While Ellen White does not specifically use the modern phrase "teenagers kissing," she writes extensively on the principles of God's grace, the challenges youth face with temptation and passion, and the path to restoration after sin. Her counsel provides a clear framework for understanding God's grace in this context. ### 1. God's Compassion and Grace for the Repentant Youth Ellen White emphasizes that God looks upon erring youth with compassion and a desire to forgive and restore, not to condemn. He understands the struggles and circumstances that lead to sin. * **God's Tender View:** "Parents’ hearts are broken. Brothers and sisters and relatives speak of these poor souls as hopeless, but God looks upon them with ... sorrow and tenderness. He understands all the circumstances which have led them into temptation, which have separated them from God." (MTC 43.1) * **The Promise of Forgiveness:** She encourages young people to understand that forgiveness is available to them through Christ. "You are none too young to be good Christians, and have children's experience in the Christian life, and know that your sins are washed away in the blood of your Redeemer." (AY 56.1) * **An Invitation to Return:** Using the parable of the prodigal son, she illustrates God's eagerness to welcome back a repentant child: "The father takes the broad, rich mantle from his own shoulders, and wraps it around the wasted form, and the youth sobs out his repentance, saying, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight. I am no more worthy to be called thy son.' The father holds him close to his side, and brings him home." (GCB, December 1, 1895) ### 2. The Path to Restoration: Repentance and Turning to God Grace is received through sincere repentance. This involves not just regretting the sin but turning away from it and seeking God's strength to live differently. * **Sincere Repentance is Key:** "Your only hope now is to sincerely repent of your past transgressions of God's law and purify your soul by obeying the truth." (2T 91.2) * **A Direct Appeal:** "To every young man and young woman I would say: Come to Jesus just as you are. With humility and contrition express to him your penitence. Make a vigilant, earnest effort to serve him, and perseveringly keep up this effort." (YI, November 6, 1902) * **Renouncing Evil Habits:** "The youth may be free in Christ; they may be the children of light, and not of darkness. God calls upon every young man and young woman to renounce every evil habit... believing that the Lord will renovate your heart by the power of his Spirit." (YI, August 11, 1892) ### 3. Grace as Power to Overcome Ellen White presents God's grace not only as forgiveness for past mistakes but as divine power to resist future temptation and restrain passions. * **Strength to Restrain Passion:** "The grace of God will be your strength to restrain your passions and curb your appetites. Earnest prayer and watching thereunto will bring the Holy Spirit to your aid to perfect the work and make you like your unerring Pattern." (2T 91.2) * **Victory Through Prayer:** "Through daily prayer to God, they will have wisdom and grace from Him to bear the conflict and stern realities of life, and come off victorious. Fidelity and serenity of mind can only be retained by watchfulness and prayer." (Pr 162.1) ### 4. Counsel on Courtship and Avoiding Sin She also provides strong counsel on avoiding situations that lead to regret, warning against worldly courtship practices that are driven by impulse and emotion rather than sound judgment and principle. * **Warning Against Impulse:** "The youth trust altogether too much to impulse. They should not give themselves away too easily, nor be captivated too readily by the winning exterior of the lover. Courtship as carried on in this age is a scheme of deception and hypocrisy, with which the enemy of souls has far more to do than the Lord." (CCh 117) * **Consequences of Thoughtlessness:** "A little time spent in sowing your wild oats, dear young friends, will produce a crop that will embitter your whole life; an hour of thoughtlessness, once yielding to temptation, may turn the whole current of your life in the wrong direction." (4T 622.3) In summary, Ellen White's writings assure young people that when they regret their sins, God's grace is abundantly available. This grace offers not only complete forgiveness and cleansing but also the divine strength needed to overcome temptation and live a pure life. The path to receiving this grace is through sincere repentance and a commitment to follow God's ways.