In this final lesson of our Bible study series, we will try to summarize all that we have studied so far by considering how it relates to our life today and through eternity. Sometimes we get distressed by the fact that God is asking us to make changes in our lives, when we’re just focusing on the here and now, so perhaps it would be helpful if, as we begin this lesson, we would just turn our attention momentarily to the big picture….

1) What solemn time are we now living in? ____________________________________

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall ________________ them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats: And he shall set the __________ on his ____________________, but the ___________ on the ________” Matthew 25:31-33

“Then shall ye return, and discern between the __________________ and the ____________, between him that ______________________ and him that ______________________________.” Malachi 3:18

“The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many years this work has been in progress. Soon--none know how soon--it will pass to the cases of the living. In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review. At this time above all others it behooves every soul to heed the Saviour's admonition: ‘Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.’ Mark 13:33.” GC 490

This is a very solemn time, a time for deep heart searching. We must ask ourselves, “Am I right with God?” “Have I confessed and forsaken every sin?” “Is anything standing between me and God?” “Am I living in harmony with all God’s requirements?” The day is coming soon when all who have ever lived or are living will be divided into two groups, those who love and obey God, and those who do not. Then it will be forever too late to make changes and bring our lives into harmony with God’s will. No excuses will be of any help. Now is the time we are given to prepare.

2) What will be the reward of the wicked, those who have disregarded God’s requirements? __________________________________________________________

“So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the ______________________________: there shall be ______________ and ________________ of teeth.” Matthew 13:49-50

“It is impossible to describe the horror and despair of those who have trampled upon God's holy requirements. The Lord gave them His law; they might have compared their characters with it and learned their defects while there was yet opportunity for repentance and reform; but in order to secure the favor of the world, they set aside its precepts and taught others to transgress…. Now they are condemned by that law which they have despised. With awful distinctness they see that they are without excuse.” GC 639, 640

3) What will be the reward of the righteous, those who have obeyed God in all things?

_______________________________________________________________________

“But as it is written, Eye hath not ________, nor ear __________, neither have ______________ into the heart of man, the things which _________________________ ________________ for them that ________________.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

“And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall _______________________________. They shall ____________ no more, neither ____________ any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall ______________________________________ from their eyes.” Revelation 7:14-17

“And I saw a _____________________ and a __________________: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will ______________________________, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and _________________________. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more __________, neither ____________, nor ____________, neither shall there be any more ________: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that ____________________ shall inherit ____________________; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” Revelation 21:1-7

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations. And there shall be __________________________: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall __________________: And they shall ______

________________; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. And there shall be _____________________________; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall ____________________________ and ever.” Revelation 22:1-5

Quoting from Ellen White’s vision of heaven: “The wonderful things I there saw I cannot describe. Oh, that I could talk in the language of Canaan, then could I tell a little of the glory of the better world…. Then an angel bore me gently down to this dark world. Sometimes I think I can stay here no longer; all things of earth look so dreary. I feel very lonely here, for I have seen a better land. Oh, that I had wings like a dove, then would I fly away and be at rest! After I came out of vision, everything looked changed; a gloom was spread over all that I beheld. Oh, how dark this world looked to me. I wept when I found myself here, and felt homesick. I had seen a better world, and it had spoiled this for me.” EW 19, 20

4) In light of these things, what are we told to earnestly contend for? ______________________________________________________________________

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should __________________ ______________ for the __________ which was ____________________________

______________________________.” Jude 3

5) Where will we find the good way which we are to ask for? ______________________

“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the _______________

__________, where [is] the ________________, and ________________________, and ye shall find ______________________________________. But they said, We will not walk [therein].” Jeremiah 6:16

6) What two “R’s” must God’s people experience?

_____________________________ and _____________________________

“A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work.” Review and Herald, March 22, 1887

“A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from the spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.” Review and Herald, Feb. 25, 1902

“Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth, there will be, among the people of the Lord, such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times….” FLB 326

“Do not the Scriptures call for a more pure and holy work than we have yet seen? . . . God calls upon those who are willing to be controlled by the Holy Spirit to lead out in a work of thorough reformation.” General Conference Bulletin, May 29, 1913, p. 34

“Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise, and this preparation they should make by diligently studying the word of God, and striving to conform their lives to its precepts. . . . God calls for a revival and a reformation.” PK 626

“We need now to begin over again. Reforms must be entered into with heart and soul and will. Errors may be hoary with age; but age does not make error truth, nor truth error. Altogether too long have the old customs and habits been followed. The Lord would now have every idea that is false put away…. We are not at liberty to teach that which shall meet the world's standard or the standard of the church, simply because it is the custom to do so. The lessons which Christ taught are to be the standard.” 6T 142

“If the church would manifest a greater interest in the reforms which God Himself has brought to them to fit them for His coming, their influence would be tenfold what it now is.” 3T 170

7) What high calling are we given?

“But ye [are] a __________________________________, a _____________________ ____________________, an ______________________, a _______________________

____________; that ye should ____________________ the _______________________ ______ who hath called you out of ________________ into his marvelous __________:” 1 Peter 2:9

We must not be ashamed to be different from the world. We are supposed to be different! We have been chosen out of this world by God to be His peculiar people, and we are to show to the world around us, by our godly lives, that we have been called out of darkness and sin into God’s marvelous light! What a high calling is ours! May we be faithful to it!

8) How important is it that we obey God in the practical things such as Christian standards? _________________________________________________________

“Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; __________________________________________ _______________________.” Isaiah 62:10

“He that is ________________ in that which is __________ is ____________________

____________________: and he that is ____________ in the __________ is ______________________________________.” Luke 16:10

In many of our churches today, we are given the impression that “standards” is almost a bad word, something only fanatics and extremists talk about. We are told that the most important things are love, outreach, a warm and accepting church environment, etc., and are lead to believe that teaching on and upholding the standards is somehow unacceptable, and even the opposite of love and care for others’ souls. Oh my friends, nothing could be further from the truth! This is exactly what Satan would have us to believe as he lulls us into Laodicean slumber. Rather, God’s word tells us that our love is evidenced by the fact that we keep the words and commandments of God (John 14:15, 23). God’s standards are given us to guard us from temptation and to keep us in the narrow way. They are for our happiness and best good.

Someone else may say, “You don’t need to talk about the standards. Just talk about conversion, and when a person is converted, right actions and outward obedience will naturally come a s a result.” Yet this is only partly true, for how can we expect right actions and outward obedience to result when there has been no instruction as to what is right and what is wrong, as to where God sets the standards? We must not be afraid to teach and to follow the standards set forth in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.

9) How much of our heart, our life, and our obedience does God require? ____________

“And I will give them an heart to know me, that I [am] the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with ________________ ______________________.” Jeremiah 24:7

“Principle is always exacting. No man can succeed in the service of God unless his whole heart is in the work and he counts all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. No man who makes any reserve can be the disciple of Christ, much less can he be His colaborer. When men appreciate the great salvation, the self-sacrifice seen in Christ's life will be seen in theirs. Wherever He leads the way, they will rejoice to follow.” DA 273

“Jesus demands all. When we are brought to yield to his claims, and give up all then, and not till then, will he throw around us his arms of mercy. But what do we give, when we give all? A sin-polluted soul to Jesus, to purify, to cleanse by his blood, and save from death by his matchless love. And yet I saw that some thought it hard to give up all. I am ashamed to hear it spoken of, ashamed to write it. Do we talk about self-denial? What did Christ give for us? When you think it hard that Christ requires all, go up to mount Calvary and weep there over such a thought. Behold the hands and feet of your Deliverer torn by the cruel nails, that you may be washed from sin by his own blood. Those who feel the constraining love of God ask not how little may be given, in order to obtain the heavenly reward; they ask not for the lowest standard, but aim at a perfect conformity to the will of their Redeemer. With ardent desire they will yield all, and manifest zeal proportionate to the value of the object they are in pursuit of. What is the object? Immortality, eternal life.” 2SG 260

10) What counsel did Christ give to the seven churches of Revelation, and how can this counsel guide us today as well?

“________________ therefore ______________________ thou art ____________, and ____________, and do the ______________________; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent…. ______________________, and ____________________ the things which ____________, that are ________________________: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee…. He that ____________________, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels…. I know thy works, that thou art ________________________________________: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art ________________, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art ________________, and __________________, and ________, and __________, and __________: I counsel thee to buy of me ________ tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and __________ ______________, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with ________________, that thou mayest see. As many as I ________, I ___________________________________: be ______________ therefore, and ____________.” Revelation 2:5; 3:2-3, 5, 15-19

Take a moment to think on these verses and let God speak to your heart through them.

11) Of what value is our witnessing to others if we are not living a life of obedience?

____________________________________________________________________

“Let your __________ so shine before men, that they may see your ____________________, and ______________________________________ which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

“Conformity to the world is a sin which is sapping the spirituality of our people, and seriously interfering with their usefulness. It is idle to proclaim the warning message to the world, while we deny it in the transactions of daily life.” Review and Herald,

March 28, 1882.

We hear so much in our churches today about the need for more witnessing and evangelism, but we need to stop and face ourselves honestly and ask, “Do I have anything worth giving to the world, or am I living a life of self-serving and doing things my own way in disobedience to God? Am I proclaiming great truths, while not really living up to them myself; telling the people that the world is about to end and they must get ready to meet Jesus, while I’m copying the world in the way I live and not getting ready to meet Jesus myself?” Let us each surrender our lives to Christ and put away our conformity to the world, so that we will have something worth offering, and more than that, essential, to those around us.

12) Will God be satisfied with partial obedience? YES / NO

“And if the ____________________________________ be saved, where shall the ______________ and the ____________ appear?” 1 Peter 4:18

“For whosoever shall ________ the __________________, and yet ____________ in ___________________, he is __________________________.” James 2:10

“God's Word is plain. Its teachings cannot be mistaken. Shall we obey it, just as He has given it to us, or shall we seek to find how far we can digress and yet be saved?”

Review and Herald, March 28, 1882.

There are many who have this attitude - trying to see how much disobedience they can get by with and still not lose out on eternal life. But God has made it clear to us that He requires full obedience from a willing and loving heart.

13) Should we wait until every obstacle disappears before we obey, or go forward in faith? ________________________________________________________________

“For ye have need of patience, that, __________ ye have __________________________ ______________, ye might receive the promise…. Now the just shall live by __________: but if [any man] __________________, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto __________________; but of them that believe to the ____________________________________.” Hebrews 10:36, 38, 39

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give __________________ to make your calling and election ________: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” 2 Peter 1:10

“Often the Christian life is beset with dangers, and duty seems hard to perform. The imagination pictures impending ruin before, and bondage and death behind. Yet the voice of God speaks clearly, Go forward. Let us obey the command, even though our sight cannot penetrate the darkness. The obstacles that hinder our progress will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit. Those who defer obedience till every uncertainty disappears, and there remains no risk of failure or defeat, will never obey. Faith looks beyond the difficulties, and lays hold of the unseen, even Omnipotence, therefore it cannot be baffled.” GW 262

14) Is it safe to follow others in the church, or must we understand our faith for ourselves and be able to stand alone? _________________________________________________

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they __________________ themselves by themselves, and __________________ themselves among themselves, are ________________.”

2 Corinthians 10:12

“I have trodden the winepress __________; and of the people [there was] ________

______________:” Isaiah 63:3

“Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me __________: and yet I am __________________, because the _________________________________.” John 16:32

We cannot safely do what others are doing just because they are good church members, or excuse our disobedience with the plea that all the others are doing it. Neither can we wait for someone else to take the first step. We must go forward in obedience no matter what others may do, even if it means we have to stand alone. But like Jesus, we must remember that we are not really alone because all heaven is on our side.

15) What does Jesus say to those who profess to be His followers, but don’t obey Him?

“And why call ye me, ________, Lord, and ____________ the __________________ __________________?” Luke 6:46

Think how you would feel if your child disobeyed you and rebelled against you continually, doing things he knew brought grief to your heart; yet all the while he assured you of his deep love for you. How much more broken-hearted must Jesus feel, after ALL He has done for us, when we say we love Him and call Him our Lord, but then we continue to hold onto those things that we know displease Him and bring grief and sorrow to His heart.

16) How serious a matter is it to disobey when we know better?

“Therefore to him that ____________________________________, and __________

_______________, to him __________________.” James 4:17

“For if we ________________________ after that we have received the ___________________________________________, there remaineth ______________ __________________ for sins, But a certain ______________________________ for of ________________ and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”

Hebrews 10:26, 27

“Therefore let us not __________, as [do] others; but let us __________ and ________

___________…. ____________________ the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 19

“Our condemnation in the judgment will not result from the fact that we have been in error, but from the fact that we have neglected heaven-sent opportunities for learning what is truth.” DA 489

We are responsible for what we know or what we have had the opportunity of knowing! How serious a matter this is indeed! Eternal life… or eternal death… which will you choose?

17) When is the time to obey? ____________________________________________

“…behold, ______ [is] the accepted time; behold, ______ [is] the ____________ ___________________.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

“While it is said, ____________ if ye will hear his voice, ____________________

_______________________,…” Hebrews 3:15

“And that, knowing the time, that _______ [it is] _______________________________

_______________________________: for now [is] our salvation ____________ than when we believed. The ____________________________________, the ____________

_______________: let us therefore ________________ the works of ________________, and let us ____________ the armour of __________.” Romans 13:11-12

“There is need of decided changes. It is time for us to humble our proud, self-willed hearts, and seek the Lord while He may be found. As a people we need to humble our hearts before God; for the scars of inconsistency are on our practice. The Lord is calling upon us to come into line. The day is far spent. The night is at hand. The judgments of God are already seen, both on land and on sea. No second probation will be granted us. This is no time for making false moves. Let every one thank God that we still have an opportunity to form characters for the future eternal life.” CD 40

18) My dear Friends, Jesus is coming back very soon! We must prepare our hearts and lives, so that we may meet Him in peace! We must awaken out of our Laodicean slumber, and work to arouse others around us who are sleeping. We must cooperate with the Lord and allow Him to work a thorough revival and reformation in our lives. We must seek for that primitive godliness by which our hearts may be brought in harmony with God’s heart. The road is straight and narrow, requiring self-denial all along the way, but it leads to the heavenly city.

We have looked at God’s call for us to be separate from the world. We have seen how subtly Satan works to bring the world into the church by gradual compromise. We have studied together several areas where Satan is working overtime to bring confusion and backsliding, and we have learned, in contrast, what God’s will is for us in each of these areas.

Why has God given us standards in all these areas? It is for our happiness and our best good, in this life and in the life to come. It is to keep us separated from the world and close to the Lord.

Why should I obey? I should obey cheerfully and speedily because I love my Savior Who has given His all for me, so much that I want nothing better than to please Him in every way I can. I am driven and motivated by love for Him. I also recognize His authority as Lord of my life, and choose to put Him first because I know His way is best.

We have been challenged together to give the straight testimony, to call sin by its right name, and to lift high the standard of truth as set forth in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. This means that we ourselves will not desire to have smooth things spoken to us, but will praise the Lord for the straight testimony when we receive it, knowing that it is one of the instrumentalities God uses to perfect our characters and fit us for heaven.

We have soberly looked into the future, and considered the reward of the righteous and the wicked. We have seen that we are living, even now, in the judgment hour, and how vital it is that we make our calling and election sure.

Today is the day of salvation. Right now is the time to bring our hearts and lives into harmony with God and obey all His commands. Who knows how much longer the angel of mercy will linger, before he withdraws and it is forever too late. Please, don’t let anything hold you back from entire surrender, from full obedience. Don’t let the devil tell you that God doesn’t care so much about the little things, or that it won’t matter that much if you put off full obedience till a more convenient time.

God is looking for a holy people, a perfected people, a peculiar people separate from the world. It is only these people who He can take to heaven to be with Him for eternity. Will you be among them? The answer, my friend, is up to you. What will your decision be?

Write your commitment below: ______________________________________________

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