SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 1, 2014. (((This brief summary is written for Adventists, and non-Adventist who are interested)). - There are inserts from Mrs. White to support what the Bible teaches. TOPIC: “LOVE AND THE LAW” Introduction We live in a time where there is so much crime, hatred, and lawlessness in our society. Almost every day we witness these things, and they are surely not from God. “Sin is the transgression of Gods law” - ((1 John 3:4)). Lucifer, an angel in heaven, broke Gods law and became Satan; the author of sin, lawlessness, and wickedness – (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:14-15). He deceived one third of the angels, and they were cast out of heaven – (Revelation 12:6-9). He hated Gods law of love. As long as Satan lives, he will always oppose Gods law of love. Satan wants us to keep transgressing Gods law; and if we do, and at the end we will share hell fire with him and his angels – (Matthew 25:41-43; Romans 6:23). He tries to deceive as many as possible by telling them that Gods law is in contrary to Gods love. Dont forget, Satan is a liar and a murderer from the beginning – (John 8:44). 1. SATAN MISINTERPRETS GODS LAW OF LOVE Satan is the one who claims that the law of God is the law of selfishness. He insinuated the idea that Gods law is against mercy and justice. He deceived Eve by telling her that she can still remain immortal by breaking Gods law. Eve believed what Satan said, and she lost immortality because of her transgression of Gods law – (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-5; 22-24). Mrs. White says, “Satan represents Gods law of love as a law of selfishness. He declares that it is impossible for us to obey its precepts. The fall of our first parents, with all the woe that has resulted, he charges upon the Creator, leading men to look upon God as the author of sin, and suffering, and death. Jesus was to unveil this deception.” - ((Desire of Ages, page 24)). 2. HOW DO WE CONNECT THE LOVE OF GOD TO HIS LAW? How do we understand the connection (relationship) between Gods love and His law. The Bible tells us that “God is love. He that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God” – ( 1 John 4:16). Gods love is expressed in His written law given to mankind to love each other. And Gods law is the transcript of His character, which is love. We cannot separate the love of God from His law. Gods law expresses His love in written form. Both are inseparable... Both are Gods character. And since God is love, His character of love is seen in His law. The one who truly loves God will truly love his neighbor – (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Leviticus 19:18). When God dwells in the heart of man, in return, man will love God and his fellowmen. Certainly, the law will be written in the heart – (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26; Hebrews 8:10). 3. FIRST THINGS FIRST – THE SEQUENCE IS IMPORTANT True love for God must be first, and the law will be kept through His divine presence in us. If we do not truly love God, He will not abide in us, and we will not be able to keep Gods law. JESUS says, “IF ye love Me, keep My Commandments.” - (( John 14:15). Love for God is the first thing that motivates us to keep the law of God. Because of what JESUS did to save us, we then love Him in return; and we keep His commandments. (a) - TWO EXTREMES ABOUT OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW One can profess to love God, but if he or she does not keep Gods law, we do know for sure that he or she did not truly love God; for he or she is a liar – (1 John 2:3-4). This is the extreme case by those who teach grace (love) without the law. Here is the other extreme - one can keep Gods law outwardly only, if he or she did not truly love God; and the Pharisees fell into this category. Both extremes above are not of God. Without loving God first, the keeping of Gods law becomes legalistic, and it is an outward display to earn salvation. 4. JESUS REPEATED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THE PRINCIPLE OF LOVE WHICH HE GAVE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT Scripture: MATTHEW 22:36-40 A lawyer asked Jesus - “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” - (Matthew 23:36). Jesus answered: “Thou shall love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. - This is the first and great commandment.” - (Matthew 22:37-38). Jesus then said: “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” - (Matthew 22:39-40). …............................................................................... EXPLANATION When Jesus said those words in Matthew 22:36-40 in response to the lawyers question, He was repeating the same things that He told the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 6:4-6 and Leviticus 19:18. The laws that say, “Love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” are not new laws in the New Testament. They were familiar with them. Interestingly, the Jews believed in keeping Gods law as given through Moses on Mount Sinai, however, they failed to recognize and love JESUS, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who gave the law. MRS. White says, “It was Christ who from the bush on Mount Horeb spoke to Moses saying, I Am That I Am. . . . Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. Ex. 3:14.- (( Desire of Ages, page 24)). MRS. White says: “The ten holy precepts spoken by CHRIST upon Sinais mount were the revelation of the character of GOD, and made known to the world the fact that He had jurisdiction over the whole human heritage. That law of ten precepts of the greatest love that can be presented to man is the voice of God from heaven speaking to the soul in promise, “This do, and you will not come under the dominion an control of Satan.” There is not a negative in that law, although it may appear thus. It is DO, and LIVE.” - (Letter 89, 1808). - SDA Bible Commentary, Volume 1, page 1105:A. The lawyer and the Pharisees tried to keep Gods law, but went to the opposite extreme to reject the God who gave the law through Moses. Therefore, their keeping of the law was only an outward show; not an inward change. Evidently, the law was not written in their hearts. Their keeping of the law was merely to earn salvation or to find the favor of God, rather than out of love. Love was not found in their hearts, and that is why they killed JESUS – (John 5:18; 10:33). The greatest law is “to love God with all your heart.” If we truly love God, we would not kill our God nor our neighbor, etc. In reality, the first four commandments in the Ten Commandments fall under this one great principle – “Love God with all thy heart.” And the last six commandments in the Ten Commandments has to do with “our love for our neighbor.” In Jesus discourse with the lawyer, He did not degrade the Ten Commandments nor abolish them. It is proven that Jesus upheld the Ten Commandments and made it authoritative, authentic, and honorable. 5. CAN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS BE KEPT PERFECTLY WHEN CHRIST ABIDES IN US???? Definitely. … Why should Jesus give us the Ten Commandments, and expect us not to be able to keep them? … It wont make sense if the Ten Commandments are not possible to be kept. Jesus became human like us and demonstrated that the law can be perfectly kept by us, if we depend on divine power. When Christ abides in us, the law can be kept. He was tempted in all points as we are, yet never sinned because He dependent upon the Fathers power to keep the law holy - (Hebrews 4:15; 2 Peter 2:21-22). Mrs. White says, “As man, He (JESUS) met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him from God. … He made plain to men the character of Gods law and the nature of His service. HIS LIFE TESTIFIES THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US ALSO TO OBEY THE LAW OF GOD.” - ((Desire of Ages, page 24). 1 John 3:6 says, “”Whosover abideth in HIM, sinneth not. ...” 1 John 3:8 says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil. ...” 1 John 3:9 says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin ...” Revelation 22:14 says, “Blessed are they that DO His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” 6. DID MRS. WHITE BELIEVE THAT THE LAW CAN BE PERFECTLY KEPT???? Lets look at seven (7) amazing statements by her. # 1 – Mrs. White says, “He (Jesus) came to prove that human beings can, through the power of God, live sinless lives.” {Signs of the Times, August 9, 1905 par. 8} # 2 – Mrs. White says, Christ came to this earth and lived a life of perfect obedience, that men and women, through his grace, might also live lives of perfect obedience. This is necessary to their salvation. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. {RH, March 15, 1906 par. 8} # 3 – Mrs. White says, “He (God) has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning.” (Desire of Ages, p.311) # 4 – Mrs. White says, To everyone who surrenders fully to God is given the privilege of living without sin, in obedience to the law of Heaven.” Review and Herald, 9-27-1906. # 5 – Mrs. White says, “He (Jesus) had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.” The Great Controversy, p.623 # 6 – Mrs. White says, “Everyone who by faith obeys God’s commandments, will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression.” Maranatha, August 4, p.224 (Signs of the Times, July 23, 1902) # 7 – Mrs. White says, “He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of God.” 9 MR, p. 102 May God bless you all as you take time to discuss the truth in Sabbath School, and counteract the error.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 11:52:33 +0000
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