Riches and worldly honor cannot satisfy the soul. Many among the rich are longing for some divine assurance, some spiritual hope. Many long for something that will bring to an end the monotony of their aimless life. Many in official life feel their need of something which they have not. Few among them go to church, for they feel that they receive little benefit. The teaching they hear does not touch the heart. Shall we make no special appeal to them?
(6BC 1061.1)
MC
VC
God calls for earnest, humble workers, who will carry the gospel to the higher classes. It is by no casual, accidental touch that the wealthy, world-loving souls can be drawn to Christ. Decided personal effort must be put forth by men and women imbued with the missionary spirit, those who will not fail nor be discouraged (The Review and Herald, April 6, 1911).
(6BC 1061.2)
MC
VC
6. Peter Ready to Yield Up His Life—The apostle was not intimidated by the situation. Since his reinstatement after his denial of Christ, he had unflinchingly braved danger, and had shown a noble courage and boldness in preaching a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour. As he lay in his cell he called to mind the words that Christ had spoken to him: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” Peter believed that the time had come for him to yield up his life for Christ′s sake (The Review and Herald, April 27, 1911).
(6BC 1061.3)
MC
VC
1, 5 (Romans 2:24-29; Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 2:14-17; Titus 1:9-11). Circumcision of No Value After the Cross—[Titus 1:9-11, 13, 14 quoted.] There were those in Paul′s day who were constantly dwelling upon circumcision, and they could bring plenty of proof from the Bible to show its obligation on the Jews; but this teaching was of no consequence at this time; for Christ had died upon Calvary′s cross, and circumcision in the flesh could not be of any further value.
(6BC 1061.5)
MC
VC
The typical service and the ceremonies connected with it were abolished at the cross. The great antitypical Lamb of God had become an offering for guilty man, and the shadow ceased in the substance. Paul was seeking to bring the minds of men to the great truth for the time; but these who claimed to be followers of Jesus were wholly absorbed in teaching the tradition of the Jews, and the obligation of circumcision (The Review and Herald, May 29, 1888).
(6BC 1061.6)
MC
VC
11 (Galatians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 10:4). Only One Gospel—There is no such contrast as is often claimed to exist between the Old and the New Testament, the law of God and the gospel of Christ, the requirements of the Jewish and those of the Christian dispensation. Every soul saved in the former dispensation was saved by Christ as verily as we are saved by Him today. Patriarchs and prophets were Christians. The gospel promise was given to the first pair in Eden, when they had by transgression separated themselves from God. The gospel was preached to Abraham. The Hebrews all drank of that spiritual Rock, which was Christ (The Signs of the Times, September 14, 1882).
(6BC 1061.8)
MC
VC
(Exodus 13:21, 22; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:5.) Christ′s Blood Avails for Us as for Israel—Shrouded in the pillar of cloud, the world′s Redeemer held communion with Israel. Let us not say, then, that they had not Christ. When the people thirsted in the wilderness, and gave themselves up to murmuring and complaint, Christ was to them what He is to us—a Saviour full of tender compassion, the Mediator between them and God. After we have done our part to cleanse the soul temple from the defilement of sin, Christ′s blood avails for us, as it did for ancient Israel (The Youth′s Instructor, July 18, 1901).
(6BC 1061.9)
MC
VC
15-21 (1 Timothy 1:9, 10; 1:22-25; see EGW comment on 2 Corinthians 3:6-9). Not Obedient, but Transgressors, Under Bondage—Paul in his Epistle to Timothy describes the very men who are under the bondage of the law. They are the transgressors of the law. He names them “lawless, disobedient, sinners, unholy, profane, murderers, adulterers, liars, and all who depart from sound doctrine.”1 Timothy 1:9, 10.
(6BC 1077.2)
MC
VC
The law of God is the mirror to show man the defects in his character. But it is not pleasant to those who take pleasure in unrighteousness to see their moral deformity. They do not prize this faithful mirror, because it reveals to them their sins. Therefore, instead of instituting a war against their carnal minds, they war against the true and faithful mirror, given them by Jehovah for the very purpose that they may not be deceived, but that they may have revealed to them the defects in their character.
(6BC 1077.3)
MC
VC
Should the discovery of these defects lead them to hate the mirror, or to hate themselves? Should they put away the mirror which discovers these defects? No; the sins which they cherish, which the faithful mirror shows them as existing in their characters, will close before them the portals of heaven, unless they are put away, and they become perfect before God (The Review and Herald, March 8, 1870).
(6BC 1077.4)
MC
VC
(Galatians 4:24-31; 5:1.) Obedience Not Bondage—No one who believes in Jesus Christ is under bondage to the law of God; for His law is a law of life, not of death, to those who obey its precepts. All who comprehend the spirituality of the law, all who realize its power as a detector of sin, are in just as helpless a condition as is Satan himself, unless they accept the atonement provided for them in the remedial sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is our atonement—at-one-ment with God.
(6BC 1077.5)
MC
VC
Through faith in Christ obedience to every principle of the law is made possible (Manuscript 122, 1901).
(6BC 1077.6)
MC
VC
(Galatians 3:6-9.) The Bondage of Legal Religion—The spirit of bondage is engendered by seeking to live in accordance with legal religion, through striving to fulfill the claims of the law in our own strength. There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic covenant, which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus. The gospel preached to Abraham, through which he had hope, was the same gospel that is preached to us today, through which we have hope. Abraham looked unto Jesus, who is also the Author and the Finisher of our faith (The Youth′s Instructor, September 22, 1892).
(6BC 1077.7)
MC
VC
17 (Galatians 4:7). Privileges for God′s Obedient Children—God loves His obedient children. He has a kingdom prepared, not for disloyal subjects, but for His children whom He has tested and tried in a world marred and corrupted by sin. As obedient children, we have the privilege of relationship with God. “If children,” He says, “then heirs”(Romans 8:17) to an immortal inheritance.... Christ and His people are one (Letter 119, 1897).
(6BC 1077.8)
MC
VC
26, 34 (Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 7:24-28; 8:1, 2; Hebrews 9:24; 1 John 2:1; Revelation 8:3, 4; see EGW comment on Acts 1:11; Hebrews 7:25). Intercession of Christ and His Spirit—Christ Jesus is represented as continually standing at the altar, momentarily offering up the sacrifice for the sins of the world. He is “a minister of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man.”Hebrews 8:2. The typical shadows of the Jewish tabernacle no longer possess any virtue. A daily and yearly typical atonement is no longer to be made, but the atoning sacrifice through a mediator is essential because of the constant commission of sin. Jesus is officiating in the presence of God, offering up His shed blood, as it had been a lamb slain. Jesus presents the oblation offered for every offense and every shortcoming of the sinner.
(6BC 1077.12)
MC
VC
Christ, our Mediator, and the Holy Spirit are constantly interceding in man′s behalf, but the Spirit pleads not for us as does Christ who presents His blood, shed from the foundation of the world; the Spirit works upon our hearts, drawing out prayers and penitence, praise and thanksgiving. The gratitude which flows from our lips is the result of the Spirit striking the cords of the soul in holy memories, awakening the music of the heart.
(6BC 1077.13)
MC
VC