The New Testament writers approach the Bible the same way that Jesus does. In matters of doctrine, ethics, and prophetic fulfillment, the Old Testament for them was the authoritative Word of God. We find nothing, anywhere, in what these men say or do that challenges either the authority or authenticity of any part of the … Continue reading –>
Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God in the sense that what it says is synonymous with what God says. Its origin is found in God and, therefore, contains ultimate authority for every aspect of life. God worked through history to reveal His will to humanity through the Bible. For instance, in Matthew … Continue reading –>
Read Luke 24:13-35, Luke 24:44-45. How does Jesus use the Scriptures to teach the disciples the gospel message? After the death of Christ, His followers were confused and in doubt. How could this have happened? What did it mean? In this chapter of Luke, we see that Jesus appears to them twice, first to two who are … Continue reading –>
Read Matthew 5:17-20; Matthew 22:29; and Matthew 23:2-3. What is Jesus saying in these contexts? Jesus taught His disciples obedience to the Word of God and the law. There is never a hint of Him doubting the authority or relevance of Scripture. On the contrary, He constantly referred to it as the source of divine authority. And to … Continue reading –>
The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist marked the beginning of the Savior’s ministry, following which Jesus was led by the Spirit into the Judean wilderness, where — in His weakest human condition — He was tempted by Satan. Read Matthew 4:1-11. How does Jesus defend Himself against Satan’s temptations in the wilderness? What should … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Matt. 4:1-11; Matt. 22:37-40; Luke 24:13-35, Luke 24:44-45; Luke 4:25-27; Acts 4:24-26. Memory Text: “But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” ’ ” (Matthew 4:4, NKJV). Unfortunately, in this post-modern age, the Bible has been largely reinterpreted … Continue reading –>
3 Filipino Baptisms in Cyprus – European Division By Andrew McChesney, Adventist Mission Yolanda Malla, a Filipino domestic worker in Cyprus, saw that her friend Beatrise had tagged her in a Seventh-day Adventist sermon on Facebook. Yolanda had met Beatrise, a Filipino domestic worker in Israel, several years earlier when they both worked as domestic … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read the following pages from the document “Methods of Bible Study”: “2. Presuppositions Arising From the Claims of Scripture”, part a. Origin, and part b. Authority. (“Methods of Bible Study” can be found at www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/materials/bible-interpretation-hermeneutics/methods-bible-study). As essential as the Bible is to our faith, it alone would be of no real spiritual value to … Continue reading –>
Read Hebrews 11:3, Hebrews 11:6. Why is faith so essential in understanding God and His Word? Why is it impossible to please God without faith? All true learning takes place in the context of faith. It is the implicit faith of the child toward his or her parents that enables the child to learn new things. It … Continue reading –>
Read John 1:14; John 2:22; John 8:31-32; and John 17:17. Which parallels do you see between Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, and Scripture, the Written Word of God? There is a parallel between the Word of God, who became flesh (i.e., Jesus Christ), and the Written Word of God (i.e., Scripture). Just as Jesus was supernaturally conceived … Continue reading –>
