Tuesday: Boundaries
Does humanity’s dominion over “all the earth” (Gen. 1:26) indicate that there are no boundaries to our dominion? Biblical history indicates that dominion (which can also be understood as “stewardship”) must have boundaries.
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For example, God told Adam that the tree of knowledge of good and evil was off-limits (see Gen. 2:15-17). The first sin was, then, in the context of stewardship. Adam and Eve overstepped the boundaries that God had set on their dominion. Creation is still suffering from that overstepping of boundaries (see Rom. 8:20-22).
Read Exodus 20:1-17. What kinds of “boundaries” are set there for us in God’s law? What does the law tell us about the limits of human dominion?
Throughout human history (for example, Pharaoh in Exodus 1-14; Herod in Matthew 2:1-23), to the end of time (see Revelation 13:1-18), domineering people controlled by Satan are notorious for attempting to dominate that over which they have no rightful control. They imitate Satan, who seized power and made himself “the prince of this world” (John 12:31). Dominion gone awry becomes domination.
On the other hand, there are those who refuse to accept control over that which they need to have dominion (see Matt. 25:14-30, Luke 19:12-27).
Even though sin caused humanity to lose the level of dominion given at Creation, our original dominion was not entirely lost because of sin. There is plenty that is within our current boundaries of responsibility: for example, Christ-enabled self-mastery in our personal lives (see 1 Cor. 9:25-27; Gal. 5:22-23), and the care of the earth and its creatures, and of all that has been given to us by God (see James 1:17, Matt. 25:14-30). We need, as Christians, to understand what our boundaries are and then work to be faithful stewards within those boundaries.
| What are some specific boundaries that you need to respect in regard to others, such as family, friends, coworkers? What principles can we use to help us know what those boundaries are (see, for instance, Matt. 7:1, Matt. 7:12)? |
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The Garden of Eden had built in boundaries. Do we have boundaries?
Are boundaries more than a set of rules? Do we suffer consequences, some times long term, because we bent the rules?
The Garden of Eden was beautiful and bountiful. It was the perfect place to live. It says something about sinful nature if we spend so much time looking at boundaries that we lose sight of the good things that God has given us.
James 2:12 & James 1:25 The Law of Liberty...Romans 6:14&15 I'm not saying that the Law doesn't stand it does... But we also should consider Grace more when we talk about the Law...1Cor 15:10 & 1Cor 1:30&31 I've been doing allot of thought on Grace and we as Adventists really need to consider it more.. along with our talking about the Law... It just seems like were always saying do this & that to be saved, I don't think it's done intentionally maybe I am being just over sensitive...nobody in there right mind should ever think that His Law is done away with or that there isn't boundaries' but God supplies the Grace we need in every situation and then some.. Praise God.. May His Grace be with you all...
That's right. We should talk of God's grace. But we should focus even more on God's love.
The reason we are having so much problem talking about boundaries (or even the thought of being misunderstood as having implied that there are no boundaries) is that most of us think of the law as a list of do's and don'ts. The moment we think of don'ts we picture tall boundaries and feel a sense of restriction of our freedom.
The only proper way to think of the law is to desire to have love in our hearts---love for God and love for man. Scriptures have made this amply clear. Jesus summarized the law as consisting of the first great commandment to love God with all our heart and the second great commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Matt. 22:37-40). Paul essentially came to the same conclusion. "Love is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:10) and "he who loves another has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8). And finally he says if I "have not love, I am nothing" (1 Cor. 13:2). Additionally, James refers to the law as "the law of liberty" (James 2:12).
Let us understand God's law as the law of love which is "the law of liberty".
In respect of family, friends, coworkers we are not to judge one another but rather to love one another. We are all to familiar with the consequences of thinking we are better than others.
Boundaries are made at the beginning. . And the freedom of choice been also emphasized. . God set all of these at the making.. it's us to facilitate our being.. same as how God set human under Him and all creatures under men. Dominion follows by head to foot.
1.Don't judge
2.Don't do to others what you don't want to do unto you..
The gratedt boundaries that we must tend to abide as we would like to be respected
It was crucial that God set boundaries. They were not in any way intended to reduce the quality of life but rather to strengthen and solidify God's relationship with men. Boundaries gave God the assurance that His handiwork and/or workmanship was always in tandem with His specific requirements that stemmed from a heart of Love. They were not designed to take, deprive or afflict.
Since the devil had been cast down, he made sure that our first parents misconstrued the reasons behind barriers, hence the outcome of overstepping them was so dire. God has given even fallen humanity boundaries. We must embrace and appreciate them. If we strictly obey His sure Word, we would live to enjoy the benefits of continuous fellowship with our Creator.
God set Adam and Eve a boundary in the Garden of Eden viz not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and evil. Boundaries are good for us for they limit destructive and negative behaviours. God in His immense wisdom has given humanity freedom to choose to live within His set boundaries or not as articulated in the Ten Commandments. There are ofcourse consequences to the choice we make (Romans 6:23).
Personal boundaries are good for God-fearing persons in that they restrain our selfish inclinations/worldly desires. We are not to embrace the way of doing things of the world (James 4:4). God is explicit that our first responsibility is to honour and put Him first (Matthew 6:33). Indeed, God expects of us as parents to teach our children certain boundaries (Proverbs 19:18).
In Eden, it appears that the Adversary himself had a definite, defined, boundary.
"Satan was not to follow [Adam and Eve] with continual temptations; he could have access to them ONLY at the forbidden tree." (Patriarchs & Prophets p.53.)
The decree was effectively, "hitherto shalt thou come, but no further". (Job 38:11) In a sense that single tree constituted his entire territory, his whole realm, upon the earth. This was his ONLY point of access to the holy pair.
"...hitherto shalt thou come, but no further."
God's grace and God's law are critical for me in understanding His love for me. As a parent provides boundaries for a child, yet gives grace when boundaries are crossed, God does the same. The boundaries/laws are for our guidance and protection, not to control or reduce quality of life but to enhance it. Christ came not to just give life but life abundantly. Many of the boundaries we have in society, schools, and the workplace encourage or support a respectful, safe environment. God has gone one step further and based it all on love. For God so loved the world...that whosoever believes shall have eternal life. We are told to love Him with our whole hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves. When I truly love I will embrace the boundaries that come with it. And although there are consequences for living outside of the boundaries most important (to me) is that boundary was built with love.
Humanity no longer has dominion over anything....any dominion that man has been passed to Satan after the fall.....the LORD gave dominion to man, but sin removed this dominion....Jesus Christ saved us from this fallen world by His Death and Resurrection thru Faith. We are living in the last days as Satan is free to deceive humanity.
I think we may not understand the dominion God gave Adam and Eve correctly. In the pre-fall state, I believe that nature was naturally subject to the holy pair. The lions, the elephants and the wolves looked up to them as a faithful dog now looks at its master. Even the plants were more easily subject to their wishes. We can discern this from the fact that God said that the earth would no longer yield its bounty as easily after sin as before.
Sin changed everything. While most of the animals became fearful of man, some crossed the boundaries God set and attacked man. And growing crops became more difficult as noxious weeds developed. After sin, both men and women had to work to make nature subject to their plans. Unfortunately, some of those plans were not good and were contrary to God's plans - all because of sin.
In a world of sin, we need boundaries. We teach children what not to do, where not to go and what not to say. When the child becomes a mature adult, he/she does not require imposition of the same restrictions.
Likewise, when we reach spiritual maturity, i.e, when God's love rules in our hearts, there is no need to place any boundaries because love "thinketh no evil" (1 Cor 13:5). You can leave a pot of gold and go on an errand. No one will covet it because love "thinketh no evil". (In fact, in Eden gold and precious stones were found out in the field). I imagine there will be no use for locks in the new earth "where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matt. 6:20).
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil, I like to think, was a symbol of the freedom of choice given to our first parents. When the serpent addressed Eve and "extolled her beauty and exceeding loveliness" [SR 32.2], it was yet another opportunity for her to choose to serve God.
It was only when there was a breakdown of trust---whatever does not proceed from faith* is sin (Rom. 14:23)---did the tree appear "good for food", "pleasant to the eyes" "and a tree to be desired to make one wise". It was after this momentous breakdown of trust that Eve perceived that that which God meant for their protection---Satan could tempt them only at the tree of knowledge---had become a boundary preventing "them from a higher state of felicity and more exalted happiness" [SC 34.2].
We know the choice Eve and, later, Adam made. The rest, as they stay, is history. Praise God love had found a way out for love knows no boundaries.
*pistis (Greek) = faith or trust
Someone please help me understand: "Judge not, that you be not judged" and "We shall know them by their fruit" Thanks.
Sue, I believe you are quoting from Matthew 7:1, and the context makes clear that we should be more concerned with doing the right thing ourselves than with making sure that others are doing the right thing.
Jesus did not intend this teaching to keep us from exercising our moral discernment regarding right and wrong - i.e. judging by their fruits. But we are to apply this discernment to ourselves first.
Jesus also said to "judge with righteous judgment." (John 7:24)
It is important never to take one text in isolation, but to consider it in the context of all that the Lord has revealed on the subject. Among other things, He has revealed that only He can read hearts and thus He is the one to judge the intentions of the heart. Thus it is not our business to speculate on the motives of others or to question their sincerity.
But the church body as a whole has been given the job of judging the moral or immoral behavior of its members. (See 1 Cor. 5)
Very good, Inge.
Some people might be tempted to insert a "not" into your last statement :
"...the church body has [not] been given the job of judging the moral or immoral behavior of its members." But no, it is just as you say! The church body HAS been given the job of judging the moral or immoral behavior of its members.
In my view the following thought from the Spirit of Prophecy (about bringing new people into the church), expresses a very similar thought :
"There is one thing that we have no right to do, and that is to judge another man's heart or impugn his motives. But when a person presents himself for church membership, we are to examine the fruit of his life, and leave the responsibility of his motive with himself." (Evangelism p.313)
Further to this -
"The test of discipleship [both then and now, I believe,] is not brought to bear as closely as it should be upon those who present themselves for baptism... Before baptism there should be a thorough inquiry as to the experience of the candidates. Let the inquiry be made, not in a cold and distant way, but kindly, tenderly..." (ibid. p.311-312)
This kind of inquiry really can work, without bringing dishonor to God's name !
But the absence of this type of scrutiny/screening/assessment brought about an 'explosion' in numbers in the days of Constantine. People flooded into the church, without an experience in what it meant to be an overcomer, or even a Christian. It was also, in a marked sense, the beginning of that great falling away, which produced the supposedly "Christian" church/state system.
In the last days the "boundary" between church and state will be pushed and probed, bent and broken... For us there needs to be a clear line of demarcation between those two 'realms'.
Thank you Sister Anderson.
EGW has an insightful comment on Matt. 7:1.
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Do not think yourself better than other men, and set yourself up as their judge. Since you cannot discern motive, you are incapable of judging another. In criticizing him, you are passing sentence upon yourself; for you show that you are a participant with Satan, the accuser of the brethren. The Lord says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” This is our work. “If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” 2 Cor 13:5; 1 Cor 11:31. – {DA 314.1}
"Ye shall know them by their fruits" was said by Jesus while warning His followers not be deceived by false prophets (mentioned in Matt 7:16). If there are teachers in open violation of the Biblical principles, we should use our discernment and not follow them.
Setting boundaries and laws God is expressing His sacred will. The attitude towards these boundaries is not just an attitude towards a set or rules. It moreover is the attitude towards the One who has set these boundaries. Our attitude towards those boundaries is expressing our attitude towards God Himself. It is a matter of personal relationlship, not a relationship towards a number of letters in the alphabet. This would be a dead relationship, which would come alive when connected with the One who has set these boundaries and laws. Needless to say that this kind of relationship is a loving relationship (Romans 13:10). So, there is an inseparable and indestructible unity between God given boudaries and God Himself as the author of His laws and boundaries. Did not the serpent doubt, question and in the end even deny God`s boundary? (Genesis 2:15; 3:1,4). Disregarding His set boundaries or even changing them is an act of rebellion against the Lord of those boundaries. It`s a falling away from the living God (Hebrews 3:12). While all nature is governed by laws without choice man alone is free to chose within a personal relationship with the creator. So is is a serious matter, as it seems to me.
Winfried Stolpmann
While all nature is governed by laws without choice man alone is free to chose within a personal relationship with the creator.
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Man is also governed by a law---the law of love. In fact, all life in earth and heaven is governed by this law. "The law of self-renouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven" {DA 19.2}. This love is other-centered---directed toward others. The Father's life flows out through the Son to all created beings; "through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life." – {DA 21.2}
This circuit of love was broken in heaven. Self-seeking or self-exaltation caused a break in this cycle of love and trust. Any deviation from this law of love---a condition called sin---spells doom because life is built to operate upon the law of love. "And sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:15).
The whole purpose of Jesus coming to this earth was to restore this law of love in the heart of man---and thus to bring life to mankind. Jesus indicated this very clearly in His passionate priestly intercession with the Father. "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:21). When the law of love is restored in us, we have life---life abundant and life everlasting.
The verse I meant to include in the last paragraph was John 17:26, "And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Restoring dominion.
How can i relate this to the role of the churh in community?
Can i have a reply for this ? Im confused, if the lessons per week should always relate to the whole title of the lesson study throughout the quarter or you can simply discuss the weekly topics without relating to the title for the whole quarter? I hope you understand what i mean . Thank you and I would really appreciate a comment(answer) for this .HAPPY SABBATH.
Have a little think about this: Our understanding is that there are boundaries of behaviour and lifestyle that we accept as Seventh-day Adventists. In our interaction with our un-churched friends, how do we communicate our perception of boundaries to them?
For example, my un-churched friends have a very casual attitude towards sex, while as a Seventh-day Adventist I believe in the sanctity of marriage. Do I get on their case and tell them that they are wrong? Or is there a better way of communicating the basis for our lifestyle?
Thank you, Vennice, for the question.
Dominion, ever since the fall of man, has involved coercion---the use of force or intimidation---and lies and deception. These are Satan's methods of dominion.
Before the fall, the ruling principle of dominion was love as man was made in God's image (Gen. 1:26). This means all relationships---those between Adam and Eve, between man and animals and between man and the rest of creation (plants, rivers and other natural resources) and, of course, between God and man---were based on love. Adam and Eve---so long as they had love---each would have acted in the best interests of the other as well as of the rest of the planet as love "is not selfish" (1 Cor. 13:5, Holman Christian Standard Bible).
It is this kind of dominion that God intends to restore on this earth not only in future, but in our hearts now through His Spirit---relationships based on other-centered love. "Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children". ---{Ed 18.4}
Now, I'm sure, you see the relationship between this week's lesson and the title of this quarter's Bible study, "The Role of the Church in the Community".
The boundaries would be anything that would violate the peace of any other creature, which would also wound the heart of God, especially toward the violator.
Sin is the intruder which ignores boundaries, and the sinner is the one most violated.