Ken Hart's Bible Study Guides for 4th Qtr 2012

Contents

L-1:Fundamental Beliefs The Great Controversy: The Foundation

L-2:Fundamental Beliefs: Revelation, and the God Revealed in It

L-3:Fundamental Beliefs: Mankind: God’s Handiwork

L-4:Fundamental Beliefs Salvation: The Only Solution

L-5:Fundamental Beliefs Growing in Christ

L-6: Growing in Christ –Victory over Evil Forces

L-7: Growing in Christ --“Arming” for Victory

L-8: Growing in Christ--The Church: In Service to Humanity

L-9: Growing in Christ-- The Church: Rites and Rituals

L-10: Growing in Christ—The Law and the Gospel

L-11:Growing in Christ The Christian Life

L-12:Growing in Christ Last Things: Jesus and the Saved

L-13:Growing in Christ When All Things Become New

Great Controversy in Scriptures

Fundamental Beliefs The Great Controversy: The Foundation

Lesson #1 for October 6, 2012

Scriptures: Gen. 3:15, Rev. 12:1-17, Isa. 14:4-21, Ezek. 28:12-19, Isa. 53:6, Rom. 1:20-28, John 16:2[1].

1.    This lesson will focus on the great controversy that has involved the entire universe since Satan rebelled in heaven and convinced our first parents to join his side.

In the book Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . . belief number 8 states:

All humanity is now involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan regarding the character of God, His law, and His sovereignty over the universe. This conflict originated in heaven when a created being, endowed with freedom of choice, in self-exaltation became Satan, God's adversary, and led into rebellion a portion of the angels. He introduced the spirit of rebellion into this world when he led Adam and Eve into sin. This human sin resulted in the distortion of the image of God in humanity, the disordering of the created world, and its eventual devastation at the time of the worldwide flood. Observed by the whole creation, this world became the arena of the universal conflict, out of which the God of love will ultimately be vindicated. To assist His people in this controversy, Christ sends the Holy Spirit and the loyal angels to guide, protect, and sustain them in the way of salvation.'-

2.    Taking the Bible as a whole we discover in Revelation 12:1-17 that the war-the conflict-began in heaven itself in the most holy Place right beside God's throne. Lucifer who was one of the covering cherubs begin to feel jealous because he was not treated the same as Jesus Christ was who stood on the other side of God's throne. Before long Lucifer was suggesting to other angels that he could run a better universe than God did. In his universe every angel would be allowed to govern themselves, to do what they thought best. In God’s universe each individual is expected to act in a loving, kind way reaching out to all around him.

3.    After Satan was defeated and cast down to this earth, he demanded the right to have access to our first parents, Adam and Eve. God tried to protect them by limiting Satan to one tree in the garden, although he did place that tree in the center of the garden near the tree of life. He severely warned our first parents but Eve in her curiosity wandered too close and found herself engaged in a conversation and was tempted to eat of the fruit which she soon handed to her husband who ate it as well. (Genesis 3)

4.    Fortunately, God had made a plan to cover this contingency long before this earth was created. But look back at what happened between the serpent and Eve at the tree of good and evil. God had said that sin leads to death. (Genesis 2:15-17[2]) Satan responded, as soon as he had opportunity, by saying, “That is a lie!" (Genesis 3:1-5[3]) Although we do not know what Lucifer/Satan said to the angels in heaven these words from his conversation with Eve give us a hint. The basic issue in the great controversy is “Who is telling us the truth”? Can God be trusted?

5.    Rightly or wrongly, in our day when we talk about these issues we strongly bias the response by calling one side God's side and the other side Satan’s side. Was that clear to the angels who first rebelled in heaven? Did they really think by joining Satan’s side they were calling God a liar? And what about us today? Is there any question in our minds about who is telling us the truth, God or Satan? When we are tempted to sin, do we clearly identify the two voices speaking in our heads as God and Satan? If the time ever came where we were not sure whether a given voice in our head was God or Satan speaking, how would we determine who it was speaking?

6.    Satan no doubt thought he had nearly won the great controversy at least here on this earth when God suddenly sent a flood. (Genesis 6-8[4]) By rescuing Noah and his family God preserved the one small group of people who were still listening to Him! About one more generation of evil and not a single person would have been left here on earth who would have been listening to God.

7.    It is fairly easy-if you accept the fact that the Bible is giving us a historical account-to trace the work of Satan and God down through the generations. Ellen White has done a marvelous job under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to expand that understanding in her Conflict of the Ages series.

8.    What we learn in reviewing all of this is that Satan has done everything possible to picture God as the One who is arbitrary, vengeful, exacting, unforgiving and severe, which are the very characteristics that describe Satan’s nature and his kingdom. So why does anyone believe him? And what has been God's response to these attacks?

9.    The usual Christian response is that God has dealt with Satan's accusations by repeatedly defeating the Devil in various conflicts.

10.    But we know that God and the devil don't fight with guns or even nuclear weapons. What are the

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weapons in this war? God can only use truth and evidence. Satan uses lies, deception, accusations, implications and every other deceitful device that he can think off. So how are we supposed to know which side is speaking on any given occasion? Is it always obvious who is telling the truth and who is lying and deceiving? Remember that the day is coming when Satan himself will arrive here on planet earth claiming that he is the son of God. And he will use the same kinds of methods that Jesus used to prove his messiahship when he was here on this earth: miracles, the words of Scripture, and the influence of what might seem to some like a holy spirit. But there are certain things that must always be remembered. Truth must always be consistent with itself.

11.    Satan's basic weapon is selfishness. God's basic weapon is love.

12.    But what about that question asked at the tree back in the Garden of Eden? Does sin lead to death or doesn't it? If we look around us in our world today, recognizing that every one of us is a sinner, we would have to admit that there are not many people obviously dying of sin right at this point. So maybe Satan was right! But when the right time came (Galatians 4:4[5]) God sent His Son down to this earth to answer most of Satan's accusations and questions in one lifetime. When Jesus died on the cross it was not death from crucifixion. He died within six hours. Death from crucifixion takes a long time. Did Jesus really die? When they stuck a spear into His side they discovered that He was already dead. Satan had also claimed that when people do die they die because God is angry at them for disobeying Him. Did God killed Jesus? Jesus certainly didn't cry out “My God, my God, why are you killing Me”? No! He said “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?” (Matthew 27:46[6])

13.    Perhaps the scariest part of all was that the people who were so determined to have Christ dead were doing it in God's name. Were they confused about whose side they were on in the great controversy? Absolutely! Could it happen again? Who are Seventh-day Adventists most like from the past? Aren’t we most like the Pharisees?

14.    Revelation 12:17[7] tells us very clearly that Satan with his immense intelligence and all of his demonic assistants, while realizing that their fate was sealed by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, also know that by misleading and deceiving human beings they have been able to delay the second coming of Jesus Christ almost 2000 years! What will it take to bring that deception to an end? Do we need to understand very clearly what the issues are in the great controversy? Consider the following quotations from Scripture and Ellen White:

15.    We are the theater of the universe. Beings from all over are watching us: Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:4-7; Daniel 9:21; Acts 12:7; Hebrews 13:2; compare Revelation 22:16; 1 Peter 5:8,9; 2 Peter 1:19; 1 Corinthians 4:9; Ephesians 1:9,10; 3:9,10; Colossians 1:19,20; James 4:7[8]

16.    God needs to clear His name in order to win in the great controversy:

(Ezekiel 20 and 36)[9] are very instructive chapters. They should be read carefully and the implications considered. Please note this particular theme:

In Egypt: Read Ezekiel 20:4-7[10] about how God tried to help Israel in Egypt, then note:

Ezekiel 20:8,9: 8 “But they defied me and refused to listen. They did not throw away their disgusting idols or give up the Egyptian gods. I was ready to let them feel the full force of my anger there in Egypt. 9 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name, for in the presence of the people among whom they were living I had announced to Israel that I was going to lead them out of Egypt... (GNB)

In the wilderness: Read Ezekiel 20:10-12, then note:

Ezekiel 20:13-14: 13 “But even in the desert they defied me. They broke my laws and rejected my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They completely profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to destroy them. 14 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt... (See Exodus 32:7-14)

The second generation in the wilderness: Read Ezekiel 20:15-20, then note:

Ezekiel 20:21-22: 21 “But that generation also defied me. They broke my laws and did not keep my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to kill them all. 22 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt...

After the Babylonian captivity: Read Ezekiel 20:37-42, then note:

Ezekiel 20:43-44: 43 “‘Then you will remember all the disgraceful things you did and how you defiled yourselves. You will be disgusted with yourselves because of all the evil things you did. 44When I act to protect my honor, you Israelites will know that I am the LORD, because I do not deal with you as your wicked, evil actions deserve.’ The

Sovereign LORD has spoken.” (GNB)

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Right throughout Israelite history God has had to act, not primarily for the “salvation” of His people but for the honor of His own name! The great controversy is not so much about how God saves you and me but about how God answers Satan’s accusations against His character and government.

Note especially that the purpose of the Sabbath is to remind us of this particular very important truth. The Sabbath is to be a time when we get to know our God and are reminded of our relationship with Him. (Ezekiel 20:12,20) We need to understand His character and as much about Him as possible and not just the right name to refer to Him by. If the Sabbath is not being used for this purpose, then as far as God is concerned we are profaning it. (Ezekiel 20:13-21)

In Ezekiel 36 after all of Israel is in captivity, he explains further:

Ezekiel 36:20-22: 20 Wherever they went, they brought disgrace on my holy name, because people would say, These are the people of the LORD, but they had to leave his land.’ 21 That made me concerned for my holy name, since the Israelites brought disgrace on it everywhere they went.

22    Now then, give the Israelites the message that I, the Sovereign LORD, have for them: What I am going to do is not for the sake of you Israelites, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have disgraced in every country where you have gone.

23    When I demonstrate to the nations the holiness of my great name-the name you disgraced among them-then they will know that I am the LORD... (28) You will be my people, and I will be your God... 32 Israel, I want you to know that I am not doing all this for your sake...36 Then the neighboring nations that have survived will know that I, the LORD, rebuild ruined cities and replant waste fields. I, The LORD, have promised that I would do this-and I will. (GNB)

Isaiah also realized and stated that God’s reputation was the key issue in Scripture:

Isaiah 48:11:

11 What I do is done for my own sake—

I will not let my name be dishonored

or let anyone else share the glory

that should be mine and mine alone.” (GNB)

Daniel 9:14-19: Daniel recognized that God must do something for his own reputation.

17.    Ellen White expands on this theme from Scripture:

But the plan of redemption had a yet broader and deeper purpose than the salvation of man. It was not for this alone that Christ came to the earth; it was not merely that the inhabitants of this little world might regard the law of God as it should be regarded; but it was to vindicate the character of God before the universe. To this result of His great sacrifice-its influence upon the intelligences of other worlds, as well as upon man-the Saviour looked forward when just before His crucifixion He said: 'Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto Me.’ John 12:31,32[11]. The act of Christ in dying for the salvation of man would not only make heaven accessible to men, but before all the universe it would justify God and His Son in their dealing with the rebellion of Satan. It would establish the perpetuity of the law of God and would reveal the nature and the results of sin. Patriarchs and Prophets 68.2-69.0 (1890); Reflecting Christ 50.3,4 (1985)

“To the angels and the unfallen worlds the cry, “It is finished,” had a deep significance.

It was for them as well as for us that the great work of redemption had been accomplished....Not until the death of Christ was the character of Satan clearly revealed to the angels or to the unfallen worlds. The archapostate had so clothed himself with deception that even holy beings had not understood his principles. They had not clearly seen the nature of his rebellion.” The Desire of Ages 758.3 (1898); RC 60.4; compare ST (Aug. 27, 1902, par. 11); TA 205.1

18.    The security of the universe was even more important to God than the salvation of man.

It was in order that the heavenly universe might see the conditions of the covenant of redemption that Christ bore the penalty in behalf of the human race. The throne of Justice must be eternally and forever made secure, even tho the race be wiped out, and another creation populate the earth. By the sacrifice Christ was about to make, all doubts would be forever settled, and the human race would be saved if they would return to their allegiance. Christ alone could restore honor to God’s government. The cross of Calvary would be looked upon by the unfallen worlds, by

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the heavenly universe, by Satanic agencies, by the fallen race, and every mouth would be stopped....Who is able to describe the last scenes of Christ’s life on earth,

His trial in the judgment hall, His crucifixion? Who witnessed these scenes?-The heavenly universe, God the Father, Satan and his angels. The Signs of the Times, July 12, 1899, par. 2 (4ST 44:1:2); compare LHU 257.2

19.    Christ died for sinless angels too.

That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness, will prevent sin in heaven. The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. (QOD 680)...The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven (BTS December 1, 1907)...The plan of salvation, making manifest the justice and love of God, provides an eternal safeguard against defection in unfallen worlds, as well as among those who shall be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. The Signs of the Times, December 30, 1889, par. 4; (2ST345:1:1); SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1132.8,9; SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7a, p. 252; TA 205.2,3; Our High Calling 45.4;

The Home Missionary May 1, 1897; compare 7ABC 476.3

20.    Why the angels needed the “message of the cross.”

For centuries God looked with patience and forbearance upon the cruel treatment given to his ambassadors, at his holy law prostrate, despised, trampled underfoot. He swept away the inhabitants of the Noachian world with a flood. But when the earth was again peopled, men drew away from God, and renewed their hostility to him, manifesting bold defiance. Those whom God rescued from Egyptian bondage followed in the footsteps of those who had preceded them. Cause was followed by effect; the earth was being corrupted.

A crisis had arrived in the government of God...All heaven was prepared at the word of God to move to the help of his elect. One word from him, and the bolts of heaven would have fallen upon the earth, filling it with fire and flame. God had but to speak, and there would have been thunderings and lightnings and earthquakes and destruction.

The heavenly intelligences were prepared for a fearful manifestation of Almighty power. Every move was watched with intense anxiety. The exercise of justice was expected. The angels looked for God to punish the inhabitants of the earth...

The heavenly universe was amazed at God’s patience and love. To save fallen humanity the Son of God took humanity upon himself.” Review and Herald, July 17,

1900, par. 4-7; (4RH 201:1:4-201:2:1) compare Desire of Ages 37; compare MS 22, January 10, 1890; The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials 569.3-570.0

21.    The controversy is over the character of God.

From the beginning it has been Satan’s studied plan to cause men to forget God, that he might secure them to himself. Hence he has sought to misrepresent the character of God, to lead men to cherish a false conception of Him. The Creator has been presented to their minds as clothed with the attributes of the prince of evil himself-as arbitrary, severe, and unforgiving,-that He might be feared, shunned, and even hated by men. Satan hoped to so confuse the minds of those whom he had deceived that they would put God out of their knowledge.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 738;

In Heavenly Places, 8; Review and Herald February 15, 1912

22.    The great controversy will not be over until we recognize that the primary issue is not about us and how we can be saved but about God and His reputation.

Multitudes have a wrong conception of God and His attributes, and are as truly serving a false god as were the worshipers of Baal.” (RH, November 6, 1913 par. 1;

PK 177.1}

23.    What about us? Do we have a correct picture of God and His character? A correct understanding of the great controversy is the distinctive doctrine of the SDA church.

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.    Info@theox.org

Last Modified: July 15, 2012

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Fundamental Beliefs Revelation, and the God Revealed in It

Lesson #2 for October 13, 2012

Scriptures: 2 Peter 1:19-21[12]; 2 Timothy 3:16,17[13]; Deuteronomy 6:4[14]; Matthew 28:19[15]; Hebrews 11:6[16]; Exodus 3:1-14[17].

1.    While there are many things we might learn from nature and personal experience, the most important and most specific things we learn about God come from His revealed Word-the Bible. It is only through the Bible that we learn many specific details about God, His character, the way He runs His government, and His many efforts to reach out to human beings after the fall. It is through the Bible that we learn about the great controversy over God’s character and government which has involved the entire universe and that we learn about Satan’s questions and accusations down through the generations. Seventh-day Adventists can also look to the inspiration of Ellen White and the many details she has given us about this great controversy.

2.    In this lesson we will focus on the Bible and what the meaning of inspiration is. More than that, we will focus on what this inspired book tells us about God Himself.

3.    Read 2 Peter 1:19-21 and 2 Timothy 3:16,17. These verses summarize what we have learned from many other parts of Scripture-that the purpose of the Scriptures is primarily to teach us about God. As we learn about God, we come to understand clearly why and how He can be trusted.

4.    While we do not have space or time to discuss in detail how inspiration works, we should note that God via the Holy Spirit has worked through angels to inspire prophets and apostles. Those apostles and prophets then have done their best to put down in human language what they have learned from God. Historically, those messages then have been copied many, many times and then translated into many different languages so that modern readers can read them. Finally, the modern reader seeks to understand the words that he reads; and if the ideas that develop in his mind are somewhat close to what God originally intended, then inspiration has worked.

5.    What is the basic difference between inspired writings and uninspired writings? The first phrase of 2 Timothy 3:16 should read: "Every Scripture inspired of God is profitable.” It is our responsibility to decide which ones are inspired. That must be done not on the basis of what we want to believe, but on the basis of the best available evidence. How are we supposed to decide such things? Remember that Timothy did not have a nicely printed and bound Bible to read-a Bible with the right books already chosen for him. Timothy had a pile of scrolls, and he had to decide which ones were reliable. If we just accept the "Bible” as it is handed to us, we are, in fact, allowing others to make those decisions for us. Is that safe? In Timothy’s day, there were hundreds of other documents claiming to be inspired but which were not reliable, even though they claimed to have been written by named, inspired writers. Many of those documents can be found in the Old Testament Apocrypha, the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, and the New Testament Apocrypha-books which conservative scholars believe are not inspired by God.

6.    The books in our modern Protestant Bibles are there because thousands-even millions-of Christians down through the generations have read them and found them to be a reliable source of inspired material. It is on that basis that they are included in our Scriptures. Roman Catholics have a different set of books. Eastern Orthodox churches have a different set. Ultimately, each one of us will have to decide for himself or herself which of those books s/he finds reliable.

7.    But, what criteria should we use in deciding which books are reliable? We are not free to pick and choose those parts we like and throw the rest out! The question is: Which books in their entirety show the clearest evidence of having a divine origin? If we find that a given book shows evidence of divine inspiration, then we must ask ourselves what that book tells us about God and how that should impact our lives personally.

8.    For Seventh-day Adventists, Ellen White’s writings should be helpful. She wrote: The Bible, and the Bible alone, is to be our creed.—Review and Herald Dec. 15, 1885, par. 16; Selected Messages, bk. 1, 416.2; See also Ms 12, 1899, p. 1; 5MR 49.1; 3SM 21.1; LHU 296.4; ST, May 2, 1900 par. 3

Every chapter and every verse of the Bible is a communication from God to men.—Patriarchs and Prophets 504.3 (1890); AG 350.5; see also 4T 449.1; Gospel Workers (1892) 140.2.

9.    The Bible is written by inspired men, but it is not God’s mode of thought and expression. It is that of humanity. God, as a writer, is not represented. Men will often say such an expression is not like God. But God has not put Himself in words, in logic, in rhetoric, on trial in the Bible. The writers of the Bible were God’s penmen, not His pen. Look at the different writers.

It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man’s words or his expressions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with thoughts. But the words receive the impress of the individual mind. The divine mind is diffused. The divine mind and will is combined with the human mind and will; thus the utterances of the man are the word of God.—Manuscript 24, 1886 (written in Europe in 1886); Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 21.1,2

10.    When we recognize that the Scriptures as we have them were written by human beings albeit under the inspiration of God, we must recognize that there will be differences in expression-producing some so-called problem texts and in some cases even passages which seem to be contradictory. Read [Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; and Luke 23:38][18]. Each of the Gospel writers stated that the words on the inscription above Jesus’ head on the cross was slightly different. First of all, we must recognize that Pilate himself wrote the inscription in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. (John 19:20; Desire of Ages 745.2)[19] Most likely, each of those languages said something slightly different. In any case, there is no significant difference among what the three Gospel writers wrote.

11.    Read 1 Kings 6:1[20]. This verse is basically ignored by most modern biblical scholars. Most of them would recognize that David’s kingdom began around the year 1000 B.C. and Solomon’s reign began approximately 40 years later. If we accept the words of 1 Kings 6:1, then the Exodus from Egypt must have occurred around 1450 B.C. By using recognized archaeological methods in Palestine, it looks like a new group of people began building houses there around 1200 B.C. On that basis, most biblical scholars place the Exodus somewhere around 1225 B.C. This throws off the dating of many early biblical and Exodus events by about 200 years. Should we believe the biblical account? Or, should we believe the generally-accepted archaeological dating?

12.    Read [Acts 1:18 and Matthew 27:5][21]. These accounts seem to be contradictory. Look at Ellen White’s explanation of what happened:

Later that same day, on the road from Pilate’s hall to Calvary, there came an interruption to the shouts and jeers of the wicked throng who were leading Jesus to the place of crucifixion. As they passed a retired spot, they saw at the foot of a lifeless tree, the body of Judas. It was a most revolting sight. His weight had broken the cord by which he had hanged himself to the tree. In falling, his body had been horribly mangled, and dogs were now devouring it. His remains were immediately buried out of sight; but there was less mockery among the throng, and many a pale face revealed the thoughts within. Retribution seemed already visiting those who were guilty of the blood of Jesus. (Desire of Ages 722.5)

13.    Virtually all apparently contradictory or problem texts in Scripture can be explained either through a careful look at the original languages or a comparison with other biblical passages. Ellen White often proves to be very helpful as well.

14.    While many apparently challenging ideas from Scripture can thus be worked out, there are some things which we as human beings will never be able to fully understand. Read [Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; and Mark 12:29.][22] Deuteronomy 6:4 could be translated

"The LORD—and the LORD alone is our God;” or "The LORD, our God, is the only God;” or "The LORD our God is one.”

All three meanings are probably intended. Many texts in both the Old Testament and the New Testament refer to a Trinity or triune God. Christians believe that while God is One, He/They consist of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We may not be able to explain this in human terms; but someday, God will be able to explain it to us as far as we are able to comprehend it. The fact that there are some things about God we cannot fully understand means simply that He is God and we are created beings.

15.    Why is it important for us to believe in a Trinity? Is it important to recognize that God the Father is fully and completely God and that the Son and the Holy Spirit are also fully and completely God? We could probably think of many questions that are unanswerable at the present time regarding this issue. But, isn’t the whole purpose of inciting such questions in our minds so that we will study more to try to understand as much as possible?

16.    In any case, we must recognize that the Bible does not go to any length to try to explain the nature of God or even His existence. (See Steps to Christ 105[23]). God expects us simply to read, to ask questions, to answer those questions as far as humanly possible, and on that basis to come to understand Him and trust Him.

17.    Read Hebrews 11:6 and Romans 10:17[24]. It is through Bible study that we come to know God; and if we can come to trust Him on that basis, we will grow to be more like Him-which the Bible describes as the plan of salvation or healing.

18.    The Bible makes many heuristic statements about God: Read [Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; 1 John 4:8,16; and 2 Chronicles 6:18][25]. It would be a mistake to read those verses and just accept them at face value. The rest of Scripture gives us the evidence upon which to base that trust and faith.

19.    While the great controversy involves the entire universe before whom Satan made his accusations against God, His character, and the way He runs His government, nevertheless, as human beings we primarily get to know God through His interaction with us, individually, or other human beings. How much is God involved in human history? Read [Genesis 11:9; 19:24; Exodus 3:1-14; John 3:16; and 1 Thessalonians 4:17][26]. If we start with Revelation 12:1-12 and follow God’s interaction with human beings right through history until we reached the third coming and the new heavens and the new earth, we will recognize that God has been and continues to be constantly involved with human beings.

20.    But, before God can save and heal human beings, He must answer Satan’s questions and accusations to the satisfaction of the remaining members of God’s family throughout the universe. It is hard for us as self-centered human beings to realize that we are not the center of the universe, but we need to understand that. Look for example at the following passages:

21.    It was in order that the heavenly universe might see the conditions of the covenant of redemption that Christ bore the penalty in behalf of the human race. The throne of Justice must be eternally and forever made secure, even tho the race be wiped out, and another creation populate the earth. By the sacrifice Christ was about to make, all doubts would be forever settled, and the human race would be saved if they would return to their allegiance. Christ alone could restore honor to God’s government. The cross of Calvary would be looked upon by the unfallen worlds, by the heavenly universe, by Satanic agencies, by the fallen race, and every mouth would be stopped....Who is able to describe the last scenes of Christ’s life on earth, His trial in the judgment hall, His crucifixion? Who witnessed these scenes?-The heavenly universe, God the Father, Satan and his angels. The Signs of the Times, July 12, 1899, par. 2 (4ST 44:1:2); compare LHU 257.2

The law of Jehovah was burdened with needless exactions and traditions, and God was represented as severe, exacting, revengeful, and arbitrary. He was pictured as one who could take pleasure in the sufferings of his creatures. The very attributes that belonged to the character of Satan, the evil one represented as belonging to the character of God. Jesus came to teach men of the Father, to correctly represent him before the fallen children of earth. Angels could not fully portray the character of God, but Christ, who was a living impersonation of God, could not fail to accomplish the work. The only way in which he could set and keep men right was to make himself visible and familiar to their eyes. . .Christ exalted the character of God, attributing to him the praise, and giving to him the credit, of the whole purpose of his own mission on earth,-to set men right through the revelation of God. In Christ was arrayed before men the paternal grace and the matchless perfections of the Father. In his prayer just before his crucifixion, he declared, “I have manifested thy name.” “I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

When the object of his mission was attained-the revelation of God to the world,-the Son of God announced that his work was accomplished, and that the character of the Father was made manifest to men. The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1890, par. 6,9; compare ST December 4, 1893; Manuscript Releases, vol 18, 359; RH August 14, 1900; YI November 21, 1883

22.    We live in a world that is reluctant to believe anything that cannot put in a test tube or tested by some scientific method. This is one of Satan’s most successful means of trying to deny the supernatural. While we recognize that science and technology have made our lives a lot easier and probably safer and healthier, there are limits to what science can do. If we choose to believe that the only reliable information comes from something we can put in a test tube then we by definition are ruling out the possibility of God.

23.    Have you come to know God well enough so that you consider Him/Them as personal friends? Are you comfortable in speaking to them? Is it possible to feel an intimate relationship with an unseen God?

24.    By definition, historical information cannot be tested in the laboratory. We certainly would not want to redo the second world war just to prove that it happened!

25.    The Bible is essentially a historical document. The earliest portions of Scripture go back beyond the point where we can verify any of its events through external sources. Does that mean that the history is unreliable?

26.    Isaiah 40-55 tells us that there are two main proofs for the existence and activity of God that set Him apart from all false deities: 1) The ability to create out of nothing, and 2) The ability to predict the future far in advance. Is it any surprise that the Devil has most vigorously tried to destroy the biblical evidence for those characteristics of God?

27.    With our very busy schedules and multitudinous distractions in the 21st century, it is hard to find time to take the Bible seriously and to read it in a meaningful way. However, if we do not, we will never be able to have a meaningful relationship with God. There is plenty of evidence to indicate that even among church-attending members very few of them make the Bible a regular, daily study. So, how can we make Bible study meaningful for modern men and women? Our Bible study guide suggests the use of the inductive method of Bible study. That involves reading a passage carefully known as: 1) observation, then seeking to 2) interpret it as best we can, then trying 3) to personalize it by placing ourselves in the story mentally, and then thinking about how it might 4) apply to us as individuals.

28.    While we recognize that this methodology is useful, we would like to suggest some additional guidance. In effect, the Bible is a letter from God to us. The most important question of all is what it says about its Author. Every story and every passage from Genesis to the end of Revelation needs to be read asking ourselves the question: What does this story or passage or book say to us about God? On our website at www.theox.org, there are available teacher’s guides and study guides focusing on this question for most of the books of the Bible. We believe this makes Bible study a lot more interesting, personal, and meaningful. Try it for yourself and see what you think. We would love to receive feedback of any kind from you.

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know. Info@theox.org

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Fundamental Beliefs: Mankind: God’s Handiwork

Lesson #3 for October 20, 2012

Scriptures: [Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12-19; Genesis 1:26; Mark 12:13-17; Genesis 2:19-25; Acts 17:26][27].

1.    This lesson is about us-human beings originally made in the image of God and what happened that caused many of us to end up being more like the image of Satan.

2.    The four existential questions have challenge the thinking of human beings from ancient times. 1) Where did we come from? 2) Where are we going after we die? 3) Why are we here? And, 4) how do we accomplish the best good in this life? Where should we look for answers to these challenging questions?

3.    Scripture-God’s letter to us-gives us the only authoritative answers to these questions. We didn’t just happen! We were designed by a divine Creator and intended to become like Him/Them.

4.    In an effort to escape from the overbearing and repressive church of the dark ages thinkers sought to find some other explanation for the existential questions. They did not want to believe that they were ultimately responsible to a God would bring them into judgment and burn them in hell fire. (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14; Revelation 20:12,13)[28]

5.    Many years ago a young teenager living in the city of Los Angeles became interested in the game of soccer. Few Americans knew about or cared about soccer at that point in time. Near where he lived on the campus of the University of California at Los Angeles, soccer was played on Sunday afternoons. He always made sure that he was there to watch the games. In fact he arrived early. A professor from UCLA, a doctor whose specialty was the history of science also was interested in soccer. The two of them sat on the bleachers and fell into conversation.

6.    After weeks of discussing back and forth the merits of evolution versus creation the young teenager on one Sunday afternoon thought of a different approach: he said to the history professor, “Since neither one of us were there when everything began and since you will not accept the biblical record as authoritative from Someone who was there, let’s move to the other end of history and talk about us now. Let us suppose that evolution is the correct explanation for our origins. That is, suppose that from that day until this progress has been made by the strong dominating the weak by the destruction of weaker beings with no thought of any moral implications and everything else that Darwinian evolution implies. By contrast let us consider a society in which God created us to be His children, with all of us loving each other and loving Him.” Then the teenager turned to the history professor and said, “Which of those two societies would you rather live in? The history of science professor thought for a moment and said, “You got me!”

7.    If society came about through a long line of developing single-celled organisms which eventually developed into amphibians then into fish and birds and next into mammals and eventually into man then human beings must chart their own course into the future.

8.    By contrast God carefully designed human beings with a plan that they should grow to be more and more like Him. He created us male and female each with a different set of dominant characteristics so that in a truly Christian marriage relationship we could learn from each other and thus become truly more like God. Creation was no haphazard chance event.

9.    If we developed out of “nothing” we might be able to decide our own course of action without reference to a Divine Being who will someday judge us for what we have done, but we also then must accept the fact that there is nothing beyond this life.

10.    How do we explain the fact that while the mass media and the scientific community constantly promote the idea that we developed completely by chance without any supernatural intervention and yet at the same time when there is some kind of a natural or man-made disaster the media immediately suggest we all should pray for God to help us resolve the problem?

11.    Read [Jude 14, Romans 5:12-21, and 1 Corinthians 15:20-22][29]. Many other texts could be cited as well as evidence for the fact that throughout Scripture both Old Testament and New Testament, the prophets and apostles do not try to explain creation but simply accept it as a historical fact. Is that naive? Why do so many scholars even biblical scholars regard the story of Adam-in fact all of Genesis 1-11 as nothing more than mythical events wrapped in undiscoverable ancient mystery and which are nothing more than symbols of ideas or events of which we can not prove anything?

12.    Read Genesis 1:26,27[30]. Is there any question about God’s intention and plan for the human race? Think how far we have fallen from God’s original plan that we all should be living in the Garden of Eden. We should be living in loving relationships with not only other human beings and God but even taking loving care of all the other creatures God has made.

13.    Read Mark 12:13-17[31]. The Pharisees had come to Jesus with a hidden agenda which they hoped to use to trap Him. Jesus, of course, immediately saw through their plot and asked to be shown the coin which was used to pay the temple tax.

Jesus’ practical message seems to be “‘Give your money to Caesar; it has his image on it, and thus it belongs to him. But give yourselves to God. You bear his image, and you belong to him.’”-Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1998), p. 515.

14.    Are we acting like we truly belong to God?

15.    Ellen White tells us that at the third coming of Jesus there will be a giant panorama shown in the sky reviewing the truth about the events in the history of sin and the plan of salvation. (4SP 481.2[32]; GC 666.3[33]; SR 423.1[34]; Mar 343.2[35]) Try to imagine what it was like when Adam and then Eve were first created. What was that first Sabbath like? How was it celebrated? How did Adam under the inspiration of God name all the animals in one afternoon? Did he just name the large animal groups or did he get into more detail? How did he pick out those names? The only knowledge he could have possibly had at that point in time was knowledge which had been given him by God. And with his perfect memory Adam knew each of the animals from that time on.

16.    But he also discovered that there were no other creatures exactly like himself. Read Genesis 2:20-25[36]. God clearly had many different ways in which he could have made a companion for Adam. He could have made her in the same way He had made him. But God made her from a rib of Adam to teach both of them and us that the entire human race is descended from a single human body. We were intended to live in relationships. We were intended to love each other, to care about each other, and to depend on each other as we live and work together. This should have been our first line of defense against the terrible evil of selfishness.

17.    Read [Genesis 1:27; 3:20 and Acts 17:26][37]. We are all part of an unbroken chain. No human life has developed apart from this one original pair of human beings.

18.    If we accept some form of the evolutionary model then we have a hard time trying to explain where sin came from. If we came about by chance what makes one kind of action good, and another kind of action evil? Is good determined by whatever gives one person dominance over others? If evolution and “survival of the fittest” or more accurately “survival of those who survive” is the explanation for where we came from then violence, selfishness, and dominance of the strong over the weaker preceded perhaps by millions of years the very idea of sin.

19.    Did death actually precede sin? This is about as far away from the biblical model as one could imagine.

20.    What is the purpose of a plan of salvation if God doesn’t exist and there never will be any supernatural intervention into human history?

21.    First Corinthians 15:26[38] calls death the “last enemy.” How can death be the last enemy if it was part of God’s original plan in developing a human race or if we just came about by chance and natural selection? Once again we see that the biblical record is in diametrical opposition to the ideas of evolution. Read Paul’s comments in [Romans 5:12-19 and Colossians 3:10][39]. We certainly could not call these comments inspired if they don’t represent the truth. Ellen White speaks about a threefold curse that came on the human race as a result of 1) Adam’s fall then 2) Cain’s murder of Abel and 3) The terrible deterioration into almost total depravity that led to the flood. Could the people who lived before the flood have been more evil than the world is today?

22.    Fortunately, the Bible doesn’t just talk about our fallen deterioration. Read [Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; and Ephesians 4:23,24][40]. God in His foreknowledge knew what would happen when we sinned. And before we had even done that He had put in place a plan whereby we could not only recover from sin but grow into the image of our older Brother, Jesus Christ. Human beings are designed so that we can become like what we focus on and think about every day. (GC 555.1[41]) So Jesus Christ by coming and showing us the kind of lives we should live and answering the questions in the great controversy-forever defeating Satan’s claims against God-has made it possible to us to be restored to a right relationship with God.

23.    We can be renewed every morning into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ or otherwise Satan will find his way into our environment and our lives and wreak havoc.

24.    But Satan will do everything possible to prevent this restoration into God’s image. (Galatians 5:16,17; Ephesians 6:10-13)[42]

The true object of education is to restore the image of God in the soul. In the beginning God created man in His own likeness. He endowed him with noble qualities. His mind was well balanced, and all the powers of his being were harmonious. But the Fall and its effects have perverted these gifts. Sin has marred and well-nigh obliterated the image of God in man. It was to restore this that the plan of salvation was devised, and a life of probation was granted to man. To bring him back to the perfection in which he was first created, is the great object of life,-the object that underlies every other. It is the work of parents and teachers, in the education of the youth, to co-operate with the divine purpose; and in so doing they are “laborers together with God.” [1 Corinthians 3:9.] —Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 595.2; CE63.3; 1MCP 359.2; compare RH, Aug 19, 1884, par. 2; FE 82.1; 1MCP 99.2; 5T 322.1; ST, January 31, 1884 par. 10.

25.    So many people in our day have taken science to be their “god.” Anything that supposedly is scientific must be true. If this is true how do we explain the fact that the two most foundational teachings of physics-quantum theory and general relativity—directly contradict each other? The very idea of progress through evolution is a contradiction of the second law of thermodynamics.

26.    Should we, for whatever reason, reject the biblical explanation of our origins and pretend to set our own course in the future? Or should we recognize that a supernatural Supreme Being is in control of the entire universe and has our best interests at heart. Should our primary motivation be love, fellowship even brotherhood and sisterhood or should we be motivated to dominate all around us as far as possible?

27.    If we recognize that we are created with the intention of becoming more and more like God then you must accept our God-given responsibilities. We must do our best to resist Satan and his temptations.

28.    How do you personally answer the great existential questions? Or do you choose not to think about them?

29.    When you read Genesis 1:1-2:3[43] how does it make you feel?

We learn that God stands at the beginning of, and behind, all things. Pastor and biblical scholar James Montgomery Boice comments, “Grammatically speaking, there is only one subject in all these verses: God Himself. Everything else is object. Objects are acted upon. Light, air, water, dry land, vegetation, sun, moon, stars, fish, birds, land animals—all are objects in a creative process where God alone is subject. In these verses we are told that God ‘saw’ (vss. 4,10,12,18,21,25), ‘separated’ (vss. 4,7), ‘called’ (vss. 5,8,10), ‘made’ (vss. 7,16,25), ‘set’ (vs. 17), ‘created’ (vss. 21,27), and explained to the man and woman what he had done (vss. 28-30). Moreover, before that, God spoke (vss. 3,6,9,14,20), as a result of which everything else unfolded.”—Genesis, an ExpositionalCommentary, vol. 1, Genesis 1-11 (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1998), pp. 81,82. (Quoted in Adult Teacher’s Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, p. 37.

30.    God not only created us to live in wonderful fellowship with Himself but gave us the Sabbath every week as an opportunity to set aside all our daily responsibilities and focus on that relationship. Would you like to celebrate someday a Sabbath like that first one at the beginning of creation? When God re-creates the world at the third coming don’t you suppose that we will be able to celebrate our first Sabbath in the new earth much like they did that first Sabbath in the Garden of Eden? Wouldn’t you like to be there?

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.    Info@theox.org

Fundamental Beliefs - #3, page 4 of 4

Fundamental Beliefs Salvation: The Only Solution

Lesson #4 for October 27, 2012

Scriptures: John 2:25; Jeremiah 17:9; Titus 1:1,2; Romans 3:19-24; Acts 2:36-38; Luke 7:47; Ephesians 2:1-5[44]

1.    This lesson will focus on the enormous problem of sin and what God has done to deal with it. (Romans 8:3)[45]

2.    When talking about the sin problem, we must recognize that sin began in heaven-right next to the throne of God in the heavenly sanctuary! (Revelation 12:1-12[46]) It did not start in the Garden of Eden.

3.    Sin has been described in many ways. The scriptural definitions of sin are found in (1 John 3:4; James 4:17; and Romans 14:23)[47]. No doubt, Paul's definition in Romans is the most fundamental of all. Whatever takes us farther away from God is sin. The only thing which brings us back to God is faith. Every time we sin, we are saying that we know better than God does what is best for us at that m om ent!

4.    The Greek word pistis translated faith, trust, belief, or confidence is the only basis for salvation. (Acts 16:31[48]) And what is faith?

Faith is just a word we use to describe a relationship with God as with a Person well known. The better we know Him, the better the relationship may be.

Faith implies an attitude toward God of love, trust, and deepest admiration. It means having enough confidence in God-based on the more-than-adequate evidence revealed-to be willing to believe what He says-as soon as we are sure He is the One saying it-to accept what He offers-as soon as we are sure He is the One offering it-and to do what He wishes-as soon as we are sure He is the One wishing it-without reservation for the rest of eternity. Anyone who has such faith would be perfectly safe to save. This is why faith is the only requirement for heaven.

Faith also means that, like Abraham and Moses, we know God well enough to reverently ask Him, “Why?” (A. Graham Maxwell)

5.    Dr. Edward Heppenstall who was a great theologian, university professor, and theological seminary teacher pointed out on various occasions that sin can never be stamped out no matter how hard we try. Sin can only be crowded out by filling our lives with God and godly activities which focus on our lives and how we can live more like Jesus Christ. Elbert Hubbard said, “Men are not punished for their sins, but by them.” And Matthew Ronald responded, “If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.”

6.    Salvation means healing. And God can heal all the damage done if we just allow Him to. But, God's solution is much larger than dealing with sin on this earth. The questions and accusations raised by Lucifer/Satan against God must be answered, and all doubts about God must be resolved even among the loyal members of the universe. God had to prove before the eyes of the universe that He was the One who could be trusted rather than Lucifer/Satan. But, the same evidence used to convince angels and the beings in the rest of the universe is also what convinces us if we are willing to consider it carefully. Justification, sanctification, even salvation are long Latin terms which many do not fully understand. However, it may not be necessary to understand all the nuances of these terms. Every one of them happens by faith. Our part is not the justification, sanctification, or salvation but the faith. If we can come to trust God, He can and will do whatever is necessary to heal and save us.

7.    We live in a world awash in sin. It is all around us and it seems to be getting worse all the time. But, God has promised that He can deal with the sin problem even on this sinful planet. The whole universe is watching to see what God will do. (1 Corinthians 4:9[49])

8.    Even though God is in no way responsible for sin, He knew it was coming since He has foreknowledge. His plan to deal with sin was already in place when sin occurred even in heaven. (Revelation 14:6,7; Titus 1:1,2; Ephesians 1:3-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Revelation 13:8)[50]

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As soon as there was sin, there was a Saviour. Christ knew that He would have to suffer, yet He became man's substitute. As soon as Adam sinned, the Son of God presented Himself as surety for the human race, with just as much power to avert the doom pronounced upon the guilty as when He died upon the cross of Calvary.-Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 1084.8; FLB 75.4; AG 23.6; RH Mar. 12, 1901, par. 5.

9.    When sin occurred here on this earth, God needed to take immediate action because apart from Him we are dead. (Isaiah 59:2; Acts 17:28)[51] “Every pulsation of the heart is a rebound from the touch of the finger of God.” (RH, December 2, 1890 paragraph 15) In every way-physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually-we are dependent upon God moment-by-moment.

10.    So, what was God's plan? God has always hoped to save every one of His own children, even Lucifer/Satan. However, He knows that will not be possible. However, God has put in place a plan to save everyone who is willing to cooperate. It is His ultimate goal for all of His children to live together in peace, love, and harmony for the rest of eternity.

11.    There are many passages in Scripture suggesting that sin is deadly, and there is nothing that we as human beings on our own can do about it. (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 5:12; Revelation 22:11; Genesis 3:15; 4:4; 12:1-3; Exodus 25:8)[52] The entire sacrificial system of the Old Testament was supposed to teach them that sin is very deadly. Unfortunately, being surrounded by sin every day, we become familiar with sin and begin to feel that it is almost normal.

12.    Alexander Pope wrote those famous words: “Vice is a monster of such frightful mien. That to be hated needs but to be seen, but seen too oft, familiar with her face we first endure, then pity, then embrace.”

13.    How can we deal with that deadly disease? Left by ourselves or perhaps to the devices of Satan, we would all be destroyed. In fact, Satan claimed that every human being who is born on this earth will sooner or later become a sinner. Jesus proved him wrong. Satan claimed that everyone who died-even in the first death and certainly in the second death-belonged to him. Jesus once again proved him wrong.

14.    Why does the life and death of Jesus solve the sin problem? How does the cross affect my salvation? Was He paying a debt incurred by our sin and required by our righteous or offended or even angry God? Or, was there some larger reason why He came to live and die here on this earth? Read (Luke 18:9-14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:19-24,28; Zechariah 3:1-5)[53]. The tax collector in Christ's story realized his need and asked for the help that God was more than willing to give. The Pharisee got no help because he felt no need.

15.    Salvation means healing and includes much more than forgiveness of sin. It includes a restoration to a right relationship with God. That takes place when we come to realize the truth about Him, His character, what He has done for us, and how He runs His government. Christ's punishment came from the Devil and human beings and was certainly not sent by God!

Dikaioo-[the word translated justification] - to cause someone to be in a proper or right relation with someone else—‘to put right with, to cause to be in a right relationship with.'—Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (451).

New York: United Bible Societies.

16.    If we exercise our faith in God, He will set us right (justification) and He will keep us right (sanctification). (See #21 of the handout for Lesson 2) Notice that neither of those things is anything that we do. It is something that the Holy Spirit does in us if we give Him opportunity. As we exercise faith in God, we learn that God can and will save and heal all who trust Him. Those are the kind of people-the ones who trust God-that He can safely accept into His future kingdom.

17.    There are many steps that have been suggested as part of the salvation process: repentance, confession, forgiveness, justification, and sanctification are just a few of the steps mentioned in Scripture. But, we as human beings do not need to understand all the details of each of those steps. If we come to God and are willing to spend time with Him in Bible study and prayer, God is forgiveness personified. He is just waiting to do whatever is necessary to help us if we give Him the opportunity. He can set us right and keep us right only by faith; that means we have to be willing to

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spend time with Him in Bible study, prayer, and witnessing.

It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross. {DA 83.4}

18.    The book of Romans-especially the first eight chapters-are the clearest presentation of the plan of salvation in all of Scripture. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith we cannot please God. Romans 2:4 suggests that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. And repentance-true repentance-would lead to justification. (Romans 2:4[54]) But, once again, remember that all of this is based on faith. And where does faith come from? Romans 10:17[55] tells us that faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God or the preaching about Christ. If we continue to trust in God, we will receive forgiveness. (Luke 7:47; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 4:7)[56] God will accept us back as His children. (Romans 5:16,18; Romans 8:1)[57] If we continue to grow in this relationship called faith, we will eventually receive eternal life. (Ephesians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17)[58]

19.    If we doubt God's ability to heal and save because we feel that our past has been too sinful, then we are challenging God's ability as a healing Physician. God can heal any problem that we might have if we are willing to give Him the opportunity. Our past life might seem like nothing more than “filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6[59]) But, when Christ comes and we accept His plan for our lives, He will remove those filthy rags and place on us the robe of righteousness. (Zechariah 3:1-5[60])

20.    Christ's life and death answered all the questions. God cleared up everything in the eyes of the onlooking universe. Because of the cross and what it represents, they have come to fully trust Him again. All of Satan's accusations have been refuted. There are no more questions or doubts left in the minds of the beings in the rest of the universe. Now they are in full agreement with God's plans, and they are all watching to see what will happen here on planet earth. (1 Corinthians 4:9; DA 764[61])

21.    How can we be changed from being unrepentant sinners to being children of God? Such a radical change is described as the new birth. (John 3) But, if we are willing to spend time with God and His Word and having conversations with Him in prayer, by that very behavior we will be changed. (Great Controversy 555.1[62])

22.    When we return to faith in God, we no longer need to be concerned about God's wrath. As we have stated many times before, God's wrath is simply His turning away in loving disappointment from those who do not want Him anyway, thus leaving them to the inevitable and awful consequences of their own rebellious choices.

23.    Unfortunately, while many claim to be Christians and want to experience eternal life, far too many of us are too busy, too concerned with our own progress at work or school, etc. to find time to spend with God. Remember that we cannot actually change ourselves. God is the One who does the changing. We just need to give Him opportunity.

24.    Anything that separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2[63]) is deadly, and not just this sleep death that we know about. Sin can separate us eternally from God. The cross was God's way of demonstrating His own righteousness. (Romans 3:25,26) If we understand all that happened in the Garden of Gethsemane and later on the cross, we will recognize that God is the One who has told the truth in the great controversy. The Devil has not told the truth. This should lead us to place our complete trust in God.

25.    What actually happens when we repent and confess our sins? Does God's attitude toward us need to be changed? Absolutely not! He has always loved us. (John 3:16[64]) We have always been His children, and He is waiting for us to come back. It is our attitude toward Him that needs to change. Does our legal standing before God need to change? Who determines what our legal standing actually is? Is there a law even above God that He must comply with when saving sinners?

26.    Superficially, it may seem like a simple thing to choose God and reject the Devil. However, remember that one-third of the angels living in the very presence of God were deceived and followed Satan. They were not sure who could be trusted! Someday, Satan will again appear in human form

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pretended to be Christ and claiming that he can save us. Will we be able to clearly distinguish between the true Christ and the false christ?

27.    The only way to distinguish between a counterfeit and the true is to know the truth so well that we cannot be deceived. God has only asked us to do three things: 1) to study our Bibles, contemplating especially the life of Christ; 2) to pray; and 3) to witness. The reason why we need to study our Bibles and pray should be obvious. That is how we carry on our conversations with God. And we need to be as honest as possible with Him. Witnessing is necessary because it is only when we have to explain things to someone else that we get it clear in our own minds!

28.    Our Bible study guide says that we must be very clear in distinguishing between subjective and objective atonement. What is the difference?

29.    Salvation means healing. Why do we need to focus so much on the first steps in the plan of salvation without going on to see what happens next? When will we move on? (Hebrews 5:11-6:3; Ephesians 4:11-16)[65]

30.    Satan has been incredibly successful at misrepresenting the character of God and deceiving angels and human beings here on this earth. We have believed all sorts of awful things about God. How are these issues to be straightened out? The only way was for God Himself to come and live and die the way He did. Jesus was fully God. For 33 years, we had an opportunity to see what it would be like to have God here among us. No angel could correctly and fully represent God; only God could do that.

31.    The beginning Christian should stand at the foot of the cross and be moved by Christ's great sacrifice for each one of us. As we mature in our Christianity, we need to ask more in-depth questions: Why did Jesus have to die? How can His death 2000 years ago impact my life in the 21st century? Did He need to die to produce a change in God's attitude toward us? Or, our attitude toward Him? Or, perhaps for some legal reason?

32.    The great controversy is not over some legal technicality. It is a war over real differences: Who God is versus what Satan claims about Him. God's government operates on love; Satan's government operates on selfishness. Satan believes that given the opportunity each one of us would choose to be selfish.

33.    Sin is a rebellion against God. [1 John 3:4[66]] In heaven sin began with Lucifer's rebellion against God (Isa. 14:12-15, John 8:44)[67]. On earth, it began with the disobedience of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3, Rom. 5:12). “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). [Sin is rebelliousness] Thus, sin is not simply a wrongful act-as in driving through a red light-but an actual revolt against God (Ps. 51:4, Isa. 1:2)[68]. Moreover, it is both a refusal to be subject to Him (Rom. 8:7[69]) and a choice to live in enmity with Him (Rom. 5:10, Col. 1:21)[70]. (Adult Teacher’s Bible Study Guide, p. 52)

34.    Jesus came to deal with sin. (Romans 8:3[71]) Through Jesus Christ, God was reconciling us to Himself. (2 Corinthians 5:19[72]) God's love for us has never changed. We are the ones who need to learn the truth about Him, return to our trust in Him, and be reconciled to Him.

35.    Through faith in Him, we have forgiveness of sin and redemption (Eph. 1:7-8[73]), justification (Gal. 2:16[74]), and “righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30, NKJV[75]). Nothing essential to a new life is spared, and we become the children of God (Rom. 8:14[76]). We receive the gift of eternal life (Rom. 5:21, 6:23; 1 John 2:25)[77].

(Adult Teacher’s Bible Study Guide, p. 52)

36.    This requires cooperation on our part. By beholding we become changed. We allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and in our minds. We cannot make these changes. Only God can. But, even He cannot do anything without our cooperation.

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.    Info@theox.org

Fundamental Beliefs - #4 - page 4 of 4

Fundamental Beliefs Growing in Christ

Lesson #5 for November 3, 2012

Scriptures: (Isaiah 35:10; Mark 10:45; Romans 6:12-23; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:16; Galatians 4:1-11; Colossians 2:15)[78].

1.    This lesson will focus on some of the many things Jesus accomplished by His death on the cross. Did Jesus have to die? Why did Jesus have to die?

2.    Was the death of Jesus on the cross primarily for the benefit of human beings? And how does that relate to the demonic forces in the universe? Do those who carefully study the crucifixion and its implications manage to benefit more from it than those who only study it casually?

3.    What are some of the aspects that separate Christianity from other religions?

The principle that man can save himself by his own works lay at the foundation of every heathen religion; it had now become the principle of the Jewish religion. Satan had implanted this principle. Wherever it is held, men have no barrier against sin. (Desire of Ages 35.2[79])

4.    The Christian religion stands apart from every other religion for several reasons: Our God came down from heaven, lived a meritorious life, died a criminal’s death, rose from the grave, returned to heaven, and promised to come back to take us to be with Him for eternity. Nothing that we have done or can do-or for that matter ever could do-would take the place of what God did.

5.    According to the Bible, anyone who does not have Christ is a slave to sin (John 8:34) and under a death sentence. (Romans 6:23) “Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.” (Acts 4:12) Thus, Christianity is a religion based on the fact that God has reached down to this planet to save us.

6.    (Read Isaiah 35:10; Mark 10:45; Galatians 4:4-5; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:12; and 1 Peter 1:18-19)[80]. These verses make it clear that Christ has freed us from sin, grief, sorrow, death, and numerous other evils.

7.    The New Testament suggests that Christ’s death is both sacrificial and substitutionary. What do these terms mean? Christ’s death was sacrificial in that He was willing to die to accomplish what needed to be done. He came to this earth to live as He did and to die as He did because He loves us.

8.    In what sense is Christ’s death substitutionary? Was someone demanding the payment of a debt? How does what Christ did make your life today different? Hopefully, no Christian would argue with the fact that if Christ had not come and died we could not be saved. But, why is that?

9.    As asked by the literary character Bozo/Boso in Anselm’s (c. 1033-1109) CurDeus Homo:

If God could only save sinners by condemning the Innocent, is He truly omnipotent? If, on the other hand, He could, but is not willing to do so, how are we to think of Him as wise and just? What justice could there possibly be in accepting the death of the most innocent Man who ever lived in place of the guilty?

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No human legal system would accept that, so how can God do such a thing? And if this “legal” transaction makes it possible for God to save sinners because they are “covered with the righteousness of Christ,” would that suggest that we are brought into heaven without God the Father realizing that we are still sinners? Is that legal fiction?

10.    When the New Testament speaks of redemption, then, unless our linguistics are at fault, it means that Christ has paid the price of our redemption. To the extent that the price paid must be adequate for the purchase in question this indicates an equivalence, a substitution.”—Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdman Publishing Co., 1965), p. 61.

11.    If we are to believe that God made a payment to purchase our salvation, to whom did He make the payment? And what price did He pay? Did God negotiate with the Devil for our salvation?

12.    Read Romans 6:12-23[81]. Jesus Himself made it very clear that we cannot serve God and the world at the same time. (Matthew 6:24) In Romans Paul said we either serve sin or we serve righteousness. In fact, we are a slave to one or the other. What does it mean to be a slave to sin? What does it mean to be a slave to righteousness?

13.    In Romans 6:1-3[82], Paul discussed what is supposed to happen at baptism. Can we actually bury our old selves in the waters of baptism? Unfortunately, sin leaves scars. The change that comes when we accept Christ does not automatically take away all the effects of past sin and certainly does not take away our evil habits!

14.    This is no fault on the part of God. He may treat us as if we had never sinned, but our nervous system does not. We may theologically be dead to our sins and freed from them, but the Devil will do everything possible to remind us of those sins whenever He can!

15.    But, there is a transformation possible. That transformation happens on a daily basis as we get to know God and Jesus Christ better and better. By beholding we become changed. (Great Controversy 555.1) It is not easy to die to sin.

16.    We do not like to think of ourselves as slaves. So, what does it mean to be a slave to righteousness? And how can slavery to righteousness be the same as real freedom?

17.    Read (1 John 3:8; 5:19; John 12:31; 16:11; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:16; 2:15; and Romans 8:38,39)[83]. These verses make it very clear that the Creator of the universe has more than enough power to free us from sin. Unfortunately, they also make it clear that anyone who continues to sin belongs to the Devil! How does this fit with the fact that Christ has already judged and condemned the Devil? Hasn’t God won the great controversy? Don’t we believe that the Devil is ultimately defeated?

18.    We read of people in New Testament times who were demon-possessed. Conservative Christians believe that was a reality. Unfortunately, many people in our day have a very naturalistic and scientific worldview, and they think that such things as demon possession are ideas from an age of superstition and ignorance. While the Bible is scientifically accurate in many respects, it also draws back the curtain of the supernatural world which we otherwise would know nothing about. So, why don’t we see demon possession today? Or, do we?

19.    While there are apparently clear examples of demon possession in more primitive parts of the world even today, apparently, it does not suit Satan’s purposes in developed countries to work that openly. He exerts his power through “natural” forces. People who are

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controlled by circumstances outside of themselves are making themselves open to demon possession because Satan will eventually find ways to manipulate those circumstances and control them.

20.    Seventh-day Adventists believe in the great controversy between God and Satan over the character and government of God. Ellen White wrote her opus magnum the five-volume series known as The Conflict of the Ages in which she spelled out in considerable detail that great controversy. As you understand the great controversy, how does it impact your life on a day-by-day basis? Satan is alive and well on planet earth. And he works through many channels. Read (Colossians 2:8,14,20; Galatians 4:1-11)[84]. Some of Satan’s tools include the worthless deceit of human wisdom, our record of past sins, even slavery to the weak and pitiful ruling spirits of this world. We may not fully understand exactly what Paul had in mind when he spoke of these things; but surely, everyone of us has had experience with the temptations and power of the Devil.

21.    Christ has promised us victory from this bondage to sin. How do we claim that? How do we make Christ and God the top priority in our lives? If we spend almost all of our time trying to keep up with worldly pursuits and have little time for Bible study, prayer, and witnessing, we will find ourselves becoming more and more transformed into the image of the world with which we spend our time. If we want to become more like God, we need to spend more time with Him.

22.    So, if the Devil has been defeated and Christ has already gained the victory, why does God still allow the Devil to roam about like a lion looking for prey to devour? (1 Peter 5:8[85]) Colossians 2:15[86] suggests that Christ has stripped the Devil of his weapons and his armor. But, the Devil is still working very successfully-unfortunately, often through religions and religious leaders. Read John 8[87], especially John 8:44.

After Christ’s death, Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. His administration was laid open before the unfallen angels and before the heavenly universe. He had revealed himself as a murderer. By shedding the blood of the Son of God, he had uprooted himself from the sympathies of the heavenly beings. Henceforth his work was restricted. Whatever attitude he might assume, he could no longer await the angels as they came from the heavenly courts, and before them accuse Christ’s brethren of being clothed with the garments of blackness and the defilement of sin. The last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken.

Yet Satan was not then destroyed. The angels did not even then understand all that was involved in the great controversy. The principles at stake were to be more fully revealed. And for the sake of man, Satan’s existence must be continued. Man as well as angels must see the contrast between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness. He must choose whom he will serve.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 761.

A battle unseen by human eyes is being waged. The army of the Lord is on the ground, seeking to save souls. Satan and his host are also at work, trying in every possible way to deceive and destroy. . . . Day by day the battle goes on. If our eyes could be opened to see the good and evil agencies at work, there would be no trifling, no vanity, no jesting or joking. If all would put on the whole armor of God and fight manfully the battles of the Lord, victories would be gained that would cause the kingdom of darkness to tremble.-EllenG. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 41.

23.    What are some of the Devil’s methods of trying to frighten, intimidate and tempt us? Read Hebrews 2:14,15[88]. What does Hebrews imply about our fear of death? Very often, fear is our response to the unknown. Look at the experience of the disciples. When Christ was crucified and they realized that He was dead and buried, they went into deep mourning, hiding in the upper room behind locked doors. They were certain that they were going to be next.

24.    But, look at what happened to the disciples a few weeks later after the Ascension and Pentecost. They were transformed by their new understanding of what Christianity was all about, and they had no further fear of death. (Acts 4:13[89])

25.    So, what did Christ accomplish in Gethsemane and on Calvary that so completely defeated the Devil? Back in the beginning, God had said that sin leads to death. (Genesis 2:17[90]) In effect, the Devil said, “That’s not true!” (See Genesis 3:1-5[91]) So, who is telling us the truth? When Jesus drank the cup of suffering even in the Garden of Gethsemane before anyone had touched Him, He fell dying to the ground. (Desire of Ages 693.1[92]) God had to send an angel to revive Him so that He could go out and go through that whole incredible experience of trials, beatings, and crucifixion. But, Jesus had already demonstrated to the entire universe that sin kills—not only in the first death but also in the second death. He did it again on Calvary. He did not die of crucifixion. Death from crucifixion usually took days.

26.    Following the death of Abel, Satan began to claim that the reason people were dying was that God was upset at them for sinning. Thus, God was the One responsible for their deaths. But, what did Jesus say when He died? Did He say, “My God, My God, why are you killing Me?” No! He said, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” (Matthew 27:46[93]) And incredible as it may seem, the one group of people who claimed to be the closest followers of God were the ones who were out there crucifying their Messiah and God and hoping to get Him buried on time so they could rush home and keep Sabbath in honor of the One they had just crucified!

27.    Satan had tried to claim that He should be treated as equal with Christ. God had said that is not possible because Satan is a creature and not a Creator and not God. On Resurrection Sunday morning, Jesus arose in His Own power and returned to heaven, thus proving that He is God. (John 10:17,18; 2:19; Desire of Ages 785.2)[94]

28.    Satan’s accusations and questions raising doubts about God have been totally answered and refuted. In the eyes of the onlooking universe, the great controversy was over 2000 years ago. It is only here on this earth that we have not yet understood all that God through Christ intended to teach us. When will we learn?

29.    Does understanding how Christ defeated Satan help us in our battles against Satan? Does it help to know that he is a defeated foe? Do you have any questions about whether or not he is fully defeated?

30.    © 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.    Info@theox.org

Fundamental Beliefs - #5 - page 4 of 4

Victory over Evil Forces

Lesson #6 for November 10, 2012

Scriptures: [Ephesians 1:18-22; Romans 8:26-39; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:6-10; Luke 10:1-20; Acts 5:12-16][95].

1.    This lesson will focus on how Christians are to claim victory in Christ.

2.    When Jesus sent out His disciples on each of their various missionary trips-there were three that we know about in Galilee and one in Perea. He gave them power over demonic forces and power to heal the sick and even to raise the dead. Why don’t we have more information about exactly what they accomplished? (John 21:25)[96]

3.    Should we be performing more miracles today? How should we relate to those who claim miracle-working power? Television evangelists perform a "miracle” and then suggest that since they have been able to perform that miracle, they must have a direct connection with God. They imply that, therefore, whatever else they say must be the truth! Are they correct?

4.    What does victory in Christ actually mean? Is there a relationship between claiming victory and actually being victorious? As they pass through the seven last plagues, will the 144,000 claim victory? What is the relationship between claiming victory and actually being victorious?

5.    Is this talking about victory over sin? Or, victory over demons? Or, demonic forces? Could we ever say, "Satan has no power over me”? (John 14:30[97], GNB) Is it talking about victory over the challenges we face every day in our busy lives? Is Christianity intended to be a solution to the problems of everyday life? As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, we should be constantly aware of the fact that our minds are the battleground in the great controversy. We are not just dealing with forces and powers here on this earth. We are dealing with universe-wide issues.

6.    Let us make no mistake. God has already won the great controversy. That was accomplished by Christ 2000 years ago. Does that mean that Satan is a defeated foe? As you take on the challenge of temptations and problems in your own life, does it seem like Satan is a defeated foe? How can we preserve ourselves from Satan’s attacks?

7.    We know that the great controversy is a battle for minds. The basic question is, "Who is and has been telling us the truth?” Who should we trust? Was God telling us the truth when He said that sin leads to death? (Genesis 2:17)[98] Almost the very first words out of Satan’s mouth here on this earth were his accusation that God is a liar! (Genesis 3:1-5)[99]

8.    Do we live as if we believed God’s factual statement that sin leads to death? Do we recognize on a daily basis the truth of Paul’s statement in Ephesians 1:18-22[100]: The same power which raised Christ from the dead is at work in us? Now, Christ is at God’s right hand, ruling over all heavenly rulers, authorities, powers, and lords. So, what power was it that raised Christ from the dead? It was His own divinity! (John 10:18; John 2:18,19; DA 785.2; 5BC 1113.6) Does the fact that Christ has conquered all make it easier for you to deal with temptation?

9.    In the great controversy, there are two sides. Satan is constantly tempting us and then throwing our mistakes back at us and at God, claiming that we do not deserve heaven. [(Zechariah 3:1-5; Revelation 12:10-12)][101] But, we can take hope from Romans 8:26-39[102]. In

his marvelous climax to his explanation of the plan of salvation, Paul stated in these few verses that all three Members of Godhead are on our side. Furthermore, if we accept Their help and if we are willing to let Them work in our lives, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Are the angels in heaven being tempted even today?

10.    Read Romans 8:29,30[103]. There has been a conflict down through history over issues regarding predestination. But these verses should not trouble us because the word for predestination in Greek in these passages is pro-horizo. Its basic meaning suggests that God sets horizons for us at the time we are born. When we are born, our race is already determined. Our gender is already determined. As we grow up in a certain culture and language group, those factors are already determined. Thus, a horizon is set for us beyond which we cannot go. Some may believe that they are predestined to be lost. They may believe that the circumstances of their birth and life have been so bad that it is impossible to overcome them. Those people need to read and reread the following passages.

All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us. (DA 668.3)

Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church. (DA 671.2)

11.    We all need to consider the meaning of these passages. None of us has an excuse for not making any progress in the Christian life. The best help in the universe is available to us if we recognize it and claim it and allow God to work in us.

12.    James, Jesus’ older stepbrother, said in James 4:7, GNB: “So then, submit to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.” What is the best way for us to resist the Devil? One of the very important lessons we need to learn about dealing with temptation is to exercise that power at the very beginning of the temptation. The morbidly obese overeater should not first be thinking about resisting temptation with a donut already in his hand. The alcoholic should not first be thinking about giving up alcohol while sitting at the bar. We need to learn to resist the very first inclinations of temptation. We need to take a very firm stand (the meaning of resist in James 4:7) against the Devil. If your worries are getting you down, remember that Moses was once a “basket case”!

13.    Read 1 Peter 5:6-10[104]. It is scary to think that the Devil is going about like a roaring lion. But, Peter assured us that we should leave our worries to God who will help us to resist the Devil. He will help us with firmness, strength, and a sure foundation if we give Him the opportunity. By contrast, we must never give the Devil an opportunity. (Ephesians 4:27)[105] A large research study done in Spain recently discovered that whereas red wine has been touted as improving the health of one’s heart, it works best if the alcohol is removed!

14.    Peter wrote his two letters late in his ministry when he was probably already suffering persecution. As we know, he was eventually imprisoned in that hollowed-out rock prison known as the Mamertine prison and eventually crucified upside down in Rome. Through all of that, he encouraged those who are suffering.

15.    Read [Matthew 10:1-8; Mark 6:7,12,13; Luke 9:1,2; 10:1-20][106]. As we noted earlier in these examples, Jesus clearly gave His disciples the power to drive out demons, heal the sick, heal various diseases, cleanse lepers, even raise the dead. In Luke 10:18-20[107], (compare Luke 15:7,10)[108] the 72 disciples came back rejoicing that the demons obeyed them. What did Jesus mean when He said on that occasion, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven”? If we are to gain the victory over Satan in this period of our earth’s history, should we be performing exorcisms to prove it? Are there demons that we face that need to be cast out? If we are doing what God wants us to do, we must recognize that Satan will do whatever he can to oppose us.

16.    While he was hidden away in the Wartburg Castle, Martin Luther chose to translate the New Testament from Greek into German. It is reported that on one occasion while he was there, the Devil appeared to him in his room and tried to frighten him. Luther took an ink bottle and threw it at him. While ink bottles are probably not dangerous to demons, Luther apparently recognized the very real presence of the Devil. Surely, the Devil recognized what would be accomplished if Luther succeeded in finishing his work on the German translation of the Bible. Are we able to recognize the presence of the Devil in our lives?

17.    What is the key to victory over the Devil? In His last evening with His disciples, Jesus promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then He went on to explain a lot of things about what the Holy Spirit would be able to do with them if they were willing to cooperate with Him. (John 14-16)[109] Do those promises still apply to us? (John 17:20-26)[110]

18.    We know what the ultimate result was. When Jesus was crucified, the disciples were in terror, hiding behind locked doors in the upper room for fear that they would be next. But, when they realized that Jesus had risen from the dead and it began to dawn on them that the One that they had spent all that time with was, in fact, fully God, a tremendous transformation took place in their thinking. They came together, no longer fighting for the first position in an earthly kingdom, but as brothers and sisters claiming victory in Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit. When the early rain was poured out during Pentecost in Jerusalem, the results were evident.

19.    Ever after that, the disciples had the capacity to speak any language, the capacity to heal any disease, and even the capacity to raise people from the dead. Peter did it, (Acts 9:36-42)[111] and so did Paul. (Acts 20:9-12)[112] Paul, who was not there on that occasion but later became the most outstanding apostle of all, demonstrated his power to cast out demons in Philippi. (Acts 16:16-18)[113] It is interesting to note that on that occasion the demon-possessed woman called Paul and Silas "servants of the most high God.” (Elyon) It is possible that on that occasion she was referring to one of the Canaanite gods who was called Elyon (The Most High).

20.    Apparently, Peter and John became so famous in Jerusalem for their capacity to heal the sick and cleanse lepers that-as we read in Acts 5:12-16[114] -people would line the sick along the streets where they thought Peter would pass in hopes that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of the sick people and make them well. Do you think anyone was actually healed by Peter’s shadow? (Compare Acts 19:11,12)[115]

21.    How do you think the members of the Sanhedrin responded when they saw people lying in the streets and hoping Peter would pass by after they had denied Peter’s ability to heal the sick? Remember that they had forbidden Peter and John to even speak in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:18-21)[116]

22.    It is interesting to observe that the Christians were not afraid to meet in the temple

courtyard. They met in a place called Solomon’s Porch. (Acts 5:12)[117] As they fellowshipped together and listened to various people speak, many were added to their group.

23.    Is it important for us to recognize Satan’s power? Do we need to study how he tempts people? What are Satan’s most successful temptations? Pride, wealth, power, etc.

24.    While we may need to have some knowledge of Satan’s activities, it is far more important for us to recognize how Christ overcame him. And we can do the same.

25.    Read Galatians 5:19-23[118]. These verses tell us about the results of Satan’s work in contrast with the results of the fruit of the Holy Spirit which it is possible to have in our lives. Many Christians believe that they must pray for the Holy Spirit to take control of their lives. But, there are several problems with that approach. If you pray for the Holy Spirit to take control of your life and you continue to sin, are you going to blame the Holy Spirit for your sins? And how can you know for sure it is not Satan who is actually taking control of your life?

26.    Furthermore, it is very interesting to note that the last portion of the fruit of the Spirit is selfcontrol. God does not want to take us into heaven as robots which He controls like puppets on strings. He can only admit to heaven people who have learned the truth well enough and understand God well enough so they choose to do what is right because it is right. Thus, when the Holy Spirit has finished His work, He can step aside, and we will exercise our self-control in the right way. Read again Desire of Ages 668.3 as above in Item #10.

27.    In 1 Peter 3-5, Peter spoke a great deal about suffering. Once again, we are reminded that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” (Read 1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11)[119] Paul added that all who live godly lives will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)[120] We live at a time and a place in history when persecution is almost unheard of. Is that because we are not living godly lives? Compare Paul’s life. (2 Corinthians 11:16-29)[121]

28.    Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-17.[122] Paul assured us that these temporary afflictions, however bad they may seem to us at the time, "will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17, GNB) This is the truth to which Christians can always look forward. We need to live as if we really believe it. God has not promised us a comfortable, easy life here on this earth where Satan is busy. In fact, Scripture suggests that the closer we are to God and living the Christian life, the more trouble we may have. But isn’t it worth it?

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.    Info@theox.org

Last Modified: October 11, 2012

Growing in Christ #6 page 4 of 4

Growing in Christ “Arming” for Victory

Lesson #7 for November 17, 2012

Scriptures: [Ephesians 6:12-18; 2 Corinthians 6:7; Ephesians 5:9; Romans 10:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Mark 14:38][123].

1.    This lesson discusses the "weapons” or tools that we need to become familiar with and use in the great controversy.

2.    Read Ephesians 6:10-18[124]. In this passage Paul, writing from prison and possibly even chained to a Roman soldier wearing armor, talked about a number of Christian virtues which he described as paralleling certain offensive and defensive weapons used by the Roman military in his day. He discussed the following list of military equipment: 1) A belt, which is the girdle of truth. 2) A breastplate, which is righteousness. 3) The helmet of salvation, a gift of God. 4) The shoes covering our feet which are the gospel of peace. 5) The shield of faith, our key defense. 6) The sword, our offensive weapon, which is the Word of God or the Bible.

3.    How can spiritual qualities be described as weapons? What do these weapons really mean? What kind of battles are actually taking place in the great controversy? It is obvious that the military equipment that the Roman army used would have no effect whatsoever in the great controversy or even in modern warfare. So, what weapons do work in the great controversy? What pieces of military equipment do you think Paul would use as illustrations in our day?

4.    Clearly, Paul was using this passage to describe some metaphors for Christian warfare. Paul was telling us that we need to be personally and individually prepared and armed if we are going to face the Devil.

5.    As we have suggested on numerous occasions, Satan’s kingdom is based on selfishness. While God can only use truth and love as His weapons, Satan uses deceit, and lies— sometimes subtly mixed with truth-misrepresentation, and force.

6.    If you have ever been responsible for caring for a newborn baby, what did you learn? A baby is totally focused on his own needs. He is "selfish.” And that baby has only a few ways of communicating with us about those needs. Whether we have been Christians all our lives or have recently become Christians, we were born as sinners fully on the Devil’s side in this war. If the Devil sees us making attempts to leave his side and to join God’s side, he renews and increases his efforts to discourage us, to deceive us, to prevent us from leaving. But, no matter what he is able to do, we know that he can never defeat Jesus. He may make our lives somewhat miserable, but he cannot destroy us.

7.    The Christian’s armor is our only protection against him. No wonder it is so important that we understand the different pieces of armor-our weapons-and how to use them! As you read through Ephesians 6:12-18, is it immediately obvious why Paul chose those particular pieces of military equipment to represent the Christian virtues? Do we really need those weapons-truth, righteousness, salvation, peace, faith, and God’s Word?

8.    What is implied by the idea that we must "fight”? Are people taking this battle seriously? The Greek word suggests hand-to-hand combat. Have you ever fought the Devil hand-to-hand? We have sometimes suggested that the Christian life consists of being set right or put right (justification) and then being kept right (sanctification) by God. How does that fit with this need to arm ourselves and fight personal battles? Read Matthew 25:1-13[125] (the need for personal preparation) and 2 Timothy 3:1-5[126] (doing the best one can to avoid evil). These two passages-although dealing with quite different subjects-suggest that each of us is largely responsible for our own fate. God makes all the provisions for our salvation; but, we must take advantage of them. Our part in salvation is trusting God (faith) and giving Him a chance to work

in our lives. James tells us that real faith works-it changes us.

9.    Think of all the things that you have to do for yourself if you want to be benefitted. No one else can breathe for you (although they might assist your breathing), no one can eat for you (although they might assist you in eating or might feed you through a tube), no one can sleep for you, no one can see or hear or think or make choices for you, although some may try to make decisions for you. You may do some of these things relatively passively; but, by so doing you are, in effect, choosing to let someone else help you with them.

10.    What is the girdle of truth? The expression "gird up your loins” is a Greek idiom sometimes used to mean "get yourself ready.” Paul may have been thinking about a leather apron worn below the breastplate that provided some protection for the lower abdomen. It also allowed for relatively easy movement. Paul compared this basic piece of equipment to truth. Since the truth is not on Satan’s side, it is a very important weapon in dealing with him. Satan may use bits of truth to seem to support his arguments, twisting those bits to meet his needs. (Matthew 4:5,6[127]) But, if we take the larger view and insist on the full truth, Satan will always lose.

11.    At a debating society, one man claimed that if he was given as fact any one false statement, then using the rules of logic, he could prove any other false statement. His friend said, "Given that four equals five (a false statement), prove that I am the pope (another false statement).” The man responded, "Subtract three from each side according to the rules of math, and you get one equals two. Everyone knows that you and the pope are two [people]; so, you and the pope are one [person].” This demonstrates how important it is to insist that we deal only with truth.

12.    In addition to the leather apron, Roman soldiers wore a breastplate. The breastplate consisted of two thin sheets of metal shaped to fit the body, one covering the front of the chest and the other covering the back of the chest. (Compare [Isaiah 59:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8])[128]

13.    Those breastplates covered many of the important internal organs of the body. Thus, the breastplates and the leather apron covered the essential internal organs of the Roman soldier. When we as Christians practice truth and righteousness, we are protected from most of the fiery darts of the Devil. Truth and righteousness go together as suggested by many passages in Scripture. (1 Kings 3:6; Psalms 15:2; 96:13; Proverbs 12:17; Isaiah 40:1; 2 Corinthians 6:7; Ephesians 5:9)[129] People who are determined to tell the truth most often also do what is right. Justice and fairness go with truth. Injustice goes with lies. Practicing the truth will lead to righteousness.

14.    In the writings of Paul, there is considerable discussion about righteousness. All our righteousness is as filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6[130]) So, the righteousness which we need to put on is the righteousness of Christ. We can only put on this kind of righteousness by daily practicing the truth and honesty as we study our Bibles, pray, and-when given an opportunity-witness for Christ. These are the ways in which we can become more like Him.

15.    Read Ephesians 6:15[131]. Roman soldiers wore shoes studded with sharp nails. Often, they had to move in difficult terrain in muddy and slippery areas; those nail-studded shoes provided as firm a foundation as possible under the circumstances. When the Roman soldier had put on the rest of his armor and had put on his shoes, he was prepared for battle. It is difficult for a soldier to fight effectively when his feet are not solidly planted on the ground. Without a thorough knowledge of the gospel, the Christian soldier is not ready to go. Christians in Europe invented or further developed stirrups to use on their horses. That gave the rider a firmer position from which to fight and beat back the attacking Muslims.

16.    Read Ephesians 6:16[132]. A Roman soldier carried a shield which measured approximately 4 feet high and 2.5 feet wide and was made of two layers of wood glued together. Covering those layers of wood was thick leather. In ancient times, often the first attack the soldiers faced was from arrows covered with burning pitch, and those arrows were often shot from a distance. The

leather covering the shield was difficult to burn; so, it helped protect the soldier.

17.    Faith is a description of our relationship with God as with a friend. It is an absolutely essential part-perhaps the most essential part-of the protection the soldier used. Satan attacks us with fiery arrows such as lust, doubt, greed, vanity, covetousness, and selfishness. It is only through a meaningful and personal relationship with God that we can deal with these things.

18.    Read Ephesians 6:17[133]. Paul was probably taking an illustration from the Old Testament-Isaiah 59:17[134]. But, in the Old Testament it was God Who was wearing a helmet. In Ephesians 6 and also in 1 Thessalonians 5:8[135], Paul said God gives us the helmet to wear. While other pieces of equipment are to be taken up and put on, the helmet is a gift. We must always remember that salvation is a gift. We must take it and put it on.

19.    Remember that the word for salvation in Greek, sozo, also means healing. We cannot heal ourselves from the ravages of sin. Healing is a gift from God. In order to fight his best, the Roman soldier needed to be completely well so he could put up a good fight.

20.    Paul then turned to offensive weapons. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Compare [Hebrews 4:12 and Matthew 4:1-10][136]. The Word of God is an essential part of the Christian’s weaponry. We may be covered with all the appropriate armor; but if we have no offensive weapons, we are in trouble. And then, we are useless to God’s army! Notice how Jesus used Scripture to deal with Satan’s attacks. The better we are in our study of the Bible and our understanding of the issues in the great controversy, the better we will be at detecting and dealing with Satan’s attacks. Who has told the truth? Who do we trust? Do we really believe that sin is deadly? (Genesis 2:17)[137]

21.    Read Ephesians 6:18. Paul finished his list by telling us to "pray always.” This suggests that we must keep alert, we must never give up, we must never allow Satan to catch us sleeping, (Matthew 25:1-13)[138] and we must be thankful for the fact that God is always ready to hear our prayers. We are urged to be persistent in our prayers.

22.    In connection with our praying, we are urged to be watchful. (Mark 14:38; 13:33-37)[139]

23.    It is through Bible study and prayer that we hold conversation with God.

If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us a sweet joyful sense of the presence of Jesus. Often our hearts will burn within us as He draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. When this [130] is in truth the experience of the Christian, there is seen in his life a simplicity, a humility, meekness, and lowliness of heart, that show to all with whom he associates that he has been with Jesus and learned of Him. (COL 129.3; CC 30.4; FLB 225.7; LHU 113.7)

24.    While it is good to pray for others, it is essential that we pray for ourselves. All day long we need to talk in prayer about everything that affects. God should be recognized as our constant companion.

25.    In every soul two powers are struggling earnestly for the victory. Unbelief marshals its forces, led by Satan, to cut us off from the source of our strength.

[Isaiah 59:2[140]] Faith marshals its forces, led by Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Hour by hour, in the sight of the heavenly universe the conflict goes forward. This is a hand-to-hand fight, and the great question is,

Which shall obtain the mastery? This question each must decide for himself.

In this warfare all must take a part, fighting on one side or the other. From the conflict there is no release.—Ellen G. White, Youth’s Instructor, January 10, 1901, par. 4; SD 328.4.

26.    If we are using these weapons of Christianity correctly, we can help our fellow Christians in the Christian way as well. We must never forget that we are in the middle of a deadly war. Soldiers do not forget that they are in the middle of a war and that they have been trained for that war.

27.    God has given us a great honor by asking us to be His foot soldiers. He has provided the means for us to be successful in this battle. It is a battle for minds. Do we clearly understand the use of each of these items in the battle we call the great controversy?

28.    Review what you know about Satan’s attacks against the human race down through the ages. How did he deceive Eve in the Garden of Eden? How did he tempt Jesus in the wilderness? (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13)[141] What methods did he mainly focus on in the past? What methods does he seem to be focusing on in our day? Will he be using different methods in the near future as we approach the end of this earth’s history?

29.    We do not often suffer physical persecution at this point in history. But, we know the day is coming when Satan will not hesitate to use every means he can to destroy us.

30.    Try to imagine Paul, probably chained either to some piece of furniture or possibly even to a Roman soldier himself, while he was under house arrest in Rome. Did he admire the armor that the Roman soldiers wore? Did he discuss it with them?

31.    The armor the soldiers wore was not intended to be slept in. It would not have been comfortable at all. But, that meant that each morning as a soldier arose from sleep, he had to put on his armor once again. Are we daily putting on the armor of God?

32.    Review the various pieces of military equipment that we have discussed. Are you making the best possible use of each item? Down through the centuries, Satan has proved that he is very effective with his lies, deceit, treachery, and force. God can only use truth and love. Is this a lopsided battle? Satan does not hesitate to use any method he thinks might be effective. He is often effective by suggesting some diversion which gets our attention while he attacks from another side. He does everything possible to misrepresent God. He attacks with arrows of fear, doubt, impurity, wrath, impatience, greed, covetousness, and selfishness.

33.    When Jesus was here on this earth, He faced attacks from every side. As you can imagine, the Devil was in full-time attack mode. Even Jesus’ family thought He was crazy. (Mark 3:21)[142] They did not believe Him, and they thought it was their job to tell Him what to do. (John 7:3-5)[143]

34.    The Jewish nation-His very own people and the ones that He had been working with for hundreds of years-rejected Him. (John 1:11)[144] Even His closest disciples doubted Him. (John 20:19-31)[145] Judas thought he knew what was best-better than Jesus did-and tried to force His hand into declaring Himself to be the Messiah for which they were looking. (Luke 21:37-22:6)[146] And when it came down to the final hours, the disciples denied and betrayed Him. (Mark 14:66-72)[147]

35.    What is the hardest battle in the great controversy? How do we prepare ourselves for facing the final attacks Satan will mount against us? Unfortunately, selfishness and our natural tendencies are some of our worst enemies. How can we use the armor that God has suggested to defeat even our own bad habits?

36.    Now do you better understand the weapons that Paul described in Ephesians 6? Do we know how to use each of them to best advantage?

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.    Info@theox.org

Last Modified: October 10, 2012

Growing in Christ - #7 - page 4 of 4

Growing in Christ--The Church: In Service to Humanity

Lesson #8 for November 24, 2012

Scriptures: [Roman 16:5; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 28:19,20; John 17:21,22; Acts 15:1-29; Ephesians 2:19-22.][148]

1.    In this lesson we will discuss the role of the church and how the church is to grow by fulfilling God’s purpose for it. What does the church mean to you? Do we need the church?

2.    Read 1 Peter 2:9[149]. We are called to be God’s special people, a royal, even kingly, priesthood, and a holy people. God has always wanted that kind of relationship. See [Exodus 19:5,6; Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2].[150] (Peculiar in the King James Version means a special, private possession.)

3.    When Jesus had finished His work after being crucified and rising from the grave and as He was ready to ascend to heaven, He instructed His disciples to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach people true Christian obedience. (Matthew 28:19,20)[151] How successful have we been in doing that? Why are we still here?

4.    In His prayer before His crucifixion, Jesus Himself said that the goal is for us to be one with Him as He is one with the Father. (John 17:20,21)[152] Does that seem like an impossible goal? Is this a continuous, everlasting goal? What would happen if we could accomplish it? Could a human being be as close to the Son and the Father as He is to Jesus?

5.    If this has always been God’s goal, how successful has He been? He started out with Adam and Eve. Soon, He used a flood to drown the whole world except for eight people; He started over with Noah. Soon, He had to confuse the languages at the tower of Babel. Not long thereafter, He had to start over by calling Abraham out of Ur to go to Haran and then to Palestine. After some 1800 years, He made His last appeal to those people and then had to turn to the newly established Christian church, working through His small group of disciples. Working under very difficult circumstances, that group grew very rapidly until it was made the official church of the Roman Empire; and then it fell into bad times. Finally, God made the Bible available in the languages of Europe through the efforts of Martin Luther, William Tyndale, etc., and the Protestant Reformation took hold. But 300 years later, God decided it was necessary to call a group from among those Protestant churches to form the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Based on history, does it seem like our chances for success are good? Or, very limited? How successful have we been?

6.    What is the ultimate role of the church in the world? Is the church supposed to be a private club for saints? Or, a hospital for sinners? Ellen White commented:

We should remember that the church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which Christ bestows His supreme regard. He is constantly watching it with solicitude, and is strengthening it by His Holy Spirit.—Manuscript 155, 1902. (Nov. 22, 1902); 2SM 396.2; compare AA 12.1; AG 338.4; HP 284.2; TM 45,49 (1893); LDE 52.2; 58.3; OHC 172.2

7.    It has always been God’s hope that His special people would take the task of correctly representing Him to the world seriously and, thus, have a major impact on the entire world.

8.    How does the New Testament define church? When the Jews came together as a group to worship, they were called a synagogue. In Latin that would be a congregation-a gathering together. But, that is not the word the New Testament uses for God’s people.

They were called an ekklesia-those who are "called out” or are "called forth” to be God’s special people. Remember, that was always God’s hope for His people. (Exodus 19:5,6)

9.    We use the word church in many ways. We say church meaning the building where we meet each Sabbath. We even say church referring to the worship service which follows Sabbath school. We say church referring to the local congregation. We sometimes use church to refer to the organization-particularly the General Conference. And we refer to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination as our church to distinguish it from other church groups. So, when we use the word church, we need to be careful to designate what we mean by that term. There are other uses of the word church as well.

10.    The Bible describes the church as "the people of God.” [(Exodus 19:5,6; 1 Peter 2:9; Deuteronomy 14:2[153])] The church belongs to Christ; and if you truly belong to Christ, you are a descendent of Abraham. (Galatians 3:29)[154] There is no discrimination. (Galatians 3:28)[155]

11.    The church is also described as "the body of Christ.” [(Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; and Ephesians 1:19-23)][156] Paul went to considerable length to describe how the different parts of the body are made to work together just as the different members of the church are to form one body, "the body of Christ.” There is to be unity in diversity. What is the work of this body of Christ? Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-17[157]. Not all of us are given the same task. We have very different roles to play, but the collective goal of the church is to finish the gospel of Christ.

12.    Thus, we see that the church also means mission. The church is not just a place where we go to worship once a week. Jesus made it clear that we are to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach all things to new believers. (Matthew 28:19,20)[158] Even the names that are used for God’s special individuals down through history imply that kind of mission. Apostles are people who are sent out to do a mission. The Latin equivalent is missionary. Prophets are people who speak for God as ambassadors. [(Jeremiah 7:25; Luke 9:1,2; 10:1,9)][159] Jesus stated that we are to be sent out to accomplish a work just as He was sent by the Father. (John 20:21)[160]

13.    Read Ephesians 4:7-16. What is the purpose of the church as set forth in these verses? We are to assist-in whatever way we are gifted-to build up the body of Christ until we become mature to the very height of Christ’s full stature so that we cannot be tossed about by every wind of doctrine. We are to be sealed both "intellectually and spiritually.” (4BC 1161.6)

14.    Any organism that does not grow is dead. The same could be said of the church. There are many things to which the church could address itself. There are many problems in society which call for social reform. But, we have one central focus, and that is to prepare a people for the second coming of Christ. How involved are we as a church or as a Sabbath school class in this major challenge?

15.    Just as the body has diverse parts but it all works together, diversity will always be present in the church. Nevertheless, the church is to be united in its mission. We are to be "the people of God,” the "body of Christ,” and the "Temple of the Holy Spirit.” Those of us who have been in the church longer are to help the newer members. (Romans 14,15)

16.    Read [1 Corinthians 1:10 and 2 Corinthians 13:11][161]. None of us alone can carry out all the work of the church. We need the cooperation of the entire church body. So, how do we get diverse people to work together in unity? It is only through the love of God learned and practiced in our own lives that this is possible.

17.    In any group that is to accomplish a goal of any sort, there must be some kind of organization. Ultimately, some person or group of persons must be in charge. What happens when you put people in charge of others? The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a representative system of church governance. These church representatives are supposed to follow the plans set forth by God in Scripture in guiding and directing the church.

18.    Read Acts 15:1-29[162]. It is important to notice in these verses that Paul and Barnabas were vigorously opposed by some who had been Pharisees and who had become Christians. Those Pharisees were determined to require all new Christians to become fully Jewish-following all the Jewish ceremonial requirements-before they could become Christians. The "general conference committee” meeting in Jerusalem decided that not all Jewish rules needed to be followed but that it was necessary to avoid eating meat offered to idols. These were rules for how to get along in the church! And they claimed that they and the Holy Spirit had agreed on them! It is important to notice that they did not mention circumcision, and they dropped hundreds of rules promoted by the Pharisees.

19.    However, when Paul returned to the distant fields of Corinth and was writing to his friends in Rome, (Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8&10) he made it clear that the ceremonial restrictions that he had thought were so important when he was a Pharisee no longer applied to Christians. This brought him into conflict with church leadership and ultimately resulted in his imprisonment in Jerusalem and spending most of the rest of his life in prison. Ellen White suggested that in this case Paul was in the right and church leadership was wrong and that Paul should not have compromised with church leaders! (Acts the Apostles p. 405) Were those church leaders repentant enough to visit Paul while he was in prison not too far from Jerusalem for more than two years?

20.    The best teachers and the best church leaders are always those who are servant-leaders. True Christians will humbly perform whatever task is given them and will perform it with an attitude of love.

21.    But, what happens if someone believes that s/he knows better and can perform better than all others and, therefore, should be leader of a local church or even a larger group?

The spirit of domination is extending to the presidents of our conferences. If a man is sanguine of his own powers and seeks to exercise dominion over his brethren, feeling that he is invested with authority to make his will the ruling power, the best and only safe course is to remove him, lest great harm be done and he lose his own soul and imperil the souls of others. "All ye are brethren.” This disposition to lord it over God’s heritage will cause a reaction unless these men change their course. Those in authority should manifest the spirit of Christ. They should deal as He would deal with every case that requires attention. They should go weighted with the Holy Spirit. A man’s position does not make him one jot or tittle greater in the sight of God; it is character alone that God values. —Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 362.1

There were centuries when the church was totally dominant over society. What do we call that time? The Dark Ages!

22.    How successful have we been as a church in accomplishing the goal Christ has given us? The simple answer is: We are still here! Jesus explained why that is in His parable of the wheat and the tares. (Matthew 13:24-30)[163] Sometimes, the church must take action against

members who are defeating the overall goals of the church. [(Titus 3:10,11; Romans 16:17)][164]

23.    How should we relate to individuals or groups who believe that something is wrong with the church and so they separate themselves and perhaps even try to start a private ministry or a new church? The church is never the private property of any individual. One person has described the issue of how to deal with problems in the church as follows: "You can’t clean a house from the outside.”

24.    Those who are familiar with the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church know that we have had our rough times. What happened in 1888? Read 1 Selected Messages 233-235. The General Conference in session turned off the latter rain! A much less familiar church meeting was held in 1919 after Ellen White died. That meeting was to discuss the role that her writings should play in the church. While the conference concluded that it was the responsibility of leadership to go home and carefully teach and explain to church members exactly how inspiration works, that task was largely ignored. (Read the introduction to The Great Controversy)

25.    We have been told repeatedly that Christ is to be the "head of the church,” "the chief cornerstone,” etc. (Ephesians 2:20-22)[165] What is implied by this idea? The church is not only a place for individuals to belong but also a group organization. If we are to take our task seriously, we should be preparing people as quickly as we can for the second coming of Jesus Christ. New members who enter the church give new life to the whole group. Those new members need to be nurtured one-on-one so as to become true disciples. This means teaching them the importance of Bible study as well as methods that can be used for Bible study. Unfortunately, the church has had problems retaining not only new members but also even our own young people. Why do you think that is?

26.    Read Ephesians 4:11-16[166]. These verses set forth very clearly the role that God intends for the church to play in the world. What would happen if a significant group of church members became so settled into the truth both intellectually and spiritually so that they could not be moved. (4BC 1161.6) They could not be tossed around by every wind of doctrine. The church’s ultimate goal is exactly that. But, this is not a casual touch, or an on-and-off, once-a-week kind of process. To really disciple a new member, s/he should be taken under the wing of one or more church members and really brought into the family of God. A new member needs to be associated with others who are correctly practicing the principles of Seventh-day Adventist Christianity. This kind of change is "caught” and not just taught.

Disciples cannot be mass-produced. We cannot draw people into a "program” and see disciples emerge at the end of the production line. It takes time to make disciples. It takes individual personal attention.—The Lost Art of Disciple Making (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1978), pp. 45,46

27.    Are we prepared to take on this kind of responsibility? If not, the task will be left to future generations. Do we want to be responsible for further delaying the second coming of Jesus Christ? [(Matthew 24:14; 2 Peter 3:9-12)][167]

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.    Info@theox.org

Last Modified: October 10, 2012

Growing in Christ The Church: Rites and Rituals

Lesson #9 for December 1, 2012

Scriptures: [Matthew 28:19,20; Romans 6:3-8; John 13:1-17; Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26][168].

1.    This lesson will focus on three of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s ordinances: baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and foot-washing. What is the role or purpose of rites or rituals? Do they have an important place in the church’s activities? What does baptism mean to you? What does the Lord’s Supper mean to you?

2.    Read John 6:43-59[169]. In the 1st and 2nd century, Christians were accused of being cannibals because of these verses. What is implied by "eating the flesh and drinking the blood” of Jesus? In the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, we partake of a small wafer made of wheat and some fresh grape juice. The Roman Catholic Church teaches a doctrine known as transubstantiation. In Greek it is metousiosis. They believe that when the priest takes the Eucharist each Sunday, the substance of the wheat bread and grape wine literally changes into the substance of the body and blood of Jesus. They admit that one cannot tell that by any tasting, smelling, looking, or touching; but, they say it still remains true.

3.    In his evaluation of this doctrine, Martin Luther denied that idea and said that transubstantiation does not occur. He said that in carrying out a ritual ceremony, human beings cannot turn simple substances into God. That would be creating God! So, he recommended a different approach called consubstantiation in which he taught that as one eats the bread and the grape juice, s/he is taking the body and blood of Jesus with it. What actually happens when we partake of the Lord’s Supper? Why do we participate in it? Are we taking the Lord into our bodies? Do we believe "you are what you eat”?

4.    Let us review some basic ideas. Many societies have initiation rites or rituals sometimes called rites of passage. Some of those rights can be very gruesome, painful, or scary; but they are supposed to prepare children to enter into life as adults. Hopefully, they learn something that will help them to deal with the challenges of adult society.

5.    The church also has certain rituals or rites to symbolize certain things. Remember that symbols like words are used because they have a pointing function. That is, we use the word to symbolize an idea. The church’s rituals are to symbolize certain ideas.

6.    In the very early days of Christianity in the eastern part of the Mediterranean region, they practiced these rituals given by Christ. In Greek they referred to them as the musterion or "mystery.” By contrast, in the western part of the Mediterranean world, these rituals came to be known as sacraments. A sacrament was an oath that a Roman soldier took declaring his allegiance to the commander. In the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church settled on seven sacraments which they believed the Christian must go through and which would, in actual fact, bestow power on the Christian himself. The seven sacraments were: baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick, the holy Eucharist, penance or reconciliation, holy orders, and matrimony.

7.    Most of these sacraments are fairly well understood by Christians at least in the developed countries. It might be useful to describe penance or reconciliation as the Roman Catholic Church practices it. Penance involves four elements: 1) Contrition or repentance. It is assumed that the penitent one is sincerely sorry for the wrongdoing or sin which he has committed and, therefore, has sincerely repented. 2) He then confesses his wrong to the

priest who has been officially approved to hear confessions. Catholics admit that on occasion it may be useful to confess one’s sins to one another as the Bible recommends, (James 5:16) but that only a priest has the power to administer this sacrament. 3) Absolution by the priest. And 4) Satisfaction or penance. Thus, the priest has the authority to forgive a person of his/her sins and to make everything right. But, the Bible says that only God can forgive sins. [(Mark 2:1-12; Micah 7:18; contrast John 20:23; Matthew 18:21,22)][170]

8.    As Seventh-day Adventists, we do not believe in the sacraments. We do believe that Christ has ordained or given us certain rites or rituals that He has asked us to practice as we look forward to the second coming. These ordained rituals we have called ordinances.

9.    What has Christ asked us to do? Read [Matthew 28:19,20; John 13:14; 1 Corinthians 11:23][171]

26. We are told to "Go, make disciples, baptize, and teach” in order to spread the gospel to all parts of the world. Earlier, in the upper room, we were admonished to follow the example that Jesus gave to His disciples to wash one another’s feet and to drink the wine and eat the bread commemorating Christ’s death. We do not believe that we somehow gain merit by performing these acts. They are simply supposed to be reminders of what Christ has done for us. They are outward symbols of some very important events which happened in history and which are supposed to be reflected in our lives. What happens to food in our bodies? At least a portion of it becomes a part of us. Is that what is supposed to happen spiritually?

10.    Consider baptism. Read [Acts 2:38,41,47; 1 Corinthians 12:13][172]. These verses suggest that baptism is supposed to represent a turning away from sin through repentance and receiving forgiveness, entering into the new birth experience and receiving the Holy Spirit. Based on these facts, it became the entrance requirement for membership into the church. What does it mean to be baptized into the one Spirit? On Pentecostal Sunday, three thousand were baptized. Were they baptized by the Spirit or in water? What is the baptism of the Spirit?

11.    A number of modern Christian groups have given up the idea of baptism by immersion. The Roman Catholic Church administers baptism by sprinkling-preferably to newborn babies. They teach that without this baptism, it is impossible to be saved. While sprinkling has been carried out for hundreds of years, many biblical scholars have recognized that there is no basis in Scripture for it. The Church of England decided some time ago that "the recipients of Baptism were normally adults and not infants; and it must be admitted that there is no conclusive evidence in the New Testament for the Baptism of infants.”—Baptism and Confirmation Today (London: SCM, 1955) page 34. If, in fact, baptism is to follow a sincere understanding of one’s sins followed by repentance and a change of attitude toward God, this would be impossible for an infant. How could an infant make a commitment to anyone?

12.    Once again, notice that if you believe baptism is a sacrament and a way of gaining favor in God’s eyes by bringing about a transformation in a person from spiritual death to life, it is entirely a supernatural event done by God and does not involve any understanding or change on the part of the individual. However, those of us who believe that baptism is an ordinance given by Jesus, see it as a symbol of a supernatural event. That is, the believer has come to understand that he is a sinner, that he needs to change, and he accepts the life and death of Jesus on his behalf.

13.    When did foot washing first appear in the Scriptures? Abraham offered to wash the feet of Jesus and His angel friends in Genesis 18:4[173]. Lot offered to wash the feet of the same angels in Genesis 19:2[174]. In Genesis 24:32[175], Laban and Rebekah offered to wash the feet of Abraham’s servant. God instructed the priests and Levites to regularly wash their hands and feet as they carried out their sacred responsibilities. In all of these examples, it seems clear that the purpose of the foot washing and/or hand washing was a matter of cleanliness as well as ritual.

14.    What is the ordinance of humility? Read [Luke 22:24-27 and Matthew 18:1; 20:21[176]]. Incredible as it may seem, on their way into the upper room-or perhaps even while in the upper room-the disciples were quietly arguing among themselves about who was the greatest! T ry to imagine how Jesus felt as He saw them arguing among themselves! He wondered what He could do to change their attitude. And as we know, He did something incredible. The upper room had been prepared. There was a pitcher full of water and a basin. But, none of the disciples moved to wash anyone else’s feet. Eventually, Jesus stood up, took off His outer garment, picked up the pitcher and the basin, and began to wash His disciples’ feet.

15.    Read John 13:1-17[177]. Why do you think John is the only Gospel writer who tells this story? It was written long after the Jewish nation was destroyed, and there was no hope left for national greatness. No doubt, in Jesus’ day, the feet of the disciples were quite dirty and seriously needed cleaning. Jesus gave the ultimate example of servant-leadership by kneeling down and washing the disciples’ feet. What does that say to us about God? Do you think the Father would have done what Jesus did?

Had God the Father come to our world and dwelt among us, humbling Himself, veiling His glory, that humanity might look upon Him, the history that we have of the life of Christ would not have been changed in unfolding its record of His own condescending grace. In every act of Jesus, in every lesson of His instruction, we are to see and hear and recognize God. In sight, in hearing, in effect, it is the voice and movements of the Father. (Letter 83, 1895; TMK 338.4; 21MR 393.1)

16.    The disciples must have been shocked at first. Ultimately, most of them were humbled. Judas was disgusted. How could someone that he was planning to force into the position of king of the Jews be down on His knees washing dirty feet! Could this be the supreme Sovereign of the universe, the Creator of all things, kneeling down and washing dirty feet?

17.    After washing those dirty feet, Jesus returned to the table to lead out in the service. Did Jesus have to wash His own feet? Did one of the disciples offer to wash Jesus’ feet?

18.    The Seventh-day Adventist Church is one of only a very small group of Christian denominations still practicing actual foot washing. Has that become an outmoded ritual? We do not walk around in sandals on dusty streets anymore. Does that make it not meaningful?

19.    What does the Lord’s Supper mean to you? Whereas circumcision was supposed to be a sign of a Jewish male’s allegiance to his religion throughout his life, in Christian times baptism is supposed to represent our entrance into the Christian life. The Lord’s Supper is supposed to represent the renewing of that commitment on a regular basis. Just as the Passover represented the liberation from Egyptian bondage for the Jewish people under the old covenant, the Lord’s Supper represents our liberation from the old life of sin and its consequence, death. (Romans 6:23)[178]

20.    The food that we eat is digested and processed and changed until it can become an integral part of our body or be used to provide the necessary energy to stay alive.

21.    Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26[179]. As we eat and drink of the Lord’s Supper, we are symbolizing the idea that through the church and its rites and rituals we have accepted the teachings and life of Jesus and that we plan to make it an integral part of our lives. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper-it’s an extension over time-remind us that we are part of a sinful but joyous Christian community, very thankful for what Christ has done for us.

22.    Read 1 Corinthians 11:26[180]. In this verse Paul suggested that the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper is not just to look back over our lives and ask for forgiveness for our post-baptismal

sins. It is much more than that. It is supposed to help us look forward to the second coming of Christ. During that interval while we are waiting, we are proclaiming the truth of all that Jesus accomplished by His life and His death.

23.    What is the relationship between the first coming and all that Christ did at that time and the second coming? If Jesus did not plan to come back the second time, what was accomplished by His first coming? The Lord’s Supper should at least in part help us to understand the relationship between the first and the second comings. Jesus Himself suggested that in Matthew 26:29[181]. He promised a close and personal relationship with us, saying that He would not drink of the grape juice until He drinks it again with us. He is looking forward to the day when we can all gather around the table in heaven and together enjoy the perfect grape juice of heaven.

24.    So, what does the cross mean to you? How does your understanding of the meaning of the cross help to prepare you for the second coming?

The passover pointed backward to the deliverance of the children of Israel, and was also typical, pointing forward to Christ, the Lamb of God, slain for the redemption of fallen man. The blood sprinkled upon the door-posts prefigured the atoning blood of Christ, and also the continual dependence of sinful man upon the merits of that blood for safety from the power of Satan, and for final redemption.—Ellen G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 201.1.

25.    Even some modern groups such as some members of Islam have accused Christians of practicing cannibalism. Read John 6:53-56[182]. How would you respond to such a charge? Do you clearly understand the reason why Jesus said what He did and what it is supposed to mean for us today?

26.    Think back to the time when you were baptized. Was it a time of serious Christian commitment? Do you think of that occasion every time you participate in the ordinance of humility and the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper? Do we as Christians need very concrete examples like this to remind us of these important teachings? Why do you think Jesus gave us these rituals?

27.    Virtually every organization has a list of rituals. Even nations have national holidays. Individuals have their birthdays. Why do we have those rituals? They symbolize something which is important to us. They remind us of the past and hopefully encourage us to look forward to the future.

28.    Meals taken together have had special meaning to virtually all groups and societies down through history. Very often, a meal taken together is the high point of some ceremony or ritual. Meals are associated with every one of the sacraments as well as the ordinances. Is that why Jesus gave us the bread and grape juice as a part of our renewing our commitment to Christianity and to Him on a regular basis?

29.    Having once again studied these rites and rituals, how do you feel about them? Would you be just as happy if the church dropped them? Have they been of any long-term benefit to you in your Christian walk? Could you suggest any better ways for the church to celebrate its community, its acceptance of new members, and its allegiance and commitment to Christ?

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.    Info@theox.org

Last Modified: October 10, 2012

Growing in Christ - #9 - page 4 of 4

Growing in Christ The Law and the Gospel

Lesson #10 for December 8, 2012

Scriptures: [Psalms 19:7,8; Exodus 23:1-9; 1 John 5:3; Romans 3:19,20; Exodus 20:11,12; Deuteronomy 5:15][183].

1.    As suggested by the title, this week’s lesson focuses on the purpose of the law and its relationship to the gospel.

2.    Read 1 John 2:3,4[184]. How can it be said that if we keep His commandments, we will know that we know Him? Is it obvious from reading the Ten Commandments that they are a revelation of God’s character and His love? Why do I need to know God in order to keep the Ten Commandments? [(Romans 13:8,10; James 2:8)][185]

3.    Do we need an update to the Ten Commandments? There is nothing in the Ten Commandments suggesting that we should not smoke, or watch too much TV, or even drive while under the influence or a myriad of modern “temptations”!

4.    It has been suggested that the law embodies the principles that we need to understand and incorporate into our lives; and if we do incorporate those principles into our lives, we will become more like Jesus. But, how do we incorporate those principles into our lives? Down through the ages, legalists have suggested that if we try hard enough to keep all of the Commandments, we can be saved by keeping them. Either in the Old Testament or the New Testament, does it say that we can be saved by keeping the Commandments? What is the relationship between the law (the Ten Commandments) and the gospel? Why did John choose to say in 1 John 2:3,4 that keeping the commandments has something to do with a true knowledge of God?

5.    Would a true and correct knowledge of God be an essential part of the gospel? On many occasions, we have suggested that Ellen White gave us something to think about very seriously in Great Controversy page 555:

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. (Great Controversy 555.1)

6.    But, what is it that we are supposed to behold? If we are supposed to behold God and all that He has done as described through all of Scripture and all of history, is it important to understand all the things that He has asked us to do?

7.    Has God ever asked us to do anything which is not for our best good? Do you find the law very helpful in daily living? If we add Matthew 5-7[186] to our understanding of the law, does that clarify things? Or, just scare you?

8.    Here we have a real conundrum. The Bible does suggest that if we could fully keep the law, we could be saved by doing so. For example, consider the famous verses in Jeremiah 31:31-34[187]. Several New Testament writers recognized the very significant impact of those words. If we allow God to put His law within our hearts and thus recognize Him as our God and recognize that thereby we become His people, isn’t that God’s ideal? Isn’t that what is implied by James 2:8? If we could keep the whole law, we could be saved by keeping it? (Of course, the problem is that we cannot!) Remember that love is the fulfilling of all law.

9.    Do we need a law to point out our sin? Wouldn’t it be safe for God to take to heaven

someone who observed every detail of the law? What is the problem with that approach to salvation? The Pharisees and scribes multiplied extremely detailed rules to try to force themselves-and others-to keep the law. But, we know what the final result was.

10.    The law does one thing, and it does it very well. It points out sin.

11.    The word torah in the Old Testament and nomos in the New Testament mean "direction” or "guidance.” They are words which were used to summarize all of God’s instructions.

12.    Seventh-day Adventists-following the guidance of Ellen White-have said that the law is a transcript of God’s character:

God requires perfection of His children. His law is a transcript of His own character, and it is the standard of all character. This infinite standard is presented to all that there may be no mistake in regard to the kind of people whom God will have to compose His kingdom. The life of Christ on earth was a perfect expression of God’s law, and when those who claim to be children of God become Christlike in character, they will be obedient to God’s commandments. Then the Lord can trust them to be of the number who shall compose the family of heaven. (Christ’s Object Lessons 315.1)

13.    Read [Psalm 19:7,8; Romans 7:12; and Psalm 119:151,152,172][188]. The Bible writers described the law as good, perfect, right, holy, permanent or everlasting, and full of truth. What could possibly be wrong with such a document? The Law-to a Jew that meant the five books of Moses-is full of instruction on morality, ethics, health, sexuality, diet, work, and many other things.

14.    In general, we have tended to divide God’s instructions in the Old Testament into three categories: 1) Ceremonial rules, 2) Civil regulations, and 3) Moral laws. Is it always clear to you in which category each instruction from God belongs? Is there any overlap?

15.    Read Exodus 23:1-9[189]. In these verses we are told not to be dishonest, not to lie, not to obstruct or pervert justice, not to take bribes, and not to mistreat foreigners. Would those be civil requirements? Or, moral judgments? Or, both?

16.    When did God first give His laws to the human race? Did God need to instruct Adam not to commit adultery? We are told that Abraham commanded his household after him and instructed them on keeping the commandments. (Genesis 26:5)[190] There are many verses in the Bible before the time of the exodus that give us guidance in moral areas which later appear to have been incorporated into the Ten Commandments. Genesis 35:1-4[191] is a story about removing idols. In connection with creation, God told us to rest on the Sabbath. When Cain killed Abel, God made it very clear that killing was not a good thing. Joseph refused to commit adultery with Potipher’s wife because it would be a sin against God. The ten sons of Jacob took the money which had been secretly put in their sacks by Joseph’s assistants when they went home the first time and took it back to Egypt because they did not believe in stealing. Even Pharaoh rebuked Abraham for lying about his wife.

17.    Do the regulations in the Ten Commandment make sense to you? If you were responsible for setting up the rules for a new community, which one of the Ten Commandments would you be willing to leave out?

18.    James 2:10,11[192] suggests that if we break one commandment, we are breaking them all. How could that be true? Some have suggested that the Ten Commandments are like a chain; if you break one link, the chain is no longer of any value. A better suggestion might be something like this: If you were responsible for choosing who could be admitted to heaven, would you be happy to admit murderers? Adulterers? Liars? Thieves? Even those

Growing in Christ - #10 - page 2 of 4

who are covetous or selfish? Wasn’t that what started the great controversy in the beginning-in heaven next to God’s throne?

19.    Read 1 John 5:3[193]. Is it obvious that keeping the commandments is an expression of our love for God? Didn’t Jesus say, "If you love Me, keep My commandments”? (John 14:15)[194] Earlier, He had said that He was giving them a new commandment to love one another. And in John 13:35[195] He said: "If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.” Is real Christian love so remarkable and so unusual that everyone notices?

20.    Virtually all Christians will say that God’s law is still binding on Christians. The exact role that the law is supposed to play is another matter. Romans 3:19,20[196] suggests that the law applies only to those under its authority. But, then it goes on to say that the whole world will be brought into judgment. No one can be put right in God’s sight by doing what the law requires. What the law does is to make people know that they have sinned.

21.    Read Romans 7:7[197]. When Paul first realized the implications of the statement in this verse, he was very upset. He thought that as a Pharisee he could do all the things that all the little rules required, and thus earn salvation. But, the 10th commandment suggested that he could not even want to do anything wrong without sinning! It made him angry. But, then he realized after some more careful thought that the 10th commandment is what makes it safe to admit people to heaven. It will be safe to have people living next door to us in heaven not because they have the Ten Commandments posted on their wall but because they have them in their hearts and they do not even want to do what is wrong.

22.    Our world is awash in sin. It is on the freeway. It is advertised on billboards, on televison, and on the Internet. How can we possibly avoid it? Look at some of the results of what sin has done to our world. How has sin impacted even the lives of Christians? How has it impacted our own lives?

23.    Most Christians will admit that nine of the Ten Commandments seem reasonable and logical. It is only the Sabbath commandment which seems to them to be ceremonial and no longer necessary. Are they saying, "How can we afford to give a whole day to God?” Seventh-day Adventists have spent a lot of energy focusing on the fact that the seventh-day Sabbath is God’s only holy day. That is suggested by many verses in the Bible, starting with Genesis 1&2. The Sabbath commandment in Exodus makes it very clear. (Exodus 20:9-11)[198] But, it is interesting to notice that when the Sabbath commandment was repeated in Deuteronomy 5:15[199], a different reason for keeping the Sabbath is stated. In Exodus we are instructed to keep the Sabbath because God created us. In Deuteronomy the children of Israel were instructed to keep the Sabbath as a reminder of the fact that God redeemed them from Egyptian bondage. He created them, (Exodus 20:11)[200] and He gave them freedom or "recreated” them as humans instead of slaves. (Deuteronomy 5:15)[201]

24.    So, what is the main purpose of the Sabbath? God calls it a sign between us and Him that we belong to Him. (Exodus 31:13)[202] In many places the Sabbath is described as a rest. But, as we look in the New Testament, we find that Jesus was frequently in conflict with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem over Sabbathkeeping. (John 5 & 9, for example) Why was it that so often what is recorded about what Jesus did involved Sabbathkeeping and keeping it in a way other than what the Pharisees did? And when He was crucified on Friday evening, He chose to rest in the grave over the Sabbath to add additional meaning to the Sabbath. Thus, the Sabbath is intended to remind us of all that God has done for us in the plan of salvation. But, that is not all. Read Isaiah 66:23[203]. We are told that we will continue to keep the Sabbath in heaven and in the new earth.

25.    Just as national holidays and birthdays are our celebration of events that have happened,

giving us an opportunity to think back over them, the Sabbath was intended to remind us of all the most significant things that God has done for us down through the generations: creation, redemption from sin, salvation, and glorification. It is also intended to remind us of what God has promised will happen when we rejoin Him in heaven in the future.

26.    Genesis 1&2 make it clear that God wants us to keep the seventh-day Sabbath as a reminder of creation. Both Paul and John made it very clear that Jesus was the Creator of all things [(Colossians 1:14-16; John 1:1-14)][204] and also our Redeemer. He came to this earth to be Immanuel, "God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)[205]

27.    Read Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 63:

Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression. None but Christ could redeem fallen man from the curse of the law and bring him again into harmony with Heaven. (Patriarchs and Prophets 63.2)

28.    What is implied by these words? Is God trying to tell us that it required a very big price to pay for our salvation? Or, is He trying to tell us that since the questions and accusations that Satan has leveled against God in the great controversy are about God Himself, they need to be answered by God Himself? Only God can demonstrate that truth.

29.    When you keep the Sabbath carefully, do you feel a little bit like a legalist? Is God concerned about our "keeping the edges” of the Sabbath, for example?

30.    We know that Satan has been very successful in attacking Sabbath observance. Why do you think Satan has done everything possible to convince people that the Sabbath does not need to be observed any more? Do you look forward to the coming of the Sabbath more than to its conclusion? What would happen if we could live in a community here on this earth where everyone had God’s law firmly written in his heart? (Jeremiah 31:31-34)[206] How will we keep the Sabbath in heaven? Might we come together to celebrate what we have experienced and learned in the prior week? Might God then suggest something that we could do that would build on that for the next week?

31.    God desperately wants to develop a group of friends here on this earth who understand Him and have come to know Him well and on that basis choose voluntarily to do all that He asks them to do because they recognize that God would never ask them to do anything which is not for their own good.

32.    Do you ever feel that God’s laws and rules are somehow a restriction on your freedom?

33.    Many Christian martyrs down through the centuries have died for one thing or another. What Christian beliefs are so important to you that you would be willing to die rather than give them up? (Galatians 1:8,9)[207] Would you be willing to die rather than give up the Sabbath? Don’t we believe that the day is coming when Satan through his evangelistic effort as described in Revelation 13 will manage to bring about first a national Sunday Law (RH Dec. 18, 1888; 7BC 977.2) and then an international Sunday Law? (7T 141 (1902); LDE 135.5) Might we end up in prison because of our Sabbath observance? Are we prepared to do that?

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.    Info@theox.org

Last Modified: October 11, 2012

Growing In Christ #10 page 4

Growing in Christ The Christian Life

Lesson #11 for December 15, 2012

Scriptures: [Deuteronomy 8:11-17; Philippians 2:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Revelation 22:1-5; Matthew 22:39; Genesis 2:21-25.][208]

1.    I thought we should begin this lesson by reading something that was written almost one hundred years ago.

One Solitary Life

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.

He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty.

Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.

He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves.

While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth-His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.

I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.

This essay was adapted from a sermon by Dr. James Allan Francis in “The Real Jesus and Other Sermons" © 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia (pp 123124 titled “Arise Sir Knight!”).

2.    While Jesus certainly must have dealt with money while working in the carpentry shop, during His public ministry we have no evidence that He earned any money, paid any debts, paid for any lodging, or bought any food, although we know that Judas was in charge of the "purse” for Jesus and the disciples. On one occasion, He paid the temple tax-and did it in a miraculous way! (Matthew 17:24-27[209]) He depended on others for almost everything. (Luke 8:1-3[210]) He depended especially on His Father. More than that, He advised His followers to do the same! (Luke 10:4; 12:33[211]; But, contrast Luke 22:35,36[212]) Could we really live such "Christ-like” lives in our societies today? At the end He gave His life! Could we do all of that and still support our families? Consider the story of George Mueller.

3.    Could we live lives that always represent God and Christianity in the best possible way? Anyone can call himself/herself a Christian. But, does his/her life truly represent Jesus? Are we so "heavenly minded that we are no earthly good”? What is the relationship between "good deeds” here and our preparation for heaven? When we get to heaven, will we still be serving others?

4.    The Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia defines stewardship as "the responsibility of God’s people for, and use of, everything entrusted to them by God-life, physical being, time, talents and abilities, material possessions, opportunities to be of service to others, and their knowledge of

truth.” (Compare Matthew 7:21-23; 25:31-46[213]) Are these expectations too high?

5.    The Bible suggests that the greatest happiness is found in living for and serving others. That is God’s way. Satan’s way is the selfish way. We all start out being completely selfish-all we can think about is our own needs. Is that why we need a new birth? How can we learn to live the Christian way instead of Satan’s way? Is that possible for inherently selfish human beings?

6.    We have been offered the privilege of being sons and daughters of the King of the Universe. And He wants us to come and live with Him forever! Is there anything that we honestly do not owe Him? Is there anything that we could possibly give Him as payment for such an offer?

7.    There is an interesting contrast presented by two different commands given by Jesus, first through Moses and then personally Himself. Moses told the children of Israel to "love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18[214]) Jesus repeated that command in Matthew 22:39[215]. But later, He told His disciples to love each other as He had loved them. (John 13:34,35[216]) What is the difference? Does everyone around you recognize that you are a Christian? Is it obvious? Do you ever try to hide your Christian identity?

8.    Read [1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 and compare Matthew 5:16[217]]. How can we live lives for God’s glory-not for our own good but for the good of all-and represent God and His church correctly?

9.    Read 1 Peter 1:13-16[218]. How can we avoid having our lives shaped by our environment? Or, by our human desires? We are to be holy, that is, set apart, different, Godlike in the world.

10.    So, how can we become so closely united with God and associated with Jesus Christ that when carrying out His will for our lives we will be but carrying out our own impulses? (DA 668.3[219]) Is it possible for simple human beings actually to learn to do what is right because it is right? Could we really discover that serving others and serving God is what is best for us?

11.    Most of us would recognize that living a completely selfish life is a miserable way to live. By contrast, would living for others be the happiest way to live?

12.    Human life is all about relationships-from the very intimate relationship of marriage and family to the wider relationships with friends and the outside world.

13.    Read [Genesis 2:21-25; Malachi 2:14-16; and Ephesians 5:21-33[220]]. It is clear that the biblical concept of marriage is a very high ideal. Anything that disrupts or breaks that covenant relationship is most unfortunate.

14.    God hates divorce. (Malachi 2:16[221]) Why are there so many people getting divorced in our day? Even the definition of marriage seems to be changing. Even before they get married, people write legal documents to define what they may and may not do when they get divorced! In our world today, people seem to think they can take part in trial marriages-even living together without being married for a period of time to see whether "things will work out.”

15.    Why do you think our world has deteriorated into polygamy, cohabitation, divorce and remarriage, even homosexuality? Why do you think divorce is almost as prevalent in the church as it is in the world?

16.    It was God’s original plan that husband and wife should live together in a growing relationship and in the process learn how to get along with someone whose thinking is different from one’s own. Husbands are to learn from their wives and wives from their husbands how to be more like God. We are made-male and female-in the image of God. Each is to learn from the other. Yet, selfishness has become so dominant in our society that even the simplest obstacles seem to be an excuse for destroying a marriage. Selfishness is the problem.

17.    Why do so many people in our world today think that adultery, fornication, and pornography are norms? Why is it that studies show that 80% of the population in America have had at least one sexually transmitted disease-human papillomavirus (HPV)?

18.    One of the most challenging relationships known to human beings is the relationship between parent and child. To a small child, his parents are like God. As he becomes a teenager, he seeks to throw off restraint for what he considers to be his rightful freedoms. God has given us the challenge of being parents to teach us something about the challenges He has in relating with us. Do we treat our children as gifts from God? Do we treat them as God treats us?

Parents cannot commit a greater sin than to allow their children to have nothing to do. The children soon learn to love idleness, and they grow up shiftless, useless men and women. When they are old enough to earn their living, and find employment, they work in a lazy, droning way, yet expect to be paid as much as if they were faithful.—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 345.

19.    How should Christians deal with employer/employee relationships? Read [James 5:4-6 and Ephesians 6:5-9[222]]. What would it be like to work if your employer was Christ? (Matthew 11:28-30[223]) In our society would it be possible to replicate that kind of relationship? How would you treat Christ if He was your employee?

20.    Read Romans 13:1-7[224]. How could Paul write such words while he was under the government of Rome with Nero as Caesar? And what about those who lived under Stalin, Hitler, Idi Amin, or others of similar character? What is our civic responsibility to them?

21.    Rightly or wrongly, the government has responsibilities to its citizens. Some governments do better than others. But, there are some things which we cannot do for ourselves and for which we depend upon the government. We should pay our taxes, do our civil duties, respect the laws of the nations when they do not conflict with the laws of God, and do our best to avoid and prevent crime and violence.

22.    Christians will recognize their social responsibilities. [(Isaiah 61:1-3; Matthew 25:31-46)[225]] If we are saved only by faith, what is the role of doing all those things that we might call service to humanity? Does how we treat others reflect on our relationship with God?

23.    Paying a faithful tithe and being generous with offerings to the church and to other worthy causes is an important way to curb selfishness.

Acts of generosity and benevolence were designed by God to keep the hearts of the children of men tender and sympathetic, and to encourage in them an interest and affection for one another in imitation of the Master, who for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. The law of tithing was founded upon an enduring principle and was designed to be a blessing to man.

The system of benevolence was arranged to prevent that great evil, covetousness.

Christ saw that in the prosecution of business the love of riches would be the greatest cause of rooting true godliness out of the heart. He saw that the love of money would freeze deep and hard into men’s souls, stopping the flow of generous impulses and closing their senses to the wants of the suffering and the afflicted.-Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 547.

I speak of the tithing system, yet how meager it looks to my mind! How small the estimate! How vain the endeavor to measure with mathematical rules, time, money, and love against a love and sacrifice that is measureless and incomputable! Tithes for Christ! Oh, meager pittance, shameful recompense for that which cost so much! From the cross of Calvary, Christ calls for an unconditional surrender.-Ellen G. White, 4T, pp. 119,120; cf. 2T24

24.    It is estimated that only about 25% of Seventh-day Adventists pay a faithful tithe. Why do you think that is? Should Adventists give their money to the cause that they think is most worthy? Or, should we give our tithe through the regular church channels?

25.    What lesson can we learn from Jesus Himself about faithfulness in our tithes and offerings to the church? Consider the story of the widow’s two mites. [(Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4[226])] Those two little copper coins-worth almost nothing-which the widow gave ended up in the hands of the Sadducees! They probably despised her offering. But, Jesus praised her for giving it. While many

may believe that the church has misused its money or they are unhappy about something that the church is doing, surely, the widow had every possible excuse for not giving her offering to the Sadducees. But, she gave her offering to God, and we should do the same. If something about the church needs to be corrected, there are other methods for dealing with that.

26.    The Bible also makes it very clear that we are responsible for the members of our family, our parents-especially as they grow older-and our children. By extension, we are also responsible for those around us-particularly people in the church-who are suffering financial setbacks or are among the poor. If seeing the needs of others around us does not lead to a generous response on our part, how can we claim to be Christians?

27.    How should we respond to the drunk standing on the street corner claiming he will work for money or food? While we may be working hard at a full-time job, the Bible makes it clear that everything we have is a gift from God. Does that give us permission to hoard it?

28.    What should we learn about giving from the example of Peter and John at the temple gate? (Acts 3:1-26[227]) Are there other things that we can give besides money? Even if we consider ourselves poor, do we have a responsibility to others around us?

29.    In light of what we have studied so far, what does it mean to be Christ-like or to live a Christian lifestyle? If one were to take all the guidance given throughout the Bible as a criteria for judging, would there be enough evidence to convict you as a Christian?

30.    Our Bible study guide suggests that Jesus spent more time talking about wealth, money, and possessions than any other topic. Why do you think He did that? Would you agree with that assessment? Did Jesus say anything new that Moses had not already said under His inspiration? Why was it necessary for Jesus to repeat this instruction? Had they forgotten Moses’ admonitions?

31.    So many people in our world act as if money is their god. Why does Deuteronomy 8:18[228] say God gave us the power to acquire wealth? If money is our god, are we breaking the first commandment? Might we be breaking other commandments as well?

32.    The Pharisees taught that if one is good, God will bless him; if God is blessing him, he will be wealthy. According to their definition, if one is poor s/he is cursed of God. In light of that, shouldn’t Jesus have-at least for a period of time-become wealthy so He could meet them on their level? How did they regard Him in His poverty? Does the possession of wealth give us the right to dominate over others who may not be so well-off financially?

33.    Is true wealth measured by the amount of one’s worldly possessions? Or, by his/her closeness to Christ and having the Holy Spirit dwelling in his/her life?

34.    How do we make decisions about spending our money? Do we sometimes act as if we have more trust in our bank account than we do in God? Are we ever caught up in the proverbial race of "keeping up with the Joneses”?

35.    Do you know anyone who thinks s/he has too much money? Does the accumulation of earthly wealth ever bring true happiness?

36.    We sometimes seem to forget that God has never transferred ownership of any part of His creation to us. Everything we have and are belongs to Him. Are we brave enough to pray, "Lord, what do you want me to do with Your money?” Many of us would intellectually recognize that everything belongs to God. But, do our actions and our motives and our desires reflect that fact?

37.    If you were to die today, what would your friends and associates say about you? Are you respected for your true Christian witness?

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.    Info@theox.org

Last Modified: October 27, 2012

Growing in Christ Last Things: Jesus and the Saved

Lesson #12 for December 22, 2012

Scriptures: [Hebrews 8:1-5; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:24,25; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:23; Acts 3:19-21[229]].

1.    Our church began with the preaching about the second advent of Christ. This lesson will focus on what we believe is happening between 1844 and the second coming, some details about the second coming itself, and the resurrection of the righteous dead.

2.    William Miller began preaching about the second coming because of his understanding and interpretation of Daniel 8 and 9. As a result of further study on that subject, Seventh-day Adventists believe that: (Fundamental Belief #24)

There is a sanctuary in heaven-the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days,

He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative [pre-advent] judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. [(Heb. 8:1-5; 4:14-16; 9:11-28; 10:19-22; 1:3; 2:16,17; Dan. 7:9-27; 8:13,14; 9:24-27; Num. 14:34; Ezek. 4:6; Lev. 16; Rev. 14:6,7; 20:12; 14:12; 22:12.)[230]]

3.    As Seventh-day Adventists, we are unique in our understanding of Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary and our interpretation of the 2300-day-year prophecy. To be honest, we need to recognize that our understanding of this doctrine raises a number of questions that our Christian friends have raised in the past.

4.    What does it mean to say that God is on His throne in the heavenly sanctuary when we also believe that God is omnipresent? Does that include both the Father and the Holy Spirit at this point? What is Christ doing right now in the heavenly sanctuary? In the earthly sanctuary constructed by the children of Israel as they came out of Egypt, there were three phases of the sanctuary service: a substitutionary sacrifice, priestly mediation, and judgment.

5.    In what sense is Christ’s death on the cross substitutionary? Read [Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 3:2426; and 2 Corinthians 5:21[231]]. Because of Christ’s life and death, I do not have to die.

6.    It should be abundantly clear that if Christ had not come and lived and died as He did, we would have no hope of salvation. In that broadest possible sense, His death was substitutionary. Jesus died of sin to show us what that death would be like for sinners.

7.    Read [1 Timothy 2:5 and Hebrews 7:25[232]]. We believe that Christ is the sole Mediator before the Father and the angels in heaven. These verses suggest that through His mediation, He brings God and man together. Read also [Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 9:24[233]].

8.    What does it mean to say that Jesus is pleading before God on our behalf? Does Someone need to plead with the Father before He will forgive us? Is the Son more loving and caring than the Father and that is why He is pleading for us? (That I May Know Him, p. 338) If that is true, how do we explain [John 3:16 and 14:9[234]]? If the Father needs to be pleaded with, maybe our Roman Catholic friends are correct in suggesting that we should have lots of people-called saints-to help Jesus plead. Jesus said He would not do that! (John 16:25-27[235])

Growing in Christ - #12 - page 1 of 4

9.    One of the main obstacles to accepting our understanding of Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary is the fact that most of our Christian friends believe in the immortality of the "soul”; and thus, people go immediately to their reward when they die. So, how could there be a [preadvent] judgment just before the second coming if people are already in heaven or hell?

10.    An even more perplexing theological question is this one: Why would an omniscient God need an "investigative” judgment? In more recent times, we have suggested that it should be called a "pre-advent” judgment instead of an investigative judgment. Does that help? It should be clear that if the righteous are to be taken to heaven at the second coming, Someone is going to have to decide who is righteous and who is not righteous. There are two chapters in the writings of Ellen White in which she discussed these issues in some detail: Great Controversy, Chapter 28, formerly known as "The Investigative Judgment” and now called "Facing Life’s Record”; and "Joshua and the Angel” in Prophets and Kings, Chapter 47. These chapters are based largely on [Daniel 7:9-14; Zechariah 3:1-5; and Revelation 12:1-12[236]]. They also include several ideas from other parts of the book of Revelation. Jesus is defending us before the entire universe.

11.    So, what is actually happening in heaven right now? Let us look at what the Bible says about it in Daniel 7:9,10,13,14[237]. Notice who is involved in those events in heaven. It is not only the Father and the Son, but also hundreds of millions of angels are there.

12.    More than that, who is making accusations against us as our cases are being brought up? Look at [Zechariah 3:1-5 and Isaiah 64:6; compare Revelation 12:7-12[238]]. Throughout the history of the great controversy, it has been Satan who has been the "accuser of the brethren.”

As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected.

The deepest interest manifested among men in the decisions of earthly tribunals but faintly represents the interest [484] evinced in the heavenly courts when the names entered in the book of life come up in review before the Judge of all the earth. [They are the jury in our cases.] The divine Intercessor presents the plea that all who have overcome through faith in His blood be forgiven their transgressions, that they be restored to their Eden home, and crowned as joint heirs with Himself to "the first dominion.” Micah 4:8.

While Jesus is pleading for the subjects of His grace, Satan accuses them before God as transgressors. [Zechariah 3:1-5; John 16:25-27[239]]

Jesus does not excuse their sins, but shows their penitence and faith, and, claiming for them forgiveness, He lifts His wounded hands before the Father and the holy angels, saying: I know them by name. I have graven them on the palms of My hands....Their names stand enrolled in the book of life, and concerning them it is written: "They shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.” Revelation 3:4.—Great Controversy 483.3-484.0 Note that content in brackets is added.

13.    Prophets and Kings adds: Satan has an accurate knowledge of the sins that he has tempted God’s people to commit, and he urges his accusations against them, declaring, that by their sins they have forfeited divine protection, and claiming that he has the right to

destroy them. He pronounces them just as deserving as himself of exclusion from the favor of God. "Are [589] these,” he says, "the people who are to take my place in heaven, and the place of the angels who united with me? They profess to obey the law of God; but have they kept its precepts? Have they not been lovers of self more than lovers of God? Have they not placed their own interests above His service? Have they not loved the things of the world? Look at the sins that have marked their lives. Behold their selfishness, their malice, their hatred of one another. Will God banish me and my angels from His presence, and yet reward those who have been guilty of the same sins? Thou canst not do this, O Lord, in justice. Justice demands that sentence be pronounced against them.—Prophets and Kings 588.3-589.0 (1917); Maranatha 213; 5T 473; Review and Herald January 9, 1908

14.    In light of these passages, we continue our questions. Who is the one accusing us before the Father? If Satan cannot go to heaven, how can he accuse us before the Father? Is it in the same way that our prayers can go up before God even though we never leave this earth!

15.    Did God have to wait until 1844 to discover who is savable? Do the angels have any questions about the people God is about to bring into heaven to live there forever as their neighbors? Looking at us, why shouldn’t they? God will not finish the judgment until all are in agreement.

16.    Why do things in heaven need to be cleansed? What actually will happen on the antitypical day of atonement? (Hebrews 9:23[240])

17.    If our sins are to be "blotted out,” (Acts 3:19-21[241]) how can the record of the great controversy be preserved as an eternal safeguard against future rebellion? Will all Bibles need to be destroyed? The Bible is full of the records of the sins of the saints!

The death of Christ upon the cross made sure the destruction of him who has the power of death, who was the originator of sin. When Satan is destroyed, there will be none to tempt to evil; the atonement will never need to be repeated; and there will be no danger of another rebellion in the universe of God. That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness, will prevent sin in heaven. The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels...The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God. The plan of salvation, making manifest the justice and love of God, provides an eternal safeguard against defection in unfallen worlds, as well as among those who shall be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Signs of the Times, December 30, 1889 par. 4

18.    Is all that necessary?

The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven.—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 489.

19.    So then, if we are suggesting that Christ has to plead with His Father on our behalf to convince Him to love us, forgive us, and save us, we are presenting a pagan picture of God!

20.    Surely, as Seventh-day Adventists, we do not have any questions about the second coming of Jesus Christ. Not only are there many references in the New Testament to the second coming, but also we could ask the very probing question: If Jesus does not plan to come back the second time, what was the purpose of His coming the first time?

21.    Careful students of the Bible and the writings of Ellen White realize that in our day there are no more prophecies to be fulfilled except those directly connected with the second coming.

As the second appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ draws near, satanic agencies are moved from beneath. Satan will not only appear as a human being, but he will personate Jesus Christ, and the world that has rejected the truth will receive him as the Lord of lords and King of kings.—Ellen G. White, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, April 14, 1896 par. 6; 5BC 1105.8-1106.0 (1900); Last Day Events 168.3; Maranatha 276.2; See also 1 Peter 5:8

22.    Not long after Satan attempts to impersonate Christ, the real Christ will appear in the clouds of heaven in a literal, personal, and visible event that will impact the entire world. In fact, Revelation 1:7 assures us that every eye will see Him. It will be no secret rapture! Surely, we need to be alive and awake and not sleeping! [(Matthew 25:1-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)[242]]

23.    But, that is no reason for us to be overly anxious or even to set timetables for the second coming. Jesus Himself told us plainly in [John 13:19 and 14:29[243]] that the purpose of the signs is so that when they take place they will help establish our faith. Looking back, we can recognize that God knew all along exactly what was coming.

24.    One of the blessed hopes of Christians is the hope that those who have died believing in Jesus Christ will be resurrected at the second coming in time to join the righteous who are still living and that together both groups will ascend to heaven with Jesus Christ. [(1 Thessalonians 4:1216; 1 Corinthians 15:13-25; Romans 8:11; Philippians 3:20,21[244])] In these verses Paul made some very powerful arguments for why he believed that Christ was able to raise the dead to life. The main example, of course, was Jesus Christ Himself.

25.    As Christians, we believe that Christ has ended the power of death. (2 Timothy 1:8-10[245]) And thus, in light of 1 Corinthians 15:51-54[246], we believe that our mortal bodies will take on immortality in "the blinking of an eye.”

26.    Seventh-day Adventists have studied and memorized John 14:1-3[247]. Are there any questions left in your mind about whether or not Christ will come again? Do you believe that we are living in the anti-typical day of atonement and that the judgment of all people is currently taking place? We get many of our ideas about what is going on in the heavenly sanctuary by looking at the earthly sanctuary. In the earthly sanctuary, there were a lot of animal sacrifices. In fact, that seemed to be the primary purpose of the sanctuary. Will there need to be animal sacrifices in heaven? If we say, "No, because Jesus was the One, all-sufficient sacrifice for the heavenly sanctuary,” what is the purpose of having a sanctuary that sits there in heaven with nothing to do? Is it a museum piece?

27.    While we may not be able to give a thorough, well-thought-out, and well-reasoned explanation of every detail of our teachings about the second coming of Jesus Christ and the pre-advent judgment that precedes it, does it make sense to us? Are we truly looking forward to the second coming? Are we ready? How soon will we be ready?

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.

Info@theox.org

Last Modified: October 27, 2012

Growing in Christ When All Things Become New

Lesson #13 for December 29, 2012

Scriptures: [1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Revelation 20; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Romans 8:20-22; Revelation 21:11-22:5; Revelation 21:3[248]].

1.    God’s original plan for the human race was that we should live in peace and harmony with Him and with the rest of the universe, living in the Garden of Eden forever. Sin has changed all of that. What needs to happen to restore the peace and harmony that was God’s original intention? Why does Jesus need to come the second time to take the saints to heaven for 1000 years, leaving the wicked dead here on this earth while Satan and his angels are confined to this earth? When the New Jerusalem with God, the angels, and all the saints come down to this earth again at the third coming, why will it be necessary for God to allow Satan once again to take control of all the wicked? With just a few exceptions, every person who has ever lived will be alive on this earth at the same time, the wicked outside the City and the righteous inside the City.

2.    As the wicked approach the Holy City after preparing for their attack on that City, they are stopped in their tracks by a glorious panorama appearing in the heavens. (GC 666.3) The most important events in the history of the great controversy will be presented just as they happened. The evidence of the truth will be so compelling that even Satan himself will be down on his knees acknowledging that what God has done was right. (Philippians 2:10,11[249]) Then, the wicked will turn on Satan and his angels and others who have led them astray. Finally, admitting that there is no reason for them to continue to exist, the wicked will accept their fate and will be consumed by God’s glory. After being destroyed by fire, the entire surface of the earth will be remade like a glorious new Garden of Eden for God and His people to dwell in forever.

3.    A number of questions have been raised about this sequence. Why does God need to take so long to accomplish these final few steps in the great controversy? Is it because of human freedom? Why does He need to come back to this earth twice with 1000 years in between? If Satan can be successfully bound at the second coming, why should he be released again to tempt people at the third coming? If all the wicked are dead, what is the purpose of raising them to life again? How will the wicked finally be destroyed? If Christ died the death of sinners, what is the relationship between His death on the cross and the final destruction of sinners? Does God really need to stretch out these final events in the history of the great controversy until everyone-even Satan himself-admits that God was right? How does all of this guarantee that sin and rebellion will never rise again? (ST Dec. 30, 1889 par. 4; 5BC 1132.9; Revelation 20)

4.    Read [1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 and Revelation 20:1-6[250]]. Before the second coming of Christ can take place and before the final events in the history of the great controversy, Satan must be given the opportunity to show what would happen if he were actually allowed to be in control. Revelation 15 and 16 give us a brief glimpse into what the results would be. Satan will do everything possible to try to destroy God’s chosen people, the 144,000. In the process he will almost destroy this earth, killing millions of his own people; but, he will not be allowed to kill any of God’s true people. The truth about Satan will finally be clear to everyone.

5.    Read 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:8[251]. As we learned last quarter, Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians to clarify some of the things which must happen before Christ can return the second time. At the second coming, there will be a special resurrection of those who particularly persecuted Christians down through the generations including those who were involved in the trial and crucifixion of Christ. Thus, they will be present to see His glorious coming. The entire sky will be filled with shining angels. The wicked will be slain by the brightness of His coming; and at the same time, the righteous dead will be resurrected to life to join their living companions to ascend with Jesus to heaven. Thus, Satan and his angels are left on this earth with no humans to harass or tempt.

6.    T urning to some details given to us by Ellen White, we learn that the journey to heaven will take seven days. (EW 16:2; CET59.2; Hvn 47.2; LDE280.2; LS 66.2; Mar 305.3; 1T60.3) When the saints arrive in heaven, they will be welcomed by the angels.

(1) Clothed in glorious white robes, all the saints will be standing on the sea of glass outside the City. (2) They will be standing in a hollow square, with Jesus in the center. (3) The angels will bring crowns from the City, and Jesus personally places a crown on the head of each saint. (4) Each one is satisfied with his/her crown. (5) The angels will bring harps from the City, and Jesus personally hands one to each of the redeemed. (6) Then, the commanding angel and other leading angels with Him strike the first note, and all sweep the strings and sing praises to Christ.

7.    Revelation 20 suggests that the saints will then be given the opportunity to review in detail everything that has taken place in the great controversy. It will become clear to them why some have been saved and others are lost. They will be given as much time as they need to review the records, to ask questions, and to be convinced that God did everything He possibly could to save everyone-within the boundary of each of us having free choice.

8.    God’s final judgment is actually divided into five phases:

1)    The pre-advent judgment: Angels and the universe will see that God’s judgment is fair.

2)    The 2nd coming: The righteous will receive their reward and are taken to heaven and the

wicked are slain. This is the first "executive” judgment - God acts on His decisions.

3)    The Millennium: The saints sit in judgment with Christ and agree that God’s judgment was

fair. They will find out why certain people are not in heaven and why others are.

4)    The 3rd coming: Satan, his angels, and the wicked see the panorama, realize that everything

that could be done for them was done and that God’s judgment is fair, and admit their sins and errors.

5)    Final executive judgment: Sin and sinners will be destroyed/separated permanently from God

the source of life when they admit there is no further reason for them to exist.

9.    [Ecclesiastes 12:13,14; Revelation 20:12,13; and 1 Corinthians 4:5[252]] tell us that there will be no hidden secrets. Every detail of each life will be open to view, even the secret motives.

10.    Finally, when the thousand years end, it will be time for God to relocate from heaven to establish His headquarters here on planet earth which will be a permanent memorial to all that God has accomplished in the great controversy. As the New Jerusalem descends, the wicked are resurrected. Everyone who has ever lived will be alive to see the final events of the great controversy. (There will be a few exceptions-Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, p. 193.1 (1858); Early Writings 276.1 (revised 1882)).

11.    In a frenzy of excitement, Satan and his angels will recognize their last possible opportunity to win the great controversy. They will gather the wicked and organize them for an attack on the New Jerusalem. We do not know how long this time of preparation will take. When Satan and his forces are ready, they will march toward the New Jerusalem. Apparently, during this time of preparation, the gates of the New Jerusalem will be open. Could it be that the righteous might go out to mingle with the wicked? Is it possible that some of the wicked might actually enter the City to look around?

12.    Jesus and the redeemed will leave the New Jerusalem. They will watch as He raises the wicked dead. Then, they return into the City. When Satan and his armies are fully prepared to attack the City, (GC 662:1-664:2) Jesus will give the order to close the gates. (GC 664:3) As the wicked are about to attack the City, Christ suddenly will appear far above the City upon a foundation of burnished gold seated on a throne surrounded by the righteous singing praises to Him. When the wicked begin their march on the City, the gates of the New Jerusalem will be closed. (1SG 215.2 (1858); Early Writings 293:1; Story of Redemption 419.2)

13.    Thus will begin the final scenes of God’s judgment of the wicked.

As soon as the books of record are opened, and the eye of Jesus looks upon the wicked, they are conscious of every sin which they have ever committed. They see just where their feet diverged from the path of purity and holiness, just how far pride and rebellion have carried them in the violation of the law of God. The seductive temptations which they encouraged by indulgence in sin, the blessings perverted, the messengers of God despised, the warnings rejected, the waves of mercy beaten back by the stubborn, unrepentant heart-all appear as if written in letters of fire.—4SP 481.1; Great Controversy, 666:2; FLB 356.2; Hvn 126.3; Mar 339.6; SR 422.3; TA 291.5.

When the Judgment shall sit, and the books shall be opened, there will be many astonishing disclosures. Men will not then appear as they appear to the human eyes and finite judgments. Secret sins will then be laid open to the view of all. Motives and intentions which have been hidden in the dark chambers of the heart will be revealed.—RH, January 1, 1884 par. 13; ST, May 26, 1887 par. 10; Maranatha, 340:4.

In that solemn and awful hour the unfaithfulness of the husband will be opened to the wife, and the unfaithfulness of the wife, to the husband. Parents will then learn, for the first time, what was the real character of their children, and children will see the errors and mistakes that marked the lives of their parents. The man who robbed his neighbor through false representations, is not to escape with his ill-gotten gains. God has an exact record in His books, of every unjust account and every unfair dealing.—RH, March 27, 1888 par. 13; Maranatha, 340:6.

14.    In panoramic view, the entire sequence of the great controversy will be presented for all to see. (4 Spirit of Prophecy 481.1-482.2 (1884); Great Controversy, 666:3-667:2; Mar 343.2-4; SR 423.1-424.1; TA 291.6-292.2)

15.    There will be no place to hide. The wicked will see the truth of everything that has happened. It will then be evident to all that the wages of sin is not noble independence and eternal life as Satan has said, but rather slavery, ruin, and death. (4SP 483.3) The wicked will admit that they were wrong and that God and His law have always been right.

Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion has unfitted him for heaven. He has

trained his powers to war against God; the purity, peace, and harmony of heaven would be to him supreme torture. His accusations against the mercy and justice of God are now silenced. The reproach which he has endeavored to cast upon Jehovah rests wholly upon himself. And now Satan bows down and confesses the justice of his sentence.—4Spirit of Prophecy 486.1    (1884); Great Controversy, 670:2; DD 58.1; FLB 356.5; Hvn 127.2; Mar 345.6; SR 427.2; TA 293.4; Philippians 2:5-11[253]. [What does that take?]

Some are destroyed as in a moment, while others suffer many days. All are punished ‘according to their deeds.’ [Revelation 20:12,13[254]] The sins of the righteous having been transferred to Satan, he is made to suffer not only for his own rebellion, but for all the sins which he has caused God’s people to commit.

His punishment is to be far greater than that of those whom he has deceived.

After all have perished who fell by his deceptions, he is still to live and suffer on. In the cleansing flames the wicked are at last destroyed, root and branch—Satan the root, his followers the branches. The full penalty of the law has been visited; the demands of justice have been met; and heaven and earth, beholding, declare the righteousness of Jehovah.—4Spirit of Prophecy 488.1    (1884); GC 673:1; DD 59.4; FLB 358.2; Hvn 129.1; Mar 348.2; OFC 340.4; SR 429.1; TA 294.2.

16.    All of this is necessary to complete the answers to Satan’s accusations in the great controversy. No question must be left in the minds of anyone-not even of the wicked-about the truthfulness and fairness of God’s government. There is no reason for Satan to be released at the third coming except to clarify in the minds of everyone that God has always told the truth and that Satan is the father of lies. There must be no lingering doubt about God.

17.    We often think of sin as being confined to this earth. Remember that sin began in heaven beside the throne of God. The angels and the beings in other worlds have taken an intense interest in what is happening on this earth. [(Job 1&2; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:12)[255]] Everyone must be satisfied with the answers given in the great controversy. Even Satan will finally admit the truth. [(Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10,11)[256]]

18.    Then, God can move on with His original plan to create a beautiful place for humans to live in forever. But, this time it will be even better because God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and all the angels will make their home with us. Sin, suffering, disease, death, decay, and rebellion will be eliminated forever.

19.    In Revelation 21, a picture-albeit very brief-is given to us of the New Jerusalem. Actual measurements are given as evidence that it is a real place and not just an imaginary location. Not only will God dwell with us, but also the lion will lie down with the lamb. (Isaiah 65:25[257])

A fear of making the future inheritance seem too material has led many to spiritualize away the very truths which lead us to look upon it as our home. Christ assured His disciples that He went to prepare mansions for them in the Father’s house. Those who accept the teachings of God’s word will not be wholly ignorant concerning the heavenly abode. . . . Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the righteous. It will be known only to those who behold it. No finite mind can comprehend the glory of the Paradise of God.”—Great Controversy 674, 675.

20.    Three different views of the millennium have generally been proclaimed by different individuals over the last several hundred years. 1) That it is describing the period of time between the first and second advents of Christ. 2) That it is a long period of peace and righteousness on this earth before Christ appears or possibly with Christ reigning here on this earth. This period of peace and harmony would be brought about by preaching the gospel and by social reforms. And

3) The millennium-a period of 1000 years-will take place after Christ’s second coming, and the major events will happen in heaven itself. It will be followed then by a third coming.

21.    When God re-creates our world in its perfection, nothing defiling will enter. Just as Satan and his angels fled from heaven because they could not tolerate the presence of God and His glory, nothing defiling will come into the New Jerusalem.

22.    In the beginning, Adam and Eve were completely comfortable walking with God in the Garden of Eden. Lucifer lived with God all of his life until his rebellion. Then, why will God’s glory destroy all who will be out of harmony with Him?

By a life of rebellion, Satan and all who unite with him place themselves so out of harmony with God that His very presence is to them a consuming fire. The glory of Him who is love will destroy them. (DA 764.1)

23.    On which side will each of us be when the great controversy is ended? Will we be on God’s side, having experienced the marvelous salvation He has provided? Or, will we be out there among the wicked, angry and furious about what is happening and realizing the truth of all the sins that have caused us to be there and having our sins open for all to see?

© 2012, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution is encouraged. It is our goal to see them spread as widely and freely as possible. If you would like to use them for your class or even make copies of portions of them, feel free to do so. We always enjoy hearing about how you might be using the materials, and we might even want to share good ideas with others. So, let us know.    Info@theox.org

Last Modified: October 27, 2012

Great Controversy In Scripture

1.    The Bible teaches that there are other beings in the universe besides humans:

A.    God (and Christ) existed before this earth was created: Ps. 90:2[258]; Jn 1:1-3[259]; Jn 17:24[260]; Heb1:8-10[261]; 1 Pet 1:20[262]; Eph 1:4, 5[263]; Col. 1:15-17[264]

B.    Angels - More than 300 references in the King James Version : Psalms 91:11[265]; Hebrews 1:4-2:2[266];Exodus 23:23[267]; 1 Chronicles 21:16[268]; 2 Samuel 24:16-17[269]

C.    Satan/Devil - Ezekiel 28:13[270]; Revelation 12:7-12[271]; Genesis 3:1-4[272]; Approximately 200 references in King James Version ; See handout on Satan.

D.    Other Beings : Job 1:6[273]; Job 2:1[274]; Job 38:4-7[275]; Daniel 9:21[276]; Acts 12:7[277]; Hebrews 13:2[278]; compare Revelation 22:16[279]; 2 Peter 1:19[280]; 1 Corinthians 4:9[281]; Ephesians 1:9-10; 3:9-10[282]; Colossians 1:19-20[283]

2.    Satan wanted to take the place of God: Isaiah 14:12-14[284]; Ezekiel 28:11-15[285]; Matthew 4:8-9[286]

3.    God has said that sin (which began with Satan) will lead to death: Genesis 2:17[287]; Romans 6:23[288]

4.    Satan has accused God of being a liar: Genesis 3:1-5[289]; Job 1:6-12[290]; Job 2:1-6[291]

5.    Sometime before this earth was created, war arose in heaven: Revelation 12:1-12[292]; Ezekiel 28:12-16[293]

6.    Satan and his followers were excluded from heaven: Luke 10:18[294]; John 8:44[295]; John 12:31[296]; Col. 2:15[297]; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-12

7.    When Satan lost his battle to overthrow God in heaven, he came to this earth to tempt us: Revelation 12:7-10[298]; Genesis 3:1-4[299]; Ezekiel 28:12-16[300]

8.    Satan claims to be the master of this world. He claims that this world belongs to him: Job 1 & 2[301]; Matthew 4:8,9[302]; 1 Kings 22[303]; 2 Chronicles 18[304]; John 12:31[305]; John 14:30[306]; John 16:11[307]; 2 Cor.4:4[308]; Eph. 2:1,2[309]; Eph. 6:16[310]; 1 John 5:19[311]

9.    Satan claims that we are his because we have sinned and he has the right to destroy us: Zechariah 3:1-5[312]; Jude 9[313]

10.    God promised to demonstrate the truthfulness of his statement in Genesis 2:17[314]: Genesis 3:15[315]; Romans 3:1-4[316]; Romans 3:25-27[317]

11.    The whole rest of the universe is watching us to see what is going to happen: 1 Corinthians 4:9[318]; Ephesians 1:7-10[319]; Eph. 3:9-10[320]; Colossians 1:19-20[321]

12.    Christ promised that he would deal with the sin problem. In order to do that he must deal with Satan’s lies as well as our misbehavior: Romans 8:3[322]; Romans 3:4[323]

13.    Christ died for sinless angels too, because they were the first ones to hear Satan’s accusations against God: Ephesians 1:7-10[324]; Eph. 3:7-10[325]; Colossians 1:19-20[326]; John 12:32[327] ( GNB )

14.    God needs to clear his own name in order to win in the great controversy: (See handout Ezekiel #3:For My Own Name’s Sake)

15.    Ezekiel 20 and 36[328] are very instructive chapters. They should be read carefully and the implications considered. Please note this particular theme:

In Egypt: Read Ezekiel 20:4-7[329] about how God tried to help Israel in Egypt, then note:

Ezekiel 20:8,9 : 8 “But they defied me and refused to listen. They did not throw away their disgusting idols or give up the Egyptian gods. I was ready to let them feel the full force of my anger there in Egypt. 9 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name , for in the presence of the people among whom they were living I had announced to Israel that I was going to lead them out of Egypt... ( GNB )

In the wilderness: Read Eze 20:10-12[330], then note:

Ezekiel 20:13-14 : 13 “But even in the desert they defied me. They broke my laws and rejected my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They completely profaned the Sabbath.

I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to destroy them. 14 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt ... (See Exodus 32:7-14[331])

The second generation in the wilderness: Read Eze. 20:15-20[332], then note:

Ezekiel 20:21-22 : 21 “But that generation also defied me. They broke my laws and did not keep my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to kill them all. 22 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt ...

After the Babylonian captivity: Read Eze. 20:37-42[333], then note:

Ezekiel 20:43-44 : 43 “‘Then you will remember all the disgraceful things you did and how you defiled yourselves. You will be disgusted with yourselves because of all the evil things you did. 44 When I act to protect my honor, you Israelites will know that I am the LORD, because I do not deal with you as your wicked, evil actions deserve.’ The Sovereign LORD has spoken.” (GNB)

Right throughout Israelite history God has had to act, not primarily for the “salvation” of his people but for the honor of his own name! The great controversy is not so much about how God saves you and me but about how God answers Satan’s accusations against his character and government.

Note especially that the purpose of the Sabbath is to remind us of this particular very important truth. The Sabbath is to be a time when we get to know our God and are reminded of our relationship with him. (Ezekiel 20:12[334]; Eze. 20:20[335]) We need to understand his character and as much about him as possible and not just the right name by which to refer to him.

If the Sabbath is not being used for this purpose, then as far as God is concerned we are profaning it. (Ezekiel 20:13-21[336])

In Ezekiel 36 after all of Israel is in captivity, he explains further:

Ezekiel 36:20-22: 20 Wherever they went, they brought disgrace on my holy name, because people would say, These are the people of the LORD, but they had to leave his land.’ 21 That made me concerned for my holy name, since the Israelites brought disgrace on it. The everywhere they went. 22 Now then, give the Israelites the message that I, the Sovereign LORD, have for them: What I am going to do is not for the sake of you Israelites, but for the sake of my holy name , which you have disgraced in every country where you have gone. 23 When I demonstrate to the nations the holiness of my great name-the name you disgraced among them-then they will know that I am the LORD ... (28) You will be my people, and I will be your God... 32 Israel, I want you to know that I am not doing all this for your sake ... 36 Then the neighboring nations that have survived will know that I, the LORD, rebuild ruined cities and replant waste fields.

I, The LORD, have promised that I would do this-and I will. ( GNB )

This is why Ezekiel repeats the phrase “Then they will know that I am the LORD” or “for my own name’s sake” or something similar at least 46 times in his book. (See handout Ezekiel #3: “ For My Own Name’s Sake” )

Isaiah also realized and stated that God’s reputation was the key issue in Scripture:

Isaiah 48:11:

What I do is done for my own sake—

I will not let my name be dishonored or let anyone else share the glory that should be mine and mine alone.” ( GNB )

Daniel 9:14-19 : Daniel recognized that God must do something for his own reputation.

Summary: There has been a continuous war going on in our universe since before this earth was created. Lucifer, one of God’s foremost angels, began to have rebellious ideas in heaven. After some time he managed to get more than one-third of the angels to side with him against our wonderful Father-Creator-God. Thus “war” began in heaven. Finally, Lucifer, now turned into God’s “adversary” or “Satan”, was excluded from heaven and came down to our earth to cause trouble here. He convinced our first parents to join him in rebellion. From that day to this, we have been surrounded and controlled by sin. Down through the years Satan has been quite successful in convincing most of us that God is really a lying tyrant whose behavior is often “severe, exacting, revengeful, arbitrary” “stern”, “harsh”, “inflexible”, “unforgiving” and “implacable”—“One to be feared, dreaded and even hated”. ( Signs of the Times , January 20, 1890; Bible Training School, November

1, 1908; Review and Herald , November 17, 1891; Christian Education 73; EW 218; GC 534-536)

Jesus Christ was born into this sinful, rebellious world to fully and finally answer Satan’s charges—he came to “deal with sin”. (Romans 3:25-27; Romans 8:3) Now God is waiting for us here on this earth to discover and understand the fact that he has won this “great controversy”. He is waiting for a time when enough of us have “gotten the message” so that through the gift of the empowering Holy Spirit they can spread this truth throughout the world just before he returns in glory to redeem his faithful, trustworthy friends. Sin and those who refuse to separate themselves from sin will come to a final end and this world will once again be a peaceful, safe place to live for the rest of eternity.

© Copyright 1999-2008, Kenneth Hart info@theox.org

1-Gen. 3:15 I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's heel."

Rev. 12:1 Then a great and mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a woman, whose dress was the sun and who had the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was soon to give birth, and the pains and suffering of childbirth made her cry out. 3 Another mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and a crown on each of his heads. 4 With his tail he dragged a third of the stars out of the sky and threw them down to the earth. He stood in front of the woman, in order to eat her child as soon as it was born. 5 Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule over all nations with an iron rod. But the child was snatched away and taken to God and his throne. 6 The woman fled to the desert, to a place God had prepared for her, where she will be taken care of for 1,260 days. 7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; 8 but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer. 9 The huge dragon was thrown out - that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven. 11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. 12 And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left." 13 When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he began to pursue the woman who had given birth to the boy. 14 She was given the two wings of a large eagle in order to fly to her place in the desert, where she will be taken care of for three and a half years, safe from the dragon's attack. 15 And then from his mouth the dragon poured out a flood of water after the woman, so that it would carry her away. 16 But the earth helped the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the water that had come from the dragon's mouth. 17 The dragon was furious with the woman and went off to fight against the rest of her descendants, all those who obey God's commandments and are faithful to the truth revealed by Jesus.

Isa. 14:4 When he does this, they are to mock the king of Babylon and say: "The cruel king has fallen! He will never oppress anyone again! 5 The Lord has ended the power of the evil rulers 6 who angrily oppressed the peoples and never stopped persecuting the nations they had conquered. 7 Now at last the whole world enjoys rest and peace, and everyone sings for joy. 8 The cypress trees and the cedars of Lebanon rejoice over the fallen king, because there is no one to cut them down, now that he is gone! 9 "The world of the dead is getting ready to welcome the king of Babylon. The ghosts of those who were powerful on earth are stirring about. The ghosts of kings are rising from their thrones. 10 They all call out to him, "Now you are as weak as we are! You are one of us! 11 You used to be honored with the music of harps, but now here you are in the world of the dead. You lie on a bed of maggots and are covered with a blanket of worms.' " 12 King of Babylon, bright morning star, you have fallen from heaven! In the past you conquered nations, but now you have been thrown to the ground. 13 You were determined to climb up to heaven and to place your throne above the highest stars. You thought you would sit like a king on that mountain in the north where the gods assemble. 14 You said you would climb to the tops of the clouds and be like the Almighty. 15 But instead, you have been brought down to the deepest part of the world of the dead. 16 The dead will stare and gape at you. They will ask, "Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble? 17 Is this the man who destroyed cities and turned the world into a desert? Is this the man who never freed his prisoners or let them go home?" 18 All the kings of the earth lie in their magnificent tombs, 19 but you have no tomb, and your corpse is thrown out to rot. It is covered by the bodies of soldiers killed in battle, thrown with them into a rocky pit, and trampled down. 20 Because you ruined your country and killed your own people, you will not be buried like other kings. None of your evil family will survive. 21 Let the slaughter begin! The sons of this king will die because of their ancestors' sins. None of them will ever rule the earth or cover it with cities.

Ezek. 28:12 "Mortal man," he said, "grieve for the fate that is waiting for the king of Tyre. Tell him what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying: You were once an example of perfection. How wise and handsome you were! 13 You lived in Eden, the garden of God, and wore gems of every kind: rubies and diamonds; topaz, beryl, carnelian, and jasper; sapphires, emeralds, and garnets. You had ornaments of gold. They were made for you on the day you were created. 14 I put a terrifying angel there to guard you. You lived on my holy mountain and walked among sparkling gems. 15 Your conduct was perfect from the day you were created until you began to do evil. 16 You were busy buying and selling, and this led you to violence and sin. So I forced you to leave my holy mountain, and the angel who guarded you drove you away from the sparkling gems. 17 You were proud of being handsome, and your fame made you act like a fool. Because of this I hurled you to the ground and left you as a warning to other kings. 18 You did such evil in buying and selling that your places of worship were corrupted. So I set fire to the city and burned it to the ground. All who look at you now see you reduced to ashes. 19 You are gone, gone forever, and all the nations that had come to know you are terrified, afraid that they will share your fate."

Isa. 53:6 All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the Lord made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved.

Rom. 1:20 Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all! 21 They know God, but they do not give him the honor that belongs to him, nor do they thank him. Instead, their thoughts have become complete nonsense, and their empty minds are filled with darkness. 22 They say they are wise, but they are fools; 23 instead of worshiping the immortal God, they worship images made to look like mortals or birds or animals or reptiles. 24 And so God has given those people over to do the filthy things their hearts desire, and they do shameful things with each other. 25 They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever! Amen. 26 Because they do this, God has given them over to shameful passions. Even the women pervert the natural use of their sex by unnatural acts. 27 In the same way the men give up natural sexual relations with women and burn with passion for each other. Men do shameful things with each other, and as a result they bring upon themselves the punishment they deserve for their wrongdoing. 28 Because those people refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God, he has given them over to corrupted minds, so that they do the things that they should not do.

John 16:2 You will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time will come when those who kill you will think that by doing this they are serving God.

2-Genesis 2:15 Then the Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it. 16 He told him, "You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, 17 except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day."

3-Genesis 3:1 Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made. The snake asked the woman, "Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?" 2 "We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden," the woman answered, 3 "except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die." 4 The snake replied, "That's not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad."

4-Genesis 6:1 When people had spread all over the world, and daughters were being born, 2 some of the heavenly beings saw that these young women were beautiful, so they took the ones they liked. 3 Then the Lord said, "I will not allow people to live forever; they are mortal. From now on they will live no longer than 120 years." 4 In those days, and even later, there were giants on the earth who were descendants of human women and the heavenly beings. They were the great heroes and famous men of long ago. 5 When the Lord saw how wicked everyone on earth was and how evil their thoughts were all the time, 6 he was sorry that he had ever made them and put them on the earth. He was so filled with regret 7 that he said, "I will wipe out these people I have created, and also the animals and the birds, because I am sorry that I made any of them." 8 But the Lord was pleased with Noah. 9 This is the story of Noah. He had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Noah had no faults and was the only good man of his time. He lived in fellowship with God, 10 11 but everyone else was evil in God's sight, and violence had spread everywhere. 12 God looked at the world and saw that it was evil, for the people were all living evil lives. 13 God said to Noah, "I have decided to put an end to all people. I will destroy them completely, because the world is full of their violent deeds. 14 Build a boat for yourself out of good timber; make rooms in it and cover it with tar inside and out. 15 Make it 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Make a roof for the boat and leave a space of 18 inches between the roof and the sides. Build it with three decks and put a door in the side. 17 I am going to send a flood on the earth to destroy every living being. Everything on the earth will die, 18 but I will make a covenant with you. Go into the boat with your wife, your sons, and their wives. 19 Take into the boat with you a male and a female of every kind of animal and of every kind of bird, in order to keep them alive. 20 21 Take along all kinds of food for you and for them." 22 Noah did everything that God commanded.

Genesis 7:1 The Lord said to Noah, "Go into the boat with your whole family; I have found that you are the only one in all the world who does what is right. 2 Take with you seven pairs of each kind of ritually clean animal, but only one pair of each kind of unclean animal. 3 Take also seven pairs of each kind of bird. Do this so that every kind of animal and bird will be kept alive to reproduce again on the earth. 4 Seven days from now I am going to send rain that will fall for forty days and nights, in order to destroy all the living beings that I have made." 5 And Noah did everything that the Lord commanded. 6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood came on the earth. 7 He and his wife, and his sons and their wives, went into the boat to escape the flood. 8 A male and a female of every kind of animal and bird, whether ritually clean or unclean, 9 went into the boat with Noah, as God had commanded. 10 Seven days later the flood came. 11 When Noah was six hundred years old, on the seventeenth day of the second month all the outlets of the vast body of water beneath the earth burst open, all the floodgates of the sky were opened, 12 and rain fell on the earth for forty days and nights. 13 On that same day Noah and his wife went into the boat with their three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives. 14 With them went every kind of animal, domestic and wild, large and small, and every kind of bird. 15 A male and a female of each kind of living being went into the boat with Noah, 16 as God had commanded. Then the Lord shut the door behind Noah. 17 The flood continued for forty days, and the water became deep enough for the boat to float. 18 The water became deeper, and the boat drifted on the surface. 19 It became so deep that it covered the highest mountains; 20 it went on rising until it was about twenty-five feet above the tops of the mountains. 21 Every living being on the earth died - every bird, every animal, and every person. 22 Everything on earth that breathed died. 23 The Lord destroyed all living beings on the earth - human beings, animals, and birds. The only ones left were Noah and those who were with him in the boat. 24 The water did not start going down for a hundred and fifty days.

Genesis 8:1 God had not forgotten Noah and all the animals with him in the boat; he caused a wind to blow, and the water started going down. 2 The outlets of the water beneath the earth and the floodgates of the sky were closed. The rain stopped, 3 and the water gradually went down for 150 days. 4 On the seventeenth day of the seventh month the boat came to rest on a mountain in the Ararat range. 5 The water kept going down, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains appeared. 6 After forty days Noah opened a window 7 and sent out a raven. It did not come back, but kept flying around until the water was completely gone. 8 Meanwhile, Noah sent out a dove to see if the water had gone down, 9 but since the water still covered all the land, the dove did not find a place to light. It flew back to the boat, and Noah reached out and took it in. 10 He waited another seven days and sent out the dove again. 11 It returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. So Noah knew that the water had gone down. 12 Then he waited another seven days and sent out the dove once more; this time it did not come back. 13 When Noah was 601 years old, on the first day of the first month, the water was gone. Noah removed the covering of the boat, looked around, and saw that the ground was getting dry. 14 By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry. 15 God said to Noah, 16 "Go out of the boat with your wife, your sons, and their wives. 17 Take all the birds and animals out with you, so that they may reproduce and spread over all the earth." 18 So Noah went out of the boat with his wife, his sons, and their wives. 19 All the animals and birds went out of the boat in groups of their own kind. 20 Noah built an altar to the Lord; he took one of each kind of ritually clean animal and bird, and burned them whole as a sacrifice on the altar. 21 The odor of the sacrifice pleased the Lord, and he said to himself, "Never again will I put the earth under a curse because of what people do; I know that from the time they are young their thoughts are evil. Never again will I destroy all living beings, as I have done this time. 22 As long as the world exists, there will be a time for planting and a time for harvest. There will always be cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night."

5-Galatians 4:4 But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law,

6-Matthew 27:46 At about three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, ["Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"] which means, "My God, my God, why did you abandon me?"

7-Revelation 12:17 The dragon was furious with the woman and went off to fight against the rest of her descendants, all those who obey God's commandments and are faithful to the truth revealed by Jesus.

8-Job 1:6 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the Lord, Satan was there among them.

Job 2:1 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the Lord again, Satan was there among them.

Job 38:4 Were you there when I made the world? If you know so much, tell me about it. 5 Who decided how large it would be? Who stretched the measuring line over it? Do you know all the answers? 6 What holds up the pillars that support the earth? Who laid the cornerstone of the world? 7 In the dawn of that day the stars sang together, and the heavenly beings shouted for joy.

Daniel 9:21 While I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came flying down to where I was. It was the time for the evening sacrifice to be offered.

Acts 12:7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shone in the cell. The angel shook Peter by the shoulder, woke him up, and said, "Hurry! Get up!" At once the chains fell off Peter's hands.

Hebrews 13:2 Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it.

Revelation 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to announce these things to you in the churches. I am descended from the family of David; I am the bright morning star."

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that other believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings.

2 Peter 1:19 So we are even more confident of the message proclaimed by the prophets. You will do well to pay attention to it, because it is like a lamp shining in a dark place until the Day dawns and the light of the morning star shines in your hearts.

1 Corinthians 4:9 For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings.

Ephesians 1:9 God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. 10 This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.

Ephesians 3:9 and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, 10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms.

Colossians 1:19 For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. 20 Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

James 4:7 So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.

9-Ezekiel 20:1 It was the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year of our exile. Some of the leaders of the Israelite community came to consult me about the Lord's will, and they sat down in front of me. 2 Then the Lord spoke to me. 3 "Mortal man," he said, "speak to these leaders and tell them that the Sovereign Lord is saying: You have come to ask my will, have you? As surely as I am the living God, I will not let you ask me anything. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken. 4 "Are you ready to pass sentence on them, mortal man? Then do so. Remind them of the disgusting things their ancestors did. 5 Tell them what I am saying. When I chose Israel, I made them a promise. I revealed myself to them in Egypt and told them: I am the Lord your God. 6 It was then that I promised to take them out of Egypt and lead them to a land I had chosen for them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all. 7 I told them to throw away the disgusting idols they loved and not to make themselves unclean with the false gods of Egypt, because I am the Lord their God. 8 But they defied me and refused to listen. They did not throw away their disgusting idols or give up the Egyptian gods. I was ready to let them feel the full force of my anger there in Egypt. 9 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name, for in the presence of the people among whom they were living I had announced to Israel that I was going to lead them out of Egypt. 10 "And so I led them out of Egypt into the desert. 11 I gave them my commands and taught them my laws, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. 12 I made the keeping of the Sabbath a sign of the agreement between us, to remind them that I, the Lord, make them holy. 13 But even in the desert they defied me. They broke my laws and rejected my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They completely profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to destroy them. 14 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt. 15 So I made a vow in the desert that I would not take them to the land I had given them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all. 16 I made the vow because they had rejected my commands, broken my laws, and profaned the Sabbath - they preferred to worship their idols. 17 "But then I took pity on them. I decided not to kill them there in the desert. 18 Instead, I warned the young people among them: Do not keep the laws your ancestors made; do not follow their customs or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God. Obey my laws and my commands. 20 Make the Sabbath a holy day, so that it will be a sign of the covenant we made, and will remind you that I am the Lord your God. 21 "But that generation also defied me. They broke my laws and did not keep my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to kill them all. 22 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt. 23 So I made another vow in the desert. I vowed that I would scatter them all over the world. 24 I did this because they had rejected my commands, broken my laws, profaned the Sabbath, and worshiped the same idols their ancestors had served. 25 "Then I gave them laws that are not good and commands that do not bring life. 26 I let them defile themselves with their own offerings, and I let them sacrifice their first-born sons. This was to punish them and show them that I am the Lord. 27 "Now then, mortal man, tell the Israelites what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying to them. This is another way their ancestors insulted me by their unfaithfulness. 28 I brought them to the land I had promised to give them. When they saw the high hills and green trees, they offered sacrifices at all of them. They made me angry by the sacrifices they burned and by the wine they brought as offerings. 29 I asked them: What are these high places where you go? So they have been called "High Places' ever since. 30 Now tell the Israelites what I am saying: Why must you commit the same sins your ancestors did and go running after their idols? 31 Even today you offer the same gifts and defile yourselves with the same idols by sacrificing your children to them in the fire. And then you Israelites still come to ask what my will is! As surely as I, the Sovereign Lord, am the living God, I will not let you ask me anything. 32 You have made up your minds that you want to be like the other nations, like the people who live in other countries and worship trees and rocks. But that will never be. 33 "As surely as I, the Sovereign Lord, am the living God, I warn you that in my anger I will rule over you with a strong hand, with all my power. 34 I will show you my power and my anger when I gather you together and bring you back from all the countries where you have been scattered. 35 I will bring you into the "Desert of the Nations,' and there I will condemn you to your face. 36 I will now condemn you just as I condemned your ancestors in the Sinai Desert," says the Sovereign Lord. 37 "I will take firm control of you and make you obey my covenant. 38 I will take away from among you those who are rebellious and sinful. I will take them out of the lands where they are living now, but I will not let them return to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord." 39 The Sovereign Lord says, "And now, all you Israelites, suit yourselves! Go on and serve your idols! But I warn you that after this you will have to obey me and stop dishonoring my holy name by offering gifts to your idols. 40 There in the land, on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, all you people of Israel will worship me. I will be pleased with you and will expect you to bring me your sacrifices, your best offerings, and your holy gifts. 41 After I bring you out of the countries where you have been scattered and gather you together, I will accept the sacrifices that you burn, and the nations will see that I am holy. 42 When I bring you back to Israel, the land that I promised I would give to your ancestors, then you will know that I am the Lord. 43 Then you will remember all the disgraceful things you did and how you defiled yourselves. You will be disgusted with yourselves because of all the evil things you did. 44 When I act to protect my honor, you Israelites will know that I am the Lord, because I do not deal with you as your wicked, evil actions deserve." The Sovereign Lord has spoken. 45 The Lord spoke to me. 46 "Mortal man," he said, "look toward the south. Speak against the south and prophesy against the forest of the south. 47 Tell the southern forest to hear what the Sovereign Lord is saying: Look! I am starting a fire, and it will burn up every tree in you, whether green or dry. Nothing will be able to put it out. It will spread from south to north, and everyone will feel the heat of the flames. 48 They will all see that I, the Lord, set it on fire and that no one can put it out." 49 But I protested, "Sovereign Lord, don't make me do it! Everyone is already complaining that I always speak in riddles."

Ezekiel 36:1 The Lord said, "Mortal man, speak to the mountains of Israel and tell them to listen to the message which I, 2 the Sovereign Lord, have for them: Israel's enemies gloated and said, "Now those ancient hills are ours!' 3 "Prophesy, then, and announce what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying. When the neighboring nations captured and plundered the mountains of Israel, everyone made fun of Israel. 4 So now listen to what I, the Sovereign Lord, say to you mountains and hills, to you brooks and valleys, to you places that were left in ruins, and to you deserted cities which were plundered and mocked by all the surrounding nations. 5 "I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken out in the heat of my anger against the surrounding nations, and especially against Edom. With glee and contempt they captured my land and took possession of its pastures. 6 "So prophesy to the land of Israel; tell the mountains, hills, brooks, and valleys what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying in jealous anger because of the way the nations have insulted and humiliated them. 7 I, the Sovereign Lord, solemnly promise that the surrounding nations will be humiliated. 8 But on the mountains of Israel the trees will again grow leaves and bear fruit for you, my people Israel. You are going to come home soon. 9 I am on your side, and I will make sure that your land is plowed again and crops are planted on it. 10 I will make your population grow. You will live in the cities and rebuild everything that was left in ruins. 11 I will make people and cattle increase in number. There will be more of you than ever before, and you will have many children. I will let you live there as you used to live, and I will make you more prosperous than ever. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 12 I will bring you, my people Israel, back to live again in the land. It will be your own land, and it will never again let your children starve. 13 "I, the Sovereign Lord, say: It is true that people say that the land eats people and that it robs the nation of its children. 14 But from now on it will no longer eat people and rob you of your children. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken. 15 The land will no longer have to listen to the nations making fun of it or see the peoples sneer at it. The land will no longer rob the nation of its children. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken." 16 The Lord spoke to me. 17 "Mortal man," he said, "when the Israelites were living in their land, they defiled it by the way they lived and acted. I regarded their behavior as being as ritually unclean as a woman is during her monthly period. 18 I let them feel the force of my anger because of the murders they had committed in the land and because of the idols by which they had defiled it. 19 I condemned them for the way they lived and acted, and I scattered them through foreign countries. 20 Wherever they went, they brought disgrace on my holy name, because people would say, "These are the people of the Lord, but they had to leave his land.' 21 That made me concerned for my holy name, since the Israelites brought disgrace on it everywhere they went. 22 "Now then, give the Israelites the message that I, the Sovereign Lord, have for them: What I am going to do is not for the sake of you Israelites, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have disgraced in every country where you have gone. 23 When I demonstrate to the nations the holiness of my great name - the name you disgraced among them - then they will know that I am the Lord. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken. I will use you to show the nations that I am holy. 24 I will take you from every nation and country and bring you back to your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean from all your idols and everything else that has defiled you. 26 I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart. 27 I will put my spirit in you and will see to it that you follow my laws and keep all the commands I have given you. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from everything that defiles you. I will command the grain to be plentiful, so that you will not have any more famines. 30 I will increase the yield of your fruit trees and your fields, so that there will be no more famines to disgrace you among the nations. 31 You will remember your evil conduct and the wrongs that you committed, and you will be disgusted with yourselves because of your sins and your iniquities. 32 Israel, I want you to know that I am not doing all this for your sake. I want you to feel the shame and disgrace of what you are doing. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken." 33 The Sovereign Lord says, "When I make you clean from all your sins, I will let you live in your cities again and let you rebuild the ruins. 34 Everyone who used to walk by your fields saw how overgrown and wild they were, but I will let you farm them again. 35 Everyone will talk about how this land, which was once a wilderness, has become like the Garden of Eden, and how the cities which were torn down, looted, and left in ruins, are now inhabited and fortified. 36 Then the neighboring nations that have survived will know that I, the Lord, rebuild ruined cities and replant waste fields. I, the Lord, have promised that I would do this - and I will." 37 The Sovereign Lord says, "I will once again let the Israelites ask me for help, and I will let them increase in numbers like a flock of sheep. 38 The cities that are now in ruins will then be as full of people as Jerusalem was once full of the sheep which were offered as sacrifices at a festival. Then they will know that I am the Lord."

10-Ezekiel 20:4 "Are you ready to pass sentence on them, mortal man? Then do so. Remind them of the disgusting things their ancestors did. 5 Tell them what I am saying. When I chose Israel, I made them a promise. I revealed myself to them in Egypt and told them: I am the Lord your God. 6 It was then that I promised to take them out of Egypt and lead them to a land I had chosen for them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all. 7 I told them to throw away the disgusting idols they loved and not to make themselves unclean with the false gods of Egypt, because I am the Lord their God.

11-John 12:31 Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown. 32 When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.

12-2 Peter 1:19 So we are even more confident of the message proclaimed by the prophets. You will do well to pay attention to it, because it is like a lamp shining in a dark place until the Day dawns and the light of the morning star shines in your hearts. 20 Above all else, however, remember that none of us can explain by ourselves a prophecy in the Scriptures. 21 For no prophetic message ever came just from the human will, but people were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God.

13-2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, 17 so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.

14-Deuteronomy 6:4 "Israel, remember this! The Lord - and the Lord alone - is our God.

15-Matthew 28:19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

16-Hebrews 11:6 No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.

17-Exodus 3:1 One day while Moses was taking care of the sheep and goats of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, he led the flock across the desert and came to Sinai, the holy mountain. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him as a flame coming from the middle of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire but that it was not burning up. 3 "This is strange," he thought. "Why isn't the bush burning up? I will go closer and see." 4 When the Lord saw that Moses was coming closer, he called to him from the middle of the bush and said, "Moses! Moses!" He answered, "Yes, here I am." 5 God said, "Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." So Moses covered his face, because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord said, "I have seen how cruelly my people are being treated in Egypt; I have heard them cry out to be rescued from their slave drivers. I know all about their sufferings, 8 and so I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians and to bring them out of Egypt to a spacious land, one which is rich and fertile and in which the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites now live. 9 I have indeed heard the cry of my people, and I see how the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Now I am sending you to the king of Egypt so that you can lead my people out of his country." 11 But Moses said to God, "I am nobody. How can I go to the king and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" 12 God answered, "I will be with you, and when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will worship me on this mountain. That will be the proof that I have sent you." 13 But Moses replied, "When I go to the Israelites and say to them, "The God of your ancestors sent me to you,' they will ask me, "What is his name?' So what can I tell them?" 14 God said, "I am who I am. You must tell them: "The one who is called I AM has sent me to you.'

18-Matthew 27:37 Above his head they put the written notice of the accusation against him: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

Mark 15:26 The notice of the accusation against him said: "The King of the Jews."

Luke 23:38 Above him were written these words: "This is the King of the Jews."

19-John 19:20 Many people read it, because the place where Jesus was crucified was not far from the city. The notice was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.

Desire of Ages 745.2 As soon as Jesus was nailed to the cross, it was lifted by strong men, and with great violence thrust into the place prepared for it. This caused the most intense agony to the Son of God. Pilate then wrote an inscription in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and placed it upon the cross, above the head of Jesus. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.” This inscription irritated the Jews. In Pilate’s court they had cried, “Crucify Him.” “We have no king but Caesar.” John 19:15. They had declared that whoever should acknowledge any other king was a traitor. Pilate wrote out the sentiment they had expressed. No offense was mentioned, except that Jesus was the King of the Jews. The inscription was a virtual acknowledgment of the allegiance of the Jews to the Roman power. It declared that whoever might claim to be the King of Israel would be judged by them worthy of death. The priests had overreached themselves. When they were plotting the death of Christ, Caiaphas had declared it expedient that one man should die to save the nation. Now their hypocrisy was revealed. In order to destroy Christ, they had been ready to sacrifice even their national existence. {DA 745.2}

20-1 Kings 6:1 Four hundred and eighty years after the people of Israel left Egypt, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the second month, the month of Ziv, Solomon began work on the Temple.

21-Acts 1:18 (With the money that Judas got for his evil act he bought a field, where he fell to his death; he burst open and all his insides spilled out.

Matthew 27:5 Judas threw the coins down in the Temple and left; then he went off and hanged himself.

22-Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small."

Deuteronomy 6:4 "Israel, remember this! The Lord - and the Lord alone - is our God.

Mark 12:29 Jesus replied, "The most important one is this: "Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord.

23-Steps to Christ 105 Many, especially those who are young in the Christian life, are at times troubled with the suggestions of skepticism. There are in the Bible many things which they cannot explain, or even understand, and Satan employs these to shake their faith in the Scriptures as a revelation from God. They ask, “How shall I know the right way? If the Bible is indeed the word of God, how can I be freed from these doubts and perplexities?” {SC 105.1}

God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration. Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith. {SC 105.2}

It is impossible for finite minds fully to comprehend the character or the works of the Infinite One. To the keenest intellect, the most highly educated mind, that holy Being must ever remain clothed in mystery. “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?” Job 11:7, 8. {SC 105.3}

24-Hebrews 11:6 No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.

Romans 10:17 So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ.

25-Malachi 3:6 "I am the Lord, and I do not change. And so you, the descendants of Jacob, are not yet completely lost.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning.

1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:16 And we ourselves know and believe the love which God has for us. God is love, and those who live in love live in union with God and God lives in union with them.

2 Chronicles 6:18 "But can you, O God, really live on earth among men and women? Not even all of heaven is large enough to hold you, so how can this Temple that I have built be large enough?

26-Genesis 11:9 The city was called Babylon, because there the Lord mixed up the language of all the people, and from there he scattered them all over the earth.

Genesis 19:24 Suddenly the Lord rained burning sulfur on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah

Exodus 3:1 One day while Moses was taking care of the sheep and goats of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, he led the flock across the desert and came to Sinai, the holy mountain. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him as a flame coming from the middle of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire but that it was not burning up. 3 "This is strange," he thought. "Why isn't the bush burning up? I will go closer and see." 4 When the Lord saw that Moses was coming closer, he called to him from the middle of the bush and said, "Moses! Moses!" He answered, "Yes, here I am." 5 God said, "Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." So Moses covered his face, because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord said, "I have seen how cruelly my people are being treated in Egypt; I have heard them cry out to be rescued from their slave drivers. I know all about their sufferings, 8 and so I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians and to bring them out of Egypt to a spacious land, one which is rich and fertile and in which the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites now live. 9 I have indeed heard the cry of my people, and I see how the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Now I am sending you to the king of Egypt so that you can lead my people out of his country." 11 But Moses said to God, "I am nobody. How can I go to the king and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" 12 God answered, "I will be with you, and when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will worship me on this mountain. That will be the proof that I have sent you." 13 But Moses replied, "When I go to the Israelites and say to them, "The God of your ancestors sent me to you,' they will ask me, "What is his name?' So what can I tell them?" 14 God said, "I am who I am. You must tell them: "The one who is called I AM has sent me to you.'

John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

27-Genesis 1:27 So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female,

Romans 5:12 Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned. 13 There was sin in the world before the Law was given; but where there is no law, no account is kept of sins. 14 But from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, death ruled over all human beings, even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam did when he disobeyed God's command. Adam was a figure of the one who was to come. 15 But the two are not the same, because God's free gift is not like Adam's sin. It is true that many people died because of the sin of that one man. But God's grace is much greater, and so is his free gift to so many people through the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. 16 And there is a difference between God's gift and the sin of one man. After the one sin, came the judgment of "Guilty"; but after so many sins, comes the undeserved gift of "Not guilty!" 17 It is true that through the sin of one man death began to rule because of that one man. But how much greater is the result of what was done by the one man, Jesus Christ! All who receive God's abundant grace and are freely put right with him will rule in life through Christ. 18 So then, as the one sin condemned all people, in the same way the one righteous act sets all people free and gives them life. 19 And just as all people were made sinners as the result of the disobedience of one man, in the same way they will all be put right with God as the result of the obedience of the one man.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small."

Mark 12:13 Some Pharisees and some members of Herod's party were sent to Jesus to trap him with questions. 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you tell the truth, without worrying about what people think. You pay no attention to anyone's status, but teach the truth about God's will for people. Tell us, is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor? Should we pay them or not?" 15 But Jesus saw through their trick and answered, "Why are you trying to trap me? Bring a silver coin, and let me see it." 16 They brought him one, and he asked, "Whose face and name are these?" "The Emperor's," they answered. 17 So Jesus said, "Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God." And they were amazed at Jesus.

Genesis 2:19 So he took some soil from the ground and formed all the animals and all the birds. Then he brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and that is how they all got their names. 20 So the man named all the birds and all the animals; but not one of them was a suitable companion to help him. 21 Then the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh. 22 He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. 23 Then the man said, "At last, here is one of my own kind - Bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh. "Woman' is her name because she was taken out of man." 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one. 25 The man and the woman were both naked, but they were not embarrassed.

Acts 17:26 From one human being he created all races of people and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live.

28-Ecclesiastes 12:13 After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for. 14 God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing before the throne. Books were opened, and then another book was opened, the book of the living. The dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up its dead. Death and the world of the dead also gave up the dead they held. And all were judged according to what they had done.

29-Jude 14 It was Enoch, the seventh direct descendant from Adam, who long ago prophesied this about them: "The Lord will come with many thousands of his holy angels

Romans 5:12 Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned. 13 There was sin in the world before the Law was given; but where there is no law, no account is kept of sins. 14 But from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, death ruled over all human beings, even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam did when he disobeyed God's command. Adam was a figure of the one who was to come. 15 But the two are not the same, because God's free gift is not like Adam's sin. It is true that many people died because of the sin of that one man. But God's grace is much greater, and so is his free gift to so many people through the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. 16 And there is a difference between God's gift and the sin of one man. After the one sin, came the judgment of "Guilty"; but after so many sins, comes the undeserved gift of "Not guilty!" 17 It is true that through the sin of one man death began to rule because of that one man. But how much greater is the result of what was done by the one man, Jesus Christ! All who receive God's abundant grace and are freely put right with him will rule in life through Christ. 18 So then, as the one sin condemned all people, in the same way the one righteous act sets all people free and gives them life. 19 And just as all people were made sinners as the result of the disobedience of one man, in the same way they will all be put right with God as the result of the obedience of the one man. 20 Law was introduced in order to increase wrongdoing; but where sin increased, God's grace increased much more. 21 So then, just as sin ruled by means of death, so also God's grace rules by means of righteousness, leading us to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised. 21 For just as death came by means of a man, in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man. 22 For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ.

30-Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small." 27 So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female,

31-Mark 12:13 Some Pharisees and some members of Herod's party were sent to Jesus to trap him with questions. 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you tell the truth, without worrying about what people think. You pay no attention to anyone's status, but teach the truth about God's will for people. Tell us, is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor? Should we pay them or not?" 15 But Jesus saw through their trick and answered, "Why are you trying to trap me? Bring a silver coin, and let me see it." 16 They brought him one, and he asked, "Whose face and name are these?" "The Emperor's," they answered. 17 So Jesus said, "Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God." And they were amazed at Jesus.

32-4SP 481.2Above the throne is revealed the cross; and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam’s temptation and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan of redemption. The Saviour’s lowly birth; his early life of simplicity and obedience; his baptism in Jordan; the fast and temptation in the wilderness; his public ministry, unfolding to men Heaven’s most precious blessings; the days crowded with deeds of love and mercy, the nights of prayer and watching in the solitude of the mountains; the plottings of envy, hate, and malice which repaid his benefits; the awful, mysterious agony in Gethsemane, beneath the crushing weight of the sins of the whole world; his betrayal into the hands of the murderous mob; the fearful events of that night of horror,—the unresisting prisoner, forsaken by his best-loved disciples, rudely hurried through the streets of Jerusalem; the Son of God exultingly displayed before Annas, arraigned in the high priest’s palace, in the judgment hall of Pilate, before the cowardly and cruel Herod, mocked, insulted, tortured, and condemned to die,—all are vividly portrayed. {4SP 481.2}

33-GC 666.3 Above the throne is revealed the cross; and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam’s temptation and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan of redemption. The Saviour’s lowly birth; His early life of simplicity and obedience; His baptism in Jordan; the fast and temptation in the wilderness; His public ministry, unfolding to men heaven’s most precious blessings; the days crowded with deeds of love and mercy, the nights of prayer and watching in the solitude of the mountains; the plottings of envy, hate, and malice which repaid His benefits; the awful, mysterious agony in Gethsemane beneath the crushing weight of the sins of the whole world; His betrayal into the hands of the murderous mob; the fearful events of that night of horror—the unresisting prisoner, forsaken by His best-loved disciples, rudely hurried through the streets of Jerusalem; the Son of God exultingly displayed before Annas, arraigned in the high priest’s palace, in the judgment hall of Pilate, before the cowardly and cruel Herod, mocked, insulted, tortured, and condemned to die—all are vividly portrayed. {GC 666.3}

34-SR 423.1Above the throne is revealed the cross; and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam’s temptation and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan of redemption. The Saviour’s lowly birth; His early life of simplicity and obedience; His baptism in Jordan; the fast and temptation in the wilderness; His public ministry, unfolding to men heaven’s most precious blessings; the days crowded with deeds of love and mercy, the nights of prayer and watching in the solitude of the mountains; the plottings of envy, hate, and malice which repaid His benefits; the awful mysterious agony in Gethsemane, beneath the crushing weight of the sins of the whole world; His betrayal into the hands of the murderous mob; the fearful events of that night of horror: the unresisting prisoner, forsaken by His best-loved disciples, rudely hurried through the streets of Jerusalem; the Son of God exultingly displayed before Annas, arraigned in the high priest’s palace, in the judgment hall of Pilate, before the cowardly and cruel Herod, mocked, insulted, tortured, and condemned to die—all are vividly portrayed. {SR 423.1}

35-Mar 343.2Above the throne is revealed the cross; and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam’s temptation and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan of redemption. The Saviour’s lowly birth; His early life of simplicity and obedience; His baptism in Jordan; the fast and temptation in the wilderness; His public ministry, unfolding to men heaven’s most precious blessings; the days crowded with deeds of love and mercy, the nights of prayer and watching in the solitude of the mountains; the plottings of envy, hate, and malice which repaid His benefits; the awful, mysterious agony in Gethsemane beneath the crushing weight of the sins of the whole world; His betrayal into the hands of the murderous mob; the fearful events of that night of horror—the unresisting prisoner, forsaken by His best-loved disciples, rudely hurried through the streets of Jerusalem; the Son of God exultingly displayed before Annas, arraigned in the high priest’s palace, in the judgment hall of Pilate, before the cowardly and cruel Herod, mocked, insulted, tortured, and condemned to die—all are vividly portrayed. {Mar 343.2}

36-Genesis 2:20 So the man named all the birds and all the animals; but not one of them was a suitable companion to help him. 21 Then the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh. 22 He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. 23 Then the man said, "At last, here is one of my own kind - Bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh. "Woman' is her name because she was taken out of man." 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one. 25 The man and the woman were both naked, but they were not embarrassed.

37-Genesis 1:27 So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female,

Genesis 3:20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all human beings.

Acts 17:26 From one human being he created all races of people and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live.

38-Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy to be defeated will be death.

39-Romans 5:12 Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned. 13 There was sin in the world before the Law was given; but where there is no law, no account is kept of sins. 14 But from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, death ruled over all human beings, even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam did when he disobeyed God's command. Adam was a figure of the one who was to come. 15 But the two are not the same, because God's free gift is not like Adam's sin. It is true that many people died because of the sin of that one man. But God's grace is much greater, and so is his free gift to so many people through the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. 16 And there is a difference between God's gift and the sin of one man. After the one sin, came the judgment of "Guilty"; but after so many sins, comes the undeserved gift of "Not guilty!" 17 It is true that through the sin of one man death began to rule because of that one man. But how much greater is the result of what was done by the one man, Jesus Christ! All who receive God's abundant grace and are freely put right with him will rule in life through Christ. 18 So then, as the one sin condemned all people, in the same way the one righteous act sets all people free and gives them life. 19 And just as all people were made sinners as the result of the disobedience of one man, in the same way they will all be put right with God as the result of the obedience of the one man.

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self. This is the new being which God, its Creator, is constantly renewing in his own image, in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself.

40-Romans 8:29 Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers.

2 Corinthians 3:18 All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.

Ephesians 4:23 Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, 24 and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.

41-GC 555.1It 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}

42-Galatians 5:16 What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature. 17 For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. 11 Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks. 12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. 13 So put on God's armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.

43-Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, when God created the universe, 2 the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the Spirit of God was moving over the water. 3 Then God commanded, "Let there be light" - and light appeared. 4 God was pleased with what he saw. Then he separated the light from the darkness, 5 and he named the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." Evening passed and morning came - that was the first day. 6 Then God commanded, "Let there be a dome to divide the water and to keep it in two separate places" - and it was done. So God made a dome, and it separated the water under it from the water above it. 7 8 He named the dome "Sky." Evening passed and morning came - that was the second day. 9 Then God commanded, "Let the water below the sky come together in one place, so that the land will appear" - and it was done. 10 He named the land "Earth," and the water which had come together he named "Sea." And God was pleased with what he saw. 11 Then he commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of plants, those that bear grain and those that bear fruit" - and it was done. 12 So the earth produced all kinds of plants, and God was pleased with what he saw. 13 Evening passed and morning came - that was the third day. 14 Then God commanded, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and to show the time when days, years, and religious festivals begin; 15 they will shine in the sky to give light to the earth" - and it was done. 16 So God made the two larger lights, the sun to rule over the day and the moon to rule over the night; he also made the stars. 17 He placed the lights in the sky to shine on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God was pleased with what he saw. 19 Evening passed and morning came - that was the fourth day. 20 Then God commanded, "Let the water be filled with many kinds of living beings, and let the air be filled with birds." 21 So God created the great sea monsters, all kinds of creatures that live in the water, and all kinds of birds. And God was pleased with what he saw. 22 He blessed them all and told the creatures that live in the water to reproduce and to fill the sea, and he told the birds to increase in number. 23 Evening passed and morning came - that was the fifth day. 24 Then God commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life: domestic and wild, large and small" - and it was done. 25 So God made them all, and he was pleased with what he saw. 26 Then God said, "And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small." 27 So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, 28 blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals. 29 I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat; 30 but for all the wild animals and for all the birds I have provided grass and leafy plants for food" - and it was done. 31 God looked at everything he had made, and he was very pleased. Evening passed and morning came - that was the sixth day.

Genesis 2:1 And so the whole universe was completed. 2 By the seventh day God finished what he had been doing and stopped working. 3 He blessed the seventh day and set it apart as a special day, because by that day he had completed his creation and stopped working.

44-John 2:25 There was no need for anyone to tell him about them, because he himself knew what was in their hearts.

Jeremiah 17:9 "Who can understand the human heart? There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed.

Titus 1:1 From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was chosen and sent to help the faith of God's chosen people and to lead them to the truth taught by our religion, 2 which is based on the hope for eternal life. God, who does not lie, promised us this life before the beginning of time,

Romans 3:19 Now we know that everything in the Law applies to those who live under the Law, in order to stop all human excuses and bring the whole world under God's judgment. 20 For no one is put right in God's sight by doing what the Law requires; what the Law does is to make us know that we have sinned. 21 But now God's way of putting people right with himself has been revealed. It has nothing to do with law, even though the Law of Moses and the prophets gave their witness to it. 22 God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all: 23 everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. 24 But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free.

Acts 2:36 "All the people of Israel, then, are to know for sure that this Jesus, whom you crucified, is the one that God has made Lord and Messiah!" 37 When the people heard this, they were deeply troubled and said to Peter and the other apostles, "What shall we do, brothers?" 38 Peter said to them, "Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit.

Luke 7:47 I tell you, then, the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love."

Ephesians 2:1 In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. 2 At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. 3 Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger. 4 But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, 5 that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God's grace that you have been saved.

45-Romans 8:3 What the Law could not do, because human nature was weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending his own Son, who came with a nature like our sinful nature, to do away with sin.

46-Revelation 12:1 Then a great and mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a woman, whose dress was the sun and who had the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was soon to give birth, and the pains and suffering of childbirth made her cry out. 3 Another mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and a crown on each of his heads. 4 With his tail he dragged a third of the stars out of the sky and threw them down to the earth. He stood in front of the woman, in order to eat her child as soon as it was born. 5 Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule over all nations with an iron rod. But the child was snatched away and taken to God and his throne. 6 The woman fled to the desert, to a place God had prepared for her, where she will be taken care of for 1,260 days. 7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; 8 but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer. 9 The huge dragon was thrown out - that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven. 11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. 12 And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left."

47-1 John 3:4 Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God's law, because sin is a breaking of the law.

James 4:17 So then, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we are guilty of sin.

Romans 14:23 But if they have doubts about what they eat, God condemns them when they eat it, because their action is not based on faith. And anything that is not based on faith is sin.

48-Acts 16:31 They answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your family."

49-1 Corinthians 4:9 For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings.

50-Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying high in the air, with an eternal message of Good News to announce to the peoples of the earth, to every race, tribe, language, and nation. 7 He said in a loud voice, "Honor God and praise his greatness! For the time has come for him to judge all people. Worship him who made heaven, earth, sea, and the springs of water!"

Titus 1:1 From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was chosen and sent to help the faith of God's chosen people and to lead them to the truth taught by our religion, 2 which is based on the hope for eternal life. God, who does not lie, promised us this life before the beginning of time,

Ephesians 1:3 Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. 4 Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love 5 God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children - this was his pleasure and purpose.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 We must thank God at all times for you, friends, you whom the Lord loves. For God chose you as the first to be saved by the Spirit's power to make you his holy people and by your faith in the truth. 14 God called you to this through the Good News we preached to you; he called you to possess your share of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 13:8 All people living on earth will worship it, except those whose names were written before the creation of the world in the book of the living which belongs to the Lamb that was killed.

51-Isaiah 59:2 It is because of your sins that he doesn't hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him.

Acts 17:28 as someone has said, "In him we live and move and exist.' It is as some of your poets have said, "We too are his children.'

52-Jeremiah 17:9 "Who can understand the human heart? There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed.

Romans 5:12 Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned.

Revelation 22:11 Whoever is evil must go on doing evil, and whoever is filthy must go on being filthy; whoever is good must go on doing good, and whoever is holy must go on being holy."

Genesis 3:15 I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's heel."

Genesis4:4 Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering,

Genesis12:1 The Lord said to Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's home, and go to a land that I am going to show you. 2 I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, But I will curse those who curse you. And through you I will bless all the nations."

Exodus 25:8 The people must make a sacred Tent for me, so that I may live among them.

53-Luke 18:9 Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else. 10 "Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed, "I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there. 12 I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income.' 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, "God, have pity on me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you," said Jesus, "the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great."

Isaiah 53:4 "But he endured the suffering that should have been ours, the pain that we should have borne. All the while we thought that his suffering was punishment sent by God.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that everything in the Law applies to those who live under the Law, in order to stop all human excuses and bring the whole world under God's judgment. 20 For no one is put right in God's sight by doing what the Law requires; what the Law does is to make us know that we have sinned. 21 But now God's way of putting people right with himself has been revealed. It has nothing to do with law, even though the Law of Moses and the prophets gave their witness to it. 22 God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all: 23 everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. 24 But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free.

Romans 3:28 For we conclude that a person is put right with God only through faith, and not by doing what the Law commands.

Zechariah 3:1 In another vision the Lord showed me the High Priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord. And there beside Joshua stood Satan, ready to bring an accusation against him. 2 The angel of the Lord said to Satan, "May the Lord condemn you, Satan! May the Lord, who loves Jerusalem, condemn you. This man is like a stick snatched from the fire." 3 Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes. 4 The angel said to his heavenly attendants, "Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing." Then he said to Joshua, "I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear." 5 He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua's head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the Lord stood there.

54-Romans 2:4 Or perhaps you despise his great kindness, tolerance, and patience. Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent.

55-Romans 10:17 So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ.

56-Luke 7:47 I tell you, then, the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love."

Ephesians 1:7 For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God,

Romans 4:7 "Happy are those whose wrongs are forgiven, whose sins are pardoned!

57-Romans 5:16 And there is a difference between God's gift and the sin of one man. After the one sin, came the judgment of "Guilty"; but after so many sins, comes the undeserved gift of "Not guilty!"

Romans 5:18 So then, as the one sin condemned all people, in the same way the one righteous act sets all people free and gives them life.

Romans 8:1 There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus.

58-Ephesians 2:1 In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. 2 At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. 3 Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger. 4 But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, 5 that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God's grace that you have been saved.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.

59-Isaiah 64:6 All of us have been sinful; even our best actions are filthy through and through. Because of our sins we are like leaves that wither and are blown away by the wind.

60-Zechariah 3:1 In another vision the Lord showed me the High Priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord. And there beside Joshua stood Satan, ready to bring an accusation against him. 2 The angel of the Lord said to Satan, "May the Lord condemn you, Satan! May the Lord, who loves Jerusalem, condemn you. This man is like a stick snatched from the fire." 3 Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes. 4 The angel said to his heavenly attendants, "Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing." Then he said to Joshua, "I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear." 5 He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua's head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the Lord stood there.

61-1 Corinthians 4:9 For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings.

DA 764This is not an act of arbitrary power on the part of God. The rejecters of His mercy reap that which they have sown. God is the fountain of life; and when one chooses the service of sin, he separates from God, and thus cuts himself off from life. He is “alienated from the life of God.” Christ says, “All they that hate Me love death.” Ephesians 4:18; Proverbs 8:36. God gives them existence for a time that they may develop their character and reveal their principles. This accomplished, they receive the results of their own choice. By a life of rebellion, Satan and all who unite with him place themselves so out of harmony with God that His very presence is to them a consuming fire. The glory of Him who is love will destroy them. {DA 764.1}

At the beginning of the great controversy, the angels did not understand this. Had Satan and his host then been left to reap the full result of their sin, they would have perished; but it would not have been apparent to heavenly beings that this was the inevitable result of sin. A doubt of God’s goodness would have remained in their minds as evil seed, to produce its deadly fruit of sin and woe. {DA 764.2}

But not so when the great controversy shall be ended. Then, the plan of redemption having been completed, the character of God is revealed to all created intelligences. The precepts of His law are seen to be perfect and immutable. Then sin has made manifest its nature, Satan his character. Then the extermination of sin will vindicate God’s love and establish His honor before a universe of beings who delight to do His will, and in whose heart is His law. {DA 764.3}

Well, then, might the angels rejoice as they looked upon the Saviour’s cross; for though they did not then understand all, they knew that the destruction of sin and Satan was forever made certain, that the redemption of man was assured, and that the universe was made eternally secure. Christ Himself fully comprehended the results of the sacrifice made upon Calvary. To all these He looked forward when upon the cross He cried out, “It is finished.” {DA 764.4}

62-Controversy 555.1It 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}

63-Isaiah 59:2 It is because of your sins that he doesn't hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him.

64-John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.

65-Hebrews 5:11 There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand. 12 There has been enough time for you to be teachers - yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God's message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk. 13 Anyone who has to drink milk is still a child, without any experience in the matter of right and wrong. 14 Solid food, on the other hand, is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil.

Hebrews 6:1 Let us go forward, then, to mature teaching and leave behind us the first lessons of the Christian message. We should not lay again the foundation of turning away from useless works and believing in God; 2 of the teaching about baptisms and the laying on of hands; of the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment. 3 Let us go forward! And this is what we will do, if God allows.

Ephesians 4:11 It was he who "gave gifts to people"; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. 12 He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ. 13 And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature. 14 Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent. 15 Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. 16 Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.

66-1 John 3:4 Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God's law, because sin is a breaking of the law.

67-Isa. 14:12 King of Babylon, bright morning star, you have fallen from heaven! In the past you conquered nations, but now you have been thrown to the ground. 13 You were determined to climb up to heaven and to place your throne above the highest stars. You thought you would sit like a king on that mountain in the north where the gods assemble. 14 You said you would climb to the tops of the clouds and be like the Almighty. 15 But instead, you have been brought down to the deepest part of the world of the dead.

John 8:44 You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father's desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.

68-Ps. 51:4 I have sinned against you - only against you - and done what you consider evil. So you are right in judging me; you are justified in condemning me.

Isa. 1:2 The Lord said, "Earth and sky, listen to what I am saying! The children I brought up have rebelled against me.

69-Rom. 8:7 And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God's law, and in fact they cannot obey it.

70-Rom. 5:10 We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life!

Col. 1:21 At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought.

71-Romans 8:3 What the Law could not do, because human nature was weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending his own Son, who came with a nature like our sinful nature, to do away with sin.

72-2 Corinthians 5:9 Our message is that God was making all human beings his friends through Christ. God did not keep an account of their sins, and he has given us the message which tells how he makes them his friends.

73-Eph. 1:7 For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, 8 which he gave to us in such large measure! In all his wisdom and insight

74-Gal. 2:16 Yet we know that a person is put right with God only through faith in Jesus Christ, never by doing what the Law requires. We, too, have believed in Christ Jesus in order to be put right with God through our faith in Christ, and not by doing what the Law requires. For no one is put right with God by doing what the Law requires.

75-1 Cor. 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption NKJV

76-Rom. 8:30 But God has brought you into union with Christ Jesus, and God has made Christ to be our wisdom. By him we are put right with God; we become God's holy people and are set free.

77-Rom. 5:21 So then, just as sin ruled by means of death, so also God's grace rules by means of righteousness, leading us to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom. 6:23 For sin pays its wage - death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 2:25 And this is what Christ himself promised to give us - eternal life

78-Isaiah 35:10 They will reach Jerusalem with gladness, singing and shouting for joy. They will be happy forever, forever free from sorrow and grief.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people."

Romans 6:12 Sin must no longer rule in your mortal bodies, so that you obey the desires of your natural self. 13 Nor must you surrender any part of yourselves to sin to be used for wicked purposes. Instead, give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes. 14 Sin must not be your master; for you do not live under law but under God's grace. 15 What, then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law but under God's grace? By no means! 16 Surely you know that when you surrender yourselves as slaves to obey someone, you are in fact the slaves of the master you obey - either of sin, which results in death, or of obedience, which results in being put right with God. 17 But thanks be to God! For though at one time you were slaves to sin, you have obeyed with all your heart the truths found in the teaching you received. 18 You were set free from sin and became the slaves of righteousness. 19 (I use everyday language because of the weakness of your natural selves.) At one time you surrendered yourselves entirely as slaves to impurity and wickedness for wicked purposes. In the same way you must now surrender yourselves entirely as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes. 20 When you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 What did you gain from doing the things that you are now ashamed of? The result of those things is death! 22 But now you have been set free from sin and are the slaves of God. Your gain is a life fully dedicated to him, and the result is eternal life. 23 For sin pays its wage - death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 6:12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.

Colossians 1:16 For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him.

Galatians 4:1 But now to continue - the son who will receive his father's property is treated just like a slave while he is young, even though he really owns everything. 2 While he is young, there are men who take care of him and manage his affairs until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way, we too were slaves of the ruling spirits of the universe before we reached spiritual maturity. 4 But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, 5 to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God's children. 6 To show that you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, "Father, my Father." 7 So then, you are no longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give you all that he has for his children. 8 In the past you did not know God, and so you were slaves of beings who are not gods. 9 But now that you know God - or, I should say, now that God knows you - how is it that you want to turn back to those weak and pitiful ruling spirits? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? 10 You pay special attention to certain days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am worried about you! Can it be that all my work for you has been for nothing?

Colossians 2:15 And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.

79-Desire of Ages 35.2Through heathenism, Satan had for ages turned men away from God; but he won his great triumph in perverting the faith of Israel. By contemplating and worshiping their own conceptions, the heathen had lost a knowledge of God, and had become more and more corrupt. So it was with Israel. The principle that man can save himself by his own works lay at the foundation of every heathen religion; it had now become the principle of the Jewish religion. Satan had implanted this principle. Wherever it is held, men have no barrier against sin. {DA 35.2}

80-Isaiah 35:10 They will reach Jerusalem with gladness, singing and shouting for joy. They will be happy forever, forever free from sorrow and grief.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people."

Galatians 4:4 But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, 5 to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God's children.

Titus 2:14; 14 He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.

Hebrews 9:12 When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us.

1 Peter 1:18 For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; 19 it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw.

81-Romans 6:12 Sin must no longer rule in your mortal bodies, so that you obey the desires of your natural self. 13 Nor must you surrender any part of yourselves to sin to be used for wicked purposes. Instead, give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes. 14 Sin must not be your master; for you do not live under law but under God's grace. 15 What, then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law but under God's grace? By no means! 16 Surely you know that when you surrender yourselves as slaves to obey someone, you are in fact the slaves of the master you obey - either of sin, which results in death, or of obedience, which results in being put right with God. 17 But thanks be to God! For though at one time you were slaves to sin, you have obeyed with all your heart the truths found in the teaching you received. 18 You were set free from sin and became the slaves of righteousness. 19 (I use everyday language because of the weakness of your natural selves.) At one time you surrendered yourselves entirely as slaves to impurity and wickedness for wicked purposes. In the same way you must now surrender yourselves entirely as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes. 20 When you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 What did you gain from doing the things that you are now ashamed of? The result of those things is death! 22 But now you have been set free from sin and are the slaves of God. Your gain is a life fully dedicated to him, and the result is eternal life. 23 For sin pays its wage - death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

82-Romans 6:1 What shall we say, then? Should we continue to live in sin so that God's grace will increase? 2 Certainly not! We have died to sin - how then can we go on living in it? 3 For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death.

83-1 John 3:8 Whoever continues to sin belongs to the Devil, because the Devil has sinned from the very beginning. The Son of God appeared for this very reason, to destroy what the Devil had done.

1 John 5:19 We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the Evil One.

John 12:31 Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown.

John 16:11 and they are wrong about judgment, because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

Ephesians 6:2 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.

Colossians 1:16 For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him.

Colossians 2:15 And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.

Romans 8:38 For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, 39 neither the world above nor the world below - there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.

84-Colossians 2:8 See to it, then, that no one enslaves you by means of the worthless deceit of human wisdom, which comes from the teachings handed down by human beings and from the ruling spirits of the universe, and not from Christ.

Colossians 2:14 he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:20 You have died with Christ and are set free from the ruling spirits of the universe. Why, then, do you live as though you belonged to this world? Why do you obey such rules as

Galatians 4:1 But now to continue - the son who will receive his father's property is treated just like a slave while he is young, even though he really owns everything. 2 While he is young, there are men who take care of him and manage his affairs until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way, we too were slaves of the ruling spirits of the universe before we reached spiritual maturity. 4 But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, 5 to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God's children. 6 To show that you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, "Father, my Father." 7 So then, you are no longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give you all that he has for his children. 8 In the past you did not know God, and so you were slaves of beings who are not gods. 9 But now that you know God - or, I should say, now that God knows you - how is it that you want to turn back to those weak and pitiful ruling spirits? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? 10 You pay special attention to certain days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am worried about you! Can it be that all my work for you has been for nothing?

85-1 Peter 5:8 Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

86-Colossians 2:15 And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.

87-John 8:1 [Then everyone went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early the next morning he went back to the Temple. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught committing adultery, and they made her stand before them all. 4 "Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 In our Law Moses commanded that such a woman must be stoned to death. Now, what do you say?" 6 They said this to trap Jesus, so that they could accuse him. But he bent over and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 As they stood there asking him questions, he straightened up and said to them, "Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her." 8 Then he bent over again and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they all left, one by one, the older ones first. Jesus was left alone, with the woman still standing there. 10 He straightened up and said to her, "Where are they? Is there no one left to condemn you?" 11 "No one, sir," she answered. "Well, then," Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again."] 12 Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. "I am the light of the world," he said. "Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness." 13 The Pharisees said to him, "Now you are testifying on your own behalf; what you say proves nothing." 14 "No," Jesus answered, "even though I do testify on my own behalf, what I say is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. You do not know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You make judgments in a purely human way; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I were to do so, my judgment would be true, because I am not alone in this; the Father who sent me is with me. 17 It is written in your Law that when two witnesses agree, what they say is true. 18 I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me also testifies on my behalf." 19 "Where is your father?" they asked him. "You know neither me nor my Father," Jesus answered. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20 Jesus said all this as he taught in the Temple, in the room where the offering boxes were placed. And no one arrested him, because his hour had not come. 21 Again Jesus said to them, "I will go away; you will look for me, but you will die in your sins. You cannot go where I am going." 22 So the Jewish authorities said, "He says that we cannot go where he is going. Does this mean that he will kill himself?" 23 Jesus answered, "You belong to this world here below, but I come from above. You are from this world, but I am not from this world. 24 That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. And you will die in your sins if you do not believe that "I Am Who I Am'." 25 "Who are you?" they asked him. Jesus answered, "What I have told you from the very beginning. 26 I have much to say about you, much to condemn you for. The one who sent me, however, is truthful, and I tell the world only what I have heard from him." 27 They did not understand that Jesus was talking to them about the Father. 28 So he said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, you will know that "I Am Who I Am'; then you will know that I do nothing on my own authority, but I say only what the Father has instructed me to say. 29 And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him." 30 Many who heard Jesus say these things believed in him. 31 So Jesus said to those who believed in him, "If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; 32 you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 "We are the descendants of Abraham," they answered, "and we have never been anybody's slaves. What do you mean, then, by saying, "You will be free'?" 34 Jesus said to them, "I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there forever. 36 If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free. 37 I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me, because you will not accept my teaching. 38 I talk about what my Father has shown me, but you do what your father has told you." 39 They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." "If you really were Abraham's children," Jesus replied, "you would do the same things that he did. 40 All I have ever done is to tell you the truth I heard from God, yet you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like this! 41 You are doing what your father did." "God himself is the only Father we have," they answered, "and we are his true children." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God really were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own authority, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message. 44 You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father's desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies. 45 But I tell the truth, and that is why you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you can prove that I am guilty of sin? If I tell the truth, then why do you not believe me? 47 He who comes from God listens to God's words. You, however, are not from God, and that is why you will not listen." 48 They asked Jesus, "Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon in you?" 49 "I have no demon," Jesus answered. "I honor my Father, but you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking honor for myself. But there is one who is seeking it and who judges in my favor. 51 I am telling you the truth: whoever obeys my teaching will never die." 52 They said to him, "Now we know for sure that you have a demon! Abraham died, and the prophets died, yet you say that whoever obeys your teaching will never die. 53 Our father Abraham died; you do not claim to be greater than Abraham, do you? And the prophets also died. Who do you think you are?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I were to honor myself, that honor would be worth nothing. The one who honors me is my Father - the very one you say is your God. 55 You have never known him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see the time of my coming; he saw it and was glad." 57 They said to him, "You are not even fifty years old - and you have seen Abraham?" 58 "I am telling you the truth," Jesus replied. "Before Abraham was born, "I Am'." 59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

88-Hebrews 2:14 Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, 15 and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of their fear of death.

89-Acts 4:13 The members of the Council were amazed to see how bold Peter and John were and to learn that they were ordinary men of no education. They realized then that they had been companions of Jesus.

90-Genesis 2:17 except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day."

91-Genesis 3:1 Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made. The snake asked the woman, "Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?" 2 "We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden," the woman answered, 3 "except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die." 4 The snake replied, "That's not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad."

92-Desire of Ages 693.1Having made the decision, He fell dying to the ground from which He had partially risen. Where now were His disciples, to place their hands tenderly beneath the head of their fainting Master, and bathe that brow, marred indeed more than the sons of men? The Saviour trod the wine press alone, and of the people there was none with Him. {DA 693.1}

93-Matthew 27:46 At about three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, ["Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"] which means, "My God, my God, why did you abandon me?"

94-John 10:17 "The Father loves me because I am willing to give up my life, in order that I may receive it back again. 18 No one takes my life away from me. I give it up of my own free will. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it back. This is what my Father has commanded me to do."

John 2:19 Jesus answered, "Tear down this Temple, and in three days I will build it again."

Desire of Ages 785.2 When the voice of the mighty angel was heard at Christ’s tomb, saying, Thy Father calls Thee, the Saviour came forth from the grave by the life that was in Himself. Now was proved the truth of His words, “I lay down My life, that I might take it again.... I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” Now was fulfilled the prophecy He had spoken to the priests and rulers, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 10:17, 18; 2:19. {DA 785.2}

95-Ephesians 1:18 I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, 19 and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength 20 which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. 21 Christ rules there above all heavenly rulers, authorities, powers, and lords; he has a title superior to all titles of authority in this world and in the next. 22 God put all things under Christ's feet and gave him to the church as supreme Lord over all things.

Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express. 27 And God, who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will. 28 We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose. 29 Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers. 30 And so those whom God set apart, he called; and those he called, he put right with himself, and he shared his glory with them. 31 In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son - will he not also freely give us all things? 33 Who will accuse God's chosen people? God himself declares them not guilty! 34 Who, then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us! 35 Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death? 36 As the scripture says, "For your sake we are in danger of death at all times; we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38 For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, 39 neither the world above nor the world below - there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.

James 4:7 So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, then, under God's mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. 7 Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you. 8 Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that other believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings. 10 But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation.

Luke 10:1 After this the Lord chose another seventy-two men and sent them out two by two, to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He said to them, "There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest. 3 Go! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Don't take a purse or a beggar's bag or shoes; don't stop to greet anyone on the road. 5 Whenever you go into a house, first say, "Peace be with this house.' 6 If someone who is peace-loving lives there, let your greeting of peace remain on that person; if not, take back your greeting of peace. 7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking whatever they offer you, for workers should be given their pay. Don't move around from one house to another. 8 Whenever you go into a town and are made welcome, eat what is set before you, 9 heal the sick in that town, and say to the people there, "The Kingdom of God has come near you.' 10 But whenever you go into a town and are not welcomed, go out in the streets and say, 11 "Even the dust from your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. But remember that the Kingdom of God has come near you!' 12 I assure you that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to Sodom than to that town! 13 "How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you too, Bethsaida! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have long ago sat down, put on sackcloth, and sprinkled ashes on themselves, to show that they had turned from their sins! 14 God will show more mercy on the Judgment Day to Tyre and Sidon than to you. 15 And as for you, Capernaum! Did you want to lift yourself up to heaven? You will be thrown down to hell!" 16 Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." 17 The seventy-two men came back in great joy. "Lord," they said, "even the demons obeyed us when we gave them a command in your name!" 18 Jesus answered them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 20 But don't be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather be glad because your names are written in heaven."

Acts 5:12 Many miracles and wonders were being performed among the people by the apostles. All the believers met together in Solomon's Porch. 13 Nobody outside the group dared join them, even though the people spoke highly of them. 14 But more and more people were added to the group - a crowd of men and women who believed in the Lord. 15 As a result of what the apostles were doing, sick people were carried out into the streets and placed on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 And crowds of people came in from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing those who were sick or who had evil spirits in them; and they were all healed.

96-John 21:25 Now, there are many other things that Jesus did. If they were all written down one by one, I suppose that the whole world could not hold the books that would be written.

97-John 14:30 I cannot talk with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me,

98-Genesis 2:17 except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day."

99-Genesis 3:1 Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made. The snake asked the woman, "Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?" 2 "We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden," the woman answered, 3 "except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die." 4 The snake replied, "That's not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad."

100-Ephesians 1:18 I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, 19 and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength 20 which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. 21 Christ rules there above all heavenly rulers, authorities, powers, and lords; he has a title superior to all titles of authority in this world and in the next. 22 God put all things under Christ's feet and gave him to the church as supreme Lord over all things.

101-Zechariah 3:1 In another vision the Lord showed me the High Priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord. And there beside Joshua stood Satan, ready to bring an accusation against him. 2 The angel of the Lord said to Satan, "May the Lord condemn you, Satan! May the Lord, who loves Jerusalem, condemn you. This man is like a stick snatched from the fire." 3 Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes. 4 The angel said to his heavenly attendants, "Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing." Then he said to Joshua, "I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear." 5 He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua's head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the Lord stood there.

Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven. 11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. 12 And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left."

102-Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express. 27 And God, who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will. 28 We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose. 29 Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers. 30 And so those whom God set apart, he called; and those he called, he put right with himself, and he shared his glory with them. 31 In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son - will he not also freely give us all things? 33 Who will accuse God's chosen people? God himself declares them not guilty! 34 Who, then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us! 35 Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death? 36 As the scripture says, "For your sake we are in danger of death at all times; we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38 For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, 39 neither the world above nor the world below - there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.

103-Romans 8:29 Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers. 30 And so those whom God set apart, he called; and those he called, he put right with himself, and he shared his glory with them.

104-1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, then, under God's mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. 7 Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you. 8 Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that other believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings. 10 But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation.

105-Ephesians 4:27 Don't give the Devil a chance.

106-Matthew 10:1 Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Patriot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. 5 These twelve men were sent out by Jesus with the following instructions: "Do not go to any Gentile territory or any Samaritan towns. 6 Instead, you are to go to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. 7 Go and preach, "The Kingdom of heaven is near!' 8 Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases, and drive out demons. You have received without paying, so give without being paid.

Mark 6:7 He called the twelve disciples together and sent them out two by two. He gave them authority over the evil spirits

Mark 6:12 So they went out and preached that people should turn away from their sins. 13 They drove out many demons, and rubbed olive oil on many sick people and healed them.

Luke 9:1 Jesus called the twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick,

Luke 10:1 After this the Lord chose another seventy-two men and sent them out two by two, to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He said to them, "There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest. 3 Go! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Don't take a purse or a beggar's bag or shoes; don't stop to greet anyone on the road. 5 Whenever you go into a house, first say, "Peace be with this house.' 6 If someone who is peace-loving lives there, let your greeting of peace remain on that person; if not, take back your greeting of peace. 7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking whatever they offer you, for workers should be given their pay. Don't move around from one house to another. 8 Whenever you go into a town and are made welcome, eat what is set before you, 9 heal the sick in that town, and say to the people there, "The Kingdom of God has come near you.' 10 But whenever you go into a town and are not welcomed, go out in the streets and say, 11 "Even the dust from your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. But remember that the Kingdom of God has come near you!' 12 I assure you that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to Sodom than to that town! 13 "How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you too, Bethsaida! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have long ago sat down, put on sackcloth, and sprinkled ashes on themselves, to show that they had turned from their sins! 14 God will show more mercy on the Judgment Day to Tyre and Sidon than to you. 15 And as for you, Capernaum! Did you want to lift yourself up to heaven? You will be thrown down to hell!" 16 Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." 17 The seventy-two men came back in great joy. "Lord," they said, "even the demons obeyed us when we gave them a command in your name!" 18 Jesus answered them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 20 But don't be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather be glad because your names are written in heaven."

107-Luke 10:18 Jesus answered them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 20 But don't be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather be glad because your names are written in heaven."

108-Luke 15:7 In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents."

109-John 14:1 "Do not be worried and upset," Jesus told them. "Believe in God and believe also in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. 3 And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. 4 You know the way that leads to the place where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?" 6 Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. 7 Now that you have known me," he said to them, "you will know my Father also, and from now on you do know him and you have seen him." 8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father; that is all we need." 9 Jesus answered, "For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, "Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe, Philip, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I have spoken to you," Jesus said to his disciples, "do not come from me. The Father, who remains in me, does his own work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. If not, believe because of the things I do. 12 I am telling you the truth: those who believe in me will do what I do - yes, they will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son. 14 If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it. 15 "If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you. 18 "When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you. 19 In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; and because I live, you also will live. 20 When that day comes, you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me, just as I am in you. 21 "Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them." 22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "Lord, how can it be that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live with them. 24 Those who do not love me do not obey my teaching. And the teaching you have heard is not mine, but comes from the Father, who sent me. 25 "I have told you this while I am still with you. 26 The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you. 27 "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, "I am leaving, but I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father; for he is greater than I. 29 I have told you this now before it all happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. 30 I cannot talk with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, 31 but the world must know that I love the Father; that is why I do everything as he commands me. "Come, let us go from this place.

John 15:Bible VersionsGNTJohn 14; John 15; John 16

John 14; John 15; John 16 (Good News Translation)

- John 14

1 "Do not be worried and upset," Jesus told them. "Believe in God and believe also in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. 3 And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. 4 You know the way that leads to the place where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?" 6 Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. 7 Now that you have known me," he said to them, "you will know my Father also, and from now on you do know him and you have seen him." 8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father; that is all we need." 9 Jesus answered, "For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, "Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe, Philip, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I have spoken to you," Jesus said to his disciples, "do not come from me. The Father, who remains in me, does his own work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. If not, believe because of the things I do. 12 I am telling you the truth: those who believe in me will do what I do - yes, they will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son. 14 If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it. 15 "If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you. 18 "When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you. 19 In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; and because I live, you also will live. 20 When that day comes, you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me, just as I am in you. 21 "Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them." 22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "Lord, how can it be that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live with them. 24 Those who do not love me do not obey my teaching. And the teaching you have heard is not mine, but comes from the Father, who sent me. 25 "I have told you this while I am still with you. 26 The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you. 27 "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, "I am leaving, but I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father; for he is greater than I. 29 I have told you this now before it all happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. 30 I cannot talk with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, 31 but the world must know that I love the Father; that is why I do everything as he commands me. "Come, let us go from this place.

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- John 15

1 "I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit. 3 You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you. 4 Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me. 6 Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it. 8 My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples. 9 I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. 13 The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them. 14 And you are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because servants do not know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name. 17 This, then, is what I command you: love one another. 18 "If the world hates you, just remember that it has hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you as its own. But I chose you from this world, and you do not belong to it; that is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: "Slaves are not greater than their master.' If people persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours too. 21 But they will do all this to you because you are mine; for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 They would not have been guilty of sin if I had not come and spoken to them; as it is, they no longer have any excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 They would not have been guilty of sin if I had not done among them the things that no one else ever did; as it is, they have seen what I did, and they hate both me and my Father. 25 This, however, was bound to happen so that what is written in their Law may come true: "They hated me for no reason at all.' 26 "The Helper will come - the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God and who comes from the Father. I will send him to you from the Father, and he will speak about me. 27 And you, too, will speak about me, because you have been with me from the very beginning.

John 16:1 "I have told you this, so that you will not give up your faith. 2 You will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time will come when those who kill you will think that by doing this they are serving God. 3 People will do these things to you because they have not known either the Father or me. 4 But I have told you this, so that when the time comes for them to do these things, you will remember what I told you. "I did not tell you these things at the beginning, for I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me where I am going. 6 And now that I have told you, your hearts are full of sadness. 7 But I am telling you the truth: it is better for you that I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove to the people of the world that they are wrong about sin and about what is right and about God's judgment. 9 They are wrong about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 they are wrong about what is right, because I am going to the Father and you will not see me any more; 11 and they are wrong about judgment, because the ruler of this world has already been judged. 12 "I have much more to tell you, but now it would be too much for you to bear. 13 When, however, the Spirit comes, who reveals the truth about God, he will lead you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of what he hears and will tell you of things to come. 14 He will give me glory, because he will take what I say and tell it to you. 15 All that my Father has is mine; that is why I said that the Spirit will take what I give him and tell it to you. 16 "In a little while you will not see me any more, and then a little while later you will see me." 17 Some of his disciples asked among themselves, "What does this mean? He tells us that in a little while we will not see him, and then a little while later we will see him; and he also says, "It is because I am going to the Father.' 18 What does this "a little while' mean? We don't know what he is talking about!" 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to question him, so he said to them, "I said, "In a little while you will not see me, and then a little while later you will see me.' Is this what you are asking about among yourselves? 20 I am telling you the truth: you will cry and weep, but the world will be glad; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into gladness. 21 When a woman is about to give birth, she is sad because her hour of suffering has come; but when the baby is born, she forgets her suffering, because she is happy that a baby has been born into the world. 22 That is how it is with you: now you are sad, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you. 23 "When that day comes, you will not ask me for anything. I am telling you the truth: the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your happiness may be complete. 25 "I have used figures of speech to tell you these things. But the time will come when I will not use figures of speech, but will speak to you plainly about the Father. 26 When that day comes, you will ask him in my name; and I do not say that I will ask him on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you. He loves you because you love me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I did come from the Father, and I came into the world; and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father." 29 Then his disciples said to him, "Now you are speaking plainly, without using figures of speech. 30 We know now that you know everything; you do not need to have someone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God." 31 Jesus answered them, "Do you believe now? 32 The time is coming, and is already here, when all of you will be scattered, each of you to your own home, and I will be left all alone. But I am not really alone, because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!"

110-John 17:20 "I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. 21 I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one: 23 I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me. 24 "Father! You have given them to me, and I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory, the glory you gave me; for you loved me before the world was made. 25 Righteous Father! The world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you sent me. 26 I made you known to them, and I will continue to do so, in order that the love you have for me may be in them, and so that I also may be in them."

111-Acts 9:36 In Joppa there was a woman named Tabitha, who was a believer. (Her name in Greek is Dorcas, meaning "a deer.") She spent all her time doing good and helping the poor. 37 At that time she got sick and died. Her body was washed and laid in a room upstairs. 38 Joppa was not very far from Lydda, and when the believers in Joppa heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him with the message, "Please hurry and come to us." 39 So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, he was taken to the room upstairs, where all the widows crowded around him, crying and showing him all the shirts and coats that Dorcas had made while she was alive. 40 Peter put them all out of the room, and knelt down and prayed; then he turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 Peter reached over and helped her get up. Then he called all the believers, including the widows, and presented her alive to them. 42 The news about this spread all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

112-Acts 20:9 A young man named Eutychus was sitting in the window, and as Paul kept on talking, Eutychus got sleepier and sleepier, until he finally went sound asleep and fell from the third story to the ground. When they picked him up, he was dead. 10 But Paul went down and threw himself on him and hugged him. "Don't worry," he said, "he is still alive!" 11 Then he went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. After talking with them for a long time, even until sunrise, Paul left. 12 They took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

113-Acts 16:16 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a young servant woman who had an evil spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She earned a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes. 17 She followed Paul and us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God! They announce to you how you can be saved!" 18 She did this for many days, until Paul became so upset that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you to come out of her!" The spirit went out of her that very moment.

114-Acts 5:12 Many miracles and wonders were being performed among the people by the apostles. All the believers met together in Solomon's Porch. 13 Nobody outside the group dared join them, even though the people spoke highly of them. 14 But more and more people were added to the group - a crowd of men and women who believed in the Lord. 15 As a result of what the apostles were doing, sick people were carried out into the streets and placed on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 And crowds of people came in from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing those who were sick or who had evil spirits in them; and they were all healed.

115-Acts 19:11 God was performing unusual miracles through Paul. 12 Even handkerchiefs and aprons he had used were taken to the sick, and their diseases were driven away, and the evil spirits would go out of them.

116-Acts 4:18 So they called them back in and told them that under no condition were they to speak or to teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, "You yourselves judge which is right in God's sight - to obey you or to obey God. 20 For we cannot stop speaking of what we ourselves have seen and heard." 21 So the Council warned them even more strongly and then set them free. They saw that it was impossible to punish them, because the people were all praising God for what had happened.

117-Acts 5:12 Many miracles and wonders were being performed among the people by the apostles. All the believers met together in Solomon's Porch.

118-Galatians 5:19 What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions; 20 in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enemies and they fight; they become jealous, angry, and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups; 21 they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these.

119-1 Peter 4:12 My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you. 13 Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed. 14 Happy are you if you are insulted because you are Christ's followers; this means that the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is resting on you. 15 If you suffer, it must not be because you are a murderer or a thief or a criminal or a meddler in other people's affairs. 16 However, if you suffer because you are a Christian, don't be ashamed of it, but thank God that you bear Christ's name. 17 The time has come for judgment to begin, and God's own people are the first to be judged. If it starts with us, how will it end with those who do not believe the Good News from God? 18 As the scripture says, "It is difficult for good people to be saved; what, then, will become of godless sinners?" 19 So then, those who suffer because it is God's will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their Creator, who always keeps his promise.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, then, under God's mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. 7 Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you. 8 Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that other believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings. 10 But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation. 11 To him be the power forever! Amen.

120-2 Timothy 3:12 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted;

121-2 Corinthians 11:16 I repeat: no one should think that I am a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, just so I will have a little to boast of. 17 Of course what I am saying now is not what the Lord would have me say; in this matter of boasting I am really talking like a fool. 18 But since there are so many who boast for merely human reasons, I will do the same. 19 You yourselves are so wise, and so you gladly tolerate fools! 20 You tolerate anyone who orders you around or takes advantage of you or traps you or looks down on you or slaps you in the face. 21 I am ashamed to admit that we were too timid to do those things! But if anyone dares to boast about something - I am talking like a fool - I will be just as daring. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they Christ's servants? I sound like a madman - but I am a better servant than they are! I have worked much harder, I have been in prison more times, I have been whipped much more, and I have been near death more often. 24 Five times I was given the thirty-nine lashes by the Jews; 25 three times I was whipped by the Romans; and once I was stoned. I have been in three shipwrecks, and once I spent twenty-four hours in the water. 26 In my many travels I have been in danger from floods and from robbers, in danger from my own people and from Gentiles; there have been dangers in the cities, dangers in the wilds, dangers on the high seas, and dangers from false friends. 27 There has been work and toil; often I have gone without sleep; I have been hungry and thirsty; I have often been without enough food, shelter, or clothing. 28 And not to mention other things, every day I am under the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 When someone is weak, then I feel weak too; when someone is led into sin, I am filled with distress.

122-2 Corinthians 4:7 Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us. 8 We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; 9 there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. 10 At all times we carry in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies. 11 Throughout our lives we are always in danger of death for Jesus' sake, in order that his life may be seen in this mortal body of ours. 12 This means that death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13 The scripture says, "I spoke because I believed." In the same spirit of faith we also speak because we believe. 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus to life, will also raise us up with Jesus and take us, together with you, into his presence. 15 All this is for your sake; and as God's grace reaches more and more people, they will offer to the glory of God more prayers of thanksgiving. 16 For this reason we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day. 17 And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.

123-Ephesians 6:12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. 13 So put on God's armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground. 14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, 15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. 16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. 17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. 18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people.

2 Corinthians 6:7 by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.

Ephesians 5:9 for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Romans 10:15 And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out? As the scripture says, "How wonderful is the coming of messengers who bring good news!"

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet.

Mark 14:38 And he said to them, "Keep watch, and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

124-Ephesians 6:10 Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. 11 Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks. 12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. 13 So put on God's armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground. 14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, 15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. 16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. 17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. 18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people.

125-Matthew 25:1 "At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there were ten young women who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them, 4 while the wise ones took containers full of oil for their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was late in coming, so they began to nod and fall asleep. 6 "It was already midnight when the cry rang out, "Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!' 7 The ten young women woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, "Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' 9 "No, indeed,' the wise ones answered, "there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.' 10 So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed. 11 "Later the others arrived. "Sir, sir! Let us in!' they cried out. 12 "Certainly not! I don't know you,' the bridegroom answered." 13 And Jesus concluded, "Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour.

126-2 Timothy 3:1 "At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there were ten young women who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them, 4 while the wise ones took containers full of oil for their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was late in coming, so they began to nod and fall asleep. 6 "It was already midnight when the cry rang out, "Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!' 7 The ten young women woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, "Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' 9 "No, indeed,' the wise ones answered, "there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.' 10 So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed. 11 "Later the others arrived. "Sir, sir! Let us in!' they cried out. 12 "Certainly not! I don't know you,' the bridegroom answered." 13 And Jesus concluded, "Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour.

127-Matthew 4:5 Then the Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, the Holy City, set him on the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down, for the scripture says, "God will give orders to his angels about you; they will hold you up with their hands, so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.' "

128-Isaiah 59:17 He will wear justice like a coat of armor and saving power like a helmet. He will clothe himself with the strong desire to set things right and to punish and avenge the wrongs that people suffer.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet.

129-1 Kings 3:6 Solomon answered, "You always showed great love for my father David, your servant, and he was good, loyal, and honest in his relation with you. And you have continued to show him your great and constant love by giving him a son who today rules in his place.

Psalms 15:2 Those who obey God in everything and always do what is right, whose words are true and sincere,

Psalms 96:13 when the Lord comes to rule the earth. He will rule the peoples of the world with justice and fairness.

Proverbs 12:17 When you tell the truth, justice is done, but lies lead to injustice.

Isaiah 40:1 "Comfort my people," says our God. "Comfort them!

2 Corinthians 6:7 by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.

Ephesians 5:9 for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

130-Isaiah 64:6 All of us have been sinful; even our best actions are filthy through and through. Because of our sins we are like leaves that wither and are blown away by the wind.

131-Ephesians 6:15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace.

132-Ephesians 6:16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.

133-Ephesians 6:17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you

134-Isaiah 59:17 He will wear justice like a coat of armor and saving power like a helmet. He will clothe himself with the strong desire to set things right and to punish and avenge the wrongs that people suffer.

135-1 Thessalonians 5:8 But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet.

136-Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart.

Matthew 4:1 Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. 2 After spending forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. 3 Then the Devil came to him and said, "If you are God's Son, order these stones to turn into bread." 4 But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, "Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.' " 5 Then the Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, the Holy City, set him on the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down, for the scripture says, "God will give orders to his angels about you; they will hold you up with their hands, so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.' " 7 Jesus answered, "But the scripture also says, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " 8 Then the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness. 9 "All this I will give you," the Devil said, "if you kneel down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus answered, "Go away, Satan! The scripture says, "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' "

137-Genesis 2:17 except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day."

138-Matthew 25:1 "At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there were ten young women who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them, 4 while the wise ones took containers full of oil for their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was late in coming, so they began to nod and fall asleep. 6 "It was already midnight when the cry rang out, "Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!' 7 The ten young women woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, "Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' 9 "No, indeed,' the wise ones answered, "there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.' 10 So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed. 11 "Later the others arrived. "Sir, sir! Let us in!' they cried out. 12 "Certainly not! I don't know you,' the bridegroom answered." 13 And Jesus concluded, "Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour.

139-Mark 14:38 And he said to them, "Keep watch, and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Mark 13:33 Be on watch, be alert, for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It will be like a man who goes away from home on a trip and leaves his servants in charge, after giving to each one his own work to do and after telling the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35 Watch, then, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming - it might be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or at sunrise. 36 If he comes suddenly, he must not find you asleep. 37 What I say to you, then, I say to all: Watch!"

140-Isaiah 59: 2 It is because of your sins that he doesn't hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him.

141-Matthew 4:1 Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. 2 After spending forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. 3 Then the Devil came to him and said, "If you are God's Son, order these stones to turn into bread." 4 But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, "Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.' " 5 Then the Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, the Holy City, set him on the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down, for the scripture says, "God will give orders to his angels about you; they will hold you up with their hands, so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.' " 7 Jesus answered, "But the scripture also says, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " 8 Then the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness. 9 "All this I will give you," the Devil said, "if you kneel down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus answered, "Go away, Satan! The scripture says, "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' " 11 Then the Devil left Jesus; and angels came and helped him.

Luke 4:1 Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, 2 where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over. 3 The Devil said to him, "If you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread." 4 But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, "Human beings cannot live on bread alone.' " 5 Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. 6 "I will give you all this power and all this wealth," the Devil told him. "It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. 7 All this will be yours, then, if you worship me." 8 Jesus answered, "The scripture says, "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' " 9 Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the Temple, and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here. 10 For the scripture says, "God will order his angels to take good care of you.' 11 It also says, "They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.' " 12 But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " 13 When the Devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he left him for a while.

142-Mark 3:21 When his family heard about it, they set out to take charge of him, because people were saying, "He's gone mad!"

143-John 7:3 so Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave this place and go to Judea, so that your followers will see the things that you are doing. 4 People don't hide what they are doing if they want to be well known. Since you are doing these things, let the whole world know about you! 5 (Not even his brothers believed in him.)

144-John 1:11 He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him.

145-John 20:19 It was late that Sunday evening, and the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities. Then Jesus came and stood among them. "Peace be with you," he said. 20 After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you." 22 Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." 24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (called the Twin), was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 A week later the disciples were together again indoors, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands; then reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop your doubting, and believe!" 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Do you believe because you see me? How happy are those who believe without seeing me!" 30 In his disciples' presence Jesus performed many other miracles which are not written down in this book. 31 But these have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in him you may have life.

146-Luke 21:37 Jesus spent those days teaching in the Temple, and when evening came, he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives. 38 Early each morning all the people went to the Temple to listen to him.

Luke 22:1 The time was near for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover. 2 The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were afraid of the people, and so they were trying to find a way of putting Jesus to death secretly. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples. 4 So Judas went off and spoke with the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them. 5 They were pleased and offered to pay him money. 6 Judas agreed to it and started looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over to them without the people knowing about it.

147-Mark 14:66 Peter was still down in the courtyard when one of the High Priest's servant women came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked straight at him and said, "You, too, were with Jesus of Nazareth." 68 But he denied it. "I don't know . . . I don't understand what you are talking about," he answered, and went out into the passageway. Just then a rooster crowed. 69 The servant woman saw him there and began to repeat to the bystanders, "He is one of them!" 70 But Peter denied it again. A little while later the bystanders accused Peter again, "You can't deny that you are one of them, because you, too, are from Galilee." 71 Then Peter said, "I swear that I am telling the truth! May God punish me if I am not! I do not know the man you are talking about!" 72 Just then a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows two times, you will say three times that you do not know me." And he broke down and cried.

148-Roman 16:5 Greetings also to the church that meets in their house. Greetings to my dear friend Epaenetus, who was the first in the province of Asia to believe in Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is in Corinth, to all who are called to be God's holy people, who belong to him in union with Christ Jesus, together with all people everywhere who worship our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

1 Peter 2:9 But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.

Matthew 28:19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

John 17:21 I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one:

Acts 15:1 Some men came from Judea to Antioch and started teaching the believers, "You cannot be saved unless you are circumcised as the Law of Moses requires." 2 Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this, so it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others in Antioch should go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about this matter. 3 They were sent on their way by the church; and as they went through Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported how the Gentiles had turned to God; this news brought great joy to all the believers. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them. 5 But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses." 6 The apostles and the elders met together to consider this question. 7 After a long debate Peter stood up and said, "My friends, you know that a long time ago God chose me from among you to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, so that they could hear and believe. 8 And God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had to us. 9 He made no difference between us and them; he forgave their sins because they believed. 10 So then, why do you now want to put God to the test by laying a load on the backs of the believers which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry? 11 No! We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are." 12 The whole group was silent as they heard Barnabas and Paul report all the miracles and wonders that God had performed through them among the Gentiles. 13 When they had finished speaking, James spoke up: "Listen to me, my friends! 14 Simon has just explained how God first showed his care for the Gentiles by taking from among them a people to belong to him. 15 The words of the prophets agree completely with this. As the scripture says, 16 "After this I will return, says the Lord, and restore the kingdom of David. I will rebuild its ruins and make it strong again. 17 And so all the rest of the human race will come to me, all the Gentiles whom I have called to be my own. 18 So says the Lord, who made this known long ago.' 19 "It is my opinion," James went on, "that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write a letter telling them not to eat any food that is ritually unclean because it has been offered to idols; to keep themselves from sexual immorality; and not to eat any animal that has been strangled, or any blood. 21 For the Law of Moses has been read for a very long time in the synagogues every Sabbath, and his words are preached in every town." 22 Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to choose some men from the group and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose two men who were highly respected by the believers, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, 23 and they sent the following letter by them: "We, the apostles and the elders, your brothers, send greetings to all our brothers of Gentile birth who live in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. 24 We have heard that some who went from our group have troubled and upset you by what they said; they had not, however, received any instruction from us. 25 And so we have met together and have all agreed to choose some messengers and send them to you. They will go with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We send you, then, Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things we are writing. 28 The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to put any other burden on you besides these necessary rules: 29 eat no food that has been offered to idols; eat no blood; eat no animal that has been strangled; and keep yourselves from sexual immorality. You will do well if you take care not to do these things. With our best wishes."

Ephesians 2:19 So then, you Gentiles are not foreigners or strangers any longer; you are now citizens together with God's people and members of the family of God. 20 You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself. 21 He is the one who holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to the Lord. 22 In union with him you too are being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through his Spirit.

149-1 Peter 2:9 But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.

150-Exodus 19:5 Now, if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own people. The whole earth is mine, but you will be my chosen people, 6 a people dedicated to me alone, and you will serve me as priests."

Deuteronomy 7:6 Do this because you belong to the Lord your God. From all the peoples on earth he chose you to be his own special people.

Deuteronomy 14:2 You belong to the Lord your God; he has chosen you to be his own people from among all the peoples who live on earth.

151-Matthew 28:19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

152-John 17:20 "I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. 21 I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me.

153-Exodus 19:5 Now, if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own people. The whole earth is mine, but you will be my chosen people, 6 a people dedicated to me alone, and you will serve me as priests."

1 Peter 2:9 But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.

Deuteronomy 14:2 You belong to the Lord your God; he has chosen you to be his own people from among all the peoples who live on earth.

154-Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are the descendants of Abraham and will receive what God has promised.

155-Galatians 3:28 So there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and free people, between men and women; you are all one in union with Christ Jesus.

156-Romans 12:5 In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body.

1 Corinthians 12:27 All of you are Christ's body, and each one is a part of it.

Ephesians 1:19 and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength 20 which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. 21 Christ rules there above all heavenly rulers, authorities, powers, and lords; he has a title superior to all titles of authority in this world and in the next. 22 God put all things under Christ's feet and gave him to the church as supreme Lord over all things. 23 The church is Christ's body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere.

157-1 Corinthians 12:12 Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it is made up of different parts. 13 In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink. 14 For the body itself is not made up of only one part, but of many parts. 15 If the foot were to say, "Because I am not a hand, I don't belong to the body," that would not keep it from being a part of the body. 16 And if the ear were to say, "Because I am not an eye, I don't belong to the body," that would not keep it from being a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were just an eye, how could it hear? And if it were only an ear, how could it smell?

158-Matthew 28:19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

159-Jeremiah 7:25 From the day that your ancestors came out of Egypt until this very day I have kept on sending to you my servants, the prophets.

Luke 9:1 Jesus called the twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick,

Luke 10:1 After this the Lord chose another seventy-two men and sent them out two by two, to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go.

160-John 20:21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you."

161-1 Corinthians 1:10 By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my friends, to agree in what you say, so that there will be no divisions among you. Be completely united, with only one thought and one purpose.

2 Corinthians 13:11 And now, my friends, good-bye! Strive for perfection; listen to my appeals; agree with one another; live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

162-Acts 15:1 Some men came from Judea to Antioch and started teaching the believers, "You cannot be saved unless you are circumcised as the Law of Moses requires." 2 Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this, so it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others in Antioch should go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about this matter. 3 They were sent on their way by the church; and as they went through Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported how the Gentiles had turned to God; this news brought great joy to all the believers. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them. 5 But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses." 6 The apostles and the elders met together to consider this question. 7 After a long debate Peter stood up and said, "My friends, you know that a long time ago God chose me from among you to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, so that they could hear and believe. 8 And God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had to us. 9 He made no difference between us and them; he forgave their sins because they believed. 10 So then, why do you now want to put God to the test by laying a load on the backs of the believers which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry? 11 No! We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are." 12 The whole group was silent as they heard Barnabas and Paul report all the miracles and wonders that God had performed through them among the Gentiles. 13 When they had finished speaking, James spoke up: "Listen to me, my friends! 14 Simon has just explained how God first showed his care for the Gentiles by taking from among them a people to belong to him. 15 The words of the prophets agree completely with this. As the scripture says, 16 "After this I will return, says the Lord, and restore the kingdom of David. I will rebuild its ruins and make it strong again. 17 And so all the rest of the human race will come to me, all the Gentiles whom I have called to be my own. 18 So says the Lord, who made this known long ago.' 19 "It is my opinion," James went on, "that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write a letter telling them not to eat any food that is ritually unclean because it has been offered to idols; to keep themselves from sexual immorality; and not to eat any animal that has been strangled, or any blood. 21 For the Law of Moses has been read for a very long time in the synagogues every Sabbath, and his words are preached in every town." 22 Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to choose some men from the group and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose two men who were highly respected by the believers, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, 23 and they sent the following letter by them: "We, the apostles and the elders, your brothers, send greetings to all our brothers of Gentile birth who live in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. 24 We have heard that some who went from our group have troubled and upset you by what they said; they had not, however, received any instruction from us. 25 And so we have met together and have all agreed to choose some messengers and send them to you. They will go with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We send you, then, Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things we are writing. 28 The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to put any other burden on you besides these necessary rules: 29 eat no food that has been offered to idols; eat no blood; eat no animal that has been strangled; and keep yourselves from sexual immorality. You will do well if you take care not to do these things. With our best wishes."

163-Matthew 13:24 Jesus told them another parable: "The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man sowed good seed in his field. 25 One night, when everyone was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 When the plants grew and the heads of grain began to form, then the weeds showed up. 27 The man's servants came to him and said, "Sir, it was good seed you sowed in your field; where did the weeds come from?' 28 "It was some enemy who did this,' he answered. "Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?' they asked him. 29 "No,' he answered, "because as you gather the weeds you might pull up some of the wheat along with them. 30 Let the wheat and the weeds both grow together until harvest. Then I will tell the harvest workers to pull up the weeds first, tie them in bundles and burn them, and then to gather in the wheat and put it in my barn.' "

164-Titus 3:10 Give at least two warnings to those who cause divisions, and then have nothing more to do with them. 11 You know that such people are corrupt, and their sins prove that they are wrong.

Romans 16:17 I urge you, my friends: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people's faith and go against the teaching which you have received. Keep away from them!

165-Ephesians 2:20 You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself. 21 He is the one who holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to the Lord. 22 In union with him you too are being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through his Spirit.

166-Ephesians 4:11 It was he who "gave gifts to people"; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. 12 He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ. 13 And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature. 14 Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent. 15 Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. 16 Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.

167-Matthew 24:14 And this Good News about the Kingdom will be preached through all the world for a witness to all people; and then the end will come.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins. 10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that Day the heavens will disappear with a shrill noise, the heavenly bodies will burn up and be destroyed, and the earth with everything in it will vanish. 11 Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? Your lives should be holy and dedicated to God, 12 as you wait for the Day of God and do your best to make it come soon - the Day when the heavens will burn up and be destroyed, and the heavenly bodies will be melted by the heat.

168-Matthew 28:19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

Romans 6:3 For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death. 4 By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life. 5 For since we have become one with him in dying as he did, in the same way we shall be one with him by being raised to life as he was. 6 And we know that our old being has been put to death with Christ on his cross, in order that the power of the sinful self might be destroyed, so that we should no longer be the slaves of sin. 7 For when we die, we are set free from the power of sin. 8 Since we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

John 13:1 It was now the day before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end. 2 Jesus and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God. 4 So he rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Are you going to wash my feet, Lord?" 7 Jesus answered him, "You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later." 8 Peter declared, "Never at any time will you wash my feet!" "If I do not wash your feet," Jesus answered, "you will no longer be my disciple." 9 Simon Peter answered, "Lord, do not wash only my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too!" 10 Jesus said, "Those who have taken a bath are completely clean and do not have to wash themselves, except for their feet. All of you are clean - all except one. 11 (Jesus already knew who was going to betray him; that is why he said, "All of you, except one, are clean.") 12 After Jesus had washed their feet, he put his outer garment back on and returned to his place at the table. "Do you understand what I have just done to you?" he asked. 13 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am. 14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you. 16 I am telling you the truth: no slaves are greater than their master, and no messengers are greater than the one who sent them. 17 Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!

Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. "Take and eat it," he said; "this is my body." 27 Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them. "Drink it, all of you," he said; 28 "this is my blood, which seals God's covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, 24 gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me." 25 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, "This cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me." 26 This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

169-John 6:43 Jesus answered, "Stop grumbling among yourselves. 44 People cannot come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me; and I will raise them to life on the last day. 45 The prophets wrote, "Everyone will be taught by God.' Anyone who hears the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 This does not mean that anyone has seen the Father; he who is from God is the only one who has seen the Father. 47 I am telling you the truth: he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but they died. 50 But the bread that comes down from heaven is of such a kind that whoever eats it will not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If you eat this bread, you will live forever. The bread that I will give you is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live." 52 This started an angry argument among them. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. 53 Jesus said to them, "I am telling you the truth: if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in yourselves. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them to life on the last day. 55 For my flesh is the real food; my blood is the real drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me, and I live in them. 57 The living Father sent me, and because of him I live also. In the same way whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This, then, is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread that your ancestors ate, but then later died. Those who eat this bread will live forever." 59 Jesus said this as he taught in the synagogue in Capernaum.

170-Mark 2:1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum, and the news spread that he was at home. 2 So many people came together that there was no room left, not even out in front of the door. Jesus was preaching the message to them 3 when four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus. 4 Because of the crowd, however, they could not get the man to him. So they made a hole in the roof right above the place where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they let the man down, lying on his mat. 5 Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Some teachers of the Law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 "How does he dare talk like this? This is blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!" 8 At once Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, "Why do you think such things? 9 Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, "Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, "Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'? 10 I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, 11 "I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!" 12 While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away. They were all completely amazed and praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Micah 7:18 There is no other god like you, O Lord; you forgive the sins of your people who have survived. You do not stay angry forever, but you take pleasure in showing us your constant love.

John 20:23 If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?" 22 "No, not seven times," answered Jesus, "but seventy times seven,

171-Matthew 28:19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

John 13:14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet.

1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread,

172-Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:41 Many of them believed his message and were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to the group that day.

Acts 2:47 praising God, and enjoying the good will of all the people. And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

1 Corinthians 12:13 In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink.

173-Genesis 18:4 Let me bring some water for you to wash your feet; you can rest here beneath this tree.

174-Genesis 19:2 and said, "Sirs, I am here to serve you. Please come to my house. You can wash your feet and spend the night. In the morning you can get up early and go on your way." But they answered, "No, we will spend the night here in the city square."

175-Genesis 24:32 So the man went into the house, and Laban unloaded the camels and gave them straw and fodder. Then he brought water for Abraham's servant and his men to wash their feet.

176-Luke 22:24 An argument broke out among the disciples as to which one of them should be thought of as the greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, "The kings of the pagans have power over their people, and the rulers claim the title "Friends of the People.' 26 But this is not the way it is with you; rather, the greatest one among you must be like the youngest, and the leader must be like the servant. 27 Who is greater, the one who sits down to eat or the one who serves? The one who sits down, of course. But I am among you as one who serves.

Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, asking, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"

Matthew 20:21 "What do you want?" Jesus asked her. She answered, "Promise me that these two sons of mine will sit at your right and your left when you are King."

177-John 13:1 It was now the day before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end. 2 Jesus and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God. 4 So he rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Are you going to wash my feet, Lord?" 7 Jesus answered him, "You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later." 8 Peter declared, "Never at any time will you wash my feet!" "If I do not wash your feet," Jesus answered, "you will no longer be my disciple." 9 Simon Peter answered, "Lord, do not wash only my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too!" 10 Jesus said, "Those who have taken a bath are completely clean and do not have to wash themselves, except for their feet. All of you are clean - all except one. 11 (Jesus already knew who was going to betray him; that is why he said, "All of you, except one, are clean.") 12 After Jesus had washed their feet, he put his outer garment back on and returned to his place at the table. "Do you understand what I have just done to you?" he asked. 13 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am. 14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you. 16 I am telling you the truth: no slaves are greater than their master, and no messengers are greater than the one who sent them. 17 Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!

178-Romans 6:23 For sin pays its wage - death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

179-1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, 24 gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me." 25 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, "This cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me." 26 This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

180-1 Corinthians 11:26 This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

181-Matthew 26:29 I tell you, I will never again drink this wine until the day I drink the new wine with you in my Father's Kingdom."

182-John 6:53 Jesus said to them, "I am telling you the truth: if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in yourselves. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them to life on the last day. 55 For my flesh is the real food; my blood is the real drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me, and I live in them.

183-Psalms 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect; it gives new strength. The commands of the Lord are trustworthy, giving wisdom to those who lack it. 8 The laws of the Lord are right, and those who obey them are happy. The commands of the Lord are just and give understanding to the mind.

Exodus 23:1 "Do not spread false rumors, and do not help a guilty person by giving false testimony. 2 Do not follow the majority when they do wrong or when they give testimony that perverts justice. 3 Do not show partiality to a poor person at his trial. 4 "If you happen to see your enemy's cow or donkey running loose, take it back to him. 5 If his donkey has fallen under its load, help him get the donkey to its feet again; don't just walk off. 6 "Do not deny justice to a poor person when he appears in court. 7 Do not make false accusations, and do not put an innocent person to death, for I will condemn anyone who does such an evil thing. 8 Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes people blind to what is right and ruins the cause of those who are innocent. 9 "Do not mistreat a foreigner; you know how it feels to be a foreigner, because you were foreigners in Egypt.

1 John 5:3 For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us,

Romans 3:19 Now we know that everything in the Law applies to those who live under the Law, in order to stop all human excuses and bring the whole world under God's judgment. 20 For no one is put right in God's sight by doing what the Law requires; what the Law does is to make us know that we have sinned.

Exodus 20:11 In six days I, the Lord, made the earth, the sky, the seas, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested. That is why I, the Lord, blessed the Sabbath and made it holy. 12 "Respect your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and that I, the Lord your God, rescued you by my great power and strength. That is why I command you to observe the Sabbath.

184-1 John 2:3 If we obey God's commands, then we are sure that we know him. 4 If we say that we know him, but do not obey his commands, we are liars and there is no truth in us.

185-Romans 13:8 Be under obligation to no one - the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law.

Romans 13:10 If you love others, you will never do them wrong; to love, then, is to obey the whole Law.

James 2:8 You will be doing the right thing if you obey the law of the Kingdom, which is found in the scripture, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

186-Matthew 5:1 Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them: 3 "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them! 4 "Happy are those who mourn; God will comfort them! 5 "Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised! 6 "Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully! 7 "Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them! 8 "Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God! 9 "Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children! 10 "Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them! 11 "Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted. 13 "You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it. 14 "You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven. 17 "Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true. 18 Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with - not until the end of all things. 19 So then, whoever disobeys even the least important of the commandments and teaches others to do the same, will be least in the Kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys the Law and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the Kingdom of heaven. 20 I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires. 21 "You have heard that people were told in the past, "Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial.' 22 But now I tell you: if you are angry with your brother you will be brought to trial, if you call your brother "You good-for-nothing!' you will be brought before the Council, and if you call your brother a worthless fool you will be in danger of going to the fire of hell. 23 So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God. 25 "If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, settle the dispute while there is time, before you get to court. Once you are there, you will be turned over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. 26 There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine. 27 "You have heard that it was said, "Do not commit adultery.' 28 But now I tell you: anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose one of your limbs than to have your whole body go off to hell. 31 "It was also said, "Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.' 32 But now I tell you: if a man divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, then he is guilty of making her commit adultery if she marries again; and the man who marries her commits adultery also. 33 "You have also heard that people were told in the past, "Do not break your promise, but do what you have vowed to the Lord to do.' 34 But now I tell you: do not use any vow when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 nor by earth, for it is the resting place for his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 Just say "Yes' or "No' - anything else you say comes from the Evil One. 38 "You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too. 40 And if someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41 And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. 42 When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something, lend it to him. 43 "You have heard that it was said, "Love your friends, hate your enemies.' 44 But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. 46 Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! 47 And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that! 48 You must be perfect - just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 6:1 "Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public so that people will see what you do. If you do these things publicly, you will not have any reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "So when you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people will praise them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 3 But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it. 4 Then it will be a private matter. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. 5 "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 6 But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. 7 "When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him. 9 This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; 10 may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need. 12 Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us. 13 Do not bring us to hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One.' 14 "If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done. 16 "And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 17 When you go without food, wash your face and comb your hair, 18 so that others cannot know that you are fasting - only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. 19 "Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. 20 Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. 21 For your heart will always be where your riches are. 22 "The eyes are like a lamp for the body. If your eyes are sound, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eyes are no good, your body will be in darkness. So if the light in you is darkness, how terribly dark it will be! 24 "You cannot be a slave of two masters; you will hate one and love the other; you will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 "This is why I tell you: do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body. After all, isn't life worth more than food? And isn't the body worth more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them! Aren't you worth much more than birds? 27 Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it? 28 "And why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow: they do not work or make clothes for themselves. 29 But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers. 30 It is God who clothes the wild grass - grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. Won't he be all the more sure to clothe you? What little faith you have! 31 "So do not start worrying: "Where will my food come from? or my drink? or my clothes?' 32 (These are the things the pagans are always concerned about.) Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. 33 Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. 34 So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.

Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, 2 for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others. 3 Why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye? 4 How dare you say to your brother, "Please, let me take that speck out of your eye,' when you have a log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. 6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs - they will only turn and attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs - they will only trample them underfoot. 7 "Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock. 9 Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asks for bread? 10 Or would you give him a snake when he asks for a fish? 11 As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 12 "Do for others what you want them to do for you: this is the meaning of the Law of Moses and of the teachings of the prophets. 13 "Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. 14 But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it. 15 "Be on your guard against false prophets; they come to you looking like sheep on the outside, but on the inside they are really like wild wolves. 16 You will know them by what they do. Thorn bushes do not bear grapes, and briers do not bear figs. 17 A healthy tree bears good fruit, but a poor tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a poor tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 And any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire. 20 So then, you will know the false prophets by what they do. 21 "Not everyone who calls me "Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. 22 When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, "Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God's message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!' 23 Then I will say to them, "I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!' 24 "So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. 26 "But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!" 28 When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowd was amazed at the way he taught. 29 He wasn't like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority.

187-Jeremiah 31:31 The Lord says, "The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. Although I was like a husband to them, they did not keep that covenant. 33 The new covenant that I will make with the people of Israel will be this: I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 None of them will have to teach a neighbor to know the Lord, because all will know me, from the least to the greatest. I will forgive their sins and I will no longer remember their wrongs. I, the Lord, have spoken."

188-Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect; it gives new strength. The commands of the Lord are trustworthy, giving wisdom to those who lack it. 8 The laws of the Lord are right, and those who obey them are happy. The commands of the Lord are just and give understanding to the mind.

Romans 7:12 So then, the Law itself is holy, and the commandment is holy, right, and good.

Psalm 119:151 But you are near to me, Lord, and all your commands are permanent. 152 Long ago I learned about your instructions; you made them to last forever.

Psalm 119:172 I will sing about your law, because your commands are just.

189-Exodus 23:1 "Do not spread false rumors, and do not help a guilty person by giving false testimony. 2 Do not follow the majority when they do wrong or when they give testimony that perverts justice. 3 Do not show partiality to a poor person at his trial. 4 "If you happen to see your enemy's cow or donkey running loose, take it back to him. 5 If his donkey has fallen under its load, help him get the donkey to its feet again; don't just walk off. 6 "Do not deny justice to a poor person when he appears in court. 7 Do not make false accusations, and do not put an innocent person to death, for I will condemn anyone who does such an evil thing. 8 Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes people blind to what is right and ruins the cause of those who are innocent. 9 "Do not mistreat a foreigner; you know how it feels to be a foreigner, because you were foreigners in Egypt.

190-Genesis 26:5 I will bless you, because Abraham obeyed me and kept all my laws and commands."

191-Genesis 35:1 God said to Jacob, "Go to Bethel at once, and live there. Build an altar there to me, the God who appeared to you when you were running away from your brother Esau." 2 So Jacob said to his family and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods that you have; purify yourselves and put on clean clothes. 3 We are going to leave here and go to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who helped me in the time of my trouble and who has been with me everywhere I have gone." 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods that they had and also the earrings that they were wearing. He buried them beneath the oak tree near Shechem.

192-James 2:10 Whoever breaks one commandment is guilty of breaking them all. 11 For the same one who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder." Even if you do not commit adultery, you have become a lawbreaker if you commit murder.

193-1 John 5:3 For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us,

194-John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey my commandments.

195-John 13:35 If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples."

196-Romans 3:19 Now we know that everything in the Law applies to those who live under the Law, in order to stop all human excuses and bring the whole world under God's judgment. 20 For no one is put right in God's sight by doing what the Law requires; what the Law does is to make us know that we have sinned.

197-Romans 7:7 Shall we say, then, that the Law itself is sinful? Of course not! But it was the Law that made me know what sin is. If the Law had not said, "Do not desire what belongs to someone else," I would not have known such a desire.

198-Exodus 20:9 You have six days in which to do your work, 10 but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to me. On that day no one is to work - neither you, your children, your slaves, your animals, nor the foreigners who live in your country. 11 In six days I, the Lord, made the earth, the sky, the seas, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested. That is why I, the Lord, blessed the Sabbath and made it holy.

199-Deuteronomy 5:15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and that I, the Lord your God, rescued you by my great power and strength. That is why I command you to observe the Sabbath.

200-Exodus 20:11 In six days I, the Lord, made the earth, the sky, the seas, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested. That is why I, the Lord, blessed the Sabbath and made it holy.

201-Deuteronomy 5:15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and that I, the Lord your God, rescued you by my great power and strength. That is why I command you to observe the Sabbath.

202-Exodus 31:13 to tell the people of Israel, "Keep the Sabbath, my day of rest, because it is a sign between you and me for all time to come, to show that I, the Lord, have made you my own people.

203-Isaiah 66:23 On every New Moon Festival and every Sabbath people of every nation will come to worship me here in Jerusalem," says the Lord.

204-Colossians 1:14 by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. 15 Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all created things. 16 For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him.

John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 From the very beginning the Word was with God. 3 Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. 4 The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. 6 God sent his messenger, a man named John, 7 who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came to tell about the light. 9 This was the real light - the light that comes into the world and shines on all people. 10 The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him. 12 Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children. 13 They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father. 14 The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.

205-Matthew 1:23 "A virgin will become pregnant and have a son, and he will be called Immanuel" (which means, "God is with us").

206-Jeremiah 31:31 The Lord says, "The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. Although I was like a husband to them, they did not keep that covenant. 33 The new covenant that I will make with the people of Israel will be this: I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 None of them will have to teach a neighbor to know the Lord, because all will know me, from the least to the greatest. I will forgive their sins and I will no longer remember their wrongs. I, the Lord, have spoken."

207-Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell! 9 We have said it before, and now I say it again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel that is different from the one you accepted, may he be condemned to hell!

208-Deuteronomy 8:11 "Make certain that you do not forget the Lord your God; do not fail to obey any of his laws that I am giving you today. 12 When you have all you want to eat and have built good houses to live in 13 and when your cattle and sheep, your silver and gold, and all your other possessions have increased, 14 be sure that you do not become proud and forget the Lord your God who rescued you from Egypt, where you were slaves. 15 He led you through that vast and terrifying desert where there were poisonous snakes and scorpions. In that dry and waterless land he made water flow out of solid rock for you. 16 In the desert he gave you manna to eat, food that your ancestors had never eaten. He sent hardships on you to test you, so that in the end he could bless you with good things. 17 So then, you must never think that you have made yourselves wealthy by your own power and strength.

Philippians 2:3 Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. 4 And look out for one another's interests, not just for your own.

1 Corinthians 15:51 Listen to this secret truth: we shall not all die, but when the last trumpet sounds, we shall all be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an eye. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised, never to die again, and we shall all be changed. 53 For what is mortal must be changed into what is immortal; what will die must be changed into what cannot die. 54 So when this takes place, and the mortal has been changed into the immortal, then the scripture will come true: "Death is destroyed; victory is complete!" 55 "Where, Death, is your victory? Where, Death, is your power to hurt?" 56 Death gets its power to hurt from sin, and sin gets its power from the Law. 57 But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Revelation 22:1 The angel also showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, and coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 and flowing down the middle of the city's street. On each side of the river was the tree of life, which bears fruit twelve times a year, once each month; and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. 3 Nothing that is under God's curse will be found in the city. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no more night, and they will not need lamps or sunlight, because the Lord God will be their light, and they will rule as kings forever and ever.

Matthew 22:39 The second most important commandment is like it: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'

Genesis 2:21 Then the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh. 22 He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. 23 Then the man said, "At last, here is one of my own kind - Bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh. "Woman' is her name because she was taken out of man." 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one. 25 The man and the woman were both naked, but they were not embarrassed.

209-Matthew 17:24 When Jesus and his disciples came to Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked, "Does your teacher pay the Temple tax?" 25 "Of course," Peter answered. When Peter went into the house, Jesus spoke up first, "Simon, what is your opinion? Who pays duties or taxes to the kings of this world? The citizens of the country or the foreigners?" 26 "The foreigners," answered Peter. "Well, then," replied Jesus, "that means that the citizens don't have to pay. 27 But we don't want to offend these people. So go to the lake and drop in a line. Pull up the first fish you hook, and in its mouth you will find a coin worth enough for my Temple tax and yours. Take it and pay them our taxes."

210-Luke 8:1 Some time later Jesus traveled through towns and villages, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of God. The twelve disciples went with him, 2 and so did some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had been driven out; 3 Joanna, whose husband Chuza was an officer in Herod's court; and Susanna, and many other women who used their own resources to help Jesus and his disciples.

211-Luke 10:4 Don't take a purse or a beggar's bag or shoes; don't stop to greet anyone on the road.

Luke 12:33 Sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor. Provide for yourselves purses that don't wear out, and save your riches in heaven, where they will never decrease, because no thief can get to them, and no moth can destroy them.

212-Luke 22:35 Then Jesus asked his disciples, "When I sent you out that time without purse, bag, or shoes, did you lack anything?" "Not a thing," they answered. 36 "But now," Jesus said, "whoever has a purse or a bag must take it; and whoever does not have a sword must sell his coat and buy one.

213-Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who calls me "Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. 22 When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, "Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God's message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!' 23 Then I will say to them, "I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!'

Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with him, he will sit on his royal throne, 32 and the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the righteous people at his right and the others at his left. 34 Then the King will say to the people on his right, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world. 35 I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, 36 naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.' 37 The righteous will then answer him, "When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40 The King will reply, "I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, "Away from me, you that are under God's curse! Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels! 42 I was hungry but you would not feed me, thirsty but you would not give me a drink; 43 I was a stranger but you would not welcome me in your homes, naked but you would not clothe me; I was sick and in prison but you would not take care of me.' 44 Then they will answer him, "When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and we would not help you?' 45 The King will reply, "I tell you, whenever you refused to help one of these least important ones, you refused to help me.' 46 These, then, will be sent off to eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to eternal life."

214-Leviticus 19:18 Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. I am the Lord.

215-Matthew 22:39 The second most important commandment is like it: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'

216-John 13:34 And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples."

217-1 Corinthians 10:31 Well, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God's glory. 32 Live in such a way as to cause no trouble either to Jews or Gentiles or to the church of God. 33 Just do as I do; I try to please everyone in all that I do, not thinking of my own good, but of the good of all, so that they might be saved.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, then, just as I imitate Christ.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

218-1 Peter 1:3 So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. 15 Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. 16 The scripture says, "Be holy because I am holy."

219-DA 668.3 All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us. {DA 668.3}

220-Genesis 2:21 Then the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh. 22 He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. 23 Then the man said, "At last, here is one of my own kind - Bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh. "Woman' is her name because she was taken out of man." 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one. 25 The man and the woman were both naked, but they were not embarrassed.

Malachi 2:14 You ask why he no longer accepts them. It is because he knows you have broken your promise to the wife you married when you were young. She was your partner, and you have broken your promise to her, although you promised before God that you would be faithful to her. 15 Didn't God make you one body and spirit with her? What was his purpose in this? It was that you should have children who are truly God's people. So make sure that none of you breaks his promise to his wife. 16 "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel. "I hate it when one of you does such a cruel thing to his wife. Make sure that you do not break your promise to be faithful to your wife."

Ephesians 5:21 Submit yourselves to one another because of your reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body. 24 And so wives must submit themselves completely to their husbands just as the church submits itself to Christ. 25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He did this to dedicate the church to God by his word, after making it clean by washing it in water, 27 in order to present the church to himself in all its beauty - pure and faultless, without spot or wrinkle or any other imperfection. 28 Men ought to love their wives just as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself 29 (None of us ever hate our own bodies. Instead, we feed them, and take care of them, just as Christ does the church; 30 for we are members of his body.) 31 As the scripture says, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one." 32 There is a deep secret truth revealed in this scripture, which I understand as applying to Christ and the church. 33 But it also applies to you: every husband must love his wife as himself, and every wife must respect her husband.

221-Malachi 2:16 "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel. "I hate it when one of you does such a cruel thing to his wife. Make sure that you do not break your promise to be faithful to your wife."

222-James 5:4 You have not paid any wages to those who work in your fields. Listen to their complaints! The cries of those who gather in your crops have reached the ears of God, the Lord Almighty. 5 Your life here on earth has been full of luxury and pleasure. You have made yourselves fat for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered innocent people, and they do not resist you.

Ephesians 6:5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling; and do it with a sincere heart, as though you were serving Christ. 6 Do this not only when they are watching you, because you want to gain their approval; but with all your heart do what God wants, as slaves of Christ. 7 Do your work as slaves cheerfully, as though you served the Lord, and not merely human beings. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each of us, whether slave or free, for the good work we do. 9 Masters, behave in the same way toward your slaves and stop using threats. Remember that you and your slaves belong to the same Master in heaven, who judges everyone by the same standard.

223-Matthew 11:8 "Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. 30 For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light."

224-Romans 13:1 Everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God's permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God. 2 Whoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered; and anyone who does so will bring judgment on himself. 3 For rulers are not to be feared by those who do good, but by those who do evil. Would you like to be unafraid of those in authority? Then do what is good, and they will praise you, 4 because they are God's servants working for your own good. But if you do evil, then be afraid of them, because their power to punish is real. They are God's servants and carry out God's punishment on those who do evil. 5 For this reason you must obey the authorities - not just because of God's punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. 6 That is also why you pay taxes, because the authorities are working for God when they fulfill their duties. 7 Pay, then, what you owe them; pay them your personal and property taxes, and show respect and honor for them all.

225-Isaiah 61:1 The Sovereign Lord has filled me with his Spirit. He has chosen me and sent me To bring good news to the poor, To heal the broken-hearted, To announce release to captives And freedom to those in prison. 2 He has sent me to proclaim That the time has come When the Lord will save his people And defeat their enemies. He has sent me to comfort all who mourn, 3 To give to those who mourn in Zion Joy and gladness instead of grief, A song of praise instead of sorrow. They will be like trees That the Lord himself has planted. They will all do what is right, And God will be praised for what he has done.

Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with him, he will sit on his royal throne, 32 and the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the righteous people at his right and the others at his left. 34 Then the King will say to the people on his right, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world. 35 I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, 36 naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.' 37 The righteous will then answer him, "When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40 The King will reply, "I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, "Away from me, you that are under God's curse! Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels! 42 I was hungry but you would not feed me, thirsty but you would not give me a drink; 43 I was a stranger but you would not welcome me in your homes, naked but you would not clothe me; I was sick and in prison but you would not take care of me.' 44 Then they will answer him, "When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and we would not help you?' 45 The King will reply, "I tell you, whenever you refused to help one of these least important ones, you refused to help me.' 46 These, then, will be sent off to eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to eternal life."

226-Mark 12:41 As Jesus sat near the Temple treasury, he watched the people as they dropped in their money. Many rich men dropped in a lot of money; 42 then a poor widow came along and dropped in two little copper coins, worth about a penny. 43 He called his disciples together and said to them, "I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others. 44 For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had - she gave all she had to live on."

Luke 21:1 Jesus looked around and saw rich people dropping their gifts in the Temple treasury, 2 and he also saw a very poor widow dropping in two little copper coins. 3 He said, "I tell you that this poor widow put in more than all the others. 4 For the others offered their gifts from what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, gave all she had to live on."

227-Acts 3:1 One day Peter and John went to the Temple at three o'clock in the afternoon, the hour for prayer. 2 There at the Beautiful Gate, as it was called, was a man who had been lame all his life. Every day he was carried to the gate to beg for money from the people who were going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John going in, he begged them to give him something. 4 They looked straight at him, and Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So he looked at them, expecting to get something from them. 6 But Peter said to him, "I have no money at all, but I give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I order you to get up and walk!" 7 Then he took him by his right hand and helped him up. At once the man's feet and ankles became strong; 8 he jumped up, stood on his feet, and started walking around. Then he went into the Temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God. 9 The people there saw him walking and praising God, 10 and when they recognized him as the beggar who had sat at the Beautiful Gate, they were all surprised and amazed at what had happened to him. 11 As the man held on to Peter and John in Solomon's Porch, as it was called, the people were amazed and ran to them. 12 When Peter saw the people, he said to them, "Fellow Israelites, why are you surprised at this, and why do you stare at us? Do you think that it was by means of our own power or godliness that we made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has given divine glory to his Servant Jesus. But you handed him over to the authorities, and you rejected him in Pilate's presence, even after Pilate had decided to set him free. 14 He was holy and good, but you rejected him, and instead you asked Pilate to do you the favor of turning loose a murderer. 15 You killed the one who leads to life, but God raised him from death - and we are witnesses to this. 16 It was the power of his name that gave strength to this lame man. What you see and know was done by faith in his name; it was faith in Jesus that has made him well, as you can all see. 17 "And now, my friends, I know that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was due to your ignorance. 18 God announced long ago through all the prophets that his Messiah had to suffer; and he made it come true in this way. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins. If you do, 20 times of spiritual strength will come from the Lord, and he will send Jesus, who is the Messiah he has already chosen for you. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for all things to be made new, as God announced through his holy prophets of long ago. 22 For Moses said, "The Lord your God will send you a prophet, just as he sent me, and he will be one of your own people. You are to obey everything that he tells you to do. 23 Anyone who does not obey that prophet shall be separated from God's people and destroyed.' 24 And all the prophets who had a message, including Samuel and those who came after him, also announced what has been happening these days. 25 The promises of God through his prophets are for you, and you share in the covenant which God made with your ancestors. As he said to Abraham, "Through your descendants I will bless all the people on earth.' 26 And so God chose his Servant and sent him to you first, to bless you by making every one of you turn away from your wicked ways."

228-Deuteronomy 8:18 Remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the power to become rich. He does this because he is still faithful today to the covenant that he made with your ancestors.

229-Hebrews 8:1 The whole point of what we are saying is that we have such a High Priest, who sits at the right of the throne of the Divine Majesty in heaven. 2 He serves as high priest in the Most Holy Place, that is, in the real tent which was put up by the Lord, not by human hands. 3 Every high priest is appointed to present offerings and animal sacrifices to God, and so our High Priest must also have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer the gifts required by the Jewish Law. 5 The work they do as priests is really only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven. It is the same as it was with Moses. When he was about to build the Sacred Tent, God told him, "Be sure to make everything according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain."

Isaiah 53:6 All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the Lord made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved.

Romans 3:24 But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. 25 God offered him, so that by his blood he should become the means by which people's sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people's sins; but in the present time he deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 9:23 Those things, which are copies of the heavenly originals, had to be purified in that way. But the heavenly things themselves require much better sacrifices.

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins. If you do, 20 times of spiritual strength will come from the Lord, and he will send Jesus, who is the Messiah he has already chosen for you. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for all things to be made new, as God announced through his holy prophets of long ago.

230-Heb. 8:1 The whole point of what we are saying is that we have such a High Priest, who sits at the right of the throne of the Divine Majesty in heaven. 2 He serves as high priest in the Most Holy Place, that is, in the real tent which was put up by the Lord, not by human hands. 3 Every high priest is appointed to present offerings and animal sacrifices to God, and so our High Priest must also have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer the gifts required by the Jewish Law. 5 The work they do as priests is really only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven. It is the same as it was with Moses. When he was about to build the Sacred Tent, God told him, "Be sure to make everything according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain."

Heb. 4:14 Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God - Jesus, the Son of God. 15 Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. 16 Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.

Heb. 9:11 But Christ has already come as the High Priest of the good things that are already here. The tent in which he serves is greater and more perfect; it is not a tent made by human hands, that is, it is not a part of this created world. 12 When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a burnt calf are sprinkled on the people who are ritually unclean, and this purifies them by taking away their ritual impurity. 14 Since this is true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God. 15 For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This can be done because there has been a death which sets people free from the wrongs they did while the first covenant was in effect. 16 In the case of a will it is necessary to prove that the person who made it has died, 17 for a will means nothing while the person who made it is alive; it goes into effect only after his death. 18 That is why even the first covenant went into effect only with the use of blood. 19 First, Moses proclaimed to the people all the commandments as set forth in the Law. Then he took the blood of bulls and goats, mixed it with water, and sprinkled it on the book of the Law and all the people, using a sprig of hyssop and some red wool. 20 He said, "This is the blood which seals the covenant that God has commanded you to obey." 21 In the same way Moses also sprinkled the blood on the Sacred Tent and over all the things used in worship. 22 Indeed, according to the Law almost everything is purified by blood, and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out. 23 Those things, which are copies of the heavenly originals, had to be purified in that way. But the heavenly things themselves require much better sacrifices. 24 For Christ did not go into a Holy Place made by human hands, which was a copy of the real one. He went into heaven itself, where he now appears on our behalf in the presence of God. 25 The Jewish high priest goes into the Most Holy Place every year with the blood of an animal. But Christ did not go in to offer himself many times, 26 for then he would have had to suffer many times ever since the creation of the world. Instead, now when all ages of time are nearing the end, he has appeared once and for all, to remove sin through the sacrifice of himself. 27 Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. 28 In the same manner Christ also was offered in sacrifice once to take away the sins of many. He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are waiting for him.

Heb.10:19 We have, then, my friends, complete freedom to go into the Most Holy Place by means of the death of Jesus. 20 He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain - that is, through his own body. 21 We have a great priest in charge of the house of God. 22 So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water.

Heb. 1:3 He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.

Heb. 2:16 For it is clear that it is not the angels that he helps. Instead, he helps the descendants of Abraham. 17 This means that he had to become like his people in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, so that the people's sins would be forgiven.

Dan. 7:9 While I was looking, thrones were put in place. One who had been living forever sat down on one of the thrones. His clothes were white as snow, and his hair was like pure wool. His throne, mounted on fiery wheels, was blazing with fire, 10 and a stream of fire was pouring out from it. There were many thousands of people there to serve him, and millions of people stood before him. The court began its session, and the books were opened. 11 While I was looking, I could still hear the little horn bragging and boasting. As I watched, the fourth beast was killed, and its body was thrown into the flames and destroyed. 12 The other beasts had their power taken away, but they were permitted to go on living for a limited time. 13 During this vision in the night, I saw what looked like a human being. He was approaching me, surrounded by clouds, and he went to the one who had been living forever and was presented to him. 14 He was given authority, honor, and royal power, so that the people of all nations, races, and languages would serve him. His authority would last forever, and his kingdom would never end. 15 The visions I saw alarmed me, and I was deeply disturbed. 16 I went up to one of those standing there and asked him to explain it all. So he told me the meaning. 17 He said, "These four huge beasts are four empires which will arise on earth. 18 And the people of the Supreme God will receive royal power and keep it forever and ever." 19 Then I wanted to know more about the fourth beast, which was not like any of the others - the terrifying beast which crushed its victims with its bronze claws and iron teeth and then trampled on them. 20 And I wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the horn that had come up afterward and had made three of the horns fall. It had eyes and a mouth and was boasting proudly. It was more terrifying than any of the others. 21 While I was looking, that horn made war on God's people and conquered them. 22 Then the one who had been living forever came and pronounced judgment in favor of the people of the Supreme God. The time had arrived for God's people to receive royal power. 23 This is the explanation I was given: "The fourth beast is a fourth empire that will be on the earth and will be different from all other empires. It will crush the whole earth and trample it down. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will appear; he will be very different from the earlier ones and will overthrow three kings. 25 He will speak against the Supreme God and oppress God's people. He will try to change their religious laws and festivals, and God's people will be under his power for three and a half years. 26 Then the heavenly court will sit in judgment, take away his power, and destroy him completely. 27 The power and greatness of all the kingdoms on earth will be given to the people of the Supreme God. Their royal power will never end, and all rulers on earth will serve and obey them."

Dan. 8:13 Then I heard one angel ask another, "How long will these things that were seen in the vision continue? How long will an awful sin replace the daily sacrifices? How long will the army of heaven and the Temple be trampled on?" 14 I heard the other angel answer, "It will continue for 2,300 evenings and mornings, during which sacrifices will not be offered. Then the Temple will be restored."

Dan. 9:24 "Seven times seventy years is the length of time God has set for freeing your people and your holy city from sin and evil. Sin will be forgiven and eternal justice established, so that the vision and the prophecy will come true, and the holy Temple will be rededicated. 25 Note this and understand it: From the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until God's chosen leader comes, seven times seven years will pass. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, and will stand for seven times sixty-two years, but this will be a time of troubles. 26 And at the end of that time God's chosen leader will be killed unjustly. The city and the Temple will be destroyed by the invading army of a powerful ruler. The end will come like a flood, bringing the war and destruction which God has prepared. 27 That ruler will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and when half this time is past, he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The Awful Horror will be placed on the highest point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meets the end which God has prepared for him."

Num. 14:34 You will suffer the consequences of your sin for forty years, one year for each of the forty days you spent exploring the land. You will know what it means to have me against you!

Ezek. 4:6 When you finish that, turn over on your right side and suffer for the guilt of Judah for forty days - one day for each year of their punishment.

Lev. 16; 1 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who were killed when they offered unholy fire to the Lord. 2 He said, "Tell your brother Aaron that only at the proper time is he to go behind the curtain into the Most Holy Place, because that is where I appear in a cloud above the lid on the Covenant Box. If he disobeys, he will be killed. 3 He may enter the Most Holy Place only after he has brought a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering." 4 Then the Lord gave the following instructions. Before Aaron goes into the Most Holy Place, he must take a bath and put on the priestly garments: the linen robe and shorts, the belt, and the turban. 5 The community of Israel shall give Aaron two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 6 He shall offer a bull as a sacrifice to take away his own sins and those of his family. 7 Then he shall take the two goats to the entrance of the Tent of the Lord's presence. 8 There he shall draw lots, using two stones, one marked "for the Lord" and the other "for Azazel." 9 Aaron shall sacrifice the goat chosen by lot for the Lord and offer it as a sin offering. 10 The goat chosen for Azazel shall be presented alive to the Lord and sent off into the desert to Azazel, in order to take away the sins of the people. 11 When Aaron sacrifices the bull as the sin offering for himself and his family, 12 he shall take a fire pan full of burning coals from the altar and two handfuls of fine incense and bring them into the Most Holy Place. 13 There in the Lord's presence he shall put the incense on the fire, and the smoke of the incense will hide the lid of the Covenant Box so that he will not see it and die. 14 He shall take some of the bull's blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the lid and then sprinkle some of it seven times in front of the Covenant Box. 15 After that, he shall kill the goat for the sin offering for the people, bring its blood into the Most Holy Place, and sprinkle it on the lid and then in front of the Covenant Box, as he did with the bull's blood. 16 In this way he will perform the ritual to purify the Most Holy Place from the uncleanness of the people of Israel and from all their sins. He must do this to the Tent, because it stands in the middle of the camp, which is ritually unclean. 17 From the time Aaron enters the Most Holy Place to perform the ritual of purification until he comes out, there must be no one in the Tent. When he has performed the ritual for himself, his family, and the whole community, 18 he must then go out to the altar for burnt offerings and purify it. He must take some of the bull's blood and some of the goat's blood and put it all over the projections at the corners of the altar. 19 With his finger he must sprinkle some of the blood on the altar seven times. In this way he is to purify it from the sins of the people of Israel and make it holy. 20 When Aaron has finished performing the ritual to purify the Most Holy Place, the rest of the Tent of the Lord's presence, and the altar, he shall present to the Lord the live goat chosen for Azazel. 21 He shall put both of his hands on the goat's head and confess over it all the evils, sins, and rebellions of the people of Israel, and so transfer them to the goat's head. Then the goat is to be driven off into the desert by someone appointed to do it. 22 The goat will carry all their sins away with him into some uninhabited land. 23 Then Aaron shall go into the Tent, take off the priestly garments that he had put on before entering the Most Holy Place, and leave them there. 24 He must take a bath in a holy place and put on his own clothes. After that, he shall go out and offer the burnt offering to remove his own sins and those of the people. 25 He shall burn on the altar the fat of the animal for the sin offering. 26 The man who drove the goat into the desert to Azazel must wash his clothes and take a bath before he comes back into camp. 27 The bull and the goat used for the sin offering, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to take away sin, shall be carried outside the camp and burned. Skin, meat, and intestines shall all be burned. 28 The one who burns them must wash his clothes and take a bath before he returns to camp. 29 The following regulations are to be observed for all time to come. On the tenth day of the seventh month the Israelites and the foreigners living among them must fast and must not do any work. 30 On that day the ritual is to be performed to purify them from all their sins, so that they will be ritually clean. 31 That day is to be a very holy day, one on which they fast and do no work at all. These regulations are to be observed for all time to come. 32 The High Priest, properly ordained and consecrated to succeed his father, is to perform the ritual of purification. He shall put on the priestly garments 33 and perform the ritual to purify the Most Holy Place, the rest of the Tent of the Lord's presence, the altar, the priests, and all the people of the community. 34 These regulations are to be observed for all time to come. This ritual must be performed once a year to purify the people of Israel from all their sins. So Moses did as the Lord had commanded.

Rev. 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying high in the air, with an eternal message of Good News to announce to the peoples of the earth, to every race, tribe, language, and nation. 7 He said in a loud voice, "Honor God and praise his greatness! For the time has come for him to judge all people. Worship him who made heaven, earth, sea, and the springs of water!"

Rev. 20:2 And I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing before the throne. Books were opened, and then another book was opened, the book of the living. The dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.

Rev. 14:12 This calls for endurance on the part of God's people, those who obey God's commandments and are faithful to Jesus.

Rev. 22:12 "Listen!" says Jesus. "I am coming soon! I will bring my rewards with me, to give to each one according to what he has done.

231-Isaiah 53:4 "But he endured the suffering that should have been ours, the pain that we should have borne. All the while we thought that his suffering was punishment sent by God. 5 But because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received. 6 All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the Lord made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved.

Romans 3:24 But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. 25 God offered him, so that by his blood he should become the means by which people's sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people's sins; but in the present time he deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus. 27 What, then, can we boast about? Nothing! And what is the reason for this? Is it that we obey the Law? No, but that we believe. 28 For we conclude that a person is put right with God only through faith, and not by doing what the Law commands. 29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles also? Of course he is. 30 God is one, and he will put the Jews right with himself on the basis of their faith, and will put the Gentiles right through their faith. 31 Does this mean that by this faith we do away with the Law? No, not at all; instead, we uphold the Law.

2 Corinthians 5:21 Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.

232-1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 7:25 And so he is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through him, because he lives forever to plead with God for them.

233-Romans 8:34 Who, then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us!

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not go into a Holy Place made by human hands, which was a copy of the real one. He went into heaven itself, where he now appears on our behalf in the presence of God.

234-John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.

John 14:9 Jesus answered, "For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, "Show us the Father'?

235-John 16:25 "I have used figures of speech to tell you these things. But the time will come when I will not use figures of speech, but will speak to you plainly about the Father. 26 When that day comes, you will ask him in my name; and I do not say that I will ask him on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you. He loves you because you love me and have believed that I came from God.

236-Daniel 7:9 While I was looking, thrones were put in place. One who had been living forever sat down on one of the thrones. His clothes were white as snow, and his hair was like pure wool. His throne, mounted on fiery wheels, was blazing with fire, 10 and a stream of fire was pouring out from it. There were many thousands of people there to serve him, and millions of people stood before him. The court began its session, and the books were opened. 11 While I was looking, I could still hear the little horn bragging and boasting. As I watched, the fourth beast was killed, and its body was thrown into the flames and destroyed. 12 The other beasts had their power taken away, but they were permitted to go on living for a limited time. 13 During this vision in the night, I saw what looked like a human being. He was approaching me, surrounded by clouds, and he went to the one who had been living forever and was presented to him. 14 He was given authority, honor, and royal power, so that the people of all nations, races, and languages would serve him. His authority would last forever, and his kingdom would never end.

Zechariah 3:1 In another vision the Lord showed me the High Priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord. And there beside Joshua stood Satan, ready to bring an accusation against him. 2 The angel of the Lord said to Satan, "May the Lord condemn you, Satan! May the Lord, who loves Jerusalem, condemn you. This man is like a stick snatched from the fire." 3 Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes. 4 The angel said to his heavenly attendants, "Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing." Then he said to Joshua, "I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear." 5 He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua's head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the Lord stood there.

Revelation 12:1 Then a great and mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a woman, whose dress was the sun and who had the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was soon to give birth, and the pains and suffering of childbirth made her cry out. 3 Another mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and a crown on each of his heads. 4 With his tail he dragged a third of the stars out of the sky and threw them down to the earth. He stood in front of the woman, in order to eat her child as soon as it was born. 5 Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule over all nations with an iron rod. But the child was snatched away and taken to God and his throne. 6 The woman fled to the desert, to a place God had prepared for her, where she will be taken care of for 1,260 days. 7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; 8 but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer. 9 The huge dragon was thrown out - that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven. 11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. 12 And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left."

237-Daniel 7:9 While I was looking, thrones were put in place. One who had been living forever sat down on one of the thrones. His clothes were white as snow, and his hair was like pure wool. His throne, mounted on fiery wheels, was blazing with fire, 10 and a stream of fire was pouring out from it. There were many thousands of people there to serve him, and millions of people stood before him. The court began its session, and the books were opened. 13 During this vision in the night, I saw what looked like a human being. He was approaching me, surrounded by clouds, and he went to the one who had been living forever and was presented to him. 14 He was given authority, honor, and royal power, so that the people of all nations, races, and languages would serve him. His authority would last forever, and his kingdom would never end.

238-Zechariah 3:1 In another vision the Lord showed me the High Priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord. And there beside Joshua stood Satan, ready to bring an accusation against him. 2 The angel of the Lord said to Satan, "May the Lord condemn you, Satan! May the Lord, who loves Jerusalem, condemn you. This man is like a stick snatched from the fire." 3 Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes. 4 The angel said to his heavenly attendants, "Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing." Then he said to Joshua, "I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear." 5 He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua's head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the Lord stood there.

Isaiah 64:6 All of us have been sinful; even our best actions are filthy through and through. Because of our sins we are like leaves that wither and are blown away by the wind.

Revelation 12:7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; 8 but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer. 9 The huge dragon was thrown out - that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven. 11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. 12 And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left."

239-Zechariah 3:1 In another vision the Lord showed me the High Priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord. And there beside Joshua stood Satan, ready to bring an accusation against him. 2 The angel of the Lord said to Satan, "May the Lord condemn you, Satan! May the Lord, who loves Jerusalem, condemn you. This man is like a stick snatched from the fire." 3 Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes. 4 The angel said to his heavenly attendants, "Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing." Then he said to Joshua, "I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear." 5 He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua's head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the Lord stood there.

John 16:25 "I have used figures of speech to tell you these things. But the time will come when I will not use figures of speech, but will speak to you plainly about the Father. 26 When that day comes, you will ask him in my name; and I do not say that I will ask him on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you. He loves you because you love me and have believed that I came from God.

240-Hebrews 9:23 Those things, which are copies of the heavenly originals, had to be purified in that way. But the heavenly things themselves require much better sacrifices.

241-Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins. If you do, 20 times of spiritual strength will come from the Lord, and he will send Jesus, who is the Messiah he has already chosen for you. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for all things to be made new, as God announced through his holy prophets of long ago.

242-Matthew 25:1 "At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there were ten young women who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them, 4 while the wise ones took containers full of oil for their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was late in coming, so they began to nod and fall asleep. 6 "It was already midnight when the cry rang out, "Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!' 7 The ten young women woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, "Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' 9 "No, indeed,' the wise ones answered, "there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.' 10 So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed. 11 "Later the others arrived. "Sir, sir! Let us in!' they cried out. 12 "Certainly not! I don't know you,' the bridegroom answered." 13 And Jesus concluded, "Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour.

1 Thessalonians 5:1 There is no need to write you, friends, about the times and occasions when these things will happen. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night. 3 When people say, "Everything is quiet and safe," then suddenly destruction will hit them! It will come as suddenly as the pains that come upon a woman in labor, and people will not escape. 4 But you, friends, are not in the darkness, and the Day should not take you by surprise like a thief. 5 All of you are people who belong to the light, who belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, we should not be sleeping like the others; we should be awake and sober. 7 It is at night when people sleep; it is at night when they get drunk. 8 But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 God did not choose us to suffer his anger, but to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us in order that we might live together with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes. 11 And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing.

243-John 13:19 I tell you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe that "I Am Who I Am.'

John 14:29 I have told you this now before it all happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe.

244-1 Thessalonians 4:12 In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need. 13 Our friends, we want you to know the truth about those who have died, so that you will not be sad, as are those who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him. 15 W_ hat we are teaching you now is the Lord's teaching: we who are alive on the day the Lord comes will not go ahead of those who have died. 16 There will be the shout of command, the archangel's voice, the sound of God's trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first;

1 Corinthians 15:13 If that is true, it means that Christ was not raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised from death, then we have nothing to preach and you have nothing to believe. 15 More than that, we are shown to be lying about God, because we said that he raised Christ from death - but if it is true that the dead are not raised to life, then he did not raise Christ. 16 For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is a delusion and you are still lost in your sins. 18 It would also mean that the believers in Christ who have died are lost. 19 If our hope in Christ is good for this life only and no more, then we deserve more pity than anyone else in all the world. 20 But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised. 21 For just as death came by means of a man, in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man. 22 For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ. 23 But each one will be raised in proper order: Christ, first of all; then, at the time of his coming, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come; Christ will overcome all spiritual rulers, authorities, and powers, and will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father. 25 For Christ must rule until God defeats all enemies and puts them under his feet.

Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from death, lives in you, then he who raised Christ from death will also give life to your mortal bodies by the presence of his Spirit in you.

Philippians 3:20 We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. 21 He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body, using that power by which he is able to bring all things under his rule.

245-2 Timothy 1:8 Do not be ashamed, then, of witnessing for our Lord; neither be ashamed of me, a prisoner for Christ's sake. Instead, take your part in suffering for the Good News, as God gives you the strength for it. 9 He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace by means of Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but now it has been revealed to us through the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus. He has ended the power of death and through the gospel has revealed immortal life.

246-1 Corinthians 15:51 Listen to this secret truth: we shall not all die, but when the last trumpet sounds, we shall all be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an eye. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised, never to die again, and we shall all be changed. 53 For what is mortal must be changed into what is immortal; what will die must be changed into what cannot die. 54 So when this takes place, and the mortal has been changed into the immortal, then the scripture will come true: "Death is destroyed; victory is complete!"

247-John 14:"Do not be worried and upset," Jesus told them. "Believe in God and believe also in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. 3 And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am.

248-1 Thessalonians 4:16 There will be the shout of command, the archangel's voice, the sound of God's trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first; 17 then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 18 So then, encourage one another with these words.

Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the abyss and a heavy chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent - that is, the Devil, or Satan - and chained him up for a thousand years. 3 The angel threw him into the abyss, locked it, and sealed it, so that he could not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years were over. After that he must be set loose for a little while. 4 Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been executed because they had proclaimed the truth that Jesus revealed and the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image, nor had they received the mark of the beast on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and ruled as kings with Christ for a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first raising of the dead. 6 Happy and greatly blessed are those who are included in this first raising of the dead. The second death has no power over them; they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they will rule with him for a thousand years. 7 After the thousand years are over, Satan will be set loose from his prison, 8 and he will go out to deceive the nations scattered over the whole world, that is, Gog and Magog. Satan will bring them all together for battle, as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. 9 They spread out over the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people and the city that he loves. But fire came down from heaven and destroyed them. 10 Then the Devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sits on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence and were seen no more. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing before the throne. Books were opened, and then another book was opened, the book of the living. The dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up its dead. Death and the world of the dead also gave up the dead they held. And all were judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and the world of the dead were thrown into the lake of fire. (This lake of fire is the second death.) 15 Those who did not have their name written in the book of the living were thrown into the lake of fire.

1 Corinthians 4:5 So you should not pass judgment on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgment must wait until the Lord comes; he will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of people's minds. And then all will receive from God the praise they deserve.

Romans 8:20 For creation was condemned to lose its purpose, not of its own will, but because God willed it to be so. Yet there was the hope 21 that creation itself would one day be set free from its slavery to decay and would share the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 For we know that up to the present time all of creation groans with pain, like the pain of childbirth.

Revelation 21:11 and shining with the glory of God. The city shone like a precious stone, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates and with twelve angels in charge of the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of the people of Israel. 13 There were three gates on each side: three on the east, three on the south, three on the north, and three on the west. 14 The city's wall was built on twelve foundation stones, on which were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The angel who spoke to me had a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city was perfectly square, as wide as it was long. The angel measured the city with his measuring stick: it was fifteen hundred miles long and was as wide and as high as it was long. 17 The angel also measured the wall, and it was 216 feet high, according to the standard unit of measure which he was using. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself was made of pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation stone was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh yellow quartz, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chalcedony, the eleventh turquoise, the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls; each gate was made from a single pearl. The street of the city was of pure gold, transparent as glass. 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. 23 The city has no need of the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God shines on it, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The peoples of the world will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their wealth into it. 25 The gates of the city will stand open all day; they will never be closed, because there will be no night there. 26 The greatness and the wealth of the nations will be brought into the city. 27 But nothing that is impure will enter the city, nor anyone who does shameful things or tells lies. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of the living will enter the city.

Revelation 22:1 The angel also showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, and coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 and flowing down the middle of the city's street. On each side of the river was the tree of life, which bears fruit twelve times a year, once each month; and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. 3 Nothing that is under God's curse will be found in the city. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no more night, and they will not need lamps or sunlight, because the Lord God will be their light, and they will rule as kings forever and ever.

Revelation 21:3 I heard a loud voice speaking from the throne: "Now God's home is with people! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God.

249-Philippians 2:10 And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, 11 and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

250-1 Thessalonians 4:16 There will be the shout of command, the archangel's voice, the sound of God's trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first; 17 then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 18 So then, encourage one another with these words.

Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the abyss and a heavy chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent - that is, the Devil, or Satan - and chained him up for a thousand years. 3 The angel threw him into the abyss, locked it, and sealed it, so that he could not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years were over. After that he must be set loose for a little while. 4 Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been executed because they had proclaimed the truth that Jesus revealed and the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image, nor had they received the mark of the beast on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and ruled as kings with Christ for a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first raising of the dead. 6 Happy and greatly blessed are those who are included in this first raising of the dead. The second death has no power over them; they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they will rule with him for a thousand years.

251-2 Thessalonians 1:7 and he will give relief to you who suffer and to us as well. He will do this when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 with a flaming fire, to punish those who reject God and who do not obey the Good News about our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from his glorious might, 10 when he comes on that Day to receive glory from all his people and honor from all who believe. You too will be among them, because you have believed the message that we told you.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 Then the Wicked One will be revealed, but when the Lord Jesus comes, he will kill him with the breath from his mouth and destroy him with his dazzling presence.

252-Ecclesiastes 12:13 After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for. 14 God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing before the throne. Books were opened, and then another book was opened, the book of the living. The dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up its dead. Death and the world of the dead also gave up the dead they held. And all were judged according to what they had done.

1 Corinthians 4:5 So you should not pass judgment on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgment must wait until the Lord comes; he will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of people's minds. And then all will receive from God the praise they deserve.

253-Philippians 2:5 The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: 6 He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. 7 Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. 8 He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death - his death on the cross. 9 For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. 10 And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, 11 and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

254-Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing before the throne. Books were opened, and then another book was opened, the book of the living. The dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up its dead. Death and the world of the dead also gave up the dead they held. And all were judged according to what they had done.

255-Job 1:1 There was a man named Job, living in the land of Uz, who worshiped God and was faithful to him. He was a good man, careful not to do anything evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, one thousand head of cattle, and five hundred donkeys. He also had a large number of servants and was the richest man in the East. 4 Job's sons used to take turns giving a feast, to which all the others would come, and they always invited their three sisters to join them. 5 The morning after each feast, Job would get up early and offer sacrifices for each of his children in order to purify them. He always did this because he thought that one of them might have sinned by insulting God unintentionally. 6 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the Lord, Satan was there among them. 7 The Lord asked him, "What have you been doing?" Satan answered, "I have been walking here and there, roaming around the earth." 8 "Did you notice my servant Job?" the Lord asked. "There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil." 9 Satan replied, "Would Job worship you if he got nothing out of it? 10 You have always protected him and his family and everything he owns. You bless everything he does, and you have given him enough cattle to fill the whole country. 11 But now suppose you take away everything he has - he will curse you to your face!" 12 "All right," the Lord said to Satan, "everything he has is in your power, but you must not hurt Job himself." So Satan left. 13 One day when Job's children were having a feast at the home of their oldest brother, 14 a messenger came running to Job. "We were plowing the fields with the oxen," he said, "and the donkeys were in a nearby pasture. 15 Suddenly the Sabeans attacked and stole them all. They killed every one of your servants except me. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." 16 Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, "Lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and killed them all. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." 17 Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, "Three bands of Chaldean raiders attacked us, took away the camels, and killed all your servants except me. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." 18 Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, "Your children were having a feast at the home of your oldest son, 19 when a storm swept in from the desert. It blew the house down and killed them all. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." 20 Then Job got up and tore his clothes in grief. He shaved his head and threw himself face downward on the ground. 21 He said, "I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The Lord gave, and now he has taken away. May his name be praised!" 22 In spite of everything that had happened, Job did not sin by blaming God.

Ephesians 3:10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms.

1 Corinthians 4:9 For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings.

1 Peter 1:12 God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

256-Isaiah 45:23 My promise is true, and it will not be changed. I solemnly promise by all that I am: Everyone will come and kneel before me and vow to be loyal to me.

Romans 14:11 For the scripture says, "As surely as I am the living God, says the Lord, everyone will kneel before me, and everyone will confess that I am God."

Philippians 2:10 And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, 11 and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

257-Isaiah 65:25 Wolves and lambs will eat together; lions will eat straw, as cattle do, and snakes will no longer be dangerous. On Zion, my sacred hill, there will be nothing harmful or evil."

258-Ps. 90:2 Before you created the hills or brought the world into being, you were eternally God, and will be God forever.

259-Jn 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 From the very beginning the Word was with God. 3 Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him.

260-Jn 17:24 "Father! You have given them to me, and I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory, the glory you gave me; for you loved me before the world was made.

261-Heb1:8 About the Son, however, God said: "Your kingdom, O God, will last forever and ever! You rule over your people with justice. 9 You love what is right and hate what is wrong. That is why God, your God, has chosen you and has given you the joy of an honor far greater than he gave to your companions." 10 He also said, "You, Lord, in the beginning created the earth, and with your own hands you made the heavens.

262-1 Pet 1:20 He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake.

263-Eph 1:4 Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love 5 God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children - this was his pleasure and purpose.

264-Col. 1:Col. 1:15-17

265-Psalms 91:15 Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all created things. 16 For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him. 17 Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place.

266-Hebrews 1:4 The Son was made greater than the angels, just as the name that God gave him is greater than theirs. 5 For God never said to any of his angels, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." Nor did God say about any angel, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son." 6 But when God was about to send his first-born Son into the world, he said, "All of God's angels must worship him." 7 But about the angels God said, "God makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." 8 About the Son, however, God said: "Your kingdom, O God, will last forever and ever! You rule over your people with justice. 9 You love what is right and hate what is wrong. That is why God, your God, has chosen you and has given you the joy of an honor far greater than he gave to your companions." 10 He also said, "You, Lord, in the beginning created the earth, and with your own hands you made the heavens. 11 They will disappear, but you will remain; they will all wear out like clothes. 12 You will fold them up like a coat, and they will be changed like clothes. But you are always the same, and your life never ends." 13 God never said to any of his angels: "Sit here at my right side until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet." 14 What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation.

Hebrews 2:1 That is why we must hold on all the more firmly to the truths we have heard, so that we will not be carried away. 2 The message given to our ancestors by the angels was shown to be true, and those who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment they deserved.

267-Exodus 23:23 My angel will go ahead of you and take you into the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I will destroy them.

268-1 Chronicles 21:16 David saw the angel standing in midair, holding his sword in his hand, ready to destroy Jerusalem. Then David and the leaders of the people - all of whom were wearing sackcloth - bowed low, with their faces touching the ground.

269-2 Samuel 24:16 When the Lord's angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord changed his mind about punishing the people and said to the angel who was killing them, "Stop! That's enough!" The angel was by the threshing place of Araunah, a Jebusite. 17 David saw the angel who was killing the people, and said to the Lord, "I am the guilty one. I am the one who did wrong. What have these poor people done? You should punish me and my family."

270-Ezekiel 28:13 You lived in Eden, the garden of God, and wore gems of every kind: rubies and diamonds; topaz, beryl, carnelian, and jasper; sapphires, emeralds, and garnets. You had ornaments of gold. They were made for you on the day you were created.

271-Revelation 12:7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; 8 but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer. 9 The huge dragon was thrown out - that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven. 11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. 12 And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left."

272-Genesis 3:1 Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made. The snake asked the woman, "Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?" 2 "We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden," the woman answered, 3 "except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die." 4 The snake replied, "That's not true; you will not die.

273-Job 1:6 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the Lord, Satan was there among them.

274-Job 2:1 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the Lord again, Satan was there among them.

275-Job 38:4 Were you there when I made the world? If you know so much, tell me about it. 5 Who decided how large it would be? Who stretched the measuring line over it? Do you know all the answers? 6 What holds up the pillars that support the earth? Who laid the cornerstone of the world? 7 In the dawn of that day the stars sang together, and the heavenly beings shouted for joy.

276-Daniel 9:21 While I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came flying down to where I was. It was the time for the evening sacrifice to be offered.

277-Acts 12:7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shone in the cell. The angel shook Peter by the shoulder, woke him up, and said, "Hurry! Get up!" At once the chains fell off Peter's hands.

278-Hebrews 13:2 Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it.

279-Revelation 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to announce these things to you in the churches. I am descended from the family of David; I am the bright morning star."

280-2 Peter 1:19 So we are even more confident of the message proclaimed by the prophets. You will do well to pay attention to it, because it is like a lamp shining in a dark place until the Day dawns and the light of the morning star shines in your hearts.

281-1 Corinthians 4:9 For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings.

282-Ephesians 1:9 God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. 10 This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.

Ephesians 3:9 and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, 10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms.

283-Colossians 1:19 For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. 20 Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

284-Isaiah 14:12 King of Babylon, bright morning star, you have fallen from heaven! In the past you conquered nations, but now you have been thrown to the ground. 13 You were determined to climb up to heaven and to place your throne above the highest stars. You thought you would sit like a king on that mountain in the north where the gods assemble. 14 You said you would climb to the tops of the clouds and be like the Almighty.

285-Ezekiel 28:11 The Lord spoke to me again. 12 "Mortal man," he said, "grieve for the fate that is waiting for the king of Tyre. Tell him what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying: You were once an example of perfection. How wise and handsome you were! 13 You lived in Eden, the garden of God, and wore gems of every kind: rubies and diamonds; topaz, beryl, carnelian, and jasper; sapphires, emeralds, and garnets. You had ornaments of gold. They were made for you on the day you were created. 14 I put a terrifying angel there to guard you. You lived on my holy mountain and walked among sparkling gems. 15 Your conduct was perfect from the day you were created until you began to do evil.

286-Matthew 4:8 Then the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness. 9 "All this I will give you," the Devil said, "if you kneel down and worship me."

287-Genesis 2:17 except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day."

288-Romans 6:23 For sin pays its wage - death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

289-Genesis 3:woman, "Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?" 2 "We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden," the woman answered, 3 "except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die." 4 The snake replied, "That's not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad."

290-Job 1:6 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the Lord, Satan was there among them. 7 The Lord asked him, "What have you been doing?" Satan answered, "I have been walking here and there, roaming around the earth." 8 "Did you notice my servant Job?" the Lord asked. "There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil." 9 Satan replied, "Would Job worship you if he got nothing out of it? 10 You have always protected him and his family and everything he owns. You bless everything he does, and you have given him enough cattle to fill the whole country. 11 But now suppose you take away everything he has - he will curse you to your face!" 12 "All right," the Lord said to Satan, "everything he has is in your power, but you must not hurt Job himself." So Satan left.

291-Job 2:1 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the Lord again, Satan was there among them. 2 The Lord asked him, "Where have you been?" Satan answered, "I have been walking here and there, roaming around the earth." 3 "Did you notice my servant Job?" the Lord asked. "There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil. You persuaded me to let you attack him for no reason at all, but Job is still as faithful as ever." 4 Satan replied, "A person will give up everything in order to stay alive. 5 But now suppose you hurt his body - he will curse you to your face!" 6 So the Lord said to Satan, "All right, he is in your power, but you are not to kill him."

292-Revelation 12:1 Then a great and mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a woman, whose dress was the sun and who had the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was soon to give birth, and the pains and suffering of childbirth made her cry out. 3 Another mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and a crown on each of his heads. 4 With his tail he dragged a third of the stars out of the sky and threw them down to the earth. He stood in front of the woman, in order to eat her child as soon as it was born. 5 Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule over all nations with an iron rod. But the child was snatched away and taken to God and his throne. 6 The woman fled to the desert, to a place God had prepared for her, where she will be taken care of for 1,260 days. 7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; 8 but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer. 9 The huge dragon was thrown out - that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven. 11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. 12 And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left."

293-Ezekiel 28:12 "Mortal man," he said, "grieve for the fate that is waiting for the king of Tyre. Tell him what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying: You were once an example of perfection. How wise and handsome you were! 13 You lived in Eden, the garden of God, and wore gems of every kind: rubies and diamonds; topaz, beryl, carnelian, and jasper; sapphires, emeralds, and garnets. You had ornaments of gold. They were made for you on the day you were created. 14 I put a terrifying angel there to guard you. You lived on my holy mountain and walked among sparkling gems. 15 Your conduct was perfect from the day you were created until you began to do evil. 16 You were busy buying and selling, and this led you to violence and sin. So I forced you to leave my holy mountain, and the angel who guarded you drove you away from the sparkling gems.

294-Luke 10:18 Jesus answered them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

295-John 8:18 Jesus answered them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

296-John 12:31 Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown.

297-Col. 2:15 And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.

298-Revelation 12:7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; 8 but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer. 9 The huge dragon was thrown out - that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven.

299-Genesis 3:1 Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made. The snake asked the woman, "Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?" 2 "We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden," the woman answered, 3 "except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die." 4 The snake replied, "That's not true; you will not die.

300-Ezekiel 28:12 "Mortal man," he said, "grieve for the fate that is waiting for the king of Tyre. Tell him what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying: You were once an example of perfection. How wise and handsome you were! 13 You lived in Eden, the garden of God, and wore gems of every kind: rubies and diamonds; topaz, beryl, carnelian, and jasper; sapphires, emeralds, and garnets. You had ornaments of gold. They were made for you on the day you were created. 14 I put a terrifying angel there to guard you. You lived on my holy mountain and walked among sparkling gems. 15 Your conduct was perfect from the day you were created until you began to do evil. 16 You were busy buying and selling, and this led you to violence and sin. So I forced you to leave my holy mountain, and the angel who guarded you drove you away from the sparkling gems.

301-Job 1:1 There was a man named Job, living in the land of Uz, who worshiped God and was faithful to him. He was a good man, careful not to do anything evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, one thousand head of cattle, and five hundred donkeys. He also had a large number of servants and was the richest man in the East. 4 Job's sons used to take turns giving a feast, to which all the others would come, and they always invited their three sisters to join them. 5 The morning after each feast, Job would get up early and offer sacrifices for each of his children in order to purify them. He always did this because he thought that one of them might have sinned by insulting God unintentionally. 6 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the Lord, Satan was there among them. 7 The Lord asked him, "What have you been doing?" Satan answered, "I have been walking here and there, roaming around the earth." 8 "Did you notice my servant Job?" the Lord asked. "There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil." 9 Satan replied, "Would Job worship you if he got nothing out of it? 10 You have always protected him and his family and everything he owns. You bless everything he does, and you have given him enough cattle to fill the whole country. 11 But now suppose you take away everything he has - he will curse you to your face!" 12 "All right," the Lord said to Satan, "everything he has is in your power, but you must not hurt Job himself." So Satan left. 13 One day when Job's children were having a feast at the home of their oldest brother, 14 a messenger came running to Job. "We were plowing the fields with the oxen," he said, "and the donkeys were in a nearby pasture. 15 Suddenly the Sabeans attacked and stole them all. They killed every one of your servants except me. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." 16 Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, "Lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and killed them all. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." 17 Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, "Three bands of Chaldean raiders attacked us, took away the camels, and killed all your servants except me. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." 18 Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, "Your children were having a feast at the home of your oldest son, 19 when a storm swept in from the desert. It blew the house down and killed them all. I am the only one who escaped to tell you." 20 Then Job got up and tore his clothes in grief. He shaved his head and threw himself face downward on the ground. 21 He said, "I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The Lord gave, and now he has taken away. May his name be praised!" 22 In spite of everything that had happened, Job did not sin by blaming God.

Job 2:1 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the Lord again, Satan was there among them. 2 The Lord asked him, "Where have you been?" Satan answered, "I have been walking here and there, roaming around the earth." 3 "Did you notice my servant Job?" the Lord asked. "There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil. You persuaded me to let you attack him for no reason at all, but Job is still as faithful as ever." 4 Satan replied, "A person will give up everything in order to stay alive. 5 But now suppose you hurt his body - he will curse you to your face!" 6 So the Lord said to Satan, "All right, he is in your power, but you are not to kill him." 7 Then Satan left the Lord's presence and made sores break out all over Job's body. 8 Job went and sat by the garbage dump and took a piece of broken pottery to scrape his sores. 9 His wife said to him, "You are still as faithful as ever, aren't you? Why don't you curse God and die?" 10 Job answered, "You are talking nonsense! When God sends us something good, we welcome it. How can we complain when he sends us trouble?" Even in all this suffering Job said nothing against God. 11 Three of Job's friends were Eliphaz, from the city of Teman, Bildad, from the land of Shuah, and Zophar, from the land of Naamah. When they heard how much Job had been suffering, they decided to go and comfort him. 12 While they were still a long way off they saw Job, but did not recognize him. When they did, they began to weep and wail, tearing their clothes in grief and throwing dust into the air and on their heads. 13 Then they sat there on the ground with him for seven days and nights without saying a word, because they saw how much he was suffering.

302-Matthew 4:8 Then the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness. 9 "All this I will give you," the Devil said, "if you kneel down and worship me."

303-1 Kings 22:1 There was peace between Israel and Syria for the next two years, 2 but in the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to see King Ahab of Israel. 3 Ahab asked his officials, "Why is it that we have not done anything to get back Ramoth in Gilead from the king of Syria? It belongs to us!" 4 And Ahab asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?" "I am ready when you are," Jehoshaphat answered, "and so are my soldiers and my cavalry. 5 But first let's consult the Lord." 6 So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them, "Should I go and attack Ramoth, or not?" "Attack it," they answered. "The Lord will give you victory." 7 But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there another prophet through whom we can consult the Lord?" 8 Ahab answered, "There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me; it's always something bad." "You shouldn't say that!" Jehoshaphat replied. 9 Then Ahab called in a court official and told him to go and get Micaiah at once. 10 The two kings, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on their thrones at the threshing place just outside the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11 One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab, "This is what the Lord says: "With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.' " 12 All the other prophets said the same thing. "March against Ramoth and you will win," they said. "The Lord will give you victory." 13 Meanwhile, the official who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, "All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king, and you had better do the same." 14 But Micaiah answered, "By the living Lord I promise that I will say what he tells me to!" 15 When he appeared before King Ahab, the king asked him, "Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?" "Attack!" Micaiah answered. "Of course you'll win. The Lord will give you victory." 16 But Ahab replied, "When you speak to me in the name of the Lord, tell the truth! How many times do I have to tell you that?" 17 Micaiah answered, "I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, "These men have no leader; let them go home in peace.' " 18 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good for me? It's always something bad!" 19 Micaiah went on: "Now listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him. 20 The Lord asked, "Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and be killed at Ramoth?' Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else, 21 until a spirit stepped forward, approached the Lord, and said, "I will deceive him.' 22 "How?' the Lord asked. The spirit replied, "I will go and make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies.' The Lord said, "Go and deceive him. You will succeed.' " 23 And Micaiah concluded: "This is what has happened. The Lord has made these prophets of yours lie to you. But he himself has decreed that you will meet with disaster!" 24 Then the prophet Zedekiah went up to Micaiah, slapped his face, and asked, "Since when did the Lord's spirit leave me and speak to you?" 25 "You will find out when you go into some back room to hide," Micaiah replied. 26 Then King Ahab ordered one of his officers, "Arrest Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Prince Joash. 27 Tell them to throw him in prison and to put him on bread and water until I return safely." 28 "If you return safely," Micaiah exclaimed, "then the Lord has not spoken through me!" And he added, "Listen, everyone, to what I have said!" 29 Then King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to attack the city of Ramoth in Gilead. 30 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "As we go into battle, I will disguise myself, but you wear your royal garments." So the king of Israel went into battle in disguise. 31 The king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders to attack no one else except the king of Israel. 32 So when they saw King Jehoshaphat, they all thought that he was the king of Israel, and they turned to attack him. But when he cried out, 33 they realized that he was not the king of Israel, and they stopped their attack. 34 By chance, however, a Syrian soldier shot an arrow which struck King Ahab between the joints of his armor. "I'm wounded!" he cried out to his chariot driver. "Turn around and pull out of the battle!" 35 While the battle raged on, King Ahab remained propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians. The blood from his wound ran down and covered the bottom of the chariot, and at evening he died. 36 Near sunset the order went out through the Israelite ranks: "Each of you go back to your own country and city!" 37 So died King Ahab. His body was taken to Samaria and buried. 38 His chariot was cleaned up at the pool of Samaria, where dogs licked up his blood and prostitutes washed themselves, as the Lord had said would happen. 39 Everything else that King Ahab did, including an account of his palace decorated with ivory and of all the cities he built, is recorded in [The History of the Kings of Israel.] 40 At his death his son Ahaziah succeeded him as king. 41 In the fourth year of the reign of King Ahab of Israel, Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah 42 at the age of thirty-five, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 43 Like his father Asa before him, he did what was right in the sight of the Lord; but the places of worship were not destroyed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. 44 Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. 45 Everything else that Jehoshaphat did, all his bravery and his battles, are recorded in [The History of the Kings of Judah.] 46 He got rid of all the male and female prostitutes serving at the pagan altars who were still left from the days of his father Asa. 47 The land of Edom had no king; it was ruled by a deputy appointed by the king of Judah. 48 King Jehoshaphat had ocean-going ships built to sail to the land of Ophir for gold; but they were wrecked at Eziongeber and never sailed. 49 Then King Ahaziah of Israel offered to let his men sail with Jehoshaphat's men, but Jehoshaphat refused the offer. 50 Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City, and his son Jehoram succeeded him as king. 51 In the seventeenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he ruled in Samaria for two years. 52 He sinned against the Lord, following the wicked example of his father Ahab, his mother Jezebel, and King Jeroboam, who had led Israel into sin. 53 He worshiped and served Baal, and like his father before him, he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel.

304-2 Chronicles 18:1 When King Jehoshaphat of Judah became rich and famous, he arranged a marriage between a member of his family and the family of King Ahab of Israel. 2 A number of years later Jehoshaphat went to the city of Samaria to visit Ahab. To honor Jehoshaphat and those with him, Ahab had a large number of sheep and cattle slaughtered for a feast. He tried to persuade Jehoshaphat to join him in attacking the city of Ramoth in Gilead. 3 He asked, "Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?" Jehoshaphat replied, "I am ready when you are, and so is my army. We will join you." 4 Then he added, "But first let's consult the Lord." 5 So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them, "Should I go and attack Ramoth, or not?" "Attack it," they answered. "God will give you victory." 6 But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn't there another prophet through whom we can consult the Lord?" 7 Ahab answered, "There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me; it's always something bad." "You shouldn't say that!" Jehoshaphat replied. 8 So King Ahab called in a court official and told him to go and get Micaiah at once. 9 The two kings, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on their thrones at the threshing place just outside the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 10 One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab, "This is what the Lord says, "With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.' " 11 All the other prophets said the same thing. "March against Ramoth and you will win," they said. "The Lord will give you victory." 12 Meanwhile, the official who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, "All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king, and you had better do the same." 13 But Micaiah answered, "By the living Lord I will say what my God tells me to!" 14 When he appeared before King Ahab, the king asked him, "Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?" "Attack!" Micaiah answered. "Of course you'll win. The Lord will give you victory." 15 But Ahab replied, "When you speak to me in the name of the Lord, tell the truth! How many times do I have to tell you that?" 16 Micaiah answered, "I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, "These men have no leader; let them go home in peace.' " 17 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "I told you that he never prophesies anything good for me; it's always something bad!" 18 Micaiah went on: "Now listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him. 19 The Lord asked, "Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and get killed at Ramoth?' Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else, 20 until a spirit stepped forward, approached the Lord, and said, "I will deceive him.' "How?' the Lord asked. 21 The spirit replied, "I will go and make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies.' The Lord said, "Go and deceive him. You will succeed.' " 22 And Micaiah concluded: "This is what has happened. The Lord has made these prophets of yours lie to you. But he himself has decreed that you will meet with disaster!" 23 Then the prophet Zedekiah went up to Micaiah, slapped his face, and asked, "Since when did the Lord's spirit leave me and speak to you?" 24 "You will find out when you go into some back room to hide," Micaiah replied. 25 Then King Ahab ordered one of his officers, "Arrest Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Prince Joash. 26 Tell them to throw him in prison and to put him on bread and water until I return safely." 27 "If you return safely," Micaiah exclaimed, "then the Lord has not spoken through me!" And he added, "Listen, everyone, to what I have said!" 28 Then King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to attack the city of Ramoth in Gilead. 29 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "As we go into battle, I will disguise myself, but you wear your royal garments." So the king of Israel went into battle in disguise. 30 The king of Syria had ordered his chariot commanders to attack no one else except the king of Israel. 31 So when they saw King Jehoshaphat, they all thought that he was the king of Israel, and they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat gave a shout, and the Lord God rescued him and turned the attack away from him. 32 The chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, so they stopped pursuing him. 33 By chance, however, a Syrian soldier shot an arrow which struck King Ahab between the joints of his armor. "I'm wounded!" he cried out to his chariot driver. "Turn around and pull out of the battle!" 34 While the battle raged on, King Ahab remained propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians. At sunset he died.

305-John 12:31 Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown.

306-John 14:30 I cannot talk with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me,

307-John 16:11 and they are wrong about judgment, because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

308-2 Cor.4:4 They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

309-Eph. 2:1 In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. 2 At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God.

310-Eph. 6:16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.

311-1 John 5:19 We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the Evil One.

312-Zechariah 3:1 In another vision the Lord showed me the High Priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord. And there beside Joshua stood Satan, ready to bring an accusation against him. 2 The angel of the Lord said to Satan, "May the Lord condemn you, Satan! May the Lord, who loves Jerusalem, condemn you. This man is like a stick snatched from the fire." 3 Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes. 4 The angel said to his heavenly attendants, "Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing." Then he said to Joshua, "I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear." 5 He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua's head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the Lord stood there.

313-Jude 9 Not even the chief angel Michael did this. In his quarrel with the Devil, when they argued about who would have the body of Moses, Michael did not dare condemn the Devil with insulting words, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

314-Genesis 2:17 except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day."

315-Genesis 3:15 I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's heel."

316-Romans 3:1 Do the Jews then have any advantage over the Gentiles? Or is there any value in being circumcised? 2 Much, indeed, in every way! In the first place, God trusted his message to the Jews. 3 But what if some of them were not faithful? Does this mean that God will not be faithful? 4 Certainly not! God must be true, even though all human beings are liars. As the scripture says, "You must be shown to be right when you speak; you must win your case when you are being tried."

317-Romans 3:25 God offered him, so that by his blood he should become the means by which people's sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people's sins; but in the present time he deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus. 27 What, then, can we boast about? Nothing! And what is the reason for this? Is it that we obey the Law? No, but that we believe.

318-1 Corinthians 4:9 For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings.

319-Ephesians 1:7 For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, 8 which he gave to us in such large measure! In all his wisdom and insight 9 God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. 10 This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.

320-Eph. 3:9 and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, 10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms.

321-Colossians 1:19 For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. 20 Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

322-Romans 8:3 What the Law could not do, because human nature was weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending his own Son, who came with a nature like our sinful nature, to do away with sin.

323-Romans 3:4 Certainly not! God must be true, even though all human beings are liars. As the scripture says, "You must be shown to be right when you speak; you must win your case when you are being tried."

324-Ephesians 1:7 For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, 8 which he gave to us in such large measure! In all his wisdom and insight 9 God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. 10 This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.

325-Eph. 3:7 I was made a servant of the gospel by God's special gift, which he gave me through the working of his power. 8 I am less than the least of all God's people; yet God gave me this privilege of taking to the Gentiles the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ, 9 and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, 10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms.

326-Colossians 1:19 For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. 20 Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

327-John 12:32 When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.

328-Ezekiel 20:1 It was the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year of our exile. Some of the leaders of the Israelite community came to consult me about the Lord's will, and they sat down in front of me. 2 Then the Lord spoke to me. 3 "Mortal man," he said, "speak to these leaders and tell them that the Sovereign Lord is saying: You have come to ask my will, have you? As surely as I am the living God, I will not let you ask me anything. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken. 4 "Are you ready to pass sentence on them, mortal man? Then do so. Remind them of the disgusting things their ancestors did. 5 Tell them what I am saying. When I chose Israel, I made them a promise. I revealed myself to them in Egypt and told them: I am the Lord your God. 6 It was then that I promised to take them out of Egypt and lead them to a land I had chosen for them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all. 7 I told them to throw away the disgusting idols they loved and not to make themselves unclean with the false gods of Egypt, because I am the Lord their God. 8 But they defied me and refused to listen. They did not throw away their disgusting idols or give up the Egyptian gods. I was ready to let them feel the full force of my anger there in Egypt. 9 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name, for in the presence of the people among whom they were living I had announced to Israel that I was going to lead them out of Egypt. 10 "And so I led them out of Egypt into the desert. 11 I gave them my commands and taught them my laws, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. 12 I made the keeping of the Sabbath a sign of the agreement between us, to remind them that I, the Lord, make them holy. 13 But even in the desert they defied me. They broke my laws and rejected my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They completely profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to destroy them. 14 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt. 15 So I made a vow in the desert that I would not take them to the land I had given them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all. 16 I made the vow because they had rejected my commands, broken my laws, and profaned the Sabbath - they preferred to worship their idols. 17 "But then I took pity on them. I decided not to kill them there in the desert. 18 Instead, I warned the young people among them: Do not keep the laws your ancestors made; do not follow their customs or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God. Obey my laws and my commands. 20 Make the Sabbath a holy day, so that it will be a sign of the covenant we made, and will remind you that I am the Lord your God. 21 "But that generation also defied me. They broke my laws and did not keep my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to kill them all. 22 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt. 23 So I made another vow in the desert. I vowed that I would scatter them all over the world. 24 I did this because they had rejected my commands, broken my laws, profaned the Sabbath, and worshiped the same idols their ancestors had served. 25 "Then I gave them laws that are not good and commands that do not bring life. 26 I let them defile themselves with their own offerings, and I let them sacrifice their first-born sons. This was to punish them and show them that I am the Lord. 27 "Now then, mortal man, tell the Israelites what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying to them. This is another way their ancestors insulted me by their unfaithfulness. 28 I brought them to the land I had promised to give them. When they saw the high hills and green trees, they offered sacrifices at all of them. They made me angry by the sacrifices they burned and by the wine they brought as offerings. 29 I asked them: What are these high places where you go? So they have been called "High Places' ever since. 30 Now tell the Israelites what I am saying: Why must you commit the same sins your ancestors did and go running after their idols? 31 Even today you offer the same gifts and defile yourselves with the same idols by sacrificing your children to them in the fire. And then you Israelites still come to ask what my will is! As surely as I, the Sovereign Lord, am the living God, I will not let you ask me anything. 32 You have made up your minds that you want to be like the other nations, like the people who live in other countries and worship trees and rocks. But that will never be. 33 "As surely as I, the Sovereign Lord, am the living God, I warn you that in my anger I will rule over you with a strong hand, with all my power. 34 I will show you my power and my anger when I gather you together and bring you back from all the countries where you have been scattered. 35 I will bring you into the "Desert of the Nations,' and there I will condemn you to your face. 36 I will now condemn you just as I condemned your ancestors in the Sinai Desert," says the Sovereign Lord. 37 "I will take firm control of you and make you obey my covenant. 38 I will take away from among you those who are rebellious and sinful. I will take them out of the lands where they are living now, but I will not let them return to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord." 39 The Sovereign Lord says, "And now, all you Israelites, suit yourselves! Go on and serve your idols! But I warn you that after this you will have to obey me and stop dishonoring my holy name by offering gifts to your idols. 40 There in the land, on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, all you people of Israel will worship me. I will be pleased with you and will expect you to bring me your sacrifices, your best offerings, and your holy gifts. 41 After I bring you out of the countries where you have been scattered and gather you together, I will accept the sacrifices that you burn, and the nations will see that I am holy. 42 When I bring you back to Israel, the land that I promised I would give to your ancestors, then you will know that I am the Lord. 43 Then you will remember all the disgraceful things you did and how you defiled yourselves. You will be disgusted with yourselves because of all the evil things you did. 44 When I act to protect my honor, you Israelites will know that I am the Lord, because I do not deal with you as your wicked, evil actions deserve." The Sovereign Lord has spoken. 45 The Lord spoke to me. 46 "Mortal man," he said, "look toward the south. Speak against the south and prophesy against the forest of the south. 47 Tell the southern forest to hear what the Sovereign Lord is saying: Look! I am starting a fire, and it will burn up every tree in you, whether green or dry. Nothing will be able to put it out. It will spread from south to north, and everyone will feel the heat of the flames. 48 They will all see that I, the Lord, set it on fire and that no one can put it out." 49 But I protested, "Sovereign Lord, don't make me do it! Everyone is already complaining that I always speak in riddles."

Ezekiel 36:1 The Lord said, "Mortal man, speak to the mountains of Israel and tell them to listen to the message which I, 2 the Sovereign Lord, have for them: Israel's enemies gloated and said, "Now those ancient hills are ours!' 3 "Prophesy, then, and announce what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying. When the neighboring nations captured and plundered the mountains of Israel, everyone made fun of Israel. 4 So now listen to what I, the Sovereign Lord, say to you mountains and hills, to you brooks and valleys, to you places that were left in ruins, and to you deserted cities which were plundered and mocked by all the surrounding nations. 5 "I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken out in the heat of my anger against the surrounding nations, and especially against Edom. With glee and contempt they captured my land and took possession of its pastures. 6 "So prophesy to the land of Israel; tell the mountains, hills, brooks, and valleys what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying in jealous anger because of the way the nations have insulted and humiliated them. 7 I, the Sovereign Lord, solemnly promise that the surrounding nations will be humiliated. 8 But on the mountains of Israel the trees will again grow leaves and bear fruit for you, my people Israel. You are going to come home soon. 9 I am on your side, and I will make sure that your land is plowed again and crops are planted on it. 10 I will make your population grow. You will live in the cities and rebuild everything that was left in ruins. 11 I will make people and cattle increase in number. There will be more of you than ever before, and you will have many children. I will let you live there as you used to live, and I will make you more prosperous than ever. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 12 I will bring you, my people Israel, back to live again in the land. It will be your own land, and it will never again let your children starve. 13 "I, the Sovereign Lord, say: It is true that people say that the land eats people and that it robs the nation of its children. 14 But from now on it will no longer eat people and rob you of your children. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken. 15 The land will no longer have to listen to the nations making fun of it or see the peoples sneer at it. The land will no longer rob the nation of its children. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken." 16 The Lord spoke to me. 17 "Mortal man," he said, "when the Israelites were living in their land, they defiled it by the way they lived and acted. I regarded their behavior as being as ritually unclean as a woman is during her monthly period. 18 I let them feel the force of my anger because of the murders they had committed in the land and because of the idols by which they had defiled it. 19 I condemned them for the way they lived and acted, and I scattered them through foreign countries. 20 Wherever they went, they brought disgrace on my holy name, because people would say, "These are the people of the Lord, but they had to leave his land.' 21 That made me concerned for my holy name, since the Israelites brought disgrace on it everywhere they went. 22 "Now then, give the Israelites the message that I, the Sovereign Lord, have for them: What I am going to do is not for the sake of you Israelites, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have disgraced in every country where you have gone. 23 When I demonstrate to the nations the holiness of my great name - the name you disgraced among them - then they will know that I am the Lord. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken. I will use you to show the nations that I am holy. 24 I will take you from every nation and country and bring you back to your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean from all your idols and everything else that has defiled you. 26 I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart. 27 I will put my spirit in you and will see to it that you follow my laws and keep all the commands I have given you. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from everything that defiles you. I will command the grain to be plentiful, so that you will not have any more famines. 30 I will increase the yield of your fruit trees and your fields, so that there will be no more famines to disgrace you among the nations. 31 You will remember your evil conduct and the wrongs that you committed, and you will be disgusted with yourselves because of your sins and your iniquities. 32 Israel, I want you to know that I am not doing all this for your sake. I want you to feel the shame and disgrace of what you are doing. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken." 33 The Sovereign Lord says, "When I make you clean from all your sins, I will let you live in your cities again and let you rebuild the ruins. 34 Everyone who used to walk by your fields saw how overgrown and wild they were, but I will let you farm them again. 35 Everyone will talk about how this land, which was once a wilderness, has become like the Garden of Eden, and how the cities which were torn down, looted, and left in ruins, are now inhabited and fortified. 36 Then the neighboring nations that have survived will know that I, the Lord, rebuild ruined cities and replant waste fields. I, the Lord, have promised that I would do this - and I will." 37 The Sovereign Lord says, "I will once again let the Israelites ask me for help, and I will let them increase in numbers like a flock of sheep. 38 The cities that are now in ruins will then be as full of people as Jerusalem was once full of the sheep which were offered as sacrifices at a festival. Then they will know that I am the Lord."

329-Ezekiel 20:4 "Are you ready to pass sentence on them, mortal man? Then do so. Remind them of the disgusting things their ancestors did. 5 Tell them what I am saying. When I chose Israel, I made them a promise. I revealed myself to them in Egypt and told them: I am the Lord your God. 6 It was then that I promised to take them out of Egypt and lead them to a land I had chosen for them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all. 7 I told them to throw away the disgusting idols they loved and not to make themselves unclean with the false gods of Egypt, because I am the Lord their God.

330-Eze 20:10 "And so I led them out of Egypt into the desert. 11 I gave them my commands and taught them my laws, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. 12 I made the keeping of the Sabbath a sign of the agreement between us, to remind them that I, the Lord, make them holy.

331-Exodus 32:7 The Lord said to Moses, "Hurry and go back down, because your people, whom you led out of Egypt, have sinned and rejected me. 8 They have already left the way that I commanded them to follow; they have made a bull-calf out of melted gold and have worshiped it and offered sacrifices to it. They are saying that this is their god, who led them out of Egypt. 9 I know how stubborn these people are. 10 Now, don't try to stop me. I am angry with them, and I am going to destroy them. Then I will make you and your descendants into a great nation." 11 But Moses pleaded with the Lord his God and said, "Lord, why should you be so angry with your people, whom you rescued from Egypt with great might and power? 12 Why should the Egyptians be able to say that you led your people out of Egypt, planning to kill them in the mountains and destroy them completely? Stop being angry; change your mind and do not bring this disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Remember the solemn promise you made to them to give them as many descendants as there are stars in the sky and to give their descendants all that land you promised would be their possession forever." 14 So the Lord changed his mind and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

332-Eze. 20:15 So I made a vow in the desert that I would not take them to the land I had given them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all. 16 I made the vow because they had rejected my commands, broken my laws, and profaned the Sabbath - they preferred to worship their idols. 17 "But then I took pity on them. I decided not to kill them there in the desert. 18 Instead, I warned the young people among them: Do not keep the laws your ancestors made; do not follow their customs or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God. Obey my laws and my commands. 20 Make the Sabbath a holy day, so that it will be a sign of the covenant we made, and will remind you that I am the Lord your God.

333-Eze. 20:37 "I will take firm control of you and make you obey my covenant. 38 I will take away from among you those who are rebellious and sinful. I will take them out of the lands where they are living now, but I will not let them return to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord." 39 The Sovereign Lord says, "And now, all you Israelites, suit yourselves! Go on and serve your idols! But I warn you that after this you will have to obey me and stop dishonoring my holy name by offering gifts to your idols. 40 There in the land, on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, all you people of Israel will worship me. I will be pleased with you and will expect you to bring me your sacrifices, your best offerings, and your holy gifts. 41 After I bring you out of the countries where you have been scattered and gather you together, I will accept the sacrifices that you burn, and the nations will see that I am holy. 42 When I bring you back to Israel, the land that I promised I would give to your ancestors, then you will know that I am the Lord.

334-Ezekiel 20:12 I made the keeping of the Sabbath a sign of the agreement between us, to remind them that I, the Lord, make them holy.

335-Eze. 20:20 Make the Sabbath a holy day, so that it will be a sign of the covenant we made, and will remind you that I am the Lord your God.

336-Ezekiel 20:13 But even in the desert they defied me. They broke my laws and rejected my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They completely profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to destroy them. 14 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt. 15 So I made a vow in the desert that I would not take them to the land I had given them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all. 16 I made the vow because they had rejected my commands, broken my laws, and profaned the Sabbath - they preferred to worship their idols. 17 "But then I took pity on them. I decided not to kill them there in the desert. 18 Instead, I warned the young people among them: Do not keep the laws your ancestors made; do not follow their customs or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God. Obey my laws and my commands. 20 Make the Sabbath a holy day, so that it will be a sign of the covenant we made, and will remind you that I am the Lord your God. 21 "But that generation also defied me. They broke my laws and did not keep my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to kill them all.

Table of Contents

L-1:Fundamental Beliefs The Great Controversy: The Foundation

L-2:Fundamental Beliefs: Revelation, and the God Revealed in It

L-3:Fundamental Beliefs: Mankind: God’s Handiwork

L-4:Fundamental Beliefs Salvation: The Only Solution

L-5:Fundamental Beliefs Growing in Christ

L-6: Growing in Christ –Victory over Evil Forces

L-7: Growing in Christ --“Arming” for Victory

L-8: Growing in Christ--The Church: In Service to Humanity

L-9: Growing in Christ-- The Church: Rites and Rituals

L-10: Growing in Christ—The Law and the Gospel

L-11:Growing in Christ The Christian Life

L-12:Growing in Christ Last Things: Jesus and the Saved

L-13:Growing in Christ When All Things Become New

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