1. THE GARMENT OF CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS Sunday November 14

a. What is Christ’s righteousness and how can we obtain it? Revelation 3:18. “The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct . . . [through] the entire surrender of heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven.” –The Desire of Ages. pp. 555. 556.“Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 311. b. Where, when, and how did Christ prepare the white raiment for His followers? Hebrews 2:14–18. “This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. . . . By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 311, 312.

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2. THE PRICE PAID FOR THE GARMENT Monday November 15

a. What did Christ in His human nature make available to us, and how? Romans 5:19; 1 Peter 2:24. “Christ took upon Himself humanity for us. He clothed His divinity, and divinity and humanity were combined. He showed that that law which Satan declared could not be kept, could be kept. Christ took humanity to stand here in our world, to show that Satan had lied. He took humanity upon Himself to demonstrate that with divinity and humanity combined, man could keep the law of Jehovah.” –Faith and Works, p. 71. b. How can we show our gratitude to Christ for the white raiment? 1 Peter 1:18–23; Revelation 7:14. “Notwithstanding our unworthiness, we are to remember that there is One who can take away sin, and who is willing and anxious to save the sinner. With His own blood He paid the penalty for all wrongdoers. Every sin acknowledged before God with a contrite heart, He will remove.” –The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 970.

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3. JUSTIFICATION: RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPUTED Tuesday November 16

a. How can the sinner obtain the white raiment through justification? Romans 5:16–18; Zechariah 3:3, 4. “Satan had represented the chosen and loyal people of God as being full of defilement and sin. He could depict the particular sins of which they had been guilty. Had he not set the whole confederacy of evil at work to lead them, through his seductive arts, into these very sins? But they had repented, they had accepted the righteousness of Christ. They were therefore standing before God clothed with the garments of Christ’s righteousness. . . . Every sin of which they had been guilty was forgiven, and they stood before God as chosen and true, as innocent, as perfect, as though they had never sinned.” –Testimonies to Ministers, p. 40.“Knowing himself to be a sinner, a transgressor of the holy law of God, he looks to the perfect obedience of Christ, to His death upon Calvary for the sins of the world; and he has the assurance that he is justified by faith in the merit and sacrifice of Christ. He realizes that the law was obeyed in his behalf by the Son of God, and that the penalty of transgression cannot fall upon the believing sinner. The active obedience of Christ clothes the believing sinner with the righteousness that meets the demands of the law.” –Sons and Daughters of God, p. 240. b. On what condition can we be justified? Romans 5:1; 6:6–8; 1 John 1:9. What is the relationship between faith and obedience? Romans 3:31; 2:13; Galatians 5:6 (compare 1 John 5:3). “In order to obtain the righteousness of Christ, it is necessary for the sinner to know what that repentance is which works a radical change of mind and spirit and action.” –Selected Messages, book 1, p. 393.“Christ imputes His perfection and righteousness to the believing sinner when he does not continue in sin, but turns from transgression to obedience of the commandments.” –The Review and Herald, May 23, 1899.“But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul.” –Selected Messages, book 1, p. 366.

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4. SANCTIFICATION: RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPARTED Wednesday November 17

a. How do justification and sanctification work together, and what is the result? John 17:17; Philippians 2:12–15. “Justification means pardon. It means that the heart, purged from dead works, is prepared to receive the blessing of sanctification. God has told us what we must do to receive this blessing. [Philippians 2:12–15 quoted.]” –The Signs of the Times, December 17, 1902.“To the church it is given ‘that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white,’ ‘not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing’ (Ephesians 5:27). The fine linen, says the Scripture, ‘is the righteousness of saints’ (Revelation 19:8). It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 310.“The white raiment is purity of character, the righteousness of Christ imparted to the sinner. This is indeed a garment of heavenly texture, that can be bought only of Christ for a life of willing obedience.” –Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 88. b. Explain the work of sanctification and prove that it is a necessary step on our way to the kingdom of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 12:14. “Sanctification means habitual communion with God.” –The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 908.“True sanctification will be evidenced by a conscientious regard for all the commandments of God, by a careful improvement of every talent, by a circumspect conversation, by revealing in every act the meekness of Christ.” –Ibid.“Obedience to the law of God is sanctification. There are many who have erroneous ideas in regard to this work in the soul, but Jesus prayed that His disciples might be sanctified through the truth, and added, ‘Thy word is truth’ (John 17:17). Sanctification is not an instantaneous but a progressive work, as obedience is continuous. Just as long as Satan urges his temptations upon us, the battle for self-conquest will have to be fought over and over again; but by obedience, the truth will sanctify the soul. Those who are loyal to the truth will, through the merits of Christ, overcome all weakness of character that has led them to be molded by every varying circumstance of life.” –Faith and Works, p. 85.

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5. TWO POSSIBILITIES BEFORE EVERY BELIEVER Thursday November 18

a. How is the righteousness of Christ implanted into our character? Galatians 2:20; Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:26–29. What will happen when the character of Christ is perfectly reproduced in His people? “When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 312.“Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness. The truth is to be planted in the heart. It is to control the mind and regulate the affections. The whole character must be stamped with the divine utterances. Every jot and tittle of the word of God is to be brought into the daily practice.“He who becomes a partaker of the divine nature will be in harmony with God’s great standard of righteousness, His holy law. This is the rule by which God measures the actions of men. This will be the test of character in the judgment.” –Ibid., pp. 313, 314.“When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.” –Ibid., p. 69. b. What will be the fate of those who neglect to obtain the garment of Christ’s righteousness? Matthew 7:23. “Only those who are clothed in the garments of His righteousness will be able to endure the glory of His presence when He shall appear with ‘power and great glory.’ ” –The Review and Herald, July 9, 1908.“O, that we would remember that it is court week with us, and that our cases are pending! Now is the time to watch and pray, to put away all self-indulgence, all pride, all selfishness. The precious moments that are now by many worse than wasted should be spent in meditation and prayer. Many of those who profess to be keeping the commandments of God are following inclination instead of duty. As they are now, they are unworthy of eternal life. . . .“On Christ’s coronation day He will not acknowledge as His any who bear spot or wrinkle or any such thing. But to His faithful ones He will give crowns of immortal glory.” –Ibid., November 24, 1904.

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS Friday November 19

1. What is the “white raiment” that Christ offers to His people? 2. Why is Christ’s life as important to us as His death? 3. How would you explain justification to someone who has never understood it? 4. Why is sanctification so essential to our salvation? 5. Describe the choice that is before each one of us.