Mar28-Apr3: Love

Love-the Fabric of Life

1. How all-important is love in the life of the follower of Christ? Matt. 22:37–39, 1Cor. 13:1–3, 1 John 3:14.

ANSWER:

• Matt. 22:37-39 – Only through love we can truly keep God’s commandments.

• 1 Cor. 13:1-3 – Without love we are nothing.

• 1 John 3:14 – Only through love we can have everlasting life.

OBSERVATION:

• Mark 12:30, 31 – These verses say that we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves. Heart means thoughts and feelings. Soul means breath and life. Mind means deep thought and imagination. Strength means ability, might, and power. Love our neighbor is dealing with our social aspect. I can clearly see that we must love God emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and physically, and socially as we show the love of God to others.

The Old and New Testament God- a God of Love

1. What is the first description of love in 1 Cor. 13:4?

• 1Cor. 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up

ANSWER:

• Suffer long

2. Does the Old Testament describe God as a longsuffering God?

• Ex. 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth

• Psa. 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

ANSWER: Yes

3. Does the New Testament describe God as a longsuffering God?

• Rom. 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

• 2Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

• 2Pet. 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation

ANSWER: Yes

OBSERVATION:

• Our salvation is based upon the longsuffering of God according to 2 Pet. 3:15

4. What is the second description of love in 1 Cor. 13:4?

• 1Cor. 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up

ANSWER:

• Kind

5. Does the Old and New Testament describe God as a kind God?

• Jonah 4:2 …for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

• Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared

ANSWER:

• Yes

6. Compare 1 Cor. 13:4 and Deut. 4:24. Why God can be a jealous God?

• Deut. 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

• Ex. 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God

• Ex. 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God

• Deut. 6:15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

OBSERVATION: Notice how Jealousy is connected “pity” and “love” and “godly”

• Joel 2:18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

• Song 8:6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

• 2Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy

ANSWER:

• God’s jealousy is based upon pure love for us.

A Response of Love

1. Longsuffering and God’s people

• Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith

• Eph. 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Eph. 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

• Col. 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Col. 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Col. 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light

• Col. 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Col. 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

• 2Tim. 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears

OBSERVATIONS:

• Gal. 5:22 – Longsuffering is a part of the Spirit of God therefore those who walk in the Spirit should have longsuffering love.

• Eph. 4:2-3 – Longsuffering is needed for the unity of the church.

• Col. 1:10-12 – Longsuffering is one of the characteristics of the saints in the light.

• Col. 3:12-13 – Longsuffering is connected to the elect and having a forgiving spirit.

• 2 Tim. 4:2 –Longsuffering is needed when preaching the word of God to unwilling people.

• Many people think love is something that feels good and happy all the time. Yes, love does feel good but the Bible gives the reality of love, the longsuffering love. The longsuffering love does not feel good but it does produce much good.

Love Personified

1. What do the following verses say about the unselfish love of Jesus? Luke 17:12-19, John 13:1-17, and John 19:25-27

ANSWER:

• Luke 17:12-19 – Jesus healed ten lepers even though He knew only one would thank Him.

• John 13:1-17 – Jesus washed the feet of the betrayer.

• John 19:25-27 – Jesus thought about the need of His mother when He was on the cross.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• How long are you willing to suffer for those who are unruly?

• Do you go out of your ways to show kindness to those who backstab you?

• When you are in suffering, could you think about the needs of others?

Mar21-28: Confidence in the Prophetic Gift

Biblical Authority

1. What was the reason for the great disappointment among the disciples after the Crucifixion according Luke 24:13-32?

• Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Luke 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

ANSWER:

• Their disappointment came from their misunderstanding of the scripture.

OBSERVATION:

• Jesus came unto His believers and expounded unto them the prophecies in the correct light.

• Jesus revealed Himself to them after the scripture has been explained first. In like manner, our faith must be based upon the scripture more than a revelation of Jesus Himself.

2. Read 2 Pet. 1:16-19. What is “more sure” than seeing Jesus being glorified?

• 2Pet. 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts

ANSWER:

• The word of prophecy

OBSERVATION:

• Apostle Peter said that the scripture is “more sure” than seeing Jesus in person.

• This concept is very important especially when Satan personates Jesus and speaks opposite to the scripture in the last days.

Into the Word

1. Read Acts 17:11. What did the Bereans do when they heard the preaching of Paul?

• Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

ANSWER:

• They received the word with all readiness of mind

• Searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

APPLICATION:

• Open mind is very important when it comes to study God’s word.

• However we should be a diligent student so that whatever we accept as the truth should be supported by the Bible and the Bible alone.

2. What do the following texts tell us about the importance of the study of Scripture? Prov. 2:1–6, Matt. 22:29, John 5:39, Rom. 15:4, Rev. 1:3.

ANSWER:

• Prov. 2:1-6 The study of scripture helps us to understand “the fear of the Lord”

• Matt. 22:29 The study of scripture helps us to understand the power of God

• John 5:39 The study of scripture helps us to understand Jesus

• Rom. 15:4 The study of scripture helps us to understand how we can have hope

• Rev. 1:3 The study of scripture helps us to be blessed for the last days.

Pointing to Jesus

1. What do the following Old Testament texts tell us about Jesus? Ps. 16:9, 10; 41:9; Isa. 53:4–6; Mic. 5:2

ANSWER:

• Ps. 16:9, 10 Jesus will be resurrected

• Ps. 41:9 Jesus will be betrayed by His own friend

• Isa. 53:4-6 Jesus will be sacrificed for our sins

• Mic. 5:2 Jesus will be born in Bethlehem

Prophet and the Laodicean Church

1. What was the older title for the prophets?

• 1Sam. 9:9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

ANSWER:

• Seer

2. What is the meaning of the word, seer?

ANSWER:

• To see, to look, to view, to have visions.

• 7200. raw-aw´; a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):—advise self, appear, approve, behold, x certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, x indeed, x joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, x be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), x sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, x surely, x think, view, visions.

OBSERVATION:

• Seers or prophets were like the eyes for the church.

• Num. 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

3. What is the condition of the Laodicean church?

• Rev. 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

ANSWER:

• Wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked

4. What was the counsel that Jesus gave for their blindness?

• Rev. 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.

ANSWER:

• “Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve”

5. Where do we have a story of a blind man being healed by an eyesalve?

• John 9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay

ANSWER:

• John chapter 9

6. What did the blind man say regarding who opened his eyes?

• John 9:17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

ANSWER:

• Prophet

APPLICATION QUESTION:

• What can help the Laodicean church to see?

Mar14-20: The Blessings of the Prophetic Gift

The Mission

1. What is the mission of the Christian church based on Matt. 28:19, 20?

• Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

ANSWER:

• Teach all nations

• Baptizing those who learned the teachings of God

• Teaching them to observe the commands of God

2. What is the Greek definition for “teach” in verse 19?

ANSWER:

• To make disciples

• 3100. matheteuo, math-ayt-yoo´-o; from 3101; intransitively, to become a pupil; transitively, to disciple, i.e. enrol as scholar: — be disciple, instruct, teach.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

• Do you have any “disciples”?

• How are you fulfilling the mission of the church?

The True Education

1. How were the young people in Israel educated in Old Testament times? What important principles can we take from these texts regarding the spiritual aspect of all proper education? Gen. 18:19; Deut. 6:4–7, 20–25.

• Gen. 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

• Deut. 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: Deut. 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deut. 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: Deut. 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

• Deut. 6:20 And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? Deut. 6:21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: Deut. 6:22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: Deut. 6:23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. Deut. 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.Deut. 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

ANSWER:

• Gen. 18:19 – Parents teaching the children how to keep the way of God, the justice and judgment.

• Deut. 6:4-7 – Parents integrating the principles of God in to their day to day life.

• Deut. 6:20-25 – Parents should teach sacred history to their children.

OBSERVATION:

• Home style education, where the parents were the teachers, was the best method of Christian education.

Health

1. What is the first step to good health according the Prov. 3:5-8?

• Prov. 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Prov. 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov. 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Prov. 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

ANSWER:

• Trust in the Lord.

2. Should health be a part of Christian lifestyle?

• 3John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

ANSWER:

• Yes

APPLICATION QUESTION:

• How do we know that the health reform is a part of the last day message?

Theology

1. What is the meaning of theology?

ANSWER:

• The word theology comes from late middle English, from French théologie, from Latin theologia, from Greek θεολογία, theologia, from θεός, theos or God + λόγος or logos, "words," "sayings," "discourse," or "reason" ( + suffix ια, ia, "state of," "property of," "place of"). The Greek word can be literally translated as "talk about God or the divine," but the meaning of the word shifted as it was used (first in Greek and then in Latin) in European Christian thought in the Patristic period, the Middle Ages and Enlightenment, and then taken up more widely.

2. What do we know about God in Gen. 1:1 if this is an introduction about Him?

• Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

ANSWER:

• The Creator

OBSERVATION:

• I believe that the correct understanding of God begins with the belief that He is the Creator of all things. True theology begins from Gen. 1:1.

3. What does the Bible says about the Creator?

• Eccl. 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them

• Is. 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. Is. 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Is. 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: Is. 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

• Is. 43:15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.

• Rom. 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

• 1Pet. 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

• Rev. 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

ANSWER:

• We should remember the Creator (connected to the Sabbath)

• Creator gives the strength to the weak

• Creator is the King

• People worship the creature more than the Creator

• Creator will preserve us during our time of suffering

• We must worship the Creator

OBSREVATION:

• You can almost summarize the whole theology based upon above verses.

Mar7-13: Interpreting the Prophetic Writings

Exegesis

• “Exegesis is concerned with the original meaning of a text. It focuses on what the author wanted to say and what the text meant to the original reader.” SSL 11 p. 89

• “Exegesis (from the Greek ἐξηγεῖσθαι 'to lead out') Biblical exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of the Bible. The goal of Biblical exegesis is to find the meaning of the text which then leads to discovering its significance or relevance…Exegesis consists of interpretation principles that focus primarily on the written text.” Wikipedia

PRACTICAL TIPS:

• In order to understand the original meaning of a text, you must consider immediate context

• In order to understand the original meaning of a text, you must consider larger context.

• The original meaning of a text can be aided by understanding the “times and the circumstances during which a particular text was written and by whom.” SSL p. 91

• Understand the differences between the homiletical usage of a text and exegetical usage of a text.

Homiletics

• “Homiletics is the art of preaching. In a homiletics class a student learns sermon preparation and how to use the Scriptures in preaching. Sometimes a preacher may use just the wording of a text, without special regard for its original meaning, to make a point or an appeal during a sermon. This is called the homiletical use of Scripture.” SSL p. 90

PRACTICAL TIPS:

• Understand the original meaning of a text first before you use any part of the text for homiletical usage.

• The homiletical usage of a text should not be so drastically different from the original intention of the text.

• Understand the differences between application and interpretation. Interpretation is the original meaning of a text. Application is how you use the interpretation of the text for our day-to-day life.

Time and Place

• “Acrucial rule of biblical interpretation is the principle of studying the times and circumstances during which a particular text was written and by whom.” SSL p. 91

PRACTICAL TIPS:

• Examine the historical background for every book in the Bible.

• SDA Bible Commentary has historical background for every book in the Bible.

• Patriarch and Prophets, Prophets and Kings, The Desire of Ages, The Acts of the Apostles, and The Great Controversy are excellent source books.

• There are many Bible History books

Immediate Context

PRACTICAL TIPS:

• A text should be compared with the immediate surrounding verses that are in the same chapter.

• The original meaning of a text is guided by the theme of the chapter.

• Look for a developing concept within the chapter.

• Look for any indications of conclusion within the same chapter.

The Larger Context

• “The larger context refers to what other texts beyond the immediate passage have to say on a particular topic. It can refer to other chapters in a book, the whole book, or to the whole of Scripture.” SSL p. 93

PRACTICAL TIPS:

• Before examining the larger context, make sure you understand the immediate context first.

• Observe the previous chapters and the following chapters.

• Read the whole book several times to grasp the theme of the book.

• Compare with other books that are written by the same author if there is any.

• Compare with other books that are written around the same time.

• Then compare with the rest of the Bible.

Feb28-Mar6: The Message of the Prophets

Righteousness by Faith

1. What is the definition for righteousness in Greek?

ANSWER:

• Justification

• 1343. dikaiosune, dik-ah-yos-oo´-nay; from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification: — righteousness.

2. What is the definition for justification?

ANSWER:

• To declare that you have not sinned

• 1347. dikaiosis, dik-ah´-yo-sis; from 1344; aquittal (for Christ’s sake): — justification.

• aquittal is same as acquittal and acquittal means a judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged.

3. Who cannot receive acquittal in a legal sense?

• Job 10:14 If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

ANSWER:

• Those who sinned. Those who are guilty.

4. How many are guilty before God?

• Rom. 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

ANSWER:

• All the world

5. In a legal sense, is it possible to declare not guilty to someone who is guilty before God?

ANSWER:

• No.

6. Is it possible to gain justification by keeping the law even though you are guilty?

ANSWER:

• No. If you are already guilty then no good works can change your guilty verdict.

CONCLUSION:

• Since it is impossible for a guilty one to receive justification with good works, therefore the only way that God can offer justification is through faith.

• Gal. 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

7. Is there an element of obedience to God’s law in the act of faith?

• Gal. 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

• John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

ANSWER:

• Yes, because having a faith towards God means having a love towards God. And if you love God then you want to keep His commandments not in order to be saved but because you love God’s gift of justification so much that you want to follow His ways with love.

The Sanctuary

1. What does it mean “cleansed” in Dan. 8:14?

• Dan. 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

ANSWER:

• Justification

• 6663. tsadaq, tsaw-dak´; a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense):—cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness).

2. What does God use in order to cleanse the sanctuary (or to bring justification)?

• Lev. 16:19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

• Heb. 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people

• 1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

ANSWER:

• The blood of Jesus. Therefore the blood of Jesus is needed to justify us.

• Rom. 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

3. What does it mean to cleanse us from all sin or justify us?

• Psa. 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Psa. 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

• Is. 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Is. 43:26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

ANSWER:

• To blot out our sins. In order for God to justify us we should have no record of sin. In order to have no record of sin our sins should be blotted out. In order to blot out our sins, the blood of the Son of God should be shed. Therefore our justification (which is to declare you that you have not sinned) is based upon the blood of Jesus blotting out of our record of sins in heaven.

The Sabbath

1. What is the spiritual teaching of Sabbath according to Heb. 4:10?

• Heb. 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

ANSWER:

• Ceases from our own works.

NOTE:

• Sabbath is the seventh day of the week and the seventh day of the week is Saturday. There is argument here. However what is the spiritual experience in keeping of the Sabbath?

2. Is there “cease from our own works” experience in the experience of righteousness by faith?

• Rom. 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

• Gal. 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

ANSWER:

• Yes

OBSERVATIONS:

• In order to enter into God’s rest, we must stop from our own works

• In order to experience the gift of righteousness/justification, we must stop from trying to gain it with our works

3. Is there any concept of sanctification by faith in the spiritual teaching of Sabbath?

• Is. 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

• Ex. 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

• Ezek. 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

ANSWER:

• Yes

OBSERVATIONS:

• Sabbath teaches that …

  • We should not do our own pleasure

  • We should delight in the Sabbath

  • We should honor God by not doing our own ways and speaking our own words.

• I believe this is an experience of sanctification that can be applied into our day to day life and not only on the Sabbath day.

CONCLUSION:

• Sabbath teaches that we should cease from our own works, which includes both stopping from trying to earn our salvation by works and stopping from our own ways of living. If we cease from our own works then we are surrender to God therefore we are ready to do His will. So then the person who has ceased from his works will have the fruits of righteousness because God can work in and through surrendered heart. Therefore Sabbath is a sign of justification by faith and sanctification by faith together.

State of the Dead

1. What do the following Bible texts tell us about humanity’s condition in death? Ps. 146:4; Eccles. 9:5, 6; John 11:11–14; Acts 2:34.

ANSWER:

• They know not anything.

• They are “sleeping”

2. Why does the Bible describe the dead as “sleeping”?

• Job 14:12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

• Dan. 12:2 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.

OBSERVATION:

• They are described as “sleeping” because they will be awaken someday.

3. How many will be resurrected?

• 1Cor. 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 1Cor. 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 1Cor. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

• John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, John 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.

ANSWER:

• All will be resurrected

• There are two resurrections; the resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation

4. What determines who would be resurrected on which resurrection?

• John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, John 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.

ANSWER:

• They that have done good- resurrection of life (This good work is done through the power of Jesus Christ. Matt. 5:16, Eph. 2:10, Phil. 1:6, Col. 1:10, 2 Tim. 3:17)

• They that have done evil-resurrection of damnation

5. What does the Bible say about when God examines good works and evil works?

• Eccl. 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

ANSWER:

• Judgment

6. When is the time of this judgment?

• Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

• Dan. 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

ANSWER:

• Between 1844 to the close of probation. (No further explanation. Assuming that our audiences are familiar with the study on the investigative of judgment)

OBSERVATION:

• Our natural death could have been an eternal “sleep” if it wasn’t for the sacrifice of Jesus.

• All people can be awaken from “sleep” because Jesus has the power of resurrection.

• There are two resurrections; one for the righteous and one for the wicked.

• During the investigative judgment, God will determine who is righteous and who is wicked.

• The only way to be “righteous” or do “good” is to experience the righteousness by faith and not by works.

• The experience of truth faith can be explained as “cease from own works and enter into His rest”, the Sabbath keeping experience.

• This judgment takes place in the heavenly sanctuary, the cleansing or blotting out our sins.

CONCLUSION:

• In order to be a part of the resurrection of life, you need the experience of righteousness by faith (cease from his own works and enter into God’s rest) so that your sins can be blotted out of the heavenly sanctuary.

The Second Coming

1. Until when dead saints need to “sleep” according to Job 14:12, 13

• Job 14:12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

ANSWER:

• Sleep till the heavens be no more.

2. When will the heavens be no more?

• 2Pet. 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

• Rev. 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Rev. 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; Rev. 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: Rev. 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

ANSWER:

• Around the same time as the coming of the day of the Lord or the second coming.

3. How will Christ awake the dead in Christ?

• 1Th. 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

ANSWER:

• Shout, the voice of the archangel, the trump of God.

CONCLUSION:

• Jesus is coming to resurrect the saint and to take the living saints and the resurrected saints to heaven. Jesus will come as a thief in the night. This means when we are not expecting He will appear suddenly but when He does come, He will make much noise. Why? He is coming to awake all His dead saints!! It will not be secret. Who can avoid listening to the trump of God??