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Wally

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 Lesson 12 *September 13-19



Death and Resurrection


Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: John 11:11; John 1:1-4; Luke 8:54-55; John 5:28-29; Matt. 5:22, 29; John 11:38-44.

Memory Text: "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" " (John 11:25, NKJV).

Humans have an innate repulsion toward death because we were created only to live and never to die. Death is an intruder; it was not meant to be.

That’s why, during His earthly ministry, Jesus showed immense sympathy toward the bereaved. When He saw the widow of Nain taking her only son to the grave, "He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep" " (Luke 7:13, NKJV). To a heartbroken father of a twelve-year-old girl who had just died, Christ consoled him, saying: "Do not be afraid; only believe" (Mark 5:36, NKJV). Every time death strikes our loved ones, Jesus is tenderly moved by our grief. His compassionate heart weeps with us.

But Christ does far more than weep. Having conquered death with His own death and resurrection, He owns the keys of death, and He promises to raise everyone who believes in Him to eternal life. This is, by far, the greatest promise that we have been given in God’s Word; otherwise, if death has the final say, our whole lives and everything we have ever accomplished will be in vain.

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 20.

Sunday September 14

The State of the Dead

Old Testament writers consistently held that humanity is an indivisible living being. The various Hebrew terms usually translated as flesh, soul, and spirit are just alternative ways to describe, from different points of view, the human person as a whole. In harmony with this perspective, the Scriptures use different metaphors to describe death. Among them, sleep stands out as a fitting symbol to reflect the biblical understanding of the condition of the dead (see Job 3:11-13, 14:12, Ps. 13:3, Jer. 51:39, Dan. 12:2). Death is the total end of life. Death is a state of unconsciousness in which there are no thoughts, emotions, works, or relationships of any kind (Eccles. 9:5-6, 10; Ps. 115:17; 146:4).

By the time of Jesus, however, this view of humanity, and particularly of death, was challenged by the pagan dualistic concept of the immortality of the soul, which was rapidly propagating throughout the known world.

How did Jesus describe the death of His friend Lazarus? See John 11:11.

Despite this and other passages, a number of Christians argue that Jesus believed in the immortality of the soul, for He said to the thief on the cross: "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43, NKJV). The meaning of this text changes entirely, depending on where the commas are placed. (The oldest Greek manuscripts of the New Testament don’t have punctuation marks). If the comma is placed after "you," as most Bible versions render the text, it means that Jesus and the thief went to Paradise that same day; if the comma is after "today," the text means that Jesus assured the thief his future redemption. Actually, Jesus’ words emphasize assurance of salvation, not the timing of the thief’s entrance into heaven. The context confirms this. To begin with, the thief had not asked for an immediate transfer to heaven at death but rather to be remembered when the Lord would come into His kingdom. Moreover, three days later Jesus Himself affirmed that He had not yet ascended to Paradise (John 20:17). This text, therefore, does not teach that the souls of the dead go to heaven after death.

Because we understand that death is an unconscious sleep, why is the teaching of the resurrection so crucial to us?

Monday September 15

The Hope of Resurrection

At Creation, "the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." As a result, "man became a living being" (Gen. 2:7, NKJV). As long as God maintains the breath of life in the living creatures, they are alive. But when He takes away their breath, they die and return to dust (Ps. 104:29, Eccles. 12:7). This is not an arbitrary decision of God; it is the inevitable consequence of sin. But the good news is that, through Christ, there is hope, even in death.

Read John 1:1-4. What is implied in these verses that shows us the power of Jesus to raise the dead?

Christ has life in Himself, for He is the life (John 14:6). He created everything and has the power to give life to whom He wills (John 5:21). Thus, He can raise the dead.

How does resurrection happen? See Luke 8:54-55.

According to the Bible, resurrection is the reversal of death. Life is restored when the breath of life comes back from God. That is how Luke explained the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter. After learning that the twelve-year-old girl had passed away, Jesus went to the house and told the mourners that she was sleeping. Then He "took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise." Then her spirit [pneuma] returned, and she arose immediately" (Luke 8:54-55, NKJV). At Jesus’ divine command, the life principle imparted by God returned to the girl. The Greek term that Luke used, pneuma, means "wind," "breath," or "spirit." When the Bible uses it in relation to human beings, it never denotes a conscious entity capable of existence apart from the body. In this text it clearly refers to the breath of life.

Death is so common that we take it for granted. How, though, can we learn to trust in God’s promises about eternal life, even though for now, death seems to be the victor?
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

Wally

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2014, 03:47:13 PM »
Tuesday September 16

The Resurrection and the Judgment

What we have studied so far could lead us to think that the resurrection will be for only a few. But Jesus affirmed that a time will come when "all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth" (John 5:28-29, NKJV, emphasis added). Believers and unbelievers, righteous and sinners, saved and lost, all will be raised. As Paul declared, "there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust" (Acts 24:15, NKJV).

Though all are, eventually, raised from the dead, all will face only one of two eternal fates. What are they? John 5:28-29.

The universality of the resurrection doesn’t mean that at the final day everybody will be ushered into a blissful and joyful eternal life. "Those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Dan. 12:2, NKJV).

The Bible teaches that God will judge the lives of every human being, deciding the eternal destiny of each person who ever lived (Eccles. 12:14, Rom. 2:1-11). The execution of the divine sentence, however, does not occur immediately after the death of each individual but only after his or her resurrection. Until then, both the saved and the lost sleep unconsciously in the dust. The resurrection, by itself, is neither a reward nor a punishment. It is the precondition to receiving eternal life or condemnation.

Speaking of the two resurrections, Jesus indicated that our destiny will be decided on the basis of the moral quality of our deeds (good or bad). This fact, however, doesn’t mean that works save us. On the contrary, Jesus clearly taught that our salvation depends exclusively on our faith in Him as our Savior (John 3:16). Why, then, are works taken into consideration? Because they show whether our faith in Christ and our surrender to Him are genuine or not (James 2:18). Our works demonstrate whether we are still "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1, NKJV) or "dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:11, NKJV).

Dwell on the ultimate destiny that awaits each of us. If anything is standing between you and eternal life, why not, right now, choose to get rid of it? After all, what possibly could be worth losing eternity for?

Wednesday September 17

What Jesus Said About Hell

Jesus used two Greek terms, hades and gehenna, to speak about death and the punishment of the unrighteous. Given the popular belief in the meaning "hell," we need to consider it carefully.

Hades is equivalent to the Hebrew she’ôl, the most common Old Testament term for the realm of the dead. These names simply represent the grave or the place to which all descend at death, with no connotation of punishment or reward. There is one text, however, where hades appears to be connected with punishment. It is in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

Read Luke 16:19-31. What is the basic lesson that this parable sets forth (see especially Luke 16:27-31)? What’s wrong with using this parable to teach that human beings go to paradise or hell immediately after death?

This parable is not focused on the state of man in death. A popular but unbiblical belief that many of Jesus’ contemporaries held provided the background for this parable, which teaches an important lesson: our future destiny is determined by the decisions we make daily in this life. If we reject the light God grants us here, there is no opportunity after death. Any attempt to interpret this parable literally leads to many insoluble problems. Actually, the details of the picture seem purposely awkward in order to show us that Jesus did not intend His words to be taken literally, but figuratively.

What warnings did Jesus pronounce regarding hell? See Matt. 5:22, 29-30; 23:33.

In many Bible translations, the word hell appears eleven times on Jesus’ lips. He actually used the Greek term gehenna, from the Hebrew name Gê Hinnom, "Valley of Hinnom." According to the Old Testament, in this gorge south of Jerusalem, kings Ahaz and Manasseh conducted the horrendous pagan rite of burning children to Molech (2 Chron. 28:3, 33:6). Later, godly king Josiah brought the practice to a halt (2 Kings 23:10). Because of the sins perpetrated in it, Jeremiah prophesied that God would make the place a "valley of slaughter" (Jer. 7:32-33; 19:6). Hence, for the Jews, the valley became a symbol of the last judgment and the punishment of the impenitent. Jesus used the name figuratively, without explaining any details regarding the time and place of the punishment, which we find in other biblical passages. Hell, though, is not a place of eternal punishment.
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

Wally

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2014, 03:49:04 PM »
Thursday September 18

Jesus Conquered Death

Why was Lazarus’ resurrection the crowning miracle of Christ’s earthly ministry? See John 11:38-44.

Though Jesus had raised two others from the dead, none was as dramatic as this. Lazarus had been dead for four days, a fact that Martha corroborated at the graveside. Jesus performed the miracle in the full light of day before a crowd of respected witnesses from Jerusalem. The evidence couldn’t be dismissed.

Still, far more important than Lazarus’ resurrection was Jesus’ own resurrection. Since He has life in Himself, He not only has the power to raise the dead and give life to whom He wills (John 5:21), but He also has the power to lay down His own life and take it again (John 10:17-18). His resurrection proved this convincingly.

What is the relationship between Christ’s resurrection and ours? Why is His resurrection so important for our salvation? See 1 Cor. 15:17-20.

Christ’s power to break the bonds of death is undisputed. He arose from the sepulcher as the first fruits of those who slept in Him. His resurrection is the guarantee of every believer’s resurrection, for He has the keys of death (Rev. 1:17-18).

"To the believer, Christ is the resurrection and the life. In our Saviour the life that was lost through sin is restored; for He has life in Himself to quicken whom He will: He is invested with the right to give immortality. The life that He laid down in humanity, He takes up again, and gives to humanity." — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 786, 787.

Death is so powerful that only the One who first created life can restore it. What does this truth tell us about why we must trust that Jesus can, and will, resurrect us as He promised?

Friday September 19

Further Study: Ellen G. White, "Lazarus, Come Forth," pp. 524-536, and "The Lord Is Risen," pp. 779-787, in The Desire of Ages.

"The voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints. He looks upon the graves of the righteous, then, raising His hands to heaven, He cries: "Awake, awake, awake, ye that sleep in the dust, and arise!" Throughout the length and breadth of the earth the dead shall hear that voice, and they that hear shall live. . . . From the prison house of death they come, clothed with immortal glory, crying: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:55. And the living righteous and the risen saints unite their voices in a long, glad shout of victory." — Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 644.

Discussion Questions:

    We’ve all struggled with the reality of death, the seeming finality of it, and the seeming senselessness of it. If, as many believe, there is no God, no hope of eternal life, and no resurrection, then what does human life itself mean? What can it mean if, sooner or later, everyone who ever lived dies and every memory of them is forever gone? How does our understanding of the resurrection answer this otherwise unsolvable dilemma?

    What are some of the dangers inherent in the idea of the immortality of the soul? Why is Satan eager to propagate this nonbiblical belief? What role will this concept play in the religious scenario at the time of the end? Think about all the potential deceptions out there from which those who understand death as a sleep until the resurrection are spared.

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

Carla Hepker

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2014, 05:03:49 PM »
Lesson 12 *September 13-19



Death and Resurrection


Sabbath Afternoon


But Christ does far more than weep. Having conquered death with His own death and resurrection, He owns the keys of death, and He promises to raise everyone who believes in Him to eternal life. This is, by far, the greatest promise that we have been given in God’s Word; otherwise, if death has the final say, our whole lives and everything we have ever accomplished will be in vain.



In what way do you agree with the underlined/bolded sentence? In what way do you disagree?

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2014, 06:19:21 PM »
Hello Carla.  Yes, to gain eternal life is a most amazing thought. But, I discern that you, like I, think that there is more than gaining eternal life that is of great importance. I too would like to hear what other think. How would you like to reward Jesus for His suffering and death? While living forever is a wonderful thing, what if you lived forever, but were not changed in Character, and others in heaven would  sin?  I would like to know your thoughts too, Carla.

Let me add one thought. My motive to be a Christian is  not gaining eternal life.  How about others, what is your motivation for being a Christian?
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 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2014, 07:49:45 PM »
Sunday September 14

The State of the Dead


Old Testament writers consistently held that humanity is an indivisible living being. The various Hebrew terms usually translated as flesh, soul, and spirit are just alternative ways to describe, from different points of view, the human person as a whole. In harmony with this perspective, the Scriptures use different metaphors to describe death. Among them, sleep stands out as a fitting symbol to reflect the biblical understanding of the condition of the dead (see Job 3:11-13, 14:12, Ps. 13:3, Jer. 51:39, Dan. 12:2). Death is the total end of life. Death is a state of unconsciousness in which there are no thoughts, emotions, works, or relationships of any kind (Eccles. 9:5-6, 10; Ps. 115:17; 146:4).

By the time of Jesus, however, this view of humanity, and particularly of death, was challenged by the pagan dualistic concept of the immortality of the soul, which was rapidly propagating throughout the known world.

How did Jesus describe the death of His friend Lazarus? See John 11:11.

Despite this and other passages, a number of Christians argue that Jesus believed in the immortality of the soul, for He said to the thief on the cross: "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43). The meaning of this text changes entirely, depending on where the commas are placed. (The oldest Greek manuscripts of the New Testament don’t have punctuation marks). If the comma is placed after "you," as most Bible versions render the text, it means that Jesus and the thief went to Paradise that same day; if the comma is after "today," the text means that Jesus assured the thief his future redemption.  "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43). Actually, Jesus’ words emphasize assurance of salvation, not the timing of the thief’s entrance into heaven. The context confirms this. To begin with, the thief had not asked for an immediate transfer to heaven at death but rather to be remembered when the Lord would come into His kingdom. Moreover, three days later Jesus Himself affirmed that He had not yet ascended to Paradise. This text, therefore, does not teach that the souls of the dead go to heaven after death.

Because we understand that death is an unconscious sleep, why is the teaching of the resurrection so crucial to us?


Let the Bible answer this question:


1 Corinthians
 15:12   Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 
 15:13   But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 
 15:14   And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain. 
 15:15   Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 
 15:16   For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 
 15:17   And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. 
 15:18   Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 
 15:19   If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 
 15:20   But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. 
 15:21   For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. 
 15:22   For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
 
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 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2014, 05:02:27 AM »
Lesson 12 *September 13-19



Death and Resurrection


Sabbath Afternoon


But Christ does far more than weep. Having conquered death with His own death and resurrection, He owns the keys of death, and He promises to raise everyone who believes in Him to eternal life. This is, by far, the greatest promise that we have been given in God’s Word; otherwise, if death has the final say, our whole lives and everything we have ever accomplished will be in vain.

In what way do you agree with the underlined/bolded sentence? In what way do you disagree?

FIRST THINGS FIRST:
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. Hebrews 11:1, 2


Only as I receive the Word of God, today; by faith, might I begin to receive the things God has ordained for me; in Him. -That I, one so unworthy; may be accounted worthy to stand before the throne of the Father, without fault, blameless, righteous, because Christ reigns within my soul, is remarkable; something to ponder the rest of my life; indeed, forever.

The greatest promise, to me, is that "...His good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself" Ephesians 1:9 (For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13) fills me with an
hope that maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in (my) heart...by the Holy Ghost which is given (to even me). THAT I may ...live the rest of (my) time in the flesh to the...will of God.

Had Lucifer really desired to be like the Most High, he would never have deserted his appointed place in heaven; for the spirit of the Most High is manifested in unselfish ministry. Lucifer desired God’s power, but not His character. The Desire of Ages, p. 435.2

While Lucifer counted it a thing to be grasped to be equal with God, Christ, the Exalted One, “made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:7, 8. Now the cross was just before Him; and His own disciples were so filled with self-seeking—the very principle of Satan’s kingdom—that they could not enter into sympathy with their Lord, or even understand Him as He spoke of His humiliation for them. The Desire of Ages, p. 436.1

The Christian is the world’s light, and the only Bible that many read. Thru Christians men see God. How careful, then, should those be who have taken the name of Christian. But many professing Christians crucify the Son of God afresh and put Him to open shame. He who fails to correct the mistakes shown him in the divine mirror, presents before the world a miserable representation of Christ. Angels veil their faces in sorrow. The world sees that he is not what he professes to be, and they turn from him as a counterfeit. Christians are either under Christ’s rule or under the control of the enemy. Their influence is either a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. They are either doing positive good or incalculable harm.  ST July 10, 1901, par. 2


Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
By D.W. Whittle

To all humanity, Christ has declared:
When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. John 8:28

It is by the imparted life of Christ dwelling within me through the Holy Spirit ( Gospel Workers 1915, p. 285.2), alone, that my testimony may ring with that same benediction:
...he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. John 8:29

It is when filled with His presence, alone, that I may share with the lost the truth that it is their privilege to have the life that measures with the life of God. I may plant in their minds uplifting, ennobling thoughts. I may, by my life (not I, but Christ Gal. 2:20), make plain to them the difference between vice and purity, darkness and light. -By my example, let them read what it means to be a Christian. Christ is able to uplift the most sinful and place them where they will be acknowledged as children of God, joint heirs with Christ to the immortal inheritance. (See The Ministry of Healing, p. 169.1)

Romans 6:
5 ...if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 1:
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.   

Ephesians 2:
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:


...The true, strong joy of the soul begins when Christ is formed within, the hope of glory... Selected Messages Book 2, p. 169.1 

As through Jesus we enter into rest, heaven begins here. We respond to His invitation, Come, learn of Me, and in thus coming we begin the life eternal. Heaven is a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ. The longer we are in the heaven of bliss, the more and still more of glory will be opened to us; and the more we know of God, the more intense will be our happiness. As we walk with Jesus in this life, we may be filled with His love, satisfied with His presence. All that human nature can bear, we may receive here.
The Desire of Ages, 331, 332.
...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

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2014, 10:37:03 AM »
I think that considering the great deception that abounds regarding what it means to be converted, that this is important to discuss. Glen has shared a thought that illustrates a more complete thought on the promises of God. Who could really be happy living forever in heaven if their character  was not changed. And, that must happen by choice, not by force. We choose whom we shall serve. One know sin reveals that we are not abiding in Christ. Glen shared this: "Had Lucifer really desired to be like the Most High, he would never have deserted his appointed place in heaven; for the spirit of the Most High is manifested in unselfish ministry. Lucifer desired God’s power, but not His character." The Desire of Ages.

Many think that God will change the character when Jesus returns, but it  is not so. Those who overcome sin will be given a glorified body that does not have fallen flesh, but the character must be formed today. "Were justice extinct, and were it possible for divine mercy to open the gates to the whole race, irrespective of character, there would be a worse condition of disaffection and rebellion in heaven than before Satan was expelled. The peace, happiness, and harmony of heaven would be broken. The change from earth to heaven will not change men's character; the happiness of the redeemed in heaven results from the character formed in this life after the image of Christ. The saints in heaven will first have been saints on earth."  Mar 326.
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 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #8 on: September 16, 2014, 11:58:18 AM »
Monday September 15

The Hope of Resurrection


At Creation, "the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Gen. 2:7. As long as God maintains the breath of life in the living creatures, they are alive. But when He takes away their breath, they die and return to dust (Ps. 104:29, Eccles. 12:7). This is not an arbitrary decision of God; it is the inevitable consequence of sin. But the good news is that, through Christ, there is hope, even in death.

Read John 1:1-4.

 1:1   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
 1:2   The same was in the beginning with God. 
 1:3   All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 
 1:4   In him was life; and the life was the light of men.


What is implied in these verses that shows us the power of Jesus to raise the dead?

Christ has life in Himself, for He is the life (John 14:6). He created everything and has the power to give life to whom He wills (John 5:21). Thus, He can raise the dead.

How does resurrection happen? See Luke 8:54-55.

 8:54   And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 
 8:55   And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 


According to the Bible, resurrection is the reversal of death. Life is restored when the breath of life comes back from God. That is how Luke explained the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter. After learning that the twelve-year-old girl had passed away, Jesus went to the house and told the mourners that she was sleeping. Then He "took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise." Then her spirit [pneuma] returned, and she arose immediately" (Luke 8:54-55, NKJV). At Jesus’ divine command, the life principle imparted by God returned to the girl. The Greek term that Luke used, pneuma, means "wind," "breath," or "spirit." When the Bible uses it in relation to human beings, it never denotes a conscious entity capable of existence apart from the body. In this text it clearly refers to the breath of life.

Death is so common that we take it for granted. How, though, can we learn to trust in God’s promises about eternal life, even though for now, death seems to be the victor?

The answer is always the same. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. We need to be born again of His Spirit that we can understand such things.  If we want to trust God's promises, we need to trust Him. In order to do this, we need to know Him. We need faith in Him who created all things and who loves the sinner. How do we get this faith? "So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17.
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 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2014, 12:10:27 PM »
Tuesday September 16

The Resurrection and the Judgment


What we have studied so far could lead us to think that the resurrection will be for only a few. But Jesus affirmed that a time will come when "all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28-29. Believers and unbelievers, righteous and sinners, saved and lost, all will be raised. As Paul declared, "there will be a resurrection of both of the just and the unjust." Acts 24:15.

Though all are, eventually, raised from the dead, all will face only one of two eternal fates. What are they? John 5:28-29.

 5:28   Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 
 5:29   And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

The universality of the resurrection doesn’t mean that at the final day everybody will be ushered into a blissful and joyful eternal life. "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt." Dan. 12:2.

The Bible teaches that God will judge the lives of every human being, deciding the eternal destiny of each person who ever lived (Eccles. 12:14, Rom. 2:1-11). The execution of the divine sentence, however, does not occur immediately after the death of each individual but only after his or her resurrection. Until then, both the saved and the lost sleep unconsciously in the dust. The resurrection, by itself, is neither a reward nor a punishment. It is the precondition to receiving eternal life or condemnation.

Speaking of the two resurrections, Jesus indicated that our destiny will be decided on the basis of the moral quality of our deeds (good or bad). This fact, however, doesn’t mean that works save us. On the contrary, Jesus clearly taught that our salvation depends exclusively on our faith in Him as our Savior (John 3:16). Why, then, are works taken into consideration? Because they show whether our faith in Christ and our surrender to Him are genuine or not (James 2:18). Our works demonstrate whether we are still "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1) or "dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:11.

Dwell on the ultimate destiny that awaits each of us. If anything is standing between you and eternal life, why not, right now, choose to get rid of it? After all, what possibly could be worth losing eternity for?

It is not possible to be moved by our desire for heaven to get rid of our sins. A motivation to escape hell or to attain heaven will not be enough to be transformed into a saint. That power can only come from grace. We must accept the love of God for us while we were yet sinners in order to be changed into a fitness for heaven. First, we must understand that we must be changed in character. Then we must understand how that transformation takes place. Can someone point us to somewhere in Scripture where we see both?

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

Mimi

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2014, 06:46:10 AM »
This is an excellent discussion touching upon several elements that have been grossly distorted through the years, the cause of which seems to be based upon the prevailing sin of our time: love of self. Through an innate need to escape suffering of any kind, we fallen and corrupt humans relish reinterpreting the requirements granting entrance into heaven. Character development is delayed by some because they have a knowledge of the truth but allow self to reign yet another day. And it is believed by so many more as something God will overlook because we cannot overcome sin as He did. We are, after all, weak individuals living in a sin-soaked world and He was able to overcome because He was God in the flesh with advantages we do not have.

What a horrible distortion of the teachings of Christ, for self-surrender is the “substance” of everything He came to this world to reveal. Christ’s Object Lessons, page 46, brings out the problem by describing it as such: 

“… the selfishness of the natural heart underlies the soil of their good desires and aspirations. The love of self is not subdued. They have not seen the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the heart has not been humbled under a sense of its guilt.”

(Sabbath School Lesson question) Dwell on the ultimate destiny that awaits each of us. If anything is standing between you and eternal life, why not, right now, choose to get rid of it? After all, what possibly could be worth losing eternity for?

It is not possible to be moved by our desire for heaven to get rid of our sins. A motivation to escape hell or to attain heaven will not be enough to be transformed into a saint. That power can only come from grace. 

A double Amen, Richard. Why is it that we wish to escape what will be the pain of hell? Our focus is misplaced and we are mighty guilty of the prevailing sin in these last days – self-centeredness. It is a direct result of not knowing God and the very reason for the great controversy. We seem to think we are on trial and not God. We dare to presume this is all about us. That is the power of the natural heart void of grace.
  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 

Richard Myers

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Re: SDA Sabbath School Lesson 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #11 on: September 18, 2014, 06:09:18 PM »
Yes, Mimi, that is the essence of selfishness. Our eyes need to be directed to Christ, the One altogether lovely! The law is the "school-master" that ought to be leading us to Christ. But, if one has been  taught that he may violate the law and not lose his standing before God, then there is no need to look unto Christ. It is the blindness that Jesus speaks of in Revelation chapter three.
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 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #12 on: September 18, 2014, 06:46:27 PM »
Wednesday September 17

What Jesus Said About Hell


Jesus used two Greek terms, hades and gehenna, to speak about death and the punishment of the unrighteous. Given the popular belief in the meaning "hell," we need to consider it carefully.

Hades is equivalent to the Hebrew she’ôl, the most common Old Testament term for the realm of the dead. These names simply represent the grave or the place to which all descend at death, with no connotation of punishment or reward. There is one text, however, where hades appears to be connected with punishment. It is in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

Read Luke 16:19-31.
 16:19   There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 
 16:20   And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 
 16:21   And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 
 16:22   And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 
 16:23   And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
 16:24   And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 
 16:25   But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 
 16:26   And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence. 
 16:27   Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 
 16:28   For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 
 16:29   Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 
 16:30   And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 
 16:31   And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.


What is the basic lesson that this parable sets forth (see especially Luke 16:27-31)? What’s wrong with using this parable to teach that human beings go to paradise or hell immediately after death?

This parable is not focused on the state of man in death. A popular but unbiblical belief that many of Jesus’ contemporaries held provided the background for this parable, which teaches an important lesson: our future destiny is determined by the decisions we make daily in this life. If we reject the light God grants us here, there is no opportunity after death. Any attempt to interpret this parable literally leads to many insoluble problems. Actually, the details of the picture seem purposely awkward in order to show us that Jesus did not intend His words to be taken literally, but figuratively.

What warnings did Jesus pronounce regarding hell? See Matt. 5:22, 29-30; 23:33.

5:22   But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 
 5:29   And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell. 
 5:30   And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell. 
 23:33   [Ye] serpents, [ye] generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 


In many Bible translations, the word hell appears eleven times on Jesus’ lips. He actually used the Greek term gehenna, from the Hebrew name Gê Hinnom, "Valley of Hinnom." According to the Old Testament, in this gorge south of Jerusalem, kings Ahaz and Manasseh conducted the horrendous pagan rite of burning children to Molech (2 Chron. 28:3, 33:6). Later, godly king Josiah brought the practice to a halt (2 Kings 23:10). Because of the sins perpetrated in it, Jeremiah prophesied that God would make the place a "valley of slaughter" (Jer. 7:32-33; 19:6). Hence, for the Jews, the valley became a symbol of the last judgment and the punishment of the impenitent. Jesus used the name figuratively, without explaining any details regarding the time and place of the punishment, which we find in other biblical passages. Hell, though, is not a place of eternal punishment.

There are two important considerations I think we need to discuss when speaking of the false doctrine of eternal torment. The first thing that we need to consider is what this teaching of eternal torment does to misrepresent our God. What kind of God would torture someone in burning fire for eternity? Our God is perfectly just. "There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; [there is] none beside me.  Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else." Isaiah 45:21,22. Satan works hard to malign the character of our God.

Secondly, I would ask what this teaching does to those who believe it? What we behold is what we become, 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. If we believe God would torture someone with fire for eternity, then that character we behold will have a great influence on our character. Therefore, it is most important that we study this doctrine that we might see the truth. We do not want to misrepresent the character of Christ either in our own lives or in our teachings.

How does Jesus feel about those who teach such things?  "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,  Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?  Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me." Job 38:1-3.
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 12-Third Quarter 2014-Death and Resurrection
« Reply #13 on: September 18, 2014, 07:18:30 PM »
Friday September 19

Further Study: Ellen G. White, "Lazarus, Come Forth," pp. 524-536, and "The Lord Is Risen," pp. 779-787, in The Desire of Ages.

"The voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints. He looks upon the graves of the righteous, then, raising His hands to heaven, He cries: "Awake, awake, awake, ye that sleep in the dust, and arise!" Throughout the length and breadth of the earth the dead shall hear that voice, and they that hear shall live. . . . From the prison house of death they come, clothed with immortal glory, crying: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:55. And the living righteous and the risen saints unite their voices in a long, glad shout of victory." — Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 644.

Discussion Questions:

    We’ve all struggled with the reality of death, the seeming finality of it, and the seeming senselessness of it. If, as many believe, there is no God, no hope of eternal life, and no resurrection, then what does human life itself mean? What can it mean if, sooner or later, everyone who ever lived dies and every memory of them is forever gone? How does our understanding of the resurrection answer this otherwise unsolvable dilemma?

    What are some of the dangers inherent in the idea of the immortality of the soul? Why is Satan eager to propagate this nonbiblical belief? What role will this concept play in the religious scenario at the time of the end? Think about all the potential deceptions out there from which those who understand death as a sleep until the resurrection are spared.

We see the results today. Multitudes have been led to believe in talking to the dead, in channeling, in spiritualism. Satan is at work though this channel to deceived. But, let us take care in how we present this truth. "A great and solemn work is before us--to reach the people where they are. Do not feel it your bounden duty the first thing to tell the people, "We are Seventh-day Adventists; we believe the seventh day is the Sabbath; we believe in the nonimmortality of the soul," and thus erect most formidable barriers between you and those you wish to reach. But speak to them, as you may have opportunity, upon points of doctrine wherein you can agree, and dwell on practical godliness. Give them evidence that you are a Christian, desiring peace, and that you love their souls. Let them see that you are conscientious. Thus you will gain their confidence, and then there will be time enough for the doctrines. Let the hard iron heart be subdued, the soil prepared, and then lead them along cautiously, presenting in love the truth as it is in Jesus Christ."

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