Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 15:6; 2 Samuel 11-12; Rom. 3:20, Romans 3:31; Romans 4:1-17; Gal. 3:21-23; 1 John 3:4. Memory Text: “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31). In many ways Romans 4 gets to the foundation of the biblical doctrine of salvation by faith alone and to the heart … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, The Righteousness of Christ in the Law, pp. 236-239; Come and Seek and Find, pp. 331-335; Perfect Obedience Through Christ, pp. 373, 374, in Selected Messages, book 1; “ Things New and Old,” pp. 128, 129, in Christ’s Object Lessons. “Though the law cannot remit the penalty for sin, but charges the sinner with all his debt, … Continue reading –>
WHERE’S THE BEEF?! I remember the popular fast food restaurant commercial where three senior ladies were staring at a less-than-adequate hamburger. As one lady peered at the sandwich she asked: “Where’s the beef?” Her question was a statement that, regardless of all of the trappings and accompaniments, the bottom line was that a hamburger should … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: We are justified by faith which leads to obedience out of love, and not a hope of reward or fear of punishment. Lesson 4, October 28, 2017 Have a volunteer read Romans 3:20 A. Ask what the main point of this passage is. B. What does it mean to be justified? C. Personal … Continue reading –>
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28). Does this mean that if the law doesn’t save us we are not required to obey it? Explain your answer. In the historical context, Paul was speaking in Romans 3:28 of law in its broad sense of the system of … Continue reading –>
Sunday’s section of this week’s lesson asks, How successful have your efforts in law-keeping been? What should that answer tell you about the futility of trying to be saved by keeping the law? What if I told you that just as assuredly as you already sinned in Adam, you have also already lived a perfect … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “Justification by Faith” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV Sabbath School … Continue reading –>
In Romans 3:25, Paul expounds further on the great news of salvation. He uses a fancy word, propitiation. The Greek word for it, hilasterion, occurs in the New Testament only here and in Hebrews 9:5, where it is translated as “mercy-seat.” As used in Romans 3:25 to describe the offer of justification and redemption through Christ, propitiation seems to represent the fulfillment of … Continue reading –>
Keeping in mind what we have studied so far about the law and what the law cannot do, read Romans 3:24. What is Paul saying here? What does it mean that redemption is in Jesus? What is this idea of “justifying,” as found in the text? The Greek word dikaioo, translated “justify,” may mean “make righteous,” “declare righteous,” or … Continue reading –>
The deeds of the law I. Romans 3:28 rings out a clear message that both challenges and energizes us as Christians. What is that message? How did the Protestant Reformation relate to this verse? Has the church based in Rome changed its position on how we are saved? If not, why not? If we are … Continue reading –>
Welcome to Singing with Inspiration for the week commencing Sunday 22 October. What a milestone date this is in Church history. Faith is a wonderful topic with so many beautiful hymns from which to choose, the first two coming to mind being: Hymn 517, “My Faith Looks Up to Thee”, followed closely by Hymn 523, … Continue reading –>
“Now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets” (Rom. 3:21). How are we to understand what this text means? This new righteousness is contrasted with the righteousness of the law, which was the righteousness with which the Jew was familiar. The new righteousness is called “the … Continue reading –>
