Sunday
January 10
1. THE POWER OF GOD
a. Why is it so hard for some people to live like Christians? How can the gospel help them to surmount this difficulty? Romans 6:3–7; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 24.
“Why is it so hard to lead a self-denying, humble life? Because professed Christians are not dead to the world. It is easy living after we are dead. But many are longing for the leeks and onions of Egypt. They have a disposition to dress and act as much like the world as possible and yet go to heaven. Such climb up some other way. They do not enter through the strait gate and narrow way.”—Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 131.
“When we surrender ourselves wholly to God, and fully believe, the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin. The conscience can be freed from condemnation. Through faith in His blood, all may be made perfect in Christ Jesus.”—Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 32.
b. Other than the true gospel, what importance did Paul bestow on anything else? 1 Corinthians 9:16; Galatians 3:1; Philippians 3:8.
“Every unconverted man is fascinated, bewildered, by the bewitching power of the great deceiver. . . . Every person who cherishes a known error, in faith or practice, is under the power of sorcery, and is practicing sorcery upon others. Satan employs him to mislead other souls.”—The Signs of the Times, May 18, 1882.
Monday
January 11
2. LIVING FAITH
a. How can we take hold of the gospel so that it can be the power of God unto salvation in our life? Ephesians 6:10, 11, 18.
“When Christ took human nature upon Him, He bound humanity to Himself by a tie of love that can never be broken by any power save the choice of man himself. Satan will constantly present allurements to induce us to break this tie—to choose to separate ourselves from Christ. Here is where we need to watch, to strive, to pray, that nothing may entice us to choose another master; for we are always free to do this. But let us keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, and He will preserve us. Looking unto Jesus, we are safe.”—Steps to Christ, p. 72.
“Without the grace of Christ, the sinner is in a hopeless condition; nothing can be done for him; but through divine grace, supernatural power is imparted to the man, and works in mind and heart and character. It is through the impartation of the grace of Christ that sin is discerned in its hateful nature, and finally driven from the soul temple.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 366.
b. How can we know what true, living faith really is? Ephesians 5:14; Hebrews 12:2.
“By sin we have been severed from the life of God. Our souls are palsied. Of ourselves we are no more capable of living a holy life than was the impotent man capable of walking. There are many who realize their helplessness, and who long for that spiritual life which will bring them into harmony with God; they are vainly striving to obtain it. In despair they cry, ‘O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?’ (Romans 7:24, margin). Let these desponding, struggling ones look up. The Saviour is bending over the purchase of His blood, saying with inexpressible tenderness and pity, ‘Wilt thou be made whole’ (John 5:6)? He bids you arise in health and peace. Do not wait to feel that you are made whole. Believe His word, and it will be fulfilled. Put your will on the side of Christ. Will to serve Him, and in acting upon His word you will receive strength. Whatever may be the evil practice, the master passion which through long indulgence binds both soul and body, Christ is able and longs to deliver. He will impart life to the soul that is ‘dead in trespasses’ (Ephesians 2:1). He will set free the captive that is held by weakness and misfortune and the chains of sin.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 203.
Tuesday
January 12
3. THE CENTURION AT CAPERNAUM
a. What urgent request did a Roman centurion make to Jesus while He was passing through Capernaum? Matthew 8:5, 6.
“The centurion’s servant had been stricken with palsy, and lay at the point of death. Among the Romans the servants were slaves, bought and sold in the market places, and treated with abuse and cruelty; but the centurion was tenderly attached to his servant, and greatly desired his recovery. He believed that Jesus could heal him. He had not seen the Saviour, but the reports he heard had inspired him with faith. Notwithstanding the formalism of the Jews, this Roman was convinced that their religion was superior to his own. Already he had broken through the barriers of national prejudice and hatred that separated the conquerors from the conquered people. He had manifested respect for the service of God, and had shown kindness to the Jews as His worshipers. In the teaching of Christ, as it had been reported to him, he found that which met the need of the soul. All that was spiritual within him responded to the Saviour’s words. But he felt unworthy to come into the presence of Jesus, and he appealed to the Jewish elders to make request for the healing of his servant.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 315.
b. What hope did, and still does, Christ’s response bring? Matthew 8:7.
“[The Lord] wants us to come to Him in our feebleness, with faith, knowing that He turns His compassionate eye upon us.”—The Review and Herald, April 1, 1880.
c. How did this man of worldly authority reply, showing that he understood Jesus more deeply than did the professed people of God? Matthew 8:8, 9.
“[When he approached the Saviour, the centurion said] As I represent the power of Rome, and my soldiers recognize my authority as supreme, so dost Thou represent the power of the Infinite God, and all created things obey Thy word. Thou canst command the disease to depart, and it shall obey Thee. Thou canst summon Thy heavenly messengers, and they shall impart healing virtue. Speak but the word, and my servant shall be healed.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 316.
Wednesday
January 13
4. HUMILITY AND FAITH
a. What did Jesus recognize in the attitude of the centurion, thereby bringing about the desired result? Matthew 8:10–13.
“The centurion said of himself, ‘I am not worthy.’ His heart had been touched by the grace of Christ. He saw his own unworthiness; yet he feared not to ask help. He trusted not to his own goodness; his argument was his great need. His faith took hold upon Christ in His true character. He did not believe in Him merely as a worker of miracles, but as the friend and Saviour of mankind. . . .
“ ‘Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy [our Saviour] saved us’ (Titus 3:5). When Satan tells you that you are a sinner, and cannot hope to receive blessing from God, tell him that Christ came into the world to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; but the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition that makes His redeeming power a necessity. Renouncing all self-dependence, we may look to the cross of Calvary and say,—‘In my hand no price I bring; Simply to Thy cross I cling.’”—The Desire of Ages, p. 317.
b. How does this experience show that we must truthfully believe the Word of God in order to be saved? Jeremiah 29:13; Acts 16:30, 31.
“We are not saved as a sect; no denominational name has any virtue to bring us into favor with God. We are saved individually as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. And ‘by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God’ (Ephesians 2:8). We may have our names recorded on the books of the most spiritual of the churches, and yet we may not belong to Christ, and our names may not be written on the Lamb’s book of life. Christ said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me’ (John 14:6). If we could reach heaven through our own merits and efforts, then Christ need not have come to the world, to endure suffering, reproach, and shame, to be subjected to humiliation, mockery, insult, and death. He made an infinite sacrifice, because it was the only way whereby man could be saved. Those who believe in Christ will reveal it in their life and character. By beholding Christ they will be changed into His image, and Christ will be represented to the world by His followers.”—The Review and Herald, February 10, 1891.
Thursday
January 14
5. BELIEF PLUS TRUST
a. How does the experience of the centurion show that it is not enough just to believe—but rather that faith also includes trust? James 2:19, 20; 1 Timothy 4:10.
“No one can be justified by any works of his own. He can be delivered from the guilt of sin, from the condemnation of the law, from the penalty of transgression, only by virtue of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. Faith is the only condition upon which justification can be obtained, and faith includes not only belief but trust.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 389.
b. What must we do daily in order to obtain this vivifying faith? Isaiah 45:22; 1 Timothy 6:11, 12.
“The Word of God offers spiritual liberty and enlightenment to those who study it earnestly. Those who accept the promises of God, and act on them with living faith, will have the light of heaven in their lives. They will drink of the fountain of life, and lead others to the waters that have refreshed their own souls. We must have that faith in God that takes Him at His word.”—The Review and Herald, September 22, 1910.
“By looking constantly to Jesus with the eye of faith, we shall be strengthened. God will make the most precious revelations to His hungering, thirsting people. They will find that Christ is a personal Saviour. As they feed upon His word, they find that it is spirit and life. The word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 391.
Friday
January 15
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
a. What is meant by the statement: “It is easy living after we are dead”?
b. Describe true living faith.
c. What led the Roman centurion to develop true faith in Jesus?
d. In view of what the centurion experienced, describe the real meaning of faith.
e. What does true faith include that makes it so powerful?