HOW TO KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

How To Study The Bible

The King James Version is used.

It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light, and encourage others to follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought, and comparing scripture with scrip­ture. With divine help, we are to form our opinions for ourselves, as,we are to answer for ourselves before God.” -The Great Controversy, 1884 ed, page 416.

Allow no one to be brains for you, allow no one to do your thinking, your investigating, and your praying. This is the instruction we need to take to heart today. Many of you are convinced that the precious treasure of the kingdom of God and of Jesus Christ is in the Bible which you hold in your hand. You know that no earthly treasure is attainable without painstaking effort. Why should you expect to understand the treasures of the word of God without diligently searching the Scriptures?

It is our duty to read the Bible daily. But casual reading of the Scriptures is not enough. The knowledge of God is not to be gained without mental effort, without prayer for wisdom in order that you may separate from the pure grain of truth the chaff with which men and Satan have misrepresented the doctrines of truth. Satan and his confederacy of human agents have endeavored to mix the chaff of error with the wheat of truth.

The study of the Bible demands our most diligent effort and persevering thought. As the miner digs for the golden treasure in the earth, so earnestly, persistently, must we seek for the treasure of God's word.

We should diligently seek for the hidden treasure, and seek wisdom from heaven in order to separate human inventions from the divine commands. The Holy Spirit will aid the seeker of truth. The Lord says, "If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching." John 7:17.


How To Receive Answers To Prayer

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.” 2 Chronicles 7:14, 15.

One of the most astounding facts of the spiritual life is that God hears and answers prayer. The Bible abounds with the testimony of those whose prayers have been signally answered, and every sincere Christian can add his own personal experiences in which God has opened the windows of heaven and granted his petitions.

Prayer puts man in touch with God. It forms the connecting link between human weakness and God’s omnipotence. Out of weakness men are made strong. See Hebrews 11:34.


God's Greatest Gift for This World

At Christ's incarnation, sin had become a science. Rebellion had struck its roots deep into the heart of man. It was demonstrated before the universe that, apart from God, humanity could not be uplifted. A new element of life and power must be imparted by Him who made the world.

"With intense interest the unfallen worlds had watched to see Jehovah arise, and sweep away the inhabitants of the earth. And if God should do this, Satan was ready to carry out his plan for securing to himself the allegiance of heavenly beings. He had declared that the principles of God's government make forgiveness impossible. Had the world been destroyed, he would have claimed that his accusations were proved true. He was ready to cast blame upon God, and to spread his rebellion to the worlds above. But instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it. Though corruption and defiance might be seen in every part of the alien province, a way for its recovery was provided. At the very crisis, when Satan seemed about to triumph, the Son of God came with the embassage of divine grace. Through every age, through every hour, the love of God had been exercised toward the fallen race. Notwithstanding the perversity of men, the signals of mercy had been continually exhibited. And when the fullness of the time had come, the Deity was glorified by pouring upon the world a flood of healing grace that was never to be obstructed or withdrawn till the plan of salvation should be fulfilled." The Desire of Ages, page 37.

Jesus Is Coming Again

The second coming of Christ is the great hope of the church, the grand climax of the gospel and plan of salvation. Patriarchs, in the Old Testament, looked forward to it (Jude 14; Job 19:25-27); and it has also been the blessed hope of the church in the New Testament (Titus 2: 13; Acts 3:19-21).

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Hebrews 9:28.

When Jesus died on Golgotha, that act made possible the redemption of man from sin and from sin's influence and re­sults. He did not at that time actually complete His redemptive work. After His resurrection He ascended up to heaven, leaving His followers behind in a sin-cursed world. Most of the saints of past ages were still sleeping in their graves.

He had announced to His disciples, "I go to my Father," and to Simon Peter, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards." John 13:36. Let’s take a few minutes to study the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Signs That His Coming Is Near

After Jesus had assured His disciples that He would come again, they came to Him with the earnest inquiry : "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Matthew 24:3.

Jesus affirmed, "There shall be signs." (Luke 21:25). This is a positive assurance. Christ's people will not be left in darkness concerning this crowning event in the work of redemption.