THE WORD FOR TODAY: Thursday - 04 July 2024 ‭‭MARK‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬ ‭ICB‬‬ Jesus said, “The right time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Change your hearts and lives and believe the Good News!” "REPENT AND BELIEVE" "Repentance is associated with faith and is urged in the gospel as essential to salvation.... This repentance has in it nothing of the nature of merit, but it prepares the heart for the acceptance of Christ as the only Saviour, the only hope of the lost sinner." [FW 99.2] "Without the grace of Christ, the sinner is in a hopeless condition; nothing can be done for him; but through divine grace, supernatural power is imparted to the man, and works in mind and heart and character. It is through the impartation of the grace of Christ that sin is discerned in its hateful nature, and finally driven from the soul temple. It is through grace that we are brought into fellowship with Christ, to be associated with him in the work of salvation.... When the sinner believes that Christ is his personal Saviour, then, according to his unfailing promises, God pardons his sin, and justifies him freely. The repentant soul realizes that his justification comes because Christ, as his substitute and surety, has died for him, is his atonement and righteousness." [RH November 4, 1890] "But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ's righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul." [1SM 366.1] #TheWord4Today186s2024 #TheStreamsOfLight_186