Author Topic: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 5--2nd Quarter 2018--Christ in the Heavenly Sanctuary  (Read 6604 times)

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Wally

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Lesson 5 April 28-May 4





Christ in the Heavenly Sanctuary






Commentary in Navy                  Inspiration in Maroon










So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants:  we have done that which was our duty to do.  Luke 17:10

Richard Myers

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Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Rom. 8:3, John 1:29, Rev. 5:12, Heb. 7:1-28, 9:11-15, Lev. 16:13, Heb. 9:20-23.

Memory Verse:    “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” Philippians 2:9

Talking about Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary, the book of Hebrews says: “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Heb. 6:20.

Scripture, especially the New Testament, is so clear about Christ’s role as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary — a role He took after He completed His work as our sacrifice here on earth (see Heb. 10:12).

This week we will explore the ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. His intercessory work is crucial to the preparation of His people to be ready for the end time. So, we have been given this crucial admonition: “The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill”. — Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 488.

Amen! What a blessing to have this truth presented in the Sabbath School lesson!! The lesson tells us that not only is Jesus judging each character, but He is preparing a people who will live without sinning through a time of trouble such as never was without a Mediator in the heavenly Sanctuary.

We are not living in the time of Luther. We are living in the very last days of this Earth's history. We are in the anti-typical Day of Atonement. If we do not know what Jesus is doing, then it will be impossible for us to exercise the essential faith required to do what Jesus is asking of us. How many will read over this and thus reject such an important truth? Too many, thus delaying the second coming of Christ.  We have delayed His coming too long by our unfaithfulness. Let us prayerfully study this out that we might give glory to our God.


What is Christ doing for us in the heavenly sanctuary, and why is it so important for us to understand it in the last days especially?

He is pouring out His grace upon His church (Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37).


Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 5.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Sunday •  April 29

Supreme Sacrifice


Studying the supreme sacrifice of Christ does so much to prepare believers for the end time. Often humans look to the goal ahead of them, and that makes sense. But it is also good to realize that the goal is behind them. We speak of Calvary. The goal, reached here by Jesus for us, is irreversible, final, and gives certainty to the goal ahead, as well.

Amen! It is the most important part of the "everlasting covenant" made in the hearing of Adam in the garden just after sin. Salvation is conditional upon two things. One from God, the other from man. Christ fulfilled His part, which was to suffer at the hands of Satan (bruise His heal). The goal for us, salvation, is dependent now upon us fulfilling our part. And, our part is largely dependent upon Christ and His grace. It surrounds us as thick as the air we breathe. But, we have a part to play in our salvation. While God's part is immeasurably large, our part is immeasurably small. Yet, without our part, we shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Like Jesus told Nicodemus, we must be born again of the Spirit. If we do not have a part to play, then all would be saved.

What must we do in order to be saved? Jesus tells us that we must "eat His flesh and drink His blood." Is this true? Then, we must do it. How do we do it, and why does it need to be done in order to enter the kingdom?


Read Romans 8:3, 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:16, 1 Corinthians 15:53.

 8:3   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: 

 1:17   Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

 6:16   Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honour and power everlasting. Amen. 

 15:53   For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. 


Why did God send His Son into the world?

To transform sinners into saints and to set the universe on a safe platform wherein sin will never again enter.


God sent Christ to be a sin offering, in order to condemn sin in the flesh. What does this mean? As an immortal Being, Christ could not die. Therefore, the Lord became a human, taking our mortality upon Himself so that, indeed, He could die as our substitute.

It is true that His humanity died, but not Christ the divine God. Christ had to not only die, but to suffer for every sin of every human. He paid the price by His blood. We are healed by His stripes if we will allow this grace into the heart.


Though divine, and though in nature God, Jesus took on “the likeness of men”, and He humbled Himself by becoming "obedient to death” on the cross (Phil. 2:6-8) . In a way known only to God, the divinity of Christ did not die when Jesus died on the cross. In some way beyond human comprehension, the divinity of Jesus was quiescent during the nine months in the womb and in the days in the tomb, and Jesus never used it to aid His humanity during His life and ministry here.

Amen! He fought the battle of life as humanity must fight it at the risk of failure and eternal loss! Such a man! Such a God. Wonder O heavens and be astonished O Earth! That our heavenly Father would love us so much to take this risk with His innocent Son! Do not think it was easy for our Father to allow Jesus to come to this dark spot in the universe, it was not! Satan claimed dominion over the Earth. He hated Christ in heaven, He hated Him even more when He was removed from heaven, yet into this world God allowed His Son to come a helpless Babe subject to the weakness of humanity!! Such love for fallen and sinful man!! This is the grace that saves man and transforms sinners into saints.


Read Luke 9:22.

  9:22   Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.


What does this tell us about the intentionality of Christ’s death?

It was prophesied. Genesis 3:15 is the first promise made to fallen man after sin. We are told then that Christ would be bruised that we might be transformed. What would be changed in man? And, what was man to do in order to be changed?

Christ was born to die. We can imagine that there was never a moment in eternity when He was free from thoughts of the mocking, the flogging, the beatings, and the heart-breaking crucifixion that He would face. This is unparalleled love, never witnessed before and not fully understood.

Amen! And,  He would be separated from His Father. Such pain we cannot imagine. And, think of the Father's pain while watching His innocent Son suffer!!! Such love!!! For us while we were yet sinners. This is grace, grace that saves.


What can we humans do in the face of this kind of love but fall down and worship in faith and obedience? What does the reality of the cross tell us about the worthlessness of human merit?

If it were possible for man to save Himself, then why did our heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus have to suffer?
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Monday •  April 30

The Lamb of God


Read John 1: 1:29, Revelation 5:12, 13:8.

 1:29   The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

 5:12   Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 
 13:8   And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 


What is the one image that these texts have in common, and what is the importance of that image in helping us to understand the plan of salvation?

It is the suffering and death of Christ that when we behold, we shall be transformed into His image (character). In order to have our sin removed, we must trust Jesus with the whole heart. This can only happen when we know Jesus intimately. We must yield to the Spirit when it is pointing us to look upon Christ uplifted upon the cross.  Jesus was the Lamb which was slain to take away our sins. It is be beholding His stripes which were ours that He gladly took that we might live. This is grace, the grace that saves.


When John the Baptist called Jesus the “Lamb of God”, he was making an unmistakable reference to the sanctuary. Even more directly, he was making a reference to Christ’s death for sin as the one and only fulfillment of all the lambs (and every other sacrificial animal in the Hebrew sanctuary ritual) that had ever been slain as a sacrifice for sin. Indeed, the four Gospels, whatever else they teach, ultimately tell the story of what Jesus did in His role as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

But the story of Jesus and His work for our salvation does not end in the Gospels, even with His death and resurrection.

From the beginning, the book of Hebrews touches on the theme of Christ as the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary after His work as the sacrificial Lamb. From the first mention of Him in this role after the cross (Heb. 1:3), succeeding chapters in the book make reference to Jesus as High Priest. The depiction of His work in the heavenly sanctuary is fully developed in detail in Hebrews 7:1-28.

Amen. And, from Genesis to Revelation we are being pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God. Abel understood, David knew, and Daniel tells us that Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in heaven to begin the judgment of all who professed to love God.


Read Hebrews 7:1-28.

 7:1   For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 
 7:2   To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 
 7:3   Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 
 7:4   Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 
 7:5   And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 
 7:6   But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 
 7:7   And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 
 7:8   And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 
 7:9   And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 
 7:10   For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 
 7:11   If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 
 7:12   For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 
 7:13   For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 
 7:14   For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 
 7:15   And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 
 7:16   Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 
 7:17   For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 
 7:18   For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 
 7:19   For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 
 7:20   And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]: 
 7:21   (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 
 7:22   By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 
 7:23   And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 
 7:24   But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 
 7:25   Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 
 7:26   For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 
 7:27   Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 
 7:28   For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. 


What is the author saying here about Jesus?

That He is our High Priest who makes intercession for us so that we can be saved. He is the Son of God without beginning and without end.


Though these verses are so deep, so rich, the essence of what they are saying is that Jesus Christ has a better priesthood than did the priests from the line of Aaron in the earthly sanctuary service. But now, instead of an earthly priesthood in an earthly sanctuary, we have a heavenly High Priest ministering for us in the sanctuary in heaven. So, when we focus our eyes on Jesus now, we can focus them on Him as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.

Amen. And if we will learn of what He is doing in the heavenly Sanctuary, we will benefit from His ministry. What is He doing today for us?
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

ejclark

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Sunday •  April 29

Supreme Sacrifice



It is true that His humanity died, but not Christ the divine God.

Though divine, and though in nature God, Jesus took on “the likeness of men”, and He humbled Himself by becoming "obedient to death” on the cross (Phil. 2:6-8) . In a way known only to God, the divinity of Christ did not die when Jesus died on the cross.
I'm going to be looking deeper into this. I don't recall the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy making this difference. If Christ in His divinity didn't die, then God really didn't pay the full price for my iniquities.

ejclark

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Sunday •  April 29

Supreme Sacrifice



It is true that His humanity died, but not Christ the divine God.

Though divine, and though in nature God, Jesus took on “the likeness of men”, and He humbled Himself by becoming "obedient to death” on the cross (Phil. 2:6-8) . In a way known only to God, the divinity of Christ did not die when Jesus died on the cross.
I'm going to be looking deeper into this. I don't recall the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy making this difference. If Christ in His divinity didn't die, then God really didn't pay the full price for my iniquities.
The obedient children of God recognize the law as a divine law, the sacrifice on Calvary as a divine sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit as their divine sanctifier.{ST, July 14, 1890 par. 3}

In Christ mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Christ himself gave the law from Mount Sinai, and he has not lessened a jot or tittle of its claims. He has given his own life to atone for man's transgression of the law, and to enable him to obey its precepts. Justice is satisfied with the divine sacrifice. Through the merits of Christ God can be just and justify the sinner who believes in Jesus.  {ST, October 10, 1892 par. 2}  (highly recommend reading this whole passage)

Spirit of Prophecy has many quotes about Jesus Christ being the Divine Sacrifice.

Richard Myers

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EJ, it is my understanding that divinity cannot die. So, then if so, we must answer your concern about Christ no paying the price for our sins. I began thinking about this many years ago and came to the conclusion that Christ could not die, not His divinity. But, something would have happened to Him if he sinned. He would have been eternally separated from His Father. He could have sinned.

Something that encouraged me in this is what Satan said to Jesus that Christ had no answer for. It was the last attempt Satan made in Gethsemane to get Jesus to give us up. "With the issues of the conflict before Him, Christ’s soul was filled with dread of separation from God. Satan told Him that if He became the surety for a sinful world, the separation would be eternal. He would be identified with Satan’s kingdom, and would nevermore be one with God."  DA 686.

What Satan is saying is that in order for us to live, Christ would not have to die, but would be separated for eternity from His Father. It was a lie. The price Christ had to pay, was to suffer for every sin. He did not have to die eternally. The wages of sin is eternal death. Why? Because after the unrepentant sinner suffers for every sin, there is nothing left. All is burned up.

Why did Christ not burn up? Because there was no sin in Him. But, He was separated from His Father, He did suffer the pain of the second death for every human who ever lived or would live. Jesus did not know what would happen if He was the surety for our sins. He trusted in His Father what ever was the price.

“I am the resurrection, and the life” ( John 11:25). He who had said, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again” ( John 10:17), came forth from the grave to life that was in Himself. Humanity died; divinity did not die. In His divinity, Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death. He declares that He has life in Himself to quicken whom He will. 1SM 301.


There is much we do not know about God. But we do know that God cannot die.

He who had said, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again” ( John 10:17), came forth from the grave to life that was in Himself. Humanity died; divinity did not die.


Hope this helps Ej. Christ's humanity died (slept). He was not destroyed as will all who reject God's love. He did suffer for your sins and my sins, and for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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  • Posts: 44592
  • Grace, more than a word, it is transforming power
    • The Remnant Online
Tuesday •  May 1

Our High Priest

Read Hebrews 7:24-27, 8:6.

 7:24   But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 
 7:25   Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 
 7:26   For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 
 7:27   Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 
 8:6   But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 


 What great hope is given to us in these texts?

By His suffering and death, He offers us love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance in this world, and eternal life in the next, if we will love Him with the whole heart supremely. He has made a better covenant than the one offered to the Jews at Sinai, not because they broke it, but because it was impossible to keep without a Savior. The "better covenant" was established upon "better promises."

This has not been understood by many in the church. Many think the "old covenant" made at Sinai. was capable of saving those who entered into it. It was not. They agreed to keep the law, but they did not because they could not, not as they were. The new covenant was made upon the very same promises made in the Garder just after sin. It is the "everlasting covenant" and was established upon better promises then the "old covenant" made at Sinai which was simply "obey and live."
 
What were the better promises made in Eden and was ratified at the death of Christ? What were the better promises in the "new covenant"?  Are you living under the old covenant or the new covenant?


Christ is able to save completely due to several qualifications that no other priest could ever have. He is God, who has authority to forgive sins. He has a permanent priesthood. During the Christian era He is interceding all the time for His people, with the same loving compassion as when He healed the sick and comforted the lonely. He is also human but was born sinless and remained that way. And, as the sinless One, He died under the staggering weight of the sum total of human sin. Only He, then, as the God-Man, can intercede for sinners in heaven’s sanctuary.

What these texts show, too, is that Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all. It needed to happen only one time, and it was sufficient to bring salvation to every human being.

After all, considering who it was who died on the cross, how could such an offering not be sufficient for every human being?

Read Hebrews 9:11-15.

 9:11   But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 
 9:12   Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]. 
 9:13   For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 
 9:14   How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 
 9:15   And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 


What has Christ obtained for us through His death and now His ministry in heaven?

The sufferings and death of Christ make it possible for us to be changed that we might not only live with Christ forever, but we might be His witnesses on this Earth today. His ministry in heaven gives us a period of probation wherein we can learn of Him who gave all for us and be transformed in character. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:18. He is preparing us to stand through a time of trouble such as never was, to live without a Mediator that we might prove the excellency and power of His grace.

Hebrews 9:12 says that Christ has “obtained eternal redemption”. The Greek word translated “redemption” also means “ransoming”, “releasing”, and “deliverance”. It’s the same word used in Luke 1:68, when Zacharias declared that God has “visited and redeemed His people” (NKJV). The reference to Christ’s blood — the blood of the only sufficient sacrifice — means that it was Christ, as the sacrificial Lamb, who obtained this redemption, this deliverance. And the great news of the gospel is that Christ obtained this, not for Himself, but for us, and it becomes efficacious for all who accept Christ’s sacrifice for them.

Dwell on this idea, that Christ has “obtained” “eternal redemption” for us, and it was only after He accomplished this that He entered into His work in the heavenly sanctuary on our behalf. What hope does this offer us regarding what Christ is doing for us in the heavenly sanctuary?

There are two works Christ has undertaken in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. When He entered it, He began a work of judgment which reveals who it is that has a character reflecting Christ by keeping His commandments. All who have professed to serve God will be judged. A second work was also undertaken that bears directly on the judgment. Christ does not leave us to ourselves in this world. His suffering and death provides the opportunity for all to be saved, but only those who are converted, who love God supremely with the whole heart will be judged worthy to enter heaven. Christ has always been working for our salvation, even before He entered the heavenly sanctuary. But, in 1844 He began a work to prepare His people tol live without sinning through a time of trouble such as never was. What is the purpose for keeping these saints alive to go through such a trial when they are already to the point of not sinning?


Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Richard Myers

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Wednesday •  May 2

Our Intercessor


Though sin had brought a fearful separation between God and humanity, through Christ’s sacrificial death we as human beings are brought to God and can continue to have access to Him. See Eph. 2:18, 1 Pet. 3:18.

“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:19, 20). According to these verses, what has Jesus done for us?

He is our high priest which has offered up Himself that He might save us through His blood.


Read Hebrews 9:24.

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 


What does this text say that Christ’s work includes?

Jesus is the forerunner, having entered as our Representative into the heavenly sanctuary, even into the very presence of God for us . That is, Jesus is standing before the Father, ministering the merits of His atonement, the “eternal redemption” that He “obtained” in our behalf.

Yes, when we accepted Jesus our sins were forgiven, and we stood before God pardoned and cleansed. But the fact remains that even after we have become Christians, we at times still sin, despite all the wonderful promises of victory. In such cases, Jesus intercedes as our High Priest in heaven. He represents the repenting sinner, not pleading our merits (for we have none) but pleading His own in our behalf before the Father. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb. 7:25.

Amen. But, He does more than representing repenting sinners, He stands between the unrepenant sinner and God, pleading for more time to bring the sinner to repentance. He asks for another year to dung the "tree" to see if He can bring it to bear fruit, the fruit of His Spirit.


What born-again Christian does not sense his or her own need of Christ’s continuing mercy and grace? That is, despite the new life we have in Jesus, despite the wonderful changes in our existence, who doesn’t realize his or her own constant need of pardon and forgiveness? Why, then, is the knowledge of Christ as our High Priest so precious to us?

Does this mean that one continues in sin since he has constant need of forgiveness? Is this constant need for past sins, or present sins. Past sins do not need to be forgiven again. Then the author must be talking of continual sins?

I understand we have continual need of grace that we might not sin, but then why the continual need of forgiveness and pardon? It sounds like the author is saying we are continually sinning?

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

ejclark

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EJ, it is my understanding that divinity cannot die. So, then if so, we must answer your concern about Christ no paying the price for our sins. I began thinking about this many years ago and came to the conclusion that Christ could not die, not His divinity. But, something would have happened to Him if he sinned. He would have been eternally separated from His Father. He could have sinned.

Something that encouraged me in this is what Satan said to Jesus that Christ had no answer for. It was the last attempt Satan made in Gethsemane to get Jesus to give us up. "With the issues of the conflict before Him, Christ’s soul was filled with dread of separation from God. Satan told Him that if He became the surety for a sinful world, the separation would be eternal. He would be identified with Satan’s kingdom, and would nevermore be one with God."  DA 686.

What Satan is saying is that in order for us to live, Christ would not have to die, but would be separated for eternity from His Father. It was a lie. The price Christ had to pay, was to suffer for every sin. He did not have to die eternally. The wages of sin is eternal death. Why? Because after the unrepentant sinner suffers for every sin, there is nothing left. All is burned up.

Why did Christ not burn up? Because there was no sin in Him. But, He was separated from His Father, He did suffer the pain of the second death for every human who ever lived or would live. Jesus did not know what would happen if He was the surety for our sins. He trusted in His Father what ever was the price.

“I am the resurrection, and the life” ( John 11:25). He who had said, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again” ( John 10:17), came forth from the grave to life that was in Himself. Humanity died; divinity did not die. In His divinity, Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death. He declares that He has life in Himself to quicken whom He will. 1SM 301.


There is much we do not know about God. But we do know that God cannot die.

He who had said, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again” ( John 10:17), came forth from the grave to life that was in Himself. Humanity died; divinity did not die.


Hope this helps Ej. Christ's humanity died (slept). He was not destroyed as will all who reject God's love. He did suffer for your sins and my sins, and for the sins of the whole world.
Hi Richard,
In His divinity alone, no, Christ could not die. But He clothed His divinity with humanity. No where in the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy does it say that when Christ died the divine did not die with the human. Jesus Christ became human so He could die. And now after His death and resurrection He will be divinity blended with humanity for eternity. I believe separating His divinity from His humanity so that His human side was the only part that died is creating a mystical realm that Scripture doesn't support. If He didn't die in His divinity then what part of Him was where in limbo while His human part was in the tomb?

colporteur

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Ejc;

If I am not mistaken the question you were asking was the same as  " if Christ's divinity did not die where was His divinity while His body lay in the tomb?" This may be as complex as God Himself so I don't try to strain that. It's like asking if Jesus died the second death? From one perspective He did and from another He did not. In the sense that He did not, there is no coming back from the second death. In the sense that he did, he could not see past the grave. The grave did not present Jesus coming back. From a mental perspective Jesus died the second death or something very close to it. The difference is that Jesus knew that He did not sin. That cannot be said of those that die in the lake of fire. Jesus also had faith through the Scriptures that He would rise again. That hope is not presented to the wicked. There are a couple of variations regarding the death of Jesus compared to those who are die the second death in the lake of fire. I really doubt that it is necessary that all have this perfectly ironed out to be saved. It is interesting none the less to study into.
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We walk a thin line when trying to figure out the person of Christ. We are not going to understand it all on this side of heaven, and I doubt that we will understand everything there is to understand about Jesus and Salvation even in heaven. He died for us so we can be saved. Just how He did it in detail I believe we are better off not getting into. It is not needed for Salvation and I for one, am satisfied to know that I do not in any way, have the mind or knowledge of God. There are many things He would like to tell us, but knows that we could not understand.
With Christian Love,
Marie

ejclark

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We walk a thin line when trying to figure out the person of Christ. We are not going to understand it all on this side of heaven, and I doubt that we will understand everything there is to understand about Jesus and Salvation even in heaven. He died for us so we can be saved. Just how He did it in detail I believe we are better off not getting into. It is not needed for Salvation and I for one, am satisfied to know that I do not in any way, have the mind or knowledge of God. There are many things He would like to tell us, but knows that we could not understand.
Excellent counsel. Harmonizes very well with what Mrs. White has to say when discussing the nature of Christ.
Thank you for the reminder.

colporteur

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Wednesday •  May 2


Yes, when we accepted Jesus our sins were forgiven, and we stood before God pardoned and cleansed. But the fact remains that even after we have become Christians, we at times still sin, despite all the wonderful promises of victory. In such cases, Jesus intercedes as our High Priest in heaven. He represents the repenting sinner, not pleading our merits (for we have none) but pleading His own in our behalf before the Father. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb. 7:25.

Amen. But, He does more than representing repenting sinners, He stands between the unrepenant sinner and God, pleading for more time to bring the sinner to repentance. He asks for another year to dung the "tree" to see if He can bring it to bear fruit, the fruit of His Spirit.


What born-again Christian does not sense his or her own need of Christ’s continuing mercy and grace? That is, despite the new life we have in Jesus, despite the wonderful changes in our existence, who doesn’t realize his or her own constant need of pardon and forgiveness? Why, then, is the knowledge of Christ as our High Priest so precious to us?

Does this mean that one continues in sin since he has constant need of forgiveness? Is this constant need for past sins, or present sins. Past sins do not need to be forgiven again. Then the author must be talking of continual sins?

I understand we have continual need of grace that we might not sin, but then why the continual need of forgiveness and pardon? It sounds like the author is saying we are continually sinning?


Regarding your last comment , Richard, I don't know how it could be taken any other way.  He could have qualified that statement with something like " Until the close of our earthly probation we way stumble and fall along the way many times until we reach the perfection of character we are called to." When he does not do that how can one endorse such statements ? They mislead because they are incomplete. This is common practice for those who would have God's people believe in salvation in sin without complete victory.
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You are right, cp.  There is need to not mislead by not explaining more fully what one means when it comes to such important theological truths. Israel was so far removed from the truth that when Jesus came to them, they knew Him not and put Him to death. Do we think it any different today? Does not Satan have similar deceptions in God's church today? He surely does and the most deadly is that man is saved even when he sins a known sin.

When a converted Christian "stumbles and falls," it is because he is not keeping his connection with Christ. If we have not His Spirit, we are not in Christ. Jesus does not have the whole heart when we sin a known sin. Thus, we do not have eternal life and must repent. "He that hath the Son, hath life. He who hath not the Son, hath not life." Ezekiel 3, 18, and 33 repeat this truth. It was the foundation of Ezekiel's message to Israel. Jesus speaks to His church today and says:

 3:15   I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 
 3:16   So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 
 3:17   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: 
 3:18   I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 
 3:19   As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 
 3:20   Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 
 3:21   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. 


Jesus does not leave us when we sin a known sin, but neither is He in the heart. He stands at the door of the heart pleading for entrance. He is calling the deceived in the church to awake and open the door. "Repent" is the message to be given in God's last day church.
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Thursday •  May 3

The day of Atonement

The book of Hebrews teaches that the earthly Hebrew sanctuary service was a model of the heavenly sanctuary, the one that Christ entered and inaugurated as our High Priest. The earthly service, with its two apartments and its sacrificial and cleansing rituals, was “the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.” Heb. 8:5.

And just as the earthly sanctuary ritual included a ministry in the two compartments, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, so also does Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. In the earthly sanctuary, the concept of judgment was represented on the Day of Atonement, which resulted in the cleansing of the sanctuary, as depicted in Leviticus 16. This was the one time a year when the High Priest entered into the second compartment, the Most Holy Place (Lev. 16:12-14) to do a work of cleansing and atonement in behalf of the people.

Not only, but to cleanse His people from their sins, at least the ones who seek to be cleansed.


Read Hebrews 9:20-23.

 9:20   Saying, This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 
 9:21   Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 
 9:22   And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 
 9:23   [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 


 What needs to be purified and cleansed, and why is this a clear reference to the Day of Atonement ministry of Christ?

We need to be purified and cleansed. If we confess our sins, and truly repent, we shall be cleansed from all sin. Many teach otherwise. Who shall we believe? Scripture or faulty man?


Scholars have been surprised by the statement that the heavenly sanctuary itself needed to be cleansed or “purified”. However, once this is understood as a Day of Atonement reference, the problem vanishes. Hebrews 9:23 shows that the work Christ does in the heavenly sanctuary is the true expression of what the earthly high priest did in the yearly Day of Atonement service in the Israelite sanctuary. The ministry of the earthly priest in cleansing the earthly sanctuary foreshadowed the work that Christ would one day do in the heavenly. The text does not say that this heavenly cleansing takes place immediately after Christ’s ascension. From the study of the book of Daniel, we can see that this phase of ministry began in the year 1844. So as Christians facing the last days, we need to understand the solemnity of the time that we are in but rest in the assurance of what Christ has done for us in the past and is doing for us now in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary.

The first angel’s message declares: “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come” (Rev. 14:7). The reality of the judgment points to the nearness of the end. How should this reality impact how we live?

What will be judged in the anti-typical Day of Atonement? What is the standard in the judgment when the "Books are opened"? Do we seek to be set free from sin? What will set us free from the law of sin and death which holds us in bondage? He who has not been cleansed, converted, transformed in character, will not be in heaven. How do we give glory to God?

It is very sad this has not been covered in the lesson. Christ is waiting on us to be cleansed. He will not come until His people have been cleansed from sin.  He is pouring clean water upon all who will receive Him with the whole heart.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

colporteur

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Question : Is not the "Day of Atonement" to a large extent for the angel's in heaven to see and understand ? God knew before Adam and Eve were created every soul that would be saved or lost. He did not sit down in 1844 and start going through millions of records of millions of deeds and sins. As far as God is concerned He had in His own mind the result of the judgment already before the earth was even inhabited.
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Friday •  May 4

Further Thought: The book of Hebrews points to the earthly sanctuary as the model, the type, of what Christ would do for us both on earth, as our sacrifice, and in heaven, as our High Priest. The Israelite sanctuary was always meant to be an object lesson of the gospel. It was to teach the Jews the plan of salvation, which included sacrifice, intercession, judgment, and the final end of sin. The book of Daniel, meanwhile, adds more light in terms of helping readers understand the apocalyptic (end time) dimension of Christ’s final work in the heavenly sanctuary. “With its emphasis on cleansing, judgment, and vindication, the apocalyptic visions of Daniel project the imagery of the Day of Atonement to the very end of earth’s history. The cleansing is connected directly to the heavenly sanctuary and to the work of the Messiah as king and priest. The visions introduce the time element, making it possible for the reader to identify a specific moment within salvation history when the Messiah would begin His work of final cleansing, judgment, and vindication in the heavenly dwelling of God”. — Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald® Publishing Association, 2000), p. 394.

Discussion Questions:


    Look at this quote from Ellen G. White. “As anciently the sins of the people were by faith placed upon the sin offering and through its blood transferred, in figure, to the earthly sanctuary, so in the new covenant the sins of the repentant are by faith placed upon Christ and transferred, in fact, to the heavenly sanctuary. And as the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. But before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement”. — The Great Controversy, pp. 421, 422. What does she say are the two things that reveal those who are entitled to the “benefits of His atonement”? Why is understanding what they are so important for God’s people to grasp, especially in the trials of the last days?

Because many do not believe they will be judged according to the law of God. It is the standard by which all will reveal whether they loved God supremely.


    Read Leviticus 16:15, 16. What is the significance of the blood? What did the blood represent? Why was the blood so crucial to the Day of Atonement ritual back then, and what does it mean for us today?

 16:15   Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that [is] for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 
 16:16   And he shall make an atonement for the holy [place], because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 


It is the blood of Jesus that cleanses our hearts from sin. If sins were not put away, then they could not be cleansed. Then any who did not repent would be cut off from Israel, and today will be eternally lost. There will be no more forgiveness of sins after the sanctuary is cleansed. I hope the author of the lesson spells this out so the deceptions will be removed from the minds of those seeking truth.
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Question : Is not the "Day of Atonement" to a large extent for the angel's in heaven to see and understand ? God knew before Adam and Eve were created every soul that would be saved or lost.

That's right, cp. God knows your heart right now, just as He knows mine. He knows if we love Him more than anything else. He does not have to open the Books to see if our motives were right. It is for not only the angels, but for the unfallen worlds. It is evidence that God is just and merciful. The books are opened so that all will know who loves Jesus supremely and who does not. Those who keep the law of love will inherit eternal life. Those who break the law without being brought to repentance will be forever lost. Christ is still giving many of us more time. Some have closed their probation today. :(
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

ejclark

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 The law of God is a transcript of his character; it portrays the nature of God. As in Christ we behold the brightness of his glory, the express image of his person, so also in the law the attributes of the Father are unfolded. Although the law is unchangeable, his having provided a means of salvation for the law-breaker does not in the least detract from the dignity of the character of God, since the penalty of man's transgression was borne by a divine Substitute. The Father himself suffered with the Son; for "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." Man, with his human, finite judgment, cannot safely question the wisdom of God. Hence it is unbecoming for him to criticise the plan of salvation. Before the theme of redemption, let man lay his wisdom in the dust, and accept the plans of Him whose wisdom is infinite.  {ST, December 30, 1889 par. 2} 

This entire passage is incredible.