Saturday, May 31, 2014

Lesson 10 Christ,the Law and the Covenants May 31-June 6

Lesson 10*May 31-June 6

Christ, the Law and the Covenants


Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week's Study: Gen. 9:12-17, 17:2-12, Gal. 3:15-28, Deut. 9:9, Heb. 10:11-18, Heb. 9:15-28.
Memory Text: For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant (Hebrews 9:15, NIV).
God's eternal decision to save humanity has been revealed to us through the ages in the covenants. Though the Bible speaks of covenants in the plural (Rom. 9:4, Gal. 4:24, Eph. 2:12), there is really only the covenant of grace, in which salvation is given to sinners, not on the basis of their merits but on the merits of Jesus that are offered to all who claim those merits by faith. The plural,covenants, simply means that God has advanced His saving purposes by restating the covenant in various ways in order to meet the needs of His people in different times and settings. It is always, though, one covenant-the eternal covenant of God's saving grace.
The heart of this covenant is our Lord's steadfast, faithful love, a love that the Bible at times even equates with the covenants themselves (see Deut. 7:9, 1 Kings 8:23, Dan. 9:4). As part of that covenant, God calls His people to obey His law, not as a means of salvation but as the fruit of it. Law and grace together have always been central to God's eternal covenant.
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, June 7.
SundayJune 1

Covenant Signs (Gen. 9:12-17)

A covenant can be simply defined as an agreement between two parties based upon promises made by either one or by both parties. There are two basic methods by which a covenant can operate. In the first, both parties to the covenant agree to the terms of the relationship and make mutual promises. This would be the case in a marriage, business merger, or even the purchase of property. In the second category, one party initiates the covenant by stipulating both the promises and the nonnegotiable terms, and the other party is invited to participate. Examples include payment of taxes or enrollment at an educational institution. In both instances, either party is free to withdraw from the covenant, but there is usually a consequence. (For instance, a person who fails to pay his mortgage will lose his home, or a citizen who refuses to remit taxes will be prosecuted.)
A covenant is usually sealed with at least one symbol. For instance, a person purchasing a home places several signatures on a mortgage agreement with a lending institution, which keeps the title deed for the property in trust until the full amount is paid. Or married people are issued a legal document of marriage by the state. The symbol itself is not the covenant but an indicator that a person is obligated to a covenant.
Read Genesis 9:12-17 and 17:2-12. What is the difference between the symbol and the covenant in these cases? Also, what are the differences between these two covenants?
In Genesis 9:9 God covenants with creation that He will never again destroy the earth with water. Whenever a rainbow appears in the sky, all are expected to remember God's promise. The same is true for the mark of circumcision, which was supposed to remind every Jewish male of His people's role in blessing the nations. One covenant was made with all humanity, the other specifically with the nation of Israel. Also, in the covenant made with humanity after the Flood, the people didn't have to do anything; the promise was just there, regardless of what the people did. This wasn't so with the second one, the one made with Israel; the people had to fulfill their part of the deal.
MondayJune 2

Covenant Promises

Covenants are based on promises. In fact, it is possible to use the two terms interchangeably. Of course, when a covenant is made, it is expected that the person who makes the promise (covenant) has the ability to deliver what is promised (covenanted).
In the Old Testament, some covenants were local and limited affairs (see, for instance, Gen. 31:43-54).
The incident with Jacob and Laban demonstrates that covenants can be transactions made within and between societies. The monument at Mizpah was to serve as the sign of a treaty that would only apply to the two clans. When those to whom the treaty applied had died, the terms of the treaty would be irrelevant. Unlike this covenant made between humans, the covenants that Yahweh instituted with Noah and Abraham have everlasting implications.
How does Galatians 3:15-28 help to explain the broader implications of the Abrahamic covenant?
Throughout the Bible, God has made several universal covenants in which He makes promises that are relevant to all humanity. Recognizing that the entire earth had been affected by the Flood, Yahweh promised not to allow His creation to be devastated by water again. In the case with Abraham, God saw humanity's need for righteousness and so He promised to provide a blessing for all nations through Abraham's seed (Gen. 22:18).
Though God made the Sinai covenant with a specific nation it also has universal significance. God was very clear that any foreigner could be a part of the chosen people (for example, Exod. 12:48-49), and Israel's mission was to be an evangelistic light to the world(Exod. 19:5-6).
What is your own personal understanding of your covenantal relationship with God? That is, what has God promised you, and what has He asked of you in return for those promises?
TuesdayJune 3

Tablet of the Covenant

Although a covenant is based on promises, there are usually conditions to meet before the promises are fulfilled. The Abrahamic covenant involved the circumcision of all males who were either born to Abraham or his descendants. When Yahweh covenanted with Israel, He personally engraved the requirements for the relationship on tablets of stone (Deut. 9:8-11). These requirements, preserved in the Ten Commandments, were to form the basis of God's everlasting covenant with all humans.
Because they detail certain terms of the covenant, the Ten Commandments are often termed the tablets of the covenant (Deut. 9:9, NKJV). The Ten Commandments are not intended to be an obstacle course designed to make life hard for those who have entered into the covenant with God; instead, as an expression of God's love, the commandments have been given for the benefit of those who have entered into a covenant relationship with their Lord.
In what ways do Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 10:11-18 uphold the everlasting nature of God's law in the New Covenant?
Under the Old Covenant at Mount Sinai, the Israelites and those who joined the community were obligated to demonstrate faithfulness to the covenant by keeping the Ten Commandments. When they violated a commandment they were expected to offer an animal sacrifice if they wished to have their sins forgiven.
Under the New Covenant at Mount Calvary, God's people are still obligated to keep the Ten Commandments. However, when they sin they don't have to offer continuous sacrifices, because Jesus is their full and complete sacrifice (Heb. 9:11-14). The New Covenant is so much better than the old because now, by faith, we claim the promises of forgiveness offered to us through the sacrifice of Jesus.There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic covenant, which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus.-Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1077.
What does it mean to have God's law written in your heart? How does this differ from merely understanding God's law as a code of obedience?
WednesdayJune 4

The Covenant and the Gospel (Heb. 9:15-22)

There were strong consequences for violating certain biblical covenants. Yahweh warned Abraham that any male who was not circumcised would be cut off from the chosen (Gen. 17:14), and a litany of curses was directed toward those who refused to abide by the terms of the Sinai covenant (Deut. 27:11-26). Ultimately, those who violated the terms of the covenant would be punished with death (Ezek. 18:4). The same is true for the New Covenant: those who refuse to keep God's law are also denied access to eternal life(Rom. 6:23).
Read Hebrews 9:15-28. In what ways is the gospel revealed in these verses?
Hebrews 9:15-28 repeats the gospel story as it proclaims the part that Christ plays in securing the promises for believers. Verse 15points out that Jesus functions as the mediator of the New Covenant who, through His death, offers eternal life to those who otherwise would face eternal destruction.
In verses 16 and 17 some Bible translations switch from discussing covenant and introduce the term will instead, even though the same Greek word is used. This brings in the whole idea of death, the death of Jesus for us. When viewed in that context, the passage reminds the believer that without Christ the covenant requires the death of each sinner. However, the sinner can be covered and then cleansed by Christ's shed blood and thus be among those who eagerly wait His return (Heb. 9:28, NKJV).
Then we shall know that our own righteousness is indeed as filthy rags, and that the blood of Christ alone can cleanse us from the defilement of sin, and renew our hearts in His own likeness.-Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 29.
God Himself, in the person of Jesus, bore in Himself the punishment for our sins in order to spare us that punishment, which we deserve. What does this tell us about the character of God, and why we can trust Him, no matter our circumstances?
ThursdayJune 5

Covenant Benefits (Eph. 2:6)

In many instances people can experience the promises of a covenant before all the terms are even met. For instance, a person purchasing a home has the opportunity to live in the home before it is paid for. Or a citizen enjoys the public services offered by the government before he has even started paying taxes. Those who enter into a covenant with God can also start to experience the benefits of the covenant before the promises are actualized in the future.
Think, for instance, about the Ten Commandments, and how much pain and suffering people could avoid if they simply followed them. Who hasn't personally experienced the heartache that comes from the violation of these commandments? Even worse, the suffering that comes isn't always limited to the one who violates the law; often others, even those closest to the sinner, suffer, as well.
According to these texts, what other benefits can we find, even now, through being in a covenant relationship with Jesus?
2 Cor. 4:16-18
1 John 5:11-13
Phil. 1:6
John 5:24
Jesus uses very strong language in the Gospel of John when He reports that those who accept Him have already  passed from death into life  (John 5:24, NKJV). So confident is the believer in his or her salvation that although confined to this earth, he or she can claim to be sitting in heavenly places with Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6).
If someone were to ask you, What does it mean to be sitting with Jesus in heaven now (as Ephesians 2:6 says)? What would you answer, and why?
FridayJune 6
Further Study: For more information on this week's topic, read Ellen G. White, The Covenant of Grace, pp. 131-137, in God's Amazing Grace.
"This same covenant was renewed to Abraham in the promise, In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Gen. 22:18. This promise pointed to Christ. So Abraham understood it, and he trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. It was this faith that was accounted unto him for righteousness. The covenant with Abraham also maintained the authority of God's law. . . .
"The Abrahamic covenant was ratified by the blood of Christ, and it is called the second, or new, covenant, because the blood by which it was sealed was shed after the blood of the first covenant. . . .
"The covenant of grace is not a new truth, for it existed in the mind of God from all eternity. This is why it is called the everlasting covenant. . . .
There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic covenant, which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus.-Ellen G. White, The Faith I Live By, p. 75.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do Exodus 31:16 and Isaiah 56:4-6 suggest about the importance of the Sabbath to the covenant? See alsoEzekiel 20. It is often thought that the Old Covenant, the one established with Abraham, was a covenant of works, in contrast to the New Covenant, which is of grace. Why is this idea wrong? What Bible verses can you find that prove it was always a covenant of grace? Why must it always have been by grace and never by works?
  2. Though Ephesians 1 doesn't use the phrase, everlasting covenant, in what way does this phrase help us to understand why it has been called that?
  3. God promised that He would never again destroy the world by a flood, a promise symbolized by the rainbow. If, as some suggest, Noah's flood were only local, what does that make of God's promise? Why is the idea that the Flood was not global a major assault on Bible truth? (After all, look at all the local floods that have happened since then. If Noah's flood were only local, what would these other local floods do to God's covenant promise?)
Inside Story~  SPD Division: Papua New Guinea

They Need to Hear

While sitting in class in his Papua New Guinea high school, young Willie Siso noticed that he was having difficulty hearing. A doctor told him he had an inflammation in his ear. But Willie's hearing continued to fail.
Why is God allowing this? he wondered. As his hearing deteriorated, Willie began learning sign language. He graduated from a teacher's college and took a job teaching in a middle school. In addition to his regular class, he taught five hearing-impaired students of various ages.
In 2011 Willie enrolled at Pacific Adventist University to study theology. While teaching hearing-impaired children in a nearby school, he met Noah, an assistant teacher who was an Adventist. Noah told Willie that he didn't attend church. "I can't understand what is being said, and there's no one to interpret for me," he said. Then Noah's face lit up. "Since you can still hear some, and you know sign language, let's form a ministry for the hearing impaired."
Willie and Noah began visiting hearing-impaired Adventists and inviting them to meet for worship on the university campus. Willie can still hear enough to interpret for the group of grateful believers.
The members welcomed the hearing-impaired believers and are helping with transportation to and from the campus outside the city. The group is growing and now includes 10 regular members plus visitors.
When the church pastor invited Willie to preach for church, he agreed, signing his own sermon for his hearing-impaired friends who attended. The next month Willie invited Noah to preach and the hearing-impaired group to lead out in Sabbath School. Willie interpreted for the hearing congregation.
"I have a burden for the hearing impaired," Willie says. "I'd like to upload sermons in Pidgin sign language so that the hearing impaired can watch and be blessed."
Willie is teaching sign language to other students on the Pacific Adventist University campus so that they can help reach out to the hearing impaired. "Almost every pastor and most other workers come across hearing-impaired people in their ministries," he says. "If they can sign, they can minister to these people."
Willie's ministry continues to grow as the hearing-impaired members visit different churches each Sabbath. "Now I realize that God is using my hearing disability to open a new ministry for others in southern Papua New Guinea. Jesus said, 'And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations' (Matthew 24:14, NIV). The hearing impaired are part of our world; they need to hear too.
Our mission offerings support Pacific Adventist University, which serves students from Papua New Guinea and across the South Pacific Division. Thank you.
Willie Siso is a student at Pacific Adventist University in Papua New Guinea. He is preparing to serve God and the hearing impaired as a pastor.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.  email:  info@adventistmission.org   website: www.adventistmission.org
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Friday, May 23, 2014

Lesson 9 Christ, the Law and the Gospel May 24-30

Lesson 9*May 24-30

Christ, the Law and the Gospel


Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week's Study: Rom. 7:7-12; Deut. 30:15-20; Matt. 7:24-27;Acts 10:34-35; John 15:10; Eph. 2:1.
Memory Text: For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17, NKJV).
A century before Christ, Roman poet Lucretius wrote a famous poem that was lost in history until the Middle Ages called On the Nature of Things. Though often accused of being an atheist, Lucretius didn't in his poem deny the existence of the gods; he just argued that by virtue of being gods they would have absolutely no interest in anything human.
In contrast the Bible argues that there is one God only, and that He's fervently interested in what happens here. And two manifestations of that passionate interest in humanity are found in His law (which is to guide how we live) and in His grace (His means of saving us even though we have violated that law). Though often seen as contrary to each other, law and grace are indispensably linked. Their methods of operation may be different, but together they reveal that righteousness must triumph over sin. The manifestations of God's law and His grace provide powerful evidence of His love for humanity and His desire to save us into His eternal kingdom.
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 31.
SundayMay 25

Sin and the Law

Read Romans 7:7-12. What is Paul saying here about the relationship between sin and law? Why would he even ask such a question as, Is the law sin? (NKJV).
Paul so closely relates the law and sin that he asks the rhetorical question, Is the law sin? The answer, of course, is that it's not; on the contrary, at the end of the section he says, Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good (NKJV). Thetherefore shows the conclusion of his argument: that, far from being sin, the law is indeed holy and good.
What Paul says here is analogous to the relationship between criminal law and crime. Something is criminal only if a law depicts it as such. You might go to jail in one country for doing something that in another country is legal. The reason: one country has a law forbidding that action, the other doesn't. It is the same action but with two different consequences. What makes the difference- The law.
A crucial point to remember, too, is that just because something is a law doesn't make it good. In early America, a law required people to return escaped slaves to their masters. It was the law; yet, it was hardly a just one. In the case of God's law, however, we know that it reflects His loving character. Thus Paul's words that the law is holy and good; what else could it be, considering who created it?
What significance is there in the commandment that Paul uses in Romans 7:7 to prove his point about the law? Why does he use that one instead of another, such as Thou shalt not steal?
Perhaps Paul uses that specific commandment instead of some of the others because it's not so obvious that it's wrong. Many people, in and of themselves, might not believe that coveting is wrong. Murder, stealing, yes; one generally doesn't even need the Ten Commandments to know that. But coveting? So, it is a perfect example to make his point that it's the law that shows us what sin is. Otherwise, he might not have known that coveting was wrong.
MondayMay 26

The Law and Israel (Deut. 30:15-18)

The giving of the law to Israel was a special act. Just before He gave the law to Moses, God reminded His people that they are  a kingdom of priests and a holy nation  (Exod. 19:6, NKJV). Among all nations on the face of the earth, it was to Israel that God specially revealed His law (Rom. 9:4). The law was not intended to be a burden to the people but to be a tool through which the chosen nation would reveal to the masses the moral code that was the foundation of God's government. Israel was to be a partner with God in the mission of universal evangelism, and God's law was to be the identifying mark for God's spokespersons.
According to Deuteronomy 30:15-20, what is the relationship between the law and the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Also, even more crucial, how do these principles apply to us today as well, under the New Covenant? See Matt. 7:24-27.
God chose Israel to be His representatives. Israel would be the people through whom the nations of the earth received the blessings promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, the blessings were by no means automatic. As a chosen nation, Israel was expected to walk in harmony with the Lord's will. Moses made it clear that life and prosperity would come to the people only if they observed God's commandments, decrees, and ordinances (Deut. 30:15-16, NRSV).
Given the numerous stories of rebellion that mar Israel's history, Israel as a nation failed to live up to the covenant conditions. Yet, we must not forget that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23, NKJV). No nation on earth has fulfilled the will of God. Even in recent history, nations that profess to be Christian have misrepresented the cause of God with warmongering, prejudice, and oppression.
In your own experience, how are obedience and faith related? That is, when you obey, what happens to your faith in contrast to when you disobey? How does obedience strengthen faith?
TuesdayMay 27

The Law and the Nations (Acts 10:34, 35)

Read Acts 10:34-35; 17:26-27; Romans 1:20; and 2:14. What is the central teaching of these texts?
Despite Israel's mistakes, God did not leave the people in other nations without a witness. Those who were not privileged to receive God's written revelation received divine messages through the pages of natural revelation (Rom. 1:20). God's book of nature contains enough information to direct a person to Him.
God has also instilled a measure of spiritual desire in every human being. According to Paul, those who sense God's indwelling Spirit will engage in a quest to find Him (Acts 17:27). So many people sense an emptiness in their lives that nothing this world offers-fame, power, money, sex-can ultimately fulfill. At its heart, this was the message of the book of Ecclesiastes. This emptiness, this dissatisfaction, often leads people in a quest for something beyond, for something that transcends everyday existence. They are drawn to revealed truth in a desire to quell the longings and emptiness of their souls.
Whether God's will is revealed through written documents or nature, the person who receives it has the responsibility to live it. Truth is truth, regardless of the vehicle that delivers it, and those who suppress the truth will experience the wrath of God (Rom. 1:18). Consequently, although many people may not have received the Bible or the Ten Commandments, God still holds them accountable for the portions of truth that they have gleaned. Ultimately, everyone will be judged, and the standard of judgment will be law: either the law God expressly revealed through His prophet Moses, or, for those who are ignorant of the written law-the law of conscience, which has been developed by listening to God's voice in nature.
What great disappointments have you faced that have helped you see just how untrustworthy and unsatisfactory the things of this world really can be? How can you learn from these disappointments about what truly matters?
WednesdayMay 28

Grace and Truth (John 1:17)

John condensed the history of salvation into one verse: The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17, NKJV). As a result of Adam's sin, all humanity has been affected by the curse of death. The curse is intensified by the fact that no one born to human parents, except Jesus, has been free from sinful inclinations. Therefore, God selected a people to whom He revealed His law, intending that those elected would be His light to the other nations. God did not give the law to Israel as a means to salvation but as a constant reminder of their need for righteousness.
What do Philippians 2:8, John 15:10, and Matthew 26:39 tell us about the kind of life that Jesus lived?
When he disobeyed the express command of God, the first Adam plunged the entire world into disarray and bondage. On the other hand, through His obedient life, the Second Adam, Jesus, came to deliver the world from the bondage that the first Adam had brought. When Jesus walked this earth, He voluntarily subjected His own will to the will of His Father and chose not to sin. Unlike the first Adam, who brought condemnation and falsehood into the world, Jesus brought in grace and truth. Grace and truth did not supplant the law. Jesus showed, instead, why the law alone was not enough to procure salvation. The truth that He brought was a more complete understanding of grace.
According to Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8, what is the nature of the grace that originates in Jesus? How did Jesus supply grace for humans?
The Greek word translated as grace (charis) can also mean gift and is related to the term for joy (chara). The gift that Jesus gives to humanity is eternal life. Further, grace manifests itself as the indwelling presence of Christ that enables the individual to participate in the righteousness that the law promotes. Paul states that in condemning sin in the flesh, Jesus has made it possible for the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us (Rom. 8:4, NKJV). Grace not only frees us from the condemnation of the law, but it enables us to keep the law in the way that we are called to do.
ThursdayMay 29

The Law and the Gospel (Rom. 1:16, 17)

No matter how good our lives are, none can escape the constant reminders of sin. Inevitably, happiness is interrupted by sickness, death, disaster. On a personal level, feelings of spiritual security are often challenged by memories of past sins and, even worse, by the urge to sin again.
In what ways do Romans 6:23, 7:24, and Ephesians 2:1 describe the impact of sin?
A person living in sin, in unrighteousness, is merely a walking corpse just waiting for the day when the last breath exits his body. When Paul assesses the human condition, he cries out in desperation, Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Rom. 7:24, NKJV). This is a cry for liberation from unrighteousness. Paul quickly realizes that deliverance comes through Jesus (Rom. 7:25).
This is the gospel. The good news is that we who have been trapped in bodies of unrighteousness can be covered with the righteousness of Christ. The gospel is the guarantee that we can escape the condemnation of the law because we now possess the righteousness that the law promotes (Rom. 8:1).
When Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, the story of Jesus' death was still being circulated throughout the empire. Those who had heard were fully aware that the way He had died was scandalous. People whose loved ones had been executed on the cross were often left to a life of shame. However, Paul and countless other Christians understood that Christ's shameful death was the most powerful event in human history. That is why Paul declares, I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16, author's translation). And the heart of that gospel is the great promise that in the end, death will not have the final say and that those saved by Jesus will live forever in a new earth.
Many people believe that life is meaningless because it always ends in death. So, nothing we do will matter in the long run. It's hard to argue with that logic, isn't it? If everything we have ever done and every person we have ever influenced will all forever be lost and forgotten, what can life mean?
FridayMay 30
Further Study: Read Ellen G. White, Preaching the Distinctive Truths, pp. 231, 232, in Evangelism; The Faith That Works andHow Faith Is Made Perfect, pp. 88, 89 in The Faith I Live By.
Let the subject be made distinct and plain that it is not possible to effect anything in our standing before God or in the gift of God to us through creature merit. Should faith and works purchase the gift of salvation for anyone, then the Creator is under obligation to the creature. Here is an opportunity for falsehood to be accepted as truth. If any man can merit salvation by anything he may do, then he is in the same position as the Catholic to do penance for his sins. Salvation, then, is partly of debt, that may be earned as wages. If man cannot, by any of his good works, merit salvation, then it must be wholly of grace, received by man as a sinner because he receives and believes in Jesus. It is wholly a free gift. Justification by faith is placed beyond controversy. And all this controversy is ended, as soon as the matter is settled that the merits of fallen man in his good works can never procure eternal life for him.-Ellen G. White,Faith and Works, pp. 19, 20.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Dwell on the Ellen G. White statement in Friday's study. Think through the wonderful and hopeful truths found in these words for even the worst of sinners. How can we learn to claim these promises for ourselves and live as if we really believe them?
  2. Although God gave His law to Israel through Moses, the Bible suggests that He uses other methods to reveal His will to people who may not have access to His written revelation (for example, Rom. 1:20; 2:14; Acts 17:26-27). If God does indeed speak to all people, what is the purpose of missionaries and evangelists?
  3. John 1:17 states that grace and truth originated with Jesus Christ. Using that text, many people place the law in opposition to the grace and truth. Why is this a false dichotomy? In what ways do the law and grace and truth all work together to reveal to us the character of God as seen in the plan of salvation?
  4. Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky created a character who wanted to study why more people didn't kill themselves. As an atheist, he couldn't understand why people would want to live meaningless lives that were often so full of pain. Discuss the logic of this thinking.
Inside Story~  SID Division: Zambia

The Stolen Watermelon

Mpo [m'POH] and Tendai [TEN-dai],* live in Zambia. One day they were hot and thirsty after playing. They sat down in the shade to rest. Then Mpo jumped up. "There's a b-i-g watermelon growing in a field near here. Let's go get it!"
The two boys set off toward the field. "Mpo ran ahead and grabbed the watermelon from the vine and raced toward the bushes. Tendai followed his friend. He wanted to ask permission to eat the watermelon before taking it, but when he reached his friend, Mpo had already broken the watermelon open. The sight of the juicy melon made Tendai's mouth water. He scooped up a piece of melon and ate it. Soon the boys had eaten the entire watermelon. They sat back, full and satisfied.
It was getting late, and Tendai hurried home. When he arrived home, his mother said, "Dinner is almost ready."
"I'm not hungry," Tendai said. "I ate with Mpo."
Mother frowned. "OK," she said. "Then do your chores and come inside for worship."
After worship, Tendai lay down on his straw mat and fell asleep. He dreamed that his family went to heaven, but he couldn't enter because he had stolen the watermelon. He awoke with a start, crying. The next night and the next he had the same dream. He awoke the third morning knowing that he must tell his mother about the stolen watermelon.
"We must tell the farmer whose watermelon you stole," Mother said. Mother and Tendai walked to the farmer's house. Tendai confessed that he and his friend had stolen the watermelon. "It was wrong," he said. "I'm sorry."
The farmer nodded. "It was wrong to take the watermelon. Now I must buy another one. Do you have the money to pay for a watermelon?"
Tendai shook his head.
"Then you will work to pay for the watermelon," the farmer said. Mother nodded at Tendai. "I need a new rubbish pit. I'll show you where to dig it." Tendai took the man's shovel and followed him to a field. He began digging. It was hard work, and the sun was hot on his back. But he kept digging until the rubbish pit was done. Then he gathered the rubbish from the land around the pit.
Now when Tendai is tempted to do something wrong, he remembers the hot sun beating on his back as he dug the rubbish pit. He remembers his dreams, too, and he turns away from temptation, for he doesn't want to miss out on heaven.
*Not their real names. This story was told to Mission by Mirriam Kashweka.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.  email:  info@adventistmission.org   website: www.adventistmission.org

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Saturday, May 17, 2014

Lesson 8 The Law of God and The Law of Christ May 17-23

Lesson 8*May 17-23

The Law of God and the Law of Christ


Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week's Study: Matt. 19:16-22; John 13:34-35; Gal. 6:1-5;Acts 17:31; John 5:30.
Memory Text: If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love  (John 15:10, NKJV).
In most nations a hierarchy of laws exists. At the top are laws that come from the national government and that bind all who reside in the country. Then there are laws on the provincial level that pertain to the inhabitants of certain territories. Finally, local laws govern the smallest districts. Although each division within a country is permitted to make laws that are relevant to its constituents, none can make a law that contradicts the law of the nation. And though circumstances may dictate that a certain law be applied in different ways, the application cannot deviate from the spirit of the law.
As the Supreme Head of the universe, the Creator God has established laws for all of His creatures. When Jesus Christ voluntarily transformed Himself into human flesh, He gave Himself to a life of obedience to His Father (Phil. 2:5-11) and to His Commandments. Thus, everything that Jesus taught, the perspective that He put on the law, even the new commandment that He gave, was always in full harmony with the law of God.
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 24.
SundayMay 18

The Law and the Prophets

Some believe that the Ten Commandments, delivered through Moses at Sinai, were relevant only to the Israelites before the Cross and are not binding in the New Covenant era of grace. Others teach that Christians are free from the old law, but only those of Jewish heritage, and not Christians, are still expected to adhere to it. As we have seen, though the Bible does teach that the works of the law can save no one, no passage gives a person license to violate God's law. If any did, it would be a license to sin, and the Bible would blatantly contradict itself on a crucial topic.
In this context we remember that God revealed the terms of His covenant to Israel on tablets of stone that contained the law. However, the Bible contains many other commandments that cover details not found in the Decalogue. In seeking a comprehensive understanding of God's will, the rabbis counted 613 scriptural laws, which they anchored in the Ten Commandments. Jesus appears to go beyond the rabbis when He announces that He has not come to  abolish the law or the prophets  (Matt. 5:17, NRSV; emphasis supplied). While summarized in the Ten Commandments, the law of God contains every divine command spoken directly to or through His prophets.
Compare Matthew 19:16-22 and 22:34-40. What do these verses tell us about Jesus and the Ten Commandments?
Although there are hundreds of commandments that God has revealed in His Word, the Ten Commandments provide solid principles that can be applied to all other laws. Hence, Jesus mentioned five of the Ten Commandments when speaking to the rich young ruler. There is an even more potent summary of God's law in the commandments found in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, which is to love God and to love one's neighbor. Jesus declares,  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets  (Matt. 22:40, NKJV). Ultimately, Jesus and His Father are united in purpose as they urge the people of God's creation to love as they have been loved, and obedience to the law is foundational to how that love is to be expressed.
What in your life shows your love for God and for your neighbor?
MondayMay 19

The Rules of Love (John 15:10)

Scripture provides a number of examples of Jesus' fidelity to the law of God. For instance, although His words in Luke 2:49 imply that at a young age He understood His identity, when His earthly mother expressed the hurt she felt that resulted from His straying from the family, He humbly accompanied His parents home and was obedient to them (Luke 2:51, NIV). On another occasion, Jesus refused to bow to Satan when tempted in the wilderness because worship was reserved for God alone (Luke 4:8). And there are several illustrations of His Sabbath keeping (for example, Luke 4:16). Paul wrote that Jesus' entire life was based on obedience to God's will(Phil. 2:5-11), and Hebrews says that, although tempted, He never sinned (Heb. 4:15). Thus, He could say as He approached His final hours,  I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love  (John 15:10, NKJV).
Read John 13:34-35. What did Jesus mean by saying that this was a new commandment?
Jesus understood that there is a relationship between commandment keeping and love. Though we're not used to talking about rulesof love, one could say that, in a real sense, the Ten Commandments are those rules. They show us how God wants us to express our love for Him and others.
God is love (1 John 4:16), and so in presenting His commandment to His disciples (John 13:34-35), Jesus is simply amplifying the law of love that originated in His Father (John 3:16). Now, though, more than just loving each other as ourselves, we are to love as Jesus loved us.
At the time when these words were spoken, the disciples could not understand them; but after they had witnessed the sufferings of Christ, after His crucifixion and resurrection, and ascension to heaven, and after the Holy Spirit had rested on them at Pentecost, they had a clearer conception of the love of God and of the nature of that love which they must have for one another.-Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 547.
With today's lesson in mind, read 1 John 3:16. How can we have this kind of love in our own lives? How can we die the kind of death to self that is needed in order for us to express such love?
TuesdayMay 20

All Things to All Men

Take a close look at the references to law in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. What is Paul saying here? Why such a strong emphasis on law?
God's desire is that all people accept His gift of eternal life and become citizens of His everlasting kingdom. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul reveals his method of attracting people to God's kingdom. He understands that there are cultural barriers that hinder people from making a decision for the gospel. Paul is willing to adapt to the culture of the group to whom he was witnessing for the sole purpose of seeing them saved.
Ultimately, all who become a part of God's kingdom will be subject to His law. Consequently, those who minister for God must also be in line with God's will. Paul is quick to state that although he uses innovative methods to reach people, he is always careful to remain under the dictates of God's law. His desire to see people saved will not allow him to compromise the laws of the God he is asking them to serve. He may adapt to cultural laws but only if there is no conflict with the ultimate law. The principle that governs his method is the law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21, NASB).
We can also understand Paul's reference to the law of Christ as the method that Christ used. It was a method based on love for all people and not for just a select few. Paul does not intend for the law of Christ to be seen as an alternative to the law of God. The two work harmoniously together as the loving law of Christ is used to introduce those saved by grace to the law of a loving God. In fact, the entire section, in which Paul so openly explains all that He is willing to do in order to reach the lost, is a perfect example of the kind of self-sacrificing love that is revealed in the law of Christ.
How much self are you willing to deny in order to reach others for Christ? How much self have you already denied in reaching out to others? How much of the law of Christ do you follow?
WednesdayMay 21

Fulfilling the Law of Christ (Gal. 6:2)

Whether revealed in written documents or in nature, the law of God discloses His will to every person capable of understanding (Rom. 1:20, 2:12-16). Consequently, no one can claim to be ignorant of the basic requirements of God. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23, NKJV) and thus are destined for destruction (Rom. 6:23, Ezek. 18:4). However, all is not lost: the curse has been reversed by the gift of eternal life, which has been made available through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8).
According to Paul, grace should empower the believer to live an obedient life (Rom. 6:15, Eph. 2:10, Titus 2:11-14), though, as we all know too well, we don't always live as obediently and faithfully as we should.
According to Galatians 6:1-5, what is one way to manifest the law of Christ?
It is important to remember that everyone is subject to temptation and can submit to sin in moments of weakness. With this recognition, it is insensitive for a person to immediately condemn a fellow Christian who has fallen. Even Jesus, who had never sinned, was willing to assist those who have been overcome by sin. As Ellen G. White wrote of Jesus, He did not censure human weakness.-The Desire of Ages, p. 353. Paul admonished Christians to provide assistance for the purpose of restoration (Gal. 6:1). In other words, the person who has sinned should be encouraged to abide once again by the precepts of God's law.
The law of Christ is driven by mercy. Had it not been for His sacrificial death, there would be no reason to keep the law of God. However, because Christ has made eternal life possible, there is an incentive for the faithful to resume keeping God's law after moments of weakness. Fellow believers should use the law of Christ as a vehicle to transport the repentant sinner back to the arena of God's law of love.
Think about a time when you messed up and were shown grace, though you didn't deserve it (after all, if you did deserve it, it wouldn't be grace). How can you make sure that you remember the grace that you have received the next time that someone needs to beg some grace from you?
ThursdayMay 22

Law and Judgment (John 5:30)

Although God's law is a law of mercy, God will eventually use it as the standard of judgment. God has continued to provide opportunities for sinners to repent and pledge loyalty to Him, but the hour is coming when the cry will go out,  Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy  (Rev. 22:11, NRSV). This announcement serves as a prelude to the final judgment.
In Revelation 14:7 the first angel proclaims God's judgment, though a number of other texts speak of Christ's judgment(for example, Acts 17:31, 2 Tim. 4:1, 2 Cor. 5:10). How does John 5:30 help us understand the role of Jesus in judgment?
Although Christ had laid aside His Divine nature when He became human (Phil. 2:5-11), He still had a special relationship with the Father. When the religious leaders accused Him of blasphemy, He informed His accusers that God had given Him authority to fulfill specific divine tasks (John 5:19-30), one of which was judgment. The fact that Christ has been assigned the responsibility of judgment demonstrates the mercy of God. Because Christ has become one with the human race, He is in a position to judge impartially. Given His familiarity with the human experience, Christ would not condemn a person unjustly. In fact, Christ suggests that condemnation does not come from Him, but that the unrepentant sinner condemns himself when he refuses to heed the command of God (John 12:48).
Many are familiar with the content of God's law but don't know how to keep it. The law is not a check-list we use to see how close we are to the kingdom; instead, it is an instrument that expresses various principles of love. Fulfilling the law does not mean we obey it to gain personal favor with God, but it beckons each Christian to share the love of God with those who need it. As the standard of judgment, the law serves to measure the level of love that the individual has shared with God and humanity. When Christ presides over the final judgment, He will use God's unchanging law of love as the standard by which to judge (James 2:12).
FridayMay 23
Further Study: Read Ellen G. White, Church Discipline p. 260-264;  Consider One Another,  pp. 260-266, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7.
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Here, again, our duty is plainly set before us. How can the professed followers of Christ so lightly regard these inspired injunctions? . . .
We know but little of our own hearts, and have but little sense of our own need of the mercy of God. This is why we cherish so little of that sweet compassion which Jesus manifests toward us, and which we should manifest toward one another. We should remember that our brethren are weak, erring mortals, like ourselves. Suppose that a brother has through unwatchfulness been over-borne by temptation, and contrary to his general conduct has committed some error; what course shall be pursued toward him? We learn from Bible history that men whom God had used to do a great and good work committed grave sins. The Lord did not pass these by unrebuked, neither did he cast off his servants. When they repented, he graciously forgave them, and revealed to them his presence, and wrought through them. Let poor, weak mortals consider how great is their own need of pity and forbearance from God and from their brethren. Let them beware how they judge and condemn others.-Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, January 25, 1883.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Reflect on the above paragraph from Signs of the Times. Why is it so important that we bestow grace on those who fall into sin?
  2. Think about some well-known Bible characters who fell into sin, whom God was yet able to forgive and continue to use. What important lesson is there for us in these examples?
  3. In what ways can we enforce church discipline while at the same time showing grace and mercy toward those among us who fall into sin? Why should we see the two concepts, discipline and grace, as not being in contradiction with each other?
Inside Story~  SAD Division: Peru

The Man God Intends

Rober [roh-BEHR] and his family live in a small town in eastern Peru. His wife, Roxana, began attending the Adventist church and took the couple's children with her. She often invited, Rober, but he wasn't interested in religion.
However, in his heart, Rober sensed that his life wasn't what it should be. He often drank, but later felt guilty that his bad habits weren't a good example for his children. He wanted to be a better husband and father, but he didn't know how.
Then an accident turned his life around.
"I was drunk when I lost control of my motorcycle," he says. "I landed hard on the street, fracturing my skull and breaking other bones. I was taken to the hospital, unconscious. When I finally recovered enough to return home, Roxana spent hours reading the Bible to me and talking about what Jesus means to her. I had a lot of time to think about my life and God. One day I told Roxana that I wanted to make my life right with God. I wanted to marry her legally and be baptized. The pastor and a lay member came to study the Bible with us, and when we were ready, we were baptized together."
"Before we were united in Christ, our lives were sad," Roxana says. "But now we sing and pray and read the Bible together as a family. We're so happy."
Rober has returned to work, where he shares his new faith with his fellow workers. "Whenever I have a chance I tell them what I'm learning about Christ," he says. "I have a small computer and use it to show my fellow workers videos about the Bible and God." Rober shares his faith with his extended family. Although they aren't Adventists, they listen, for they've seen changes in his life. Seeing the difference Jesus has made in Rober's life makes them want to make changes in their lives as well.
Rober has gone from wishing he could be more actively involved with his family to being a model of faith for his family. "We need fathers who will teach their children about Jesus and all He stands for," Rober says. "It's the most important thing we as parents can do."
With Roxana's support, Rober hopes to return to school and study public health so he can help people live a more healthful life. It's one way he can be an example of faith to those around him.
Our mission offerings help build churches in poor regions of Peru and throughout South America. Thank you for supporting mission with your gifts to God.
Rober Aquino and his family share their faith in central Peru.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.  email:  info@adventistmission.org   website: www.adventistmission.org
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