February 3- 9, 2002
MEMORY VERSE: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3.
STUDY HELP: Steps to Christ, 57–65.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: True obedience is a service of love.
INTRODUCTION: “True faith, which relies wholly upon Christ, will be manifested by obedience to all the requirements of God. From Adam’s day to the present time the great controversy has been concerning obedience to God’s law.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 73.
The Rebirth Experience—How?
1 Jesus declared that men would experience a spiritual rebirth as a result of responding to what heavenly agent? John 3:5.
NOTE: “The office of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of Christ: ‘When He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.’ John 16:8. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. If the sinner responds to the quickening influence of the Spirit, he will be brought to repentance and aroused to the importance of obeying the divine requirements.” Acts of the Apostles, 52.
“The heart must be open to the Spirit’s influence, or God’s blessing cannot be received.” Steps to Christ, 95.
2 With what is the work of the Holy Spirit always in harmony? 1 Peter 1:22, 23.
NOTE: “Through the Scriptures the Holy Spirit speaks to the mind, and impresses truth upon the heart. Thus He exposes error, and expels it from the soul. It is by the Spirit of truth, working through the word of God, that Christ subdues His chosen people to Himself.” The Desire of Ages, 671.
“The Author of this spiritual life is unseen, and the exact method by which that life is imparted and sustained, it is beyond the power of human philosophy to explain. Yet the operations of the Spirit are always in harmony with the written word.” Acts of the Apostles, 284.
3 Where did Jesus say true sanctification would always begin? Matthew 23:25, 26.
NOTE: “The outward gloss may be put on, and men may be as were the Pharisees whom Jesus describes as ‘whited sepulchres’ full of corruption and dead men’s bones.” Ellen G. White Comments, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 951.
4 Concerning true sanctification, who only can produce a work on the inside? Phillipians 2:13.
NOTE: “The Lord does not propose to perform for us either the willing or the doing. This is our proper work. As soon as we earnestly enter upon the work, God’s grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort. Our souls are to be aroused to cooperate. The Holy Spirit works the human agent, to work out our own salvation. This is the practical lesson the Holy Spirit is striving to teach us. ‘For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.’” Testimonies to Ministers, 240.
“God has given us the power of choice; it is ours to exercise. We cannot change our hearts, we cannot control our thoughts, our impulses, our affections. We cannot make ourselves pure, fit for God’s service. But we can choose to serve God, we can give Him our will; then He will work in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus our whole nature will be brought under the control of Christ.” The Ministry of Healing, 176.
Two Errors of Thought
5 On what was the Pharisee relying as evidence of his relationship with God? Luke 18:9–12.
NOTE: “There are two errors against which the children of God—particularly those who have just come to trust in His grace—especially need to guard. The first, already dwelt upon, is that of looking to their own works, trusting to anything they can do, to bring themselves into harmony with God. He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy.” Steps to Christ, 59, 60.
6 What does God say to those professed Christians who say, “Believe, only believe”? James 2:14, 20.
NOTE: “They [God’s professed people] profess faith, but it is not a living faith because it is not sustained by works. Faith without works is dead, being alone. Those who profess great faith, yet have not works, will not be saved by their faith. Satan believes the truth and trembles, yet this kind of faith possesses no virtue. Many who have made a high profession of faith are deficient in good works. If they should show their faith by their works they could exert a powerful influence on the side of truth.” Testimonies,
vol. 2, 657, 658. See also Steps to Christ, 60.
Jesus—the Way
7 Through what means has Jesus made a way for us to stand before God justified? Romans 3:24–26.
NOTE: “We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ’s character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.” Steps to Christ, 62. See also Sons and Daughters of God, 240.
8 What does God promise to give all those who choose to believe and receive Christ as their personal Saviour? John 1:12.
NOTE: “He opens a way whereby the sinner can be reinstated in God’s favor. Christ bears the penalty of man’s past transgressions, and by imparting to man His righteousness, makes it possible for man to keep God’s holy law.” Ellen G. White Comments, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1092.
“‘As many as received Him, to them gave He power to be-come the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.’
John 1:12. This power is not in the human agent. It is the power of God. When a soul receives Christ, he receives power to live the life of Christ.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 314.
Obedience—the True Sign
9 What has Jesus said His true disciples will do? John 14:15.
NOTE: “Obedience—the service and allegiance of love—is the true sign of discipleship.” Steps to Christ, 60.
“Christ came to the world with the accumulated love of eternity. Sweeping away the exactions which had encumbered the law of God, He showed that the law is a law of love, an expression of the Divine Goodness. He showed that in obedience to its principles is involved the happiness of mankind, and with it the stability, the very foundation and framework, of human society.” Education, 76.
10 What is the only evidence we can offer the world “that we know” Christ? 1 John 2:3.
NOTE: “Obedience is the test of discipleship. It is the keeping of the commandments that proves the sincerity of our professions of love. When the doctrine we accept kills sin in the heart, purifies the soul from defilement, bears fruit unto holiness, we may know that it is the truth of God. When benevolence, kindness, tenderheartedness, sympathy, are manifest in our lives; when the joy of right doing is in our hearts; when we exalt Christ, and not self, we may know that our faith is of the right order. ‘Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.’
1 John 2:3.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 146, 147.
Eden Restored
11 What will God’s people be doing just prior to Jesus’ Second Coming? Revelation 14:12.
NOTE: “Christ does not lessen the claims of the law. In unmistakable language He presents obedience to it as the condition of eternal life—the same condition that was required of Adam before his fall. The Lord expects no less of the soul now than He expected of man in Paradise, perfect obedience, unblemished righteousness. The requirement under the covenant of grace is just as broad as the requirement made in Eden—harmony with God’s law, which is holy, just, and good.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 391.
“The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been,—just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents,—perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness.” Steps to Christ, 62.
12 Who will have a right to the tree of life and be able to enter the city of God? Revelation 22:14.
NOTE: “Obedience through Jesus Christ gives to man perfection of character and a right to that tree of life. The conditions of again partaking of the fruit of the tree are plainly stated in the testimony of Jesus Christ to John: ‘Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and many enter in through the gates into the city.’” Ellen G. White Comments, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1086.
“I then beheld the beauty and loveliness of Jesus. His robe was whiter than the whitest white. No language can describe His glory and exalted loveliness. All, all who keep the commandments of God, will enter in through the gates into the city and have right to the tree of life and ever be in the presence of the lovely Jesus, whose countenance shines brighter than the sun at noonday.” Early Writings, 51.
By Craig Meeker