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1. CONSTANT REFUGE

a. Whom do we desperately need as we flee from the evil avenger? Deuteronomy 33:27, 28; 2 Samuel 22:1–4. How did David recognize this after his own personal deliverance? Psalm 9:10.

“The sinner is exposed to eternal death, until he finds a hiding place in Christ; and as loitering and carelessness might rob the fugitive of his only chance for life, so delays and indifference may prove the ruin of the soul. Satan, the great adversary, is on the track of every transgressor of God’s holy law, and he who is not sensible of his danger, and does not earnestly seek shelter in the eternal refuge, will fall a prey to the destroyer.”–Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 517.

b. When we truly realize the faithfulness and surety of our refuge in Christ, what situations will cause us to be afraid? Psalms 46:1–3; 62:1–8. What kind of relationship with Him is needed? Psalm 91:1, 2.

c. Why does the understanding of the sanctuary truth enable us to have a deeper connection with Jesus as our refuge? Hebrews 6:18–19.

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2. PURE, UNADULTERATED TRUTH

a. In what kind of refuge have those who believe lies placed their trust–and what is the result? Isaiah 28:14–21; 34:1–4, 8.

“To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. Yet He will ‘by no means clear the guilty’ (Exodus 34:7). . . . The very fact of His reluctance to execute justice testifies to the enormity of the sins that call forth His judgments, and to the severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor.

“All the inhabitants of earth are soon to meet the great Lawgiver over His broken law. There are many, many in the popular churches who know little of the real meaning of the message for this time.”–The Signs of the Times, January 25, 1910.

b. Do truth and lie have anything in common? 1 John 2:21. What steps should be taken when truth is neglected?

“As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience.”–The Desire of Ages, p. 232.

c. What is pure truth, and why must it be unadulterated–and preserved? John 14:6; 17:3; 1 Timothy 3:15; Isaiah 28:9–13.

“We are to stand upon the platform of eternal truth–pure, unadulterated truth. In this we may be considered singular, but this is the lot of all who make Christ their portion.”–Medical Ministry, p. 161.

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3. IN NAME ONLY

a. What prophecy shows that the majority of churches will not accept the pure, unadulterated truth in these last days? Isaiah 4:1.

“Many feel that they must make some concessions to please their irreligious relatives and friends. As it is not always easy to draw the line, one concession prepares the way for another, until those who were once true followers of Christ, are in life and character conformed to the customs of the world. The connection with God is broken. They are Christians in name only. When the test hour comes, then their hope is seen to be without foundation. They have sold them­selves and their children to the enemy.”–The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 2, p. 1001.

b. How do we know that this prophecy refers to the time of the Investigative Judgment? Isaiah 4:2–4.

c. How will those be treated who only want the name of Christ but not His character? Matthew 7:21–23.

“There are those in the church who, unless thoroughly converted, will crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame. I appeal to every church member to inquire, Am I doing all I can to honor my Redeemer? Truth held in unrighteousness is the greatest curse that can come to our world. But the truth as it is in Jesus is a savor of life unto life. It is worth possessing, worth living, worth defending. Christ calls upon us to enter the narrow pathway, where every step means a denial of self. He calls upon us to stand upon the platform of eternal truth, and contend, yes, contend earnestly, for the faith once delivered to the saints.”–The Review and Herald, December 4, 1900.

d. In light of this, how dangerous is willful sin? Hebrews 10:26, 27.

“If Christians are such in name only, they are like the salt that has lost its savor. They have no influence for good in the world. Through their misrepresentation of God they are worse than unbelievers.”–The Desire of Ages, p. 306.

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4. THE CITY OF REFUGE ON EARTH

a. What is the result of walking with Jesus in pure truth? 1 John 1:7.

“A union of believers with Christ will as a natural result lead to a union with one another, which bond of union is the most enduring upon earth.”–Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 47.

b. What relationship does the church of God on earth have with heaven, and what hope does this bring us? Ephesians 3:15; Hebrews 12:22, 23.

“In order that the church may be an educating power in the world, she must cooperate with the church in heaven. Her members must represent Christ. Their hearts must be open to receive every ray of light that God may see fit to impart.”–The Review and Herald, December 4, 1900.

c. Why do we need to join the church? Ephesians 4:4, 11–16; 5:23; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; Acts 2:46, 47.

“The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind with the blood of His only begotten Son. From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth. In every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to the generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay off their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people.”–The Acts of the Apostles, p. 11.

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

“Very close and sacred is the relation between Christ and His church–He the bridegroom, and the church the bride; He the head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ, then, involves connection with His church.”–Education, p. 268.

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5. RESIDING IN THE CITY OF REFUGE

a. How does God intend to reveal His love to the world? John 13:34, 35; 17:20, 21. What is our privilege in relationship with the church? Hebrews 10:25; Psalm 27:4.

“The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, . . . the final and full display of the love of God.”–The Acts of the Apostles, p. 9.

“The church of Christ, enfeebled, defective as she may appear, is the one object on earth upon which He bestows in a special sense His love and His regard. The church is the theater of His grace, in which He delights in making experiments of His mercy on human hearts. The Holy Spirit is His representative, and it works to effect transformations so wonderful that angels look upon them with astonishment and joy. Heaven is full of rejoicing when the members of the human family are seen to be full of compassion for one another, loving one another as Christ has loved them. The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of her sacred trust is treachery to Him who has bought her with the precious blood of His only begotten Son.”–The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 1554.

b. Since the church is to represent Christ on earth, what must we reveal to all? 2 Corinthians 5:20; 1 Peter 2:9.

“The church today needs men who, like Enoch, walk with God, revealing Christ to the world. Church members need to reach a higher standard. Heavenly messengers are waiting to communicate with those who have sunk self out of sight. . . . Christ is crucified afresh by many who through self-indulgence allow Satan to gain control over them. The church needs men of devotion to bear to the world the message of salvation, pointing sinners to the Lamb of God–men who, by their works of righteousness and their pure, true words, can lift their fellow men out of the pit of degradation.”–The Review and Herald, December 4, 1900.

“It is Satan’s work to mingle evil with good, and to remove the distinction between good and evil. Christ would have a church that labors to separate the evil from the good, whose members will not willingly tolerate wrongdoing, but will expel it from the heart and life.”–Ibid.

“Sin may be called by false names and glossed over by plausible excuses and pretended good motives, but this does not lessen its guilt in the sight of God.”–The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1881.

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REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. Where does the sin-sick soul find true lasting refuge?

2. Why is it so important to seek after and find pure, unadulterated truth?

3. In what dangers does willful sin place us?

4. What has God instituted on earth to provide peace and safety for the believer?

5. Through His church, what is God trying to reveal to the entire world?

“Jesus knew that He could do the scribes and Pharisees no good, unless they would empty themselves of self-importance. He chose new bottles for His new wine of doctrine, and made fishermen and unlearned believers the heralds of His truth to the world. And yet, though His doctrine seemed new to the people, it was in fact not a new doctrine, but the revelation of the significance of that which had been taught from the beginning. It was His design that His disciples should take the plain, unadulterated truth for the guide of their life.”–The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1089.

“We are now in a time when we are to stand steadfast for the truth. We are to cherish love for souls, but never, never are we to surrender the least vital point of truth, for it is by maintaining truth, pure, unadulterated truth, that we can at this time bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ.”–Sons and Daughters of God, p. 196.

“There are grievous sins indulged by individual members of the church–covetousness, overreaching, deception, fraud, falsehood, and many others. If these sins are neglected by those who have been placed in authority in the church, the blessing of the Lord is withheld from His people, and the innocent suffer with the guilty. The officers in the church should be earnest, energetic men, having a zeal for God, and they should take the most prompt and thorough measures to condemn and correct these wrongs. In this work they should act, not from selfishness, jealousy, or personal prejudice, but in all meekness and lowliness of mind, with a sincere desire that God may be glorified.”–The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1881.

“Earthly kingdoms rule by the ascendancy of physical power; but from Christ’s kingdom every carnal weapon, every instrument of coercion, is banished. This kingdom is to uplift and ennoble humanity. God’s church is the court of Holy life, filled with varied gifts and endowed with the Holy Spirit. The members are to find their happiness in the happiness of those whom they help and bless.”–The Acts of the Apostles, p. 12.