Walking in the Light— Turning Away From Sin: Sabbath School Lesson for July 11-17, 2009

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 11, 2009 at 8:48am

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week's Study: John 3:19, 8:12, Rom. 3:10-20, 1 Tim. 1:15, 1 John 1:5-2:2.



Memory Text: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, NIV).

In 1982 an unusual work of modern art went on display. It was a shotgun affixed to a chair. The artwork could be viewed by sitting in the chair and looking directly into the gun barrel. The problem was that the gun was loaded and set on a timer to fire at an undetermined moment within the next hundred years. Amazingly enough, people waited in lines to sit and stare into the shell's path, although they knew that the gun could go off at any moment.
Talk about tempting fate!

Unfortunately, people do the same thing with sin, thinking that they can stare it in the face and still get away unharmed. Unlike the gun, however, sin—unless dealt with—definitely will kill them.

This week John looks at the problem of sin and its solution in Jesus Christ.



The Week at a Glance: What does the Bible mean when it calls God "light"? What kind of errors regarding the reality of sin did John seek to deal with in these early verses? What promises does John present to us as the remedy for the sin in our lives? Why do we need those promises?

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 13, 2009 at 4:31am

CRITICAL THINKING Day 1
(Argument / Disagreement in the lesson study.)
Sabbath Afternoon, July 11, 2009

Overview
This week's lesson starts out with an object lesson to describe the realities of sin and it's effect on people. The author describes a piece of modern artwork that could only be viewed by looking directly into a gun barrel. The author goes on to explain that the gun was loaded and set on a timer that was set to fire off at any moment within the next hundred years. Yet, in spite of the risk, people stood in lines to see this artwork, taking the gamble that the shotgun wouldn't go off at the exact moment they were viewing the artwork.

The author concludes by drawing the parallel of how people approach sin the same way. "People do the same thing with sin, thinking that they can stare it in the face and still get away unharmed. Unlike the gun, however, sin--unless dealt with--definitely will kill them."

Problems
The shotgun artwork analogy falls short on many levels. The problem with sin is not that we have put ourselves at risk by "tempting fate". The problem with sin is that our fate has already been determined.

Ephesians 2:1-3 clearly shows that we are not born in a neutral state:

"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest."

The moment Adam sinned, the fate of the human race changed. When Adam sinned, he died spiritually, and his state of depravity was passed on to all who came after him. It is important to realize that we are not sinners because we sin, but rather we sin because we are sinners. This depravity is not something that we can overcome through discipline and self control.

Romans 5:12-14 further clarifies this:

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come."

It is important to note from this text that even before transgressions of the law were imputed to men, death--the penalty for sin--still reigned. All humans, from Adam to Moses, were condemned to death not because of their disobedience to the Law (which was not present at that time), but because of their own inherited sinful nature.

Sin is not merely an issue of disobedience and personal struggle. It is a state by which we are declared dead. Whether sin is imputed or inherited, we are condemned.

The good news is that there is hope for this state of sin:

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-7)



Summary:

We are not born in a neutral spiritual state.
Because of Adam, all humans were born spiritually dead.
Even before the Law, those before Moses were condemned to death because of their inherited sinful nature.
Only through Jesus and His shed blood, are we able to be made spiritually alive and delivered from the condemnation of sin.

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 11, 2009 at 9:09am

SUNDAY July 12

The Light (1 John 1:5)

Read 1 John 1:5. What does John mean that "God is light"? After all, light is merely a physical phenomenon, a form of energy made up of photons. What point is John making? See Ps. 27:1, 36:9, Matt. 4:16, John 3:19, 8:12, 12:46, 1 Tim. 6:16.

Light is used in reference to both Jesus and the Father. Light is God's glory, and it points to Him as the One who brings salvation. The image also emphasizes the concept of truth and revelation. And, especially in our immediate context, it stresses His moral qualities of righteousness, holiness, and perfection (see also 1 John 2:9).

Why is John not content to say that God is "light" but adds that "in him there is no darkness at all"?

By adding this phrase, the apostle underlines in strongest possible terms God's perfection and His separation from sin. He is not comparable to the Greek or Roman gods, in whom one supposedly would find virtues and vices combined. God is pure holiness, pure goodness, pure righteousness. He is, in a sense, as opposite to sin as darkness is to light.

John's mention of darkness, meanwhile, introduces a new element, one that sets the stage for what follows. As fallen beings, steeped in sin, humans belong by nature to the sphere of darkness rather than to the realm of light. If God is light and we are in darkness, the contrast between us and God, especially in terms of holiness and righteousness, couldn't be greater. Think about darkness. What kind of emotions, images, and thoughts does it evoke in you? Write down what you come up with about darkness, about what it represents, and about how it makes you feel. Why is it such an appropriate image for sin and unholiness? Bring your responses to class.

DEEPER THOUGHTS

1. This lesson focuses on what it means to “walk in the light.” What is that light? Is God “light”? The
Bible describes God as “light.” How do we walk “in it”? How is the light related to sin? These epistles
of John are very different from some of the books in the Old Testament where the name of God is
not even mentioned! These books make grand statements about God on a regular basis. We must
take a different approach to reading and understanding these books. The challenge here is to
determine what evidence the Bible provides for these grand statements. What do they mean? To
many Christians, salvation is based on forgiveness and forgiveness is the key to justification. But,
salvation means healing not just forgiveness. We must learn not to waste our time trying to stamp
out sin–which is impossible–but rather, to crowd it out by filling our lives with the “light.”

2. How do we do that?
It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature that by beholding we
become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is
allowed to dwell. It becomes assimilated to that which it is accustomed to love and
reverence. Man will never rise higher than his standard of purity or goodness or truth.
If self is his loftiest ideal, he will never attain to anything more exalted. Rather, he will
constantly sink lower and lower. The grace of God alone has power to exalt man.
Left to himself, his course must inevitably be downward. {GC 555.1}

https://www.theox.org/images/images_A2115/SS-3-Johns%20Epistles-200...

3. Light = God

Read 1 John 1:5. Last week we discussed why Jesus is described as "the Word of Life." Now in 1 John 1:5 we have a new term for Jesus, "Light." Why do you think God is described as "Light?" Why is this word relevant or a proper description of God?


What comes to mind when you think of light? (Power. Ability to see. Activity. Exposure.)


Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness." John 8:12. What does this suggest about the nature of God's "light?" (That it helps us to understand right from wrong.)


Last week we discussed that one reason why "Word" was an appropriate description for Jesus is that He created the universe by just speaking, by a "word." Thinking back to creation again, what was created first? (God spoke "light" into existence. Gen. 1:3)


Do you see a connection between Jesus' first act of creation and what He is called? (Light defines God. He created us in His image. Therefore it is natural that when He began "speaking" creation into existence He started with light.)


Look again at 1 John 1:5. John says that there is no darkness at all in God. Why is this important? Why add this note? (Three reasons: First, the gods that existed at the time had a "dark side." You had to be careful how you dealt with them because you could trigger an angry, unjust reaction. Second, we need to know the nature of our fellowship with Jesus. We are now associating with "someone" who is completely light -- completely good. Third, evil does not proceed from God.)

http://www.sabbathschoollessons.com/archive/358-walking-in-light%3A...

4.Introduction: 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.
False claim: 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth;
Counter claim: 7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/departments/theology/goodword/s...

5.Quotes
• The best way to see divine light is to put out thy own candle. Thomas Fuller
• No one is a light unto himself. Antonio Porchia
• Every false doctrine and every false system of worship introduced into the world
by Satan, we shall see, if we look at them carefully, have had for their one sole
object the making of the whole story of the love of God a lie. George E. Fifield

Questions
How do we explain this walking in the light? Why are concepts of light and
darkness important in speaking of the great controversy? How should we conceive of
God and his attitude towards us, according to John? How do we see ourselves, and our
sinful state? And how is this resolved? Is Jesus pleading the Father for us?

Bible discussion
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you. God is light; in
him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5 NIV). There is no dark in God, who is defined
as light—light as physical illumination, light as essential to life, and light as enlightenment
and understanding.
“For if we take up the attitude ‘we have not sinned,’ we flatly deny God’s diagnosis
of our condition and cut ourselves off from what he has to say to us.” (1 John 1:10 Phillips).
In other words we call God a liar—just like the Devil did back in the beginning (Gen. 3:4,
5). And in so doing we support the Devil’s side, and prevent God from helping us. Romans
3:10-20 makes the situation completely clear—no-one is righteous, and we are all sinful.
“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone
does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father.” (1 John 2:1 NLT).
This verse is a great reassurance—John is writing to help us understand what is truth and
right, so we don’t sin. But if we do, Jesus pleads for us. Yet this statement needs to be
rightly understood since Jesus himself said specifically he would not ask the Father on
our behalf (John 16:26). Note however that Jesus pleads before the Father. He is not
trying to convince the Father—because the Father already knows, and he already loves
us. No: the pleading is Jesus’ speaking for us before the whole universe, and in response
to the charges made by the Accuser of the brethren, the Devil himself.

Comment
“It is in the ethical sense that John here affirms that ‘God is light, and in him is no
darkness at all.’ God, that is to say, is the source and essence of holiness and righteousness,
goodness and truth; in Him there is nothing that is unholy or unrighteous, evil or false.” F F
Bruce, The Epistles of John (London: Pickering and Inglis, 1970), 41.
In much of John’s writing he illustrates the conflict between God and Satan in terms
of light and darkness. In these vivid symbols we understand that God is not arbitrary in how
he runs his universe—but in the same way that we need light to live, we need God and if we
reject him and his principles, we place ourselves in darkness that leads to death. We need to
see the terrible situation we are in—to recognize that we are going to die unless God heals
our sinfulness. It makes no sense to claim we are without sin—as some have done.
“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins
of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2 KJV). The old word ‘propitiation’ may also convey the
wrong meaning as to the relationship of God to humanity. In some contexts it carries the
connotation of appeasement of a hostile and angry deity, which is more related to pagan
than true ideas of God. Note this: “In pagan usage a ‘propitiation’ was a gift or a sacrifice
intended to appease the wrath of a god and to render him friendly or forgiving. But our God
has no need to be appeased or reconciled to us, for He loves men even while they are sinners
(Rom. 5:8; Rev. 13:8). It is we who stand in need of being reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18,
19).” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7, 636.

Ellen White Comments
The words of John came forcibly to my mind, “If we say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8. I was shown that those who
triumphantly claim to be sinless, show by their very boasting that they are far from being
without taint of sin. The more clearly fallen man comprehends the character of Christ, the
more distrustful will he be of himself, and the more imperfect will his works appear to him,
in contrast with those which marked the life of the spotless Redeemer. But those who are far
from Jesus, those whose spiritual perceptions are so clouded by error that they cannot
comprehend the character of the great Exemplar, conceive of Him as altogether such a one
as themselves, and dare to talk of their own perfection of holiness. But they are far from
God; they know little of themselves, and less of Christ. {LS 84}
God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If there were no light, there would be
no shade. But while the shade comes by the sun, it is not created by it. It is some obstruction
that causes the shadow. So darkness emanates not from God, but is the result of an intruding
object between the soul and God.... Disregard of the light that God has given brings the sure
result. It creates a shadow, a darkness that is more dark because of the light which has been
sent.... If a man withdraws himself from light and evidence, and yields to Satan’s seducing
arts, he himself draws the curtain of unbelief about him, so that light cannot be distinguished
from darkness. More light and evidence would only be misunderstood by him. The greater
the evidence, the greater will be the indifference. This will lead the deceived soul to call
darkness light and truth error. {OHC 26}
Of Christ it is written, “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4.
Before the entrance of sin, Adam and Eve in Eden were surrounded with a clear and
beautiful light, the light of God. This light illuminated everything which they approached.
There was nothing to obscure their perception of the character or the works of God. {MH
461-2}
The plan of redemption is not merely a way of escape from the penalty of
transgression, but through it the sinner is forgiven his sins, and will be finally received into
heaven--not as a forgiven culprit pardoned and released from captivity, yet looked upon
with suspicion and not admitted to friendship and trust; but welcomed as a child, and taken
back into fullest confidence. {7BC 950}
Prepared February 26, 2009 © Jonathan Gallagher 2009

http://www.pineknoll.org/adventist/realmedia/ssl/2009/q3/pkpssl2009...

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 13, 2009 at 4:34am

CRITICAL THINKING Day 2
(Argument / Disagreement in the lesson study.)
Sunday, July 12, 2009

Overview

Sunday's lesson discusses what it means to describe God as "light". The author states that light is used to describe God's glory, his moral qualities of righteousness, holiness, and perfection.

The author points out the fact that John not only describes God as "light" but also adds that "in him there is no darkness at all". He says that by adding that phrase, John is emphasizing the fact that God is completely perfect and separate from sin. Unlike the Greek or Roman gods who had both good and bad attributes, God is pure in His holiness, goodness, and righteousness.

At the end, the author states that as fallen beings in sin, humans belong by nature to darkness rather than light. He concludes by saying, "If God is light and we are in darkness, the contrast between us and God, especially in terms of holiness and righteousness, couldn't be greater."

Problems
While I agree with the author's description of God being light, there is a subtle message in what he doesn't say.

He says that the contrast between God as light, and humans as darkness, is great. There is no argument in that. But what he fails to say is that as believers, we no longer belong to that "domain of darkness". Colossians 1:13 says, "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son".

The darkness described in Colossians is more than a metaphorical and descriptive term. It is a domain or a dominion, over which there is a ruler. Acts 26:18 clarifies who this ruler is, "to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in me."

As we discussed in Saturday’s commentary, because of Adam’s sin, we are all born into depravity. By nature, we are children of wrath (Eph. 2:1-3). We are born spiritually dead, unable to abide and commune with God. We are ruled by this darkness.

Understanding the depth of this darkness, and the domain it represents, puts the whole coming of Christ into proper perspective. Jesus was not just Light. He actually pierced darkness and overcame it. By His light, we were "rescued from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son..."

Isaiah 9:12 prophesies of this happening, "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them." John 1:5 describes Jesus as, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."

By grace, and through faith, those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, have had their darkness overturned and they themselves have become sons of light, "For you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness." (1 Thess. 5:5). This transformation is a gift from God, and not dependent upon our works. It is not us, but God Himself who opened our hearts to His Light, "For God, who said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6)

Now note the following excerpts from The E.G. White Notes that correspond to this lesson:

"By abiding in Christ, the soul will not only be enlightened, but cleansed and purified. He says again, 'He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.' It is in this way that his followers are to be the 'light of the world'. Those who abide in Christ will do the works of Christ; but if we have a knowledge of the principles of truth, and fail to carry them out, this knowledge will only serve to sink us deeper in perdition. We must seek prayerfully to know what is right, and knowing our duty, do it with all the heart for Christ's sake."--The Medical Missionary, August 1, 1892.

"As the light of the sun is light and life and blessing to all that live, so should Christians, by their good works, by their cheerfulness and courage, be the light of the world."--This Day with God, p. 92

The transformation God has done for the believer by bringing him from darkness to light is deeper than "good works, cheerfulness, and courage..." In addition, once we are transferred, we are under new authority. Because of that, believers will naturally abide in Christ. It is not a "work" or an act we have to do to keep us in the "Light". It has never been about what we do. Our transformation is entirely of God, and our security is entirely of God.

Summary:
God is Light.
Humanity is born into the domain of darkness.
Through Jesus, we are transferred from the domain of darkness to the domain of Light.
The "transfer" is all from God, and not ourselves.
Believers are "sons of light" and belong to Him, forever.

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 12, 2009 at 8:51pm

MONDAY July 13

The Sin Problem (1 John 1:6, 8, 10)

First John 1:6-10 forms a unit. After his principal statement about God's character, John deals with some beliefs apparently circulating among the believers. It is these beliefs that he criticizes.

All five verses begin more or less in the same way; namely, with the phrase "If we." However, we notice a marked difference among them.

What are some of the claims that John, in verses 6, 8, and 10, is dealing with? What false statements are being made, and what do they have in common?

____________________________________________________________________________________

The first statement discusses fellowship with God. People claim to have fellowship with God, but in reality they walk in darkness, which means that they really aren't walking with God.

In contrast (vs. 7), walking in the light results in true fellowship. Those who do that are cleansed from their sins. Therefore, to walk in darkness has to do with living in sin. Living in sin and claiming to have fellowship with God is, according to John, a lie.

The next two claims, in verses 8 and 10, also are linked with sin. Though John speaks against the practice of sin, he's very clear about the reality of it in our lives. In verse 8 he seems to be dealing with the belief that humans are not sinful, a teaching that goes against the most basic Christian doctrine.

Why is John's declaration in verse 10 so important? What are the implications of the idea that "we have not sinned"?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Notice the progression in these verses. In verse 6, the folks are lying. In verse 8, they deceive themselves. In verse 10, they make God a liar. Obviously, John understands the reality and seriousness of the sin problem for humanity.

How open and honest are you with yourself regarding the reality of sin in your own life? Do you tend to ignore it, justify it, or berate yourself over it? What should be your attitude toward your own struggles with sin, and what can you do in order to cultivate the right attitude? What is the right attitude?

DEEPER THOUGHTS

1. Observe this phrase in 1 John 2; "He that saith"

1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1 John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

OBSERVATION:
Compare with "If we say" in 1 John 1
1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Observe the similarities
1 John 1:6 "We lie" -1 John 2:4 "Is a liar"
1 John 1:8 "The truth is not in us" - 1 John 2:4 "the truth is not in him"
Observe the progression
General to specific: "If we say" to "He that saith"
Wrong thinking to wrong doing: "we have no sin" to "keepeth not his commandments"
John was revealing a group of people that were walking in darkness while claiming Christian fellowship.
Wrong thinking will lead to wrong living.

http://sabbathschoolnotes.blogspot.com/


2.The Choice


Read 1 John 1:6-7. Imagine that you are walking through the woods and you come to a fork in the trail. You have to choose which trail to follow. In these two verses John describes a fork in life's trail. What are the two options according to John? (We can choose light or we can choose darkness.)


How else does John describe these options? (The end of verse 6 refers to "truth." Thus, we have a "true/false" option.)


What are some other terms you would use to describe these two options? (How about "good/evil," "right/wrong," "just/unjust," righteous/unrighteous?")


Look again at 1 John 1:5. According to John, who is the author of this idea of having two options on the road of life? (John puts in a little note in verse 5 about the source of his message. He says, "This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you." Who is this "Him?" The Word of Life - Jesus!)


If God says there are two options in life, and God is exclusively on the "light trail," doesn't that logically mean that every decision is a clear-cut right or wrong choice?

http://www.sabbathschoollessons.com/

3. Unfortunately, the most common human response to sin was described quite well by Alexander Pope:
Sin is a monster of such frightful mien
That to be hated needs but to be seen;
But seen too oft, familiar with its face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace!—Essays on Man
The big question for our lesson today is: Who is winning the battle for your attention and thoughts?
Is it God or Satan?

4. Romans 8:3 states that God sent His Son “to deal with sin.” What needs or needed to happen to
deal with sin? What is sin? (1 John 3:4; James 4:17; Romans 14:23; Isaiah 59:2) This requires a
good understanding of the whole great controversy to answer one question! What is the relationship
between “light” and “darkness”? How is “darkness” related to “error” or “sin”? When someone is
truly ignorant about something, we say they are “in the dark” on that subject. Darkness cannot exist
in the light. Light dispels darkness. When we are walking, the light makes it clear where we are
headed. Adam and Eve were apparently clothed in “light.” It illuminated everything around them. But
when they sinned, it disappeared. In the Scriptures darkness is equated with death; light with truth.
John 3:19-21 makes it clear that, ultimately, we judge ourselves by our response to the “light.” Why
do people love the “dark”? So, what is our response to the light? What should it be?

5. Read 1 John 1:5 (Compare John 1:5). This verse states that God is pure and clean, without any
trace of sin or darkness in Him. By contrast, we are sinful–full of sores, darkness, and sin. (1 Kings
8:46; 2 Chronicles 6:36; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 1:5,6; Romans 3:10-20; 1 John 1:9,10) If we are
sinners and, therefore, somehow “dark,” how can we associate with God who is “light”?

6. We would all agree that sin makes us guilty and unclean. We need forgiveness and purification.
How is forgiveness related to purification?

7. Do our lives give evidence of the purification process? If we are trying to travel over unfamiliar
territory, adequate lighting is absolutely essential. In what way does God–“as light”–make it possible
for us to progress from living lives of sin to living lives of righteousness?

8. Read Ephesians 5:8-14. If God’s light shines on something and clarifies it, does that also become
“light”?

9. If we want to walk in the light, we must be aware of three potential hazards and three promises from
God: (See 1 John 1:5-2:2)
1) The danger of inconsistent conduct: “If, then, we say that we have fellowship with him, yet at the
same time live in the darkness, we are lying both in our words and in our actions.” (1 John 1:6,
GNB) We must live and “walk what we talk.” Profession and conduct, worship and fellowship must
be consistent or we are, in fact, children of the evil one.
2) The danger of denying the fact of sin: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
there is no truth in us.” (1 John 1:8, GNB) Many in our world today try to deny the very existence of
sin! They talk about moral lapses, relational defects, or the breaking of civil laws. Are those merely
lapses in our conduct or the breaking of civil human codes? Do those breaches of conduct have
anything to do with breaking the moral code of God’s commandments? Sin is much more than a
“lapse” in our moral behavior; sin damages us, scars us.
3) The serious danger of claiming sinlessness: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make God
out to be a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10, GNB) The Scriptures make it abundantly
clear that we are all sinners. (See #5 above) To say that we are not sinners, implies we believe God
is a liar. Does God ever expect sinless perfection this side of the heavenly kingdom? We must all
know people who live very “strait-laced” lives. Others look at them and say, “If heaven is going to
be like that, I don’t want to go there!” God certainly wishes that we were not sinners! Does God
really expect us to live sinless lives? (Matthew 5:48) Or is that just a distant goal? Why does He
make provision for our faults. Will He ever stop doing that? If so, when?
There are at least two ways to view sin: 1) If you talk about sin as a series of acts that people do,
then you are almost forced to come up with a “legal” solution to the sin problem. 2) But if you call
sin a relationship problem, then the solution is to improve the relationship. As we come nearer to
a light, it becomes brighter and brighter. We need to grow up in our relationship to Him. In so doing
we will become more like Him–more loving and more gracious.

https://www.theox.org/images/images_A2115/SS-3-Johns%20Epistles-200...


ADDITIONAL NOTES

False claim: 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Counter claim: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
False claim: 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Conclusion: 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

It is important to note that in the clauses "that you may not sin" and "if any one does sin" the tense of the verb for 'sin' in the Greek expresses an act of sin, falling into an act of sin, not living continuously in it as a way of life.

Questions:
In most other major world religions, the expressions 'light' and 'darkness' are used to express what is considered good and evil respectively, both with regard to concepts and life practice. For example, in much Gnostic-like thought in John's world, darkness was ignorance of the divinity within oneself produced by attachment to physical life with all its desires, light was the realization of one's own divinity and the practice of asceticism to keep the physical desires and their illusion in check. From the present passage what is the content of 'light' and 'darkness'? Conceptually? In life practice? If 'sin' is 'darkness,' then sin in what sense?

In the solution for sin John uses the atonement concept from the Old Testament: blood that cleanses (1:7), expiation (2:2). Can one fully explain how this brings about forgiveness?

How can John use the way one lives one's life as a test of whether or not one has genuine fellowship with God when he goes on to concede quite realistically that Christians continue to fall into sin?

What role does confession of sins play in being able to walk in the light? Is there more than one way in which to confess one's sins? Must there always be a verbal confession (see Rom 10:8-10)?

http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/departments/theology/goodword/s...

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 13, 2009 at 4:28am

CRITICAL THINKING Day 3
(Argument / Disagreement in the lesson study.)
Monday, July 13, 2009

Overview

Monday's lesson discusses 1 John 1:6-10. It briefly discusses the different issues/beliefs that were circulating among the believers during John's time, and the author breaks them down into 3 main issues: If people claim to have fellowship with God, but walk in darkness they are lying. If people claim they have no sin, then they are deceiving themselves and the truth is not in them. If people say they have not sinned, then they make God to be a liar.

Problems
While there are no problems with what the author said in the lesson, there are major problems in the E.G White Notes that correspond to the lesson. The chosen excerpts clearly show the underlying misunderstanding that we are to be obedient to the Ten Commandments, and if not, our salvation is in jeopardy because we are choosing to continue to walk in darkness.

Note the following quotes:

"There are those who profess holiness who declare that they are wholly the Lord's, who claim a right to the promises of God, while refusing to render obedience to His commandments. These transgressors of the law claim everything that is promised to the children of God; but this is presumption on their part, for John tells us that true love for God will be revealed in obedience to all His commandments."--The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 562, 563.

"The epistles of John breathe a spirit of love. But when he comes in contact with that class who break the law of God and yet claim that they are living without sin, he does not hesitate to warn them of their fearful deception."--Review and Herald, February 22, 1881.

"We may pray for sanctification, but whether or not we get it depends on whether we walk in the light, reflecting light to those around us. My brethren and sisters, the salvation of your souls depends on the course that you pursue. If you fail of gaining eternal life, it will be because you have failed to keep the commandments of God."--Review and Herald, July 13, 1905.

The key to understanding the role of the Ten Commandments is to understand that the old testament law was given to the nation of Israel. Some of the laws, like the sacrificial system, were given as guidelines to show how to worship God and atone for sin. Some of the laws, like the Ten Commandments, were give to Israel so that they could know how to obey God. Some of the laws, like the food and clothing rules, were to distinguish the Israelites from the other nations. None of the old testament law is binding to us today. They were only for the nation of Israel.

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Romans 10:4)

"But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." (Galatians 3:23-25)

"By abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace." (Ephesians 2:15)

Christians are no longer under the old testament law, but rather the law of Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:21 discusses this:

"To those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law."

Matthew 22:37-40 describe what the Law of Christ is, and how it fulfills and encompasses the entire Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

The purpose the old testament law was to demonstrate our inability to keep the law, and for our need of a Savior (Romans 7:7-9 and Galatians 3:24). It was never meant to be eternal, or as a universal law for all people. The Ten Commandments must be treated as a unit with the old testament law. If Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial system part of the law, He also fulfilled the rest of it.

And certainly, the Bible is CLEAR that our salvation is dependent upon our faith in the Lord Jesus, and not whether we keep the commandments of God as the E.G. White Notes indicate.



Summary:
Old Testament Law was given to the nation of Israel.
Christians are now under the law of Christ.
The entire Old Testament Law was fulfilled at the cross; one cannot separate out the law, it is a unit.
Salvation is not dependent upon whether we keep the Ten Commandments, but whether or not we have faith in Jesus Christ to cleanse us from our sins.

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 13, 2009 at 9:27pm

TUESDAY July 14

Responses to the Sin Problem (1 John 1:7, 9; 2:2)

It's clear that in these verses John is dealing with the seriousness of sin. How does he understand sin? In 1 John 3:4 he equates sin with lawlessness. According to 1 John 5:17, sin is wrongdoing or unrighteousness. It is a departure from the will of God as revealed to us in Scripture. Sin also is opposed to truth. It alienates from God the person who commits sin, and this alienation leads to spiritual death. Sin, in the singular, may point to the separation of the sinner from God; in the plural, sins, it may point to sinful acts. However we view it, one thing is certain: Sin is real, and unless dealt with, it will destroy us.

First John 1:7 and 9 contain divine promises regarding the solution to the sin problem. What are those promises, and how can we make them real in our own lives? How can we experience for ourselves what God is promising us here?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Forgiveness of sins has become possible because of Christ's death on the cross, the shedding of His blood as the sacrifice. Because we have transgressed the law and therefore deserve death, He died in our place and has set us free from the eternal condemnation that our transgression otherwise will bring us. More so, His blood purifies us from every sin.

However, from our side, confession of sins is necessary. The term to confess in 1 John 1:9 also can mean to admit, to acknowledge. The text does not mention to whom sins have to be confessed. God is certainly implied, because in the next part of the verse we hear that if sins are confessed, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins. It may be that confession of sins includes also public confession before those who were hurt through our sins; even so, the forgiveness of sin comes only from God.

First John 1:9 also has the force of a command. We should lay our sins before God, and He will forgive us and purify us. Sinning makes us guilty; we need forgiveness. Sin makes us unclean; we need purification. Through Jesus, God has made a way for us to have both. What areas of your life might you need to change in order to better avail yourself of these wonderful promises? What holds you back from choosing to surrender all your sinful ways to God?

DEEPER THOUGHTS

1. The only successful way to eliminate sin from our lives is to crowd it out. We can never stamp out
sin. By focusing on sin, we just become more embroiled in it. Far too often, we as human beings
have made claims that are not consistent with the above truths. If we claim that we are sinless, that
we are walking in the light, and that we are experiencing fellowship with God while still living sinful
lives, John says we are just lying. We cannot live in sin and claim to have fellowship with God. (1
John 1:6,8,10)

2. How honest are we in dealing with our own sins? Do we like to pretend that they do not exist? Do
we make excuses for our sins? Or, do we just berate ourselves because of them? What is the
attitude God asks us to take towards sin?

3. If by beholding we become changed, is it a good idea to focus on our sins? If sin is truly evil, totally
destructive, and keeps us out of the kingdom, shouldn’t it scare us? Why is it that Christians have
traditionally been comfortable with sin and afraid of God when we should always be comfortable with
God and afraid of sin?

4. God is light. (Genesis 1:3; Psalms 119:105,130; Isaiah 5:20; John 1:5,7; John 3:19-21; Ephesians
5:8; Revelation 21:23) These verses make it very clear that God represents Himself and His word
as “light.” Both God the Father and Jesus Christ are described in the Bible as light. (John 8:12) Are
we willing to let that light shine in our lives? Are we willing to let that light shine out of our lives?
(Matthew 5:16)

https://www.theox.org/images/images_A2115/SS-3-Johns%20Epistles-200...

5.The Nature of Walking


To solve this last problem, let's consider more carefully the word "walk." John's contrast is between walking in the light and walking in the darkness. What do you think is meant by "walking" in light or darkness? (Taking a walk means to move. Vines teaches us that while this word means a physical walk in many places in the New Testament, it never means a physical walk in John's epistles. Vincent's adds that John is talking about "the habitual course of the life." From this I understand John to say "our custom" is to do evil or do right.)


Does this solve the logical problem about how we can be on the light path yet still have sin in our life? (Yes. Sin is a deviation from the path, but our goal is to have the general direction, our custom in life, to live by the truth.)


What does this suggest about sin and every decision that we make? (A decision may not involve sin, but it is likely leading us towards or away from sin. This is the idea of "walking.")


Today a major problem is calling darkness light. How serious is this problem in view of John's teachings? (We cannot know we are on the wrong trail, we cannot head toward the road to reform, unless we admit that sin is sin. If we call sin righteousness, we will always continue on the wrong trail until it kills us.)

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 14, 2009 at 8:28am

CRITICAL THINKING Day 4
(Argument / Disagreement in the lesson study.)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Overview

In Tuesday's lesson, the author discusses our response to sin. He describes sin as something that separates us from God, and explains that this separation leads to spiritual death. He further expands on this and says that sin, in the singular, separates us from God, and sins, in the plural, point to sinful acts. Both views show that sin is real, and will destroy us if we don't deal with it.

The author goes on to discuss the importance of confessing our sins, and how forgiveness of sins is only possible through Christ's death. The author concludes by saying, "We should lay our sins before God, and He will forgive us and purify us. Sinning makes us guilty; we need forgiveness. Sin makes us unclean; we need purification. Through Jesus, God has made a way for us to have both."

Problems

Once again, while I have no problem with what the author says in the lesson about how confession relates to forgiveness of sins, it is important to understand exactly what complete forgiveness actually means.

Consider these two questions: 1) What happens if one sins, and then dies before he/she has the opportunity to confess that sin before God? 2) What happens if one sins, and does not realize it or forgets to confess it to God?

The key to knowing how to answer these two questions is to understand where we stand "positionally" when we confess our sins, and where we stand day to day "relationally" when we confess our sins.

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, all of our sins are forgiven: past, present, and future. Jesus paid the price for ALL of our sins, and when they are forgiven, it is done. The moment we receive Christ as our Savior, our "position" changes. Sin no longer keeps us in the domain of darkness. We are alive in Christ and belong to Him.

Note the following verses:

"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you." (Acts 13:38)

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7)

"And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)

If our sins are completely forgiven the moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then what is meant by 1 John 1:9 which implies that forgiveness of sins is dependent on whether we confess them or not, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"?

Ephesians 4:30 states that when we sin, we grieve the Holy Spirit and offend God. While God has forgiven us of our sins past, present, and future, and has “positionally” changed us in the spiritual realm, sin can still hinder our daily walk with God. While our salvation is secure, the sin, and consequences of those sins, still affects our relationship and closeness with God. In order to grow in Christ, we must confess our sins to our Lord, admit where we were wrong, and submit that area of weakness and vulnerability to God for healing and forgiveness.

Scripture promises that God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. As believers, we can trust that God has paid the price of our sins with His blood, and we are forgiven. We do not confess our sins daily to maintain our salvation, but rather to admit our wrongs before our Father in Heaven so that we can have close fellowship with God without any hindrances in our lives.

Summary

Confession of our sins is essential for forgiveness of sins to occur.
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He forgives all of our sins: past, present, and future.
Our growth as believers (not the same as "maintaining" our salvation) is dependent upon our surrender and confession of our sins that hinder us from a full relationship with Christ.

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 14, 2009 at 8:54am

WEDNESDAY July 15

The Christians' Goal (1 John 2:1)

In 1 John 2:1 John calls us not to sin. How should we understand this admonition?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The context of the call here not to sin comes in the context of walking in the light, which was introduced with the statement that God is light. If we want to live in fellowship with Him and His children, we must walk in the light, and to walk in the light means to renounce sin (1 John 2:1).

John addresses the believers in a caring and intimate way, calling them "little children" and telling them one reason for writing his letter: They must renounce sin completely. By doing this, he is not suggesting that a completely sinless existence is possible, but he is pleading that Christians stay away from any definite act of sin.

Why does John balance his admonition not to sin with the phrase "and if anyone sins" (NKJV)? See also 1 Kings 8:46, Rom. 3:10-20, 1 Tim. 1:15.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The discussion of sin here could have been misunderstood in the sense that someone might think that sin does not matter: "Do not claim to be without sin; you are a sinner anyway. Therefore, just live your life and do not worry about sin."

John therefore has to balance his statements about sin, and he does this with 1 John 2:1. The goal of a disciple of Christ is not to sin. Christians must admit that they are sinners, yet, they must seek to live without sin.

At the same time, John doesn't want to give the idea that we can be perfectly sinless. Therefore, along with his admonition against sinning, he says: "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate . . ." (NKJV). This is a clear acknowledgment of the reality of sin in the lives of Christians. Even consecrated and sincere Christians may commit sins. Unfortunately, sinning is always a real possibility for church members. Therefore they need help. They need someone to help them resist temptation, but they also need someone who intervenes for them after they have sinned.

How can we learn to live with the tension of being sinners, and yet being admonished—very strongly in the Bible—not to sin?

DEEPER THOUGHTS.
14. Read 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2. Do these verses imply that everyone’s sins are forgiven? If so, and we also
agree that forgiveness leads to justification–which is the basis of our salvation– does that imply that
everyone will be saved? Jesus forgave the men who were pounding nails through His hands! Does
that mean that they will be saved? Certainly not! God is forgiveness personified. Look in the Old
Testament at all the statements that God made to David’s descendants about David. (1 Kings
11:6,38; 14:8, etc) What do these statements teach us about God’s forgiveness? Has God forgotten
about David’s life?
Unfortunately, many people look at 1 John 1:9 and 2:2 and somehow convince themselves that they
can continue sinning and God will continue to forgive them and everything will be just fine! God is
trying to help us realize that sin will kill us. We need to reduce our sinning and eventually eliminate
it.
When we drive at night, we do not have to have the entire road from beginning to end illuminated
fully before we begin our journey. We only need to see the first few hundred feet. In the same way,
God does not have to show us all the changes that we will need to make in our lives before we start
making any changes.

15. Scholars have pointed out that sin has two aspects: 1) Sins (plural) refer to our evil deeds. 2) Sin
(singular) refers to our sinful, rebellious attitude toward God. Sin is what separates us from God
(Isaiah 59:2) and will eventually lead to our destruction–if not corrected.

16. How do you understand 1 John 1:7? What does “living in the light” have to do with “fellowship with
other Christians”? How does that, in turn, relate to “the blood of Jesus” and “purity from every sin”?
Is that “purification” process a legal one whereby the “blood of Jesus” erases sins from our records
in heaven? Or, does it make a real change in our lives here and now? Does the blood “cover us” so
our sins are not apparent–even to God? Does the blood of Jesus “pay our debt” of sin or
transgression so that God no longer holds us responsible for our sins? If the blood of Jesus is a
symbolic term referring to His death on the cross, how does that deal with our sins? Did God have
some way of taking our sins and placing them on Jesus so that when Jesus died, our sins were
dealt with? Do our sins “die” with Him?

17. Was God able to forgive sins before the death of Christ? Was Jesus able to forgive the sins of the
man that He healed at the pool as described in John 5? Was Jesus able to forgive those who
crucified Him–and forgive them even though they did not ask? (Luke 23:34) Does God have to
change His mind about us for us to be forgiven? Does God ever change His mind? What do we
mean when we say that our sins were nailed to the cross? (Colossians 2:14) What do we mean
when we say that Christ died in our place? If sin is like poison and I am permeated with it, how does
Christ’s death 2000 years ago keep me from dying of the poison right now? How does His death
purify us and set us free? Do we need to understand any of this process? Or, does God just take
care of it?

18. Read 1 John 2:1. God challenges us to rise to the standard of not sinning. We need to renounce sin
completely. But if we recognize our sinfulness, we realize the need of a Savior. And that is why
Jesus came.

19. How do you deal with the apparent conflict between being a known sinner and God’s constant call
to living righteous (sinless) lives?

https://www.theox.org/images/images_A2115/SS-3-Johns%20Epistles-200...

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 14, 2009 at 8:58am

CRITICAL THINKING Day 5
(Argument / Disagreement in the lesson study.) Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Overview

The focus of Wednesday's lesson is the Christian's call to walk in the light and renounce sin. The author states that while living a completely sinless existence is impossible, Christians must seek to avoid living in sin. He continues by saying that while we must strive to not sin, it is impossible to be perfectly sinless. He further discusses and concludes with the thought that Christians have an advocate in Jesus to help us resist temptation and to intervene on our behalf.

Problems

The corresponding E.G White Notes are clear in what is meant by the definition of sin:

"The law is not to be abolished; this would not remove our defects. Christ came not to save men in their sins, but from their sins."--Signs of the Times, January 7, 1897.

"But when their sin comes home to their conscience, they see themselves condemned in the light of the holy precepts of God's law; but they do not war against the law which condemns them...It is evident that where a claim to sinlessness is made, there the law of God has not been written in the heart; for the commandments of God are exceeding broad, and are discerners of the thoughts and intents of the heart."--Signs of the Times, April 30, 1896.

We've already noted earlier in Monday's lesson that Christians are no longer under the Old Testament law that was given to Israel. The boundaries of sin cannot be simply enumerated or confined to a list.

It is important also to note that the only way one can have victory over sin is to be born again. When one is born again, God's Spirit literally indwells the believer (1 Cor. 3:16, 1 Cor. 6:19, Rom. 8:9). When the Holy Spirit takes resident in our lives, our spirits instantly change from being dead to being alive. Only when our spirits are made alive are we capable of living by the Spirit rather than living by the flesh. Without being born again, we are totally incapable of living godly lives and overcoming sin.

Knowledge and will power are not the key elements to living godly lives. The only key to living godly lives comes by faith in Jesus' blood to cleanse our sins--past, present, and future--and being sealed by the Holy Spirit as a result of that faith (Ephesians 1:13). Once we are sealed by God's Spirit, and made alive, only then are we capable of being able to yield and submit to His Spirit. It is His Spirit alone that causes the deep change in us. Not will power, perfect obedience, or even good intentions. This transformation is the ONLY way to have victory over sin.

Romans 8:5-11 illustrates this clearly:

"For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

Without the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we have no spiritual discernment and no ability in our own flesh to be convicted of sin. By nature, we live in the flesh. By the Holy Spirit, we walk in the Spirit, and bear fruits of the Spirit in our lives. It is not the Ten Commandments that convict us of sin, it is God.

Summary
Christians are no longer under the old testament law.
Victory over sin can only happen when one is spiritually transformed through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
It is God Himself, through His Spirit, that convicts us of sin, .....

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 15, 2009 at 8:21am

THURSDAY July 16

The Cristians' Comfort (1 John 2:1, 2)

First John 2:1, 2 contain wonderful statements that comfort repentant sinners and fill them with hope and courage. In spite of sin and guilt and horrible consequences that often arise from our sins, there is a solution. John has already mentioned forgiveness or purification of sins. Now he comes back to this topic again, saying that this forgiveness has become possible through Jesus.

How? First, He is our Advocate, and He intervenes in our behalf. This Advocate is identified as the Messiah ("Christ"), and it is said that He is righteous. Righteousness was attributed to God the Father in 1 John 1:9. It is attributed to the Son in 1 John 2:1, and it's because of His righteous character that He can intercede for us.

Second, our forgiveness is secured because, through His sacrificial death, Jesus brought about propitiation, or atonement; this means that He paid the penalty for our sins. The debt that we owed, which we could never pay, Jesus paid for us.

John therefore portrays Jesus as Sacrifice and Intercessor. In the context of the New Testament witness, this implies that Jesus lived among us a sinless life, died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven where He intercedes in our behalf.

The term parakletos, translated advocate in 1 John 2, has been translated differently; e.g., comforter, helper, advocate, mediator, or intercessor (see John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7; 1 John 2:1). It is a person who is called to the side of someone else and who stands up for someone else. A parakletos can be a person who helps a friend. In the Gospel of John the Holy Spirit is the helper. In the first Epistle of John, Jesus is the helper and intercessor (1 John 2:1).

When we talk about Jesus as our Advocate and take great comfort in the fact that He is instrumental in providing forgiveness for our sins, we must be careful not to give the impression that the Father is mean and harsh and must be persuaded by a go-between to forgive us. Such a picture of God is unwarranted. He is the One who sent Jesus in our behalf (John 3:16). Also, a few verses earlier we were told that He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us

(1 John 1:9). Jesus does not have to pacify the Father. On the contrary, the Father is the One who has revealed, through Jesus, His desire for our salvation.

Based on what we have just read, how do you understand the wonderful promises given us in 1 John 2:1, 2? What do they mean in terms of our daily walk with the Lord? How can you make those promises more real in your own life? What changes should those promises bring to our experience?

DEEPER THOUGHTS

1. What is the "new commandment"? 1 John 2:7-8

1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

OBSERVATION:

The new commandment is to "love one another." This commandment is not grievous because it should not be grievous to love one another.

2. True love is a self-sacrificing love

1 John 3:16-17 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

OBSERVATION:

How do we love one another? The answer that John gives is willing to make a self-sacrifice for others. It is showing compassion to others. When we refuse to show compassion this might be a form of hate in a subtle way.

CONCLUSION:

To walk in the light means to keep His commandments. To keep His commandments means to love one other. To love one another means to willing to show compassion and self-sacrificing love. Therefore to walk in the light means to allow God to shine His self-sacrificing through our life.

http://sabbathschoolnotes.blogspot.com/

3. Read 1 John 2:1,2. What do these verses mean to you? What is Jesus doing right now in the
heavenly sanctuary? The Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide describes two things which
Jesus is doing in heaven right now:
1) He is our Advocate, our Mediator, our Intercessor, our Intervener. What gives Him authority to
speak on behalf of sinners? The fact that He lived a perfect life in a sinful world sets Him apart and
makes Him unique. Does that give Him permission to be our Legal Counsel in the courts of heaven?
2) Our forgiveness is secured because, through His sacrificial death, Jesus brought
about propitiation, or atonement; this means that He paid the penalty for our sins.The debt that we owed, which we could never pay, Jesus paid for us. (Adult Sabbath
School Bible Study Guide for July 16, 2009)
Is our God angry so that He needs to be propitiated or appeased? Or, are Jesus and the Holy Spirit
working with the Father in doing everything divinely possible to accomplish our salvation?
What is the debt that John wrote about? John represented Jesus as both Sacrifice and Intercessor.
What does that mean to you?

4. Is it important to know that “Jesus lived a sinless life among us, died on the cross, rose from the
dead, and ascended to heaven, where He intercedes in our behalf”? (Ibid)

5. Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are described as our parakletos, or “Advocate,” “Comforter,” “Helper,”
“Mediator,” or “Intercessor.” (see John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7; 1 John 2:1) A parakletos is a person
who is called to the side of someone to assist them, particularly in military conflicts, especially if one
has been wounded. When called, Jesus comes to our side. When called, the Holy Spirit comes to
our aid.

6. Our Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for July 16, 2009 says:
When we talk about Jesus as our Advocate and take great comfort in the fact that
He is instrumental in providing forgiveness for our sins, we must be careful not to
give the impression that the Father is mean and harsh and must be persuaded by
a go-between to forgive us.... The Father is the One who has revealed, through
Jesus, His desire for our salvation.

7. This lesson touches on several of the core aspects of the plan of salvation. Why did Jesus have to
die? What is Jesus doing now in the heavenly sanctuary? What should our relationship be to God
the Father? These questions must be answered if we are to understand the impact that the plan of
salvation will have on you and me as individuals. But, the questions must also be answered in a
much larger context and setting to understand the issues in the great controversy between God and
Satan over God’s character and government. Until those larger issues are settled, our salvation is
impossible! Would you even want to be saved to live forever with a “god” that is in any way arbitrary,
vengeful, exacting, harsh, tyrannical, unforgiving, even severe–as Satan has claimed that God is?
Those are actually descriptions of Satan rather than God. Would you want to live with Satan for
eternity?

© 2009, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH.
https://www.theox.org/images/images_A2115/SS-3-Johns%20Epistles-200...

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 15, 2009 at 8:27am

CRITICAL THINKING Day 6
(Argument / Disagreement in the lesson study.)
Thursday, July 16, 2009


Overview

Thursday's lesson discusses how forgiveness from our sins is only possible through Jesus. He explains that Jesus is our Advocate, and not only has He paid the penalty for our sins, but that He intervenes for us. The author sums this up by stating, "John therefore portrays Jesus as Sacrifice and Intercessor. In the context of the New Testament witness, this implies that Jesus lived a sinless life among us, died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven, where He intercedes in our behalf."

Problems

While Hebrews 7:25 does speak of God making intercession for us, "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for him", ....

First, this false view separates the Godhead. The Bible is clear that the Father has entrusted His Son to all things, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Col. 2:9). Second, grace and forgiveness does not need to be pried out of God the Father. Jesus does not need to continually plead on our behalf. His righteousness covered our sins the day Jesus died and declared, "It is finished" (John 19:30). Hebrews 10:10 says, “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:12 further reiterates this fact by saying, "But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God."....

At calvary, Jesus paid the price for our sins. For those who believe in Him, and trust Him as their Lord and Savior, are cleansed by the blood and presented perfect before the Heavenly Father. Any other interpretation of the atonement is non-Biblical.



Summary

As believers, we can trust that at calvary, we are justified.
Jesus does not need to continually plead on our behalf before the Father.....

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