, 1892, par. 2}  {ST January 2, 1907, par. 2}

You must work in harmony with the body and strive for unity. Counsel together. Workers together with God must obey the orders of their Captain. Wait not for some magical change to be wrought in you without taking the requisite steps yourself. Life must be with you a humble working out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. Halt not, but escape for your life. {Ms12-1888.11}

There are still additional steps to take. Add “to godliness brotherly kindness.” [2 Peter 1:7.] Thus there will not be merely a profession of Bible religion, but a sincere, earnest practice of godliness. We must be partakers of the divine nature before we can represent the Christlike character and practice the works of Christ. The climbing Christian will not sit passive, claiming the promises, enjoying the grace given him of God, but will work from principle. He is a worker together with God. The grace given him of God teaches him how to be kind and tender and helpful to his brethren. There is no waiting for an over-powering, magical change to be wrought into the conversion of others without any action of our own. Life becomes a humble but earnest working out of salvation with fear and with trembling, knowing that God worketh in us both to will and to do of His own good pleasure. The very exercise of brotherly kindness assimilates the soul to Christ and brings him into sympathy with Christ. {Ms13-1884.32}

Men of property often look upon their wealth and say: By my wisdom have I gotten me this wealth. But who gave them power to get wealth? God has bestowed upon them the ability which they possess, but instead of giving Him the glory they take it to themselves. He will prove them and try them, and will bring their glorying to the dust; He will remove their strength and scatter their possessions. Instead of a blessing they will realize a curse. An act of wrong or oppression, a deviation from the right way, should no sooner be tolerated in a man who possesses property than in a man who has none. All the riches that the most wealthy ever possessed are not of sufficient value to cover the smallest sin before God; they will not be accepted as a ransom for transgression. Repentance, true humility, a broken heart, and a contrite spirit alone will be accepted of God. And no man can have true humility before God unless the same is exemplified before others. Nothing less than repentance, confession, and forsaking of sin is acceptable to God. {1T 536.2}