The Sabbath, Law Obedience, and Christ the Comforter

Hello! It is a pleasure to share this Bible study with you. 📖 The spiritual condition of those who knowingly reject the fourth commandment and substitute a human tradition for God’s holy law is described as one of lukewarmness and spiritual danger, as they are ultimately walking in a path of lawlessness while professing to know God.

The Spiritual Condition of the Church Today

Many today possess a form of religion but lack its vital power, a condition described in the message to the Laodicean church. Because they have a name to live but are spiritually dead, their spiritual temperature runs very low.

• A State of Self-Deception: Many profess to know God but do not keep His commandments. The Bible is very clear that such a person is not walking in the truth.

• “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” 1 John 2:4.

• The Danger of Lukewarmness: The message to the Laodiceans applies to all who are in a lukewarm condition, thinking they are rich and in need of nothing, when they are actually wretched and blind.

• “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot... So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” Revelation 3:15-16.

• A Loss of Sacredness: When the Sabbath is brought down to man's convenience rather than being elevated to the standard of God’s Word, the blessing of God cannot fully rest upon the church.

The Identity of the True Sabbath

The Bible teaches that the Sabbath was established at the beginning of the world as a memorial of creation. It is the only commandment that identifies the true God by His name and His title as Creator. 🌍

• Founded at Creation: The seventh-day Sabbath is not a new institution but was sanctified and blessed by God Himself right after He finished His work.

• “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made” Genesis 2:3.

• A Sign of Allegiance: Keeping the Sabbath is a sign that we recognize Jehovah as our Creator and the One who sanctifies us.

• “Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them” Ezekiel 20:12.

• “Truly my sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations” Exodus 31:13.

The Peril of Rejecting God's Law

Rejecting any part of the ten commandments, including the Sabbath, places a person in a state of "iniquity" or lawlessness. The Bible warns that there is no scriptural warrant for the idea that the law has been abolished.

• The Law is Perpetual: Jesus Himself settled the question of whether the law would change. It is as immutable as His throne.

• “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass, one stroke or one pronunciation mark shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” Matthew 5:17-18.

• Guilt in One Point: We cannot choose which commands to obey. To offend in the matter of the Sabbath is to be guilty of breaking the entire moral code.

• “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” James 2:10.

• A Test of Loyalty: Just as the tree of knowledge was a test in Eden, the Sabbath is the test of our loyalty to God today.

• “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” 1 John 2:3.

The Final Distinction

In the time of the end, a clear line will be drawn between those who keep the commandments of God and those who follow the traditions of men. The "Lord's day" of the Bible is the seventh-day Sabbath, not the first day of the week Revelation 1:10+1.

• The Mark of Restoration: God's remnant people are described as those who repair the breach made in His law.

• “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” Revelation 14:12.

• The Reward of Obedience: Those who choose to honor God’s law through the power of Christ will have a right to enter the eternal city.

• “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” Revelation 22:14.

May you be encouraged to search the Scriptures daily to see what the infinite God has spoken! 🙏✨

Hello! It is a joy to explore how the Lord enables us to live in harmony with His holy will. 🌟 We are enabled to keep the commandments of God only through the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, which brings divine strength to our human weakness.

The Source of Our Enabling Power

Man cannot, in his own strength, obey the law of God, but must receive a power that is above every human capability John 15:516LtMs, Ms 28, 1901, par. 24. By becoming partakers of the divine nature, we are empowered to follow Christ's example of obedience to every divine preceptST May 14, 1902, par. 7+1.

• A Gift of Grace: If we are true to our baptismal vow, we are furnished with grace and power that enables us to fulfill all righteousnessEv 307.3+1.

• Divine Strength in Human Weakness: Human weakness becomes united to divine strength, giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 15:57TR 23.1.

• The Power of the Word: The Word of God is quick and powerful, and when the instrument and the agent—the Word and the Spirit—cooperate, the truth becomes a living power in the lifeTSA 66.1.

Christ in You: The Hope of Glory

Being able to obey the law is directly related to having Christ formed within as the hope of glory Colossians 1:274T 314.2+1. This indwelling presence is the only thing God will accept as a substitute for our own failed efforts1888 376.1.

• The Only Way to Obey: It is only as Christ is formed within that we are enabled to represent His character and obey His statutesTSA 26.2+1.

• A Living Testimony: The life of a true believer reveals an indwelling Saviour through a Christlike spirit and temper7T 67.2+1.

• A Death Blow to Self: Christ in the heart is the death blow to all self-love and the desire to be one's own savior1888 467.1.

• The Hope of Glory: When Christ is within, he acknowledges his own image in the worker, and his character appears as the one altogether perfectTSA 26.2+1.

The Holy Spirit as the Abiding Comforter

The Holy Spirit is the richest gift God can bestow, sent to support, sustain, and uphold us in every circumstancePr 62.4+1. This Comforter is Christ’s representative, manifesting His gracious presence to the soul11LtMs, Lt 40, 1896, par. 8+1.

• A Constant Guide: The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, is sent to teach us all things and bring the words of Christ to our remembranceGH March 1, 1901, par. 20+1.

• Individual Heart Work: For the Holy Spirit to enter and abide, we must engage in heart-searching and self-examination to cleanse the soul-temple2MR 44.2.

• Restoring the Image of God: Christ calls us to open the door of the heart so that He may be an abiding presence, restoring the moral image of God in man Revelation 3:20PH162 7.1.

• The Spirit’s Control: The office of the Holy Spirit is to control all our spiritual exercises and lead us to the Father7LtMs, Lt 11b, 1892, par. 13.

The Results of this Divine Union

When we abide in Christ and He in us, the influence of His life flows out in words and actions that refresh everyone within our sphere11LtMs, Lt 40, 1896, par. 8+1.

• Perfect Obedience Possible: Christ came to prove that it is possible for man to perfectly obey the law through His meritsST May 14, 1902, par. 7+1.

• Symmetrical Character: The indwelling Spirit works to develop a symmetrical character and the sweet graces of heaven4T 314.2+1.

• Peace and Victory: Faith in the indwelling Saviour brings a peace that the world cannot give and provides the victory that overcomes the world 1 John 5:4RH March 15, 1898, par. 13.

• Fruit of the Spirit: Those who receive the Spirit will bear fruit in all goodness, righteousness, and truth Ephesians 5:921MR 56.5.

May you find great joy in surrendering your heart daily to the indwelling of your Savior! 🙏✨

Hello! It is a beautiful and sacred truth to realize that we are never left to face the trials of life alone. 🌟 The Spirit of Christ is the promised Comforter sent by the Father to be His representative on earth, providing His personal, omnipresent presence to every believer.

The Identity of the Comforter

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter that Christ promised to send after His ascension to the heavenly courts1SM 109.1+1. While the Holy Spirit is a distinct personality, He also personifies Christ and acts as His successor on earth20MR 324.2+1. This Comforter is defined as the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ14MR 179.2. Because Christ was cumbered with humanity, He could not be in every place personally; therefore, He sent the Holy Spirit—who is Himself, divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof—to represent Himself as present in all placesPrT May 30, 1895, par. 7.

• The Heavenly Trio: The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead, one of the three living persons of the heavenly trio that cooperate with those who receive ChristEv 615.1+2.

• The Spirit of Truth: He is called the Spirit of Truth because His work is to define, maintain, and guide the soul into all truth John 16:1312MR 260.1+1.

• A Personal Advocate: He is our advocate who stands by our side, placing our petitions before the Father fragrant with the merits of Jesus9LtMs, Ms 43, 1894, par. 31.

The Purpose and Office Work of the Spirit

The Father sends the Comforter in the name of Jesus to perform a specific work within the heart and the church John 14:26PH096 58.3+1.

• Teaching and Reminding: The primary office of the Holy Spirit is to teach the believer all things and bring the words of Christ to their remembrance John 14:26HM November 1, 1893, Art. A, par. 25+1.

• Transforming Character: It is the Comforter who changes our character into the image of Christ, reproducing the divine similitude in the soul6BC 1097.5+2.

• Reproving and Convicting: Before He can comfort, the Spirit must first reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment John 16:81SM 133.3+1.

• Strengthening the Weak: He gives spiritual power to the fallen race so they may overcome their spiritual foesSW September 13, 1898, par. 4.

An Abiding and Constant Presence

The promise of the Comforter is not limited by time or distance; He is an abiding presence that stays with the follower of Christ forever John 14:16AA 49.2+1.

• Never Alone: No circumstance or distance can separate the believer from the heavenly Comforter, who is always at our right hand to support, sustain, and cheerPr 62.4+2.

• Comfort in Affliction: In all sorrows and afflictions, the Comforter is sent in answer to the prayer of faith to provide peace and restDG 184.3+2.

• A Shield and Fortress: The Spirit acts as a Witness and a heavenly Messenger by our side, serving as a shield and fortress into which we can run and be safeChL 64.1.

Conditions for Receiving the Spirit

While the gift is offered in infinite plenitude, there are conditions for the indwelling of the ComforterHM November 1, 1893, Art. A, par. 25+1.

• Opening the Heart: We must respond to the knocking at the door of the heart and invite the Lord Jesus to enterDG 184.3.

• Emptying of Self: When the soul is fully emptied of self and every false god is cast out, the vacuum is supplied by the inflowing Spirit of ChristSpTA01b 22.2+2.

• Obedience and Faith: The Spirit is given to those who are obedient subjects of heaven and who seek God with a sincere, teachable spiritEv 615.1+2.

• Diligence in Prayer: We are encouraged to pray earnestly for the impartation of the Holy Spirit, just as the disciples did prior to PentecostRH January 20, 1891, par. 7+1.

The Manifestation of the Spirit's Presence

When the Comforter abides within, the results are clearly visible in the life of the believerRH October 26, 1897, par. 15.

• Fruitfulness: The indwelling Spirit produces love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance Galatians 5:22-23RH October 26, 1897, par. 15+1.

• Divine Guidance: He guides the mind to understand the deep things of God and gives efficiency to the worker for God 1 Corinthians 2:10-121888 1075.3+1.

• A Source of Light: The Christian becomes a light-bearer, reflecting the glory of the Lord to a world in darkness6BC 1097.5+2.

May you always feel the soothing, gentle presence of the Comforter at your right handRH October 26, 1897, par. 15. 🙏✨