Sunday
July 17
1. WRONG IDEAS CORRECTED
a. What is the evidence that the Jews actually believed in the efficacy of the sacrificial offerings to take away their sins? Isaiah 1:11; Jeremiah 6:20; Micah 6:6, 7. How did they understand the plan of salvation?
“The pardon of sin, justification by faith in Jesus Christ, access to God only through a mediator because of their lost condition, their guilt and sin—of these truths the people had little conception. In a great measure they had lost a knowledge of God and of the only way to approach Him. They had lost nearly all sense of what constitutes sin and of what constitutes righteousness.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 238.
b. To correct their wrong views, what message did God send them through the prophets? Isaiah 1:15–19; 59:1, 2; Jeremiah 6:16; 8:5; Micah 6:8.
c. How did God, through the apostle Paul, clarify to the Hebrew Christians the meaning of the sacrificial offerings? Hebrews 10:1–4.
“The typical system of sacrifices and offerings was established that through these services the sinner might discern the great offering, Christ.”—The Faith I live By, p. 106.
Monday
July 18
2. THE WILL OF GOD ESTABLISHED
a. Using Psalm 40:6–8, how did Paul explain the two law systems after the cross? Hebrews 10:8, 9. What did he mean by “the first” that was taken away? What did he mean by “the second” that Christ came to establish? Hebrews 10:10.
“The gospel of Christ reflects glory upon the Jewish age. It sheds light upon the whole Jewish economy, and gives significance to the ceremonial law. The tabernacle, or temple, of God on earth was a pattern of the original in heaven. All the ceremonies of the Jewish law were prophetic, typical of mysteries in the plan of redemption.
“The rites and ceremonies of the law were given by Christ Himself, who, enshrouded in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, was the leader of the hosts of Israel; and this law should be treated with great respect, for it is sacred. Even after it was no longer to be observed, Paul presented it before the Jews in its true position and value, showing its place in the plan of redemption and its relation to the work of Christ; and the great apostle pronounces this law glorious, worthy of its divine Originator. That which was to be done away was glorious, but it was not the law instituted by God for the government of His family in heaven and on earth; for as long as the heavens shall remain, so long shall the law of the Lord endure.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, p. 1095.
b. Since Christ came to reveal God’s will, what must we do in the interest of our salvation? Colossians 4:12; Romans 12:1, 2. How is God’s will made manifest in our life? Romans 2:17, 18; Psalm 40:8.
“The will of God is expressed in the precepts of His holy law, and the principles of this law are the principles of heaven.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 109.
“The obedience that Christ rendered is exactly the obedience that God requires from human beings today. It was the obedience of a son. He served His Father in willingness and freedom, and with love, because it was the right thing for Him to do. [Psalm 40:8 quoted.] Thus we are to serve God. Our obedience must be heart-service. It was always this with Christ. If we love Him, we shall not find it a hard task to obey.”—The Signs of the Times, January 25, 1899.
Tuesday
July 19
3. JUSTIFICATION
a. Why are all human beings “guilty before God”? In what sense is the whole world “under (the condemnation of) the law”? Romans 3:19. What problem do we all have? Romans 3:23.
“We have transgressed the law of God, and by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified. The best efforts that man in his own strength can make are valueless to meet the holy and just law that he has transgressed.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 363.
b. Could sin be imputed to us if the law of God had been abolished? Romans 4:15; 5:13 (last part). In such case, would we still need a Saviour?
c. Since there is no provision in the law to pardon the transgressor, and since he or she did not even have the law while living in sin, what is the only way that God can justify sinners who turn to Him? Romans 3:21–25, 28; 5:18–21; Ephesians 2:8, 9.
“Through Christ, restoration as well as reconciliation is provided for man. The gulf that was made by sin has been spanned by the cross of Calvary. A full, complete ransom has been paid by Jesus, by virtue of which the sinner is pardoned, and the justice of the law is maintained. All who believe that Christ is the atoning sacrifice may come and receive pardon for their sins; for through the merit of Christ, communication has been opened between God and man. God can accept me as His child, and I can claim Him and rejoice in Him as my loving Father. We must center our hopes of heaven upon Christ alone, because He is our substitute and surety.”—Ibid.
“While the good works even of the best men cannot save them, none can be saved without bearing the fruit of good works. The sanctifying power of Christ upon the heart will produce precious fruit, and His Spirit and power will make our works acceptable to God.”—The Signs of the Times, January 6, 1898.
Wednesday
July 20
4. A NEW LIFE
a. Give examples to show how Christ justified or pardoned sinners “without the law.” Luke 18:13, 14; 19:5–9; John 5:8, 14; 8:10, 11.
b. When a sinner is justified or pardoned, what change takes place in the heart and life? 2 Corinthians 5:17–19, 21; John 3:3, 5.
“As the penitent sinner, contrite before God, discerns Christ’s atonement in his behalf, and accepts this atonement as his only hope in this life and the future life, his sins are pardoned. This is justification by faith. Every believing soul is to conform his will entirely to God’s will, and keep in a state of repentance and contrition, exercising faith in the atoning merits of the Redeemer and advancing from strength to strength, from glory to glory.
“Pardon and justification are one and the same thing. Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne by his Substitute and Surety.”—Reflecting Christ, p. 74.
c. When Christ justifies or pardons a repentant sinner, He says to him or her, “Go, and sin no more.” What does He mean? Romans 3:20, 31; 7:7; 1 John 3:4.
d. How does Peter describe the condition of a person who is justified or pardoned, like the woman of John 8:11, but forgets Christ’s final words spoken to her? 2 Peter 2:20–22.
Thursday
July 21
5. SANCTIFICATION
a. Can a justified or pardoned sinner start a new life in Christ without being cleansed from his or her sins and without obeying the law of God? Romans 2:13, 23; 6:1, 2, 22. When a sinner turns to Christ with repentance, what are the two things that the Saviour does? 1 John 1:9; 1 Corinthians 6:11.
b. For what purpose are sinners justified by grace through faith? Ephesians 2:8–10; Titus 2:11–14.
“With Christ working in you, you will manifest the same spirit and do the same good works–works of righteousness, obedience.”—Steps to Christ, p. 63.
c. What does the Bible call the spiritual cleansing process that begins when a repentant sinner is justified or pardoned? 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13.
d. Can any person see the Lord without sanctification or holiness? Matthew 5:8; Hebrews 12:14.
e. What did Jesus say to the woman after she had been justified (pardoned)? John 8:11. What would have happened had she willfully continued in her previous life of sin? Hebrews 10:26, 27. On what condition will believers be approved in the investigative judgment? 1 John 1:7; Colossians 2:6; Romans 2:13.
Friday
July 22
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What knowledge did the Jews lose sight of to a great extent?
2. Explain Hebrews 10:8, 9 with the help of Psalm 40:6–8.
3. In what sense is the whole world guilty before God?
4. What did Jesus say to the woman justified or pardoned without the law? What was her duty after receiving justification or pardon?
5. Explain the interaction between justification and sanctification.