Sabbath, April 24, 2004

INTRODUCTION

“The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sinpardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.” – Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 363.

OBJECTIVES

• To understand that the everlasting gospel is the message of salvation.
• To see the relationship of justification and sanctification by faith with the message.
• To make the gospel a personal experience and grow in the promised light.

A WORLDWIDE MESSAGE

1. What message does the Lord send to all of the inhabitants of the earth through the first angel?
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

“…Before the coming of the Son of man, the everlasting gospel is to be preached ‘to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.’ Revelation 14:6, 14. God ‘hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world.’ Acts 17:31. Christ tells us when that day shall be ushered in. He does not say that all the world will be converted, but that ‘this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’ “ – The Desire of Ages, p. 633.

THE BLESSINGS INCLUDED IN THE MESSAGE

2. What is revealed in the “gospel” that must be announced to every nation and inhabitant of the earth?
Romans 1:16, 17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Ephesians 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

3. Which blessings will we receive, if the heavenly gift of justification by faith is imputed to us?
Romans 3:24-26 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

“What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself. When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.” – Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, p. 117.

“Here the truth is laid out in plain lines. This mercy and goodness is wholly undeserved. The grace of Christ is freely to justify the sinner without merit or claim on his part. Justification is a full, complete pardon of sin. The moment a sinner accepts Christ by faith, that moment he is pardoned. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to him, and he is no more to doubt God’s forgiving grace.… he sinner cannot depend upon his own good works as a means of justification.… He believes the promises of God, which through Christ are made unto him sanctification and righteousness and redemption. And if he follows Jesus, he will walk humbly in the light, rejoicing in the light and diffusing that light to zthers. Being justified by faith, he carries cheerfulness with him in his obedience in all his life. Peace with God is the result of what Christ is to him. The souls who are in subordination to God, who honor Him, and are doers of His Word, will receive divine enlightenment.” – Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1071.

PROCESS AND GOAL

4. What is the necessary process that every believer must go through to reach the goal?
Mark 4:26-28 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

“As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth.… “Divine grace is needed at the beginning, divine grace at every step of advance, and divine grace alone can complete the work” – Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, pp. 506, 508.

5. What is the main goal of these messages of grace for us?
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

“…The last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them.” – Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 415, 416.

GOD’S LIGHT IS INCREASING

6. Which prophecy regarding the development of light in the believers as well as in the progress of the third angel’s message do we have?
Psalm 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

“The third angel has lighted up the past, the present, and the future.” – Early Writings, p. 255.

“This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth. For it is the work of every one to whom the message of warning has come, to lift up Jesus, to present Him to the world as revealed in types, as shadowed in symbols, as manifested in the revelations of the prophets, as unveiled in the lessons given to His disciples and in the wonderful miracles wrought for the sons of men.” – Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 363.

7. What may we expect if we appreciate and live according to the light we have received?
John 16:12, first part ‘I have yet many things to say unto you…”

“The question has been asked me, ‘Do you think that the Lord has any more light for us as a people?’ I answer that He has light that is new to us, and yet it is precious old light that is to shine forth from the Word of truth. We have only the glimmerings of the rays of the light that is yet to come to us. We are not making the most of the light which the Lord has already given us, and thus we fail to receive the increased light; we do not walk in light already shed upon us.” – Selected Messages, vol. 1, pp. 401, 402.

FOR MEDITATION

• To discover the great blessings included in the gospel message.
• To experience, grow and reach the goal the Lord has for us.
• To be prepared in order to progress every day.
• To receive and give more light.