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The God of Love and Justice – Lesson 9.The Cosmic Conflict | Sabbath School with Pastor Mark Finley

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Series THE GOD OF LOVE AND JUSTICE with Pastor Mark Finley  |
Lesson 9.The Cosmic Conflict  |
Origin, Nature, and Hope |
The cosmic conflict is an invisible but real battle between good and evil, which began in heaven and now affects all humanity. This lesson highlights how Satan, through pride and rebellion against God, sowed doubt about God’s character. The conflict revolves around trust, worship, and the question of whether God’s rule is just and loving. Despite Satan’s deceptions, the Bible reveals God’s patience and His plan to ultimately overcome evil. We are invited to trust God’s truth and remain steadfast in this spiritual battle.
Memory Text: Genesis 3,15 – “ ‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel’ ”
Content:
9.1 An Enemy Has Done This
An Enemy Has Sown Evil – God’s Patience in the Cosmic Conflict
The parable of the weeds among the wheat clearly shows that evil does not come from God but is the work of an enemy—the devil. In a world originally created good by God, Satan sowed discord and suffering. God’s decision not to immediately eliminate evil demonstrates His patience and desire to avoid harming the righteous. Prematurely uprooting the “weeds” could endanger the “wheat,” representing people still on their way to the truth. However, this patience does not mean tolerating evil but shows that God will judge justly in His time. For us, this means staying vigilant while approaching others with mercy and patience.
9.2 The Origin of the Controversy on Earth
The Origin of Evil – A Conflict Over Trust and Truth
God created the world as “very good” (Genesis 1:31), but evil entered through the serpent’s deception, twisting God’s Word and sowing doubt. The cosmic conflict began with the question of whom to believe—God or the enemy’s temptation. Eve’s choice shows how distrust leads to sin and separation from God. Yet, amid this fall, God gives hope: the promised “seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15)—a reference to the Messiah—will ultimately triumph over evil. This conflict reminds us how vital trust in God is and that He has a plan of salvation.
9.3 The Origin of the Controversy in Heaven
The Fall of Lucifer – Pride as the Source of the Heavenly Conflict
The cosmic conflict did not begin on Earth but in heaven, when Lucifer, a perfect and beautiful angel, became proud and sought to exalt himself above God. Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 describe how this once-honored cherub fell through self-exaltation and envy. His moral freedom allowed him to choose rebellion, explaining the origin of evil. Lucifer’s pride turned admiration into rebellion, sowing distrust against God. Yet this story shows that love and freedom are inseparable—without free will, true love isn’t possible. God permits the conflict to dispel doubts throughout the universe and reveal His justice.
9.4 If You Worship Me
The Battle for Worship – Jesus’ Victory Over Temptation and Deception
The cosmic conflict between Christ and Satan becomes particularly clear in the wilderness. Satan tried to manipulate Jesus’ hunger, trust, and worship, but Jesus resisted every temptation through God’s Word. The third temptation reveals Satan’s true goal: he desires the worship due to God alone. Jesus’ resolute response shows that true worship belongs only to the Creator. This battle affects us too—we face daily temptations pulling us away from God. Like Jesus, we can stand firm using Scripture as a weapon in spiritual warfare. Being aware of this unseen conflict helps us remain vigilant and strong in faith.
9.5 The Nature of the Cosmic Conflict
A Battle for Trust – God’s Truth Against Satan’s Lies
The cosmic conflict is not a battle of power but of character and truth. Satan questions God’s love and justice, spreading lies to sow mistrust. Jesus calls him the “father of lies” (John 8:44), whose strategy is deception and slander. God, in contrast, responds not with force but by revealing His just character through truth and love. The conflict revolves around whom creation trusts—Satan’s accusations or God’s self-revelation in Christ. Ultimately, God’s patience exposes Satan’s deceptions and reveals the goodness of His law and character to the entire universe.
9.6 Summary
The Cosmic Conflict – A Battle Over Truth, Trust, and Worship
Lesson nine explores the cosmic conflict between God and Satan, which began in heaven and expanded to Earth. Satan questioned God’s character and sowed doubt about His love and justice. The fall in Eden and Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness show how this conflict centers on trust, worship, and obedience. While Satan operates through deception and lies, God reveals His truth through patience, love, and justice. Ultimately, God’s character is fully vindicated, and evil is defeated. This lesson encourages us to hold firmly to God’s Word and trust Him in this spiritual battle.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/the-god-of-love-and-justice-lesson-9-the-cosmic-conflict-sabbath-school-with-pastor-mark-finley/

The Great Controversy Chapter 40, Part 2: God’s Law Revealed Before the World

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Jesus is coming soon, and when He does, it won’t be silent! As the earth trembles and the heavens are shaken, God’s people will stand in perfect peace. In this episode of The Great Controversy series, Pastor Ted Wilson explains how the final events will unfold and why now is the time to fully commit our lives to God.
Are you ready to meet your Savior?
Download your free copy of The Great Controversy at thegreatcontroversyproject.org. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established Protestant denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 21 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. The Adventist Church promises to help people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/ Click the notification bell so that you never miss a new video! Find us on social media by following the links below:
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Editorial: Jesus Persists

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I was reflecting recently on how my relationship with Jesus has changed since I left my childhood faith. Though I no longer believe all of the things from my Seventh-day Adventist childhood (I confess, I do not attend church anymore), I have found that Jesus has persisted in my life. I have always loved Jesus. […] Source: https://atoday.org/editorial-jesus-persists/

Sunday: An Enemy Has Done This

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Daily Lesson for Sunday 23rd of February 2025

Read Matthew 13:24-27. How does the parable help us understand evil in our world?

Jesus tells the story of a landowner who sows only good seeds in his field. However, tares spring up among the wheat. Upon seeing this, the servants of the owner ask him, “ ‘ “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?” ’ ” (Matthew 13:27, NKJV). This is similar to the question often asked today concerning the problem of evil: If God created the world entirely good, why is there evil in it?

Read Matthew 13:28-30 in light of Christ’s explanation in Matthew 13:37-40. How does this also shed light on the nature of the cosmic conflict?
Men Harvesting Grain

Image © Standard Publishing from GoodSalt.com

The master replies to his servant’s question: “ ‘ “An enemy has done this” ’ ” (Matthew 13:28, NKJV). Jesus later identifies the one “ ‘who sows the good seed’ ” as “ ‘the Son of Man,’ ” who is Jesus Himself (Matthew 13:37, NKJV), and explains that “the field is the world” (Matthew 13:38), and the “ ‘enemy who sowed’ ” the tares is “ ‘the devil’ ” (Matthew 13:39, NKJV), explicitly depicting a cosmic conflict between Christ and Satan. Why is there evil in the world? Evil is the result of the enemy (the devil) who opposes the master. “ ‘An enemy has done this’ ” (Matthew 13:28, NKJV).

This answer, however, provokes the follow-up question, “ ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ” In other words, why not uproot the evil immediately? “ ‘ “No, ” ’ ” the master replies, “ ‘ “lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest” ’ ” (Matthew 13:29-30, NKJV; compare with Mark 4:29). According to the parable, God will finally put an end to evil, but uprooting it prematurely would result in irreversible collateral damage that harms the good.

What are some of the dangers in seeking to uproot the tares from the wheat now? At the same time, why does this not mean simply ignoring the evil that we encounter?

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25a-09-an-enemy-has-done-this/

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