Presenting a Biblical response by concerned former Seventh-day Adventists to the Sabbath School Bible Study Guide.

This website is NOT connected to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The offical Seventh-day Adventist Church website is linked here.

HOME | 2009 | THIRD QUARTER | WEEK 5 | DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 | DAY 6 | DAY 7

BibleStudiesForAdventistsHead

Commentary on "Walking in the Light:
Renouncing Worldliness"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 4: Tuesday, July 28, 2009

 

Overview

The theme for this day is the need to renounce any love of the world.

 

Problems

Two of the verses cited do tell us what it is we are to avoid. One is (world)"philosophy and vain deceit". The other is "friendship of the world". In other words, the things that the world loves are the very things we are not to love.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Col. 2:8 KJV)

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4 KJV)

In the above verse, it teaches that we are to not become friends with the world. That is, we do not have the same intimate relationship with people of the world that we have with those who love the Lord. We can have Godly love for the lost without joining them in their way of life.

In the following passage, we learn that the love of money is the root of all evil. This is what we are to hate. Not money, but the love of it. It isn't the world we are to hate, but the world system which is rooted in self-indulgence.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (I Tim. 6:6-10 KJV)

Then there is this verse to consider, from the sermon on the mount:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24 KJV)

We can not both love our Savior and the things of this world.

So, what about "philosophy and vain deceit" mentioned in Col. 2:8? If you see that what Ellen White teaches is heresy that contradicts the clear and simple gospel of Jesus Christ, then you must conclude that her words are nothing more than the philosophy and vain deceit of this world that God hates and we are to renounce, the same as Paul does.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (I Cor. 2:1,2;3:10,11 KJV)

 

Summary

  1. The theme of today's lesson is a good one, just not well stated. The title for today's lesson should have been: "Renouncing Any Love of The Things of This World."
  2. Furthermore, we are to renounce and expose any teaching that is patterned after the philosophy and vain deceit of this world. In tomorrow's commentary, we will take a closer look at 'the philosophy of the world'.

 

 

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

Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings

quarterlyHelps32009
quarterly32009