Lesson #4 (1st Quarter 2012): The God of Grace and Judgment

Here is the link to the study and discussion material for Lesson #4 (1st Quarter 2012): The God of Grace and Judgment

Here are some study helps: Study Helps, Lesson 4

From the Sabbath Afternoon section:

Memory Text:
“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:14).


Key Thought:
God’s judgment is as pervasive in the Bible as is the theme of salvation; in fact, the two teachings are intricately entwined.

From Sunday:

Judgment and salvation reflect twin aspects of God’s character: His justice and grace.

From Monday:

Think about this: before sin, there was no need of grace because there was nothing to forgive, nothing to pardon, nothing to cover. It’s the same with judgment. Before sin, there was nothing to judge, nothing to condemn, nothing to be punished. Both grace and judgment arise, at least in a human context, only because of humanity’s sin.

From Tuesday:

By building the ark, Noah was giving the world a warning about judgment. What’s implied, too, is that there was a grace period, a chance for the world to turn from its evil ways and accept God’s salvation.

Ellen White wrote that had “the antediluvians believed the warning, and repented of their evil deeds, the Lord would have turned aside His wrath.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 97.

The building of the ark offered anyone who would heed the warning a refuge of safety from the coming destruction.

No question, judgment was coming. But grace was offered to all who would accept it until it was too late, and the door of mercy was shut.

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad." 2 Cor 5:10.

During the investigative judgment of the living, which will begin sometime after governments begin enforcing Sunday Laws and will end when probation closes, the 144,000 will revisit their sins. Jesus refers to it as drinking the cup and being baptized. "Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized." Mark 10:39.

Yes, the whole world will be judged beginning at the House of God.

Wednesday's section is titled Condemnation & Grace.

We are all familiar with John 3:16. How many of us. however, are just as familiar with John 3:17-21? I am going to quote all of it here including and beginning with verse 16.

Here we see a blend of Grace and Judgment.

His 1st Coming wasn't to condemn (judge), but to save, thus we see His grace in the 1st Coming.

What do we see in the 2nd Coming?