3:221 John 3:22

God gives whatever is asked to those who keep His commandments and do the things that please Him.2T 161.1+2 His promises of answered prayer are conditional and belong only to those who obey His word.CET 126.4+2 His commandment is to believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and to love one another, not in word only but in deed and in truth by caring for brethren in need and laying down self for them.2T 161.1+3 True faith takes God at His word and claims the promised blessing before it is seen or felt, while a faith that claims everything without doing Christ's works is spurious.EW 62.1+3 To pray in His name is to receive His character and strength so that obedience comes from a willing heart made one with Him, and living thus free from cherished sin gives confidence toward God.RH Jul 14, 1910+4

Whatsoever is asked is received from God because His commandments are kept and the things pleasing in His sight are done.2T 161.1+4 Its promise belongs to those who obey His word and rests on the promises contained in that word.CET 126.4 Old Testament history agrees perfectly with this New Testament condition.Ms 1, 1897, par. 33

Confidence toward God and assurance of being of the truth before Him come when the heart does not condemn, before Him who is greater than the heart and knows all things.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+4 Hereby the heart is assured before Him and belonging to the truth is known.Ms 89, 1898, par. 9–11+2 His commandment is to believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and to love one another as He gave commandment.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+4 Keeping His commandments means believing on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and loving one another as commanded, and merely claiming to keep them is not enough.18MR 76.1+2

That love must be not in word nor in tongue only but in deed and in truth.2T 161.1+4 It is proved by having passed from death unto life because the brethren are loved, by not hating a brother, by perceiving the love of God in Christ laying down His life and being ready to lay down life for the brethren, and by not shutting up compassion from a brother in need when having this world's good but giving to help him.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+2 Selfishness and love only in words, with hatred, shutting up pity, and loveless neglect, are contrary to it.2T 161.1+1 Compassion for fellow believers shown in deeds and truth is evidence of union with Christ and living in the light.Ms 51, 1894, par. 8–11

He that keeps His commandments dwells in Him and He in him, and this mutual abiding is known by the Spirit which He has given.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+4 The chapter closely joins love to God and love to the brethren together.Ms 88, 1893, par. 35–37 It expresses the great principles of the law in the two precepts to love the Lord with all the heart and to love the neighbor as self, on which hang all the law and the prophets, precious as the expression of God's love in life and character in treatment of fellow men.Ms 88, 1893, par. 35–37+1 Keeping His commandments means keeping the holy law spoken from Sinai and walking even as Christ walked.Lt 80, 1898, par. 16–18

The commandments are not bondage or a restriction from what is good.ST Oct 22, 1912 The law and the gospel form a perfect whole, and this connection of receiving what is asked with keeping the commandments and doing what pleases Him belongs to a faith that truly receives God's gifts rather than merely nominal faith or legal religion.14MR 130.2–131.1 After light comes through Scripture, walking in that light in obedience bears witness to the truth.Ms 1, 1897, par. 33 Believers are to turn from coldness, backsliding, and spiritual neglect and follow the Lord's guidance, going to the Fountain of knowledge and taking what the Scriptures say rather than mortal inferences, assertions, customs and traditions, and testing all teaching by the law and the testimony.Ms 39, 1892, par. 57–60+1 Committing these words to memory brings great blessing.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7

The chapter was preached in New York City on a rainy Sunday to a larger congregation than expected, with freedom in speaking and blessing attending the word.4MR 297.1

God's promises are conditional, and this promise of answered prayer belongs only to those who obey His word, resting on the promises contained in that word.CET 126.4+4 Receiving whatever is asked is linked to keeping His commandments and doing what pleases Him, for obedience gives faith its ground to claim His promises.CET 126.4+3 God is particular about the conduct of His children toward Himself and His law, including words spoken in the family circle and the spirit shown toward believers and unbelievers, so keeping His commandments means being a doer of the Word in home life and business life, in dealings between man and man and neighbor and neighbor.Ms 160a, 1898, par. 8–10 This is part of a faith that truly receives God's gifts, rather than a merely nominal faith or legal religion, for the law and the gospel form a perfect whole.14MR 130.2–131.1

True faith lays hold of and claims the promised blessing before it is realized and felt, believing it is already ours because faith has hold of it.EW 62.1+1 It is to be exercised especially when destitute of the Spirit and when thick clouds of darkness hover over the mind, letting living faith pierce the darkness and scatter the clouds.EW 62.1+1 The blessing that faith receives is distinct from faith itself.ExVEGW 59.2 Faith means simple childlike trust and unwavering faith in Jesus, taking God at His word because He said so and trusting He will fulfill His promises, not relying on feeling or feelings.Lt 31, 1887, par. 1+1 Doubting Him dishonors Him.Lt 31, 1887, par. 1

Claiming everything in the promises while not doing the works of Christ is a spurious faith that does not honor God.Lt 31, 1887, par. 1+1 Trying to keep all of God's commandments while claiming nothing falls short of exalted privilege, for those who obey should claim what is promised to them.Lt 31, 1887, par. 1+1 Obedience comes from a heart made willing and aligned with God, not merely from outward effort, and through communion with God and Christ's strength believers receive wisdom and power to obey and serve.RH Jul 14, 1910 Christ's promise of answered prayer is connected with loving Him and obeying His commandments.RH Jul 14, 1910

To pray in Christ's name means to accept His character, manifest His spirit, and work His works, showing love for Him by obedience, since He saves from sin not in sin.DA 668.2–4 All true obedience comes from the heart through Christ identifying Himself with thoughts and aims so that obeying becomes delight and sin becomes hateful.DA 668.2–4 Those who decide to do nothing displeasing to God receive after presenting their case not only wisdom to know what course to pursue but strength and power for obedience and service.DA 668.2–4 The all things given to Christ to supply fallen need were given to Him as head and representative of humanity and are thus given to obedient askers, and prayer brought to God through Christ gives wisdom and does not refuse those who ask.DA 668.2–4+1

Obeying the commandments of God gives emancipation from sin and causes receiving whatever is asked of Him, because keeping His commandments and doing the things pleasing in His sight secures answered prayer.18MR 76.1+1 His commandment is to believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and to love one another as He commanded, and keeping His commandments means dwelling in Him with Him dwelling in the keeper, known by the Spirit He has given.18MR 76.1+2 Answered prayer is therefore the genuine evidence of true conversion because the commandments are really kept, not because keeping them is merely claimed.Ms 108, 1898, par. 7–10 All profession amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in actions and works of righteousness.Ms 108, 1898, par. 7–10

Receiving what is asked is connected with living so God can bless: putting away cherished sin, confessing and forsaking it, and living as examples of God's transforming grace.ST Dec 4, 1884 When this is done, one may come to Jesus in humble faith, assured that He hears because His word is pledged.ST Dec 4, 1884 Confidence toward God comes when the heart does not condemn, and that confidence is gained by wise and unconditional surrender to God in secret prayer apart from men and outward activity, considering duty in the light of the Word.Lt 80, 1898, par. 16–18+1 Keeping His commandments means keeping the holy law spoken from Sinai, loving God with all the heart and the neighbor as self, loving the brethren not in word and tongue only but in deed and in truth, and walking even as Christ walked, and the life that results stays in the world kept from evil yet is full of goodness, love, and truth with conversation of heaven whence the Saviour is expected.Lt 80, 1898, par. 16–18+1

Prayer is to ask God not only for temporal blessings but for spiritual gifts.ST Jan 2, 1901 Those who ask in faith, believing that God will fulfill His word, and who act in accordance with their prayer by doing God's will in all things, receive rich blessings from on high.ST Jan 2, 1901 What is received is to be imparted to those who need help.ST Jan 2, 1901

The pleasing obedience is faithful, joyful service, not a task, bringing the Saviour's keeping power every moment of life.Ms 31, 1903, par. 9 The verse is to be believed and practiced and taught by example, especially by instructors to youth, and committing its words to memory brings great blessing.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+1 It shows the wonderful possibility of becoming sons and daughters of God and partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, leaving no excuse for continuing in sin.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7 This was made possible because in behalf of humanity Christ laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and stepped down from His high command and clothed His divinity with humanity to reveal what human beings could become by receiving the power He came to give.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7 This life walks uprightly in a crooked and perverse generation in the contrast between the principles of Christ and the principles of Satan, learning from Christ His meekness and lowliness so that His yoke is easy to bear and His burden easy to carry.Ms 31, 1903, par. 9 It witnesses daily to the power of His grace, speaking without harsh, passionate, or rash words but as Christ spoke, keeping hereditary and cultivated tendencies under control while the character is daily refined, sanctified, and purified.Ms 31, 1903, par. 9

Keeping the commandments means being a doer of the Word in home life and business life, in dealings between man and man and neighbor and neighbor, for God is particular about the conduct of His children toward Himself and His law, including words spoken in the family circle and the spirit shown toward believers and unbelievers.Ms 160a, 1898, par. 8–10 The pleasing obedience is unselfish love in deed and in truth, not in word or in tongue, shown by one who has this world's good giving to a brother in need instead of shutting up compassion, whereby it is known that such are of the truth and the heart is assured before Him with confidence toward God in prayer.Lt 16, 1868, par. 22–23 It means selfishness must be put away, the past redeemed, the professed truth rightly represented, business transactions regulated in strict accordance with the Word of God, and the light made to shine in good works so that others glorify the Father in heaven in preparation for eternity.Lt 16, 1868, par. 22–23 Keeping the way of the Lord gives an influence as far reaching as eternity and carries the cheerfulness of heavenly peace as an abiding, refreshing, enlightening influence.Ms 142, 1898, par. 8

Making a new departure from the old life of sin into sanctification, with the character of Christ revealed in humanity, gives this testimony, and makes the record in the books in heaven a cause of joy and thanksgiving to the heavenly host.Ms 79, 1899, par. 8 His commandment is to believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and to love one another, and keeping His commandments means dwelling in Him and He in us, which is known by the Spirit He has given.Ms 79, 1899, par. 8 Personal piety so proves itself in influence and personal deeds, through wise and unconditional surrender to God in private prayer shut away from outward activity and human beings and considering duty in the light of the Word, with a life that stays in the world kept from evil yet full of goodness, love, and truth and with conversation of heaven whence the Saviour is expected.11MR 372.3 True keepers who do the things pleasing in His sight increase more and more in knowledge and wisdom, and God's past dealings give reason to take Him at His word and go forward in faith and hope for advancing the work in the Southern field and preparing laborers for it, believing He will bring His word to pass so that hopes are realized.Lt 25, 1902, par. 33

Those truly converted to the proclamation of the third angel's message must present unity and not division to the world, to angels, and to men, because the truth of God sanctifies the receiver to be a channel and representative of His grace.4MR 297.1 In this context obedience is expressed through Christlike love, with compassion for fellow believers shown in deeds and truth as evidence of union with Christ and living in the light, and loving in deed and truth assures the heart before God while unity with Christ makes a person love as a brother.Ms 51, 1894, par. 8–11+1 The verse teaches the necessity of manliness and firmness in Christian character, since a cheap Christian character works more harm in the world than the character of a worldling, because professed Christians who lack true character mislead others by professing to represent Him whose name they assume.Lt 2, 1895, par. 1–4 Each person must labor for the salvation of souls because all can do something, and none should rest without the abiding witness that their ways please God, which requires seeing one's true state as God sees it instead of remaining blind to it.Ms 5, 1851, par. 11+1