Sabbath: Sin, the Gospel, and the Law
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 23rd of May 2026
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study
Judges 14:1-20; Mark 9:42-48; Romans 3:20; Matthew 5:17-18; Romans 3:28; Matthew 7:24-29.
Memory Text:
“I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life. I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts” (Psalms 119:93-94, NKJV).
Without a doubt, sin is the greatest obstructor to a close relationship with God. Not only does sin separate us from God now (Isaiah 59:2), but it also deceives, hurts, consumes, and eventually destroys us. Our battle against sin and self is the greatest battle we’ll ever face, with tremendous, even eternal, implications.
Some dismiss sin as just a regular part of life. After all, it’s human nature to indulge in pleasure. But do we make light of sin because society has become so comfortable with it? We can tiptoe around the topic of sin, afraid that we’ll offend someone if we call it what it is, but in the end, the more we choose to live comfortably with it, the further we’ll slip from a healthy relationship with God.
Yes, every person has sinned, and our thoughts, motives, actions, and words hurt others, ourselves, and God. Ultimately, sin destroys our relationship with God, but God has revealed Himself to us through the knowledge of His law, which shines light on the sin in our lives.
This week let’s explore the reason God gave us His law and, when someone transgresses God’s law and consequently sins, what or who can help to restore their relationship with God.
Most regular readers know I grew up on a farm in New Zealand. We had about 50 dairy cattle, 200 sheep, a couple of dogs and cats and about 100 chooks. Looking after the sheep was a big time consumer. The sheep were not only stupid, they were stubborn. They thought a lot about eating clover and very little about anything else. The sheep lived in paddocks typically fenced off with 7-wire fences. But because wire was expenisve and New Zealand’s topology being what it is, we made use of creek as boundaries wherever possible. Our job was to look after the sheep and keep them from getting caught in the blackberry, of getting their heads stuck in the barbed wire fences. We also had to ensure prior to lambing that ewes (lady sheep) did not get stuck on their backs and could not get to their feet again.
Why do sheep, when they have a whole paddock full of ryegrass and clover, insist on trying to get through fences, push into blackberry thickets and jump into creeks.
One thing I learned from my youthful sheep tending was that condemning sheep for their behaviour did not do much good. Showing compassion and rescuing them when they got themselves into these situations was the only effective way of handling them.
And in our dealings with the sin problem, we should perhaps remember that compassion is often more helpful than condemnation. The Gospel is really about compassion;
I know there are times when we need to speak out about sin, but it helps to start with compassion, just like Jesus.
Maurice, I could not agree with you more. Compassion is so much more helpful and effective than condemnation. Criticizing, in so many instances that I’ve witnessed, has made people rebel, even worse, perhaps.
A good example is with children, if you start with them very,very young, there’s more obedience and compliance.
But, no matter the case, be it children, church members, co-workers, etc. Degrading someone versus offering compassion, like our Lord and Jesus did and does, always has an outcome of some negativity.
I speak from personal experince…condemnation, negativity, nagging, criticism…it causes problems, it can, even if their invisible.
May God help us all! Love is the answer. Compassion is the answer. JESUS is THE answer. Even with your literal sheep!
Is it not possible that discipline is the other side of the coin of love? As a parent, teacher and grandparent, I’m thinking of children. In my experience teaching teenagers, I could see that indulgence in the name of compassion often led to ungrateful, fretful and critical teenagers. Those who came from disciplined homes, where they had chores and disobedience had painful consequences, were more grateful and respectful toward their parents and appeared much happier.
The question is how to apply that in a church situation, working with adults. Is it the kindest and most compassionate thing to ignore the evidence of sin that leads to unhappiness and ultimate destruction?
Ellen White tells us that we cannot correct anyone until we love them enough to be willing to die for them.
Judging by the condition of many of our churches, perhaps our problem is that we just don’t love enough?
The very first mention of in scripture appears in Genesis 4:7, the words that follow show the danger of what we are dealing with “CROUCHING at the DOOR, it DESIRES to have you, but you must RULE over it.”
A look at these words from the original Hebrew, (sin) means missing the mark, to go astray, but used here it’s a danger, an active, personified force lying in wait. (crouching/preying) paints a vivid picture of a predator waiting to pounce; (door) – an entrance, an access point, an entry point and a gateway – our hearts; (desires) more of a strong craving, sort of a powerful pull, lusts to control/dominate, -the heart – but you can (rule) tame it, overpower it, subdue the tempting feeling.
Further, the Hebrew thought of
That’s why this week, as we look at sin but get to know even more of the cure – the Gospel– and how God’s Law will help us Timshol (תִּמְשֹׁל) over it.
This doesn’t make a lot of sense – I know! But by the end of study it should.
…and we can’t wait!
Without sin, the gospel of Jesus Christ will have no purpose, and without the law, we will never know what sin is (Romans 3:20). Sin tells us the human condition (Romans 3:23), the gospel tells us the character of God (Romans 1:16–17), and the law tells us about the need for the gospel (Galatians 3:24).
Therefore, if we have Christ, the sin problem will be solved, and finally, the law will not have any power over us. All in all, we need is Jesus.
“Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3:11)
So, what constitutes God’s Law, or rather, what is contained in the stack which we must translate / adopt/ define as God’s Law?
On the day of Judgement, which Law shall be used to judge the righteous and sinners – shall it be the Ten Commandments only or it shall be the broad spectrum of prescripts encompassing:
1. Levitical / Ceremonial Law?
2. Christ’s teachings (e.g. factoring in His definition of “the greatest commandment in the Law” as spelt out in Matthew 22:36-40)?
3. Apostle Paul’s teaching’s (e.g. his definition of sexual immorality which pops up in the books of Romans and 1st Corinthians)?
4. EG White teachings (E,g. her prescripts on Temperance) ?
I am no theologian and my understanding is simple in that I believe:
1. That the Ceremonial Law of sacrifice was done away with when Christ died on the cross and shed his blood for our sins and the veil between the holy and most holy in the earthly sanctuary was torn in half.
2. That if you love the Lord God with all your heart that you will keep the first four Commandments as they are his and the second six are about how we treat others therefore we will love our neighbour as ourselves and how we would like to be treated.
3. Remembering that all the Bible is inspired by God and that it is for our teaching and admonishment then we are given other guidances.
4. All the writings of Ellen White as a lesser light are also given by God to help us in our journey here on Earth and to help us understand the Bible and what we need to know such as the health message. How beautiful are the books Steps to Christ and the Desire of Ages that give us more insight into Gods great love for us and his saving grace.
Revelation 14:12 says: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
As I said I am no theologian however I trust through prayer and the Holy Spirit that when we ask we will be guided into the knowledge we need. Praise our Lord!
Romans 2:12,14-15
[12]For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
[14]for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
[15]who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them )
The law of God is written in our heart even after sin the sin of our first parents, so anyone who sin knows and is convicted whether he does something right or wrong. Example is Cain who killed his brother and his guity conscience made him run away and even lied if he was his brother keeper in response to God. So everyone shall be judged by the truth available in the era of their time.
Julie’s comment is on point.
I believe there is only ONE “Law of God” – the eternal law of self-renouncing love, which is the law of life for earth and heaven.
The Ten Commandments are an expression of that law suited to fallen humanity. The Israelites were also given ceremonial laws regarding temple services that prefigured Christ and His work. And they were given “judgments” that functioned like “case law” in that they demonstrated how to apply the principles of the Law of God in personal relations.
Omwenga,from a biblical perspective, the law of God does not cease to have authority or relevance in the life of the believer. Rather, through Christ, the law no longer stands over the repentant sinner as a means of condemnation.
Paul writes that “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1), yet he also says, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31).
So a clearer expression may be: “If we have Christ, the law will no longer condemn us, because through Him we are forgiven and empowered to live in harmony with God’s will.”
From an Adventist understanding especially, salvation is not freedom from obedience, but freedom from the penalty and dominion of sin, while the law continues as a reflection of God’s character and the standard of righteousness.
My dear Sister, you have rightly said, “salvation is not freedom from obedience, but freedom from the penalty and dominion of sin…” I want to take your righteous thought a little further, by adding my own thoughts; I hope you do not mean if I do so.
Salvation, thru Christ only, brings us into Redemption; and Redemption, thru Christ brings us into the Family of God; so that we are now sons and daughters of the Most High God. Now as members of the family of God, we are to reflect His character and His standards of righteous to all we come in contact with; this is how we truly become witnesses for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by reflecting His character to others around us.
It’s similar to when a son, or daughter, is born into a family; let’s say the Smith family. Each son or daughter of the Smith family will be a representative of the Smith family, and they are supposed to reflect the pride and characteristics of the Smith family. But oftentimes, sin seems to find its way into the Smith family; a son or a daughter, or an uncle, will misrepresent the Smith family. In those times (we hear about these things all the time on the local and national news), what should the other representatives of the Smith family do?
There’s a real and true family case in the news this week, here in America, where the sisters of a particular family are actively assisting their ex-sister-in-law in finding their brother, who has kidnapped his two children (very very young toddlers). I pray that someone will see the children somewhere, and that they are returned to their mother as soon as possible, because the father was very unstable and depressed at the time of the kidnapping.
This is what the warning to Cain from the Lord God was all about. God was trying to tell Cain, paraphasing, “if you don’t tame your thoughts and desire, sin will come into your life”; and no one is ever prepared for the consequences that sin will bring.
I’m not sure if I meant to go into a tangent like this; but I hope we all will learn how to tame our character problems in our life before they turn into sin. I’m a little behind in this week’s study, but I look forward to learning more. I think there’s an important lesson that God wants us all to hear and apply to our lives.
God’s blessings to you All!!
Sin brings a sense of guilty and an heavy burden of condemnation on humanity before a holy God. Through Adam’s choice of disobedience and our own actions, we as a people have fallen short of God’s expectations through sin and by extension fallen short in meeting the expectations of God’s holy law. We all need forgiveness that only comes from Christ our Savior. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Through Christ, we receive forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
We need more than pardon; we need to have a righteous standing before God. Jesus provides the RIGHTEOUSNESS we really need if we believe in Him., “For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). We are made new creatures in Christ Jesus and clothed in His own righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21).
Sin comes with a cost.When Adam and Eva sinned,they realised they were naked,that made them start looking for meanings to cover their nakedness.Only that,back then,there were no shops to buy garments to put on,if they had,they could have purchased garments to cover.
One of the worse mistakes a human being can make is to think that he/she has strayed so far from God that there is no possibility of coming back to Him.
His word is very clear on this: ” All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”, John 6: 37.
Someone needs to hear this truth. Let us be truthbearers as we go through this week!!!!
Dear Wayne thank you for your thoughts. I believe that God through the Holy Spirit is calling his straying sheep back to him, as I am one of those sheep! I thank my Heavenly Father that my parents were Adventists and taught me from a young age to know the Lord. However, as an adult I turned away from the church and despite trying to go back at one stage in my thirties when I also had children I wasn’t strong enough in my faith then. Today I am now 70 and the Holy Spirit has been working on my heart so that I am now seeking the Lord with all my heart. I regret all the wasted years of sin and not walking with my Lord. Our most loving Heavenly Father does not want to loose anyone and so there is great hope for this time. It is not yet too late for anyone who comes back as he will forgive if you seek him and ask.
I see sin to be the consequence of disbelieve. The sin of disbelieve stands at the very beginning of all sinful acts. Take a moment and see if you can find that any given ‘sinful act’ can be traced back to man’s original disposition of ‘disbelieve’ or ‘doubt’; ‘disbelieve’ gives birth to its ‘sin-children’.
Though as Christians we give ‘sin’ and ‘sinning’ descriptive names, ultimately, its parents are still ‘unbelieve’ and ‘doubt’ – we should know better by now. What counteracts ‘sin’ and ‘sinning’? Believing wholeheartedly – faith – and faithfulness – the Gifts of God to fallen man. When applying His gifts to our life, we are released from the stranglehold of ‘unbelieve’ and ‘doubt’.
God shared with us heaven’s Truth through the Law, the Prophets, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now, having accepted Jesus Christ by faith as our Lord and Savior, will we this time refrain from ‘unbelieve’, or do we still quibble around the edges because it just does not ‘sit right’ with our ‘preferences’ in one way or another?
Doubting God fosters unbelieve. This is the most impactful and devastating sin which undermines our on faith based relationship with God. Being vigilant – remaining ever faithful to God’s Word – denies sin access to our heart and mind. We cannot please God without believing and having faith in the Truthfulness of His Word.
It’s funny how we do dismiss sin. we tip toe around it as stated in the passage. I’m dealing with something grave, deep wound and I did as the scripture said confess your fault one towards another. I was misunderstood. I did it because I wanted the other person to not feel bad for decisions he may have made, but most importantly just to wipe the slate clean. I was look down upon actually. I had come to this church in great hopes for my family especially for my sister. I didn’t want her to miss this opportunity with her son, but people become God. Start looking down on you even when you try and meet them halfway as if they had done no wrong. If I come with my faults what’s wrong with that. But nevertheless I thank God for it. I pray we all stay encouraged, never give up on the word. I’m asking for prayer. Thank you all.
Only people will look down on you. God never will.
God used your contrite heart to test them and they actually failed the test miserably. It was their pride that caused them to look down on you.
I will say a prayer for you that Jesus grant you the strength to bear your sufferings. We can’t even understand the sufferings Jesus bore because of the pride of man, and we are told that we, too, will suffer as He suffered.
I have found that when I go to God in my sufferings He fills me with His gift of the love that forgives. That kind of forgiveness heals my heart and causes me to rejoice in God my Savior! It also saves me from any pride that would cause me to lash out at them.
I will also pray that God will reveal to those who have looked down upon you that their own pride is corrupting their souls.
Dear Rodi, please be encouraged through whatever you are going through. And try to remember that the enemy of our souls will use Anything, and Anyone, to get to us. When you go through those situations don’t even try to understand it; just say, “Jesus won the victory for ME; so, you can’t get to me.”
Also, People will be people, the good and the bad. But I have started praying for them, and I am still surprised what God will do, and how God will change them. Pray for them; they need prayer too.
Believe me, I know; I have experienced a lot of church hurt as well. But now I can say that famous bible verse, that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said to His followers: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved”, Matthew 10:11. Don’t worry about people; instead, try to concentrate on your relationship with Jesus.
And I leave you with this last affirmation:
Colossians 3:23-24 says: “23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ”.
This is saying to me, “Stop trying to please Men, and Start trying to please the Lord”. I’ll be praying for you always!
Sin separates us from God like it separated Adam and Eve from God in the garden of Eden. God please help us overcome the temptation to sin.
Self is always on our way. Seeing ourselves as we really are is simple: humbly get closer to God, do not justify ourselves, accept who we are, and ask Him for help with the necessary changes.
“The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought.” (Ellen White, Steps to Christ) We must fight this battle just as Christ did.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
It is a daily battle that we must fight and pray to God to deliver us from. We must pray that we are never comfortable with it and seek God’s mercy, protection and guidance to help us lead good, fruitful Christian lives.
God hates sin but not the sinner
If you search 10 commandments or ask anyone what it is the answer is religious laws , morals , rules and though not incorrect I think that taught narrative is the disconnect between churches , youth , congregations ultimately a growing relationship with God.
I believe this is love letter from God. This is the basis of our relationship with God, this is the foundation on which the house is built.