Foreword

How important it is to understand the vital truths involving our salvation! Darkness is covering the earth and gross darkness the people—but our Creator is eager to shine precious light from Heaven upon all who earnestly seek it. So many points in Scripture are as wonderful beacons of light to this dark world. That is why, for the next three months, Sabbath school students around the world will be studying The Gospel According to Paul: Hebrews.

The book of Hebrews teaches us much about the nature of God and of Christ, His Sabbath rest, His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary in our behalf and the covenants made with us. We are also encouraged by the uplifting testimonies of the heroes of faith and the Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ. By prayerfully studying these lessons, we can enter into a deeper, closer relationship with our Lord.

“Christ was the foundation and life of the temple. Its services were typical of the sacrifice of the Son of God. The priesthood was established to represent the mediatorial character and work of Christ. The entire plan of sacrificial worship was a foreshadowing of the Saviour’s death to redeem the world.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 165.

“The true Christian obtains an experience which brings holiness. He is without a spot of guilt upon the conscience, or a taint of corruption upon the soul. The spirituality of the law of God, with its limiting principles, is brought into his life. The light of truth irradiates his understanding. A glow of perfect love for the Redeemer clears away the miasma which has interposed between his soul and God.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 909.

As we draw closer to Christ, we come closer to one another as well. Amazing results will be seen in preparation for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in latter rain power.

“When the churches become living, working churches, the Holy Spirit will be given in answer to their sincere request. Then the truth of God’s word will be regarded with new interest, and will be explored as if it were a revelation just from the courts above. Every declaration of inspiration concerning Christ will take hold of the inmost soul of those who love Him. Envy, jealousy, evil surmising, will cease. The Bible will be regarded as a charter from heaven. Its study will absorb the mind, and its truths will feast the soul. The promises of God now repeated as if the soul had never tasted of His love, will then glow upon the altar of the heart, and fall in burning words from the lips of the messengers of God. They will then plead with souls with an earnestness that cannot be repulsed. Then the windows of heaven will be open for the showers of the latter rain.”—The Review and Herald, February 25, 1890.

It is our prayer that this blessed experience will come upon all who study these lessons and fortify our hearts in the power of our Redeemer.

General Conference Sabbath School Department