SDA Sabbath School Lesson 3-1st Quarter 2026-Life and Death

[Richard Myers]

1st Quarter        Lesson 3                                                                                                                          Jan 10-16

                                                                                                                               

 
Life and Death

Commentary in Navy                  Inspiration in Maroon

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week's Study: Phil. 1:19-30, 1 Cor. 4:14-16, 2 Cor. 10:3-6, John 17:17-19, Micah 6:8, Acts 14:22

Memory Text: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

Death, we're often told, is just part of life. That's a lie. Death is the opposite of life, the enemy of life. Death was no more built into life than wreckage was built into a car. Paul emphatically says that Christ died to "destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb. 2:14-15).

Although ready to die for Christ, Paul was confident of his long-term fate. The most important thing for him in the meantime was, by his own life or death, to honor Christ and to preach the gospel to as many as possible. Perhaps that is one reason we have so many epistles bearing his name. Through his writings, he could reach many people and places, including places that he himself had never visited.

And so it is today. God has provided the tools where we do not need a book publisher, or radio, or television, or even an organized church. We can proclaim the three angels message around the world. Whether in a hotel room in New York, on the ice caps in Iceland, in Muslim countries, in India, everywhere!!  God has given a common language so much of the world can understand our language. What responsibility is entrusted to His Church!! On top of that, most Christians only have not even half the truth entrusted to you and me. What joy we have as we use our time to spread the knowledge of God and what is about to happen!!!

Life is short, and it is vital to make the biggest impact possible for God's kingdom within the span of the years that God grants us. No small part of that impact has to do with our encouraging "the unity of the faith." As we shall see beginning this week, this theme was one important reason for Paul's writing to the Philippians.

* Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 17.

[Richard Myers]

Sunday        January 11
"Christ Will Be Magnified"

Read Philippians 1:19-20.

1:19   For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 
 1:20   According to my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death. 

What seems to be Paul's expectation as to the outcome of his trial? What does he consider even more important than being acquitted?

That Christ be magnified. Is that the desire we have today? How can we magnify God today, and always? Eze, 36:23 tells us. "And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I [am] the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes."

Although Paul was no criminal, this was not the first time that he had been imprisoned, and he was no stranger to persecution. To the Corinthians, he detailed his sufferings up to that time: "in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Cor. 11:23-27, NKJV).

But lest we think these sufferings were uppermost in his mind, Paul immediately adds, "besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches" (2 Cor. 11:28, NKJV).

Read 1 Corinthians 4:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 2:10-11; Galatians 4:19; and Philemon 10. What relationship does Paul have with the churches he established and the people he won for Christ?

Like Jesus, who spared nothing to save us, Paul was willing to "spend and be spent" for the sake of fellow believers (2 Cor. 12:15, NKJV). But, paradoxically, the more a person's actions resemble that of Jesus, the less they are loved or appreciated by some. "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). But faithful Christians remain perhaps the most powerful way to glorify God and to reveal the truth of the gospel (compare Phil. 1:7). "Paul's patience and cheerfulness during his long and unjust imprisonment, his courage and faith, were a continual sermon."--Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 464.

Look at how you live and how you treat people, especially people who don't treat you nicely. What kind of witness for Jesus do you present?

What must I do in order to reflect the character of Jesus? If we want to be changed into His character (image) we need to spend a thoughtful hour each  day contemplating the life of Jesus. How can we do this? Study 2 Cor. 3:18.

[Richard Myers]

Monday       January 12
To Die Is Gain

In case you have not noticed, we are all, as believers especially, involved in the great controversy, which rages all around us and, indeed, in us as well. We all, in one way or another, experience the reality of this cosmic struggle, and we will until the day we die, whenever or however that happens.

Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

 10:3   For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 
 10:4   (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 
 10:5   Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 
 10:6   And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 

What is the basis of the spiritual war we wage, and what are our weapons?

We must be filled with the Holy Spirit that we do not war after the flesh, but after the Spirit. It is not by power or might, but it is by the Spirit that we not only with the battle, we are living testimonies as to the power of God's grace.

The most deadly spiritual weapons are ideas, good and bad. Satan uses criticism, betrayal, embarrassment, fear, peer pressure, and a host of similar tools that Christians should never employ. We are, instead, to use love, mercy, peace, gentleness, longsuffering, kindness, and self-control. Our most powerful weapon, judiciously used, is "the Word of God" wielded by the Spirit (Eph. 6:17, AMP), because only God can bring the truth home to a person's heart. We are merely the instrument that God uses to accomplish His purposes.

Amen!

Read Philippians 1:21-22.

 1:21   For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain. 
 1:22   But if I live in the flesh, this [is] the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 

How do we understand Paul's point, especially in the context of the great controversy?

We can look at this in two  ways. In life, Paul wants Christ to be seen in him. If he means to die to  self, then Christ will be seen in him. If he means physical death, then to die in Christ is to win the battle he has fought.

Because the battle is spiritual, we're in a war of ideas and values. Yet, Christ has won the victory at the cross for us, and as long as we stay connected to Him, we can never be defeated, even if we are killed. Paul surrendered his life to whatever happened to him here on earth, however unjust, because he entrusted his life and his future to a higher court.

As Christians, we should not fight so much for our rights as for what is right. It's not "might makes right," but "right makes might." Submission to God's will is honorable; in fact, it is the only way to be victorious in the war in which we find ourselves. Jesus, of course, is the quintessential example of submission to the will of God, as Paul will bring out in Philippians 2.

In what ways, right now, are you experiencing the reality of the great controversy? How can you draw comfort and strength from knowing that Christ has won the victory for us already?

The controversy is seen in the lives of humanity. There are two groups being formed today, in the church and in the world. Satan has charged God with being unfair in requiring us to keep  the commandments in order that we be fit for heaven. He says that being fallen creatures we cannot keep His commandments. When we sin a known sin, we support Satan's charges that we cannot keep the commandments. And, there is a dominant teaching in His churches that we are saved even in sin. That is to say that when we sin a known sin, we retain salvation and have eternal life. When we do not sin, then we show Satan to be a liar.

[Richard Myers]

Tuesday        January 13
Being Confident

Read Philippians 1:23-24.

 1:23   For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 
 1:24   Nevertheless to abide in the flesh [is] more needful for you. 

What does Paul mean when he says that "to depart, and be with Christ" is "far better"?

This passage has been greatly misunderstood through the ages. In this week's passage for study, Paul dealt with the contrast between living and dying. The Christian lives for Christ and may even die for Him. In that sense it is "gain" because our witness is that much more powerful and persuasive (Phil. 1:21). No doubt a person believes when willing to die for that belief.

But we must also recognize that the dead are really dead. They "know nothing." They rest in the grave till the resurrection (see Eccl. 9:5; John 5:28-29). That's why Jesus said of Lazarus, who had died, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep" (John 11:11).

If, when people die, they go immediately to heaven, imagine how that would be for Lazarus. After four days of Lazarus frolicking in Paradise, an angel comes with the "bad" news: "Sorry, Lazarus, but Jesus is calling you back to earth. You can't stay here."

Amen!  Those who truly went to heaven would have a report to give, like Ellen White who did not want to  come back.

When we follow error to its logical conclusion, we see how erroneous it is. Death is like a dreamless sleep from which Jesus will awaken His faithful followers at the Second Advent; then, together with the living saints, they will be caught up and taken to heaven to be with Jesus forever (see 1 Thess. 4:16-17).

Paul's "departing" from the present life to be with Christ means to be with Him in suffering and dying (2 Tim. 4:6) in order to "attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Phil. 3:11, NKJV). Also, he was no doubt aware that he would close his eyes in death and that the very next thing he would know, in the twinkling of an eye, would be seeing Jesus, who would take him, with all God's people, to the place Jesus has prepared for all who love Him (John 14:3, 1 Cor. 2:9).

Though willing to die for Christ, Paul knew it would be better for the Philippians if he would "remain in the flesh" (Phil. 1:24, NKJV). Interestingly, for the Christian, whether it is better to live for Christ or die for Him is not necessarily easy to answer. Paul was "hard-pressed between the two" (Phil. 1:23, NKJV), between staying alive or resting in the grave.

Again, however much no one wants to die, have you ever thought about how the moment you die, the next thing you will know is the return of Christ? How might that thought help you understand Paul's thinking here?

If one does not want to die, he does not understand death is but sleep, and he not yet figured out how wicked this world is. Who would want to stay here, unless Jesus wants us here. He knows best, so we express this to Him. What ever will bring glory to Him.

[Richard Myers]

Wednesday        January 14
Stand Fast in Unity

Jesus' last prayer for His disciples was dominated by one key theme: unity. Jesus looked beyond the cross to reunion with His Father and reunion with us: "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me" (John 17:24, NKJV). Jesus prayed that the Father would keep His children so "that they may be one as We are" (John 17:11, NKJV). He also underscored the dire consequences of disunity--it becomes a reason for many not to believe. Twice in this brief prayer, Jesus emphasizes our oneness with Him and the Father is so "that the world may believe" and so "that the world may know that You have sent Me" (John 17:21, 23, NKJV).

Read Philippians 1:27 and compare John 17:17-19.

 1:27   Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 

 17:17   Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 
 17:18   As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 
 17:19   And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 

What do both Jesus and Paul say is indispensable for unity in the church?

That we be together on the proclamation and witness of the gospel message to the world.

The Greek word in Philippians 1:27 translated "let your conduct be worthy" is politeuomai, which means "live as a citizen"--not of any earthly kingdom but as a citizen of the heavenly kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount paints a beautiful picture of what it means to be children of the heavenly Father and members of His kingdom: poor in spirit, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, turning the other cheek, loving one's enemies, blessing those who curse us, doing good to those who hate us. In short, "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God" (Micah 6:.

It's difficult to be upset or angry with someone like that, or is it? Sometimes we resent people who seem to be too good. We may even be tempted to cut them down to size or find a weak point to prove they're not as good as they seem, all so that we feel better about ourselves. Instead, why not see how much more loving we can be, how generous, how merciful, how humble?

Ellen G. White spoke of those who "love the world and its gain better than they love God or the truth."--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 277.

So often disunity in the church ultimately stems from pride. "As pride and worldly ambition have been cherished, the spirit of Christ has departed, and emulation, dissension, and strife have come in to distract and weaken the church."--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 240, 241.

How crucial that we each learn the humility and meekness that Jesus modeled for us! What a different church we would have, wouldn't we?

Amen!  How is it that we all might reflect not only humility and meekness, but all of the fruits of the Spirit?  The answer to this question is always the same. We cannot in and of ourselves. We must be born again of the Spirit, and this comes by spending time with Jesus that we love Him with all of the heart because we see that He first loved us.

[Richard Myers]

Thursday       January 15
United and Fearless

Read Philippians 1:27-30.

 1:27   Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 
 1:28   And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 
 1:29   For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 
 1:30   Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear [to be] in me. 

How does our unity and "striving together for the faith of the gospel" relate to fearlessness?

When we see others who believe the same faith achieving great things amid the tribulation, we understand if God be for us, who can be against us!

Satan's strategy is to divide and conquer. Disunity is deadly. Jesus said, "If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand" (Mark 3:25, NKJV). It's a simple principle that Satan is delighted for us to forget. Our unity helps enable us to fulfill our prophetic role as the remnant of Bible prophecy (Rev. 12:17), proclaiming the "everlasting gospel" to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (Rev. 14:6). Because unity is crucial to fulfill our mission to spread this God-given message, and Jesus' prayer in John 17 highlights "the truth" of God's Word as one of the most important keys for unity (John 17:17, 19), our message cannot be separated from our mission or our unity. All three stand or fall together. If one of these three keys is missing, we can't succeed. However, if we have all three in place, there is nothing to fear. We need not be "in any way terrified" by opposition (Phil. 1:28, NKJV). Satan is a defeated foe. Even if we should be put to death for our faith, nothing can harm us if we "become followers of what is good" (1 Pet. 3:13, NKJV). The devil is powerless to stop the onward march of God's truth.

Read the following Bible passages and briefly summarize their common theme: Matthew 10:38, Acts 14:22, Romans 8:17, 2 Timothy 3:12.

Life itself in this fallen world is hard, even for the "best" of us. Job was a righteous man; the Bible says that he "was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1, NKJV). And yet, overnight, calamity struck him and his family. Who hasn't learned, either by personal experience or by seeing what happened to others, that life here is lived, it seems, on a precipice, and you never know when you will go over the edge? Suffering, to some degree, is the lot of us all. In the end, though, better to suffer for Christ's sake than for anything else.

What hope, what comfort, should we, as Christians, have amid our suffering?

When Jesus tells us to pick up our cross, do we think He would ask us this if it was not for our good? We either believe the Bible or we do not. Yes, we shall suffer, but we shall  be rewarded with something that makes our suffering a very little thing. God will not allow us to suffer more than we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13). Trust Him!!! 

[Richard Myers]

Friday        January 16

Further Thought: "From the rack, the stake, the dungeon, from dens and caves of the earth, there falls upon his ear the martyr's shout of triumph. He [the Savior] hears the witness of steadfast souls, who, though destitute, afflicted, tormented, yet bear fearless, solemn testimony for the faith, declaring, 'I know whom I have believed.' These, yielding up their lives for the faith, declare to the world that He in whom they have trusted is able to save to the uttermost."--Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 512.

Amen!! Again, we shall not be tempted beyond what we can bear. How many burned at the stake as they sang hymns!!

"Never was there so great a diversity of faith in Christendom as at the present day. If the gifts [of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Eph. 4:11-13)] were necessary to preserve the unity of the primitive church, how much more so to restore unity now! And that it is the purpose of God to restore the unity of the church in the last days, is abundantly evident from the prophecies. We are assured that the watchmen shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. Also, that in the time of the end the wise shall understand. When this is fulfilled there will be unity of faith with all whom God accounts wise; for those that do in reality understand aright, must necessarily understand alike... From considerations like these, it is evident that the perfect state of the church here predicted is still in the future; consequently these gifts have not yet accomplished their purpose."--R. F. Cottrell, "Introduction," in Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 140.

Discussion Questions:

    In light of the above quotation from R.F. Cottrell, what is necessary for the Holy Spirit to bring unity into God's church today? How important for church unity is the putting into practice of counsels given through the gift of prophecy?

If we are in unity of Spirit, then God will work to being His Church into unity of doctrine.

    How would you explain the Bible teaching on death to a friend who believes that Paul and other Christians who have died are now "with Christ" in heaven?

I would ask them what was the report on heaven like when Lazarus was questioned about heaven? What did Jesus say to  His  disciples about Lazarus being asleep and then about his death? Would you like to be watching what goes on in this world, especially watching you children and grand children  suffer?

    How do we understand the terrible reality of suffering in this world? Why is the great controversy motif so helpful in giving us some understanding of it all? Why though must we, in the end, ultimately look at Jesus on the cross as the fullest possible expression of the Father's love and learn to trust Him even in the worst of times?

The Bible tells us that by His stripes we are healed. That is to say we must watch and pray. We must look and live. Watch what and look upon what? "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up".....that we might look and live. All have been bitten by sin. the only thing that can save us is God's grace. It surrounds us as thick as the air we breathe. But, it does us no good if we do not behold it and allow it into the heart. By beholding we become transformed (2 Cor. 3:18). It would be very good to spend a thoughtful  hour a day contemplating the life of Jesus!

We will be starting again this coming Sabbath at chapter one in  Desire  of Ages. Join us in beholding the glory of God! We guarantee you that if you will  take time to study the loveliness of Jesus and His government daily, you will be in heaven!!! Come and be blessed!