March 23, 2014 – March 29, 2014
Key Text
“He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25.
Study Help: The Signs of the Times, July 7, 1890; Faith and Works, 105–109.
Introduction
“The name of Jesus gives me access to the Father. His ear, His heart, is open to my faintest pleading, and He supplies my deepest necessities.” Faith and Works, 106.
1 THE SCRIPTURES
- Of Whom do the Scriptures testify and what effect will that have on our future? John 5:39. What should be our prayer? Philippians 2:5.
Note: “In the Word the Saviour is revealed in all His beauty and loveliness. Every soul will find comfort and consolation in the Bible, which is full of promises concerning what God will do for the one who comes into right relation to Him. Especially will the sick be comforted by hearing the Word; for in giving the Scriptures God has given to mankind a leaf from the tree of life, which is for the healing of the nations. How can anyone who reads the Scriptures or who has heard them read, lose his interest in heavenly things, and find pleasure in amusements and enchantments of the world?” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1135.
“All who see their own ignorance and sin, will have some appreciation of the great work of redemption, through which man is chosen as the object of God’s patience and loving-kindness. As man sees the sinfulness of his nature in the light of the law, he will realize his great need of a Saviour. We all need to search the Scriptures, that we may become acquainted with the conditions of salvation, by which reconciliation may be brought about between man and God. Man must find the path that leads back to the Father’s house, and every step away from transgression is a step toward Paradise. Every step in repentance, contrition, obedience, and faith, is a step toward the Father. True faith in Christ will lead to obedience to the requirements of God.” The Signs of the Times, July 7, 1890.
- What has Jesus become for us? Hebrews 7:22.
Note: “The sinner will find no saving quality in law; he must look to the surety and substitute, for it is the blood of Christ that cleanseth from all sin. The repenting prodigal is taken into fellowship with God, and he becomes one with Christ, as Christ is one with the Father. The obedient children of God recognize the law as a divine law, the sacrifice on Calvary as a divine sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit as their divine sanctifier. All the claims of the law are met in Jesus. In Him we have a perfect foundation for our faith. The Son of God did not die that man might always remain a transgressor; for Christ is not a minister of sin. He died that by that act man might no longer remain a rebel against God’s law. He died to point men to the way of faith and obedience, that they might see to the end of that which is abolished. When sinners have a view of the plan of salvation, there is no more disposition to cavil concerning the law; for the way of truth and light is open to their understanding.” The Signs of the Times, July 14, 1890.
2 DECEPTION
- How do we deceive ourselves? I John 1:8.
Note: “There are many who say, ‘We are holy, we are sinless.’ By their words they give the impression that they think themselves as good as Jesus, and some have even dared to assert that they were Christ; but even to entertain such thoughts as these is blasphemy. Not to see the marked contrast between ourselves and Jesus is not to know ourselves, and to be ignorant of our Lord.” The Signs of the Times, July 21, 1890.
- Why did Jesus die? Matthew 1:21.
Note: “Jesus died to save His people from their sins, and redemption in Christ means to cease the transgression of the law of God, and to be free from every sin; no heart that is stirred with enmity against the law of God, is in harmony with Christ, who suffered on Calvary, to vindicate and exalt the law before the universe.” The Signs of the Times, July 21, 1890.
3 TREE OF LIFE PRIVILEGES
- What are we to do to have the right to the tree of life? Revelation 22:14.
Note: “Those who make bold assumptions of holiness give proof in this that they do not see themselves in the light of the law; they are not spiritually enlightened, and they do not loathe every species of selfishness and pride. From their sin-stained lips fall the contradictory utterances: ‘I am holy, I am sinless. Jesus teaches me that if I keep the law I am fallen from grace. The law is a yoke of bondage.’ … We should study the word of God carefully, that we may come to right decisions, and act accordingly; for then we shall obey the Word and be in harmony with God’s holy law.” The Signs of the Times, July 21, 1890.
- Are we saved by works? Ephesians 2:8, 9.
Note: “While we are to be in harmony with God’s law, we are not saved by the works of the law, yet we cannot be saved without obedience. The law is the standard by which character is measured. But we cannot possibly keep the commandments of God without the regenerating grace of Christ. Jesus alone can cleanse us from all sin. He does not save us by law, neither will He save us in disobedience to law.” The Signs of the Times, July 21, 1890.
4 CARNAL MIND
- What kind of mind are we to have to receive life and peace? What does the carnal mind bring? Romans 8:1, 3–9.
Note: “Self-righteousness is the danger of this age; it separates the soul from Christ. Those who trust to their own righteousness cannot understand how salvation comes through Christ. They call sin righteousness, and righteousness sin. They have no appreciation of the evil of transgression, no understanding of the terror of the law; for they do not respect God’s moral standard. The reason there are so many spurious conversions in these days, is that there is so low an appreciation of the law of God.” The Signs of the Times, July 1, 1890.
- What kind of standard has been erected?
Note: “Instead of God’s standard of righteousness, men have erected a standard of their own by which to measure character. They see through a glass darkly, and present false ideas of sanctification to the people, thus encouraging egotism, pride, and self-righteousness. The doctrine of sanctification advocated by many is full of deception, because it is flattering to the natural heart; but the kindest thing that can be preached to the sinner is the truth of the binding claims of the law of God.” The Signs of the Times, July 21, 1890.
- What must go hand in hand?
Note: “Faith and works must go hand in hand; for faith without works is dead, being alone. The prophet declares a truth by which we may test all doctrine. He says, ‘To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them’ (Isaiah 8:20). Although error abounds in the world, there is no reason why men need remain in deception. The truth is plain, and when it is contrasted with error, its character may be discerned. All the subjects of God’s grace may understand what is required of them. By faith we may conform our lives to the standard of righteousness, because we can appropriate to ourselves the righteousness of Christ. In the word of God the honest seeker for truth will find the rule for genuine sanctification.” The Signs of the Times, July 21, 1890.
5 THE PROVISION
- Why did God give Jesus to the world? John 3:16.
Note: “This message is for the world, for ‘whosoever’ means that any and all who comply with the condition may share the blessing. All who look unto Jesus, believing in Him as their personal Saviour, shall ‘not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16). Every provision has been made that we may have the everlasting reward.
“Christ is our Sacrifice, our Substitute, our Surety, our divine intercessor; He is made unto us righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” Faith and Works, 105.
- What is the Source of our strength or sufficiency? II Corinthians 3:5, 6.
Note: “Paul realized that his sufficiency was not in himself, but in the presence of the Holy Spirit, whose gracious influence filled his heart, bringing every thought into subjection to Christ. He spoke of himself as ‘always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body’ (11 Corinthians 4:10). In the apostle’s teachings Christ was the central figure. ‘I live,’ he declared, ‘yet not I, but Christ liveth in me’ (Galatians 2:20). Self was hidden; Christ was revealed and exalted.” The Acts of the Apostles, 251.
- If the Lord lives in our heart to do the work, of Whom do we make our boast? Psalm 34:2.
Note: “He [the true Christian] realizes that an infinite sacrifice has been made for him, and that his life is of inestimable value through the merits of Jesus’ blood, intercession, and righteousness. But while he comprehends the exalted privileges of the sons of God, his soul is filled with humility. There is no boasting of holiness from the lips of those who walk in the shadow of Calvary’s cross. They feel that it was their sin which caused the agony that broke the heart of the Son of God. … Those who live nearest to Jesus feel most deeply their own unworthiness, and their only hope is in the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Like Moses, they have had a view of the awful majesty of holiness and they see their own insufficiency in contrast with the purity and exalted loveliness of Jesus.” That I May Know Him, 125.
- What does Paul say of boasting? Galatians 6:14.
Note: “Through the cross we learn that the heavenly Father loves us with a love that is infinite. Can we wonder that Paul exclaimed, ‘God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Galatians 6:14)? It is our privilege also to glory in the cross, our privilege to give ourselves wholly to Him who gave Himself for us. Then, with the light that streams from Calvary shining in our faces, we may go forth to reveal this light to those in darkness.” The Acts of the Apostles, 210.
Studies compiled by Judy Hallingstad. Judy is part of the LandMarks team and can be contacted by email at: judyhallingstad@stepstolife.org.