Sabbath: The Spirit and the Word
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Pet. 1:19-21, 1 Cor. 2:9-13, Ps. 119:160, John 17:17.
Memory Text: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV).
Image © Lars Justinen Goodsalt.com
The Bible says the following about itself: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17, NKJV). Scripture fulfills this role because it is the Word of God, revealed to humanity through the work of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible the Holy Spirit reveals God’s will to us, showing us how to live a life pleasing to Him.
But the Holy Spirit was operational not only in the distant past, in the origin of the Bible. He is involved with the Word of God in many other important ways even today. And perhaps the most important is our reading the Word and desiring to understand it properly. This is when we need the Holy Spirit. This same divine Spirit awakens in us the desire to embrace the Word of God and to apply its teaching to our lives. Thus, the Spirit works with and through the Written Word to transform us into new creatures in Christ.
This week we will trace the work of the Holy Spirit as it relates to the Scriptures.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 7.
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This is going to be a very interesting study this quarter. I have never comprehended the Holy Spirit and why sometimes only God the father and God the son are mentioned and excluding the Holy Spirit.
It is true that the major attention has been on the Father and the son, but everything that we have learned or have understood, has come to us by the Holy Spirit. It is said that he will never draw attention to himself. That is not why he is here.
Interesting thought... You are correct about the purpose of the Holy Spirit... He is called a comforter... He Is actually pointing to Jesus.. God the Son.. He convicts us persuades us He guides us into all truth... He is God in us... Jesus is know as the God with us... And before that Jesus was God among us... Holy Spirit is leading us back to the image of God... We were created for that purpose. Eternal Life... But Adam messed up there...
Bennett,Do you think Adam is responsible for Quote" messing up? What about the serpent Satan, and of course Eve? Would anyone else have sinned in the last 10000 years? There will undoubtedly be many questions this quarter about the Holy Spirit. For instance I has a good friend who has since passed away that had ideas that the Holy Spirit was so significant, the Holy Spirit should be the one to Pray to rather than the Father or the Son. Ideas such as this are spawned by things like past TV programming of charismatic persuasions and gifts of the Spirit such as healing and speaking in tongues etc. I am confident issues such as this will crop up at some time during this quarter.
What a timely message to begin the year with ? I believe as we allow the word and the Holy spirit to guide, correct and perfect us we will be able to go through 2017 knowing our Lord the more.
Interesting lesson indeed.. Really want ad looking forward studying this topic.. Need to know more about this comforter ( Holy spirit)
I am really looking forward to this study!
We need the Holy Spirit to guide us in 2017 because its a year of challenges as seen already in a book of Job as to testify our faithfulness in the Lord our God,Holy Spirit works entirely into our lives,let us live connected to Him for Him to work thru out long live life
When I saw that the Holy Spirit was going to be the topic for the first quarterly of 2017, I was very excited. I am really looking forward to the lessons. The Holy Spirit is so important. Like the Father and the Son, He is there whenever we need Him. He helps us to live in a sinful world and brings to our minds the Words of God and the teachings of Jesus whenever we encounter any problems, temptations. We need Him in our lives. We need Him to be in complete control of our lives, thoughts, actions, etc. Yes, this is going to be an amazing study.
this will be a very wonderful lesson, to learn in this times of the end where there are so many false prophets, who claim to have been led by the holy spirit.
I am anxiously waiting to know more about the Holy Spirit. To have a deeper understanding of its existence and how it works. I am asking God for a extra portion because I have challenges in reading and understanding the word. Please God help me to stay steadfast in you. God bless you all.
Twenty years ago my SDA uncle taught me to always pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit before I read Scripture. I did this for so long, and then a few years back I forgot where I had heard it and why I was doing it. It felt legalistic, so I stopped, and I fell into many errors. I picked it back up a year or two ago, remembering my uncle and his wisdom, after re-connecting to him and my early roots. It's good to see this focus here, and I'm eager to get started.
I'm really looking forwards to studying about the "Holy Spirit" as I really don't understand about Him. And I really want to learn how to have a relationship w/Him.
Theresa, your uncle gave you guidance that was meaningful and well worthwhile I believe. I also believe that during this study we will find truths that lead us in the right direction. Error is not uncommon in some circles. As you said Theresa, Prayer should never be forgotten or omitted, especially when seeking Spiritual guidance.
Many times SS teachers jump right into parts of the lessons and skip some significant points in the quarterly introduction.
Here is a vital section:
"The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer." - Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 671.
There are some necessary conditions to inherit eternal life...forgiving others, being born again, and being regenerated. The cross/death of Jesus/shedding of His blood is wasted, invalidated for the individual who fails to meet these conditions.
SEE Titus 3:5
The lesson focuses on 2 Timothy 3:16-17, but verses 14 and 15 provide insight into the work of the Holy Spirit: providing knowledge of the Word that gives wisdom leading to salvation through faith in Jesus. This is the result of the Spirit's teaching and learning gifts. The saving work of the Word and the Spirit are inexorably linked.
Great study indeed. Looking forward to the exploration of this topic.
I had a glimpse of the Holy Spirit at a very tender age - while in primary school. My fellow pupil by name Eric (now late); who was of the Jehovah's Witness congregation, gave me many literature materisls on the Holy Spirit, which almost distorted my young view...Eric wouldl always ask: "WHAT is the holy spirit"? But today I know WHO the Holy Spirit is! I Hope to learn more. Amen.
Hi, This is for Bennett Luckiesh and Paul Blanke, to think about in their discussion. Consider the War in Heaven, when Lucifer and a Third of the Angelic hosts were cast out of heaven,and it is written that Lucifer was seen fall from heaven as lightning onto the Earth ! Now consider this, was Adam created before or after the War in Heaven? because we know, the Bible says that Satan was in the Garden of Eden and used the serpent as his advocate to seduce Eve(talking creature),So, when Jesus created Adam, then He knew that Satan was already there, Right?...So, why create Adam in the first place, if He knew the power of persuasion that Satan currently has now and back then! and that is the reason for the Redemption (The Cross)!...and If Jesus created Adam, before the War in Heaven, then, did Lucifer hit the Earth?...and or then by choice,traveled to Earth, Because Satan knew that Jesus had created Adam(a man)? And, therefore knew that Adam was created in God's own image? And try to destroy God' image in us ! And that is why the great adversary attacks us? As it is written in Genesis, that Jesus has put enmity between us and the Great adversary ! I know the answer! But, it is just something to consider, why God did not destroy Satan, when he should and could have!!! Right? For The Redemption of fallen man and the Redemption God's Character(his pure love system)!!!
I am new to this website.. This quarter's lesson is shaping up to be a very interactive one-- I am all perked up, and this is just the first week
This lesson is interesting and powerful we, oh how I pray that we may have understanding from above.