15:10John 15:10

Keeping His commandments is the plain condition of remaining in Christ's love, just as He kept His Father's commandments and remained in His love, leaving no excuse for disobedience and calling for the whole heart.COL 283.3+4 He kept them fully in human nature, from childhood through all His life, as pattern and leader to show that obedience is possible in the strength given to humanity.8T 289.4+4 Keeping means obeying all the commandments from the heart, not choosing some and excusing small failures, and this obedience is the test and evidence of love, loyalty, discipleship, and knowing Him.COL 283.3+4 At the heart of that obedience is loving one another as He loved, an unselfish, self-sacrificing love shown in laying down His life for His friends, which marks His disciples and binds them in unity.ST Oct 11, 1899+4 Those who so abide live in vital union with Him as branch to vine, made possible only by faith, His merits, divine power, and the Holy Spirit, and they receive His full joy, bear much fruit that remains to glorify the Father, and enjoy His indwelling presence with answered prayer.6MR 104.1–2+4

The wording is plain and means exactly what it says: keeping the commandments is the way and condition of abiding in love, even as Christ kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love, continuing the love with which the Father loved Him.Ms 139, 1902, par. 1+2 It is plain and decided testimony of duty to God and to fellow men, leaving churches and individuals without excuse if they miss the way, for God's law is plainly revealed and binding upon every soul, demanding the whole heart or nothing, with no other way to obtain eternal life.Ms 41, 1890, par. 58–60+1 It is kept through the merits of Jesus Christ by helpless souls hanging on Christ, while refusing to hear and stopping the ears does not do away with the law, which remains decided thou shalt and thou shalt not, and faith in God's power enables overcoming and true Christian living as the Holy Spirit transforms mind, heart, and character to discern what is right and give a Christian example.Ms 37, 1908, par. 8–9+1 Accepting it causes separation from those who refuse light and choose darkness, and its keeping centers on loving one another as Christ loved in giving His life to redeem man, with friendship with Christ conditioned on doing whatever He commands, bringing His joy to remain so joy is full.Ms 41, 1890, par. 58–60+1

The words belong to Christ's final instruction to His disciples before His separation from them and His death, His last special instruction given out of love just before crucifixion.RH Nov 4, 1902+2 He spoke knowing the trials His church would face through unconverted believers, the terrible ordeal awaiting Himself, and every phase of their future experience and conflict, yet thinking not of Himself but of them and praying for them.Ms 71, 1902, par. 5–8+2 They were spoken gently and sympathizingly to comfort and strengthen disciples whose faith and courage would be severely tried, calling them to stay in His love with sympathy and love toward Him and with undimmed faith, realizing His eye was upon them guiding, upholding, and caring for them in the trying moment.Ms 71, 1902, par. 5–8+1 To abide in His love is to be in Christ's heart, to be of good cheer, to know they are not alone, and to receive hope and comfort with courage to stand fast in the most trying hour so faith would not fail.Ms 71, 1902, par. 5–8+2 The instruction teaches that future ministry must join human effort with divine power and be built on Christ, without whose agency work would fail, and presents the promise of the right kind of joy that triumphs over the enemy's temptations as helpless souls depend on Jesus Christ.RH Nov 4, 1902+1

It is plain talk in John 15 and 16 about difficulties in the world, mingling bright hopeful lines about the future with the dark, including provision through faith so they should not fail nor be discouraged under manifold afflictions and great temptation to lose faith.Ms 80, 1893, par. 36–43 With John 14, 16, and 17 it is of highest value for every soul consecrating life to God's service, so simple even children may understand, and with John 14-16 full of encouragement and hope bringing strength and assurance to the true believer as long as time shall last.Ms 71, 1902, par. 5–8+1

The verse belongs to the teaching of the true vine and branches, where the Father is the husbandman and every believer may be a branch of the true vine and must remain in Christ to gain spiritual strength.Ms 59, 1902, par. 1+1 Abiding requires a living, vital connection rather than merely superficial association; a true branch has vital union while a spurious branch has only outward attachment and does not bear fruit.21MR 228.2–3+1 Those who claim to believe must gain understanding of this teaching and reveal it in daily life, giving of life so others may be blessed and strengthened in Christ.Ms 114, 1909, par. 1–2+1 Shared connection to the Vine preserves individuality while bringing unity and fellowship, drawing life from the same source to produce love for one another without demanding uniformity.6MR 104.1–2

It belongs to God's plain outline of His will in John 13-17 for those who minister in word and doctrine and are acquainted with present truth, plainly expressed will and divine antidote for the sin of the whole world by which believers are made one with Christ in this present life to be one with Him through eternity.Ms 139, 1902, par. 1+1 Every verse in those chapters is to be believed and lived out openly before fellow ministers, which requires conversion and understanding of the philosophy of genuine missionary work, with daily emptying of self and of hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, depending wholly on Christ, putting away supposed wisdom, preparing the soul temple for the Holy Spirit, wearing Christ's yoke and learning His meekness and lowliness to find rest and peace.Ms 139, 1902, par. 1+1 As branches of the true Vine drawing all sustenance from the parent stock, they labor together in perfect unity and love to bear the best quality of fruit to God's glory.18MR 168.1–169.1 These lessons are of deep import, to be studied and even committed to memory and understood with fresh enlightenment through the Spirit, holding one of the richest promises to produce real, genuine piety in those with great light.Ms 42, 1890, par. 16–19+1 They are to be searched diligently and kept in mind as a storehouse of truth and consolation, to speak a word in season to the oppressed, sorrowful, and afflicted and draw out richest consolation for those ready to perish, with Thus saith the Lord and It is written ever on the lips, making the soul like a watered garden whose waters fail not, refreshing all around.Ms 42, 1890, par. 16–19

Christ kept His Father's commandments and abode in His love, and His obedience gave living illustration and support to His own teaching, for His words expressed His own life and character.ED 78.7+1 That obedience was perfect and complete, beginning in childhood and youth and continuing throughout life in walking uprightly, working righteousness and speaking truth in the heart, so that He could speak as teacher from lived experience.FE 401.2–402.2+2 He kept the commandments as a man, and His lifelong keeping is the pattern for sanctification, showing how human beings may obey and become sons of God through faith and divine power.Lt 48, 1898, par. 5+1 God's love is magnified in His law, which restrains impulses opposed to His character and makes the law honorable.Lt 48, 1898, par. 5

He obeyed in human nature and in the strength available to humanity, as leader, pattern and teacher, and His followers are to live as He lived with purity and nobility.8T 289.4+1 His obedience proves that keeping God's law is possible and settles the claim that no one can keep it, for through His merits believers can overcome and are not taught salvation while transgressing the law.ST Jul 18, 1878+1 They are to follow Him, represent the Father as He did, and continue His work.Ms 1, 1892, par. 11–13+1

His keeping included the Sabbath and all Ten Commandments; He broke none and taught the duty to keep them.Ms 23, 1885, par. 25–27+1 At the close of His earthly ministry He had kept His Father's commandments and abode in His love, having honored the Sabbath throughout His life and provided for its sacred claims to be remembered after His death and resurrection, so the verse disproves the claim that He changed the Sabbath.ST Nov 12, 1894 The Jewish charge that He broke the Sabbath was false, because His works of mercy and necessity were lawful and in harmony with Sabbath keeping, while He who made the Sabbath and spoke the law at Sinai was condemned by traditions that obscured the law and condemned the guiltless.ST Nov 12, 1894+1 His life stands as a sinless example against the claim that He abolished the law or excused its violation, and His temperance and self-denial refute the charge that He was a wine-drinker, His perfect obedience being necessary for Him to be a spotless offering whose blood has saving virtue.DA 287.3–288.1+1

The law He kept is the ten-commandment moral standard by which life and character are examined, the expression of God's character that lives and will live through the eternal ages as long as the throne of Jehovah endures.Ms 32, 1894, par. 4+1 It is distinct from the Jewish ceremonial system of types and shadows, sacrifices and offerings, whose need and virtue ceased when type met antitype in the death of Christ as the complete and perfect Lamb of God in whom shadow reached substance.Ms 167, 1898, par. 23–24 His keeping and suffering prove the law changeless, unabrogated, magnified and upheld, not set aside by Gethsemane and Calvary where He carried the guilt of the world, bore the hiding of His Father's face, and endured wrath and punishment for transgression.Ms 75, 1886, par. 25–26+2 If the law could be changed He need not have suffered, for He took human nature and died so transgressors could be pardoned, return to loyalty, have another trial and leave rebellion for the banner of the Prince of light; His suffering was not to give liberty to continue transgressing, and to preach Christ while declaring the law done away upholds false doctrine that makes trampling the law appear virtue and hinders conversion.Ms 75, 1886, par. 25–26+2 God's law was not crucified with Christ, for had it been Satan would have gained what he attempted in heaven for which he was expelled with the angels he deceived, and he now deceives human beings in regard to God's law; man must cease transgression and come under Christ's loyal banner, with efforts made acceptable through Christ's pure sinless perfect character offered for the guilty race and His righteousness imputed to save from sins and not in sins, conquering through the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour.Ms 75, 1886, par. 25–26+1

As the second Adam He faced sorrow, weariness, hunger, thirst and temptation without sin and overcame by perfect obedience, and that obedience was the source of His power to stand the test and become Owner of all humanity.Ms 84, 1886, par. 5–6+2 With the marks of crucifixion upon His body He stands before God as living witness that God's law can be kept, so the plea of inability need never be made and making it repeats Satan's charge against God in heaven, the real barrier being refusal to yield the stubborn will.Ms 28, 1899, par. 10 By obeying in the nature of man He proved to human beings and unfallen worlds that the law can be kept, vindicating God's justice in demanding obedience, and in the judgment His life will be an unanswerable argument in favor of God's law.Ms 48, 1893, par. 16 Every person is tested in obedience as Adam and Eve were, and loyalty or disloyalty in obeying all God's requirements instead of transgressing decides future destiny and return to the Eden home while pointing others heavenward.Ms 84, 1886, par. 5–6+1

Keeping the commandments of Christ is the way and the condition of abiding in His love, even as He kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love.COL 283.3+4 As the Father loved Christ, so that same love is continued to those who obey, and keeping and abiding are the basis of being chosen in Him.ST Feb 20, 1896+1 This obedience is joined to the full joy He intends for His disciples and to loving one another as He has loved.Ms 92, 1903, par. 23–24+1

Obedience is the test of loyalty and the evidence that love is true, inseparable from loving Him, from discipleship, and from knowing Him.COL 283.3+4 Mere profession of love is not enough, for willing obedience proves the profession genuine, shows full reception of light and truth by faith, and belongs to those who have had the privilege of receiving light.ST May 27, 1889+2 By this test the loyal are distinguished from the apostate, the violators of the law from the keepers of it at the judgment, the true church is marked, the final conflict is centered, and all are divided into two classes.COL 283.3

Keeping means obeying all of His words from the heart in following His example of perfect goodness, doing the word and not merely hearing it, with full recognition of His ways and will.Ms 72, 1902, par. 19–21+1 It does not select some commandments and excuse others, for continued disobedience even in what is regarded as small obstructs spiritual light and further sacred gifts and can cause loss of the evidences of love already received.Ms 48, 1890, par. 23–25+1 Without hesitation or doubt or seeking another way to be saved, perfect obedience to all is absolutely essential to eternal life and the condition of salvation, not to earn heaven but to please Him who died to save sinners from the penalty of transgressing the Father's law, and the requirement has not changed since the beginning.Lt 35b, 1877, par. 14–18+2 God's law thus demands the whole heart or nothing, plainly revealed as decided thou shalt and thou shalt not and binding upon every soul, and refusing to hear does not set it aside.Ms 69a, 1896, par. 20–22

Such obedience is possible only by continual dependence on Christ, for human strength and wisdom cannot do what is right in the right spirit, but God's power must work within.Ms 17, 1895, par. 1–2+1 It is through faith in the Saviour, through His merits and grace, through divine power, and through the Holy Spirit transforming mind, heart, and character that believers obey all requirements, overcome, and are elevated to enter the city of God.Ms 30, 1886, par. 1+3 The closest union of sinner and Saviour comes when the sinner does God's Word by faith, joining weak and helpless humanity to Christ's strength while faithfully doing every duty in harmony with God.Lt 124, 1897, par. 7–8 Then the commandments guide like lamp and light, and obedience brings the illuminating, purifying presence and communion of Father and Son as Enoch had, made possible because Christ bore sin to secure salvation for repentant sinners returned to loyalty.Lt 29, 1900, par. 9–11

Abiding is vital union with Christ as branch to the true Vine, drawing life and nourishment from the same source, sharing the divine nature and His virtues, and receiving life, strength, peace, joy, and heaven's blessings with power to overcome and to help others overcome.6MR 104.1–2+3 Humanity lays hold of divinity and receives divine power as Christ joined humanity and divinity in the experience to which followers are called, and His perfected character in clothed divinity shows what can be formed in those who desire restoration.Ms 19, 1909, par. 19–20+1 This requires self-denial and self-sacrifice rather than clinging to self-indulgent habits, laying down all to escape corruption through lust, carrying the burden of helping others, and not letting minds become engrossed with earthly things to forget Him in whom hopes of eternal life are centered.Ms 19, 1909, par. 19–20+1 The shared connection preserves individuality while bringing unity and fellowship without uniformity, producing love for one another, cementing love between brethren eternally by the love of Jesus, and yielding good works and Christlike character revealing the fruits of the Spirit to God's glory.6MR 104.1–2+2 That union is renewed in meeting and conversing with Jesus around the communion table, feeding on Christ through the bread and wine symbolizing His broken body and spilled blood, without which there is no communion with Him.Ms 35, 1897, par. 24–25

The command at the heart of keeping and abiding is to love one another as Christ loved his disciples, a holy, inward, unselfish love that marks disciples and gives testimony to the world.ST Oct 11, 1899+4 That love is not self-love or desire for the highest place, but is joined to meekness and lowliness, shaping unity and fellowship without demanding uniformity.Ms 96, 1898, par. 15–16+4 Obedience bearing fruit that glorifies the Father is expressed in this love, and living in that love brings His joy and makes joy full.Ms 123, 1899, par. 8+4

That love is unselfish and self-sacrificing, fully demonstrated in suffering and death on the cross and in laying down life for friends to redeem man.ST Oct 11, 1899+4 His death showed its self-giving character, which the disciples had not yet understood at the time He spoke.Ms 9, 1899, par. 5–7+2 They more fully learned its depth afterward through what He suffered for them.ST Oct 11, 1899+4

Living this love requires laying aside pride and dignity at Christ's feet and putting away pettishness, envy, jealousy, evil surmising, strife, malice and hatred, with hearts purified from hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong and the bitter root of selfishness dug out.Ms 86, 1910, par. 34–36+3 Christians who know the truth but cultivate differences, bite and devour one another, and draw apart in disunity fail to live out this requirement, and there is no provision for such separation.Ms 86, 1910, par. 34–36+3 By unity and love for one another in fellowship, with tender, kind, courteous, respectful love especially for those of the same faith and doing all possible for the salvation of men, women and children, all men know they are Christians and the character of Christ is revealed as a tree known by its good fruit.Ms 39, 1896, par. 11–13+2

Those who do whatever He commands He calls His friends, and the servant who faithfully does his Master's will and his best is admitted to familiar fellowship and intercourse, may speak to Him freely and most familiarly, and is promoted to positions of trust.Ms 96, 1898, par. 15–16+4 The one who talks most familiarly with the divine Leader gains the most exalted conception of His greatness and is most obedient to His commands.Ms 96, 1900, par. 2–4+1 Working against His example is incompatible with that friendship, and friendship is conditioned on doing whatever He commands, leaving plain and decided testimony of duty to God and fellow men without excuse.Ms 96, 1898, par. 15–16+4

Keeping the commandments continues and holds believers in the same love with which the Father loved Christ, just as Christ kept the Father's commandments and abides in His love, and this keeping and abiding are joined to Christ's own joy remaining in them until their joy is made full.Ms 85, 1901, par. 36+4 That joy is holy and far above all other joys, making religion cheerful rather than gloomy, sorrowful, or joyless, and giving courage and strength to the obedient.Ms 85, 1901, par. 36+4 It is received by letting Christ abide within and by putting away unbelief and fretting, and the command joined to it is to love one another as He loved, doing what He commands as His friends.Ms 92, 1903, par. 23–24+4

Such obedience bears much fruit that remains, and bearing much fruit glorifies the Father, proves discipleship, and gives evidence that the believer is a branch of the living vine.Lt 71, 1895, par. 6+4 The fruit is a pure character, godliness, self-denial, and seeking and blessing others by exerting an influence like Christ's, following His example of perfect goodness until disciples become Christlike.Lt 71, 1895, par. 6+4 It is seen when newly converted souls take their stand to keep the Sabbath, believing with the heart and confessing with the mouth, bearing testimony with glad, overflowing hearts in the discerned presence of Christ among them.Lt 71, 1895, par. 6+2

Abiding in His love brings Christ's indwelling presence and close fellowship, in which those who obey may speak freely with Him and the faithful servant doing his Master's will is admitted to familiar fellowship, promoted to positions of trust, and called friend rather than servant.Ms 96, 1900, par. 2–4+2 That familiar intercourse makes hearts one with Christ, gives the most exalted conception of His greatness, and leads to still greater obedience, while abiding with His words abiding brings answered prayer in His name, the Father and Son dwelling with the believer, and the comfort and baptism of the Holy Spirit flowing in rich currents to awaken sleeping members and bring all other blessings in its train.Ms 96, 1900, par. 2–4+4 To claim God's promises in prayer while refusing obedience insults God and proves lack of love for Him, for obedience is the condition of the covenant by which God fulfills His part for those who show themselves true and faithful, and obeying Christ's words as eating His flesh and drinking His blood shows harmony with the Redeemer whose love at Calvary awakens love for God.Ms 82, 1900, par. 2–5+2

These words reveal clear terms of salvation: hear Christ's words, receive them, and obey them, keeping all God's commandments with perfect obedience without hesitancy or doubt.Lt 119, 1904, par. 9–12+2 Obedience to God's law together with faith in the Saviour is the only safety and the only way eternal life is gained, for trying to be saved without obedience is climbing up some other way while Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and obedience or disobedience decides eternal welfare.Lt 7, 1895, par. 12–13+4 Christ pitied the fallen race and gave His life so that through His grace believers can be overcomers and at last enter the city of God, which calls for appreciation, gratitude-filled hearts, and earnest desire to bring life into conformity to the will of God, trusting Him even when dark, finding every precept for present and immortal good, and receiving freedom, great reward, and power to stand as faithful sentinels bringing a wholesome, saving influence to the world.Lt 119, 1904, par. 9–12+3

Abiding in love depends on keeping the commandments just as Christ kept His Father's commandments, and mere profession of love is not enough without willing obedience as its evidence that the profession is true.ST May 27, 1889+2 The law so kept remains binding and unchangeable, and is needed to know what sin is, since sin is transgression of the law.ST May 27, 1889+1 That law is the ten-commandment moral standard by which life and character are to be examined, including the seventh-day Sabbath as creation memorial and test.ST Nov 12, 1894+2 Neither Jesus nor His followers ever broke the Sabbath law, for the charge that He broke it was false, His works of mercy and necessity being lawful and in harmony with Sabbath keeping, and He honored its sacred claims throughout earthly life and provided for their remembrance after death and resurrection, so the claim that He changed it is disproved.ST Nov 12, 1894 Trampling the Lord's Sabbath while exalting a papal institution is incompatible with following the Lord in this obedience, and keeping a man-made sabbath teaches error, while this obedience prepares for the society of heavenly angels and joins the believer's life to Christ as His life is joined to the Father, with parents' example in following the Word shaping the family in a kind spirit.Lt 231, 1899, par. 10–14+2

Christ is the perfect example of a holy character who kept His Father's commandments and lived in His love, doing what pleased Him, and His followers are to become like Him by grace, forming characters in harmony with the principles of God's law.GC 469.2–470.1+2 His life exemplifies the law as the standard of moral perfection and perfectly fulfilled every precept, making Him the example of sanctification and the pattern for restoring God's moral image.GC 469.2–470.1+1 Abiding in His love is therefore not freedom from obedience, for genuine faith is expressed in obedience, and Bible sanctification comes through obedience to truth by faith, not by impressions or ceremonies, requiring the new birth because the law reaches the heart.SC 61.2+2 His perfect obedience makes obedience possible for those who submit to Him, bringing heart, will, mind and thoughts into harmony with His so that they live His life in union with Him.COL 311.3–4+1 To be thus clothed in His righteousness is to be covered by perfect obedience to God's law, which is imputed to cover the repentant, obedient transgressor.COL 311.3–4+1

Continuing in love does not mean disobeying the law, for obedience shows choice to stand among God's loyal people, and Christ's command to love does not abolish the law, while hostility to it is not His spirit.ST May 27, 1889+1 Good works and obedience do not purchase God's love, which is a free gift received into the soul when the will is surrendered, and those who possess it reveal it by delighting to obey rather than working to earn love.ST May 27, 1889+1 Love is more than impulse or emotion, being an active principle guided by the will with firm resolve to serve even unto death, belonging to true inward and spiritual religion and a life of faith working through love rather than reliance on outward forms, ceremonies or display.ST Jun 20, 1900+3 That living faith purifies the soul in the day of probation, reflects His character, brings harmony with Christ and God, makes genuine Christians the happiest people, and enables them to stand as faithful sentinels for truth, for faith without works is dead.12MR 144.2–145.2+2

Abiding in love by keeping the commandments is proved in the home, where daily and hourly living by right principles brings Christ's nearness with light and peace and joy.Lt 7, 1896, par. 12–13+2 That obedience shapes the solemn daily work of teaching and forming children's character in the Lord's nurture and admonition, with earnest prayer that they love Christ and be loved by Him.Ms 145, 1906, par. 45–46+1 It is shown in patience, meekness and love toward little children, in kindly speech and right example rather than scolding, fretting, passion, or the rod alone, so that spirit, words and actions reveal the fruit and character of the work.Lt 7, 1896, par. 12–13+1 Parents' own obedience and sentiments decide their influence for their children's eternal destiny, made in the valley of decision, and those who accept the binding claims of God's law and conscientiously keep the seventh-day Sabbath are precious to God even when excluded from churches, their repentance and conversion reflected in obedience.Ms 87, 1897, par. 15

Abiding cooperation means serving Jesus and doing His will rather than belonging to the world, giving of the life so others may be blessed and strengthened in Christ.Ms 114, 1909, par. 1–2+1 Becoming a fruitful branch in the true vine requires growing in spirituality and working with Jesus to bring people to knowledge of the truth, for conversion to Jesus is necessary to this life of service sealed by covenant through sacrifice.Ms 77, 1910, par. 34 Those who give themselves wholly to God's work, including seeking souls, serve in obedience, and full joy received in abiding cannot be kept to oneself but keeps the mind constantly ascending to God for strength to honor Christian profession as Christ expects.Lt 1, 1902, par. 10+1 Bearing fruit to His glory means looking for someone to help and bless, drawing with Christ and constantly working for His name's glory, with united branches keeping individuality while laboring in unity under the Spirit, and humble heartfelt words gaining value with God.

When tried and tempted and afflicted, Christ's own experience of keeping His Father's commandments and abiding in His love shows what course to pursue, bringing believers into right harmony with that experience and continuing the love with which the Father loved the Son.Ms 141, 1908, par. 8–11 Trials and perplexities are to be taken directly to Jesus in prayer rather than running to neighbor or any other human being, and going directly to Him brings relief to the heart and leaves a healthful and saving impression on the mind.Ms 92, 1908, par. 10–12 His yoke of obedience is not an oppressive burden or bondage but, joined with Him, brings rest, peace, grace and assurance.Lt 66, 1898, par. 11–14 Obedience must take priority over neighbors' approval, refusing the world's sinful ways, enduring its hatred and persecution, overcoming the world as Christ overcame, and standing with Christ to receive the Father's approval even when out of harmony with the world.Ms 114, 1909, par. 21+1 These words were spoken so His joy would remain and be full, encouraging faithful obedience and trust through trials rather than looking for reasons to become sorrowful or to despair.Lt 161, 1902, par. 2

Assurance does not depend on strong or steady feelings, outward profession, or whether one feels different, for love may seem dim yet changing emotions do not prove Christ's love has departed nor measure piety; acceptance rests on trusting His word when the conditions are met, by faith and practice rather than making emotion the standard.Ms 61b, 1895, par. 49–50+1 The verse is fulfilled when God's people search the Scriptures with desire to know truth, with Jesus present by His representative the Holy Spirit reviving the heart of the humble and contrite, bringing Christ's joy remaining within and full joy.Ms 158, 1898, par. 4 It belongs to the lessons of John 13-17, of deep import, to be studied, committed to memory, believed and lived out openly, preserved as a storehouse of truth and consolation to speak a word in season to the oppressed, sorrowful and afflicted and to impart richest consolation to those ready to perish, with Thus saith the Lord and It is written ever on the lips, making the soul like a watered garden refreshing all around.Ms 42, 1890, par. 16–19+2 So received, precious truth makes God's Word shine in greater loveliness, makes gatherings profitable, encourages and blesses believers, leads light to shine from hearts in clear rays so souls come to the light, requires daily emptying of self and hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, putting away supposed wisdom and unkind judgment, preparing the soul temple for the Holy Spirit, and studying and practicing the claims of the Substitute while laboring together in perfect unity to bear the best fruit to God's glory.Ms 80, 1893, par. 22–25+1

Union between soul and God comes only through Christ and is kept by keeping His commandments, instead of letting minds become engrossed with earthly things and forgetting Him in whom hopes of eternal life are centered.Ms 35, 1897, par. 24–25 Keeping in His love gives power to control a temperament that left to itself cannot be controlled and is always a snare, by humbling oneself under God's hand and daily learning Christ's meekness and lowliness, and the resulting transformation of character after the divine similitude is the work of the Holy Spirit alone.11MR 326.3–327.4 Obedience preserves the life-giving power, peace and joy Christ wants received and retained, cements love between brother and brother and renders it eternal by the love of Jesus, and is renewed in meeting and conversing with Jesus around the communion table and feeding on Christ through the bread and wine symbolizing His broken body and spilled blood, without which there is no communion with Him.Ms 35, 1897, par. 24–25 Keeping means confessing and forsaking every sin and making everything right with brethren before partaking of the sacrament, and this obedience brings joy and peace to the heart.Ms 102, 1904, par. 40–42 In humanity Christ kept all His Father's commandments in a spotless, merciful, compassionate, obedient life full of goodness and truth that gave a true representation of the law and of the Father, from whom all who possess reason may learn the measure of duty as Pattern; fallen sinful beings by uniting with Him may conform life to the divine precepts, and by keeping God's commandments become laborers together with Christ who came to represent the Father, receiving Him by faith to be given power to become sons of God in copartnership with Him, whose perfect and complete obedience in human nature magnifies the law and makes it honorable by restraining impulses against God's attributes, for He came not to do His own will but the will of Him that sent Him.Ms 48, 1893, par. 17–18+1