Read Genesis 1:24-27 and Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:19. What similarities and differences can you see between the way God created the animals and humanity? What does Genesis 2:7 tell us about human nature?

The Genesis account declares that on the sixth day of Creation week the Lord God brought to life land animals and the first human beings, a couple (Genesis 1:24-27). We are told that He “formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky” (Genesis 2:19, NIV). He also “formed a man from the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7, NIV).

Image © Review and Herald Publishing Assn. Goodsalt.com

Although both animals and man were alike made from “the ground,” the formation of the man was distinct from that of animals in two main ways. First, God shaped the man physically, and then “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7, NIV). He was a physical entity before he became a living one. Second, God created humanity as both male and female in the very image and likeness of the Godhead (Genesis 1:26-27).

Genesis 2:7 explains that the infusion of the “breath of life” into the physical body of Adam transformed him into “a living being” (Heb. Nephesh chayyah) or literally “a living soul” (KJV). It means that each of us does not have a soul that can exist apart from the body. Rather, each one of us is a living being or a living soul. The claim that this “soul” is a conscious entity that can exist separate from the human body is a pagan, not a biblical, idea. Understanding the true nature of humanity prevents us from accepting the popular notion of an immaterial soul and all the dangerous errors built upon that belief.

There is no conscious existence of any isolated part of the human being separated from the person as a whole. God created us in a fearful and wonderful way, and we should not speculate beyond what the Scriptures actually say about this specific matter. In fact, not only is the very nature of life a mystery (scientists still can’t agree on exactly what it means for something to be alive), even more mysterious is the nature of consciousness. How does the few pounds of material tissue (cells and chemicals) in our heads, the brain, hold and create immaterial things like thoughts and emotions? Those who study this idea admit that we really don’t know.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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The post Sunday: “A Living Being” first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

The post Sunday: “A Living Being” appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/sunday-living-being/

Image © Pacific Press

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Genesis 1:24-27; Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:19; Matthew 10:28; Ecclesiastes 12:1-7; 1 Kings 2:10; 1 Kings 22:40.

Memory Text: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).

The tension between God’s word, “You shall die” (Genesis 2:16-17, , NRSV) and Satan’s counterfeit promise, “You certainly will not die!” (Genesis 3:4, NASB) was not restricted to the Garden of Eden. It has echoed throughout history.

Many people try to harmonize the words of Satan with the words of God. For them, the warning, “You shall die” refers only to the perishable physical body, while the promise, “You certainly will not die!” is an allusion to an immortal soul or spirit.

But this approach doesn’t work. For example, can contradictory words of God and of Satan be harmonized? Is there an immaterial soul or spirit that consciously survives physical death? There are many philosophical and even scientific attempts to answer these questions. But, as Bible-based Christians, we must recognize that only the Almighty God, the One who created us, also knows us perfectly (see Psalm 139:1-24). Thus, only in His Word to us, the Scriptures, can we find answers to these crucial questions.

This week we will consider how the Old Testament defines human nature and the condition of human beings at death.

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 15.

Sunday–>

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The post Sabbath: Understanding Human Nature appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/sabbath-understanding-human-nature/

Support for the mission activities of the Seventh-day Adventist church has always been part of the Sabbath School program. This video is Mission Spotlight for this week.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vOVzYThOd8&w=560&h=315]

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The post Mission Spotlight for October 8 first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

The post Mission Spotlight for October 8 appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/mission-spotlight-for-october-8/

“Join host Eric Flickinger from It Is Written as he discusses this week’s Sabbath School lesson with the author, Dr Alberto Timm. Come away with unique insights and discover the main points the author wished to convey in this week’s lesson.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFzr5P_GqVo&w=560&h=315]

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The post 2: Death in a Sinful World – It is Written – Discussions with the Author first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

The post 2: Death in a Sinful World – It is Written – Discussions with the Author appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/2-death-in-a-sinful-world-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/

Signs and Wonders

By Dimitry Bagal

While studying Isaiah in the Adult Bible Study Guide a few quarters ago, one verse particularly caught my attention: “Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 8:18, NKJV). The verse seemed to be about me. My wife and I already had a child, and we were waiting for the birth of our second. I thought, “‘Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me!’ It would be great to also have signs and wonders from God!”

Image © Pacific Press

Thinking about the verse, I remembered reading about God’s wonderful intercession in the lives of Adventists who, with faith alone, managed to raise significant funds for mission projects. I prayed, “Lord, I also would like to make a donation. I even have a good occasion: the birth of my second child. Please give me an idea of how much I should donate, with Your help, as a sign of my gratitude for a good pregnancy and smooth birth, and let me know who should get the donation.”

Almost immediately I felt impressed to raise 1,000 euros (about U.S.$1,185). The amount seemed unattainable for someone with a limited income like me in Germany. I prayed, “Lord, it’s Your goal, so You have to make sure that the money comes from somewhere. You know that my salary is insufficient to put anything aside. All I can promise is to pray daily and put aside any money that I may receive in addition to my salary.”

Every day, I prayed that the Almighty would somehow make it possible to reach the goal of the 1,000 euros. In less than a month, I already had received about half of the amount. An elderly couple unexpectedly gave me 200 euros for helping them move into their new home. Then an Adventist businessman gave 200 euros when my wife and I, in an effort to be hospitable, put up two of his employees in our home for the night. After that, a married couple transferred 50 euros, unannounced, to our bank account. A month before the baby was born, I already had the 1,000 euros.

The birth of Maranatha Yessenia was smooth and fast on May 4. I parked in front of the hospital at 8:37 a.m., and she was born 20 minutes later. The funds went to a mission project.

The Lord made it possible to reach His donation goal. Blessed with my wife and two children, I can truly say, “Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts!”

Thank you for supporting mission projects through the weekly Sabbath School mission offering, the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, and the Annual Sacrifice Offering.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org

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The post Inside Story: Signs and Wonders first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

The post Inside Story: Signs and Wonders appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/inside-story-signs-and-wonders/