耶稣的名字现在已经家喻户晓，人人皆知。基督复临、重生、耶稣此时此刻对于我们的意义，已成为我们日常交谈的话题。反映宗教经验的诗歌正在与爱情诗歌进行竞争。过去的复兴运动，曾产生惊人的效果。但今天在青年人中间的复兴，则是空前的。{NL 3.1}
在许多高等院校的校园里，甚至在那些与宗教没有特别联系的学校里，人们也以一种新的积极态度，公开讨论耶稣的名字。从自由散漫的家庭中，从穷人中，从吸毒场所，以及从受过良好教育的人中，都有大批青年人受到感动接纳了基督。数以千计的人感受到悔改的神奇经验。基督复临安息日会的青年人也经历着复兴。但是现在要如何呢?我们要往哪里去呢? {NL 3.2}
重生，称义，悔改——不论我们怎么称呼它——只是一个开始。但是以后的每一天，每一周，每一个月如何在基督里成长呢?如何进入我们有时称之为成圣的终生经验呢? {NL 3.3}
圣经和预言之灵的教导使我们得出结论：我们是因着信和接受基督而称义的。我们是因着信和顺从而成圣的。真正重生的基督徒不仅谈论，而且在生活中证明自己是跟从主耶稣基督的。{NL 3.4}
通往永生的道路并不容易。毕竟它在圣经里被称为“窄”路。我们要与外面的仇敌和心中犯罪的倾向及诸般软弱作斗争。还有许多曲径存在。当然还有一条始终宽阔的道路，打扮得花里胡哨。撒但所提供的赝品要使我们困惑灰心。但是感谢上帝，已有明确的指示告诉我们永生之道。{NL 4.1}
下面是今日人们提出的一些典型问题。我们如何解释伴随着流行的复兴运动的能力?这些运动并不尊重上帝律法。在一些基督教新教和天主教的教会中出现的方言运动是怎么回事?当代一些复兴运动中显著的医病奇迹是真实的吗?上帝能藉着那些宣称耶稣会原谅罪孽，又教导别人无视十诫，说是不必要和不可能遵守的人施行奇迹吗? {NL 4.2}
通过研究历史，我们可以看出，并非所有的复兴运动都是上帝发动的。每当有真品时总是会出现赝品。圣经告诉我们，撒但能施行奇迹。倘若能行，连选民也迷惑了。我们不能完全信任耳闻目睹和所感受的事物。{NL 4.3}
本书的宗旨并不是评判今日流行的复兴运动。有谁能怀疑这些聚会中所发生的若干真实悔改呢?事实上我们可以进一步指出，真正的医病可以来自运用对上帝话语的信心，有时与传道人并无关系，也不一定的因为他而发生的。本书的宗旨是探讨某些标准，帮助人辨别真伪。{NL 4.4}
哈门.爱伦(怀爱伦)在十七岁时所见最早的异象之一，给了她一个不寻常的信息。那是在1845年2月。由于基督在几个月之前没有按照人们的期待回到地上，灰心的复临信徒产生了困惑和分歧。他们中的一些人通过研究圣经发现了失望的原因。赐给哈门.爱伦的异象帮助证实了他们的结论。他们发现了自己所大大忽略的圣经真理，而他们的注意力都集中在为基督复临作准备上了。可是大多数复临信徒拒绝了这种探讨和解释。{NL 4.5}
爱伦在1845年的异象中看到有小群忠心的人跪在上帝的宝座前祈祷。当耶稣的工作转移到至圣所时，他们中的大多数人都起来跟随祂。他们领受了圣灵，于是就“有亮光、能力和很多仁爱、喜乐、和平”。(EW 55){NL 5.1}
尽管基督离开了，但是还有一群在宝座前屈膝的人却继续祷告。于是撒但取代基督占据了宝座，回答他们的祈祷。爱伦看到这群人抬头仰望，不知道自己拜的是谁，仍在祈求圣灵。爱伦描述她在异象中所看见的说：“撒但向他们散发出一种不圣洁的影响力;其中有亮光和许多能力，但没有甜蜜的仁爱、喜乐、和平。撒但的目的乃是要保持他们在迷惑之下，要他们退后并迷惑上帝的儿女。” (详见EW 54-56) {NL 5.2}
1845年这两群复临信徒的经验提醒我们，经验有真有假，即使在那些自称真诚的人中间，也是如此。尽管上帝希望我们每一个人都拥有真正重生的经验，然后过基督徒丰盛的快乐人生，但是撒但竭力让我们相信，获得重生是有捷径的。但显然这不是正确的。{NL 5.3}
基督复临安息日会是在艰难和激动人心的时代诞生的。她的创始人绝大多数是青年人。但是他们专心致志研究圣经，热心为他们的信仰作见证。在教会初建的岁月，复临信徒经常举行充满激情、高度兴奋的聚会。在这些信徒的经历中，有一些是上帝之灵引导的明证，还有一些则显然出于另一个灵。{NL 6.1}
在这样的背景下，他们需要“试验那些灵”(约壹4:1)，看看是不是出于上帝。怀爱伦还发出了清晰而明确的劝勉。我们根据她的劝勉挑选了文章，编成了这本小册子。读者如果仔细阅读，定能明了辨别宗教经验真伪的永恒原则。{NL 6.2}
怀爱伦所著的《拾级就主》一书成为广受青睐的畅销书已经超过了八十年，据估计已用一百多种语言发行了一千六百万册。书中所发出委身基督的呼吁受到了青年人和老年人的一致响应。本书将作为她的姐妹篇就真正复兴和改革的生活提供进一步的指导。NL 6.3}
在地球罪恶历史的最后时刻，局势将再次变得艰难又激动人心。上帝的圣灵肯定会赐给我们力量完成我们的工作，既帮助别人，也帮助我们自己。你愿意成为上帝施行特殊工作的工具吗?愿你的认真学习会帮助你热心预备迎接我们主的再来。{NL 6.4}
怀爱伦著作托管委员会
1972年
The name of Jesus has today become a part of the witnessing vocabulary of many thousands of young and old alike. The second coming of Christ, being born again, what Jesus means to us here and now, have become topics for everyday conversation. Songs of religious experience are competing with those about romance. Revival has happened before, and has accomplished startling results. But today, as never before, it’s happening among youth.{NL 3.1}[1]
On many college and university campuses—even those not particularly noted for religious connections—the name of Jesus is openly discussed in a new, positive way. Youth from comfortable homes, from the poor, the drug scene, from the well educated, have been moved to accept Christ in large numbers. Thousands have sensed the miraculous experience of being converted. And Seventh-day Adventist youth are experiencing revival too. But now what? Where do we go from here?{NL 3.2}[2]
Being born again, justified, converted—whatever we choose to call it—is the beginning. But what about the days and weeks and months of growing up into Christ? What about that lifetime experience we sometimes call sanctification?{NL 3.3}[3]
The word of God and the counsels of Ellen White lead us to the conclusion that we are?justified?by faith and?acceptingChrist, but we are?sanctified?by faith and?obedience. The truly born-again Christian not only?talks?about, but?lives?a life that testifies that he is, in fact, a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.{NL 3.4}[4]
The way to eternal life is not easy. After all, it is called “strait” in the Bible. We battle enemies outside ourselves as well as sinful tendencies and weaknesses within. There are plenty of detours too. And of course there is always the broad way, with its lurid appeal. Counterfeits are introduced by Satan to confuse and discourage us. But, thank God, there are clear directions to show us the way to life eternal.{NL 4.1}[5]
The following questions are typical of those being asked today. How can we explain the power attending popular revival movements in which no attempt is made to honor God’s law? What about the tongues movement in some Protestant and Catholic churches? Are healing miracles, which accent some of the revivals of our time, real? Can God work miracles through those who proclaim Jesus’ pardon for sins and yet teach others to ignore the Ten Commandments as unnecessary or impossible?{NL 4.2}[6]
It is obvious from a study of history that not all revivals are God-inspired. Counterfeits have appeared every time there has been the genuine. The Bible tells us that Satan can and does perform miracles. He would, if possible, deceive the very elect. We will not always be able to trust what we see and hear and feel.{NL 4.3}[7]
It is not the purpose of this book to pass judgment on the popular revivals of today. Who can doubt that there are genuine conversions at some of these meetings? In fact, we will go a step further and suggest that genuine healing may result from the exercise of faith in God’s word. In some cases this may be in?spite?of the evangelist, not necessarily?because?of him. It is the purpose of this book, rather, to consider certain criteria that help one to distinguish between the true and the false.{NL 4.4}[8]
In one of her earliest visions, seventeen-year-old?Ellen Harmon (White) was given an unusual message. It was February, 1845. When Christ had not returned to this earth as expected a few months earlier, the disappointed Adventists were divided and confused. Through Bible study some of them found an explanation for this disappointment. Visions given to Ellen Harmon helped to confirm their conclusions. They discovered Bible truths that had largely been ignored while their attention had been focused on preparation for Christ’s return. But the great majority of Adventists rejected all such study or explanation.{NL 4.5}[9]
In this vision of 1845 Ellen saw the little loyal group kneeling before God’s throne in prayer. Most of them arose and followed Jesus by?faith?as his work moved into the most holy place. They received the holy spirit, and there “was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.”—Early Writings, 55.{NL 5.1}[10]
But the group which remained bowed before the throne continued to pray there, even though Christ had left. Satan appeared to take Christ’s place at the throne, answering their prayers. Ellen saw this group look up, not knowing to whom they prayed, asking for the Holy Spirit. She described what she saw in vision this way: “Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan’s object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God’s children.” (See?Early Writings, 54-56, for the brief account.){NL 5.2}[11]
The experience of these two groups of Adventists in 1845 reminds us that there can be a genuine and a counterfeit experience—even among those who profess to be sincere. Although God desires that each of us should have a genuine born-again experience followed by a life of happyChristian fulfillment, Satan endeavors to convince us that there are short cuts—easier ways to get it. It is obvious that both can’t be right.{NL 5.3}[12]
The Seventh-day Adventist church was born in difficult and exciting times. Most of those who participated in its beginnings were young yet deeply dedicated to a study of the word and eager to witness for their faith. In those formative years of the Church often there were deeply spiritual and emotional gatherings of Adventists. Some of the experiences these members had gave evidence of the leading of God’s Spirit, whereas others were obviously of another spirit.{NL 6.1}[13]
In this setting it was clear that they needed to “try the spirits” to see whether they were from God. Ellen White also gave clear and positive counsel. From this counsel articles were selected that form this small book. A careful study of its pages will provide the reader with timeless principles on the genuine and the counterfeit in religious experience.{NL 6.2}[14]
For more than eighty years Ellen White’s much-loved book?Steps to Christ?has been a best seller, with an estimated 16 million copies distributed in a hundred languages. Its appeal for commitment to Christ has been accepted by young and old.A New Life?joins it as a companion book offering further guidance toward a life of genuine revival and reformation.{NL 6.3}[15]
In these last moments of earth’s sinful history, times are difficult again—and also exciting. Surely God’s Holy Spirit is ready to give us the power to finish our work for others and the work necessary for ourselves. Can it be that you will be one through whom God will do something special? May your careful study help you to be both eager?and?ready to meet your Lord when He returns.{NL 6.4}[16]
Trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate[17]
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