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Sermon Outline

God’s Love and Justice

Love Is the Fulfillment of the Law

Lesson #13 for March 29, 2025

Scriptures:Exodus 20:1-17; Romans 6:1-3; 7:7-12; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 23:23-24; James 2:1-9.

  1. We have been studying about God’s love and justice for several sessions. Is love the “fulfillment” of the law? What does fulfillment mean? Is it that love is the result of following God’s law? Or, that “the law is fulfilled as we love our neighbor”?

[From the Bible study guide=BSG:] While they were dealing with a problematic member, someone on the church board said to the pastor, “We can’t make decisions based on compassion.” We can’t? The pastor wondered what this person’s understanding of God and of God’s law must have been. Compassion certainly needs to be central in how we deal with people, especially erring ones. Compassion is part and parcel of love, and asRomans 13:8 tells us, to love one’s neighbor is to fulfill the law.―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Sabbath Afternoon, March 22.‡§

  1. In this lesson we will demonstrate from Scripture and from the writings of Ellen G. White that love and law are inextricably connected. In fact, if we always act out of love, we will never break the law.

[From the writings of Ellen G. White=EGW:] In setting aside the law of God, men know not what they are doing. God’s law is the transcript of His character. It embodies the principles of His kingdom. He who refuses to accept these principles is placing himself outside the channel where God’s blessings flow.—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons* 305.3.*†‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p15.1339&index=0]‡

[BSG:] God’s law is not a set of abstract principles but commands and instructions intended for our flourishing. God’s law is, in its totality, an expression of love as God Himself expresses it.―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Sabbath Afternoon, March 22.†‡

  1. The three main points in this lesson are as follows:
  2. [BSG:] God’s law refers to relationships, rather than to abstract principles….
  3. The Ten Commandments describe the correct expression of our love to God and to others….
  4. God’s law finds its fulfillment in love. In Romans and Galatians, the idea of the fulfillment of the law is related to serving one another through love….―Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide*†‡
  5. We hope to demonstrate that the Ten Commandments are guidelines that describe how the loving friends of God behave. They are not demands from God for certain behavior.

[BSG:] God’s law does not consist of abstract principles; instead, God’s law is an expression of relationship. This can be seen explicitly in the Ten Commandments. The basic principles of the Ten Commandments were in place already in the Garden of Eden, the principles of love that were to govern the relationship between God and people and between people themselves.

When the Ten Commandments proclaimed in Exodus 20 were afterward written in stone, they were given to Israel in the context of the covenant relationship. The commandments were written down after the Lord already had delivered the people from Egypt, and the commandments were based on God’s love and on His promises to the nation (seeExod. 6:7, 8 andLev. 26:12). One can see in the two divisions of the Ten Commandments that they are aimed at the flourishing of a human relationship with God and of relationships with one another.―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Sunday, March 23.†‡§ [All of God’s commands are for our good and for the good of others.]‡

  1. The shall not’s which are familiar in the Ten Commandments could also be translated as will not, a description of what those who are God’s friends do. The Ten Commandments are actually descriptive laws (describing how things are—like the law of gravity) and not proscriptive laws (laws that prohibit certain actions or are arbitrary or semi-arbitrary demands like speed limits). The people needed these commands!

[BSG:] It is noteworthy that before the list of “shall nots” in the Decalogue, God introduces the Ten Commandments, inExodus 20:2, with a personal note (“ ‘I am the Lord your God,’ ” NKJV; emphasis supplied) and emphasizes His loving salvific action on behalf of Israel (deliverance from slavery in Egypt). In other words, the commandments do not start with a cold “shall not” but with a personal loving tone. Moreover, the list of commandments that follow are not to be understood as mere abstract laws but as a relational loving response to the God of Israel, who powerfully and compassionately saved them from Egypt.

It is in light of the personal loving tone ofExodus 20:2 that the first four commandments clearly delineate how the children of Israel are supposed to express their loving relational response toward their personal God. First, they shall not have other gods before the Lord. Love toward God is spelled out here in terms of exclusive loyalty. Second, this loyal love necessarily implies that they shall not make for themselves a carved image (idol) to worship. True worship, instead of idolatry, is a genuine expression of love toward God. Third, love to God is revealed in a respectful reference to His name. As Kenneth Harris points out, to take the name of God in vain particularly refers to “taking a deceptive oath in God’s name or invoking God’s name to sanction an act in which the person is being dishonest (Lev. 19:12 [See below.]). It also bans using God’s name in magic, or irreverently, or disrespectfully (Lev. 24:10–16 [See below.]).”—ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), p. 176. Fourth, to love God means that the seventh-day Sabbath is kept holy as a necessary reminder of God’s creation. While we are supposed to love God every day, the Sabbath is a special time to express our loving relationship with Him.―Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* 172-173.†‡§

Leviticus 19:12: “Do not make a promise in my name if you do not intend to keep it; that brings disgrace on my name. I am the LORD your God.”—American Bible Society. (1992). The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation* (2nd ed.,Leviticus 19:12). New York: American Bible Society [abbreviated as Good News Bible].‡

Leviticus 24:10-16: 10–11 There was a man whose father was an Egyptian and whose mother was an Israelite named Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri from the tribe of Dan. There in the camp this man quarreled with an Israelite. During the quarrel he cursed God, so they took him to Moses, 12put him under guard, and waited for the LORD to tell them what to do with him.

13 The LORD said to Moses, 14 “Take that man out of the camp. Everyone who heard him curse shall put his hands on the man’s head to testify that he is guilty, and then the whole community shall stone him to death. 15Then tell the people of Israel that anyone who curses God must suffer the consequences 16and be put to death. Any Israelite or any foreigner living in Israel who curses the LORD shall be stoned to death by the whole community.”—Good News Bible.*

  1. Since the Israelites government was a theocracy with God as their only King, cursing Him was a form of treason!

[BSG:] To be sure, the first four commandments spell out more directly what love to God entails, whereas the remaining six commandments elaborate specifically on how to love others. However, from a broader perspective, inasmuch as the identification of the Lord as the Savior God of Israel (Exod. 20:2) constitutes the introduction of the Ten Commandments as a whole, the specific ways in which we are supposed to express love to others in the last six commandments are, by implication, important forms of loving God in an ultimate sense. The fifth commandment, for instance, connects the love toward parents, which highlights the idea of honoring them, with a long life in the land that the Lord is giving to Israel. Therefore, the loving promise of God is directly related to the way in which the children of Israel love/honor their parents. Likewise, to love the other, and ultimately love God by means of this horizontal love, necessarily involves valuing life (not murdering), being sexually pure and cherishing marriage (not committing adultery), respecting what belongs to others (not stealing), standing for the truth about your neighbor (not bearing false witness against him/her), and nurturing desires shaped by a spirit of contentment (not coveting what belongs to your neighbor).―Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* 173.†‡§

  1. ReadExodus 20:1-17. It is important to recognize as stated in verses 1 and 2 that God was seeking to have a special relationship with those former slaves.
  2. Notice that in Matthew 22, Jesus described the two greatest commandments.

Matthew 22:37-40: 37 Jesus answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the greatest and the most important commandment. 39The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbour [sic-Br] as you love yourself.’ 40The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”—Good News Bible.*‡ [Where did Jesus get those?]‡

Deuteronomy 6:5: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”—Good News Bible.*

Leviticus 19:18: “Do not take revenge on anyone or continue to hate him, but love your neighbour [sic-Br] as you love yourself. I am the LORD.”—Good News Bible.*‡

[BSG:] These two parts of the law correspond directly to what Jesus identified as the two greatest commandments—“ ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart” ’ ” (Matt. 22:37, NKJV; compare withDeut. 6:5) and “ ‘ “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” ’ ” (Matt. 22:39, NKJV; compare withLev. 19:18).―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Sunday, March 23.‡§

  1. Christians who recognize the implications of God’s law will realize that the first four commandments relate directly to God and the last six to fellow humans.

[BSG:] The first four commandments are the ways in which we are to love God with all of our being, and the last six are ways we are to love one another as ourselves. Jesus makes it explicit that these two great love commandments are integrally related to the law. “ ‘On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’ ” (Matt. 22:40, NKJV).

The entirety of God’s law, then, is grounded in God’s love. God’s love and law are inseparable. We often hear people say, We don’t need to keep the law, we just need to love God and to love others. Why does that idea not make sense?

How could we express love to God, or love to others, if we are violating any one of the Ten Commandments?―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Sunday, March 23.‡§

  1. Jesus came to this world to teach us about God and His government. Everything Jesus did was a demonstration of true love. However, while He was ministering on this earth, Satan was doing everything he possibly could to prevent this message from being understood and practiced and, if possible, to destroy Jesus. They called Jesus a demon!

Romans 3:25-26: 25–26 God offered him, so that by his blood [footnote: by his sacrificial death] he should become the means by which people’s sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people’s sins; but in the present time he deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus.—Good News Bible.*†‡ [What appears to have been Jesus’s main goal?]‡

[See https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p96.680&index=0]‡

  1. These verses in Romans 3 are the only verses in the Bible where one of the Bible writers specifically tried to explain why Jesus had to die. Notice that it says three times that the life and death of Jesus were to demonstrate God’s righteousness before it finally mentions something about helping us to be put right. The life of Jesus was not a payment for our sins!
  2. In his discussion in Romans, the apostle Paul recognized the role of law in pointing out sin. In fact, he said, recognizing the truth about the law caused sin to spring to life in him and actually killed him! However, he recognized that the law is holy; and the commandment is holy, right, and good.

Romans 7:7-12: 7 Shall we say, then, that the Law itself is sinful? Of course not! But it was the Law that made me know what sin is. If the Law had not said, “Do not desire what belongs to someone else,” I would not have known such a desire. 8But by means of that commandment sin found its chance to stir up all kinds of selfish desires in me. Apart from law, sin is a dead thing. 9I myself was once alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life, 10and I died. And the commandment which was meant to bring life, in my case brought death. 11Sin found its chance, and by means of the commandment it deceived me and killed me. [Paul was speaking to “legal interpreters” of the law.]

12 So then, the Law itself is holy, and the commandment is holy, right, and good.—Good News Bible.*†‡

  1. In numerous places in both the Old Testament and New Testament, it is clear that the law serves the purpose of showing us what sin is. It is like looking in the mirror at one’s face. If there is dirt on the face, the mirror does not clean off the dirt; the mirror just shows us where the dirt is, like the law shows us where we are short of God’s plan for us.

James 1:22-25: 22 Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice. 23Whoever listens to the word but does not put it into practice is like a man who looks in a mirror and sees himself as he is. 24He takes a good look at himself and then goes away and at once forgets what he looks like. 25But those who look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, who keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice — they will be blessed by God in what they do.—Good News Bible.*†

  1. If we clearly understand the purpose of law and understand the love of God, then we will love God with all our “hearts” or minds. Think of the nations that surrounded the Jewish people in their day. Their gods were arbitrary, vindictive, and entirely unpredictable. On the other hand, God (YAHWEH) is perfect and honest and just and never wants anything for us except what is for our best good.
  2. God recognizes that we fail frequently. So, He tells us what He is going to do about that. Notice this “new covenant” in which God is the one promising to do things for His people rather than the people promising to do things.

Jeremiah 31:31-34: 31 The LORD says, “The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. Although I was like a husband to them, they did not keep that covenant. 33The new covenant that I will make with the people of Israel will be this: I [the Lord] will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34None of them will have to teach his fellow-citizen to know the LORD, because all will know me, from the least to the greatest. I will forgive their sins and I will no longer remember their wrongs. I, the LORD, have spoken.”—Good News Bible.*†‡ [What does that next to last sentence mean? God’s memory is perfect!]‡

John 3:17-21: 17 “For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its saviour [sic-Br].

18 “Those who believe in the Son are not judged; but those who do not believe have already been judged, because they have not believed in God’s only Son. 19This is how the judgement works: the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil. 20All those who do evil things hate the light and will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds to be shown up. 21But those who do what is true come to the light in order that the light may show that what they did was in obedience to God.”—Good News Bible.*†‡ [The law is settled in the “heart.” Or, in today’s speech, the law is settled in the mind.]‡

  1. In these verses God explained exactly how the law works in reference to our sins. To those who recognize the truth about the law, God shines His light on them, and they are delighted to walk in that light. Those who reject God’s ways will walk only in darkness. So, in fact, we are judging ourselves. If we walk in the light, we are children of God. However, if we walk in the darkness, we belong to the Devil.
  2. While it is true that God wrote His laws in ancient Hebrew on tables of stone and He did it twice because the first tables were broken, what God really wants is to “write His law on our hearts” or minds (Jeremiah 31:31-34 as above) so that we do what is right because we will understand that it is right and we want to do what is right.

[BSG:] The Ten Commandments were inscribed by God Himself on the tablets of stone (Exod. 31:18), but the law was also to be written in the hearts of God’s people (Ps. 37:30, 31). Ideally, God’s law of love would not be external to us but internal to our very characters. God alone could inscribe His law on human hearts, and He promised to do so for His covenant people (seeHeb. 8:10).―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Tuesday, March 25.†‡§

[EGW:] The man who attempts to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely—because he is required to do so—will never enter into the joy of obedience. He does not obey. When the requirements of God are accounted a burden because they cut across human inclination, we may know that the life is not a Christian life. True obedience is the outworking of a principle within. It springs from the love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right—because right doing is pleasing to God.—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons* 97.3.†‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p15.369&index=0]‡

  1. Notice these powerful words by Ellen White. Do they remind you of the prodigal son’s brother?

[EGW:] A sullen submission to the will of the Father will develop the character of a rebel. By such a one service is looked upon as drudgery. It is not rendered cheerfully, and in the love of God. It is a mere mechanical performance. If he dared, such a one would disobey. His rebellion is smothered, ready to break out at any time in bitter murmurings and complaints. Such service brings no peace or quietude to the soul.—Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times,* July 22, 1897, par. 11.†‡ Compare That I May Know Him 120.4. [https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p820.14427&index=0]‡

  1. Our attitude and motives as we are following God’s laws matter!

[BSG:] We cannot save ourselves by law-keeping. Rather, it is by grace we are saved through faith, not of ourselves but as the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). We do not keep the law in order to be saved; we keep the law because we are already saved. We do not keep the law in order to be loved but because we are loved, and thus we desire to love God and others (seeJohn 14:15).―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Tuesday, March 25.†‡§

  1. It will be seen that God’s laws are descriptions of the kind of people who are safe to admit to heavenly society and are safe to live forever with the rest of the beings of the universe.
  2. Not all sins are sins of commission or overt acts of disobedience. Some sins are sins of omission or not doing something that should be done. How well are we doing at carrying out God’s will for us?

[BSG:] Given all of these teachings (and many others), those who wish to fulfill the law through love should be concerned not only about sins of commission but also about sins of omission. Love as the fulfillment of the law involves not merely keeping the law in the sense of refraining from committing sins but also consists of actively doing good—doing the works of love that faithfully advance justice and mercy. Being faithful to God is more than just not violating the letter of the law.―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Wednesday, March 26.†‡ [The cemetery is full of people who do no wrong!]‡

[BSG:] If love is the fulfillment of the law, then one cannot keep God’s law in the full sense simply by refraining from doing wrong things. The law of love itself (expressed in the fullness of Scripture) not only commands us to refrain from doing evil but the law prompts us to do acts that reveal the love of God to others—not only to other church members but also to the world at large, which is so desperately in need of a true Christian witness.―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Thursday, March 27.†‡

Romans 3:20: For no one is put right in God’s sight by doing what the Law requires; what the Law does is to make people know that they have sinned.—Good News Bible.*†

  1. Remember that the law functions like a mirror. When we become aware of our sins, do we seek to change the way we are living? Or, do we continue in sin?
  2. How do you understand these words from Peter? How does love “cover” sins?

1 Peter 4:8: Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.—Good News Bible.*

[BSG:] What is your hope in the judgment? Is it your diligent and faithful law-keeping or is it Christ’s righteousness, which covers you? What does your answer tell you about the function of God’s law regarding what it can or cannot do?―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Tuesday, March 25.‡

  1. It should be clear that acting in loving ways would fulfill all of the requirements of God’s laws.

[BSG:] The relationship between love and law cannot be overstated. Indeed, according to Scripture, to love is to fulfill the law.

InRomans 13:8–10, Paul teaches that “he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Rom. 13:8, NKJV). After listing many of the last six of the Ten Commandments, Paul declares that these are “all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ ” (Rom. 13:9, NKJV). Indeed, Paul teaches explicitly, “Love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10, NKJV). Again, inGalatians 5:14, Paul explains, “All the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ ” (Gal. 5:14, NKJV). But what kind of love is that which fulfills the law? What does such love look like? ReadMatthew 23:23, 24. What are the “weightier matters of the law”? ReadDeuteronomy 5:12–15 andIsaiah 58:13, 14. How do these passages demonstrate the relationship between the law (particularly the Sabbath commandment) and God’s concern for justice and deliverance?―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Wednesday, March 26.†‡§

Romans 13:8-10: 8 Be under obligation to no one — the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law. 9The commandments, “Do not commit adultery; do not commit murder; do not steal; do not desire what belongs to someone else” — all these, and any others besides, are summed up in the one command, “Love your neighbour [sic-Br] as you love yourself.” 10If you love someone, you will never do them wrong; to love, then, is to obey the whole Law.—Good News Bible.*†‡

  1. InGalatians 5:14 andRomans 8:4, Paul has told us that to love is the fulfillment of all law. Does that sound correct to you? Do you agree with what he said inRomans 13:8-10?
  2. The ancient Israelites believed that fasting was a way to gain God’s approval. It was a way to try to “control” God.

Isaiah 58:3-10: 3 The people ask, “Why should we fast if the LORD never notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention?”

The LORD says to them, “The truth is that at the same time as you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers. 4Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers? 5When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass, and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that?

6 “The kind of fasting I want is this: remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. 7Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives. [Opening one’s home may not be safe in our society today!]

8 “Then my favour [sic-Br] will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. 9When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond.

“If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; 10if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon.”—Good News Bible.*†‡

  1. If everyone in society always acted in love, would we need to worry about keeping the law?

[Mounce as quoted in BSG:] “The Christian is to allow no debt to remain outstanding except the one that can never be paid off—‘the debt to love one another.’ The obligation to love has no limit.”—Robert Mounce, The New American Commentary: Romans (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), vol. 27, p. 245.―[as quoted in Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* 174].‡§

  1. We must not treat people differently because of their outward appearance.

James 2:1-9: 1 My brothers and sisters, as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, you must never treat people in different ways according to their outward appearance. 2Suppose a rich man wearing a gold ring and fine clothes comes to your meeting, and a poor man in ragged clothes also comes. 3If you show more respect to the well-dressed man and say to him, “Have this best seat here,” but say to the poor man, “Stand over there, or sit here on the floor by my feet,” 4then you are guilty of creating distinctions among yourselves and of making judgements based on evil motives.

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! God chose the poor people of this world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which he promised to those who love him. 6But you dishonour [sic-Br] the poor! Who are the ones who oppress you and drag you before the judges? The rich! 7They are the ones who speak evil of that good name which has been given to you.

8 You will be doing the right thing if you obey the law of the Kingdom, which is found in the scripture, “Love your neighbour [sic-Br] as you love yourself.” 9But if you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty of sin, and the Law condemns you as a lawbreaker.—Good News Bible.*†‡

[EGW:] Love to man is the earthward manifestation of the love of God. It was to implant this love, to make us children of one family, that the King of glory became one with us. And when His parting words are fulfilled, “Love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12); when we love the world as He has loved it, then for us His mission is accomplished. We are fitted for heaven; for we have heaven in our hearts.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 641.3.†‡ [https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.3155&index=0]‡

[BSG:] When we love the world, as Christ has loved the world—then we are fitted for heaven. What a powerful expression of what it means to be a follower of Jesus!

Jesus commands His followers to “ ‘love one another;’ ” even as “ ‘I have loved you’ ” (John 13:34, NKJV). Jesus also proclaims: “ ‘By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another’ ” (John 13:35, NKJV). Love is so central to Christian faith because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). And those who claim to love God must love one another (compare with1 John 3:11; 4:20, 21).―Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Thursday, March 27.‡§

  1. Could we actually learn to love the world as Christ did? What would that look like?

[EGW:] Those whom Christ commends in the judgment may have known little of theology, but they have cherished His principles. Through the influence of the divine Spirit they have been a blessing to those about them. Even among the heathen are those who have cherished the spirit of kindness; before the words of life had fallen upon their ears, they have befriended the missionaries, even ministering to them at the peril of their own lives. Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom the light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish. Though ignorant of the written law of God, they have heard His voice speaking to them in nature, and have done the things that the law required. Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts, and they are recognized as the children of God.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 638.2.†‡ [https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.3135&index=0]‡

[EGW:] Those who minister to others will be ministered unto by the Chief Shepherd. They themselves will drink of the living water, and will be satisfied. They will not be longing for exciting amusements, or for some change in their lives. The great topic of interest will be, how to save the souls that are ready to perish. Social intercourse will be profitable. The love of the Redeemer will draw hearts together in unity.

When we realize that we are workers together with God, His promises will not be spoken with indifference. They will burn in our hearts, and kindle upon our lips. To Moses, when called to minister to an ignorant, undisciplined, and rebellious people, God gave the promise, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” And He said, “Certainly I will be with thee.”Exodus 33:14; 3:12. This promise is to all who labor in Christ’s stead for His afflicted and suffering ones.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 641.1-2.†‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.3153&index=0]‡

  1. In conclusion, readMatthew 25:31-46. What is it that separates the sheep from the goats in this passage told by Jesus about the final judgment?
  2. Reading again this paragraph from Ellen White:

[EGW:] Love to man is the earthward manifestation of the love of God. It was to implant this love, to make us children of one family, that the King of glory became one with us. And when His parting words are fulfilled, “Love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12); when we love the world as He has loved it, then for us His mission is accomplished. We are fitted for heaven; for we have heaven in our hearts.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 641.3.†‡ [https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.3155&index=0]‡

  1. Could we as individuals and as local churches actually show the love of Jesus Christ to our communities? What would that look like? How might it impact the communities?

©2025, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged. *Electronic version. †Bold type is added. ‡Brackets and content in brackets are added. §Italic type is in the source. [sic-Br]=This is correct as quoted; it is the British spelling.

Last Modified: February 8, 2025                                                                                      Email: Info@theox.org