John the Baptist described Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, NKJV). This image was easy for any Israelite familiar with the sacrifices offered in the temple and the sacred history recorded in the Old Testament to understand. Abraham had revealed his faith that God will … Continue reading –>
A simple reading of the Gospels shows that we owe our salvation entirely to God. Jesus did not come to this world because we invited Him, but because the Father, out of love for us, sent Him. The Father’s initiative is confirmed by Christ’s frequent use of the phrase He who sent Me and the … Continue reading –>
In John 3:16 two verbs are used to describe what God did for our salvation. How do these verbs relate to each other? What do they reveal regarding the origin of our salvation? The English verb to love, especially the casual way it is often used today, is totally inadequate to express the depth of … Continue reading –>
One Friday morning, I was helping in getting a friend’s house “presentable” by pulling weeds in a flower bed when I found in my hands, not a clump of ugly weeds but, instead, a beautiful begonia! I had snapped it at the root, and there was no way I could now save it. In my mind I … Continue reading –>
Doug Batchelor’s teaching this week’s lesson on the Holy Spirit in his usual thorough and clear style. Direct Youtube link. He focuses particularly on the Holy Spirit as a Person. We trust that this will aid your Sabbath School discussion this Sabbath. (You may have to turn your volume up a bit.) [weaver_youtube id=ai66BBLfnIs autoplay=0 rel=0] (19)
Continue reading -->Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 18:9-14; John 6:44; Luke 15:3-10; Matt. 20:28; John 8:34-36; John 6:35, John 6:47-51. Memory Text: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16, NKJV). Death, we often say, is just … Continue reading –>
A sermon in David Ascherick’s series on the “Unknown God” addresses the personality of the Holy Spirit, which addresses part of this week’s lesson on the Holy Spirit in his usual thorough and clear style. Direct Youtube link. We trust that this will aid your Sabbath School discussion this Sabbath. (You may have to turn your … Continue reading –>
I’m a fourth-generation Adventist in the Czech Republic, the second-most atheistic country in Europe. Going to church was part of my life, like grocery shopping and eating. I enjoyed church because I had friends there, but I didn’t have a relationship with God. I had developed a rather twisted picture of God. Many other young … Continue reading –>
Further Study: Ellen G. White, The Power Promised, p. 19-23, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8; The Gift of the Spirit, p. 47-56, in The Acts of the Apostles. At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we … Continue reading –>
Their mission was simple – find Jesus and ask him a very direct question. The expected answer would either be yes or no. The reason for this simple question was more complex. The imprisoned John the Baptist was a believer in Christ. Yet, through the insinuations of others and his own misconceptions of the role … Continue reading –>
No doubt, it is important to know who the Holy Spirit is. But this knowledge would be pointless unless it leads us to completely open our lives to be filled with Him. Jesus made it clear that if we fail to invite the presence of the heavenly Guest to abide in us daily, there is … Continue reading –>
We have already mentioned the important role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the incarnated Christ and in the inspiration of Scripture. Let us focus now on what Jesus taught about the Spirit’s work for our salvation. What indispensable work does the Holy Spirit do in order to prepare us to accept the … Continue reading –>
