Chapter 74—Love for the Erring Christ came to bring salvation within the reach of all. Upon the cross of Calvary He paid the infinite redemption price for a lost world. His self-denial and self-sacrifice, His unselfish labor, His humiliation, above all, the offering up of His life, testifies to the depth of His love for fallen man. It was to seek and to save the lost that He came to earth. His mission was to sinners, sinners of every grade, of every tongue and nation. He paid the price for all, to ransom them and bring them into union and sympathy with Himself. The most erring, the most sinful, were not passed by; His labors were especially for those who most needed the salvation He came to bring. The greater their need of reform, the deeper was His interest, the greater His sympathy, and the more earnest His labors. His great heart of love was stirred to its depths for the ones whose condition was most hopeless and who most needed His transforming grace. {5T 603.2}

(591) [Jeg føler mig tilskyndet til at henvende mig til dem, der beskæftiger sig med at forkynde det sidste advarselsbudskab til verden. Hvorvidt de, som de virker for, indser og antager sandheden eller ikke, kommer for en stor del an på den enkelte arbejder. Befalingen fra Gud lyder: »Tvæt jer, I, som bærer Herrens kar!« Og Paulus formaner Timoteus: »Giv nøje agt på dig selv og din lærergerning!« Værket må begynde hos arbejderen; han må være forenet med Kristus, ligesom grenen er forenet med vintræet. "Jeg er vintræet," sagde Kristus, »I er grenene.« Dette betegner den inderligst mulige forbindelse. Indpod den bladløse kvist i den frodige vinstok, så bliver den til en levende gren og henter saft og næring fra vintræet. Fiber for fiber og åre for åre fæster kvisten sig, indtil de knoppes, blomstrer og bærer frugt. Den saftløse kvist betegner synderen. Forenet med Kristus knyttes sjæl til sjæl, det svage og menneskelige til det hellige og guddommelige og mennesket bliver et med Kristus.