The Meaning of His Death. . . OR . . . Born to Die

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope
May 31, 2008
Larry R Evans

Quiz for Reflection

[To get the most from the quiz read the passages in brackets and look for a thread of thought which may give more depth and understanding to the question being asked.]

1. The coming of Christ will be the cause of the “fall” of many. [Lk 2:34; Micah 7:6,7; Mt 10:35,36] True or False?

2. The Jews and the Romans put Jesus to death. [Jn 1:29; Mt 27:45-50; Jn 19:28-30; Mk 10:45; Jn 3:16] True or False?

3. Wrath and love are not compatible traits of God. [Eph 5:1,2; Heb.10:31; Mt 10:28; Mk 10:45; Mt 27:46; Jn 3:16] True or False?

4. God is angry and that anger is both personal and active. [Heb 2:17; Rev 6:16; 2 Thess 1:7-9; Rom 5:8-11; 2 Cor 5:16-21] True or False?

5. Given the right opportunity, our natural, innate goodness will blossom and flourish. [Rom 3:10,23; 7:14-20; 2 Cor 5:16-19] True or False?

6. The unfallen angels are not secure even now except by looking to the sufferings of Christ. [See Bible study guide for June 5; Mt 4:10,11; 1 Cor 4:9; Rev 14:6,7; 15:2-4] True or False?

Reflective Review

It has been said that “God has wrath because He cares. Those who care less have less anger at sin.” (See George R. Knight in The Cross of Christ, p.40) The death of Jesus on the cross clearly depicts just how intense the anger of God is towards sin. Yet it is the same “wrathful God” who so loved the world that He gave His own Son to save us from that justified wrath! Sin is terrible. God’s love is even greater. This week’s lesson is all about the tension between God’s wrath towards sin and His love for sinners. It is difficult to even begin to fathom the agony in Heaven over that tension. Consider the following:

“Christ's death proves God's great love for man. It is our pledge of salvation. To remove the cross from the Christian would be like blotting the sun from the sky. The cross brings us near to God, reconciling us to Him. With the relenting compassion of a father's love, Jehovah looks upon the suffering that His Son endured in order to save the race from eternal death, and accepts us in the Beloved.

Without the cross, man could have no union with the Father. On it depends our every hope. From it shines the light of the Saviour's love, and when at the foot of the cross the sinner looks up to the One who died to save him, he may rejoice with fullness of joy, for his sins are pardoned. Kneeling in faith at the cross, he has reached the highest place to which man can attain.

Through the cross we learn that the heavenly Father loves us with a love that is infinite. Can we wonder that Paul exclaimed, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ"? Galatians 6:14. It is our privilege also to glory in the cross, our privilege to give ourselves wholly to Him who gave Himself for us. Then, with the light that streams from Calvary shining in our faces, we may go forth to reveal this light to those in darkness.” [Ellen White in Acts of the Apostles, p.209-210]

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