Commentary on "Temperance"

RICHARD PEIFER

 

Day 7: Friday, May 28, 2010

 

Overview

Look at this quote taken from Friday’s study:

"There are few who realize as they should how much their habits of diet have to do with their health, their character, their usefulness in this world, and their eternal destiny.’ What does this mean in practical terms?" (Teacher’s Quarterly, P. 112).

 

Observations

Here is the week’s final proof that Adventism is concerned solely with externals.

No less an authority than Ellen White says that our eternal destiny is tied directly to our diet.

What this means in practical terms is that I must eat, drink, work, live and exercise in exactly the right way, or I will be damned to hell. Are you willing to bet your life on this lie?

Please never equate health, character and usefulness in this world with eternal destiny.

It absolutely is true that poor habits can ruin my health and severely limit my usefulness in this world. But these habits are nothing more than an expression of my character, not the cause of my character. My character is formed by my flesh or by the Spirit. If by the flesh, I should not be surprised at the disgusting behaviors I display.

If my character is formed by the Spirit, then I know, on the testimony of God’s word, that I already have eternal life. I also know, on the testimony of God’s word, that I will battle with my flesh until I die or Jesus returns. I sometimes will lose that battle, but I have a choice that the lost person never has.

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature [flesh]. For the sinful nature [flesh] desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature [flesh]. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” (Galatians 5:16-18)

Finally, the teacher’s portion of this lesson (P. 103) briefly mentions that religion can be addictive. There is no more addictive religion than Seventh-day Adventism. It is rife with the pleasure-pain cycles that characterize addictive behaviors. Look no further than most Adventists’ inability to engage in a meaningful relationship with anyone but another Adventist. I’m not talking about marriage here, but about the tendency of Adventists to exist in ghettos large and small around the world.

The grace of God results in the opposite. It frees us from our addictions of all kinds, restores balance to our lives, gives us purpose, and enables us to be the fragrance of life to others within a dead, putrid world.

 

Summary

1. Our destiny is not tied to our diet.
2. My character is formed by my flesh or by the Spirit. My behaviors flow from my character; character is not formed by my behaviors.
3. God’s grace frees us from our addictions—even religious addictions.
4. If you are questioning your beliefs in the context of Adventism, fear not. Jesus is your answer. Come to him and his indwelling Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth. You don’t need me, your pastor or Ellen White to teach you. Jesus is sufficient.
5. Put all your religious reading materials, audio CDs, MP3s, etc. away.
6. Just read the Bible, asking the Spirit to reveal its meaning to you, and you will find your answers.
7. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

 

Copyright 2010 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised May 17, 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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