Commentary on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Patience"

CAROLYN MACOMBER

 

Day 7: Friday, January 29, 2010

 

Overview

A quote from the SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1166 is used. It is a quote from EGW. Since Friday's lesson is nearly entirely taken from this quote—we place it here for easy access with the lines bolded that we will pay attention to.

"In His dealings with the human race, God bears long with the impenitent. He uses His appointed agencies to call men to allegiance, and offers them His full pardon if they will repent. But because God is long-suffering, men presume on His mercy. 'Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.' The patience and long-suffering of God, which should soften and subdue the soul, has an altogether different influence upon the careless and sinful. It leads them to cast off restrain, and strengthens them in resistance. They think that the God who has borne so much from them will not heed their perversity. If we lived in a dispensation of immediate retribution, offenses against God would not occur so often. But though delayed, the punishment is none the less certain. There are limits even to the forbearance of God. The boundary of His long-suffering may be reached, and then He will surely punish. And when He does take up the case of the presumptuous sinner, He will not cease till He has made a full end.

Discussion Questions are asked at the end to cause the reader to identify or clarify patience and how to put patience into action.

 

Observations

The quote used from the SDA Bible Commentary is extremely subtle. Yet, when closely examined it inserts a heresy that is completely devastating by its implication.

The quote explores the idea that because God is long-suffering, man takes advantage of God's patience and becomes even more hardened and sins. In essence the quote subtly inserts the heresy that God causes men to sin, because He is long-suffering.

Look again. "The patience and long-suffering of God, …. leads them to cast off restrain, and strengthens them in resistance … then He will surely punish. And … He will not cease till He has made a full end."

Look carefully at this awful insinuation concerning the Biblical Holy, Righteous, Merciful, God. According to the quoted passage God causes man to sin by being patient towards them, and after God leads man to sin, He will punish and "not cease till He has made a full end".

What picture does this paint of God? How might the Adventist god be different to the Biblical God of scripture?

"Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death (James 1:13-15; ESV).

God cannot lead man to sin. God is holy and therefore, would never entice mankind to sin or seek to hurt his/her faith. Yet, the Adventist god would!

Again, what picture of God do you have? Do you have a Biblical view of God or an Adventist view?

In the teacher's comments for this lesson one of the headings reads, "The Spirit's Mandate to the Christian". The author further writes, "The Christian walk and growth mandate that our conduct reflect God's character." Romans 15:5 is then used to justify the idea that we are commanded to be patient. The verse is completely misconstrued.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus (Rom. 15:5; NIV).

The Romans passage says nothing about mandating or commanding a Christian to be patient. Patience is a fruit that is grown naturally as a Christian abides in Christ. The focus is not on producing fruit, but abiding in Christ.

The Adventist worldview is constantly substituting a behavior or "thing" for the personhood of Jesus Christ. Listen to the subtlety of the lesson's writer, "Thus the 'man of God' is called to 'pursue' patience along with 'righteousness, godliness, faith, love, … in order to finish the fight of good faith that leads to eternal life." Unfortunately, the author leaves out a very important part of the text he is quoting, 1 Tim. 6:11-12, "Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." What is eternal life? God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (1 John 5:11-13). Pursuing patience does not lead to eternal life. Accepting Jesus with saving faith does.

 

Summary

1. God does not lead man to sin. The Adventist teaching gives a false understanding god
2. Pursuing patience does not lead to eternal life. Accepting Jesus with saving faith does.

 

 

Copyright 2010 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised January 29, 2010. 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

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Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 5

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 5

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