Sunday
January 28
1. THE APPOINTED HIGH PRIEST
a. What was the function of a high priest in Old Testament times? Hebrews 5:1, 2.
“The high priest was designed in an especial manner to represent Christ.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1100.
b. To which order of priesthood was Christ connected—and what does His priesthood mean for us? Hebrews 5:5, 6, 10.
“Christ glorified not Himself in being made High Priest. God gave Him His appointment to the priesthood. He was to be an example to all the human family. He qualified Himself to be, not only the representative of the race, but their Advocate, so that every soul if he will may say, I have a Friend at court. He is a High Priest that can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.”—Ibid., vol. 7, p. 930.
“Let us remember that our great High Priest is pleading before the mercy seat in behalf of His ransomed people. He ever liveth to make intercession for us.”—Ibid., p. 948.
Monday
January 29
2. MELCHISEDEK
a. In what ways did Melchisedek prefigure Christ? Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:1–4.
“God has never left Himself without witness on the earth. At one time Melchisedek represented the Lord Jesus Christ in person, to reveal the truth of heaven, and perpetuate the law of God.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 1, p. 1092.
“It was Christ that spoke through Melchisedek, the priest of the most high God. Melchisedek was not Christ, but he was the voice of God in the world, the representative of the Father.”—Ibid., p. 1093.
b. Why couldn’t Christ be the High Priest on earth? Hebrews 7:14–17.
“Christ glorified not Himself in being made High Priest. God gave Him His appointment to the priesthood. He was to be an example to all the human family. He qualified Himself to be, not only the representative of the race, but their Advocate, so that every soul if he will may say, I have a Friend at court. He is a High Priest that can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.”—Ibid., vol. 7, p. 930.
“Jesus is officiating in the presence of God, offering up His shed blood, as it had been a lamb slain. Jesus presents the oblation offered for every offense and every shortcoming of the sinner.”—Ibid., vol. 6, p. 1077.
c. How did Christ prepare to be our merciful High Priest? Hebrews 5:7, 8.
“While the city was hushed in silence, and the disciples had returned to their homes to obtain refreshment in sleep, Jesus slept not. His divine pleadings were ascending to His Father from the Mount of Olives that His disciples might be kept from the evil influences which they would daily encounter in the world, and that His own soul might be strengthened and braced for the duties and trials of the coming day. All night, while His followers were sleeping, was their divine Teacher praying. The dew and frost of night fell upon His head bowed in prayer. His example is left for His followers.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 508.
“Christ, the Captain of our salvation, was made perfect through suffering. His followers will encounter the enemy many times and will be severely tried, but they need not despair. Christ says to them: ‘Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33.”—Ibid., vol. 8, p. 212.
Tuesday
January 30
3. SAVED TO OBEY
a. Can we be saved if we choose to be disobedient? Explain. Matthew 1:21; Hebrews 5:9.
“Here are the conditions upon which every soul will be elected to eternal life. Your obedience to God’s commandments will prove your right to an inheritance with the saints in light. God has elected a certain excellence of character; and every one who, through the grace of Christ, shall reach the standard of His requirement, will have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of glory. All who would reach this standard of character, will have to employ the means that God has provided to this end. If you would inherit the rest that remaineth for the children of God, you must become a colaborer with God. You are elected to wear the yoke of Christ—to bear His burden, to lift His cross. You are to be diligent ‘to make your calling and election sure.’ Search the Scriptures, and you will see that not a son or a daughter of Adam is elected to be saved in disobedience to God’s law. The world makes void the law of God; but Christians are chosen to sanctification through obedience to the truth. They are elected to bear the cross, if they would wear the crown.”—Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 125.
b. What testimony did Peter give before the Sanhedrin council—and what does this experience teach us? Acts 5:29–32.
“We are not to inquire, What is the practice of men? or, What is the custom of the world? We are not to ask, How shall I act in order to have the approval of men? or, What will the world tolerate? The question of intense interest to every soul is, What hath God said? We are to read His Word and obey it, not swerving one jot or tittle from its requirements, but acting irrespective of human traditions and jurisdiction.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, p. 1056.
“If studied and obeyed, the word of God works in the heart, subduing every unholy attribute. The Holy Spirit comes to convict of sin, and the faith that springs up in the heart works by love to Christ, conforming us in body, soul, and spirit to His own image. Then God can use us to do His will. The power given us works from within outwardly, leading us to communicate to others the truth that has been communicated to us.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 100.
Wednesday
January 31
4. MOVING ON TO MATURITY
a. Describe the sad condition of many professed believers. Hebrews 5:11–13.
“Paul could not speak to the Jewish converts as plainly as he desired regarding the mystery of godliness. Because of their spiritual weakness, their lack of perception, he could not utter the truth, which, could they have heard aright, with intelligent comprehension, would have been to them a savor of life unto life.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, p. 1085.
“During the year and a half that Paul had spent in Corinth, he had purposely presented the gospel in its simplicity. . . .
“Paul had necessarily adapted his manner of teaching to the condition of the church. ‘I, brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual,’ he afterward explained to them, ‘but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.’ 1 Corinthians 3:1, 2. Many of the Corinthian believers had been slow to learn the lessons that he was endeavoring to teach them. Their advancement in spiritual knowledge had not been proportionate to their privileges and opportunities. When they should have been far advanced in Christian experience, and able to comprehend and to practice the deeper truths of the word, they were standing where the disciples stood when Christ said to them, ‘I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.’ John 16:12. Jealousy, evil surmising, and accusation had closed the hearts of many of the Corinthian believers against the full working of the Holy Spirit, which ‘searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.’ 1 Corinthians 2:10. However wise they might be in worldly knowledge, they were but babes in the knowledge of Christ.”—Acts of the Apostles, pp. 270, 271.
b. How are we to advance to Christian perfection and what blessing awaits all that do? Hebrews 5:14; 6:1 (first part); 1 John 3:18; Hosea 6:3.
“The church will never as a whole receive the latter rain unless they shall put away all envy, evil surmising, and evil speaking. Those who have cherished hatred in the heart until it has strengthened and become part of their character, must have a different experience if they would share in the latter rain.”—The Home Missionary, August 1, 1896.
Thursday
February 1
5. COMING INTO CHRISTLIKENESS
a. Describe God’s aim for His children. Philippians 3:12–16; Revelation 3:18–21.
“Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children. Godliness—godlikeness—is the goal to be reached.”—Education, p. 18.
“ ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ This command is a promise. The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 311.
“The true Witness presents encouragements to all who are seeking to walk in the path of humble obedience, through faith in His name. He declares, ‘To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.’
“These are the words of our Substitute and Surety. He who is the divine Head of the church, the mightiest of conquerors, would point His followers to His life, His toils, His self-denials, His struggles and sufferings, through contempt, through rejection ridicule, scorn, insult, mockery, falsehood, up the path of Calvary to the scene of the crucifixion, that they might be encouraged to press on toward the mark for the prize and reward of the overcomer. Victory is assured through faith and obedience.
“Let us make an application of the words of Christ to our own individual cases. Are we poor, and blind, and wretched, and miserable? Then let us seek the gold and white raiment that He offers. The work of overcoming is not restricted to the age of the martyrs. The conflict is for us, in these days of subtle temptation to worldliness, to self-security, to indulgence of pride, covetousness, false doctrines, and immorality of life.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 966.
Friday
February 2
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. In what position did God appoint Christ besides High Priest?
2. What is significant about the priesthood of Melchisedek?
3. How does obedience to God’s Word relate to our receiving the Holy Spirit?
4. Name some necessary requirements to receive the latter rain.
5. What must we realize about God’s aim for us and how it is attained?