Sabbath: Contrary Passages?
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 16:19-31, Luke 23:43, John 20:17, Philippians 1:21-24, 1 Peter 3:13-20, Revelation 6:9-11.
Memory Text: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39, NKJV).
Peter warns us: “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15, NKJV). Paul adds, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2-3, , NKJV). This being the case, we should look not only at those passages that easily can be explained to fit our beliefs, but we should also deal with passages that are commonly used to teach something different from what we believe.
As we do, we should follow the inspiring example of Jesus. “Christ Himself did not suppress one word of truth, but He spoke it always in love. … He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 353.
This week we will study some intriguing passages that people use to justify the natural immortality of the soul. These reflections should strengthen our own convictions and help us to answer kindly those who question this crucial teaching.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 26.
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I affirm the lesson's incorporation of the sentiments expressed in the Ellen White quotation. Our looking at and sharing 'doctrine' (what we believe from the Bible) is not for the purpose of being right and/or proving others wrong. Rather, our purpose for doing this is to discover and refine awareness of truth that will transform how we live and, in turn, how we offer what we have found to be truth to others in a way that empathically and authentically assists them (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 9:36; 23:37 principles). Hence I would offer that it is vitally important to note and intentionally apply the concluding few words of 1 Peter 3:15 that the lesson unfortunately did not include in its quotation of that verse.
Excuse me for taking the moment to say hello to brother Phil; What a pleasure to read again and appreciate your contributions. Thank you for your points of view, a hug from Peru.
The text that you quote in your comment is very important, highlighting the final part as you mention, I read it at the beginning of this week's lesson.
Phil: I'm so glad to see you contributing again, I have missed reading your insights. I hope this means we will be reading more from you. Thankful in Arizona.
Thank you Jesus and Leilani for taking the time and effort to express your appreciation. Please know it really is appreciated. I praise God that you find some benefit.
In response to your kind expression Leilani regarding hope of further contribution, unfortunately that is looking less rather than more likely due to reasons I am not at liberty to explain. I only say this in acknowledgement that there have been gaps in my contributing and that there are unfortunately reasons for those absences rather than me just being inconsistent.
May God bless you both abundantly in the fellowship of His Spirit.
Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded that upon “this rock “, the bedrock of that declaration that Jesus is the Son of God, upon that rock, Jesus would build his church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. (Matt. 16:16-18).
It’s important to remember that Christ’s Church at His Second Coming will be made up of those who have built their lives on the Rock of that statement of faith, “Jesus is Lord!” and that beyond that central tenet, the saints of God will have some differing interpretations of Scripture, just as the apostolic churches did.
Ok Esther, yes I agree whole heartedly that we stand on the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ. But I want to point out, in gentleness and with respect, the lesson this week is not talking about differing interpretation, rather Bible passages which seem to contradict, thus leaving an opening to get the wrong message because we don't use the surrounding texts and other texts to get the message that is compatible or harmonious with the rest of the Bible. The help of the Holy Spirit guiding our study is emensly important into leading us to the correct message.
We can walk away, resisting the opertunity to give an account of our hope, or we can stand our ground and give an answer confirmed by the surrounding text and others that dissolve the seemingly conraversy the text brings up if we don't listen to or read the rest of the story.
We can thank RG for giving us a good example of the rest of the story.
Thank you so much for continuing this thought, brother John. I pray this reply is conceived of, sent, and received also in Christ's Spirit of humility, gentleness and respect.
Will there be some who inherit eternal life who sincerely believed, through reading their Bible, in a secret rapture, or in an afterlife in heaven for the redeemed before the return of Jesus, or other understandings of Scripture different than our own? If so, than is our time best spent "strengthening our own convictions and kindly answering those who question this crucial teaching" as today's lesson states at the end?
If I might be so bold, could one of Satan's traps specifically set for faithful sincere Adventists be to encourage us to endlessly defend doctrines, even amongst ourselves? Might a one-note look at Scripture - "we have correct doctrine and others don't" - take our focus off something more important....namely, what fresh insight about our Lord and God's character can WE receive here? what critical truth is God speaking to ME in a new way right now? how am I allowing for differing interpretations of Scripture in my church family here, such as Paul talked about in Romans 14 where some honored God by eating a food or keeping a feast day holy, while another honored God by not doing so, and all were admonished to be sensitive to each other and allow for differences of faith. Romans 14:22 reminds us that our convictions are between us and God and not to be imposed upon others. And Romans 14:23 says that only that done outside of faith is sinful.
How many churches have you and I seen split over arguments concerning doctrine...different Biblical interpretations of perhaps contrary passages. Is this following Romans 14:19? Is our Great Commission to convert faith-filled "Enochs" who are walking with God from one denomination to another? Or is our energy to be spent on receiving the gospel message ourselves at a deeper and deeper level, until our faces shine like Moses's after spending time with God, and then sharing it with those who have not met Jesus?
Can we let the Holy Spirit lead all of us true seekers into truth (John 16:13)? If we are so sure of our understanding, must we beat upon this drum week after week, lesson after lesson, or might we go deeper into a truth which will soften and sanctify our own hearts? If we are just sincerely seeking to discover for ourselves an understanding of contrary passages that might confuse us, as Christina Waller asked, than that is precious to God's heart I'm sure. But if we are like the school teacher who asks questions of students while themselves confidently holding all the answers, where is growth in the Spirit it that? (for instance, in how many of these lessons are we being specifically told which reference is from an Adventist vs. non-Adventist minister...e.g. November 16, 3rd paragraph.) Is Jesus being lifted up in our Sabbath School discussions, or does it end up being "likeminded" smugness about the truth of our doctrines?
The Pharisees were so focused on their doctrines that they couldn't even budge when Jesus exposed any of their long-held beliefs to be false. If God is ever trying to shift our views in any area, are we open to His leading?
Although there is no way to cover everything, the toughest "contrary" passage for me is II Corinthians 5:8. I wish they had chosen to tackle it.
Good question, Christina. Let's take this verse in context, and see what we can find.
Here are my thoughts, for what they're worth. In contrasting "our earthly tent" with "a building from God," Paul seems to be contrasting our mortal body with the imperishable one that we are to receive at Christ's coming. (See 1 Corinthians 15:35-55.) He says that we do not wish to be "unclothed" -- apparently referring to the state of being dead, without a functioning body -- but "further clothed" in an immortal body. And, of course, it is the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives that prepares us for this final touch of immortality.
This makes Paul confident in persecution, not afraid to die, not afraid for his mortal body to be killed. In the sleep of death, there is clearly no consciousness of the passage of time. So, if Paul dies, it will seem like only a moment before he is resurrected in his immortal body, and present with the Lord at His coming. Paul is "well pleased" with this thought!
I hope this helps.
For my case, i find no problem a non-Adventist believing a certain truth exactly as the Bible teaches. Jesus in His time would just affirm then to continue in truth searching in encouraging words of this kind, "thou art not far from the kingdom of God" Mark 12:34.
What about this statement, is it fulfilled "till we all come in the unity of the faith" Ephesians 4:13. We all do not know these things yet. I pray you to just expound them for people like us, such that where you are not, we can defend our faith