7BC 914
(S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 7 914)
“It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” John 6:45. —not through confessionals or priests or popes, but through Me, your Saviour. “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 6:46-47. This is the absolute Godhead. The mightiest created intellect cannot comprehend Him; words from the most eloquent tongue fail to describe Him. Silence is eloquence. (7BC 914.1) MC VC
Christ represented His Father to the world, and He represents before God the chosen ones in whom He has restored the moral image of God. They are His heritage. To them He says, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” John 14:9. “No man knoweth ... the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” Matthew 11:27. No priest, no religionist, can reveal the Father to any son or daughter of Adam. (7BC 914.2) MC VC
Men have only one Advocate, one Intercessor, who is able to pardon transgression. Shall not our hearts swell with gratitude to Him who gave Jesus to be the propitiation for our sins? Think deeply upon the love the Father has manifested in our behalf, the love that He has expressed for us. We cannot measure this love. Measurement there is none. We can only point to Calvary, to the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. It is an infinite sacrifice. Can we comprehend and measure infinity? ... (7BC 914.3) MC VC
[John 17:19-21, 24-26 quoted.] (7BC 914.4) MC VC
Here we see the great Intercessor presenting His petition to His Father. No middle man comes between the sinner and Christ. No dead prophet, no buried saint is seen. Christ Himself is our Advocate. All that the Father is to His Son, He is to those whom His Son in His humanity represented. In every line of His work Christ acted as a representative of the Father. He lived as our substitute and surety. He labored as He would have His followers labor, unselfishly appreciating the value of every human being for whom He suffered and died (Manuscript 128, 1897). (7BC 914.5) MC VC
Twice a Representative—Christ is the representative of God to man and the representative of man to God. He came to this world as man′s substitute and surety, and He is fully able to save all who repent and return to their allegiance. Because of His righteousness, He is able to place man on vantage ground. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us. He gave His precious, innocent life to save guilty human beings from eternal ruin, that through faith in Him they might stand guiltless before the throne of God (Manuscript 29, 1899). (7BC 914.6) MC VC
(John 10:30.) Why Only One Mediator—Jesus alone could give security to God; for He was equal to God. He alone could be a mediator between God and man; for He possessed divinity and humanity (The Review and Herald, April 3, 1894). (7BC 914.7) MC VC
(Romans 8:34.) A Golden Chain Fastened to God′s Throne—The intercession of Christ is as a golden chain fastened to the throne of God. He has turned the merit of His sacrifice into prayer. Jesus prays, and by prayer succeeds (Manuscript 8, 1892). (7BC 914.8) MC VC
7 (Isaiah 52:8). The Truth as It Is in Jesus—If we teach the truth according to our own ways, we shall see that there will not always be perfect harmony as there should be. But if we teach the truth as it is in Jesus, we shall teach it in the spirit of the true Educator; and we will not have various opinions, and cling to our own ideas with tenacity, but we will see eye to eye. And while we thus teach, believing that Jesus will help us to present the truth as it is in Him, then we may expect His help, and we will have it (The Review and Herald, May 10, 1887). (7BC 914.9) MC VC
9, 10. See EGW comment on Numbers 15:38, 39; 1 Peter 3:3, 4. (7BC 914.10) MC VC
Chapter 3 VC
1-13 (John 10:11-15). Carefulness in Selecting Church Leaders—May the Lord impress upon the minds and hearts of all connected with the sacred work of God, the importance of ascertaining whether those who are to minister as deacons and elders are suitable men to be entrusted with the flock of God. Jesus calls Himself the “Good Shepherd.” John 10:11, 14. He does this in contrast with those who occupy positions of trust in connection with the church, but who have no right to these places, because they put a wrong mold upon the work. What is natural will appear. (7BC 914.11) MC VC