“I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live’” … Continue reading –>
One sunshiney Florida day, my family took a ride in our speedboat. The boat’s construction placed the passengers in the bow and the driver in the back. I’d jumped into the driver’s seat at the beginning of the ride, but later handed the wheel over to my brother. The family, looking out at beautiful scenery, … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Rom. 1:16-17, Rom. 1:22-32; Rom. 2:1-10, Rom. 2:17-24; Rom. 3:1-2, Rom. 3:10-18, Rom. 3:23. Memory Text: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Early in the book of Romans, Paul seeks to establish a crucial truth, one central to the gospel-the sad state of the human condition. This truth exists because, from the … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Jew and Gentile,” pp. 188-192, 194-197; “Apostasy in Galatia,” pp. 383-388, in The Acts of the Apostles; “The Law Given to Israel,” pp. 310-312; “The Law and the Covenants,” pp. 370-373, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “The Chosen People,” pages 27-30, in The Desire of Ages. No doubt, our church faces times of controversy and dissension. But this is nothing … Continue reading –>
Who controls the church? That is a question that is as relevant today as it was during the time of the early church. This week as we discuss The Controversy, in addition to examining what, we will also look at why. Why was there a controversy that was threatening to split the early church? In … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Controversy” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV Sabbath School Site. … Continue reading –>
However clear the council, there were those who sought to go their own way and who continued to advocate that the Gentiles keep Jewish traditions and laws. For Paul this became a very serious matter; that is, it wasn’t trifling over the fine points of faith. It had become a denial of the gospel of … Continue reading –>
Read Acts 15:5-29. What decision did the council come to, and what was their reasoning? The decision was against the contentions of the Judaizers. These folk insisted that the Gentile converts be circumcised and keep the entire ceremonial law, and that “the Jewish laws and ceremonies should be incorporated into the rites of the Christian religion.” … Continue reading –>
Read Acts 15:1. What issue was causing dissension? Why would some people believe that this wasn’t just for the Jewish nation? See Gen. 17:10. While the apostles united with the ministers and lay members at Antioch in an earnest effort to win many souls to Christ, certain Jewish believers from Judaea “of the sect of the Pharisees” … Continue reading –>
Memory Text “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). 1. A better covenant. Imagine standing between the Old and the New Testaments. Looking back on the Old Testament, where did all of those covenants and rituals point? Without changing your position, look to the New Testament … Continue reading –>
