Sugar Shock By Andrew McChesney Oung, a sugar factory worker in Laos, was baptized, but he lost interest in Jesus after about three years. The pastor visited him at home with an invitation to return to church to worship on Sabbath. “Yes, I will come,” Oung promised. But he didn’t. When the pastor returned to … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “John the Beloved,” pages 539-545, in The Acts of the Apostles; “Judas,” pages 716-722, in The Desire of Ages. “The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit … Continue reading –>
Paul culminates his warning against apostasy and encouragement toward love and faith with a beautiful, soaring exposition of assurance in Christ. Read Hebrews 6:17-20. How did God guarantee His promises to us? God guaranteed His promises for us in several ways. First, God guaranteed His promise with an oath (Hebrews 6:17). According to Scripture, God’s oaths to … Continue reading –>
After the strong and sincere warning of Hebrews 6:4-8, Paul expresses confidence that the readers have neither fallen away from the Son, nor will they in the future. He believes that his audience will receive the warning and produce the appropriate fruits. They are like the “earth,” which is cultivated by God and produces the fruits … Continue reading –>
The warning of Hebrews 6:4-6 is very similar to the warning found in Hebrews 10:26-29. Paul explains that the rejection of Jesus’ sacrifice will leave the readers without any means for the forgiveness of sin because there is no other means for that forgiveness besides Jesus (Hebrews 10:1-14). Read Hebrews 10:26-29. In what three ways does the author describe the … Continue reading –>
Compare Hebrews 6:4-6, Matthew 16:24, Romans 6:6, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 5:24, and Galatians 6:14. What does this comparison suggest about what it means to crucify Christ? The original text in Greek emphasizes the word “impossible.” It is impossible for God to restore those who have “fallen away” because “they are crucifying once again the Son of God” (Hebrews 6:6, ESV). Paul wants … Continue reading –>
Read Hebrews 6:4-5. What were believers given in Christ while they were faithful to Him? To have been “enlightened” means to have experienced conversion (Hebrews 10:32). It refers to those who have turned from the “darkness” of the power of Satan to the “light” of God (Acts 26:17-18, ). It implies deliverance from sin (Ephesians 5:11) and ignorance (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5, ). The … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Hebrews 6:4–6, Matthew 16:24, Romans 6:6, Hebrews 10:26–29, Hebrews 6:9–13, Hebrews 6:17–20. Memory Text: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both secure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever, according to the order of … Continue reading –>
Brave Missionary By Daisy Jung I always was a coward. When I first moved into an academy dormitory in South Korea, I had to listen to Christian music to fall asleep at night. When some unkind students robbed me of 10,000 South Korean won (about U.S.$10) in the bathroom at the train station, I was … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “Christ is watching. He knows all about our burdens, our dangers, and our difficulties; and He fills His mouth with arguments in our behalf. He fits His intercessions to the needs of each soul, as He did in the case of Peter. … Our Advocate fills His mouth with arguments to teach His … Continue reading –>
