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Commentary on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Meekness"

TERRY MIRRA

 

Day 7: Friday, February 26, 2010

 

OVERVIEW

This day seems to be a composite of E. G. White quotes from her various writings. These are followed by a series of discussion questions encouraging dialogue and review of some of the topics regarding meekness done throughout the week.

 

OBSERVATIONS

I found this section disappointing because of the lack of biblical references. Only Ellen G. White quotations were to be found. My question is, who is the reader being encouraged to “study further”—Ellen G. White or the Bible? Most of the E. G. White stuff is just irrelevant wordiness, not backed up biblically. There was a statement in the Counsels on Health (p. 403) passage that was disturbing. It states, “The meekness and lowliness of Christ is the Christian’s power.” While our power comes from Christ, and because He was meek and humble He was able to accomplish His substitution for us on the cross (perfect obedience to the Father), it’s not His actual meekness that is our power. Rom. 1:16 states,

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew and also to the Greek.

Acts 1:8 says,

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

John 15:26 states,

“When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.”

His victory on the cross, thus our redemption through His sacrifice, is our power. After He ascended to heaven, we were then given the power of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, through whom God acts, reveals His will, empowers individuals, and discloses His personal presence. It is through this power that we have the Fruit of the Spirit—all given as a gift from God. I also want to point out the power of God’s written Word. Hebrews 4:12, 13 says,

“For the Word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart. No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.”

Probably one of the most compelling verses on the power of God’s Word is John 1:1 (emphasis mine),

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The Word is living and effective, and IS God—something to think about when discussions of inerrancy surface about the Bible.

In light of our previous topics this week on “weakness vs. meekness”, the discussion questions are fairly straightforward, keeping in mind “responding vs. reacting” and “right thinking” of ourselves and who we really are in relationship to Christ. A few things to keep in mind:

 

SUMMARY

  1. I found it disturbing that under “Further Study” there were no biblical references or texts, only Ellen G. White quotes—who is the author encouraging the reader to study?
  2. The meekness and lowliness of Christ is not the Christian’s power—their power comes from the gospel (the death and resurrection of Jesus), the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and God’s Word. (Rom. 1:16, Acts 1:8, John 15:26, Heb. 4:12, 2 Tim. 3:16, 17).
  3. In answering any of the discussion questions, it comes down to believing in and submitting completely to Christ (not our own efforts), responding rightly according to God’s Word, and believing, without a doubt, in the inerrancy of the Bible.

 

 

 

Copyright 2010 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised February 22, 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.

 

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