Commentary on "Walking in the Light:
Renouncing Worldliness"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, July 25, 2009

 

Overview

The memory verse, I John 2:15, states that we can not love the world or the things of the world, and at the same time, have the love of the Father in us. The theme for this week, as stated in this verse, is that true Christians will renounce the things of this world.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (I John 2:15 KJV)

 

Problems

One of the questions asked by the author of this lesson is; On what basis can we know that our sins are forgiven?

What? According to Adventist theology, you must name and repent of each and every one of your sins or they will not be forgiven. According to Adventist Fundamental Belief #24, concerning the Heavenly Sanctuary, you can not know all your sins are forgiven and found "worthy to have part in the first resurrection". In other words, found worthy to receive the gift of eternal life. If you are a believing Adventist, you do not know that all your sins have been forgiven prior to being informed the results of the "Investigative Judgment".

Now, lets turn to the Bible and see what it says concerning the thief on the cross:

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:39-43 KJV)

The man on the cross simply admitted that he was a sinner in need of salvation and asked for it. Jesus responded and granted his request in a way only God could do. Now, let's look at the next passage where Paul records what happens when he is in jail:

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (Acts 16:30-34 KJV)

The jailer and his family were saved because they ” Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ". They were baptized because they were saved, not to gain salvation.

These are just two clear examples from the Word of God showing that we can know and be assured of our salvation, now when the Holy Spirit seals us into the Body of Christ. Knowledge of our assured salvation is not some future event.

So, one has to wonder what the author of this official quarterly lesson means when phrases such as; "our sins are forgiven" or "assurance of our salvation" are used.

 

Summary

• When Jesus says; "Your sins are forgiven" he means all sins, past, present and future! When Jesus says; "Today you will be with me in paradise", he means very soon, before the sun goes down, not two thousand or so years later. It would appear that Adventist teach unbiblical definitions for what these words and phrases mean.

 

 

Copyright 2008 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised July 25, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 5

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 5

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 5

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