Friday: Further Thought – Lord of Jews and Gentiles
A Christian was speaking to students on a secular campus about the existence of God. After using all the common arguments, he took a different tack, saying: “You know, when I was about the age of most of you, and not believing in God, every now and then, when something would convict me that maybe God did exist, I always pushed the notion out of my mind. Why? Because something told me that if, indeed, God did exist, then—considering how I was living—I was in deep trouble.”
Image © Rolf Jansson from GoodSalt.com
The mood shifted, instantly. Dozens of consciences, in sync, started grinding against themselves. It was almost as if the temperature in the room rose from the friction behind all these suddenly uncomfortable faces. He clearly struck a nerve. These students, not Christians, and thus probably not too concerned about the Ten Commandments, nevertheless still sensed that all was not right with their lives morally and that if there were a God they would have a lot to answer for. As Christians, however, people who should be very attuned to God’s moral standards, we don’t have to feel uncomfortable when confronted with the reality of a moral God, and that’s because of the promise of the gospel. Whether Jew or Gentile, when confronted by our sinfulness, we can take refuge in the righteousness of Christ offered to us by faith “apart from the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28, NKJV). When we become acutely aware of our sin, we can claim the promise that “there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1, NKJV). Jew, Gentile—it doesn’t matter. “Without distinction of age, or rank, or nationality, or religious privilege, all are invited to come unto Him and live.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 403.
Discussion Questions:
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Question #1:
I think Jesus had in mind all the thoughts, feelings, and attitudes that were based in selfishness. Selfishness keeps us from loving and the Pharisees were full of selfishness. That is why they wanted to kill Jesus.
This same selfishness is pervasive in our society and it will be in our hearts if we do not be aware and pray for the Love of God to be the basic motivation of our hearts now and every now. His Holy Spirit carries the Love and motivation for the Righteousness of Jesus. When we allow this Spirit to take over our natural heart we have Supernatural motivation which is 100% successful in producing the Righteousness of Christ in us all the time He is allowed to be our only motivation.
Sometimes even the desire to "get to heaven" could be motivated by selfishness. If we are motivated by fear to do the good things of our life we may be motivated by selfishness because fear is not motivated by love. Love casts out fear (! John 4:18). Then we do what we do because love motivates us, not fear or selfishness.
Question #2:
In answer to this question I think of the story of Jesus and Nicodemus who was one of the Pharisees. Before Jesus would talk with Nicodemus about his questions He presented the need to be born again. He indicated that the Holy Spirit was essential in this birth and that it was a spiritual rebirth. This is what exchanges the stoney, dysfunctional heart for the functional heart of flesh.
Therefore I think that the first step (after physical emergencies are taken care of) is to invite others into the supernatural experience of allowing God's Love to be the motivation of our thoughts and feelings as we converse and interact. When we are all motivated by the Holy Spirit we meet in the mind that was also in Christ Jesus which is meek and lowly. I am not the "teacher", but Jesus is. Others are not students under me but we all are students under Jesus. Jesus, through His Spirit, has the Mind of the Father to offer us. We meet in His mind. The ground is then level because we're at the foot of the cross--all of us.
Jews used leaven in their baking to puff up bread and as an idiom for pride and arrogance, on the contrast unleavened bread is the bread of humility. Thus Jesus was warning them to guard against the pride and arrogance among their co-coreligionists. This is most certainly not be understood as attack on the Pharisees, Sadducees or the Jewish people, if Jesus were here among us he would warn us to be on guard against the pride and arrogance in the Church and among Christians. For certainly we fool ourselves if we arrogantly suppose ourselves superior to the Pharisees and Sadducees, or anyone else.
Rabbinic literature if full of warnings against pride and arrogance, and yet they were mere humans like ourselves with the same shortcomings. In the light of God who is infinitely more holy and more perfect than us we all fail short infinitely. For no matter how hard a finite person tries they fall infinity short of God. It is unleavened bread, the bread of humility that Jesus gave to his disciples on Passover Eve saying take eat this is my body. Humility is one way we can start with to show compassion for others.
God wants to give us His character--all of it. He can do it if we will allow His Holy Spirit to motivate our thoughts and feelings instead of letting our selfish pride and arrogance motivate us.
We can't do it, but He can.
The gurde that Jesus ment to his disciples was that they be watchfull to the signs to the endtime and readiness...
I sometimes wonder what a verse is actually saying. For instance one of the verses in Fridays lesson. Romans 8:1. What does "in Christ actually mean? The one definition that seemed plausible, is to live in union with Christ. That seems attainable. A goal to pursue. Another thought from the article regarding questions about the possibility of a chance that God is real and is now in danger of eternal death. I wonder if there is some type of similar reasoning in the minds of some "Christians"? Basically we might classify it as fear. There are many texts that dispel fear in place of love as well, and can we read 2Peter 3:9?
We have to be loving and compassionate when given the message to the world; however, the truth cannot be compromised in the name of love. Many do not want to hear the message regardless of how loving and understanding we are, it requires a change of heart and that is something they do not want. Therefore, they complain that the message is to harsh. We are living in the last days and these are solemn times, we are not to be silence for sake of harmony with the world.
Esther
Question 1: When Jesus Christ said to the disciples be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and sadducees, He was employing the disciples to watch out against the teaching of the Pharisees and sadducees. Yeast in the first place when mixt with flour has a tendency of fermenting therefore making bread look as if its big yet it weight is not equivalent to the size of the bread. what do I mean, Pharisees and sadducees teacher about God yet their teachings are mixed with tradition hence forth they are mixed making them sound true and thus they will put their teaching to test and prove it. as Christians today, we need to be prayerful and watchful as they are many Pharisees and Sadducees in this today world performing Miracles in the Name of Jesus yet they speak with their mouth not worshiping the Lord with their heart.
Question 2: I think first and foremost as a Church we need to ask the Holy Spirit to guide and live in us. The bible is clear for it says the fruits of the Holy Spirit is Love, Joy and Happiness. Jesus loved all people and he showed compassion to all that believed in him and the love that manifested in was because he has the Holy Spirit and he is I AM. we need to invite the Lord in us and Only when we believe and have faith in the Lord then will the Holy Spirit guide us in Compassion to all people.
Happy Sabbath Brothers and Sisters
Too many things to Ponder from this week's study
1. Don't be judgmental
2. Be fair
3.Show compassion
4. Walk humbly before God
5. Hypocrisy is Sin
6.believe in the Power of God that He healeth all diseases
7. Don't be anxious in everything but Take it to the Lord in Prayer
Matthew 7:1-5 KJV
[1] Judge not, that ye be not judged. [2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. [3] And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? [4] Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? [5] Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
We must remember the golden rule
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.Matthew 7:12 KJV
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV
[13] Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. [14] For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Be of good cheer amidst the storms in life and Fixed our eyes upon Jesus rather than our fears or worries
Remember this Brethren We have to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
Enjoy the rest of your Sabbath!
The yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees sounds a lot like modern day spin.
Spin? To give particular emphasis, bias, or slant to something? I'm not sure what you are saying here Deborah. Please could you clarify?
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But a little yeast has the power to spread through an entire loaf, doesn't it? A little corruption [from the top] has the power to spread through an entire body/organization. Yeast is pervasive. And so, when introduced from the "top", pride can permeate [spread though] an entire family, society, or church. Isn't this, basically, the lesson from the leaven?
When he talked about being on guard I think he was warning the desciples not to get relaxed thinking that they wont be taken by the snares of the pharisse they were with him every time,