Some will be sanctified through the truth; but many make a superficial change in their habits and practices, and then suppose that they are Christians. They are received into church fellowship, but they are a great trouble and a great care. Through them Satan tries to sow in the church the seeds of jealousy, dishonesty, criticism, and accusing. Thus he tries to corrupt the other members of the church. The disposition that has mastered them from childhood, that led them to break away from all restraint and brought them down to degradation, still controls them. They are reported to be rescued, but too often time shows that the work done for them did not make them submissive children of God. At every supposed slight, resentful feelings rise. They cherish bitterness, wrath, malice. By their words and spirit they show that they have not been born again. Their tendencies are downward, tending to sensuality. They are untrustworthy, unthankful, unholy. Thus it is with all who have not been soundly converted. Every one of these marred characters, untransformed, becomes an efficient worker for Satan, creating dissension and strife. {8T 184.2}

Nogle vil helliges ved sandheden; men mange gør en overfladisk forandring i deres levevis og tror så de er kristne. De er kommet ind i menighedsfællesskabet, men de volder besvær og er til bekymring. Igennem dem forsøger Satan at så skinsygens, uærlighedens, kritikkens og anklagens frø i menigheden. Derved forsøger han at fordærve andre medlemmer i menigheden. De tendenser som beherskede dem i barndommen, som fik dem til at bryde ud fra alle betvingelser og bragte dem til forfald, styrer dem stadig. Efter forlydende skulle de være ude over dette, men det viser sig for ofte at det, der er gjort for dem, ikke har gjort dem til lydige Guds børn. De bliver fornærmet over enhver lille detalje. De nærer bitterhed, vrede og ondsindethed. Ved deres ord og ånd viser de at de ikke er blevet født igen. De har en nedadgående tilbøjelighed, der tenderer mod sanselighed. De er utaknemmelige og uhellige. Således er det med alle som ikke er blevet omvendt ordentligt. Alle disse ødelagte karaktertræk, uforvandlet, bliver til en effektiv medarbejder for Satan, der skaber strid og uenighed.