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01: The Great Controversy – Teaching Plan — 2 Comments

  1. The issue of ownership in the Great Controversy

    The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan is waging around the question of ownership. The apostle Paul says: "Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death or of obedience which leads to righteousness." (Romans 6:16 RSV)

    The choice has to be made between obedience to Satan, the originator of sin or Christ, the source of righteousness. The first battlefield on earth was Eden. God had given the explicit command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Otherwise they would surely die (Genesis 2:17) This commandment called for obedience out of love to their creator. But Eve chose to obey the serpent rather than God uniting with the enemy, as did Adam. Having done this, they became Satan's possession; as Christ said, Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin, is a slave to sin." (John 8:34 RSV) A slave is the property of his owner. Satan rejoiced in claiming our first parents as his possession. This alliance, having been formed, the creator pronounced enmity against this union (Genesis 3:15). The war on earth was on. The first victim was to die very soon -- Abel, murdered by Cain.

    The Cross event is marking the turning point of that Great Controversy restoring the rightful ownership of man to Christ. Sin is canseled on the condition of believing in Christ`s atoning sacrifice of grace (2 Corinthians 5:21). If sin is canceled, the old ownership is canceld, too. Satan can no longer claim justified sinners as his possession. They now belong to the very One who died for them on the cross. Not only are they Christ`s possession: They are sons and daughters of God; even becoming heirs of Christ`s eternal kingdom! (Galations 4:4-6; Romans 8:14-17).

    His cry on the cross, "It is finished!" was His proclamation of victory within that Great Controversy. Being now Christ`s property, is the outcome and fruit of that cry still sounding in our ears today, calling sinners to repentance, inviting all to have their rightful ownership restored in order for us to know who we really belong to by now. That`s good news within that Great Controversy.

    Winfried Stolpmann

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  2. There is a great struggle between 'Good' and 'Evil' of which we are to take a stand.
    Let us always remember that,there is no middle stand.
    so if we are not on God's side,then by default,we are on Satan's side.
    May God have mercy on us and help us to be on the good side.

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