Further Study: Creation, Again
“And the years of eternity, as they roll, will bring richer and still more glorious revelations of God and of Christ. 
06As knowledge is progressive, so will love, reverence, and happiness increase. The more men learn of God, the greater will be their admiration of His character. As Jesus opens before them the riches of redemption and the amazing achievements in the great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed thrill with more fervent devotion, and with more rapturous joy they sweep the harps of gold; and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of voices unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise . . . .
“The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.”-Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 678.
Discussion Questions
- Gather as many texts as you can, especially from the book of Revelation, that talk about what the restored earth will be like. Discuss in class what these texts are saying. What aspects of the restored earth do you find the most appealing? What aspects are hardest to understand?
- How is the doctrine of Creation, as revealed in Genesis 1 and 2, related to the doctrine of the recreation of the heavens and the earth? How are we supposed to understand this recreation if theistic evolution were true?
- Read Romans 8:18 and 2 Corinthians 4:16, 17. What is Paul saying here, and how can we draw comfort from these words for ourselves?
- Dwell more on this whole concept of the gospel as “restoration.” What does the word imply? What is restored? How is it restored? And what role do we have, if any, in the whole process?
- What does the promise of a new heaven and a new earth reveal to us about the character of God?
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This week study our hope about the new world,it is wonderful know that because GOD loves us too much only to lie or leave the human kind alone in this world, Satan wants this happen but the plan of salvation is done since the men fall in the garden. It is good to know Jesus is coming to gather all of one. Be trusting and obey His commandments!
The quote in the lesson from the Great Controversy, "As knowledge is progressive, so will love, reverence, and happiness increase. The more men learn of God, the greater will be their admiration of His character. As Jesus opens before them the riches of redemption and the amazing achievements in the great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed thrill with more fervent devotion . . ."
As I understand it, "love is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom. 13:10 NKJV). Furthermore, "Jesus said to him, "`You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it:`You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matt. 22:37-40 NKJV). So my question is if love (law keeping) is to increase throughout eternity then what will be the saints' relationship to the law in the early stages of eternal life, say during the millennium? Will they really, "be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48 NKJV) and keep the law perfectly as some say we will?
Tyler, that love increases does not mean that original love was imperfect any more than a baby's first steps are imperfect because he cannot walk like a man.
When a man and a woman get married, they generally love each other as much as they are able. Yet, in a good marriage, love grows, so that it gets better as the years go by.
To me, the original quote seems self-explanatory and I have difficulty understanding what kind of reply you are seeking.
The love of the redeemed will grown in proportion to their growing knowledge of God. While they love God as much as they are able when they are first changed "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," this love will continue to grow.
I do believe that the question you ask is based on a faulty premise, when you ask, " So my question is if love (law keeping) is to increase throughout eternity ..."
The faulty premise is that love is equivalent to "law keeping." While love naturally "fulfills" the law, law keeping is not equivalent to love -- at least not the way we think of law keeping.
The Apostle Paul explains that "love does no harm to one's neighbor," and thus the attitude of love fulfills the law. But it is possible to keep the letter of the law without any love at all. In fact, people may "keep" the law out of self-interest -- perhaps in the interest of gaining entrance into the Kingdom of heaven.
On the other hand, the Law of God, rightly understood, is all about love. In fact, the "law of self-renouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven." (Desire of Ages, p. 19) Also see my post on God's Law.
The people whom Christ will come to take to heaven with Him will be "perfect" like the Father in heaven in that they demonstrate self-renouncing love both to the deserving and undeserving. (See Matt 5:43-48) This is further emphasized in the parable of the sheep and the goats. And heaven will be a happy place not only because God is there, but also because it is filled with such loving people. 🙂
"...as some say we will", you mean like Zephaniah, David, Paul, John and Jesus, just to name a few? Oh, I almost forgot Jude! (Jude 24)
Once anyone has fully surrendered and ceased from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit, their knowledge, understanding and appreciation of God can still grow without the need to become more obedient. The Bible describes the remnant as doing no iniquity and speaking no lies, yet they have only a dim view of God compared to what eternity will reveal. This will not change their already sinless ways, but will deepen their reason and capacity to love even more. Only the pure in heart can properly "see" God in the first place, and face to face will afford much clearer views of our Infinite Heavenly Father. For now we can only see through a dark glass while we can walk with Him as Enoch (and others) walked while on this earth. We have the same privilege and many "exceeding great and precious promises" which enable us to become partakers of His divine nature, while in this present world.
Amazing grace, isn't it?! (Titus 2:11-14)
Hello Robert, I understand what you and Inge are saying but to be more precise about the issue I would like to ask some simple questions. Are you now sinless? If you are, on what basis? If not then what if Jesus came tomorrow?
All declared that God is love. Focus is on God not us. God is love not because He keep the Law but the law is just a timid glimpse of God. So is with us in new creation. We are restored in perfect likeness of God. So it is not that we perfectly keep law but the law is fulfilled in new creation. Matt 5:48 is not about our obligation. It is a word of creator .we will be restored in perfect state by His word that creates us in new state.
Goran, you have caused me to do a lot of thinking. Was the question I posed simply a stupid, frivolous, inconsequential question with no value? The question of whether or not we should concern ourselves with such things has come across my mind many times and some would say that I raised the question because am one who loves to argue for arguments sake and that was the sole purpose for it.
Rather than thinking of it as some sort of derailment suppose the answer to it actually does have salvation consequences. This morning one of the passages I read was the Laodicean message in Rev 3 and in review I was once again reminded that it is not about what we do but about an attitude of complacency where we feel that we don't have to be disturbed about things and that God will take care of everything for us, in other words, we have need of nothing.
While it is true that we can't do anything without God it is at the same time also true that we have a part to play and have responsibility in making decisions. There is an awful lot of warning in the Bible and it is there for a purpose because we tend to be unmindful of the dangers around us just as Eve forgot what she was warned about. So we need to ask, is the question beneficial in this respect?
I think the whole thing revolves around our definition of sin and whether the change at the Second Advent makes us into perfect little angels or not. To me it also involves our understanding of the basis of salvation which is basic to the Gospels and especially in the writings of Paul. In my opinion if we cannot or will not answer questions like this then I would suggest that we actually don't know where we stand with respect to truth and that is a rather fearful condition to be in. I would suggest that we understand the position that Ellen White took on the importance of Bible study by reading what she had to say in Counsels on Sabbath School Work on page 36 (https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_CSW.36.2) including the next paragraph after it. In fact the entire chapter is worthwhile reading.
Love is the fulfilment of God law
Interesting thoughts and questiona, Tyler Cluthe, and I love the answer you gave, Goran Bosanac. I look forward to each day and throughout eternity getting to know God. I will never know all about Him, but I want to know Him more and more, better and better!! Any human relationship that even comes close just helps me see what a joy it is to have that growing relationship with God!
This lesson this week is so encouraging! I am thankful for having the privilege of studying it with my fellow church members!
Restoration, good news for the inhabitants of planet earth, certainly it is insane for one to continue alluding to what we have been taught in public schools in light of all this; theistic evolution.
This week's lesson has been an awesome one! It has reminded me that one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth. One day, God and humanity will be reunited. These promises are the hope that strengthens my faith.
What guarantee is there for a newly restored sinless world? Has God set up an anti-sin mechanism?
Yes, Jesus. Sharing the story with anyone who might be led to question God's fairness in the future will melt their heart and lead them to a greater understanding and appreciation of God who "so loved the (sinful) world".