Bible Study - An Orderly God

The City of Refuge (1)

January 28 – February 3, 2024

Key Text

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40

Study Help: Testimonies, Vol. 3, 428–433

Introduction

“He who says or does anything that tends to separate the members of Christ’s church is counterworking the Lord’s purpose.” Taestimonies, Vol. 9, 145

Sunday

1 THE ORIGIN OF ORDER

1.a. What condition characterizes everything in the work of God? How can we succeed in our work for the Lord? 1 Corinthians 14:40

Note: “God is a God of order. Everything connected with heaven is in perfect order; subjection and thorough discipline mark the movements of the angelic host. Success can only attend order and harmonious action. God requires order and system in His work now no less than in the days of Israel. All who are working for Him are to labor intelligently, not in a careless, haphazard manner. He would have His work done with faith and exactness, that He may place the seal of His approval upon it.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 376

1.b. What does God expect from His creatures? 1 Peter 2:21; Psalm 119:133; 1 John 2:6

Note: “Order is heaven’s first law, and the Lord desires His people to give in their homes a representation of the order and harmony that pervade the heavenly courts. Truth never places her delicate feet in a path of uncleanness or impurity. Truth does not make men and women coarse or rough and untidy. It raises all who accept it to a high level. Under Christ’s influence, a work of constant refinement goes on.” Counsels on Health, 101

Monday

2 CHURCH ORGANIZATION

2.a. What example did God leave us of thorough organization as a real blessing? Exodus 18:13–24. How is that implemented today?

Note: “This counsel [of Jethro] was accepted, and it not only brought relief to Moses, but resulted in establishing more perfect order among the people.

“The Lord had greatly honored Moses, and had wrought wonders by his hand; but the fact that he had been chosen to instruct others did not lead him to conclude that he himself needed no instruction. The chosen leader of Israel listened gladly to the suggestions of the godly priest of Midian, and adopted his plan as a wise arrangement.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 301

“God has not set any kingly power in the Seventh-day Adventist Church to control the whole body or to control any branch of the work. He has not provided that the burden of leadership shall rest upon a few men. Responsibilities are distributed among a large number of competent men.

“Every member of the church has a voice in choosing officers of the church. The church chooses the officers of the state conferences. Delegates chosen by the state conferences choose the officers of the union conferences, and delegates chosen by the union conferences choose the officers of the General Conference. By this arrangement every conference, every institution, every church, and every individual, either directly or through representatives, has a voice in the election of the men who bear the chief responsibilities in the General Conference.” Testimonies, Vol. 8, 236, 237

2.b. What is the fundamental principle for living as one of God’s children? Deuteronomy 10:12, 13; Joshua 22:5

Note: “Evil does not result because of organization, but because of making organization everything, and vital godliness of little moment. When form and machinery take the preeminence, and a laborious task is made of carrying on the work that should be done with simplicity, evil will result, and little will be accomplished in proportion to the effort put forth. The object of organization is just the reverse of this; and should we disorganize, it would be like tearing down that which we have built up.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 253

Tuesday

3 GENUINE UNITY

3.a. How does the church relate to Christ? Ephesians 1:17, 22, 23; Colossians 1:18. What result should follow among ourselves?

Note: “Those who have a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus must now become one in heart and purpose. All differences must be swept away. The members of the church must work unitedly under the great Head of the church.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 93

3.b. As we dedicate ourselves to Jesus without reservation, what happens in our relations with others who have the same experience? John 17:21

Note: “A union of believers with Christ will as a natural result lead to a union with one another, which bond of union is the most enduring upon earth. We are one in Christ, as Christ is one with the Father.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 47

“If we are united to Christ, we shall be united to one another.” The Review and Herald, December 6, 1892

“Those who are truly converted will press together in Christian unity. Let there be no division in the church of God, no unwise authority exercised over those who accept the truth. The meekness of Christ is to appear in all that is said and done.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, 147

3.c. What happens to our personal relations the closer we come to Jesus? John 13:34, 35

Note: “As they [the disciples] were drawn to Christ in greater love, they were drawn to one another.” The Desire of Ages, 664

“True religion unites hearts not only with Christ, but with one another in a most tender union. When we know what it means to be thus united with Christ and with our brethren, a fragrant influence will attend our work wherever we go.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, 145

3.d. How does unity relate to perfection of character? Ephesians 4:13

Note: “Unity is the sure result of Christian perfection.” The Sanctified Life, 85

Wednesday

4 BEING PART OF CHRIST’S BODY

4.a. As new believers in Jesus, how do we unite with Him in a practical way? Ephesians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 12:27

Note: “[An] obligation, too often lightly regarded—one that to the youth awakened to the claims of Christ needs to be made plain—is the obligation of church relationship.

“Very close and sacred is the relation between Christ and His church—He the bridegroom, and the church the bride; He the head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ, then, involves connection with His church.

“The church is organized for service; and in a life of service to Christ, connection with the church is one of the first steps. Loyalty to Christ demands the faithful performance of church duties. This is an important part of one’s training; and in a church imbued with the Master’s life, it will lead directly to effort for the world without.” Education, 268, 269

“To human agencies is committed the work of extending the triumphs of the cross from point to point. As the Head of the church, Christ is authoritatively calling upon everyone who claims to believe on Him to follow His example of self-denial and self-sacrifice in working for the conversion of those whom Satan and his vast army are exerting every power to destroy. God’s people are called upon to rally without delay under the bloodstained banner of Christ Jesus. Unceasingly they are to continue their warfare against the enemy, pressing the battle even to the gates. And everyone who is added to the ranks by conversion is to be assigned his post of duty.” Testimonies, Vol. 7, 30

4.b. How do we see, through the examples of Saul and Cornelius, that connection to the church is important? Acts 9:1–6, 17, 18; 10:1–6, 47, 48

Note: “God’s Spirit convicts sinners of the truth, and He places them in the arms of the church. The ministers may do their part, but they can never perform the work that the church should do. God requires His church to nurse those who are young in faith and experience, to go to them, not for the purpose of gossiping with them, but to pray, to speak unto them words that are ‘like apples of gold in pictures of silver.’ ” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 69

Thursday

5 THE VISIBLE CHURCH

5.a. How do we know that the true church is a visible, tangible entity? 1 Corinthians 16:1, 19; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 8:1, 18

Note: “We should all feel our individual responsibility as members of the visible church and workers in the vineyard of the Lord.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 16

5.b. What happens if someone despises the God–given authority of the church? John 20:23

Note: “ ‘Whosesoever sins ye remit,’ said Christ, ‘they are remitted; … and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.’ Christ here gives no liberty for any man to pass judgment upon others. In the Sermon on the Mount He forbade this. It is the prerogative of God. But on the church in its organized capacity He places a responsibility for the individual members. Toward those who fall into sin, the church has a duty, to warn, to instruct, and if possible to restore. ‘Reprove, rebuke, exhort,’ the Lord says, ‘with all longsuffering and doctrine.’ 2 Timothy 4:2. Deal faithfully with wrongdoing. Warn every soul that is in danger. Leave none to deceive themselves. Call sin by its right name. Declare what God has said in regard to lying, Sabbath-breaking, stealing, idolatry, and every other evil. ‘They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.’ Galatians 5:21. If they persist in sin, the judgment you have declared from God’s word is pronounced upon them in heaven. In choosing to sin, they disown Christ; the church must show that she does not sanction their deeds, or she herself dishonors her Lord. She must say about sin what God says about it. She must deal with it as God directs, and her action is ratified in heaven. He who despises the authority of the church despises the authority of Christ Himself.” The Desire of Ages, 805, 806

5.c. What is the major reason for having a church? Mark 16:15, 16

Note: “The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world.” The Acts of the Apostles, 9

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 What “first law” does God expect from His creatures that obey Him?

2 When a believer truly unites with Christ, what else happens?

3 How important is our relation with other souls of like precious faith?

4 Why does God place new believers into the arms of the church?

5 What duties rest upon God’s recognized and organized church?