SDA Sabbath School Lessons
Monday December 23, 1996

Purified by God
(Rev. 7:13,14)

How does God purify His church?

Washed their robes.  "The reason for the purity of the robes is given.  The saints are triumphant, not on their own account, but because of the victory won by Christ on Calvary.... The close connection between righteousness and victory-both symbolized by white garments . . . - is demonstrated here.  The battle is against sin; righteousness is the victory; Christ's righteousness has won the victory; and upon accepting His righteousness sinners become both righteous and victorious." - SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 785.

The pattern God's people are to follow is the character of Christ.  They rejoice in their adoption as His children, recognizing as they mature in their fellowship with Jesus how deeply His blood needs to be applied to their lives.  Their appreciation of Christ's atonement is at the very center of their experience, motivating them to advance with the assistance of the Holy Spirit from faith to faith, from strength to strength, from glory to glory.  Knowing how desperately they need purification, the church members thankfully accept His offer.

"Let the church commence the work of purification before God by repentance, humiliation, deep heart searching, for we are in the antitypical day of atonement - solemn hour fraught with eternal results." - Selected Messages, book 2, p. 378. (See Joel 2:15-23; James 4:4-10.)

When will the purification process be made complete?  Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43.

Contemplate the end result of God's purification process.  Jer. 50:20.