4th Quarter 2015 - Jeremiah

Here's the link to the study material:

http://www.ssnet.org/lessons/15d/

The last question in the lesson for this week is timely.



The phrase "in their own context and culture" in the middle of that puts some things into perspective. Consider just for a moment what that entails today, and you'll see that we are not so different from those of the past whom we may criticize for their blindness.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

You mean events like this?

God had made it their privilege and their duty to enter the land at the time of His appointment, but through their willful neglect that permission had been withdrawn. Satan had gained his object in preventing them from entering Canaan; and now he urged them on to do the very thing, in the face of the divine prohibition, which they had refused to do when God required it. Thus the great deceiver gained the victory by leading them to rebellion the second time. They had distrusted the power of God to work with their efforts in gaining possession of Canaan; yet now they presumed upon their own strength to accomplish the work independent of divine aid. "We have sinned against the Lord," they cried; "we will go up and fight, according to all that the Lord our God commanded us." Deuteronomy 1:41. So terribly blinded had they become by transgression. The Lord had never commanded them to "go up and fight." It was not His purpose that they should gain the land by warfare, but by strict obedience to His commands. {PP 392.3} Some today seems to be blind in thinking Israel was supposed to fight.

I would say we have all the same problems as ancient Israel. When they would talk of the Messiah and His coming, they would not understand the prophecies correctly. We see the same thing with futurism and/or preterism.

The quarterly mentions "keeping the cross central to that process". What does that mean?!? It means understanding the message of the Heavenly Sanctuary! The cross was the beginning of the Atonement, not the completion of it. It means understanding that we are living in the time of the Antitypical Day of Atonement.

If you don't understand all this, you are making the same mistakes ancient Israel were making in the time of Jeremiah. I mean, Jeremiah knew what to expect when Babylon showed up outside Jerusalem and was leaving the city of Jerusalem. The Israelites saw him leaving and captured Jeremiah and threw him in jail. Jeremiah knew the times and events happening and about to happen and we must also.

Indeed. Yet they fight on just the same, don't they? Even trying to tell the church that the vote at the GC Session was not valid because some people are said to have made some sort of protest during the voting. Many still fight to see women ordained, when thrice the issue has been addressed at a General Conference Session and voted down. That is one of those "cultural" issues we see in our church today. Many seek to place culture above scripture.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

And have succeeded, 3 times.

Culture doesn't have any place in the Christian walk. We need to understand culture and how to work around culture. But, we shouldn't ever make it a part of our lives. It is very carnal in nature.

We found in our SS Class Question #1 from Friday:

http://www.ssnet.org/lessons/15d/less10.html#fri


How would you reply to such a question?

Daryl,

I know it should appear like a very simple question, one with a very straightforward answer, but honestly, in today's world I would have to first know more about the asker before I could adequately reply.

1) What is this person's religious background, training, knowledge, and experience?

2) What is the reason the person is now asking this question?

Even Jesus sometimes responded to questions ambiguously--for He knew the heart of the asker and could see the motive which had prompted the question.

My answer would be completely different if I were answering it for one of my Buddhist students who had asked me how to find God because of what he or she had seen from my example versus answering it for the really-should-know-already Adventist who has struggled with being a Christian his or her entire life and yet is still confused on the basic first steps of Christianity.

Both of these are possible where I am. I also have Sunday Christians attending my church regularly who do not yet know the reasons for their faith, nor ours.

One text that I might use for anyone, however, is that of Isaiah chapter 1: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." To the Buddhist/ignorant of God, I would further add personal testimony support for the benefit of reading the Bible and letting the Holy Spirit speak through it, teaching me about God. To the older Christian who still doesn't understand, I might have more practical advice depending on his or her background. To some I might suggest devoting a year to missions work or colporteuring as an experience in getting to know God. To others I might suggest that they focus on cleaning up the stains of sin, present and past, in their lives, making sure to forgive anyone with whom they may have held a grudge. God will listen to truly repentant prayers, but repentance is not a belief, it's an action. When we've done all on our part, God is happy to step in and do His part--giving us peace, joy, and love to replace the former negative feelings and attitudes.

To know God is to love Him. The Bible says "O taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him." I believe that "tasting" involves experience. It's something each one needs for himself or herself.

God bless,

Green Cochoa.