"Apostles and the Law"

Sabbath School Teacher for
June 14, 2014

Larry R. Evans
[Hopefully the full notes will be added by Friday. This post only has the introduction and questions for class]
 
Introduction
I was in the jungles of Papua New Guinea and was about to leave a village when a large group of members gathered around me.  They were very serious and wanted to ask a question before I left.  They wanted to know if the Sunday law was enforce in the United States.  Apparently they had heard on an Adventist TV program something that led them to believe that it was either enforced or was about to be. Anxiety filled the jungle air.

A few years before this, I was subpoenaed to appear in court as an “expert witness” (a claim that I never made!).  It was a hearing for a murder.  Three offshoot Adventists had decided another family of Adventists were demon possessed and needed to be removed.  One was killed and two others were wounded. Fortunately my testimony was quoted in the newspapers and separated the Adventist Church from both the comments in the courtroom and the radical actions of the few.

Both examples are extreme and certainly do not represent the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  Extremists have always been a challenge for God’s church through the ages. The apostles record the struggle throughout their writings. We will learn from our lesson today that extreme views of law and grace are nothing new.  Theology can be dangerous to our physical health both now, as in the case of the murder I mentioned, but more likely to our spiritual relationship with Jesus and with others.  Theology, a true understanding of God and His plan for each of us, can be a source of joy, guidance and assurance. This is the goal for our study today.  

Reflective Quiz
1. The standard for righteousness is God’s law but the means for salvation has changed once Jesus died for us.  (Rom. 3:28-31; 7:4, 7-12; Gal. 3:13, 20-21; Gen. 15:12-18)  True or False?

2. Linked with being God’s chosen people is the keeping of God’s covenant. (1 Peter 2:9; Ex. 19:6)  True or False?

3. Obeying God is part of remaining in a relationship with God. (John 15:1-11; 1 John 2:3-6)  True or False?

4. The expectation of obedience denies true love. (2 John 6; John 14:15)

5.  Paul and James were not in agreement when it came to the law.  (Ephesians 2:8,9; James 2:26) True or False?

6. According to Jude 4, grace is a perversion of the law? (Jude 4-7; Hebrews 3:7-9)  True or False?

7. Salvation is like a scale with keeping the law on one side and grace on the other side.  (Ephesians 3:8-10)  True or False?

Concluding Thoughts

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