What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "How do we obey the words “So now kill the members that are on earth” (Colossians 3:5)?"
Answer
Killing the members on earth means resisting the temptation to sin and overcoming one's own self and sinful passions. It is not about inflicting physical pain on the body, but about driving out corrupt thoughts and subordinating the lower urges to the higher powers of the soul. This process requires a complete surrender of the will to God and a constant, lifelong effort through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Putting off the old nature and putting on the new man
»Now kill your members that are on earth," Paul wrote to the Colossians; "in which you once walked, as you lived in them. But now put all these aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, filthy speech from your mouth. ... So now put on, as the chosen of God, saints and beloved, heartfelt mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience; and bear with one another and forgive one another, if anyone has a dispute against another: just as Christ has forgiven you, so do also you. Above all, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you are also called in one body; and be grateful.«
Kill the temptation, not the body
»The lower passions reside in the body and operate through it. The terms "flesh" or "carnal" or "carnal desires" encompass the low, corrupt nature; the flesh itself cannot act against God's will. We are commanded to crucify the flesh with its passions and lusts. How should we do this? Should we inflict pain on the body? No; rather, kill the temptation to sin. The corrupt thought must be driven out. ... All animal urges must be subjected to the higher powers of the soul. God's love must exercise supreme rule; Christ must occupy an undivided throne. Our bodies are to be regarded as His purchased property. The members of the body should become instruments of righteousness.«
Complete transformation through the Holy Spirit
»The surrender that Christ demands, the self-giving of the will, which allows the truth in its holy power and trembles before the Word of the Lord, is brought about through the work of the Holy Spirit. A transformation of the entire being must take place, of the heart, the soul, and the character. ... Only at the altar of the sacrifice and from God's hand can the selfish, greedy person receive the heavenly torch that reveals his own inadequacy and leads him to submit to Christ's yoke in order to learn His gentleness and humility.«
A lifelong battle against the self
»Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of an entire life. It is not attained through a happy emotional surge, but is the result of a constant dying to sin and a constant living for Christ. Wrongdoings cannot be made right and character reforms cannot be effected through weak, irregular efforts. Only through long, persistent effort, painful discipline, and hard struggle will we overcome. ... As long as Satan reigns, we will have to subdue the self and overcome cherished sins; as long as life endures, there will be no stopping point, no point we can reach and say: I have fully achieved it.«
Directing the gaze toward the heavenly
»If you have been raised with Christ, then seek what is above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Strive for what is above, not for what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you too will be revealed with Him in glory. So now kill your members that are on earth: fornication, impurity, passionate lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.«
- Character transformation sanctification
- Victory over the self
- Crucifying the flesh meaning
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
