Sun
May 18
1. SONS OF ABRAHAM
a. What claim did the Pharisees continually repeat? John 8:33, 39 (first part). Yet what proves such affiliation? John 8:39 (last part), 56; Romans 9:6–8.
“The Pharisees had declared themselves the children of Abraham. Jesus told them that this claim could be established only by doing the works of Abraham. The true children of Abraham would live, as he did, a life of obedience to God. They would not try to kill One who was speaking the truth that was given Him from God. In plotting against Christ, the rabbis were not doing the works of Abraham. A mere lineal descent from Abraham was of no value. Without a spiritual connection with him, which would be manifested in possessing the same spirit, and doing the same works, they were not his children.
“This principle bears with equal weight upon a question that has long agitated the Christian world—the question of apostolic succession. Descent from Abraham was proved, not by name and lineage, but by likeness of character. So the apostolic succession rests not upon the transmission of ecclesiastical authority, but upon spiritual relationship. A life actuated by the apostles’ spirit, the belief and teaching of the truth they taught, this is the true evidence of apostolic succession. This is what constitutes men the successors of the first teachers of the gospel.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 466, 467.
Mon
May 19
2. NOT WHAT THEY BOASTED TO BE
a. Although the Jews were natural descendants of Abraham, whose sons did they in fact become when they rejected Christ? John 8:41–44.
“Jesus denied that the Jews were children of Abraham. He said, ‘Ye do the deeds of your father.’ In mockery they answered, ‘We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.’ These words, in allusion to the circumstances of His birth, were intended as a thrust against Christ in the presence of those who were beginning to believe on Him. Jesus gave no heed to the base insinuation, but said, ‘If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God.’
“Their works testified of their relationship to him who was a liar and a murderer. ‘Ye are of your father the devil,’ said Jesus, ‘and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stood not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. . . . Because I say the truth, ye believe Me not.’ John 8:44, 45, R.V. The fact that Jesus spoke the truth, and that with certainty, was why He was not received by the Jewish leaders. It was the truth that offended these self-righteous men. The truth exposed the fallacy of error; it condemned their teaching and practice, and it was unwelcome. They would rather close their eyes to the truth than humble themselves to confess that they had been in error. They did not love the truth. They did not desire it, even though it was truth.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 467.
b. What makes us children of Abraham—and how did the Jewish leaders show that they were not true children of Abraham? Galatians 3:6–9; John 8:40.
“ ‘For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.’ The spirit of bondage is engendered by seeking to live in accordance with legal religion, through striving to fulfill the claims of the law in our own strength. There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic covenant, which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus. The gospel preached to Abraham, through which he had hope, was the same gospel that is preached to us today, through which we have hope. Abraham looked unto Jesus, who is also the Author and the Finisher of our faith.”—The Youth’s Instructor, September 22, 1892.
Tue
May 20
3. CHRIST’S CHARACTER
a. What question were the enemies of Jesus unable to answer with regard to His unpolluted character? John 8:46 (first part).
“In His life on earth, Christ developed a perfect character, He rendered perfect obedience to His Father’s commandments. In coming to the world in human form, in becoming subject to the law, in revealing to men that He bore their sickness, their sorrow, their guilt, He did not become a sinner. Before the Pharisees He could say, ‘Which of you convinceth me of sin?’ Not one stain of sin was found upon Him. He stood before the world the spotless Lamb of God.”—Sons and Daughters of God, p. 25.
“Jesus lived the law in the sight of heaven, in the sight of unfallen worlds, and in the sight of sinful men. Before angels, men, and demons, He had spoken, unchallenged, words that from any other lips would have been blasphemy: ‘I do always those things that please Him.’ ”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 467, 468.
b. Aside from that spoken by Jesus as the Son of man, what does Scripture declare about the character of Christ? Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:18, 19.
“The faith of men in Christ as the Messiah was not to rest on the evidences of sight, and they believe on Him because of His personal attractions, but because of the excellence of character found in Him, which never had been found, neither could be, in another.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 904.
c. How are we to be touched by the life of Jesus? Philippians 2:6–8.
“Did not our Exemplar tread a hard, self-denying, self-sacrificing, humble path on our account in order to save us? He encountered difficulties, experienced disappointments, and suffered reproach and affliction in His work of saving us. And shall we refuse to follow where the King of glory has led the way? Shall we complain of hardship and trial in the work of overcoming on our own account, when we remember the sufferings of our Redeemer?”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 371.
Wed
May 21
4. THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS
a. What is the aim of all true followers of Christ? 1 Peter 1:13–16.
“Our work is to strive to attain in our sphere of action the perfection that Christ in His life on the earth attained in every phase of character.”—That I May Know Him, p. 130.
b. How can we reach this goal? Hebrews 12:1–4; Galatians 5:6 (last part); Philippians 3:12–15; 4:13.
“How can we reach the perfection specified by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ—our Great Teacher? Can we meet His requirement and attain to so lofty a standard? We can, else Christ would not have enjoined us to do so. He is our righteousness. In His humanity He has gone before us and wrought out for us perfection of character. We are to have the faith in Him that works by love and purifies the soul. Perfection of character is based upon that which Christ is to us. If we have constant dependence on the merits of our Saviour, and walk in His footsteps, we shall be like Him, pure and undefiled.”—Ibid.
c. How can we indeed become pure and faultless before God? Romans 5:18–20; Hebrews 10:14.
“Christ pardons none but the penitent, but whom He pardons He first makes penitent.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, pp. 393, 394.
“The sinner must ever look toward Calvary; and with the simple faith of a little child, he must rest in the merits of Christ, accepting His righteousness and believing in His mercy. . . .
“What love is this—what marvelous, unfathomable love—that would lead Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners! What a loss it is to the soul who understands the strong claims of the law, and who yet fails to understand the grace of Christ which doth much more abound!”—Ibid., p. 384.
Thu
May 22
5. OUR CHARACTER BECOMING LIKE HIS
a. How are we to make our calling and election sure? 2 Peter 1:4–11; Revelation 19:8.
“God requires now what He required of Adam, perfect obedience, righteousness without a flaw, without shortcoming in His sight. God help us to render to Him all His law requires. We cannot do this without that faith that brings Christ’s righteousness into daily practice.”—Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 381.
“So long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience.”—The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 560, 561.
“We must realize that through belief in Him it is our privilege to be partakers of the divine nature, and so escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. Then we are cleansed from all sin, all defects of character. We need not retain one sinful propensity. . . .
“As we partake of the divine nature, hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong are cut away from the character, and we are made a living power for good. Ever learning of the divine Teacher, daily partaking of His nature, we cooperate with God in overcoming Satan’s temptations. God works, and man works, that man may be one with Christ as Christ is one with God. . . .
“It is God who gives us power to overcome. Those who hear His voice and obey His commandments are enabled to form righteous characters.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 943.
Fri
May 23
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Why couldn’t the Pharisees claim eternal life based on their blood lineage—nor any today trust in ancestry or DNA as a token for salvation?
2. Explain the characteristics of the true children of Abraham.
3. With regard to His character, what was Jesus able to declare?
4. What aim is set before every Christian?
5. How can we be found perfect and blameless before God?