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

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Permalink Reply by ARZZOR on December 12, 2011 at 4:54am

A one-person discussion! Great

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 16, 2009 at 9:15am

FRIDAY July 17

Further Study: Read Ellen G. White, "Confession," pp. 37-41 in Steps to Christ.
" 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' The conditions of obtaining mercy from God are simple and reasonable. The Lord does not require us to do some grievous thing in order to gain forgiveness. We need not make long and wearisome pilgrimages, or perform painful penances, to commend our souls to the God of heaven or to expiate our transgression. He that 'confesseth and forsaketh' his sin 'shall have mercy.' Proverbs 28:13. In the courts above, Christ is pleading for His church—pleading for those for whom He has paid the redemption price of His blood. Centuries, ages, can never lessen the efficacy of His atoning sacrifice. Neither life nor death, height nor depth, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus; not because we hold Him so firmly, but because He holds us so fast. If our salvation depended on our own efforts, we could not be saved; but it depends on the One who is behind all the promises."—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 552, 553.



Discussion Questions:

In class, read what you wrote about the thoughts and emotions and images that the idea of "darkness" brought to you. How does that help you better understand not only what it means to be unrighteous and in sin but also what it means to walk in the light of God?

How could you help those who are so burdened with their sins and guilt that they are ready to give up on God completely? What promises and encouragement can you offer them? What examples from the Bible can you find of God forgiving some very heinous sin?

How could you help those who are so burdened with their sins and guilt that they are ready to give up on God completely? What promises and encouragement can you offer them? What examples from the Bible can you find of God forgiving some very heinous sin?

Someone killed most of a family of people who were not Christians and who never professed faith in Jesus. Years later, on his deathbed, the murderer confessed his deeds and accepted Christ as His Savior. How would you respond to this comment by a surviving member of the family: "So, according to you Christians, my whole family is destined for final punishment, while the person who murdered them now has the promise of heaven? Is that what your religion teaches?"

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 16, 2009 at 9:18am

CRITICAL THINKING Day 7
(Argument / Disagreement in the lesson study.)
Friday, July 17, 2009


Commentary Summary

The Bible is clear that we are all in need of forgiveness from God. We are all guilty of sin. 1 John 1:8 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us."

There is only one penalty for our sins, and that is death. The first part of Romans 6:23 is clear about this, "For the wages of sin is death..." The good news is that Jesus took our penalty and died on the cross for us so that we might live. "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 2:21). Because of this truth, believers can celebrate in the last part of Romans 6:23, "...but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Forgiveness cannot be earned. You can only receive it in faith through the grace of God. Only by trusting Jesus ALONE, can we be free from the penalty of sin. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

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Permalink Reply by STEVEN on July 16, 2009 at 9:21am

May God bless you, as you study through this week Sabbath school lessons....

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and
understanding. Proverbs 2:6, New International Version

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Permalink Reply by sky on July 30, 2009 at 7:11pm

Think about it, From His mouth come knowledge and understanding! Why? Because as we receive the Scriptures as the word of God to us, not written merely but spoken, that is, as the voice of God speaking to us, the Word imparts power, it begets life, even the very life of the Infinite One and in Him dwells all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. See Education, p.126.

"Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth." Joh 22:22.

"The law of ten precepts of the greatest love that can be presented to man is the voice of God from Heaven speaking to the soul in promise." E.G.White, 1 B.C.1105.

That same law, written with ink in the Bible or engraved on stones cannot impart life. It is a ministry of condemnation and death. "The letter kills." 2 Cor.3:6. But received from the mouth of God, that is, as the voice of God, it is a ministry of life and righteousness, the ministry of the Spirit. That is why it is written that the ministry of the Spirit--the voice of God--is much more glorious than the ministry of the letter.See 2 Cor.3:7-,9.

Thus Christ is made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption. See 1 Cor.1:30.

But in order for us to hear the voice of God and live, we must come to Him trusting wholly in the merits of the blood that was shed for us upon Calvary's cross. See F.W.106,65,66.

Then the Lord opens our ears that we may hear His voice and live even forevermore. See Psalm 133:3; 40:6; Isaiah 50:5.

sky

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