Jesus came to emphasize what the Old Testament had already affirmed: the Father looks at us with incomparable love (Jer. 31:3, Ps. 103:13). Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1, NKJV). It is amazing that the Almighty God, who rules … Continue reading –>
Talking about the Father, John says: No one has ever seen God (John 1:18, NIV). Since the Fall of Adam and Eve, sin has hindered us from knowing God. Moses wanted to see God, but the Lord explained to him: You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live (Exod. 33:20, … Continue reading –>
Father was not a new name for God. The Old Testament sometimes presented Him as our Father (Isa. 63:16; 64:8; Jer. 3:4, 19; Ps. 103:13). However, it was not the most used name for Him. For Israel, the personal name of God was YHWH (probably pronounced Yahweh), which appears more than six thousand eight hundred … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Matt. 7:9-11, John 14:8-10, Luke 15:11-24, Matt. 6:25-34, Heb. 9:14. Memory Text: Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him (1 John 3:1, NKJV). Jesus delighted … Continue reading –>
The Divine Teacher Most of us probably remember a great teacher who made an impact on our lives, whom we admired and appreciated. Some teachers transcend their own times and continue to influence subsequent generations. Outstanding teachers have decisively impacted life and thought and are often universally recognized. Jesus, of course, was the greatest Teacher … Continue reading –>
When Stephanie found life difficult in her public school in Denmark, her parents enrolled her in the local Adventist school. The family wasn’t Adventist, but Stephanie quickly made friends and settled in to her new school. The school’s religious teachings in Bible class seemed strange, but Stephanie’s new friends talked to her about their faith, … Continue reading –>
Further Study: Ellen G. White, Without a Wedding Garment, pp. 307-319, in Christ’s Object Lessons. “Satan had claimed that it was impossible for man to obey God’s commandments; and in our own strength it is true that we cannot obey them. But Christ came in the form of humanity, and by His perfect obedience He … Continue reading –>
Of all the harsh consequences of sin, death has been the most persistent. Sin can be overcome, Satan can be resisted, but with just two known exceptions (Enoch, Elijah) out of billions, who has escaped the inevitability of death? When it comes to death, wrote an ancient philosopher, we human beings all live in an … Continue reading –>
God created a perfect world. Sin entered, and that perfect world became severely marred. The story of redemption tells us that Jesus entered human history so that, among other things, the original perfection will be restored. The redeemed will live in a perfect world where love reigns supreme. As we have seen, love can exist … Continue reading –>
The dominant theme in Scripture is simple: God is love. God’s love is most potently demonstrated in His grace. With His unlimited power, He could easily have wiped humanity from the face of the earth, but instead He chose to exercise patience and give all a chance to experience the fullness of life in His … Continue reading –>
