Friday: Further Thought – Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah
Daily Lesson for Friday 25th of October 2024
Read Ellen G. White, “Nicodemus,” Pages 167–177, in The Desire of Ages.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Nicodemus “searched the Scriptures in a new way, not for the discussion of a theory, but in order to receive life for the soul. He began to see the kingdom of heaven as he submitted himself to the leading of the Holy Spirit. . . .
“Through faith we receive the grace of God; but faith is not our Saviour. It earns nothing. It is the hand by which we lay hold upon Christ, and appropriate His merits, the remedy for sin. . . . Repentance comes from Christ as truly as does pardon.
“How, then, are we to be saved? ‘As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,’ so the Son of man has been lifted up, and everyone who has been deceived and bitten by the serpent may look and live. ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ John 1:29. The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour. Then the Spirit of God through faith produces a new life in the soul. The thoughts and desires are brought into obedience to the will of Christ. The heart, the mind, are created anew in the image of Him who works in us to subdue all things to Himself. Then the law of God is written in the mind and heart, and we can say with Christ, ‘I delight to do Thy will, O my God.’ Psalms 40:8.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, Pages 175, 176.
Discussion Questions
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This week's lesson discusses the importance of truly knowing someone, using the story of Philip, a disciple of Jesus, to illustrate this point. It emphasizes that knowing Jesus goes beyond mere facts and requires a deep, intentional relationship. The lesson also highlights that soulmates are developed through effort and intention, not just discovered. It connects this to the purpose of John's writings in the Bible, which is to help readers know Jesus intimately and experience an abundant life through Him.
That reader's know Jesus intimately and experience an abundant life thru Him. Be firm in our faith.
Looking at the cross that's the meditation we must practice for hours throughout our day. The image of a dead God on the cross should remind us of His love for us. Hopefully, this should motivate the necessary inner changes.
How, then, are we to be saved? “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29. The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we will be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Savior. Then through faith the Spirit of God produces a new life in the soul. He brings the thoughts and desires into
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obedience to Christ. He creates the heart and the mind anew in the image of Jesus, who works in us to subdue all things to Himself. Then He writes the law of God in the mind and heart, and we can say with Christ, “I delight to do Your will, O my God.” Psalm 40:8. { Ellen White, Humble Hero 73.6 }
The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus is the most challenging item in this week's lesson study. Not because it challenged Nicodemus but because of its implications for us. Nicodemus was a thought-leader in Judaism. He knew the Torah, had studied theology and was well versed in its application. Yet, Jesus told him that he needed a restart!
And if Jesus was to sit down with us today, would he say the same to us. Or do we claim that we are already born again?
Suppose the church was taken away from us. Would we recognise the need for a restart, or would we just spit the dummy and say that this Christian thing is all too much?
In the midst of this restart challenge, it is interesting that Jesus said:
This restart involves a complete rethink of the basis of salvation. It is an invitation to share and care.
"The hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers, (implying false worshippers), shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24
Being filled with the Spirit of Christ is not an option, it is a requirement.
Rewire your brain. Serve others. Think on ways to serve others
Think on God's love in seven ways.
To recapitulate, I do believe that Nicodemus grew in Christ(salvation a work of a life time) through 1st and 2nd hand observance(looking unto Jesus) of Christ for 3 years
Then as we learned a few weeks ago at the Cross of Christ his belief came into the open. He supported the early Christian Church until he became poor in material things, but rich in the love of God. Praise God for Nicodemus testimony.
Seven good news of God's love think on these daily.
1. It is God's love that initiated the new covenent
Hebrews 8:8-9. The new covenent is the good news of God's love, God's grace and God's Merecy. Is not it nice that even though God the Farther, Son and Holy Spirit are individuals, they all three have the character of love, grace,and mercy?
2. The good news of the new nature.
Colossians 3:10. This is when by the
power of God we have put on a new man, mind you a new knowledge.
3. God's love makes us a new creation
2 Corinthians 5:17.
4. It is God's love that enables us to live in a newness of life
Romans 6:4.
5. God's love gives us a new name.
Revelation. 2:17. There is a name written down in glory and it is mine. Tim, Maurice and Comeal, that is not a selfish mine it is a gift.
6. God's love puts a new song in our hearts.
Revelation 15:3-4.
7. It's God's love that provides for us a new heaven and a new earth.
2 Peter 3:13 ESV
[13] But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
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The second half of Romans 3:23 is in the present tense: "All have sinned and (do) fall short of the glory of God." Thus, I sense the need to be reborn by the Holy Spirit every morning!
“Repentance comes from Christ as truly as does pardon.” Ellen G. White. To me, Faith in Jesus Christ holds a most mystifying power as it is not derived from or engaged in by anything man can do other than believe in Him. When accepted, Faith invites the powers of heaven, bestowing upon humanity gifts as it helps us recognize our heavenly Father and His Son whom He sent to save us - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I read Matthew Ch.11 to gain a proper perspective regarding John’s question to assure himself that Jesus was truly the Messiah. Jesus' response pointed to the observable evidence He had established. We also read about His lament that observing Him performing miracles is not enough; one needs to believe, repent, and change one’s ways.
Jesus’ reply to the inquiry by John the Baptist’s disciples speaks volumes: ”Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” Matt.11:5-6.
I have no doubt that John believed. Jesus' work led him to visit so many cities, but most of the people who heard Him and observed His miracles were not ready to let go of their prejudices and religious pride entrenched in their nation's formal observation of their religion and identity as a nation 'blessed' by God.
God reveales that His pure, marvelous faith in His Son causes humanity to be born-again and re-unite us with our Creator. Believing that Jesus is the Messiah, can He be Savior without being LORD? No! Only a contride and repentant heart can accept Him to submit to Him as its Lord. From then on, we are born-again and led by the Holy Spirit into all truths until the end comes - Matt.3:2; Psalm 51:17. ‘May we all remain faithful as we witness to Christ as the Messiah!
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”(Jn 3:3).
I see that God was establishing a new creation, spiritual, with the second/last Adam as representative head and firstborn of all creation. Just as first Adam became the progenitor of the natural human race, Christ did for the spiritual humans (Col 1:18-20; Eph 1:3-5).
Adam gave birth to his seed in his likeness.Even so Christ gives birth to His seed in His likeness (Rom 5:14,18,19). Those who are of Christ are God’s heirs, His children. They have been promised to Christ from before the foundation of the world (Jn 6:37-40; Gal 3:26,29; 4:23,28,29; Rom 8:28-30; 9:6-8). These alone inherit the kingdom of God, the new world (Heb 2:5; 6:5;11:10,16; Rom 4:13). Thank You Lord for being so gracious, so merciful to us.
What Christ accomplished at the cross makes our salvation possible. However, without the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, what Christ accomplished would be limited to an historical fact and would not become a reality in our lives. The Holy Spirit applies the benefits of Christ's life, death and resurrection to our lives.
It is through the Holy Spirit's work that a person is spiritually reborn, receiving new life in Christ, allowing them to be considered "born again" and experience a personal relationship with God; this involves convicting individuals of sin, drawing them to Christ, and dwelling within them to guide and empower their lives as believers.