December 2 – 8, 2001
“Blessed Are They That Do His Commandments”
MEMORY VERSE: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3.
STUDY HELP: The Faith I Live By, 93, 291; Maranatha, 79.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: “The path of obedience is the only path that leads to Heaven.” Review and Herald, March 18, 1875.
Introduction
“Obedience to the law of God is sanctification. There are many who have erroneous ideas in regard to this work in the soul, but Jesus prayed that His disciples might be sanctified through the truth, and added, ‘Thy word is truth’ (John 17:17). 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.
“That the Righteousness of the Law Might be Fulfilled in Us”
1 Is obedience possible for the unconverted? Romans 8:7.
NOTE: See The Desire of Ages, 172.
2 By what means has Christ made it possible for us to render obedience to God’s law? Romans 8:3, 4. Compare Romans 12:1, 2.
NOTE: “The law requires righteousness,—a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God’s holy law. But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men. Thus they have remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. More than this, Christ imbues men with the attributes of God. He builds up the human character after the similitude of the divine character, a goodly fabric of spiritual strength and beauty. Thus the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ.” Ibid., 762.
“His Servants Ye are to Whom Ye Obey”
3 What does our obedience reveal about us? Romans 6:16. Compare Romans 2:8, Matthew 15:9.
NOTE: “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.” Lift Him Up, 144.
“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!’” Messages to Young People, 114.
4 To whom will the Holy Spirit be given? Acts 5:32.
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. 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.” The Review and Herald, February 7, 1957.
5 Is eternal life available to those who are not obedient? Matthew 19:16–19.
NOTE: “Here are the conditions upon which every soul will be elected to eternal life. Your obedience to God’s commandments will prove your right to an inheritance with the saints in light. God has elected a certain excellence of character; and every one who, through the grace of Christ, shall reach the standard of His requirement, will have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of glory. All who would reach this standard of character, will have to employ the means that God has provided to this end. If you would inherit the rest that remaineth for the children of God, you must become a co-laborer with God. You are elected to wear the yoke of Christ,—to bear His burden, to lift His cross. You are to be diligent ‘to make your calling and election sure.’ [2 Peter 1:10.] Search the Scriptures, and you will see that not a son or a daughter of Adam is elected to be saved in disobedience to God’s law. The world makes void the law of God; but Christians are chosen to sanctification through obedience to the truth.” Christian Education, 118.
“Let this Mind be in You”
6 Who is our example in obedience? Philippians 2:5–12. Compare Hebrews 5:8, 9.
NOTE: “The life of Christ was a perfect fulfillment of every precept of the law. He said, ‘I have kept My Father’s commandments.’ John 15:10. His life is our example of obedience and service. God alone can renew the heart. ‘It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.’ But we are bidden, ‘Work out your own salvation.’ Philippians 2:13, 12. To the obedient child of God, the commandments are a delight.” The Faith I Live By, 89. See also The Acts of the Apostles, 505
7 What example of obedience did Paul reveal? Acts 25:8.
NOTE: See The Acts of the Apostles, 314, 315.
“The Doers of the Law Shall be Justified”
8 What is to be the extent of our obedience? Romans 2:13; 15:18; 2 Corinthians 10:5. Compare James 2:10–12.
NOTE: See Christ’s Object Lessons, 311, 312.
9 How is obedience possible? Hebrews 11:8. Compare Romans 16:26. See also Romans 3:31.
NOTE: “John did not teach that salvation was to be earned by obedience; but that obedience was the fruit of faith and love. ‘Ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins,’ he said, ‘and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.’
1 John 3:5, 6. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in the heart, our feelings, our thoughts, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God. The sanctified heart is in harmony with the precepts of God’s law. There are many who, though striving to obey God’s commandments, have little peace or joy. This lack in their experience is the result of a failure to exercise faith. They walk as it were in a salt land, a parched wilderness. They claim little, when they might claim much; for there is no limit to the promises of God. Such ones do not correctly represent the sanctification that comes through obedience to the truth. The Lord would have all His sons and daughters happy, peaceful, and obedient. Through the exercise of faith the believer comes into possession of these blessings. Through faith, every deficiency of character may be supplied, every defilement cleansed, every fault corrected, every excellence developed.” The Acts of the Apostles, 563, 564.
“Them that Love Him and Keep His Commandments”
10 What principle must be the basis of our obedience? Joshua 22:5; 2 John 6; Romans 13:10.
NOTE: “There are those who profess holiness, who declare that they are wholly the Lord’s, who claim a right to the promises of God, while refusing to render obedience to His commandments. These transgressors of the law claim everything that is promised to the children of God; but this is presumption on their part, for John tells us that true love for God will be revealed in obedience to all His commandments. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth, to make a profession of faith in Christ, to believe that Jesus is no impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. ‘He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments,’ John wrote, ‘is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.’ ‘He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him.’ 1 John 2:4, 5; 3:24.” Ibid., 562, 563.
11 How does the Bible show that obedience identifies God’s true people? 1 John 2:3, 4; 3:24; Revelation 12:17; 14:12.
NOTE: “‘He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.’ Again Christ repeated the condition of union with Him. This promise is made to every sincere Christian. Our Saviour speaks so plainly that no one need fail to understand that true love will always produce obedience. The religion of Jesus Christ is love. Obedience is the sign of true love. Christ and the Father are one, and those who in truth receive Christ, will love God as the great centre of their adoration, and will also love one another.” Bible Echo, June 17, 1901.
12 What sign especially has God chosen to identify His people? Ezekiel 20:12.
NOTE: “In the twelfth chapter of Revelation is represented the great conflict between the obedient and the disobedient. The sign of obedience is the observance of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. The Sabbath is a test to this generation. In obeying the fourth commandment in spirit and truth, men will obey all the precepts of the Decalogue. To fulfill this commandment one must love God supremely, and exercise love toward all the creatures that He has made.” The Faith I Live By, 291.
“As Obedient Children”
13 What are we told about the fate of those who chose to be disobedient to God? 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8; Matthew 5:18.
NOTE: “Angels, pure and holy, obey His word; and shall we be deceived and deluded into the service of Satan? Shall we refuse obedience to His requirements? Shall it not be said of us individually, ‘But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.’ Here the divine blessing is pronounced upon the obedient. Now see the denunciation against the disobedient: ‘The ungodly are not so; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the Judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish.’ Psalm 1.” Youth’s Instructor, October 20, 1886.
14 What is promised to the obedient? Revelation 22:14.
By Gordon Anderson