Obedience to God’s Law

Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to God’s law, and in this He set an example for every human being. The life that He lived in this world we are to live through His power and under His instruction.MHH 95.4

In our work for the fallen the claims of the law of God and the need of loyalty to Him are to be impressed on mind and heart. Never fail to show that there is a marked difference between a person who serves God and one who does not serve Him. God is love, but He cannot excuse willful disregard for His commands. The enactments of His government are such that human beings do not escape the consequences of disloyalty. Only those who honor Him can He honor. Our conduct in this world decides our eternal destiny. As we sow, so we must reap. Cause will be followed by effect.MHH 95.5

Nothing less than perfect obedience can meet the standard of God’s requirement. He has not left His requirements indefinite. He has asked nothing that is not necessary in order to bring us into harmony with Him. We are to point sinners to His ideal of character and lead them to Christ, by whose grace only can this ideal be reached.MHH 95.6

The Savior took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life that we might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature we will be unable to overcome. Christ came to make us “partakers of the divine nature,” and His life declares that humanity combined with divinity does not commit sin.MHH 95.7

The Savior overcame to show us how we may overcome. Christ met all the temptations of Satan with the Word of God. By trusting in God’s promises, He received power to obey God’s commandments, and the tempter could gain no advantage. To every temptation His answer was, “It is written.” So God has given us His Word by which to resist evil. Exceeding great and precious promises are ours, that by these we “may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:4.MHH 96.1

Tell the tempted one not to look at circumstances, to the weakness of self, or to the power of temptation, but to the power of God’s Word. All its strength is ours. “Your word,” says the psalmist, “I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” “By the word of Your lips, I have kept myself from the paths of the destroyer.” Psalm 119:11; 17:4.MHH 96.2

Talk courage to the people. Lift them up to God in prayer. Many who have been overcome by temptation are humiliated by their failures and feel that it is useless for them to approach God, but this thought is the enemy’s suggestion. When they have sinned and feel that they cannot pray, tell them that then is the time to pray. They may be ashamed and deeply humbled, but as they confess their sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness.MHH 96.3

Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on the merits of the Savior. By prayer, by the study of His Word, by faith in His abiding presence, the weakest of human beings may live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold them by a hand that will never let go.MHH 96.4

All who abide in Christ may make these precious words their own:MHH 96.5

“I will look to the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me.
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The Lord will be a light to me”
Micah 7:7, 8.MHH 96.6

“He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
Verse 19; see also Isaiah 13:12 and Psalm 68:13.MHH 96.7

Those whom Christ has forgiven most will love Him most. These are they who in the final day will stand nearest to His throne.MHH 96.8

“They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.” Revelation 22:4.MHH 96.9