Chapter 5
2 (see EGW on Romans 8:26, 34; Revelation 8:3, 4). The Acceptable Offering—The offering that is made to God without a spirit of reverence and gratitude, He does not accept. It is the humble, grateful, reverential heart that makes the offering as a sweet-smelling savor, acceptable to God. The children of Israel might have given all their substance, but given in a spirit of self-sufficiency or Pharisaism, as though God were indebted to them for their favors, their offerings would have been unaccepted, and utterly contemned by Him. It is our privilege, by diligently trading on our Lord's goods, to increase our store, so that we may impart to those who have fallen into distress. Thus we become the Lord's right hand to work out His benevolent purposes (Manuscript 67, 1907).6BC 1118.3
2, 27. Christ's Life an Oblation to God—“Christ also hath loved us,” writes Paul, “and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” This is the oblation of a life-gift in our behalf, that we may be all that He desires us to be—representatives of Him, expressing the fragrance of His character, His own pure thoughts, His divine attributes as manifested in His sanctified human life, in order that others may behold Him in His human form, and, comprehending God's wonderful design, be led to desire to be like Christ—pure, undefiled, wholly acceptable to God, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing (Manuscript 159, 1903).6BC 1118.4
9. See EGW on Galatians 5:22, 23.6BC 1118.5
23-25. See EGW on Revelation 19:7-9.6BC 1118.6
25 (John 1:4; Revelation 2:1; 21:23). Only One Source of Light—Christ “loved the church, and gave himself for it.” It is the purchase of His blood. The divine Son of God is seen walking amid the seven golden candlesticks. Jesus Himself supplies the oil to these burning lamps. He it is that kindles the flame. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”6BC 1118.7
No candlestick, no church, shines of itself. From Christ emanates all its light. The church in heaven today is only the complement of the church on earth; but it is higher, grander—perfect. The same divine illumination is to continue through eternal ages. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the light thereof. No church can have light if it fails to diffuse the glory it receives from the throne of God (Manuscript 1a, 1890).6BC 1118.8
25-27 (Malachi 3:17). The Case Which Contains His Jewels—The church of Christ is very precious in His sight. It is the case which contains His jewels, the fold which encloses His flock (Manuscript 115, 1899).6BC 1118.9
27 (John 14:15). Reaching the Condition of Sinlessness—Those only who through faith in Christ obey all of God's commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression. They testify to their love of Christ by obeying all His precepts (Manuscript 122, 1901).6BC 1118.10