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Value in the Gift

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A person who has an open wound or sore will usually prepare a poultice or ointment to treat it so it will heal. If an ointment was made up, but never placed upon the sore, what would happen? That preparation would be of absolutely no benefit and would do nothing for the sore until it was applied. This is also true in matters pertaining to our spiritual life. We can read all about Jesus; we can even believe that He is—the devils believe also— but if we do not “put on” our Lord Jesus Christ, what difference is there between us and the world?

What is the value you place on Jesus? Have you applied what you know of Him to your life, or are there other things of more value to you that come first, taking more time in your life over and above Jesus? “Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Romans 2:4. That word “despisest” means to dis-esteem or consider worthless or of no value. What value is Jesus to you?

God has given to us a treasure in the gift of Jesus which few value as they should. We need to understand what Jesus is to us, so that we may apply Him to our lives personally and be like Him.

God tells us what Jesus is to us when we apply Him to our lives: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” I Corinthians 1:30. To understand what Paul is really meaning here we need to break this verse down.

The very first attribute that God has made Jesus Christ to be for us is wisdom. We are told that “fools despise wisdom.” Proverbs 1:7. Remember the word despise means to consider worthless or of no value. Society is full of worldly wisdom, rejecting the wisdom of Jesus. Each of us may think we have wisdom, but it does not show us our spiritual condition. Worldly wisdom causes envying and strife in hearts (James 3:14–16). It is not of a heavenly source because it does not show us that these worldly character traits are wrong. The devil wants us to have this worldly wisdom because it reflects his character and seems to look good, because the majority of the world carry this kind of wisdom. The devil also wants us to be ignorant of our spiritual condition, but God has made His Son Jesus to be our wisdom so we do not need to be ignorant. This world is in great need of Jesus, the source of wisdom.

When you put on the Lord Jesus Christ as your wisdom, Proverbs 3:13 says, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom.” Read Proverbs 3:13–18 to understand what a blessing wisdom is.

God gave Jesus to us to be our wisdom, so we need to “put on” Jesus Christ and receive that wisdom, which is from above, which “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17.

With this heavenly wisdom, we are able to discern our sin and the resultant danger. Our true spiritual condition can be hid from us no longer as the cloud of ignorance is removed. The stupendous value of the gift of wisdom is beyond our deepest thoughts.

Proverbs 2:10–13 says, “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness.”

Praise God for the gift of wisdom. Will you right now apply this gift to your life, or will you “despise” the gift and continue to be ignorant, giving glory to the god of this world, the devil?

As this wonderful gift of wisdom is applied to our lives we become aware of our unrighteous state and that there is nothing we can do about it; there is no way to cover our unrighteous life. Look again at I Corinthians 1:30 and see what God has provided us. God has made Jesus also to be our righteousness.

We are alerted through wisdom to the danger we are in, and realizing that our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), we feel sad and repent of our unrighteousness. As we apply and accept Christ to be our righteousness, our past sins are forgiven and the ugliness and unrighteousness is covered.

As our guilt from past sins, or unrighteousness, is covered, there needs to be a change in heart so we do not continue in the sins that have been covered. To accomplish that, the next attribute that God has made Jesus to be for us is sanctification.

As we apply Jesus to our lives, we no longer need to yield our members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but we can yield our members as instruments of righteousness unto God, as we are now alive from the dead (Romans 6:13).

We now have the wisdom to make an intelligent choice between good and evil. We have Christ’s righteousness which covers our past sins, and the gift of sanctification to make us clean from our sinful state as wisdom directs our path through God’s Word and we walk in His paths. The Holy Spirit works in our hearts, as our knowledge increases, to transform our hearts in such a way that Christ’s righteousness flows forth in our lives, no longer revealing our own filthy rags.

“Sanctification is not an instantaneous but a progressive work, as obedience is continuous. Just as long as Satan urges his temptations upon us, the battle for self-conquest will have to be fought over and over again; but by obedience, the truth will sanctify the soul. Those who are loyal to the truth will, through the merits of Christ, overcome all weakness of character that has led them to be molded by every varying circumstance of life.” Faith and Works, 85.

Thus far, Christ has been made unto us wisdom which covers and heals our ignorance. He has been made unto us righteousness which covers our past life, and He has been made unto us sanctification, in which we are cleansed moment by moment. And last of all God has made Jesus to be our redemption.

“What is redemption? It is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven, and it requires something higher, something more divine than the mere knowledge of books. This training means knowledge of Christ; it means emancipation from ideas, from habits and practices that have been gained in the school of the Prince of Darkness. The soul must be delivered from habits and practices which are opposed to loyalty to God. In this life we are to learn submission to the Divine will, or we shall not be able to enter into the kingdom of heaven. True religion enables a man to overcome stubbornness, pride, selfishness, worldly ambition, questioning, and unbelief. There is grace and strength in Christ to enable us to rise above the alluring, infatuating temptations of Satan and lead us to the Cross of Calvary that we may become active, devoted, loyal workers for the cause of truth.” (Australasian) Union Conference Record, July 12, 1899.

Jesus Christ is all that is necessary to our souls. Without Jesus you and I would be in the clutches of the god of this world in a most miserable life with no future. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us!” I John 3:1.

“It is the grand, great work of redemption. It is Christ, made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 80.

“We are individually to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. To each one of us He must become wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” Colporteur Ministry, 49.

Along with these most precious attributes, God has also provided us armor to put on. Ephesians 6:13 says, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” [Emphasis supplied.] Who is this armor? It is Jesus. Are you beginning to realize the value of the gift God has given to us in giving us Jesus? Look at the armor:

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.” Ephesians 6:14. [Emphasis supplied.] Who is the Truth? John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Who is our righteousness? I Corinthinans 1:30. Look through Ephesians 6:13–17. You will see Jesus in every piece of the armor, and this armor came from our Heavenly Father. (Read John 3:16.)

So, Jesus is not only made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, but He is also the armor which God has given to us. We must put it on for it to protect us from the wiles of the Devil. We must put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now you can know for sure in your own hearts that Jesus Christ is the solid Rock in your life.

“Let us, under all circumstances, preserve our confidence in Christ. He is to be everything to us—the first, the last, the best in everything. Then let us educate our tongues to speak forth His praise, not only when we feel gladness and joy, but at all times.” Sons and Daughers of God, 328.

“Jesus is all in all, and without him we can do nothing. Without Christ, spiritual life would be impossible.” The Review and Herald, December 4, 1894.

“Shall we not now tune our hearts to praise God from whom all blessings flow?” The Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, April 1, 1889.

Judy Hallingstad is part of our LandMarks team. She can be contacted by email at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Two Kingdoms

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From eternity all the intelligent inhabitants of the universe enjoyed perfect peace and happiness in the kingdom of glory. The psalmist declared, “Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.” Psalm 93:2.

The foundation principle in this wonderful kingdom of glory was love. “ ‘God is love.’ I John 4:16. His nature, His law, is love. It ever has been; it ever will be. ‘The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,’ whose ‘ways are everlasting,’ changeth not. With Him ‘is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.’ Isaiah 57:15; Habakkuk 3:6; James 1:17.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 33.

“The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His work of beneficence. He had an associate—a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.’ John 1:1, 2. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father—one in nature, in character, in purpose—the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. ‘His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ Isaiah 9:6. His ‘goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.’ Micah 5:2. And the Son of God declares concerning Himself: ‘The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting. … When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.’ Proverbs 8:22–30.” Ibid., 34.

“Angels are God’s ministers, radiant with the light ever flowing from His presence and speeding on rapid wing to execute His will. But the Son, the anointed of God, the ‘express image of His person,’ ‘the brightness of His glory,’ ‘upholding all things by the word of His power,’ holds supremacy over them all. Hebrews 1:3. ‘A glorious high throne from the beginning,’ was the place of His sanctuary (Jeremiah 17:12); ‘a scepter of righteousness,’ the scepter of His kingdom. Hebrews 1:8. ‘Honor and majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.’ Psalm 96:6. Mercy and truth go before His face. Psalm 89:14.” Ibid.

Such are the descriptions of the kingdom of glory before the rebellion of Lucifer in heaven and the fall of Adam and Eve on this earth. But immediately upon the fall of Adam and Eve everything changed. Another kingdom was established in the place of the kingdom of glory. In this new kingdom, the kingdom of grace, everything focused on two objectives: (1) the redemption of the fallen race and (2) the restoration of the kingdom of glory. In this article we will focus on the objective of the restoration of the kingdom of glory.

“At his creation Adam was placed in dominion over the earth. … When man became Satan’s captive, the dominion which he held, passed to his conqueror. Thus Satan became ‘the god of this world.’ II Corinthians 4:4. He had usurped that dominion over the earth which had been originally given to Adam. But Christ, by His sacrifice paying the penalty of sin, would not only redeem man, but recover the dominion which he had forfeited. All that was lost by the first Adam will be restored by the second. Says the prophet, ‘O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion.’ Micah 4:8. And the apostle Paul points forward to the ‘redemption of the purchased possession.’ Ephesians 1:14. God created the earth to be the abode of holy, happy beings. The Lord ‘formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited.’ Isaiah 45:18. That purpose will be fulfilled, when, renewed by the power of God, and freed from sin and sorrow, it shall become the eternal abode of the redeemed. ‘The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.’ ‘And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him.’ Psalm 37:29; Revelation 22:3.” Ibid., 67. [Emphasis supplied.]

At the establishment of the kingdom of grace “Christ assured the angels that by His death He would ransom many, and would destroy him who had the power of death. He would recover the kingdom (of glory) which man had lost by transgression, and the redeemed were to inherit it with Him, and dwell therein forever.” Ibid., 65. [Emphasis supplied.]

“The plan by which alone man’s salvation could be secured, involved all heaven in its infinite sacrifice.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 64. “Christ would take upon Himself the guilt and shame of sin—sin so offensive to a holy God that it must separate the Father and His Son. Christ would reach to the depths of misery to rescue the ruined race.

“Before the Father He pleaded in the sinner’s behalf, while the host of heaven awaited the result with an intensity of interest that words cannot express. Long continued was that mysterious communing—‘the counsel of peace’ (Zechariah 6:13) for the fallen sons of men. … it was a struggle, even with the King of the universe, to yield up His Son to die for the guilty race.” Ibid., 63.

The kingdom of grace is a kingdom of bloodshed and war. It required the separation of the Father and the Son. Jesus must lay aside his crown, step down from His throne and become a sacrifice—the Lamb of God, a High Priest and Mediator for the fallen race. For millennia this battle would continue. Martyrs for the truth’s sake would number in the millions.

So it was that immediately upon the fall of Adam and Eve the kingdom of glory was replaced by the kingdom of grace. It was ratified when Jesus yielded up His life on the cross. “When the Saviour yielded up his life, and with his expiring breath cried out, ‘It is finished’ [John 19:30], then the fulfillment of the plan of redemption was assured. The promise of salvation made to the sinful pair in Eden was ratified. The kingdom of grace, which had before existed by the promise of God, was then established.” The Great Controversy, 348.

The Savior had now provided His blood with which to remove the confessed sins of His people so they could be redeemed. Forty days following His death and resurrection He ascended to heaven to be inaugurated as our High Priest and Mediator in the sanctuary in heaven. A record of this grand celebration is recorded in Revelation, chapters 4, 5; 1:12–16, and The Desire of Ages, 830–835.

Because no sin can exist in the kingdom of glory the atonement ministry of Christ’s blood must be completed in the heavenly sanctuary before this kingdom of glory can be restored. “The work of the investigative judgment and the blotting out of sins is to be accomplished before the second advent of the Lord. … The apostle Peter distinctly states that the sins of believers will be blotted out ‘when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ.’ Acts 3:19, 20. When the investigative judgment closes, Christ will come, and His reward will be with Him to give to every man as his work shall be.” The Great Controversy, 485.

Here we are clearly informed that the restoration of the kingdom of glory cannot be completed until the investigative judgment is completed. The 7th trumpet, in Revelation 11:15–19 is an explanation of the investigative judgment. The Spirit of Prophecy informs us that the 7th trumpet began to sound on October 22, 1844. “The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament. Revelation 11:19. … The announcement that the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of His testament was seen points to the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844 as Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement.” Ibid., 433.

The 7th trumpet also says that Christ, in addition to His work as a High Priest to complete the closing work of atonement, begins to reign. “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet; and there were loud voices in heaven, which said, The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he will reign for ever and ever.” … “You have taken your great power, and have begun to reign.” Revelation 11:15, 17.

There are three reasons that we can know that the role of the High Priest and that of the king are two different functions.

The role of a king is to reign, while the work of a High Priest is to mediate.

The work of the High Priest ends when the atonement is completed; the Most Holy Place is closed and probation ends.

Revelation 11:15 says that the king “will reign for ever and ever.”

Let us look further into the role of the king that is brought to light in the 7th trumpet. In the parable of the 10 virgins, the Bridegroom also represents the role of a king who in this parable is preparing for a wedding. The coming of the Bridegroom in this parable occurs at the same time that the 7th trumpet began to sound. “In the summer and autumn of 1844 the proclamation, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh,’ was given. … In the parable, when the bridegroom came, ‘they that were ready went in with him to the marriage.’ Matthew 25:6, 10. The coming of the bridegroom, here brought to view, takes place before the marriage. The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom.” Ibid., 426.

These statements connect the coming of the Bridegroom with the same event described in Daniel 7:9, 10 and 13 where Jesus is seen coming before the Ancient of Days to begin the investigative judgment. “The proclamation, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh,’ in the summer of 1844, led thousands to expect the immediate advent of the Lord. At the appointed time the Bridegroom came, not to the earth, as the people expected, but to the Ancient of Days in heaven, to the marriage, the reception of His kingdom.” Ibid., 427.

There is another representation of these events given in Matthew. “In the parable of Matthew 22 the same figure of the marriage is introduced, and the investigative judgment is clearly represented as taking place before the marriage. Previous to the wedding the king comes in to see the guests, to see if all are attired in the wedding garment, the spotless robe of character washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. Matthew 22:11; Revelation 7:14. … This work of examination of character, of determining who are prepared for the kingdom of God, is that of the investigative judgment, the closing of work in the sanctuary above.” Ibid., 428.

In this parable of the king selecting guests for the wedding banquet we see the relationship of the work of the High Priest and that of the king. The repentant sinner first goes before the High Priest and confesses all of his sins. The High Priest then atones for those confessed sins with His blood and washes them away. The High Priest then clothes him with the precious wedding garment and the saint then goes in before the king in the banquet hall. The King then selects those wearing the wedding garment to “ ‘sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,’ at His table in His kingdom (Matthew 8:11; Luke 22:30), to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Ibid., 427.

The marriage of the Lamb cannot take place until His work as Mediator is finished, the sanctuary closed and the kingdom of grace has come to an end. “He shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne.’ Not now upon the throne of His glory;’ the kingdom of glory has not yet been ushered in. Not until His work as a mediator shall be ended will God give unto Him the throne of His father David,’ a kingdom of which there shall be no end.’ Luke 1:32, 33.” Ibid., 416.

Right after the close of probation, the close of the sanctuary in heaven, the wedding of the Lamb takes place in heaven. “The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom [of glory]. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and representative of the kingdom, is called ‘the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ … Christ, as stated by the prophet Daniel, will receive from the Ancient of Days in heaven, ‘dominion, and glory, and a kingdom;’ He will receive the New Jerusalem, the capital of His kingdom, ‘prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.’ Daniel 7:14; Revelation 21:2. Having received the kingdom, He will come in His glory, as King of kings and Lord of lords, for the redemption of His people, who are to ‘sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,’ at His table in His kingdom (Matthew 8:11; Luke 22:30), to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Ibid., 426, 427.

Thus far we have studied following events in the restoration of the kingdom of glory.

Christ comes before the Ancient of Days to begin the investigative judgment.

Christ as High Priest purifies His people.

The king selects the guests who attend the wedding banquet.

Probation closes; the kingdom of grace ends.

The wedding of the Lamb takes place in heaven.

The king comes to take the saints to the wedding banquet.

There are two more events that must take place before the kingdom of glory can be fully restored to its original condition before the rebellion of Lucifer. The next event is the executive phase of the judgment. This phase is clearly defined in The Great Controversy.

“During the thousand years between the first and the second resurrection the judgment of the wicked takes place. The apostle Paul points to this judgment as an event that follows the second advent. ‘Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.’ I Corinthians 4:5. Daniel declares that when the Ancient of Days came, ‘judgment was given to the saints of the Most High.’ Daniel 7:22. At this time the righteous reign as kings and priests unto God. John in the Revelation says: ‘I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them.’ ‘They shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.’ Revelation 20:4, 6. It is at this time that, as foretold by Paul, ‘the saints shall judge the world.’ I Corinthians 6:2. In union with Christ they judge the wicked, comparing their acts with the statute book, the Bible, and deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then the portion which the wicked must suffer is meted out, according to their works; and it is recorded against their names in the book of death.” The Great Controversy, 660, 661.

The last event before the full restoration of the kingdom of glory is the execution phase of the judgment which follows the millennium and the second resurrection. John gives the following description of this judgment:

“They [Satan, the fallen angels, and all of the wicked] marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves.” Revelation 20:9, first part.

“Then I saw a great white throne, and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence; and there was no place for them.

“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: another book was opened, which is the book of life: the dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

“The sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and each person was judged according to what he had done.” Revelation 20:11–13.

“But fire came down from heaven, and devoured them.” Revelation 20:9, last part.

“And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:10.

“If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.” Revelation 20:15, 14.

When the execution of the judgment is completed the kingdom of glory is fully restored. “God’s original purpose in the creation of the earth is fulfilled as it is made the eternal abode of the redeemed. ‘The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.’ Psalm 37:29.” The Great Controversy, 674.

“The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.” The Great Controversy, 678.

In summary, the kingdom of grace is a temporary kingdom that is established for two purposes: (1) to provide a way for the fallen race to be restored to the kingdom of glory, and (2) to dispose of sin in the universe so the kingdom of glory can be restored to its original state.

Maurice Hoppe is retired and volunteers at Steps to Life. His primary responsibility is working with the Training Program for Ministers and Church Leaders and the Training Program for Lay Workers. He also conducts a Bible Correspondence School from his home with emphasis on Bible prophecy. He can be contacted at: mauricehoppe@stepstolife.org.

The New Jerusalem and the City of Destruction

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My family and I received the call to the New Jerusalem and it is just too good for us to turn down. We didn’t want to go without telling friends and family. We read about it in Revelation 21:10, 11: “And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” If you could only see a picture of it—the grass is a living green, the flowers, the beauty—it’s all there, anything that you could ever want, or imagine.

Paul tried to describe it, but look what he says, “As it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for them.” I Corinthians 2:9. You can’t imagine it, Paul says; it’s beyond description the things that God has prepared for us.

Abraham caught a glimpse of this city in his mind’s eye. “By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he should afterward receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in a land of promise as in a foreign country.” He never really became a citizen; it was a foreign country to him. The whole rest of his life he was a foreigner, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. “For he waited for a city that has real foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:8–10.

Why did Abraham leave his relatives, friends and the comfortable home where he had lived? When Abraham caught a glimpse of that city, he said, “Lord, however you lead, wherever you lead, I’m going. I am following.” And there the Lord led him away from his comfortable surroundings, his boyhood friends, work acquaintances from his job and all that he had established there. He led them away and he went out and he lived in tents. Imagine, for the rest of his life, in tents, moving here and there, having to pitch a tent every place he stopped. See Genesis 12.

As Abraham was journeying, his cattle began to increase. His nephew Lot was with him, and his cattle increased. Soon Lot’s herdsmen and Abraham’s herdsmen got into arguments because of all the cattle, and the watering situation. See Genesis 13.

Abraham came to Lot, who was the younger man, and he said, “Listen, Lot. We’re headed for a city. Let’s not argue or have our herdsmen argue. You go any place you want; you can stay here, or take anything you want. I’ll take anything that’s left.” See Genesis 13. Abraham knew that this wasn’t his home. It did not matter whether he was in the valley or ravines. Wherever he was, it was only a temporary place for him.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we had that same attitude in the church, and in church offices, and church duties, and all these things? This world is as a temporary journeying place with temporary duties until we get to our heavenly home. Abraham showed an unselfish attitude. I wish we could all live in tents, maybe not literal tents, but like Abraham lived, that we would see our houses and our dwelling places as only temporary abodes.

If we could only break away from the hypnotic trance of this world like Abraham did. If we could just get our eyes beyond that car or cars or whatever it may be in our driveways or out on the curb that is holding our affections. Oh, that we could take our affections away from our wardrobes, our homes or whatever else that may consume our time and our planning. They are all going to burn together. The Rolls Royce will burn just as well as the Volkswagen. The Taj Mahal is going to burn right along with the row houses of Washington, D.C. They are all but temporary dwellings whether people realize it or not. We do not own anything in this life; we just lease it. We are temporary sojourners and are just living here for a little while. I believe with all my heart that it’s not that far away.

We have received two calls. One of them is to the city of destruction which is an easy call and has a lot of temporary benefits. Even though it is an easy call, the retirement is lousy. Let me tell you about that call.

To accept that call, you do not really have to do anything. You can either sit down and watch television or go out and work hard earning a living. You can eat and drink and marry and give in marriage just like they did before the flood, and you’ve got the call. It is all paid for; the journey is paid for. The devil has your ticket and your name is written right on it. It is yours; you have got it. You can be basically a good person, outwardly. You can be a social person or a cultured person; whatever you want and it is all yours.

The only way you can forfeit that call is to take the cross of Jesus Christ. Take Him as your Saviour and as your Lord and your Master and take His cross for your cross. That is the only way you can forfeit the call. Other than that, it is yours for the taking. It’s all paid for; the way is free. The Devil has paid the way. It’s an easy call. There’s only one sad thing about that call. A whole lot of people have that ticket which is made out for the city of destruction, but think they are going to the New Jerusalem.

Jesus said, “Not every one who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, look, we have a ticket to heaven; look at all these things we did. We prophesied in the name of Jesus. In your name, Lord, we cast out demons. We did many wonders in the name of Jesus, in your name, Jesus. And then I’ll declare to them, says Jesus, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:21–23).

They thought they had a ticket that was stamped to the New Jerusalem and it was to the city of destruction. What a disappointment that is. Jesus says in verses 13 and 14, “Enter by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way.” You see, it is an easy way. It can encompass all your peculiarities and all of your prejudices. It can encompass all of your traditions and all of the things you think you should do. It is a broad way and many there be that go in thereat. But, remember, it is the broad way and leads to the city of destruction. The way to the New Jerusalem is narrow and the way is difficult.

Did Jesus really say it is difficult to get to heaven? Yes He did. He said it over and over again, but He has given us the strength, and it is the way that He has paid for. He wants everyone to make it and promises to be our personal guide, but it is not the easy way. It is the difficult way that leads to life and there are few who find it.

As I said, this way to the city of destruction is the easy way. But the retirement is lousy. Let me tell you about that retirement. The next moment, according to the Bible, after they die, those on that road wake up a thousand years later, a thousand years too late.

The centuries have passed by as in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, because when you are unconscious, totally dead, you know not the passing of time. The Bible says the dead know not anything. The Bible says they are asleep. Jesus said they are asleep but to them it is instantaneous; instantly they are awake. There they are outside of the New Jerusalem. One moment they are here; maybe in an auto accident, a heart attack, or something happens, and instantly they are in a new place, outside the New Jerusalem, in the city of destruction.

In Revelation 20:7, 8, it says, “Now when one thousand years are expired, Satan will be released from his prison, And he will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them to the battle: whose number is as the sand of the seas.”

Here we have the two great cities of earth, the New Jerusalem and the city of destruction. There was a time when God’s people lived in tents while those in Sodom, Gomorrah and Babylon built great and beautiful cities where they made their homes. But now the tables are reversed. Now it is God’s people who are in the city and it is those who have followed Satan who are all living in tents out there in tent city, out there in the city of destruction, in the country of Gog and Magog.

In Revelation 20:12, we find there is going to be a great white throne set up above the city: “And I saw the dead, both small and great, standing before God; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged according to their works by the things which were written in those books.”

What a time that is going to be when all the inhabitants who have ever lived on earth from the beginning to the end are all going to be at one place at one time—all the good and also the wicked. Some in tent city and some in the New Jerusalem. You will be there and I will be there; whatever our beliefs, we will all be there. Whatever our lives are like or whatever our habits are like, or wherever we are planning on going, we will all be there—every one of us. All of the inhabitants of earth are to meet at one place at one time. Do you ever wonder what it would be like to wake up outside the New Jerusalem?

You know it can happen in just a moment of time. Maybe you are driving down the road and all of a sudden someone swerves out, coming the opposite way in front of you and you get that panic feeling that comes up over you. You reach for that brake, your eyes open wide, and there’s that sound—an instantaneous split second crash sound of crashing metal, and instantly you wake up. You thought you were in the car. You pinch yourself. Where am I? And for a moment your thoughts go back to where they were, about what you were planning to fix for supper that night. Oh, the accident; I never made it home. My family. Where are they? Oh, no, my existence is over, and I’m a member of the church. My dear friend, that will be a heartache that will pierce so deep that there will be no remedy if you wake up in the wrong place. That will be a heartache that will go deeper than anything we’ve ever known or experienced before. And there is going to be no cure, no remedy. I will tell you, friends, that unless we are having a deeper experience than a lot of us are, that is a nightmare that ought to haunt us every night and every day because it is going to be a reality; it is going to happen. Jesus said that the way to destruction, to that city of destruction, is broad and it is easy, but the way to the city of God, to the New Jerusalem, is a narrow way. It does not matter what tradition is, what human opinion is, or what everyone else is doing. No, the only way to get there is God’s way. The only way is the narrow way.

There are many people who have a lot of false hopes today. They can sing songs about going to the New Jerusalem and get all excited about it, be happy and smiling. A lot of people are giving false assurances today, but there are a lot of people going to be disappointed. A lot of people who think they are going there, are not.

We have got to become like Jesus to go there, not only in name, but also in character. I John 3:2, 3 says, “Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be: but we know this, that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” What a high calling. There is only one way to become pure like Jesus, and that’s by spending time with Him every day.

How do we break the shackles? We all know that we must spend time with God. Somehow when we sit down, we fall asleep. It’s just like we are shackled with shackles of iron. How can we ever break through the shackles and really develop a relationship with Jesus Christ?

II Corinthians 3:18 says, “We all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory into glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Are you being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ? There is no transformation without beholding, and we become what we behold. “By beholding, we become changed,” Wesley said.

If we are spending more time beholding television, the newspaper, the magazines of this world, and listening to rock radio, rock music and all these things of the world, than we are with God and His word, I can assure you we are not being transformed into Jesus’ image. We are being transformed by what we are beholding, by what we are seeing. There is no way we are going to the city of the New Jerusalem if we are spending more time with the things, the entertainments, and the attractions of this world than we are with our Lord Jesus Christ, because where the heart is, there is where we are going to spend time.

Are we being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ? That is the question. Are you less easily offended today than you were a year ago? Are you conquering those thoughts in your mind, those thoughts of pride and of self-emulation? That is a serious question because God reads the thoughts, and He reads the heart. Is your love all wrapped up in fashion and sports, and the things of this world, or is your love changing so that those things are losing their glitter? Where are your affections or your conversation? Do you love to talk about Jesus, or is your conversation all about this world?

We all have a call, and there is a position that God has waiting for us. It is an administrative position with great responsibility, if we will accept the call. Look at Revelation 3:21: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with My Father on His throne.” In Revelation 20:4, “I saw thrones and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. And I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus Christ and the word of God who had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on his forehead or his hands and they lived and they reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

The Bible reveals that those who are saved are going to judge. Paul says we are even going to judge angels, the fallen angels, of course. Now, Jesus, of course, and the angels, the Bible reveals, are judging. God goes through and judges enough to know who is righteous and who is lost. The judgment of the lost, other than the fact that they are lost, is given into the hands of the saints. The Bible reveals that there are different punishments for different people.

The Devil has always accused Jesus of being a tyrant, intolerable, and being unjust. No one is going to be able to tell God He is unjust, tyrannical, or any of these other things, because He is not doing the judging. He is giving it into the hands of human beings who will judge their own parents, their own children, their own relatives, their own kinsmen, their own neighbors. The saved will be doing the judging and you know they are going to be fair.

Just imagine being able to see yourself in your living room and there see your son and your daughter and can see their thoughts. You see the angels struggling for their souls and there is the great controversy going on. You see the convictions of their lives and then to your horror you see yourself sitting there watching television while the great controversy is going on for your children, while they are under conviction. There you are earning money, hurrying to get ready for the Sabbath, hurrying to get ready for church, hurrying for everything, and they are not there. You think, Oh, if I could live my life over again, but you can’t. Later you were converted, but it was too late.

You look out your windows and you see your neighbors. You go outside the door and you can see their thoughts, wondering about your religion, what made you tick. There you see the angels in a great controversy for their souls and you are unconcerned. Then a thought flashes into your mind that you are going to meet them again; you are going to have to look into their eyes at the end of the millennium. You are all going to be there together. There your children are going to look up into your eyes. There you are in the city, and there they are in the city of destruction. Oh, if you had only helped them. There are your neighbors saying, If you had only told me; why didn’t you tell me?

There’s going to be anger and resentment outside the city. There are going to be tears for lost opportunities, tears for loved ones, tears for family.

Today is the day to make sure of our calling. Today is the day to do our witnessing. Today is the day to talk with our sons and our daughters and our next door neighbors. Tomorrow it may be too late. Today is the day to give money for the spread of the gospel. Today is the day to make an appointment to meet together on that other shore. Look at Revelation 22:14. It says, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” Verse 17 says, “And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come.” Here is the call, friends, He’s calling today. He says, “Come. Come. And let him who hears say, Come. And let him who is thirsty and whosoever desires, let him take of the water of life freely.”

You need to make an appointment to meet around that great white throne by the river of life that flows from that crystal white throne. Today is the day to accept that call. We have all received the call. Today is our day of probation. Today is the day that God has given us life to make our calling and election sure. We are but sojourners in this earth. Let him who accepts the call, give the call.

Pastor Marshall Grosboll, with his wife Lillian, founded Steps to Life. In July 1991, Pastor Marshall and his family met with tragedy as they were returning home from a camp meeting in Washington State, when the airplane he was piloting went down, killing all on board.

One World Church

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Many Christians today desire to be part of the Apostolic church that Jesus formed at his ascension but are not willing to join or be part of any particular denomination. With so many different churches and denominations the question arises, Will there be another universal religious power and why are there so many denominations all separated from one another?

John the Revelator was given a most astonishing prophecy foretelling what would happen in Christendom and the future of the Christian church. This was seen in the prophecy of the seven seals and the four horsemen.

Revelation 6:1, 2 says, “I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”

In one generation the news that Jesus Christ was the Messiah and that sins could be forgiven simply by coming to Him in faith, was taken to the whole world. The apostle Paul wrote, “The gospel, which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven.” Colossians 1:23.

According to Christian tradition, Andrew went as a missionary to India and Nicodemus went as a missionary to the area which today is called the British Isles. The message was spread all over Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Philip shared with the Ethiopian eunuch who took the gospel back to Ethiopia and from that time there were Christians in Ethiopia. The news that Jesus had broken the bonds of death, and that through Him eternal life was available, electrified the world and believers were added to the church worldwide.

When confronted that this teaching was contrary to the prevailing ideas of society, the position of the early believers was that they “ought to obey God rather than man.” Acts 5:29. They had a “primitive godliness” or “Apostolic Christianity” that every Christian wants but few people have.

The white horse represents the church following the day of Pentecost that had a pure faith but God foresaw that things would change.

The apostle Paul said to the elders, bishops and overseers of the church, “Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” Acts 20:28–30.

Paul says that apostasy would come up from within the church. The greatest danger to the Christian church has never been from the outside, but the most dangerous enemies are those on the inside.

The second seal opened: “Another horse, fiery red, went out, and it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another: and there was given to him a great sword.” Revelation 6:4.

This horse represents a bloodstained faith. The pagan Roman government saw that if Christianity was allowed to go on it would conquer the world so they decided to destroy the church. That resulted in bitter persecution for hundreds of years and millions of Christians were martyred for their faith. Some were fed to starving lions, leopards and other ferocious beasts. Others were crucified or burned to death.

The period of the red horse was from about A.D. 90 to about A.D. 313. when the edict of Milan was passed granting, for the first time, official toleration to the Christians.

The next change was represented by a black horse.

“And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” Revelation 6:5, 6.

Black is the color of apostasy. The Christian faith was compromised.

Faith in Christ for salvation was replaced by trust in the church for salvation. During this period of time an attempt was made to supplant the commandments of God with the commandments of men. The Ten Commandments of God are unchangeable. Jesus said it would be easier for heaven and earth to pass than for one of them to fail because they are eternal.

Part of the second commandment says, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: You shall not bow down to them, nor serve them.” Exodus 20:4, 5.

Christians began to bow before images using them in their worship services, although this was forbidden in the second commandment. The pagan’s day of the sun replaced the Bible Sabbath. Christians did not want to be thought of as enemies of the Roman state so they compromised and said that they could celebrate on that day too, because that is the day that Jesus rose from the dead.

The Apostolic Creed, Book 7, Section 2 reads, “Oh Lord Almighty, thou hast created the world by Jesus Christ, and hath appointed the Sabbath in memory thereof.”

The apostles knew which day the Sabbath was and that it was given because God was the Creator of the heavens and the earth. All of the early Christians in the first century kept the Sabbath.

We are told by Eusibius that Constantine, in order to recommend the new religion to the heathen, transferred into it the outward ornaments to which they had been accustomed in their own religion.

The retention of the old pagan name Sunday is in great measure owed to the union of pagan and Christian sentiment with which the first day of the week was recommended by Constantine to his subjects, the venerable day of the sun.

It was during this time when Sunday keeping came into the Christian church. The Bible says, “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:3.

The prophet Ezekiel said that, “Her priests have violated my law, and profaned my holy things: they have not distinguished between the holy and the unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” Ezekiel 22:26.

Concerning this law, God said, “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of my mouth.” Psalm 89:34. Jesus said, “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle [part of a letter] of the law to fail.” Luke 16:17. It was during this time period after Constantine in the 4th century that men started tampering with God’s law, doing away with some and replacing it with something else. This is the period of time spoken of in the prophecy of the black horse, a compromised Christianity.

The worst was yet to come. Compromise leads to a total abandonment of the original principles, or in other words, apostasy.

What happened next?

“And when he had opened the fourth seal, … I looked, and beheld a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” Revelation 6:7, 8.

The Greek word translated pale actually means a pale yellowish green like the substance that someone has just vomited.

Because of the compromise, new Christians were, as far as thinking and habits went, the same old pagans. “Their surge into the churches did not wipe out paganism. On the contrary, hordes of baptized pagans meant that paganism had deluded the moral energies of organized Christianity to the point of impotence.” Centuries of Christianity, the Concise History, 58.

This resulted in a dead faith. The apostolic church had the power of the Holy Spirit but when the Christian church started imitating pagan customs, they lost the Spirit and power of God. They needed something to replace it to enforce its decrees. They went to the state to get power which resulted in a union of church and state. Religion then became a matter of following tradition instead of following the word of God. Christianity became an established religion in the Roman Empire and took the place of paganism. Christianity as it existed in the Dark Ages might be termed baptized Paganism.

The steps of compromise led to:

  • Human tradition being accepted over the Bible;
  • The teaching of faith and works, especially religious rituals, were necessary to be saved;
  • The church was exalted over the word of God; and,
  • The commandments of human leaders were taught instead of the commandments of God.

During this terrible period of time millions of Christians lost their lives for their faith. It was actually a crime for a common person to own a copy of the Scriptures. It had to be read in secret for fear of death. It looked like true religion had just about come to an end. But the Bible says, “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18.

Comparatively speaking, there were very few Christians in the world at that time. Because of persecution they fled to the mountains just as it was predicted in Revelation 12. However, the light of truth penetrated the darkness. Notice what Jude wrote to the Christians: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you, exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Jude 3.

The true Christians, even when they were locked up in dungeons, prisons or exiled, maintained their faith in Jesus unto death. Bible believing Christians were scattered, many living in hidden homes in isolated places, especially in the alps of northern Italy and in the southeast of France. The Waldenses, the Bordeaux, the Huguenots or Albigenses or Paulicians were among these.

There were no printing presses in those days so the Waldenses copied the Scriptures by hand, all the time teaching them to their children. While very few in Europe had them, the Waldenses had the Scriptures in their own native language and taught that the Bible was the rule of faith and practice above the usages of the church.

Jesus said to the devil, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.

James 1:18 says, “Of his own will he brought us [the church] forth by the word [the Bible], that we might be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.”

The Word of God, the Scriptures, produced the church and not the church producing the word of God. There are hundreds of people confused about this today. Simply said, the word is not the child of the church, but is the parent or the origin of the church.

During this period of the Dark Ages, millions of people went to prison and lost their lives because they would not consent to compromise the faith of the Bible. We are not to disobey the commandment of God in order to obey any human edict or any church or government. “We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29. This might be called the creed of the martyrs during the Dark Ages.

Only the final Day of Judgment will reveal the exact number, but estimates are that 50–70 million Christians were martyred during the Dark Ages. In 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. He discovered through his study that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, which is contrary to the doctrine that men were saved by both faith and works, which was then commonly believed.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9.

In the 16th century there were still many truths of the New Testament that had been lost, and it was impossible that even the best scholars could come to the full knowledge of all Bible truth in one generation.

Jesus understands that. He said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” John 16:12. You can’t take all the truth right now.

Martin Luther was an instrument of God to bring the entire Christian world back to the apostolic teaching that we are saved by grace alone. But that was not all that God’s children needed to learn. Other teachers were raised up by God to lead His people slowly back to apostolic Christianity. The Lord wanted His children to grow in the knowledge of the Christian lifestyle and come to Christian perfection. Christian perfection is not a popular doctrine today, but it is Biblical. Peter said, “Grow in grace.” II Peter 3:18. And Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48.

Those following the increasing light learned that infants were not baptized in the apostolic church, but only those who were old enough to manifest their faith. The idea of infant baptism commenced during the Dark Ages.

Jesus said, “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations … Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19, 20.

Martin Luther was not the only one to be persecuted but every reformer to which God revealed new truth from the Bible. The people, later called Anabaptists, who discovered the need to be old enough to reason, or come to the age of accountability before being baptized, were persecuted. At that time it was a capital crime not to believe in infant baptism. Once when I was in France, I was shown a bridge where at one time Anabaptists had been beheaded and their heads posted on both sides of the bridge.

Later, John Wesley and others studied and learned that God expected His followers to become holy people. Paul wrote, “Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.

John Wesley, who was a member of the Church of England, wrote much on this subject of holiness. His followers later became known as the Methodist church.

When Jesus left this world it was with the promise that He would return. “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, is going to come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11.

Toward the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, there was a great religious awakening. Bible students around the world began to see that they had reached the period of earth’s history that the Bible described as the last days or the time of the end.

For the first time in history, God began to move upon His servants all over the world and in many different churches to proclaim the news that the second coming of Christ was approaching. Within just a few years, earnest Bible students in many countries learned principal doctrines of the apostles that had been lost during the Dark Ages. Some of these included the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, health principles, how to live as Christ’s followers, and what happens after death.

There are really only two kinds of religion in the world, the true religion that the apostles had which comes from God and teaches, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29, or the other religion that Jesus described in Matthew 15:9, “And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

There are thousands of religions today, all with conflicting creeds, but they all have one thing in common—they teach the commandments of men. Most people who call themselves Christians have a religion that is a mixture of the word of God and the commandments of men. God predicted that in the last days there would be some people who would repair the breach made in God’s law which is the attempt to destroy the Sabbath.

Notice what Isaiah says: “You shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of streets to dwell in. If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord, honourable.” Isaiah 58:12, 13.

God’s people, in the last days, will be a commandment keeping people. John describes the two identifying characteristics that His people will possess. “Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God.” Revelation 14:12.

There are eight issues in the last days to consider:

Authority

God’s truth—Religious authority comes from God’s word. His word is sufficient to bring the Christian to perfection. II Timothy 3:16, 17.

Satan’s counterfeit—Religious authority comes from man and groups of men, such as church councils or theologians. Church laws are decrees.

Prayer

God’s truth—Prayer is made to God the Father and is offered in the name of Jesus Christ alone.

Satan’s counterfeit—Prayers are made to the dead, to angels and saints with the use of images.

Salvation

God’s truth—Salvation can be received by grace alone, through faith alone. The good works of the Christian do not earn any merit; we are saved by the merits of Christ alone. See Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:3–7.

Satan’s counterfeit—Salvation comes partly by grace and partly earned—either by the works of the believer or by the good works of saints.

Intercession

God’s truth—The Christian goes to Christ alone as his intercessor and receives forgiveness for sins by the merits of Christ alone. The Bible says, “There is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus.” I Timothy 2:5.

Satan’s counterfeit—The Christian goes to human intercessors to receive forgiveness for sins.

Worship

God’s truth—“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour, and do all your work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.” Exodus 20:8–10. Writing several decades after the cross Paul, speaking of the seventh day, says it remains. Hebrews 4:4–6.

Satan’s counterfeit— as  Many worship on Friday, and many worship on Sunday—the ancient pagan solar holiday.

Death

God’s truth—“The dead do not praise the Lord.” Psalm 115:17. “Dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19.

“Jesus spoke of His death: but they thought He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.” John 11:13.

“There will be a resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust.” Acts 24:15.

Satan’s counterfeit—When a person dies he goes to heaven or hell or some other undesirable place.

Baptism

God’s truth—Baptism by immersion and “He that believes, and is baptized, shall be saved.” Mark 16:16. You cannot be an infant; you must first believe.

Satan’s counterfeit—Infant baptism of sprinkling or pouring which is not taught in the Bible.

Health laws

God’s truth—The health laws of the Bible are eternal and we must keep them if we are to be God’s children. “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” I Corinthians 6:19, 20.

“If any man destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him.” I Corinthians 3:17.

Jesus said, “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” John 10:16.

Satan’s counterfeit—The health laws of the Bible have been abolished and we can eat and drink as we please.

Who are the people who Jesus will recognize as belonging to Him when He comes? “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14. NKJV.

Those who are loyal to the laws of the heavenly government will have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

There will be some who will not enter the city. Revelation 22:15 says, “Outside are dogs,” then is listed specific ones, “the sexually immoral [the seventh commandment], the idolaters [the second commandment], those who are liars [the ninth commandment].”

Notice in verse 14 that the people who keep the commandments will be recognized by Jesus as belonging to Him. When Jesus comes, will you be one of those who are welcomed into the holy city, or will you be left on the outside?

“Now is the day of salvation.” II Corinthians 6:2.

“Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart.” Hebrews 3:7, 8.

Pastor John Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316–788–5559.

Editorial – The Law of Moses, Part IV

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There are many Christians today who believe in keeping various of the ceremonial law or Law of Moses. Some of them do not make a distinction in their minds between the ceremonial law or Law of Moses and the Ten Commandments, but the Bible makes a clear distinction between them. For example: (1)The Moral Law or Ten Commandments was spoken to the people by God’s own voice, and after Moses reviewed this law of Ten Commandments with the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 5:6–21) he stated that God “added no more” (Deuteronomy 5:22). The principles of the Ten Commandments were explained more fully to Moses and he wrote down these explanations for the people; e.g. see Leviticus 18 and 20 for a fuller description of the seventh commandment and Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 for a fuller description of the sixth commandment. All of the other commandments were also explained more completely by Moses. But, in addition to this, the Lord also gave His people ceremonial laws governing religious rituals. These ceremonial laws are very instructive because we find there an accurate picture of the plan of salvation and what is necessary for a man to do to be saved. These ceremonial laws were symbolic for the time of the Old Covenant (Hebrews 9:9) and included, (1) the daily service of the sanctuary with all that it involved—animal sacrifices, a priest who at that time was Aaron or one of his descendants, and (2) a yearly service of the earthly sanctuary (Hebrews 9:6–8) with all that this service involved and (3) ceremonies involving “foods and drinks, various washings and ordinances” pertaining to the body or the flesh (Hebrews 9:10). Then Paul states that these things were “imposed until the time of reformation.” When was the time of reformation? When the seed came (Galatians 3:19), when the Old Covenant would be superceded by the New Covenant (see Matthew 26:26–29), when the earthly sanctuary would be superceded by the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 9:11–15).

In the New Covenant we do not keep the types but rather the New Covenant ceremonies instead—the Old Covenant has passed away. The New Covenant ceremonies are three: (1) the ceremony of baptism which takes the place of circumcision; (2) the ceremony of humility or footwashing service (John 13) which takes the place of all the washings and purification ceremonies of the Old Covenant; and (3) the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper which takes the place of the Passover. Paul is very clear that Christians are not to keep the typical or ceremonial laws anymore; notice especially Hebrews 9:10; Galatians 3:19; Ephesians 2:14–18; Galatians 4:9, 10; Galatians 4:21–31; Galatians 5:1–6; Galatians 6:12–15.

Bible Study Guides – Prayer and Study

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March 21, 2010 – March 27, 2010

Key Text

“Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”

Psalm 25:15.

Study Help: My Life Today, 20; Marantha, 77; Testimonies, vol. 1, 121.

Introduction

“At this time above all others the paths of life are beset with perils that I cannot find language to describe. In a single departure from the path of sanctified principle Satan obtains an advantage, and he leads on and on, farther and farther from right and truth.” In Heavenly Places, 258.

Personal Prayer Life—Four Main Elements

1 Worship God. In what ways can we reverence God during our personal prayer time? Psalm 95:1–6, esp. verse 6; John 4:23, 24.

Note. “Both in public and in private worship it is our privilege to bow on our knees before God when we offer our petitions to Him. Jesus, our example, ‘kneeled down, and prayed.’ Luke 22:41. Of his disciples it is recorded that they, too, ‘kneeled down, and prayed.’ Acts 9:40. Paul declared, ‘I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Ephesians 3:14. In confessing before God the sins of Israel, Ezra knelt. See Ezra 9:5. Daniel ‘kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God.’ Daniel 6:10.” Prophets and Kings, 48.

2 Confess Your Sins. Because all have sinned (Romans 3:23), we need to confess our sins. How do we ask God to show us our sins? Psalm 139:23, 24; Proverb 28:13; I John 1:9.

Note. “ ‘Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart’—the human heart, with its conflicting emotions of joy and sorrow; the wandering, wayward heart, which is the abode of so much impurity and deceit. 1 Samuel 16:7. He knows its motives, its very intents and purposes. Go to Him with your soul all stained as it is. Like the psalmist, throw its chambers open to the all-seeing eye, exclaiming, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’ Psalm 139:23, 24.” Steps to Christ, 34.

3 Thank Him for all He has done in your life. Have you something to be thankful for? Ephesians 5:20; Psalm 119:164; I Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 50:23.

Note. “The Christian should live so near to God that he may approve things that are excellent, ‘being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God’ [Philippians 1:11]. His heart should be attuned to gratitude and praise. He should be ever ready to acknowledge the blessings he is receiving, remembering who it is that has said, ‘Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me’ [Psalm 50:23].” My Life Today, 153.

4 Intercede on Behalf of Others. Why should we intercede on behalf of others? I Timothy 2:1, 2; Ephesians 6:18.

Note. “We must be much more with God in earnest prayer. We must make God our only trust. The Lord is our God, the strength of our soul. We must take hold upon the Lord. The Lord is pleased when we importune Him for His grace and His favor, not only for ourselves but for those who are in need of help. Oh let us put implicit confidence in our Lord Jesus. Now pray, and believe, and pray, and the Lord will certainly hear us.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 6, 379, 380.

Daily Devotion—Study of God’s Word

5 Daily prayer and study are vital to spiritual development. What does God’s Word say? Psalm 119:10, 11; II Timothy 2:15; Psalm 1:1–4; John 6:54–63.

Note. “When we eat Christ’s flesh and drink His blood, the element of eternal life will be found in the ministry. There will not be a fund of stale, oft-repeated ideas. … There will be a new perception of truth, a clearness and a power that all will discern. … The fire of God’s love will be kindled within them. Their perceptive faculties will be quickened to discern the beauty and majesty of truth.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 130, 131.

6 What example can we follow of people in the Bible who loved God and how their hearts yearned to be in His presence? Psalm 5:1–3; 63:6; Daniel 6:10.

Note. “The Lord draws out the soul in prayer, and gives us to feel His precious love. We have a nearness to Him, and can hold sweet communion with Him. We obtain distinct views of His tenderness and compassion, and our hearts are broken and melted with contemplation of the love that is given to us. We feel indeed an abiding Christ in the soul. We abide in Him, and feel at home with Jesus. The promises flow into the soul. Our peace is like a river, wave after wave of glory rolls into the heart, and indeed we sup with Jesus and He with us. We have a realizing sense of the love of God, and we rest in His love. No language can describe it, it is beyond knowledge. We are one with Christ, our life is hid with Christ in God. We have the assurance that when He who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory. With strong confidence, we can call God our Father.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, 1147, 1148.

7 As we spend that quality time in His presence, what are we placing upon ourselves, and why do we need it? Ephesians 6:10–18; I Peter 5:8.

Note. “Every one who has enlisted under the bloodstained banner of Christ has entered upon a warfare that demands constant vigilance. Satan is determined to keep up the warfare to the end. Coming as an angel of light, claiming to be the Christ, he will deceive the world. But his triumph will be short. No storm or tempest can move those whose feet are planted on the principles of eternal truth. They will be able to stand in this time of almost universal apostasy.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1106.

8 To have the spiritual strength to endure unto eternal life, what do we need? Jeremiah 15:16; Matthew 4:4.

Note. “Moses, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, had said, ‘Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord’ [Deuteronomy 8:3]. … The rabbis themselves had a saying, that the eating of bread, in its spiritual significance, was the study of the law and the practice of good works; and it was often said that at the Messiah’s coming all Israel would be fed. The teaching of the prophets made plain the deep spiritual lesson in the miracle of the loaves. This lesson Christ was seeking to open to His hearers in the synagogue. Had they understood the Scriptures, they would have understood His words when He said, ‘I am the bread of life.’ Only the day before, the great multitude, when faint and weary, had been fed by the bread which He had given. As from that bread they had received physical strength and refreshment, so from Christ they might receive spiritual strength unto eternal life. ‘He that cometh to Me,’ He said, ‘shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.’ But He added, ‘Ye also have seen Me, and believe not’ [John 6:35, 36].” The Desire of Ages, 386.

9 Besides our personal devotions, how often should we pray? What does the Word of God reveal to us? Luke 18:1; Philippians 4:6, 7; Colossians 4:2.

Note. “Pray often to your heavenly Father. The oftener you engage in prayer, the closer your soul will be drawn into a sacred nearness to God. The Holy Spirit will make intercession for the sincere petitioner with groanings which cannot be uttered, and the heart will be softened and subdued by the love of God. The clouds and shadows which Satan casts about the soul will be dispelled by the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and the chambers of mind and heart will be illuminated by the light of Heaven.” In Heavenly Places, 89.

“We need to pray without ceasing. Let the heart long after God. Let the heart go out in daily, hourly prayer, believing, trusting, holding on to the promise, saying as did Jacob, ‘I will not let thee go, except thou bless me’ (Genesis 32:26). ‘Hold up my goings in thy paths,’ O God, ‘that my footsteps slip not’ [Psalm 17:5] into the pitfalls which men have dug for my feet.” In Heavenly Places, 258.

10 What is the Word of God to you? Psalms 19:7–11; II Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17.

Note. “The Bible is the standard by which to test the claims of all who profess sanctification. … All whom God is leading will manifest a high regard for the Scriptures in which His voice is heard. The Bible will be to them ‘profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works’ [11 Timothy 3:16, 17].” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1147.

“Daniel was a man of prayer, and God gave him wisdom and firmness to resist every influence that conspired to draw him into the snare of intemperance. Even in his youth he was a moral giant in the strength of the Mighty One.” My Life Today, 20.

Additional Reading

“Many accept an intellectual religion, a form of godliness, when the heart is not cleansed. Let it be your prayer, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.’ Psalm 51:10. Deal truly with your own soul. Be as earnest, as persistent, as you would be if your mortal life were at stake. This is a matter to be settled between God and your own soul, settled for eternity. A supposed hope, and nothing more, will prove your ruin.” Steps to Christ, 35.

“How are the faithful servants of Christ employed? ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,’ praying in the closet, in the family, in the congregation, everywhere; ‘and watching thereunto with all perseverance’ [Ephesians 6:18]. They feel that souls are in peril, and with earnest, humble faith they plead the promises of God in their behalf. The ransom paid by Christ—the atonement on the cross—is ever before them. They will have souls as seals of their ministry.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 190.

“But the most enthusiastic zeal will accomplish nothing without the co-operation of God. Divine power must combine with human effort, and heart must meet heart as you intercede for the souls of men who are out of Christ. Deep, fervent piety at home, in the church, and in the neighborhood, will bring souls to behold wondrous things out of the law, and to see the glorious truth of Christ our righteousness.” The Review and Herald, August 13, 1889.

“Build a fortification of prayer and faith about your children, and exercise diligent watching thereunto. You are not secure a moment against the attacks of Satan. You have no time to rest from watchful, earnest labor. You should not sleep a moment at your post. This is a most important warfare. Eternal consequences are involved. It is life or death with you and your family. Your only safety is to break your hearts before God and seek the kingdom of heaven as little children. You cannot be victors in this warfare if you continue to pursue the course you have pursued. You are not very near the kingdom of heaven.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 397, 398.

Lesson Studies were prepared by Judy Hallingstad of the LandMarks staff. She can be contacted at judyhallingstad@stepstolife.org .

Bible Study Guides – Rock or Sand—Your Choice

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March 14, 2010 – March 20, 2010

Key Text

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21.

Study Help: Testimonies, vol. 1, 416, 417; The Faith I Live By, 314.

Introduction

“Here is the greatest deception that can affect the human mind; these persons believe that they are right when they are wrong.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 417.

1 Who will enter into the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 7:21.

Note. “Christ declares that those who do His words are like a man who built his house upon a rock. This house the tempest and flood could not sweep away.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 368.

“Christianity is simply living by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. We are to believe in, and live in, Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. We have faith in God when we believe His word; we trust and obey God when we keep His commandments; and we love God when we love His law.” The Review and Herald, March 25, 1902.

2 Those who profess to know God but deny Him in works are described in what way? Titus 1:16; I John 2:4.

Note. “These may profess to be followers of Christ, but they have lost sight of their Leader. They may say, ‘Lord, Lord’; they may point to the sick who are healed through them, and to other marvelous works, and claim that they have more of the Spirit and power of God than is manifested by those who keep His law. But their works are done under the supervision of the enemy of righteousness, whose aim it is to deceive souls, and are designed to lead away from obedience, truth, and duty.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 975, 976.

3 What ground did the wise man, who heard the Lord’s words and did them, build his house upon? Matthew 7:24.

Note. “To a great extent everyone is the architect of his own character. Every day the structure more nearly approaches completion. The Word of God warns us to take heed how we build, to see that our building is founded upon the Eternal Rock. The time is coming when our work will stand revealed just as it is. Now is the time for all to cultivate the powers that God has given them, that they may form characters for usefulness here and for a higher life hereafter.

“Faith in Christ as a personal Saviour will give strength and solidity to the character. Those who have genuine faith in Christ will be sober-minded, remembering that God’s eye is upon them, that the Judge of all men is weighing moral worth, that heavenly intelligences are watching to see what manner of character is being developed.” Child Guidance, 164, 165.

4 What ground did the foolish man, who did not follow the Word of God, build his house upon? Matthew 7:26.

Note. “With some the knowledge of their true state seems to be hidden from them. They see the truth, but perceive not its importance or its claims. They hear the truth, but do not fully understand it, because they do not conform their lives to it, and therefore are not sanctified through obeying it. And yet they rest as unconcerned and well satisfied as though the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, as token of God’s favor, went before them. They profess to know God, but in works deny Him. They reckon themselves His chosen, peculiar people, yet His presence and power to save to the uttermost are seldom manifested among them. How great is the darkness of such! yet they know it not. The light shines, but they do not comprehend it.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 406, 407.

5 The result of professing to keep the law of God, yet walking contrary to the principles of that law is seen in which house? Matthew 7:26, 27.

Note. “Those who do not do Christ’s words are like the man who built his house upon the sand. Storm and tempest beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. It was an entire wreck. The result of professing to keep the law of God, yet walking contrary to the principles of that law, is seen in the wrecked house. Those who make a profession while failing to obey cannot stand the storm of temptation. One act of disobedience weakens the power to see the sinfulness of the second act. One little disregard of a ‘Thus saith the Lord’ is sufficient to stop the promised blessing of the Holy Spirit. By disobedience the light once so precious becomes obscure. Satan takes charge of the mind and soul, and God is greatly dishonored.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 368, 369.

6 The foolish virgins and the stony ground hearers that had no root are parallels with the foolish man who built his house upon the sand. Matthew 13:5, 6. How would you explain a plant with no root in comparison with the foolish virgins and the foolish man?

Note. “Jesus explained this part of the parable as referring to a certain class of hearers. He said: ‘He that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for awhile: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended’ [Matthew 13:20, 21]. This class of hearers is again represented by the parable of the foolish builder. Jesus says, ‘Every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it’ [Matthew 7:26, 27].

“The seed sown upon stony ground finds little depth of soil in which to take root.” The Review and Herald, June 7, 1892.

7 A fool is not obedient to the Laws of God, is lacking in discernment or comprehension which comes from God and so describes a foolish virgin or a foolish builder. What does the Word of God say about a fool and what they have become? Psalm 53:1–3.

Note. “He who would build up a strong, symmetrical character must give all and do all for Christ. The Redeemer will not accept divided service. Daily he must learn the meaning of self-surrender. He must study the Word of God, getting its meaning and obeying its precepts. Thus he may reach the highest standard of Christian excellence. There is no limit to the spiritual advancement that he may make if he is a partaker of the divine nature. Day by day God works in him, perfecting the character that is to stand in the day of final test. Each day of his life he ministers to others. The light that is in him shines forth and stills the strife of tongues. Day by day he is working out before men and angels a vast, sublime experiment, showing what the gospel can do for fallen human beings.” In Heavenly Places, 148.

8 A hearer of the law will listen and enjoy all that is said but has not been rendered just, or justified and therefore his house is built on sand. Why has he not been set free or rendered just? Romans 2:13.

Note. “In the lives of many whose names are on the church books there has been no genuine change. The truth has been kept in the outer court. There has been no genuine conversion, no positive work of grace done in the heart.” In Heavenly Places, 148.

9 A doer of the law is a performer, or accomplishes in thoughts, words and actions, what he has heard. Has the doer been rendered just or set free? Where is his house setting? Romans 2:13.

Note. “We should bear in mind that it is not the hearers of the law that are justified before God, but the doers of the law. If the principles of God’s law rule in our hearts, we shall have the spirit of Christ; we shall manifest in our daily life that mercy which is better than sacrifice. Every Christian must be a learner in the school of Christ; and there is need of diligent and persevering effort to reach that standard of righteousness which God’s word requires.” Sketches from the Life of Paul, 232.

“The question of deepest interest to each one should be, Am I meeting the requirements of the law of God? … Only by a close examination of self in the light of God’s Word can we discover our deviations from His holy rule of right.” Lift Him Up, 342.

10 Wouldn’t it be terrible to think our foundation is all right when it is not? Our thoughts, words and actions are fruits flowing from our foundation. Matthew 7:20. On what foundation is your house sitting?

Note. “No stronger delusion can deceive the human mind than that which makes them believe that they are right, and that God accepts their works, when they are sinning against Him. They mistake the form of godliness for the spirit and power thereof. They suppose that they are rich, and have need of nothing, when they are poor, wretched, blind, and naked, and need all things.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 406, 407.

Additional Reading

“Those who obtain eternal life must give evidence to the world that they love God with all the capabilities that He has given them. They are to obey the two supreme commands, which embody all the whole law, acknowledging by their course of action that they are doers of the law.” The Upward Look, 367.

“The end of all things is at hand. The Lord is soon coming. Already his judgments are abroad in our land. We are not only to talk of Christ’s coming, but in every action, we are to reveal the fact that he is soon to be manifested in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Have we the wedding garment on? Have we personal piety? Have we co-operated with divine agencies, in a whole-hearted, unreserved manner, in weaving into our life’s practices the divine principles of God’s holy law? It is one thing to talk the law, and it is another thing entirely to practice it. It is the doers of the law that shall be justified before God; for those who do the law represent the character of God, and lie not against the truth.” Special Testimonies to Ministers and Workers, vol. 3, 12.

“Those who claim modern sanctification would have come boastingly forward, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, do you not know us? Have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works’ [Matthew 7:22]? The people here described, who make these pretentious claims, apparently weaving Jesus into all their doings, fitly represent those who claim modern sanctification, but who are at war with the law of God. Christ calls them workers of iniquity, because they are deceivers, having on the garments of righteousness to hide the deformity of their characters, the inward wickedness of their unholy hearts. Satan has come down in these last days, to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. His satanic majesty works miracles in the sight of false prophets, in the sight of men, claiming that he is indeed Christ Himself. Satan gives his power to those who are aiding him in his deceptions; therefore those who claim to have the great power of God can only be discerned by the great detector, the law of Jehovah. The Lord tells us if it were possible they would deceive the very elect. The sheep’s clothing seems so real, so genuine, that the wolf cannot be discerned only as we go to God’s great moral standard and there find that they are transgressors of the law of Jehovah.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1087, 1088.

Lesson Studies were prepared by Judy Hallingstad of the LandMarks staff. She can be contacted at judyhallingstad@stepstolife.org .

Bible Study Guides – Who is Your Master?

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March 7, 2010 – March 13, 2010

Key Text

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:17, 18.

Study Help: The Faith I Live By, 135; Lift Him Up, 340; Reflecting Christ, 94.

Introduction

“A profession of Christianity without corresponding faith and works will avail nothing. No man can serve two masters.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 404.

1 How are we to consider ourselves in relation to sin? Romans 6:11.

Note. “The natural man must die, and the new man, Christ Jesus, take possession of the soul, so that the follower of Jesus may say in verity and truth: ‘I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me’ [Galatians 2:20].

“Self is difficult to conquer. Human depravity in every form is not easily brought into subjection to the Spirit of Christ. But all should be impressed with the fact that unless this victory is gained through Christ, there is no hope for them. The victory can be gained; for nothing is impossible with God. By His assisting grace, all evil temper, all human depravity, may be overcome. Every Christian must learn of Christ, ‘who, when He was reviled, reviled not again’ [I Peter 2:23].” Testimonies, vol. 4, 348, 349.

2 What is it that is corrupt, or degraded? What are we to do with it? Ephesians 4:22–24.

Note. “The refining influence of the grace of God changes the natural disposition of man. Heaven would not be desirable to the carnal-minded; their natural, unsanctified hearts would feel no attraction toward that pure and holy place, and if it were possible for them to enter, they would find there nothing congenial. The propensities that control the natural heart must be subdued by the grace of Christ before fallen man is fitted to enter heaven and enjoy the society of the pure, holy angels. When man dies to sin and is quickened to new life in Christ, divine love fills his heart; his understanding is sanctified; he drinks from an inexhaustible fountain of joy and knowledge, and the light of an eternal day shines upon his path, for with him continually is the Light of life.” The Acts of the Apostles, 273.

3 Who lives in us when we live by faith? Galatians 2:20.

Note. “The refining influence of the grace of God changes the natural disposition of man. Heaven would not be desirable to the carnal-minded; their natural, unsanctified hearts would feel no attraction toward that pure and holy place, and if it were possible for them to enter, they would find there nothing congenial. The propensities that control the natural heart must be subdued by the grace of Christ before fallen man is fitted to enter heaven and enjoy the society of the pure, holy angels. When man dies to sin and is quickened to new life in Christ, divine love fills his heart; his understanding is sanctified; he drinks from an inexhaustible fountain of joy and knowledge, and the light of an eternal day shines upon his path, for with him continually is the Light of life.” The Acts of the Apostles, 273.

4 In Christ we are a new creature. What has passed away? II Corinthians 5:17.

Note. “Those who have been truly converted have been buried with Christ in the likeness of His death, and raised from the watery grave in the likeness of His resurrection, to walk in newness of life. By faithful obedience to the truth they are to make their calling and election sure.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1115.

5 If raised with Christ, what are we to seek? Colossians 3:1–3.

Note. “When His words of instruction have been received, and have taken possession of us, Jesus is to us an abiding presence, controlling our thoughts and ideas and actions. We are imbued with the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. A sense of human accountability and of human influence gives character to our views of life and of daily duties. Jesus Christ is everything to us—the first, the last, the best in everything. Jesus Christ, His Spirit, His character, colors everything; it is the warp and the woof, the very texture of our entire being. The words of Christ are spirit and life. We cannot, then, center our thoughts upon self; it is no more we that live, but Christ that liveth in us, and He is the hope of glory. Self is dead, but Christ is a living Saviour. Continuing to look unto Jesus, we reflect His image to all around us.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 389.

6 Whomever we yield ourselves to, we become servants to. What two choices for masters do we have? Romans 6:16; II Peter 2:19.

Note. “If one sin is cherished in the soul, or one wrong practice retained in the life, the whole being is contaminated. The man becomes an instrument of unrighteousness.” The Desire of Ages, 313.

“ ‘To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey’ [Romans 6:16]. If we indulge anger, lust, covetousness, hatred, selfishness, or any other sin, we become servants of sin. ‘No man can serve two masters’ [Matthew 6:24]. If we serve sin, we cannot serve Christ. The Christian will feel the promptings of sin, for the flesh lusteth against the Spirit; but the Spirit striveth against the flesh, keeping up a constant warfare. Here is where Christ’s help is needed. Human weakness becomes united to divine strength, and faith exclaims, ‘Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ’ [I Corinthinians 15:57]!

“If we would develop a character which God can accept, we must form correct habits in our religious life. Daily prayer is as essential to growth in grace, and even to spiritual life itself, as is temporal food to physical well-being. We should accustom ourselves to often lift the thoughts to God in prayer. If the mind wanders, we must bring it back; by persevering effort, habit will finally make it easy. We cannot for one moment separate ourselves from Christ with safety. We may have His presence to attend us at every step, but only by observing the conditions which He has Himself laid down.” Messages to Young People, 114, 115.

7 What are we not to yield our members to? Romans 6:13, 14.

Note. “I was referred to this scripture: ‘Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God’ [Romans 6:12, 13]. Professed Christians, if no further light is given you than that contained in this text, you will be without excuse if you suffer yourselves to be controlled by base passions.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 454.

“A profession of Christianity without corresponding faith and works will avail nothing. No man can serve two masters. The children of the wicked one are their own master’s servants; to whom they yield themselves servants to obey, his servants they are, and they cannot be the servants of God until they renounce the devil and all his works. It cannot be harmless for servants of the heavenly King to engage in the pleasures and amusements which Satan’s servants engage in, even though they often repeat that such amusements are harmless. God has revealed sacred and holy truths to separate His people from the ungodly and purify them unto Himself. Seventh-day Adventists should live out their faith.” Ibid., vol. 1, 404.

8 What must we do daily so Satan will not gain the victory? I Corinthians 15:31.

Note. “The Christian life is a battle and a march. In this warfare there is no release; the effort must be continuous and persevering. It is by unceasing endeavor that we maintain the victory over the temptations of Satan. Christian integrity must be sought with resistless energy and maintained with a resolute fixedness of purpose.” The Ministry of Healing, 453.

“The position you must come into is to value salvation dearer than earthly gain, to count everything but loss that you may win Christ. The consecration on your part must be entire. God will admit of no reserve, of no divided sacrifice; you can cherish no idol. You must die to self and to the world. Renew your consecration to God daily. Everlasting life is worth a lifelong, persevering, untiring effort.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 49.

9 What is the constraining power in our lives? II Corinthians 5:14, 15.

Note. “None are living Christians unless they have a daily experience in the things of God and daily practice self-denial, cheerfully bearing the cross and following Christ. Every living Christian will advance daily in the divine life. As he advances toward perfection, he experiences a conversion to God every day; and this conversion is not completed until he attains to perfection of Christian character, a full preparation for the finishing touch of immortality.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 505.

10 What are we to awake to and what knowledge are some lacking? Which master are you awaking to? I Corinthians 15:34.

Note. “The riches of this world will never advance us in the knowledge of God or in a Christian experience. The Saviour bids us seek for the true riches that are laid up in store for the righteous. To one who came to him saying, ‘I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest,’ Christ replied, ‘Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head’ [Luke 9:57, 58]. Christ owned nothing in this world, and yet the world was his. Let us study his holy, self-denying example.

“We have no time to spend on the vanities and follies of this world. There is a world to be saved, and we should carefully consider the example we give to those around us, conforming our lives to the life of him who became a child of humanity that he might give a perfect example to every human being. From a study of his life and labors and his struggles with temptation, we are to learn how to become partakers of the divine nature, and overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. Nowhere shall we find anything that will help our spiritual life as will a study of the life of Christ. And as we seek to walk in his footsteps, there will come to us a supply of divine grace such as sustained him under every circumstance.” The Review and Herald, January 6, 1910.

Additional Reading

“Sanctification is a daily work. Let none deceive themselves with the belief that God will pardon and bless them while they are trampling upon one of His requirements. The willful commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit, and separates the soul from God. Whatever may be the ecstasies of religious feeling, Jesus cannot abide in the heart that disregards the divine law. God will honor those only who honor Him.

“ ‘To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey.’ If we indulge anger, lust, covetousness, hatred, selfishness, or any other sin, we become servants of sin. ‘No man can serve two masters.’ If we serve sin, we cannot serve Christ. The Christian will feel the promptings of sin, for the flesh lusteth against the Spirit; but the Spirit striveth against the flesh, keeping up a constant warfare. Here is where Christ’s help is needed. Human weakness becomes united to divine strength, and faith exclaims, ‘Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!’

“If we would develop a character which God can accept, we must form correct habits in our religious life. Daily prayer is as essential to growth in grace, and even to spiritual life itself, as is temporal food to physical well-being. We should accustom ourselves to often lift the thoughts to God in prayer. If the mind wanders, we must bring it back; by persevering effort, habit will finally make it easy. We cannot for one moment separate ourselves from Christ with safety. We may have His presence to attend us at every step, but only by observing the conditions which He has Himself laid down.” Messages to Young People, 114, 115.

Lesson Studies were prepared by Judy Hallingstad of the LandMarks staff. She can be contacted at judyhallingstad@stepstolife.org .

Bible Study Guides – Whose Garment are you Wearing?

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February 28, 2010 – March 6, 2010

Key Text

“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 23.

Study Help: Sons and Daughters of God, 100; “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1178.

Introduction

“With garments of sin and shame the enemy clothes those who have been overpowered by his temptations, and then he declares that it is unfair for Christ to be their Light, their Defender.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1178.

1 Is it possible to “clothe” ourselves with our own anger, cursing or foul language? Is that the garment you would like to wear? Psalm 109:18, 19.

Note. “If our lips have need of cleansing, if we realize our destitution, and come to God in contrition of heart, the Lord will remove the uncleanness. He will say to his angel, ‘Take away the filthy garments,’ and clothe him with ‘change of raiment’ [Zechariah 3:4].” The Review and Herald, December 22, 1896.

“If in word and spirit you represent the character of Christ, then you are Christians; for to be a Christian is to be Christ-like. The tongue will testify of the principles that characterize the life; it is the sure test of what power controls the heart. We may judge our own spirit and principles by the words that proceed from our lips. The tongue is always to be under the control of the Holy Spirit.” The Review and Herald, May 26, 1896.

2 Where does this anger and foul language begin? Matthew 12:34–36.

Note. “Then let them not be used in bringing from the treasure of the heart words that will dishonor God and discourage those around you, but use them for the praise and glory of God, who has formed them for this purpose. When the cleansing coal is applied from the glowing altar, the conscience will be purged from dead works to serve the living God; and when the love of Jesus is the theme of contemplation, the words coming from human lips will be full of praise and thanksgiving to God and to the Lamb.” The Review and Herald, December 22, 1896.

3 When there is an evil treasure in our hearts that brings forth evil, what do we need and where do we find it? Ezekiel 36:26, 27.

Note. “When Jesus speaks of the new heart, He means the mind, the life, the whole being. To have a change of heart is to withdraw the affections from the world, and fasten them upon Christ. To have a new heart is to have a new mind, new purposes, new motives. What is the sign of a new heart—a changed life. There is a daily, hourly dying to selfishness and pride.

“Then a spirit of kindness will be manifested, not by fits and starts, but continually. There will be a decided change in attitude, in deportment, in words and actions toward all with whom you are in any way connected. You will not magnify their infirmities, you will not place them in an unfavorable light. You will work in Christ’s lines.” Sons and Daughters of God, 100.

4 The enemy wants to clothe us with his garments of character. What other garment descriptions are we warned about? Psalm 73:6–9.

Note. “With garments of sin and shame the enemy clothes those who have been overpowered by his temptations, and then he declares that it is unfair for Christ to be their Light, their Defender.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1178.

5 Knowing that the enemy’s garments are garments of death, full of leprosy, which garment would you like to be clothed with? Isaiah 61:10.

Note. “Every true turning to the Lord brings abiding joy into the life. When a sinner yields to the influence of the Holy Spirit, he sees his own guilt and defilement in contrast with the holiness of the great Searcher of hearts. He sees himself condemned as a transgressor. But he is not, because of this, to give way to despair; for his pardon has already been secured. He may rejoice in the sense of sins forgiven, in the love of a pardoning heavenly Father. It is God’s glory to encircle sinful, repentant human beings in the arms of His love, to bind up their wounds, to cleanse them from sin, and to clothe them with the garments of salvation.” Prophets and Kings, 668.

6 With what will the Lord replace the spirit of heaviness? Isaiah 61:3.

Note. “There is nothing in us from which we can clothe the soul so that its nakedness shall not appear. We are to receive the robe of righteousness woven in the loom of heaven, even the spotless robe of Christ’s righteousness.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 965.

7 Since our filthy garments will not be taken from us, what are we told to do? Philippians 2:12, last part.

Note. “The work of overcoming is a great work. Shall we take hold of it with energy and perseverance? Unless we do, our ‘filthy garments’ will not be taken from us. We need never expect that these will be torn from us violently; we must first show a desire to rid ourselves of them. We must seek to separate sin from us, relying upon the merits of the blood of Christ; and then in the day of affliction, when the enemy presses us, we shall walk among the angels. They will be like a wall of fire about us; and we shall one day walk with them in the city of God.” The Review and Herald, November 19, 1908.

8 If we do not want to be found naked, what are we to do? Revelation 16:15.

Note. “Trial is part of the education given in the school of Christ, to purify God’s children from the dross of earthliness. It is because God is leading His children that trying experiences come to them. Trials and obstacles are His chosen methods of discipline, and His appointed conditions of success. He who reads the hearts of men knows their weaknesses better than they themselves can know them. He sees that some have qualifications which, if rightly directed, could be used in the advancement of His work. In His providence He brings these souls into different positions and varied circumstances, that they may discover the defects that are concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to overcome these defects and to fit themselves for service. Often He permits the fires of affliction to burn, that they may be purified.

“God’s care for His heritage is unceasing. He suffers no affliction to come upon His children but such as is essential for their present and eternal good. He will purify His church, even as Christ purified the temple during His ministry on earth. All that He brings upon His people in test and trial comes that they may gain deeper piety and greater strength to carry forward the triumphs of the cross.” The Acts of the Apostles, 524, 525.

9 To all that overcome and have not defiled their garments, what is promised? Revelation 3:4.

Note. “It is right to love beauty and to desire it; but God desires us to love and seek first the highest beauty, that which is imperishable. No outward adorning can compare in value or loveliness with that ‘meek and quiet spirit’ [I Peter 3:4], the ‘fine linen, white and clean’ (Revelation 19:14), which all the holy ones of earth will wear. This apparel will make them beautiful and beloved here, and will hereafter be their badge of admission to the palace of the King. His promise is, ‘They shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.’ Revelation 3:4.” The Acts of the Apostles, 523, 524.

10 Read Zechariah 3:2–7. Tell in your own words what these verses mean to you and which garment you prefer.

Note. “Satan seeks to bring us into temptation, that the evil of our characters may be revealed before men and angels, that he may claim us as his own. In the symbolic prophecy of Zechariah, Satan is seen standing at the right hand of the Angel of the Lord, accusing Joshua, the high priest, who is clothed in filthy garments, and resisting the work that the Angel desires to do for him. This represents the attitude of Satan toward every soul whom Christ is seeking to draw unto Himself. The enemy leads us into sin, and then he accuses us before the heavenly universe as unworthy of the love of God. But ‘the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?’ And unto Joshua He said, ‘Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.’ Zechariah 3:1–4.

“God in His great love is seeking to develop in us the precious graces of His Spirit. He permits us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and hardships, not as a curse, but as the greatest blessing of our lives. Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new experience and advances us in the work of character building. The soul that through divine power resists temptation reveals to the world and to the heavenly universe the efficiency of the grace of Christ.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 116, 117.

Additional Reading

“Pride and weakness of faith are depriving many of the rich blessings of God. There are many who, unless they humble their hearts before the Lord, will be surprised and disappointed when the cry is heard: ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.’ Matthew 25:6. They have the theory of the truth, but they have no oil in their vessels with their lamps. Our faith at this time must not stop with an assent to, or belief in, the theory of the third angel’s message. We must have the oil of the grace of Christ that will feed the lamp and cause the light of life to shine forth, showing the way to those who are in darkness.

“If we would escape having a sickly experience, we must begin in earnest without delay to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. There are many who give no decided evidence that they are true to their baptismal vows. Their zeal is chilled by formality, worldly ambition, pride, and love of self. Occasionally their feelings are stirred, but they do not fall on the Rock, Christ Jesus. They do not come to God with hearts that are broken in repentance and confession. Those who experience the work of true conversion in their hearts will reveal the fruits of the Spirit in their lives. Oh, that those who have so little spiritual life would realize that eternal life can be granted only to those who become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust!

“The power of Christ alone can work the transformation in heart and mind that all must experience who would partake with Him of the new life in the kingdom of heaven. ‘Except a man be born again,’ the Saviour has said, ‘he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ John 3:3. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that can lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will lead to watchfulness. It will purify the heart and renew the mind, and give us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 155, 156.

Lesson Studies were prepared by Judy Hallingstad of the LandMarks staff. She can be contacted at judyhallingstad@stepstolife.org .

Recipe – Oatmeal Cookies

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5 cups oats

2 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup raisins and/or carob chips

1 cup water or soy milk

1 cup oil (can decrease or substitute with ½ applesauce)

1 cup honey/maple syrup mixture

2 tsp. vanilla

Mix all dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl, mix all wet ingredients. Add both mixtures together. Let sit 5-10 minutes. Drop by 1 spoonful onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.