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Commentary on "The Priestly Garments of Grace"
Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, April 23, 2011 - Introduction
Overview
Know: Recognize aspects of God’s provisions for us, and the illustration of His character, in the priestly role of Aaron and the clothing of his office.
Feel: Nurture a sense of the holiness and purity God calls us to have as His royal priesthood and holy nation.
Do: Accept Christ as our High Priest and take advantage of His provisions for forgiving us, cleansing us, and enabling us to live a holy life. [Teacher’s Quarterly, Page 55]
“After the life, death, resurrection, and high priestly ministry of Jesus, the old Hebrew system that God had initiated was fulfilled in Christ.” [Teacher’s Quarterly, Page 53]
Problems
There are several good explanations this week regarding the high priest’s garments and their meaning in the context of Jesus. Unfortunately, they are negated by the “Do” portion of this week’s learning objectives. Can you see what is missing and what has been added?
What is missing? There is no mention of salvation, that is, eternal life.
What has been added? According to SDA theology, Jesus’ role today is to “enable us to live a holy life.”
These two items, salvation and behavior, are the core of Adventism. There is no real salvation until some nebulous future, at which point we will need to prove our worthiness. Likewise, Jesus didn’t really accomplish anything except to show us how to live a sinless life.
Neither of these issues is biblical. The Bible clearly teaches that we can have eternal life, or salvation, now, at this moment, and, once received, it never will be taken away from us. The Bible also clearly teaches that nothing we do can ensure or cause us to lose salvation. The holy life we life is His and His alone, ministered through us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. In fact, we always will be fighting a battle – whether to walk by faith in the Spirit or give in to the desires of the flesh. Because none of us ever walk perfectly by faith, all behavior-based tests of worthiness are invalidated.
Adventism simply cannot admit this. Instead, they bring Jesus down to our level, making Him so much less than He actually is, and hold tainted men and women responsible for their own salvation, making us twice damned (Jesus’ insufficiency and our inadequacy).
The second quotation above can be found in both versions of the quarterly. Whether intended or not, this statement explicitly declares that Jesus’ work of salvation is not complete and that we still live under the Mosaic covenant. The key phrase: “After [the] high priestly ministry of Jesus, the old Hebrew system that God had initiated was fulfilled in Christ.” According to SDA theology, Jesus’ high priestly ministry will not be complete until the close of probation. Therefore, we must still be living under Law. In fact, SDA theology explicitly declares this to be the case, especially with regard to the 4th Commandment.
This belief system offers no real means and no real hope of salvation, and makes the “priesthood of all believers” another nightmare of failing to keep all the rules and regulations.
Summary
- There are several good explanations regarding how the High Priest’s garments pointed forward to Jesus in this week’s lesson.
- Unfortunately, little in Adventist theology takes advantage of Jesus’ fulfillment of the various types. Instead of bold statements of His victory we get lame exhortations to be as sinless as He was.
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised April 20, 2011. 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 Wk 5
Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings
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