Read Ellen G. White, "The Righteousness of Christ in the Law," pp. 236–239; "Come and Seek and Find," pp. 331–335; "Perfect Obedience Through Christ," pp. 373, 374, in Selected Messages, book 1; "Things New and Old," pp. 128, 129, in Christ's Object Lessons.

"Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned."—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 62.

"Grace is unmerited favor. The angels, who know nothing of sin, do not understand what it is to have grace exercised toward them; but our sinfulness calls for the exercise of grace from a merciful God."—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 331, 332.

"Faith is the condition upon which God has seen fit to promise pardon to sinners; not that there is any virtue in faith whereby salvation is merited, but because faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy provided for sin. Faith can present Christ's perfect obedience instead of the sinner's transgression and defection. When the sinner believes that Christ is his personal Savior, then, according to His unfailing promises, God pardons his sin, and justifies him freely. The repentant soul realizes that his justification comes because Christ, as his substitute and surety, has died for him, is his atonement and righteousness."—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 366, 367.

"Though the law cannot remit the penalty for sin, but charges the sinner with all his debt, Christ has promised abundant pardon to all who repent, and believe in His mercy. The love of God is extended in abundance to the repenting, believing soul. The brand of sin upon the soul can be effaced only through the blood of the atoning Sacrifice . . . of Him who was equal with the Father. The work of Christ—His life, humiliation, death, and intercession for lost man—magnifies the law, and makes it honorable."—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 371.

Read over the texts for this week and then, in your own words, write a paragraph summarizing what they are saying. Share your paragraphs with each other in class.

Think about what it cost to save us: the death of the Son of God. What should that tell us about just how bad sin is? After all, if we stopped sinning and never did it again, why would that still not be enough to make us righteous before God? How can these facts help motivate us to resist the temptation to sin?

What are ways one could be tempted to abuse this wonderful news about salvation by faith alone? What trap is someone falling into who gets caught up in that kind of thinking? (See 2 Pet. 3:16, 1 John 3:7.)