NOTES: |
Sabbath, July 24, 2010 - "To the Law and the Testimony"
Isaiah 8:20 “To the law and to the testimony: if
they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in
them.”
“For this is
the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous.” 1 John 5:3
Ps. 119:172 “All thy commandments are
righteousness. “
“The Spirit of God will lead us in the path of
the commandments; for the promise is that "when he, the Spirit of truth,
is come, he will guide you into all truth." We should try the spirits by
the test of God's Word; for there are many spirits in the world. "To the law and to the testimony: if
they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in
them."… {Reflecting Christ Ch.38
pg.52 par.2 – Individual Accountability}
“…It is God's unchangeable law of Ten
Commandments…” {Acts of the Apostles
ch.19 pg. 190 par.1 – Jews and Gentiles}
“And keep
the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk
in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and
his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest
prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.” 1 Kings 2:3
Proverbs 7:1-3 “My son, keep my words, and lay up
my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the
apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of
thine heart.”
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my
commandments.”
“And he said
unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is],
God: but if thou wilt enter into life,
keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:17.
“I saw
that Satan bade his angels lay their snares especially for those who were
looking for Christ's second appearing, and keeping all the commandments of God.
Satan told his angels that the churches were asleep. He would increase his
power and lying wonders, and he could hold them. "But," he said,
"the sect of Sabbathkeepers we hate; they are continually working against
us, and taking from us our subjects, to keep the hated law of God.” {Christian Experience and Teachings of
Ellen G. White 1922 Ch.29 Snares of Satan.}
“…draw back unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews
10:39
“(For not
the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” Romans 2:13
“For many
are called, but few [are] chosen.” Matthew 22:14
“Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow
[is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you
in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew
7:15
“For there are certain men crept in unawares,
who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“But in vain
they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew
15:9
“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these
least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the
kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew
5:19
“The qualities which shine with greatest
luster in the kingdoms of the world, have no place in Christ's spiritual
kingdom. That which is highly exalted among men, and brings exaltation to its
possessor, such as caste, rank, position, or wealth, is not esteemed in the
spiritual kingdom. The Lord says, "Them that honour me, I will honour"
(1 Sam. 2:30). In Christ's kingdom men are distinguished according to their
piety (which is devotion). . . .The kingdom of heaven is of a higher order than
any earthly kingdom. Whether we shall have a higher position or a lower
position, will not be determined by our rank, wealth, or education, but by the
character of the obedience rendered to the word of God.” {God’s Amazing Grace pg.60
par.3}
"Think
not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no-wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled. For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the
kingdom of heaven." Matthew
5:17-18, 20.
“The
greatest deception of the human mind in Christ's day was that a mere assent to
the truth constitutes righteousness. In all human experience a theoretical
knowledge of the truth has been proved to be insufficient for the saving of the
soul. It does not bring forth the fruits of righteousness. . . .
The
Pharisees claimed to be children of Abraham, and boasted of their possession of
the oracles of God; yet these advantages did not preserve them from
selfishness, malignity, greed for gain, and the basest hypocrisy. . . .
The same danger still exists. Many take it
for granted that they are Christians, simply because they subscribe to certain
theological tenets. But they have not brought the truth into practical life.
They have not believed and loved it, therefore they have not received the power
and grace that come through sanctification of the truth. Men may profess faith
in the truth; but if it does not make them sincere, kind, patient, forbearing,
heavenly-minded, it is a curse to its possessors, and through their influence
it is a curse to the world.” {The Faith I Live By 1958 ch.4 pg.108 par.3
– God’s Remedy For Sin}
James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses,
know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know
them.” Matthew 7:20.
“There are only two classes in the world
today, and only two classes will be recognized in the judgment--those who
violate God's law and those who obey it. Christ gives the test by which to
prove our loyalty or disloyalty. "If ye love Me," He says, "keep
My commandments. . . . 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. . . . He that loveth Me not keepeth
not My sayings; and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which
sent Me." "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love;
even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." John 14:15-24; 15:10.” {Christ
Object Lessons 1900 ch.22 pg.283 par.3 – Saying and Doing}
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deuteronomy 6:5
“This is the
first and great commandment.” Matthew 22:38
"Without me," Christ says,
"ye can do nothing." We either gather with Christ, or we scatter abroad. The youth
who glory in their independence apart from Christ should not have an influence
to lure any of you away from your Saviour. Their self-righteous robes are
stained with sin, and will not cover them in the day of God.” {The Youth’s Instructor, August 11, 1892
par.1}
“The claims
of God are to be ever before us. We should never forget that we are to give an
account for the deeds done in the body.” {Colporteur
Ministry 1953 ch.6 pg.41 par.2 – A soul-Winning Work}
“If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?” Romans 8:31.
“We are to co-operate with the three highest
powers in heaven,--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, --and these powers
will work through us, making us workers together with God.” {Evangelism
ch.18 pg.617 par.3 - In Co-operation With the Three Highest Powers}
“The Lord declares through the prophet Isaiah:
"Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and
give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in
pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel
together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand:
for God is with us. For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and
instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say ye not,
A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy;
neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself;
and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread." Isa. 8:9-13. {Evangelism ch.18
pg.617 par.5 – Dealing With False Science, Cults, Isms, and Secret Societies}
“For a just [man] falleth seven times, and
riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 24:16
Revelation 19:10 “And I fell at his feet to worship
him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of
thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
“The experience of the psalmist is the
experience that all may gain by receiving God's Word through nature and through
revelation. He says:
‘Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy
work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands.’ ‘Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the
heavens; And Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is
like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep. . . .’How excellent
is Thy loving-kindness, O God!’ ‘The children of men take refuge under the
shadow of Thy wings. . . . And Thou wilt make them drink of the river of Thy
pleasures. For with Thee is the fountain of life: In Thy light shall we see
light.’
‘Blessed are
they that are upright in way, Who walk in the law of Jehovah. Blessed are they
that keep His testimonies,That seek Him with the whole heart.’ ‘Wherewith shall
a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.’ ‘I
have chosen the way of faithfulness: Thine ordinances have I set before Me.’
‘Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against Thee.’ ‘And
I shall walk at liberty; For I have sought Thy precepts.’
‘Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
Wondrous things out of Thy law.’ ‘Thy testimonies also are my delight And my
counselors.’’The law of Thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and
silver.’ ‘Oh how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.’ ‘Thy
testimonies are wonderful; Therefore doth my soul keep them.’ ‘Thy statutes
have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage.’ ‘Thy word is very pure;
Therefore Thy servant loveth it.’
‘The sum of Thy word is truth; And every one
of Thy righteous ordinances endureth forever.’ ‘Let my soul live, and it shall
praise Thee; And let Thine ordinances help me.’ ‘Great peace have they that
love Thy law; And they have no occasion of stumbling.’ ‘I have hoped for Thy
salvation, O Jehovah, And have done Thy commandments. My soul hath observed Thy
testimonies; And I love them exceedingly." "The opening of Thy words
giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.’
‘Thy
commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me. I have
more understanding than all my teachers; For Thy testimonies are my
meditation. I understand more than the
aged, Because I have kept Thy precepts.’ ‘Through Thy precepts I get
understanding: Therefore I hate every false way.’ ‘Thy testimonies have I taken
as a heritage forever; For they are the rejoicing of my heart." {The Ministry of Healing 1905 Ch.39 pg.462
par.3 – The Knowledge Received Through God’s Word}