Friday September 29
Further Thought: “The cross of Calvary challenges, and will finally vanquish every earthly and hellish power. In the cross all influence centers, and from it all influence goes forth. It is the great center of attraction; for on it Christ gave up His life for the human race. This sacrifice was offered for the purpose of restoring man to his original perfection. Yea, more, it was offered to give him an entire transformation of character, making him more than a conqueror.
“Those who in the strength of Christ overcome the great enemy of God and man, will occupy a position in the heavenly courts above angels who have never fallen.
Christ declares, ‘I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.’ If the cross does not find an influence in its favor, it creates an influence. Through generation succeeding generation, the truth for this time is revealed as present truth. Christ on the cross was the medium whereby mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other. This is the means that is to move the world (MS 56, 1899).” — Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1113.
Discussion Questions:
What significance do you find in the fact that Paul both begins and ends his letter with reference to God’s grace? Compare Gal. 1:3 and 6:18.
1:3 Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father, and [from] our Lord Jesus Christ,
6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen.
He begins and ends his epistles to the Galatians with grace because it is the power that transforms sinners into saints. It is grace at the beginning, grace in the middle, and grace at the end. It is not just a word, but the power that enables you and me to follow the rule laid down by our Savior. Unless we allow that grace to come into the heart, it does no good. Our fallen nature will hold sway until we see His love and let it into the carnal hear. Then Jesus will cleanse the whole heart and make is new. Read with us what God says through the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 36. He is speaking directly to us in our day, for we have brought reproach upon Him.
36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not [this] for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
36:23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I [am] the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].
In light of Paul’s statement about having been “crucified . . . to the world” (Gal. 6:14), what relationship should Christians have with the world today? How should Christians relate to issues dealing with the environment, racism, abortion, etc. if they have died to the world?
Will we keep the "green sabbath"? Will we protest all police? Will we make abortion our chief concern and condemn a woman raped by a madman? Are they hard questions? Instead of bringing up these issues, why not address the real issue? What does the Bible say? We are to be in the world, but not of the world? We are to keep the last six of the then commandments, and if we break one, we have the wrong relationship with the world. If we break one, then we to not have Christ in the heart so we break them all. If we do not love man who we can see, how can we love God who we do not see? If we do not love our enemy, then do we really love God supremely? Who is our master? Whom do we serve? Has the world come into my life? Who do I speak of?
How does a person know if he or she has experienced the “new creation” that Paul writes about?
What an important question? If we do not know we are sick, then why would we be seeking a Physician? When listen to the Words of Jesus, we ought to learn how to tell if we are converted or not. "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Rev 3:17.
If we are not keeping God's commandments that we know about, then would that tell us if we had and are experiencing the new birth? Jesus continues speaking to the last church which we are: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Rev. 3:21,22.
Since we are in a state of deception, we ought to go a little further in hopes of making a difference in someone's life. Jesus said in Matt.
7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
In other words, we too may know if we have life by the fruits of the Spirit seen in the life, not one will be missing. "Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance."
Based on what you have learned this quarter, how would you summarize Paul’s views on the following topics: the law, works of law, justification by faith, the old and new covenants, the work of Christ, sanctification, and the nature of the Christian life?
Summary: True religion does not consist in outward behavior alone but in the condition of the heart. When the heart is surrendered to God, a person’s life will more and more reflect the character of Christ as he or she grows in faith. The heart must be subdued by Christ; when that happens, all else will follow.
Amen! But, at the beginning of this experience, when we have fully surrendered the whole heart to Christ, what is the experience of the new Christian? Is it as we read in Romans seven? No, absolutely not. If we are called to teach the gospel, then we ought to teach the gospel so that all may understand the power of grace to transform the life at conversion. As we continue in that experience there will be growth. The fruits of the Spirit that came at conversion will become more abundant. We will become more and more patient, but never impatient as long as we are abiding in Christ and He in us.
We are wholly dependent upon Christ to do any good thing. Without Him we cannot resist the smallest temptation for the right reason. We may be a "whited sepulcher" which appears to be doing right, but inside is a rotten heart that is aligned with Satan and sin. Until we learn of Him who gave all that we might live, we are none of His. We cannot serve two masters, we serve one or the other. If we have not His Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit, we are none of His. "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness." Romans 8:8-10.
We may be filled with the Spirit as Jesus told Nicodemus he must be in order to have life. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." Romans 8:1-5.
We do not need to be "whited sepulchers" with putrid carnal hearts. Let us heed the counsel of Paul. We may have the Spirit today if we are willing to give Jesus the whole heart. If we are not ready, then our faith is lacking. God understands. He tells us to learn of Him. Drink His blood and eat His flesh, and then we will fall in love with Him and trust Him with all we have and all we are. We still have a Mediator forgiving our sins and calling us to Himself. He loves us more than we know. Pray for greater faith and your prayers will be answered.