A closer look at Ellen G. White's cautions regarding this subject
reveals that, in context, she is not speaking against the certainty of a
believer's present standing with God. She is warning against the presumptuous
"once saved, always saved" teaching of eternal security--those who claim "I am
saved" while continuing to transgress the law of God. Here is her full
statement:
"Peter's fall was not instantaneous, but gradual. Self-confidence
led him to the belief that he was saved, and step after step was taken in the
downward path, until he could deny his Master. Never can we safely put
confidence in self or feel, this side of heaven, that we are secure
against temptation. Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their
conversion, should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved. This
is misleading. Everyone should be taught to cherish hope and faith; but even
when we give ourselves to Christ and know that He accepts us, we are not
beyond the reach of temptation. God's Word declares, 'Many shall be
purified, and made white, and tried' (Dan. 12:10). Only he who endures the
trial will receive the crown of life (James 1:12)" (Christ's Object
Lessons, p. 155, emphasis supplied).
That Ellen White understood the proper basis for true Christian
assurance is evidenced by the following remark she made before the church's
General Conference session:
"Each one of you may know for yourself that you have a living Saviour,
that He is your helper and your God. You need not stand where you say, 'I do
not know whether I am saved.' Do you believe in Christ as your personal
Saviour? If you do, then rejoice" (General Conference Bulletin, April
10, 1901).
To a woman who was struggling with doubts Ellen White wrote:
"The message from God to me for you is 'Him that cometh unto me, I will
in no wise cast out' (John 6:37). If you have nothing else to plead before God
but this one promise from your Lord and Saviour, you have the assurance that
you will never, never be turned away. It may seem to you that you are hanging
upon a single promise, but appropriate that one promise, and it will open to
you the whole treasure house of the riches of the grace of Christ. Cling to
that promise and you are safe. 'Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast
out.' Present this assurance to Jesus, and you are as safe as though inside the
city of God" (Manuscript Releases, vol. 10, p. 175).