Sabbath: The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 16:9-40; Acts 17:1-4,12; Jer. 23:1-6; Isa. 9:1-7; Isaiah 53:1-12; Rom. 1:16.
Memory Text: “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NIV).
Key Thought: Our assurance of God’s promises must be based on our confidence in His Holy Scriptures.
The young pastor sat outside with a young lady who had just been baptized. Much to his surprise, she said, “I need to be baptized again.”
When the pastor asked why, she responded, “There are things that I didn’t tell the senior pastor about my past.”
Thus began a long conversation about forgiveness in Christ, which she hungrily consumed. When the pastor finished praying with her, a huge downpour suddenly drenched them both. Eyes shining, the young woman said, “I’m being baptized again!”
A gracious God often provides living tokens, such as this unexpected rain, to assure believers that they are right with Him. But our confidence in God will be even more solidly grounded when it is based on the clear teaching of His Word. In this lesson we’ll see that the fulfillment of prophecy provided solid assurance to the new believers in Thessalonica.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 7.
(0)
I was feeling just like the little girl who felt that she needed to be baptized again, then came that reassuring shower to the pastor....God always comes on time.
I had similar challenge before, until God impressed otherwise in my heart.
I have assurance in His Word now.
I need re-baptism. I feel I have wondered far a way from God. I feel it in my heart and I kindly ask every brethren out there to pray for me. I earnestly need that sort of down pour. She was right and I know that by God's grace, I will overcome all the traps the devil has put in and start serving Him strongly like before.
God, I love you inside my heart but the devil has real fought me beyond explanation.
I sometimes feel like giving up but I'll still continue looking at you oh God who created me for healing.
Initially I used not to believe that the devil is real but I can assure you he is!
I assure you That God is more real and powerful than satan, I've been up and down, in and out, Hot and cold myself. I praise the Lord He has not given up on me and keeps giving me life so I can continue in the fight. God will give you the Victory, don't give up on Him, He will never give up on you! Could I share a quote? Well, here it is:
Am really touched with your contribution.
Be blessed.
Dear Wangija,
The point of the lesson is that re-baptism isn't necessary in order for God to forgive sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9) It is, however, necessary to repent and confess our sins so that God may forgive them.
Our Fundamental Belief regarding baptism states: "By baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify of our death to sin and of our purpose to walk in newness of life. Thus we acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour, become His people, and are received as members by His church. Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our reception of the Holy Spirit. It is by immersion in water and is contingent on an affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin." See Baptism - Fundamental Belief 15 for the Bible references. You can also find a whole chapter on baptism in Seventh-day Adventists Believe.
There is no biblical model for re-baptism after sinning. Peter publicly denied His Lord three times. Yet Christ did not suggest that He needed re-baptism. Instead, He gave Him opportunity to express His commitment to Christ.
The only biblical model for re-baptism we have is in Acts 19:1-7. There we find men being re-baptized after learning of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit after having been previously baptized by John's baptism of repentance.
When we wander away from God, we need to turn around and come back. He is gracious and will forgive our wandering. But to keep us from wandering again, we need to make our relationship with Him a priority in our life. We need to spend significant time with God daily to build and maintain this relationship.
When you re-commit yourself to God and ask Him to forgive your sins, He does forgive. When you place your trust in Jesus Christ, you stand before God as though you had never sinned. He has lived a sinless life for you, and if you stay connected with Him, He will give you the power to overcome temptation in your life and be an active witness for Him.
Inge Anderson. . . Here we meet again! You know you are one of my circles in google+. I am Moffat, lives in nairobi, kenya.
Honestly, you have just answered my doubt. I have been imagining though. . . ."why does anybody need to undergo re_baptism? Several people have asked me the same question and I was like empty of how to explain. . .Now I thnk I got the point. Thank you.
It was just the message I needed.. Most important is daily connection with God.
Must we therefore be re-baptised when we wonder away or as its often the case where we are involved in the public sin. How manytimes are we to be re-baptised if we keep falling by the way side and go the way of the devil? How must we deal with a beloved who has fallen several times and each time comes back to God? Perhaps we can find some acceptable way of dealing with this issue.
Mr. Pauline missed an opportunity to talk about the Hellenistic influences in Macedonia and the surrounding areas influencing Greek culture. There is no introduction to Paul's Thessalonian mission: When did he go there; why did he go there; what social/political issues were prevalent at that time?