Author Topic: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity  (Read 5320 times)

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Wally

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 Lesson 2 October 6-12




Causes of Disunity







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

colporteur

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2018, 03:35:49 PM »

 I don't see much of anything in the quarterly about unity of doctrine.
It's easier to slow a fast horse down than to get a dead one going.

Wally

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2018, 03:15:42 AM »

 I don't see much of anything in the quarterly about unity of doctrine.

Then you'll just have to address it during your Sabbath School class.  ;D
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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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2018, 05:41:20 AM »
Amen!  We are given a wonderful opportunity to point out the truth that is not being covered in the world Sabbath school lesson. Many are reading from around the world what we post. Many who continue to read our weekly Sabbath school lesson already understand this. But, many need a little help in presenting the truth to their Sabbath school.
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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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #4 on: October 06, 2018, 07:46:04 AM »
Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Deut. 28:1-14, Jer. 3:14-18, Judg. 17:6, 1 Kings 12:1-16, 1 Cor. 1:10-17, Acts 20:25-31.

Memory Text: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

Old Testament prophets repeatedly called upon the people of Israel to obey God’s instructions. Disobedience and carelessness would lead to apostasy and disunity. Obedience to God’s laws was intended as a means to preserve the people from the natural consequences of sin and to sanctify them in the midst of many foreign nations. Following God’s will would create harmony among the people and strengthen their community resolve to withstand the inroads of the pagan and evil worship practices that surrounded them from almost every direction. God’s intention was for His people to be holy and to be a witness to the nations around them.

As the Lord said to them after delivering the Hebrews from Egypt: “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people’ ” (Deut. 4:5, 6, NKJV).

No question: were they to remain faithful, His people would be greatly blessed and would have been a blessing to others. Unfaithfulness, though, would lead to a host of problems, disunity being just one of many.

Amen! We can be holy, we can obey the commandments and statutes of God. But, we cannot do so until we are filled with the Holy Spirit. We must be born again of the Spirit. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. To be born again is to be converted. But, it is not good enough to be converted and forget what we love. We must maintain that connection with Christ if we want to have power to obey God and remain in unity with the church of God.

One of the important works in the church is to bring all who are united in Spirit into unity of doctrine. Thus, we have certain requirements that must be met prior to entrance into the church. So it was decided at the first General Conference meeting in Jerusalem, so it is today. One of those requirements we can all agree on because it has not been weakened. We are not to eat meat unless the blood has been drained out of the animal when it was killed. Of  course eating any meat today brings with it the great risk of contracting diseases the animals are filled with including cancer.


Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 13.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Wally

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #5 on: October 06, 2018, 03:22:23 PM »

 I don't see much of anything in the quarterly about unity of doctrine.

Believe me, it will get discussed in our Sabbath School class.
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

colporteur

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #6 on: October 07, 2018, 08:10:18 AM »
Its interesting that in this weeks lesson there is a most interesting segment of verses. Jer. 3:14-15. Can we somehow uses these verses to address any issues ?
It's easier to slow a fast horse down than to get a dead one going.

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #7 on: October 07, 2018, 08:46:33 AM »
Yes, cp. Let's do it in today's lesson.

Sunday          October 7

“Return, O Backsliding Children”

The history of the people of Israel is filled with stories of disobedience and anarchy, followed by a return to God and obedience, and then followed again with more disobedience and conflicts. This pattern repeats itself over and over. Each time God’s people consciously followed His will, they were blessed with peace and life. Each time they disobeyed and followed their own ways, their lives became miserable, filled with wars and conflicts. Even before Israel entered the Promised Land, God had predicted this pattern and offered the solution to avoid such dire consequences to their existence.

Read Deuteronomy 28:1-14. What blessings would come to Israel if the people were obedient to God’s will?

Read Jeremiah 3:14-18.

 3:14   Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 
 3:15   And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. 
 3:16   And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit [it]; neither shall [that] be done any more. 
 3:17   At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. 
 3:18   In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. 


What do we learn from God’s call to Israel to repent and return to Him? What does it tell us about God’s love and patience for His people?

What is disobedience called? Sin.  How many teach that Romans 7 is the converted Christian's experience? I do what I ought not do. The acceptable teaching in the church is that we can sin a known sin and retain salvation. After all we are all sinners. If we do not repent, we do not have eternal life. Yet, this is being taught by pastors trained by conferences in the NAD, Europe, and Australia. It leads to heretical practices such as baptizing practicing homosexuals (Chico Calif.), ordaining women pastors (NAD), and ordaining unconverted pastors (NAD).


What is amazing in the book of Jeremiah is how God is seen as loving, merciful, and generous toward His people in spite of their rebellion, division, and idolatry. God constantly is inviting His people to return to Him and to repent from their wayward actions. Again and again God promised restoration and hope for the future.

God certainly has been patient with His church today. How much longer will He allow disobedience? He loves us and is calling to us. The day of atonement is here and we have choices to make today, for today is the day of salvation.


“Return, backsliding Israel”, says the LORD; “I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful”, says the LORD; “I will not remain angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the LORD your God, and have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice”, says the LORD” (Jer. 3:12, 13, NKJV).

Is not a "backsliding" church called Laodicea by Jesus in Revelation chapter 3? Yes, it is. Shall we make the application then to the church today? Are we not walking in the path of Israel?


Jeremiah’s words were spoken at a time of general neglect of God’s Word. Although some reforms were started in the time of King Josiah, most people felt no spiritual urge to continue in faithful obedience to God. Their sins, idolatry, and self-centered lives were causing spiritual and political ruin. The more they regressed from doing God’s will, the more dreadful would be their future prospects. Yet, through Jeremiah, God pleaded with them. God had a better future in mind for them, and He longed to bring them back to prosperity, unity, and health. But this could come only if they would live by faith and all that true faith entails.
 
What has the difference between obedience and disobedience meant in your own life?

Is it not the same as what happened to Israel? And, shall we not address this to the organized church, rather than just to individuals? Or is this not acceptable to church leadership? Look at the unions and conferences that don't follow the world church's decisions. Look at the conferences that don't even follow their own bylaws. Chaos is in the church in the NAD, Europe, and Australia. What will be the end of this apostasy? Did God change and He will bless disobedience, either individual or church-wide? No, He will not. But, He will send us pastors who are consecrated (Jer 3:15). The evil ones will be shaken out of His church.

I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans applies to God’s people at the present time, and the reason it has not accomplished a greater work is because of the hardness of their hearts. But God has given the message time to do its work. The heart must be purified from sins which have so long shut out Jesus. This fearful message will do its work. When it was first presented, it led to close examination of heart. Sins were confessed, and the people of God were stirred everywhere. Nearly all believed that this message would end in the loud cry of the third angel. But as they failed to see the powerful work accomplished in a short time, many lost the effect of the message. I saw that this message would not accomplish its work in a few short months. It is designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel. As this message affected the heart, it led to deep humility before God. Angels were sent in every direction to prepare unbelieving hearts for the truth. The cause of God began to rise, and His people were acquainted with their position. If the counsel of the True Witness had been fully heeded, God would have wrought for His people in greater power. Yet the efforts made since the message has been given, have been blessed of God, and many souls have been brought from error and darkness to rejoice in the truth.
 
God will prove His people. Jesus bears patiently with them, and does not spew them out of His mouth in a moment. Said the angel: “God is weighing His people.” If the message had been of as short duration as many of us supposed, there would have been no time for them to develop character. Many moved from feeling, not from principle and faith, and this solemn, fearful message stirred them. It wrought upon their feelings, and excited their fears, but did not accomplish the work which God designed that it should. God reads the heart. Lest His people should be deceived in regard to themselves, He gives them time for the excitement to wear off, and then proves them to see if they will obey the counsel of the True Witness. { 1T 186.2}
God leads His people on, step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. Said the angel: “God will bring His work closer and closer to test and prove every one of His people.” Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus. They prize something higher than the truth, and their hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus. Individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed the counsel of the True Witness. If any will not be purified through obeying the truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride, and evil passions, the angels of God have the charge: “They are joined to their idols, let them alone,” and they pass on to their work, leaving these with their sinful traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels. Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.

God proves His people in this world. This is the fitting-up place to appear in His presence. Here, in this world, in these last days, persons will show what power affects their hearts and controls their actions. If it is the power of divine truth, it will lead to good works. It will elevate the receiver, and make him noblehearted and generous, like his divine Lord. But if evil angels control the heart, it will be seen in various ways. The fruit will be selfishness, covetousness, pride, and evil passions.
 
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Professors of religion are not willing to closely examine themselves to see whether they are in the faith; and it is a fearful fact that many are leaning on a false hope. Some lean upon an old experience which they had years ago; but when brought down to this heart-searching time, when all should have a daily experience, they have nothing to relate. They seem to think that a profession of the truth will save them. When they subdue those sins which God hates, Jesus will come in and sup with them and they with Him. They will then draw divine strength from Jesus, and will grow up in Him, and be able with holy triumph to say: “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” It would be more pleasing to the Lord if lukewarm professors of religion had never named His name. They are a continual weight to those who would be faithful followers of Jesus. They are a stumbling block to unbelievers, and evil angels exult over them, and taunt the angels of God with their crooked course. Such are a curse to the cause at home or abroad. They draw nigh to God with their lips, while their heart is far from Him.  Vol 1, Testimonies for the Church, pg 188.

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

Wally

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #8 on: October 07, 2018, 04:27:17 PM »
Its interesting that in this weeks lesson there is a most interesting segment of verses. Jer. 3:14-15. Can we somehow uses these verses to address any issues ?

Hmm  . . ., could this be a subtle hint by someone higher up?  What we today call the "liberal faction" in our church would, in time past, have been called "backsliders," and the would not have stayed in the church to cause trouble and division.  Today they remain as "cultural Adventists" and spread heresy far and wide.  These verses certainly apply to that kind of church member.
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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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #9 on: October 08, 2018, 06:38:32 AM »
Monday         October 8

Right in His Own Eyes

Stories from the book of Judges show the numerous negative consequences of Israel not following the Lord’s will. Soon after Israel entered into Canaan, people began to pattern their spiritual lives on the false religions of the Canaanites surrounding them-exactly what they were told not to do! Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only problem they were facing either.

Are we to learn from their sins? The Bible tells us this is so. Then let us discuss the lessons we as a church have not yet paid attention to. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."  1 Cor. 10:11.

Read Judges 17:6 and Judges 21:25.

 17:6   In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes. 

 21:25   In those days [there was] no king in Israel: every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes. 


What do these verses teach about more problems that arose among God’s people?

Talk about a recipe for division and disunity among God’s people. The unity of the nation was to be found in their loyal obedience to the Lord of the covenant, the covenant that they had entered into with God.

Amen! The verses between chapters 17 and 21 tell us a story about the tribe of Benjamin which was cut off. Is it possible that a whole union or division  (tribe) could today be cut off from the church? We are dealing with unity in the church. Israel was unified in their decision to cut off Benjamin. Was God involved in that decision? If so, then God could lead the church to cut off whole unions or conferences in our day in order to preserve unity. Not all who are in the church are serving God. Satan has his decoys in the church just as he had them in Israel. How do we know God was involved in the decision and act of cutting off Benjamin?


By doing, however, what was right in their own eyes-especially as they were being influenced by the surrounding nations-they were on the sure road to disaster. We are all fallen beings, and if left to our own devices, if left to follow the inclinations of our hearts, we’ll surely wander from the path that God calls us to walk on.

There is indeed safety in a multitude of counselors. This issue however is not that man look to man for wisdom, but to God. If man trusted in the priests of Israel, they would be mis-led. When Jesus came to His own, they knew Him not because the false teachers in Israel had perverted the truth. If individual men had turned to God and His Word, they would have recognized their Messiah, as did some of the Jews. So also today, if man looks to pastors for the truth, they will often be led away from the truth. We each must stand before God alone, and be judged by what we have believed. Many on judgment day will be judged unworthy, not because they unknowingly cherished error, or believed a lie, but  because they did not avail themselves of their opportunity to learn what is truth. God sends teachers who will be seen to be pointing man to Jesus and His Word, not to erring man. We need to be looking to Jesus continually. Israel was often not looking to God, but to erring man and his false gods.


What do the following passages tell us about the spiritual and social conditions of Israel during the time of the judges?

Judg. 2:11-13

 2:11   And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: 
 2:12   And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that [were] round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. 
 2:13   And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 

Judg. 3:5-7

 3:5   And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: 
 3:6   And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 
 3:7   And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. 


“The Lord had through Moses set before His people the result of unfaithfulness. By refusing to keep His covenant, they would cut themselves off from the life of God, and His blessing could not come upon them. At times these warnings were heeded, and rich blessings were bestowed upon the Jewish nation and through them upon surrounding peoples. But more often in their history they forgot God and lost sight of their high privilege as His representatives. They robbed Him of the service He required of them, and they robbed their fellow men of religious guidance and a holy example. They desired to appropriate to themselves the fruits of the vineyard over which they had been made stewards. Their covetousness and greed caused them to be despised even by the heathen. Thus the Gentile world was given occasion to misinterpret the character of God and the laws of His kingdom.” - Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, pp. 20, 21.


We cannot blame the church for our failure to represent God. It is true that the church can lead us astray if we are not looking to Jesus and His Word. But, we are without excuse for not knowing God and following Him. We have been given great light, much more than Israel. We all have Bibles and much more. We are today either a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Let us rightly represent the character of our God that the world may know Him in who we believe and serve.


How do our own actions as a church impact those around us? What do they see in Seventh-day Adventists that would impress them in a positive manner?

There is much, but what if we mingle error (sin) in with the truth? This is deadly. Israel had been given much. Look at the truth they had. But, by not walking in that truth, they were worse than the heathen who had not the truth. Why lift up what will impress the world in a positive manner when on the other hand we appear as hypocrites? What do others think of us when they see us teaching evolution in our schools? Sheila Jackson Lee is a Seventh-day Adventist in name only. How do our positives appear when she is representing God's church? The world is in the church and the world sees it. The difference between us and the world is that we claim to be better than the world, yet we misrepresent the truth entrusted to us.

But, this is God's church, and unlike Israel we shall have revival and reformation that will lead to the second coming of Christ. There are faithful leaders around the world that rightly represent the character of our God.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

thx4mercy

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #10 on: October 08, 2018, 10:11:05 AM »
He will send us pastors who are consecrated (Jer 3:15). The evil ones will be shaken out of His church.

Would this happen before the close of probation?  I would love to think that this would really happen, but I am wondering how these statements above fit in with the idea that the wheat and tares grow together.

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #11 on: October 10, 2018, 07:13:04 PM »
That's a very good question. Let's look at the parable to see what Jesus meant, what we are to learn from it.

When we have a garden, we know we are going to have to do some weeding. I want to teach my daughter how to grow our food. She is going to do the weeding with me. She excited as the young kale plant breaks through the ground. I point out that it is the kale seed which has sprouted. The next day she comes out along and sees many more sprouts, but some are weeds. We planted the kale in rows so that helps her to know where the kale is going to grow.

I point out the weeds and she pulls them. Three days later I am out of town and she returns to the garden to pull weeds. She does a very thorough job leaving the kale we saw before alone and pulling all else. Sadly, she could not tell kale from weeds and pulled up the new kale sprouts along with the new weeds. There is another more obvious lesson in the parable. Let's read the Words of Jesus. We find the parable in the Book of Mathew.

13:24   Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 
 13:25   But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 
 13:26   But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 
 13:27   So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 
 13:28   He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 
 13:29   But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 
 13:30   Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 


Here we see the other spiritual lesson. Even if we could be certain of knowing a tare from wheat, what can happen in the church if we root out of the church a tare? What happens in the garden? All who garden have experienced the problem. We have weeds growing very close to the plant. The roots of our plant are are intertwined with the weeds. If we pull up the weeds, our plants will come up also.

Thus, we now understand one reason why Jesus did not cast Judas out of his closely knit disciple group, or even out of the church. Some of His disciples may have been so upset that they might have left also. They could not tell that Judas was a tare. Remember how David reacted when God executed Uzza? He did not want the ark anywhere around him and sent it elsewhere. "And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God. And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day. And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God [home] to me? So David brought not the ark [home] to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had." 1 Chronicles 13:9-14.

So it is today. Man makes mistakes and man can err in thinking a tare is wheat and when punishment is put upon an unrepentant sinner, some will think an evil thing has been done and may leave the church.

We need a further explanation as to when some need to be removed from the church. There is always more to the story. When one is living in open sin, and does not repent, then all may see that the tare is a tare and not born of the Spirit. Then the unrepentant sinner is to be disfellowshiped.



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

thx4mercy

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #12 on: October 11, 2018, 09:42:49 AM »
Richard, I understand what you are saying about why we don't try to pull out the tares.  But my confusion has to do with when the "evil" pastors are shaken out that you mentioned above.

Will there really come a time when we won't have to be concerned about our pastors and whether they are theologically sound?

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #13 on: October 12, 2018, 09:07:20 AM »
Yes, we are told the ministry will be cleansed when persecution comes to the church. But, Scripture tells us that we are to be as the Bereans, comparing what we hear from the pulpit to the Bible. God sends us pastors and teachers, but we are not to put our trust in the arm of flesh, but in Christ and His Word.

Today, Christ is separating the goats from the sheep. How can we tell? The heresies He has allowed to come into the church gives all opportunity to know the goats from the sheep. It is no longer hard to tell the truth from the lie in many cases. It has gotten so bad that even the unconverted in the church can see there is a serious problem. For those who cannot see the error in making women leaders over men, they surely can see it is not right to  baptize and bring into church fellowship homosexuals.

And yes, both the church members and the pastors will be purified.

He will purify His church, even as Christ purified the temple during His ministry on earth. All that He brings upon His people in test and trial comes that they may gain deeper piety and greater strength to carry forward the triumphs of the cross.  RC 362.

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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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #14 on: October 12, 2018, 09:25:17 AM »

Tuesday         October 9

The Division of the Hebrew Nation

The path of apostasy, and its dire consequences, didn’t happen overnight. But the wrong choices and decisions that accumulated over the long centuries finally led to some terrible consequences for God’s people.

So we have seen this also. The loss of the Review and Herald building and the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Do a search to see why they both burned down. And the rejection of the gospel message by church leadership in 1888 has caused Jesus to delay His return.


Read the story of King Rehoboam in 1 Kings 12:1-16. What caused this terrible division among God’s people?

“Had Rehoboam and his inexperienced counselors understood the divine will concerning Israel, they would have listened to the request of the people for decided reforms in the administration of the government. But in the hour of opportunity that came to them during the meeting in Shechem, they failed to reason from cause to effect, and thus forever weakened their influence over a large number of the people. Their expressed determination to perpetuate and add to the oppression introduced during Solomon’s reign was in direct conflict with God’s plan for Israel, and gave the people ample occasion to doubt the sincerity of their motives. In this unwise and unfeeling attempt to exercise power, the king and his chosen counselors revealed the pride of position and authority.” - Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 90.

What do the following statements say about the need for wisdom in making the right decisions? Where is the source of true wisdom?
 
All wisdom comes from God. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to open human minds to the truth.


Prov. 4:1-9 Prov. 9:10 James 1:5

The story of Rehoboam and his rash and unwise decision to impose more conscripted labor on his people is a sad event in the life of the kingdom of Israel. The king sought counsel from two groups of advisors, but his final decision to follow the counsel of less-experienced young men his own age brought a catastrophe on the kingdom that his father Solomon and grandfather David had built during the preceding 80 years. The advice that the king should intimidate the crowd by declaring that he is tougher than his father was foolish counsel. The young advisors believed that to be sympathetic of the people’s demands for less-rigorous labor was not the leadership style the king should adopt. He should, they said, present himself as ruthless and cruel instead. In the end, he showed himself to be a bully and undeserving of his people’s allegiance and faithfulness. Hence, a division occurred among God’s people that never should have been there and that was never God’s plan for His people.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #15 on: October 12, 2018, 09:38:55 AM »

Wednesday         October 10

Schism in Corinth

Unfortunately, the issue of disunity among God’s people didn’t end even in New Testament times.

For example, the first four chapters of Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians are an appeal for unity. While in Ephesus Paul heard that various divisions had erupted in the church at Corinth. Thus, he begins his letter with a lengthy address on church unity and the need to avoid schism. Paul is concerned about this development, and he seeks to provide inspired counsel to remedy this unfortunate situation.

According to 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, what seems to have been the cause of disunity, of their divisions and quarrels?

Paul became concerned for his brothers and sisters in Corinth when someone from Chloe’s people told him about the divisions and quarrels among them. His opening words show the depth of his concern: “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you.” His solution was to remind them that, as Christians, they were to be joined together “in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10, NKJV). Whatever exactly was causing this contention and division, Paul wanted it stopped.

"That you all speak the same thing" seems to be at the root of the problem. Why would church members be speaking different things? It seems that some were not looking unto Jesus and the Bible. How is it today? Are there those who insist on rebelling against the decision made by world leaders at the meeting where we are to come into unity of doctrine? Are there some leaders in the church who think we can be unified when we do not speak the same thing?


Paul reminds the Corinthians that Christians are called to follow Christ, not a human being-however talented or gifted or called that person may be. While they seemed to have divided themselves along “party” lines, the apostle stated unequivocally that such divisiveness was not according to Christ’s will. He asserted that Christian unity is centered on Christ and His sacrifice on the cross (1 Cor. 1:13).

Christian unity finds its source in the truth as it is found in Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and in no one else, no matter how “worthy” a mentor or preacher or leader that person might be. At the foot of the cross we are all on the same level ground. Our baptism is into Jesus, who alone can cleanse us from sin. However, we must work toward this unity in Christ in practical ways.

What this should say to us is that as Seventh-day Adventists, we cannot take for granted our unity of faith and mission. Divisions and quarrels can undermine the unity of our church today unless the love and lordship of Christ unites us to Him.

Amen. How is this manifested in the church? Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. If one is not abiding in Christ and He in them, then they will not be speaking the same as those who are in a converted state loving Jesus with  the whole heart. How was the division rectified in Paul's day? They had the first General Conference session in Jerusalem where they were unified on what was to be believed in regards to circumcision and what was to be required of church members. In other words they agreed on the church doctrine that was dividing the church. Why is this rejected by some today?


How can we learn to avoid the kind of dangers that Paul was dealing with here? Why must we always be careful about how much loyalty we give to any person other than Christ?

We have no kings or popes in our church. Delegates from all around the world meet to decide doctrinal matters and our constitution and bylaws reveal these unifying doctrines that are to be in harmony with Scripture. We will be unified if we are unified by surrendering self to Christ. This is what keeps us from the dangers which Paul faced and which we see today in God's church.


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

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #16 on: October 12, 2018, 10:11:51 AM »
Thursday         October 11

“Wolves Will Come”

Read Acts 20:25-31.

 20:25   And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 
 20:26   Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I [am] pure from the blood of all [men]. 
 20:27   For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 
 20:28   Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 
 20:29   For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 
 20:30   Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 
 20:31   Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 


What did Paul warn the Ephesian elders about? What were they to do to prevent this from happening?

During his ministry Paul often faced opposition, and he knew that it would be difficult to preserve the purity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In his farewell to the Ephesian elders he drew from the watchman analogy in Ezekiel 33:1-6 to tell fellow leaders that they were also responsible for safeguarding the Gospel. They were to be faithful shepherds of their congregations.

Let's take a closer look at what God was saying through His prophet Ezekiel. It is very important we look just beyond the verses 1-6. Why? Because they do not get to the real problem, a perversion of the gospel in their day and in ours.

 33:1   Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
 33:2   Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: 
 33:3   If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 
 33:4   Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 
 33:5   He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 
 33:6   But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take [any] person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. 
 33:7   So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 
 33:8   When I say unto the wicked, O wicked [man], thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 
 33:9   Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 
 33:10   Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins [be] upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? 
 33:11   Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 
 33:12   Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his [righteousness] in the day that he sinneth. 
 33:13   When I shall say to the righteous, [that] he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. 


Yes, our lesson tells us that it is the gospel message that pastors are responsible to "feed" the flock with. But, as I pointed out, as it was perverted in Ezekiel's day, so it is in ours. So, what was especially perverted? Read again verse 13. Do we hear this preached today? Do we believe when a righteous man sins, that God does not remember all of his good deeds in the past? Much of what we are being fed today tells us that if a righteous man sins, God does not pay attention to it and the sinners still retains salvation. Matter of fact is that many pastor do not teach that a man may be "righteous."

How serious is this? How serious was it in Ezekiel's day? So serious that God had this message repeated three times. Read it in chapters 3, 18, and what we just quoted in 33. This was the truth needed for Israel then and in modern Israel today. The church suffers from lack of pure provender. Paul was so concerned in his day that he said that those who have perverted the gospel are accursed. Why do we not feel as strong about the perversion of the gospel. How many are objecting to the multitude of false gospels being preached from our pulpits and printed on our presses? Why the lack of concern by leadership and laity?


Paul’s use of the expression “savage wolves” to describe false teachers (Acts 20:29, NKJV) is reminiscent of Jesus’ similar warning that false teachers would disguise themselves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15). These false teachers did arise soon after Paul spoke this warning, and they preyed upon believers in the Asian churches that he had established. In Ephesians 5:6-14 and Colossians 2:8, we see some of Paul’s warnings to churches in Asia Minor.

In his Second Epistle to Timothy, Paul also warns Timothy, who is responsible for the church at Ephesus, against errors in the church and godlessness in the last days.

Read 2 Timothy 2:14-19 and 3:12-17. What does Paul say to Timothy about how to counter false teachers and to preserve the unity of the church?

First, Timothy should know his Bible, “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15, NKJV). The antidote to these useless disputes and speculations is to correctly understand and teach the word given by God. The truths of the Bible must be rightly interpreted so that no part of the Scriptures will be set in opposition to the entire picture presented in the Bible, and also to prevent misinterpretations that may cause one to lose faith in Jesus. Irrelevancies and secondary issues are to be subordinated to the principles of God’s Word that actually will prepare believers to live a victorious life in Christ. Paul’s second recommendation is for Timothy himself to “shun profane and idle babblings” (2 Tim. 2:16, NKJV). Trivial and speculative topics are not to be part of Timothy’s teaching ministry if he is to be considered a worthy and faithful minister. These types of conversations lead only to more ungodliness and do not edify the faith of believers (2 Tim. 2:16). Truth alone leads to godliness and harmony among believers. The reason Timothy must avoid and urge his people to avoid such errors is that they sweep through the church like a disease (2 Tim. 2:17). In the end, obedience to the Word of God is the antidote to false teaching (2 Tim. 3:14-17) that could threaten the unity of the church.

How can we, as a church, protect ourselves from similar kinds of people who, through false teachings, could bring divisions among us?

The answer is always the same, we need to be converted and remain converted. It is only Christ that can save us and protect the church from the heresies which have come in. The responsibility to protect the church from heresies is primarily the domain of the General Conference and the local conference in hiring converted men to lead the churches in their conference and to train them in harmony with the world church's directions.

We see false gospels being fed to the church because conferences are not following what has been decided at the world church level and there is a lack of piety among leaders who are burying converts who have not died to self. It was a problem in Ellen White's day and remains so in our day. "The minds of many are clouded with unbelief because those who unite with the church as the chosen of God do not reveal the virtues that are the fruits of the Spirit. Joining the church is not a sure evidence that a man has joined himself to Christ. The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ."  12MR 51.

Jesus speaks about false teachers also. And, knowing that it endangers His church He tells us how to identify the wolves dressed in sheep's clothing. More than this He gives us the underlying principle that opens blind eyes to their true condition and the false gospels that have found their way into His church. From Matthew:

 7:13   Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 
 7:14   Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 
 7:15   Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 
 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. 
 7:21   Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 


If we sin, then that is bad fruit which does not come from a good tree. When we are abiding in Christ and He in us, then we manifest all of the fruits of the Spirit, not one will be missing, and we do not reveal the works of the flesh. Sadly we do not hear this often from our pulpits and printed on our presses. But, a change is coming. If you listen carefully, the truth is in His church.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #17 on: October 12, 2018, 10:41:46 AM »
Friday         October 12

Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “The Rending of the Kingdom”, pp. 87-98, in Prophets and Kings; “A Message of Warning and Entreaty”, pp. 298-308, in The Acts of the Apostles.

“The Lord desires His chosen servants to learn how to unite in harmonious effort. It may seem to some that the contrast between their gifts and the gifts of a fellow laborer is too great to allow them to unite in harmonious effort; but when they remember that there are varied minds to be reached, and that some will reject the truth as it is presented by one laborer, only to open their hearts to God’s truth as it is presented in a different manner by another laborer, they will hopefully endeavor to labor together in unity. Their talents, however diverse, may all be under the control of the same Spirit. In every word and act, kindness and love will be revealed; and as each worker fills his appointed place faithfully, the prayer of Christ for the unity of His followers will be answered, and the world will know that these are His disciples.” - Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 483.


Contrast between gifts is not the same as different interpretation of truth. If we are going to be unity in the church, we need to be of one accord in what we teach. We are to unify on the platform of truth. Let this be taught in our church and in our Sabbath School lessons. Let the little kings and popes in our conferences accept the world church's decisions as they were accepted by the churches in Paul's day relating to circumcision.


Discussion Questions:


    The question of doing what is right in one’s “own eyes” is nothing new. Postmodernism, which challenges the idea of any one central or overarching intellectual or moral authority, could potentially pave the way for the kind of moral anarchy that the Bible warns about. How do we as Christians, and as a church as a whole, confront this kind of challenge?

We look to Scripture and Christ first and to the teaching of the church that is in harmony with Scripture. Let those who have not spiritual discernment take care to not strike out on their own. Especially if they are teaching others. Accursed be the man who teaches a false gospel or brings division into God's church.


    Reflect on the story of King Rehoboam and the division of Israel (1 Kings 12). What lessons are there for us today?

Even a church leader can be led by Satan. Do not continue to be blind to sin and sinners who are leading many to perdition. There is safety in a multitude of counselors, counselors who are converted and long in the faith.


    What can church leaders and members do to help prevent strife and cliques in a local church when it arises? How important is it to stop these issues before they grow and fester? How can we as church members be careful not to fall into the trap that some did in Corinth?

The answer is always the same. Playing church leads to this division. We need to die to self daily. Why is not the counsel by Jesus and His prophets followed. Jesus is drawing all to Himself. It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Christ, especially the closing scenes. By beholding His love, we would be converted daily and manifest the loves He has for us to others in and out of the church. This would lead to unity of doctrine in the church. Lack of unity is a symptom of not having Jesus at the center of our lives.

    Study the context of the passage on discord in Proverbs 6:16-19. What do you learn from this to prevent discord in your local church?

 6:16   These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: 
 6:17   A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 
 6:18   An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 
 6:19   A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 

We need Jesus in our hearts. We must love the Lord our God with the whole heart, not part of it if we are to discern His truth and live it.


Summary: In the Bible we find situations that led to disunity. When God’s people lived in faithful obedience, the dangers of disunity were greatly diminished. Examples from the time of the Judges as well as from the reign of Rehoboam opened the door for division. Even in New Testament times, the potential for disunity remained. A proper understanding of God’s Word and the sanctified effort to obey it are the best protection against disunity and schism among us.

Amen! We must be converted if we want to have unity in the church. Is this the problem in our church today? Listen to Christ and hear what He says about the last church, the seventh church in the Book of Revelation which we are.

 3:14   And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 
 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. 
 3:22   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 
 

Does it apply in our day? This message will cause a shaking in God's church today. Rejected and it will spell doom for the blind leaders and laity alike.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Glen

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #18 on: October 13, 2018, 06:26:37 AM »
Its interesting that in this weeks lesson there is a most interesting segment of verses. Jer. 3:14-15. Can we somehow uses these verses to address any issues ?

Jeremiah 3:13-15
Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.



Satan's snares are laid for us as verily as they were laid for the children of Israel just prior to their entrance into the land of Canaan. We are repeating the history of that people.
Testimonies for the Church 5:160.

Their history should be a solemn warning to us. We need never expect that when the Lord has light for his people, Satan will stand calmly by and make no effort to prevent them from receiving it. Let us beware that we do not refuse the light God sends, because it does not come in a way to please us.... If there are any who do not see and accept the light themselves, let them not stand in the way of others. Testimonies for the Church 5:728.

The serpent declared to Eve, Ye shall not surely die... Genesis 3:4 Had Eve not strayed in her thoughts from the word of God, the plain admonition of her Creator, she wouldn't have strayed from the plain path of obedience. It was her disaffection and subsequent disobedience; thus, this imperfection,  that derailed her unity with God. Her disobedience was her death, or separation from God, Who is life eternal. ...our Lord Jesus Christ...who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords...Who only hath immortality...to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:14-16

God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5


Unity is the sure result of Christian perfection. The Sanctified Life p. 85.1

Subjection to God is restoration to one’s self,—to the true glory and dignity of man. The Desire of Ages 466.5

Strong's Concordance: to leave so that what is left may remain, leave remaining

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12:3

Hebrews 6:
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.


One's lack of "subjection to God" defies God's intent in creating mankind. God's righteousness is His character, His very life.


...if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.  Lift Him Up, p. 178.5

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 1 John 3:14

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:10


[Christ] declares, “As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me” [John 6:57]. This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” [verse 40]. Christ became one with us in humanity in order that we might become one with Him in life everlasting. Thus our life is united with His life. He proclaimed over the rent sepulchre of Joseph, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” Lt 131, 1900 (October 14, 1900) par. 9

Christ’s life represents a perfect manhood. Just that which you may be, He was in human nature. Lt 106, 1896 (June 26, 1896) par. 18

In His person humanity, inhabited by divinity, was represented to the world. God’s Amazing Grace 14

When Christ abides in the heart by faith, the Christian is the temple of God. Christ does not abide in the heart of the sinner, but in the heart of him who is susceptible to the influences of heaven. Reflecting Christ p. 107.3

Christ is soon to come, and no soul should stand in a position where he will say in word or action, “My Lord delayeth His coming.” Christ's true followers will represent Him in character. They turn aside from worldly policy and are being trained for everyday service in the cause of God. In active service they find peace and hope, efficiency and power. They are conscious that they are breathing the breath of heaven, the only atmosphere in which the soul can live. By obedience they are made partakers of the divine nature. The doing of the living principles of the law of God makes them one with Christ. And He has pledged Himself to raise them up at the last day. Because He lives they will live also. He will raise them up as a part of Himself.
Lt 131, 1900 (October 14, 1900) par. 8


For in him we live, and move, and have our being... Acts 17:28

Outside of Christ, we die and cease to exist.
...Jesus...will live through (YOU), giving (YOU) the inspiration of His sanctifying Spirit, imparting to (YOUR) soul a vital transfusion of Himself. Sabbath-School Worker 02-01-96.03  ...as the blood

Glen

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2--4th Quarter 2018--Causes of Disunity
« Reply #19 on: October 13, 2018, 07:57:41 AM »
The present testimony of the heavenly Witness to many today, is "...I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." Revelation 3:1

There are some in Hollywood; however unknowingly, are a living parable of dying the death of the lost. -No less, is this true among God's Church, today.

We want life, we want eternal life in the kingdom of glory, everlasting life. Christ came to die for us. He left the royal courts. He clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might approach humanity and educate humanity to lay hold of His divinity, so that they might be partakers of the divine nature having overcome, what? The evil dispositions. The temptations that are in the world through lust. Ms 118, 1909 (June 27, 1909) par. 11

Some of us act just as though there was not any devil at all. As though there was not one seeking for the mastery with all his powers, and with all his being, as he looks forward to the time when the resurrection of the unjust shall come forth. Then he will rally his army. He hopes to gain the victory over the world at last. But we know better than that. We know that if there were but ten righteous men upon the earth, those ten would have a living connection with a living God. Ms 118, 1909 (June 27, 1909) par. 12

We want life, we want eternal life in the kingdom of glory, everlasting life. Christ came to die for us. He left the royal courts. He clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might approach humanity and educate humanity to lay hold of His divinity, so that they might be partakers of the divine nature having overcome, what? The evil dispositions. The temptations that are in the world through lust.
Ms 118, 1909 (June 27, 1909) par. 11

Some of us act just as though there was not any devil at all. As though there was not one seeking for the mastery with all his powers, and with all his being, as he looks forward to the time when the resurrection of the unjust shall come forth. Then he will rally his army. He hopes to gain the victory over the world at last. But we know better than that. We know that if there were but ten righteous men upon the earth, those ten would have a living connection with a living God.
Ms 118, 1909 (June 27, 1909) par. 12

He [the believer] may die, as Christ died, but the life of the Saviour is in him. His life is hid with Christ in God. “I am come that they might have life,” Jesus said, “and that they might have it more abundantly.” He carries on the great process by which believers are made one with Him in this present life, to be one with Him throughout all eternity.… Maranatha, p. 301.4

At the last day He will raise them as a part of Himself.... Christ became one with us in order that we might become one with Him in divinity. Maranatha, p. 301.5
 
...Jesus...will live through (YOU), giving (YOU) the inspiration of His sanctifying Spirit, imparting to (YOUR) soul a vital transfusion of Himself. Sabbath-School Worker 02-01-96.03  ...as the blood