Sunday
April 9
1. THE OLD COVENANT
a. What encouraging promise did God give at Sinai, and how did the people gladly, but naïvely, respond? Exodus 19:5, 6; 24:7. What deeper lesson did they yet need to learn?
“In delivering [His people] from Egypt, God sought to reveal to them His power and His mercy, that they might be led to love and trust Him. He brought them down to the Red Sea-where, pursued by the Egyptians, escape seemed impossible-that they might realize their utter helplessness, their need of divine aid; and then He wrought deliverance for them. Thus they were filled with love and gratitude to God and with confidence in His power to help them. He had bound them to Himself as their deliverer from temporal bondage.
“But there was a still greater truth to be impressed upon their minds. Living in the midst of idolatry and corruption, they had no true conception of the holiness of God, of the exceeding sinfulness of their own hearts, their utter inability, in themselves, to render obedience to God’s law, and their need of a Saviour. All this they must be taught. God brought them to Sinai; He manifested His glory; He gave them His law, with the promise of great blessings on condition of obedience. . . .
“The people did not realize the sinfulness of their own hearts, and that without Christ it was impossible for them to keep God’s law; and they readily entered into covenant with God.”-Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 371, 372.
Monday
April 10
2. UNDERSTANDING THE COVENANTS
a. What took place soon after the covenant was made? Exodus 32:17-19.
b. When this failure occurred, why did God mercifully spare the remnant of His heritage? Exodus 32:30-33:14.
“[The Israelites] had witnessed the proclamation of the law in awful majesty, and had trembled with terror before the mount; and yet only a few weeks passed before they broke their covenant with God, and bowed down to worship a graven image. They could not hope for the favor of God through a covenant which they had broken; and now, seeing their sinfulness and their need of pardon, they were brought to feel their need of the Saviour. . . . Now by faith and love they were bound to God as their deliverer from the bondage of sin. Now they were prepared to appreciate the blessings of the new covenant.”-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 372.
c. Compare the old and new covenants. Jeremiah 31:33, 34; Hebrews 8:6-13.
“The terms of the ‘old covenant’ were, Obey and live: ‘If a man do, he shall even live in them’ (Ezekiel 20:11; Leviticus 18:5); but ‘cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them’ (Deuteronomy 27:26). The ‘new covenant’ was established upon ‘better promises’-the promise of forgiveness of sins and of the grace of God to renew the heart and bring it into harmony with the principles of God’s law.”-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 372.
d. What had actually been the first covenant that God made with the human race? Genesis 3:15.
“The covenant of grace was first made with man in Eden, when after the Fall, there was given a divine promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head. To all men this covenant offered pardon, and the assisting grace of God for future obedience through faith in Christ. It also promised them eternal life on condition of fidelity to God’s law.”-The Faith I Live By, p. 77.
Tuesday
April 11
3. THE EVERLASTING COVENANT
a. How do we gain victory over sin? Ezekiel 36:26; Romans 5:1; 3:31; 8:1-4, 12-14.
“Enmity against Satan is not natural to the human heart; it is implanted by the grace of God. When one who has been controlled by a stubborn, wayward will is set free, and yields himself wholeheartedly to the drawing of God’s heavenly agencies, a miracle is wrought.”-The Desire of Ages, p. 407.
b. Why is God’s covenant with Abraham given as an illustration for believers in all ages? Genesis 17:1-9; Acts 3:25, 26; Galatians 3:6-9.
“Abraham . . . trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. It was this faith that was accounted unto him for righteousness. The covenant with Abraham also maintained the authority of God’s law. . . .
“The Abrahamic covenant was ratified by the blood of Christ, and it is called the ‘second,’ or ‘new,’ covenant, because the blood by which it was sealed was shed after the blood of the first covenant.
“The covenant of grace is not a new truth, for it existed in the mind of God from all eternity. This is why it is called the everlasting covenant.
“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.”-The Faith I Live By, p. 77.
c. What are the results of making such a covenant with God? Psalm 40:8; John 8:29.
“The same law that was engraved upon the tables of stone is written by the Holy Spirit upon the tables of the heart. Instead of going about to establish our own righteousness we accept the righteousness of Christ. His blood atones for our sins. His obedience is accepted for us. Then the heart renewed by the Holy Spirit will bring forth ‘the fruits of the Spirit.’ Through the grace of Christ we shall live in obedience to the law of God written upon our hearts. Having the Spirit of Christ, we shall walk even as He walked.”-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 372.
Wednesday
April 12
4. OBEDIENCE BY FAITH
a. What is revealed about Christ as we compare Deuteronomy 6:4, 5 and Leviticus 19:18 with Luke 10:27?
“The Saviour typified in the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law is the very same that is revealed in the gospel. . . . He who proclaimed the law from Sinai, and delivered to Moses the precepts of the ritual law, is the same that spoke the Sermon on the Mount. . . . The teacher is the same in both dispensations. God’s claims are the same. The principles of His government are the same. For all proceed from Him ‘with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning’ (James 1:17).”-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 373.
b. What are some principles we should understand about true Christianity? Romans 8:5-11.
“The commiting of the soul to God is essential for our salvation. You cannot follow a course of your own choosing and be at war with the law of God, living in disobedience to His requirements, and yet be in harmony with God. Entire obedience to the will of God will bring courage, hope, peace, and happiness to the soul.”-The Review and Herald, December 2, 1875.
“When we unmistakably hear His voice and obey, every murmuring thought will be repressed; and we will leave all consequences with Him who gave the commandment. If, as we see the footprints of Jesus, we step in them and follow Him, we shall have love and power.”-The Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893.
c. Why are even “little” sins so dangerous? Song of Solomon 2:15; Psalm 51:10; Luke 16:10.
“What difference does it make whether you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or of any other tree of the garden? Adam’s sin consisted in doing the thing the Lord had forbidden him to do, and this opened the flood gates of woe on our world. We should carefully meditate upon the life of Christ, and desire to understand the reason why He came at all. We should search the Scriptures as Christ has enjoined upon us to do, that we may know those things that are testified of Him. By searching we may find the virtues of obedience in contrast with the sinfulness of disobedience.”-The Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893.
Thursday
April 13
5. A NEW HEART WITH NEW MOTIVES
a. What assurance and appeals bring us hope? Ezekiel 36:25, 26; 1 John 2:1; 3:4.
“If any man sin, he need not give up his hope in Christ. He need not say it is of no use longer to attempt to keep the commandments of God, for this would be placing himself wholly on Satan’s ground. Satan follows you with his temptations in order that he may persuade you to yield and sin; and when you sin, then he tells you it is of no use for you to try, and you might just as well announce yourself an open transgressor of the law of God, for you cannot keep His commandments. In the name and strength given of God we may be obedient to all His commandments, and His commandments are not grievous. We are happy in doing them.”-The Signs of the Times, April 24, 1893.
b. Describe the experience of victory in Christ. 1 John 5:1-3; Romans 8:15-17.
“Every taxing duty becomes easy, and every sacrifice becomes a pleasure to those whom the truth makes free. What a victory is gained when the carnal life ceases, and the spiritual life begins. The Lord guides. The Lord keeps. The love of God, and obedience to all His commandments, bring all the powers of the soul into obedience to His will. What can constrain the heart and affections like love-sanctified love. That love which brings the soul into connection with heaven is more earnest, fervent, and enduring for earthly relatives than any other. There is nothing in the heart at war with God’s requirements. The mind, submissive and obedient, will love to do all His commandments. Evil will be abhorred, and the good will be chosen. There will be no self-denial or self-sacrifice that is grievous, for the heart delights in doing for Christ, and seeking to save souls from error and from the transgression of the holy law of God. When God has control of the affections, the mind will not be selfish, nor shrink from sacrifices.”-The Review and Herald, December 2, 1875.
Friday
April 14
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTION
1. How is the creative power of the Almighty directly related to our deliverance from sin?