However much we can and do marvel and worship the Lord as our Creator, there’s more to it. As we have already seen, but worth looking at again, is the idea that our Creator is also our Redeemer. The God who created us is the same God who redeemed us. The God who said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26, NKJV), is the same One who, on the cross, cried out, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” That is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46, NKJV). Talk about the reason to fear God or, even more so, to give glory to Him and to worship Him, as well!

Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com

How can we, as fallen human beings, adequately respond to such an amazing truth as this? What could we possibly do in response? We are told, in the first angel’s message, what to do: “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Revelation 14:7, NKJV).

Read John 19:16-30, John’s account of Jesus on the cross. As you read it, think of the Bible texts that we have looked at about Jesus as Creator, as the One by whom “all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16, NKJV). How are we to respond to this amazing expression of God’s love?

The first angel’s message to worship the Creator came after the cross, after it had become known to the onlooking universe and to Christ’s followers that the One who “made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” is the same One who, though being God, took “the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8, NKJV).

What an amazing spectacle that must have been to those who knew Jesus before He came to earth as a human being. No wonder heavenly beings as well worship Him. As for us, redeemed by His blood, what else could we do but worship our Creator and our Redeemer?

<–Wednesday Friday–>

Amen!(0)

The post Thursday: The Creator on the Cross appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/thursday-creator-on-cross/

Look at the first angel’s message. Everlasting gospel. Hour of judgment. Worship the Creator. Look at how closely related these ideas are. When we stand before our Creator in judgment, it’s only the gospel that gives us any hope at all. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1, NKJV). No condemnation now — and certainly not in the judgment.

The message of God as Creator is so central to present truth, especially when evolution, even when dressed up in “Christian” garb, threatens to destroy the entire foundation of the Christian faith.

Image © Philippians McKay at Goodsalt.com

Yet, amid the onslaught of evolutionary thought, God has raised up a church, a people whose very name itself is a witness against the idea of evolution &mdash a people who are to proclaim the foundational truth of God as our Creator and Redeemer.

Read Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:13-17, Revelation 4:11, and Romans 5:17-19. What do these texts teach about Jesus as Creator and Redeemer?

Look at how closely tied Jesus as Creator is to Jesus as Redeemer. The moment that His role as Creator is diminished, as evolution inevitably does, His role as our Redeemer comes into question, as well. Jesus comes to redeem us from sin, from death, from suffering, and from violence — when sin, death, suffering, and violence are, as evolution teaches, the very means of creation itself? God redeems us from the very process He used to create us to begin with? It’s a dangerous lie.

And what makes it even worse is that evolution mocks the very idea of Jesus’ death on the cross. Why? Paul (see Romans 5:17-19) inseparably links the introduction of sin, by Adam, to the death of Jesus. There’s a direct link, then, between Adam and Jesus. In any evolutionary model, however, no sinless Adam could have introduced death, because death — millions of years of death — were, supposedly, the forces and powers that were needed to create Adam to begin with.

Hence, right from the start evolution destroys the biblical foundation of the cross. In contrast, Seventh-day Adventists, by calling the world to worship the Creator, stand as a living witness against this error.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Amen!(1)

The post Wednesday: Gospel, Judgment, Creation appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/wednesday-gospel-judgment-creation/

The God of Creation, who brought the sun, moon, and stars into existence, whose awesome power created this planet and filled it with living things, is also a God who is interested in each one of us. He is the God who delivered His people from Egyptian bondage, who guided them in their wilderness wanderings, who rained manna out of heaven, who caused the walls of Jericho to collapse, and who defeated Israel’s enemies. The same God who unleashed His infinite power to create the universe unleashes that infinite power to defeat the forces of evil that wage the battles for our souls.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 139:15-18, Acts 17:27, and Colossians 1:17. What do these verses teach us about the closeness of God?

Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com

Theologians talk about the transcendence of God. This is the idea that God exists above and over all of the Creation. But they also talk about the immanence of God. This is the idea that God also, somehow, exists within our world and, as biblical history shows, is also intricately and intimately involved in it. Though the Lord dwells in a “high and holy place,” He is also “with him who has a contrite and humble spirit” (Isaiah 57:15, NKJV). As Jesus Himself said, talking about His faithful followers: “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23, NKJV). It doesn’t get more intimate and closer than that.

The great news about our God is that His greatness and power are so vast that it reaches across the cosmos and into each of our lives. He promises to remake us, mold us, transform us into the likeness of His image. Think about what that means. The God who created and who sustains billions of galaxies is the same God not only in whom “we live, and move, and have our being“ (Acts 17:28), but also works in our hearts, to give us new hearts, to purge us of sin, and make us into new creatures in Christ. What a powerfully comforting thought to realize our God, a God of such power, loves and cares for us.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Amen!(1)

The post Tuesday: A God Who is Close appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/tuesday-god-who-is-close/

Read Revelation 14:7. How does the message of the first angel conclude? What final appeal does this judgment hour message make? (See also Isaiah 40:26, John 1:1-3, and Romans 1:20.)

Revelation 14:7 ends with a clarion call to worship the Creator; this call is especially important now, when most of the scientific and even the Christian world have accepted evolution, a teaching that strikes at the very heart of all things biblical and Christian. If evolution were true, our faith would, of necessity, be a lie. That’s how stark the issues are.

Revelation’s final appeal, then, is rooted in the Bible’s first book, Genesis. We will never fully understand the issues in this cosmic battle over worship unless we understand the significance of Creation.

Image © Jim Howard at Goodsalt.com

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, NKJV). This verse is the foundation for all of Scripture. “In the beginning God created.” The Hebrew word for “create” in this passage is bara′, a verb that is used only and exclusively with God Himself as the subject.

To get just a small idea of how unlimited God’s power is, let’s consider just one object of His creation — the sun. The sun produces more energy in one second than humanity has produced by oil, gas, coal, or fire since the beginning of time.

The sun has a diameter of approximately 865,000 miles and could hold one million planets the size of earth. But the sun is just one of at least 100 billion stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way. One star called the Pistol Star gives off as much as ten million times the power generated by our sun. One million stars the size of our sun can easily fit within the sphere of the Pistol Star. How do we even begin to wrap our minds around the creation?

Creation reveals a God of awesome might and unlimited power. His creative power not only brought the heavens and earth into existence, but has worked in behalf of His people through the centuries. He is the God who began this world, who is ever present in this world, and who will never forsake His people in this world.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Amen!(0)

The post Monday: Worship the Creator appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/monday-worship-creator/

“Three Cosmic Messages” encourages us to 
Watch, Ye Saints – Hymn 598 as we near the end of this old world’s history to witness the Second Coming of our Lord, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This is a wonderful hymn to give courage, dear people, and is our theme for this quarter.

 We will be noting at times throughout the quarter that
“Tis Almost Time For The Lord To Come – Hymn 212 and we should be proclaiming the message that 
Jesus Is Coming Again – Hymn 213.

The title of this weeks’ lesson brings us 
Hymn 83 – O Worship The King and 
Hymn 6 – O Worship The Lord. These hymns will pop up frequently during each day’s study time.

Sabbath afternoon concludes with 
Hymn 111 – It Took A Miracle. The miracles of creation continue throughout the week.

 We find Sunday encouraging us to say 
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less – Hymn 522 even 
In The Hour Of Trial – Hymn 491 like John stated. John found courage from his Heavenly Visitor to say 
How Cheering Is The Christian’s Hope – Hymn 440. “The central issue in the book of Revelation is worship” bringing us back to 
Hymn 83 – O Worship The King and 
Hymn 6 – O Worship The Lord, with these latter two hymns being the favourite for Monday.

It is with gratefulness that we see our faith in God is not a lie (Monday): 
Hymn 533 – O For A Faith.

“The great news about our God is that His greatness and power are so vast…” says Tuesday: 
Hymn 86 – How Great Thou Art.

 It is with wonder that we are reminded on Wednesday that “Jesus as Creator ….. is Jesus as Redeemer”: 
Hymn 343 – I Will Sing Of My Redeemer, and this is given to us again on Thursday.

Thursday continues with “The first angel’s message to worship the Creator came after the cross”: 
Hymn 163 – At The Cross showing that there is 
Power In The Blood – Hymn 294.

Our final thought comes on Friday when “The One who created us invites us to surrender our lives in the act of worship”: 
Hymn 309 – I Surrender All.

So, dear people, be encouraged to go forward and
“Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus IS coming again” – Hymn 213.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Amen!(0)

The post 7: Worshiping the Creator – Singing with Inspiration appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/7-worshiping-the-creator-singing-with-inspiration/