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Re: Third Quarter 2017 The Gospel in Galatians
[Re: dedication]
#184679
07/27/17 05:02 AM
07/27/17 05:02 AM
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OP
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Is obedience the same as perfectionism?
People tend to shoot from both ditches, but the road of righteousness is not in either ditch.
Our perfection is in Christ's merits. That's what justification is all about. Christ's perfect life is credited to our account. We can be fully forgiven, justified, as if we had never sinned, by coming to Christ and accepting Him as our Savior.
We are not justified by the works of the law. However, a person who has accepted that justification, and truly abides in Christ, our Redeemer, will not continue in sin. Oh they may stumble and have battles, the flesh doesn't yield up it's self centered indulgences easily, but by the grace of Christ, they have turned their backs on sin and walk with Christ in the paths of righteousness. Yes, that path of righteousness is a life of obedience to His will (His commandments).
No -- our goal is not perfectionism, our goal is a daily walk in obedience with Christ. Placing our will under His will, -- Thy will, oh God, be done, and worked out in every part of my life.
Our focus is not on self-- (how sinless am I? ) No! Our focus is in bringing honor and glory to God, and seeking to do His will.
In fact the reason sin still has so much power over a person, is because they are focused on SELF, either in selfish indulgence, or, fighting their sin, trying to make themselves acceptable to God, instead of coming to Christ in repentance, and receiving His justification, then knowing they ARE accepted and welcomed, they do strive daily, hourly, but the focus is to live in the presence and abiding with Christ. That's where the true "fight" is -- to stay continually connected with Christ.
The answer -- yes -- come to Christ and receive His justification -- now you are clean, yes, perfect in the merits of Christ, but you also need to count yourself dead to sin, for Christ died with your sins, (Study Romans 6) and now be alive in Christ. Keep that upper most in your mind. Live FOR HIM! Live WITH HIM! Abide IN HIM! Then the promises that a person that is born again no longer continues in sin becomes a reality.
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Here is the link to this week's Sabbath School Lesson Study and Discussion Material: Click Here
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Re: Third Quarter 2017 The Gospel in Galatians
[Re: dedication]
#184682
07/27/17 06:18 PM
07/27/17 06:18 PM
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Re: Third Quarter 2017 The Gospel in Galatians
[Re: kland]
#184689
07/28/17 01:09 PM
07/28/17 01:09 PM
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The question is WWJD, "What would Jesus do?" All Christians follow Jesus Christ. It is rather surprising that only just recently in the third quarter of 2017 that SDA have finally found the truth and joined the worldwide community of Christians in acknowledging this. Now why in 2017 are not all Christians keeping [the 10 commandments]? That is a good point and question. Why aren't SDA perfect? Why do YOU continue in sin? /// Should all Christians strive for, to set a goal for being without sin? ALL Christians, without exception, do that. But some, just like SDA, are weak and stumble many times and in different ways for which reason John encourages, " My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." -- 1 John 2:1///
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Re: Third Quarter 2017 The Gospel in Galatians
[Re: dedication]
#184690
07/28/17 01:10 PM
07/28/17 01:10 PM
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Is obedience the same as perfectionism?
People tend to shoot from both ditches, but the road of righteousness is not in either ditch.
Our perfection is in Christ's merits. That's what justification is all about. Christ's perfect life is credited to our account. We can be fully forgiven, justified, as if we had never sinned, by coming to Christ and accepting Him as our Savior.
We are not justified by the works of the law. However, a person who has accepted that justification, and truly abides in Christ, our Redeemer, will not continue in sin. Oh they may stumble and have battles, the flesh doesn't yield up it's self centered indulgences easily, but by the grace of Christ, they have turned their backs on sin and walk with Christ in the paths of righteousness. Yes, that path of righteousness is a life of obedience to His will (His commandments).
No -- our goal is not perfectionism, our goal is a daily walk in obedience with Christ. Placing our will under His will, -- Thy will, oh God, be done, and worked out in every part of my life.
Our focus is not on self-- (how sinless am I? ) No! Our focus is in bringing honor and glory to God, and seeking to do His will.
In fact the reason sin still has so much power over a person, is because they are focused on SELF, either in selfish indulgence, or, fighting their sin, trying to make themselves acceptable to God, instead of coming to Christ in repentance, and receiving His justification, then knowing they ARE accepted and welcomed, they do strive daily, hourly, but the focus is to live in the presence and abiding with Christ. That's where the true "fight" is -- to stay continually connected with Christ.
The answer -- yes -- come to Christ and receive His justification -- now you are clean, yes, perfect in the merits of Christ, but you also need to count yourself dead to sin, for Christ died with your sins, (Study Romans 6) and now be alive in Christ. Keep that upper most in your mind. Live FOR HIM! Live WITH HIM! Abide IN HIM! Then the promises that a person that is born again no longer continues in sin becomes a reality.
See post above. ///
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Re: Third Quarter 2017 The Gospel in Galatians
[Re: dedication]
#184692
07/29/17 04:47 AM
07/29/17 04:47 AM
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Lesson 6 July 29-August 4To see actual lesson, click hereThe Priority of the PromiseSection of Galatians for this weeks study: Gal. 3:15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.LOOKING AT THE FIRST VERSE: 13:15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Paul is points to people making covenants. When people make a binding promise or covenant there is no going back. For example: a person may have lived in a house for 20 years, but when he sells that house and signs those papers, that house no longer belongs to him. He can't go back six months later and tell the new owners to get out because this is his house. Even in this sin filled world there is still a expectation that important promises are to be kept. God made a covenant with Abraham, God keeps his promises.
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Re: Third Quarter 2017 The Gospel in Galatians
[Re: James Peterson]
#184693
07/29/17 03:24 PM
07/29/17 03:24 PM
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ALL Christians, without exception, do that. But some, just like SDA, are weak and stumble many times and in different ways for which reason John encourages, "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
-- 1 John 2:1
Now if you had said "all genuine Christians" I could fully agree with you. But it is not true that all without exception who take the name of Christ are genuine Christians -- that includes SDA's as well as others. For, "man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart". That's why there is an investigative judgment-- We may look at some Christians and think -- those are genuine Christians -- but the heart may be far from Christ. While we may look at others and think -- they aren't really Christians when indeed they are. Thus it is God who knows and will reveal who is abiding in Christ and following Him, having surrendered themselves to Him; and who is not genuine but is a Christian in name only and following his own ways. That is true for SDA as well as all other Christians.
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Re: Third Quarter 2017 The Gospel in Galatians
[Re: dedication]
#184698
07/30/17 12:08 AM
07/30/17 12:08 AM
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Question in lesson-- why did God give the law to Israel about four centuries after Abraham. Did not the giving of the law nullify any previous arrangement?
First I think we need to ask if the commandment law was already in effect prior to Sinai? True, it was codified at Sinai and written out on stone, but wasn't it in effect prior?
1. God alone was to be served. Wasn't God calling Abraham out of Ur, to get him away from associations with people serving other gods, so Abrabam could serve God alone?
2 No idols or graven images Genesis 35:2-4 Jacob calls all in his care to give up their idols and graven images and "be clean". Why would he do that if God's command against images was not yet known?
3. Taking God's name in vain Job (in Job 1:5) was worried that his children had taken God's name in vain, so he offered sacrifices in their behalf. Job lived before Abraham. How did he know it was sin?
4. The Sabbath Gen. 2:1-3 Shows God blessing, sanctifying (setting apart for holy us) and resting on the 7th day.
5. Honour Parents Before Sinai the whole social society upheld the respect of children for their Father and Mother. Even fully grown and mature men still respected the leadership role of their fathers
6. Murder In the story of Cain and Abel we see the principles already in place concerning this commandment.
7. Adultery Joseph knew adultery was sinning against God. Genesis 39:8-9 "You are his [Potapher's] wife how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
8. Theft Job not only identifies stealing as sin but several other commandments in this passage: Job 24:14-16,18 "The murderer arises at dawn; He kills the poor and the needy, And at night he is as a thief. The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, 'No eye will see me'; And he disguises his face. In the dark they break into houses which they marked for themselves in the daytime; They do not know the light. ...their portion is cursed in the earth.
9. False Witness Job 27:4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
10. Coveting Coveting is the root of most sin. Lucifer coveted God's position. (Isaiah 14:13-14) Eve coveted the forbidden fruit, which led to eating it. So we conclude that the commandments were already in force and known prior to Sinai. They were just not yet "codified".
The clean and unclean foods were already known in Noah's day. (Gen. 7:2)
The sacrificial system was already known by Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
So what was "added" at Sinai?
Basically the laws were codified -- written out. Details were added. However, the ten commandment law was definitely not new.
So what does Paul mean: 3;19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made;
Sin was in abundance (God's law was being broken) -- but the people didn't realize they were sinning, because they had either forgotten God's commands or had never been taught God's commands. Romans 3:20 "for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
If people don't realize they are sinning, they don't feel a need for a Savior.
The law reveals to us our sinful condition and our need of God’s grace. The law was not intended to be some kind of program for “earning” salvation.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
The law's purpose is to lead people to Christ. It exposes our sinful condition, and will always expose sin where ever, and when ever it exists, but the point Paul is making is that it was "added" or rather "codified and written out" to show our need for a Savior Who can both forgive and cleanse from sin.
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Re: Third Quarter 2017 The Gospel in Galatians
[Re: James Peterson]
#184735
08/01/17 02:22 PM
08/01/17 02:22 PM
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Should all Christians strive for, to set a goal for being without sin?
ALL Christians, without exception, do that. But some, just like SDA, are weak and stumble many times and in different ways for which reason John encourages, " My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." -- 1 John 2:1/// So in returning to the context and the questions which brought up the question, do you strive for, set as a goal, as part of your faith, as a result of your faith, towards keeping the 10 commandments, not to be saved, but because you are?
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Re: Third Quarter 2017 The Gospel in Galatians
[Re: dedication]
#184777
08/04/17 02:59 AM
08/04/17 02:59 AM
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OP
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In Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
The Greek word telos translated as “end” doesn't really give Paul’s intended meaning. So what does the word mean in this context. Many have come to a false conclusion that faith makes the law void. But in Romans 3:31 Paul clearly explains that is not true.
“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
The Greek word telos, translated “end” in Romans 10:4 can mean: ‘the aim or purpose’ of a thing” ( Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, “End, Ending”).
This is very clear in the New King James Version’s concerning 1 Timothy 1:5 “the purpose of the commandment is love.” In contrast the KJV reads "Now the end of the commandment is charity".
In both cases -- it is "the purpose" or "the aim", of the law or commandment; it is not making the law or commandment void. as in "ending it".
Thus In Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the aim of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
The law directs us to Christ, for only in Christ is their pardon and justification, clearing the sinner from the incurred guilt of our transgression of the law, and the transforming power to bring us into line with the righteous principles of the law.
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