In Romans chapter 1, Paul was dealing specifically with the sins of the Gentiles, the pagans, those who had lost sight of God a long time ago and, thus, had fallen into the most degrading of practices. But he wasn’t going to let his own people, his own countrymen, off the hook either. Despite all … Continue reading –>
At the turn of the twentieth century, people lived with the idea that humanity was improving, that morality would increase, and that science and technology would help usher in a utopia. Human beings, it was believed, were essentially on the path toward perfection. Through the right kind of education and moral training, it was thought … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 3:23. Why is this message so easy for us as Christians to believe today? At the same time, what could cause some people to question the truthfulness of this text? Amazingly enough, some people actually challenge the idea of human sinfulness, arguing that people are basically good. The problem, however, stems from a lack … Continue reading –>
“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 –>
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 –>
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 –>
As time allows, skim through the book of Leviticus. (See, for instance, Leviticus 12, Leviticus 16, Leviticus 23.) What thoughts come to your mind as you read all these rules and regulations and rituals? Why would many of these be all but impossible in New Testament times to follow? It is convenient for us to classify Old Testament … Continue reading –>
