Closer To Heaven
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Join the discussion as we cover lesson 2, Death in a Sinful World. We’ll examine the enemy’s strategy against Adam & Eve that is still just as effective today.
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/death-in-a-sinful-world-hit-the-mark/
One powerful manifestation of this lie is seen in the common belief in the immortality of the soul. This notion was the basis of many ancient religions and philosophies. In ancient Egypt, it motivated the mummification practices and the funerary architecture, such as seen in the pyramids.
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
This theory also became one of the main pillars of Greek philosophy. For example, in The Republic of Plato, Socrates asks Glaucon: “Are you not aware that our soul is immortal and never perishes?” In Plato’s Phaedo, Socrates argued in a similar tone, saying that the “soul is immortal and imperishable, and our souls really will exist in Hades.” These philosophical concepts would shape much of the western culture and even post-Apostolic Christianity. But they originated much earlier, already in the Garden of Eden, with Satan himself.
At the core of the Edenic temptation, Satan assured Eve, “You certainly will not die!” (Genesis 3:4, NASB). With this emphatic assertion, Satan put his own word above the Word of God.
The satanic theory of the natural immortality of the soul has persisted, even in our modern world. Books, movies, and TV programs have all continued to promote the idea that, when we die, we simply pass into another conscious state. How unfortunate it is that this error is proclaimed in many Christian pulpits, as well. Even science has gotten involved. There is a foundation in the United States trying to create technology that, it claims, will enable us to contact the dead, whom they believe are still alive but exist as PMPs, “postmaterial persons.” With this error so prevalent, it’s no surprise that this deception will play a crucial role in the final events of human history.
| In what ways is this lie manifested in your own culture? Why must we rely on the Word of God over what our senses tell us? |
(5)The post Tuesday: “You Will Not Die” first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
The post Tuesday: “You Will Not Die” appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
The theme hymn for this quarter’s studies “On Death, Dying and the FUTURE HOPE” is
Hymn 214 – We Have This Hope.
Choice is something God gave to humankind at creation. Still, we may sing
Lord, I Have Made Thy Word My Choice – Hymn 273. May we make further wise choices,
with God’s abundant help.
Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent (Monday), therefore, we can choose to request
Gracious Father, Guard Thy Children – Hymn 621 to have ‘freedom from the wiles of Satan” (verse 3).
We learn of immortality on Wednesday and that
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise – Hymn 21.
With the Consequences of Sin where “Eve broke her loyalty to God” we are able to walk
In the Garden – Hymn 487 and have God walk and talk with us. Ah, to cherish these times with our Gracious God.
The First Gospel Promise shows us the saving grace “that Christ implants in every human life”:
Amazing Grace – Hymn 108 and
Hymn 109 – Marvelous Grace all given by “His covering righteousness:
Hymn 412 – Cover With His Life.
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 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.”
(0)The post 2: Death in a Sinful World – Singing with Inspiration first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
The post 2: Death in a Sinful World – Singing with Inspiration appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/3-death-in-a-sinful-world-singing-with-inspiration/
The world, as it came from the Lord, was perfect (Genesis 1:31). Death was an unknown experience for Adam and Eve. In that context, God came to the Garden of Eden and warned: “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die” (Genesis 2:16-17, , NRSV).
Image © Bible Adventure Collection at Goodsalt.com
Sometime after this warning from God, Satan assumed the form of a serpent and also entered Eden. Eve beheld the serpent joyfully eating the forbidden fruit without dying. “He himself had eaten of the forbidden fruit” (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 54), and nothing had happened to him.
From the perspective of human logic, the argument of the serpent sounded much more convincing than did the word of God. First of all, there was no evidence in the natural world, so far, for the existence of sin and death. Second, the serpent was actually eating the forbidden fruit and enjoying it very much. So, why should Eve restrain herself from doing the same? God’s command seemed to be too restrictive and senseless.
Unfortunately, in deciding between the two conflicting statements, Eve ignored three basic principles: 1. human reason is not always the safest way to evaluate spiritual matters; 2. the Word of God can appear to be illogical and senseless to us, but it is always right and trustworthy; and 3 . there are things that are not evil or wrong in themselves, but God has chosen them as tests of obedience.
We should realize that the experience of Eve in the Garden of Eden is not a single case in time. Every day and every moment we need to decide between the Word of God (which for many can be unpopular) and the seductive appeals of our surrounding culture. Our choice will have eternal consequences.
| What are ways that the clear teaching of the Bible conflicts with the ways of the world? |
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The post Sunday: Statements in Tension appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/sunday-statements-in-tension/
Image © Pacific Press
Christ was the Divine Agent through whom God brought the universe and the world into existence (John 1:1-3, John 1:10; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2). But when God the Father conferred special honor on Christ and announced that They together would create this world, “Lucifer was envious and jealous of Jesus Christ” (Ellen G. White, The Story of Redemption, p. 14) and plotted against Him.
Having been cast out of heaven, Satan decided “to destroy the happiness of Adam and Eve” on earth and thereby “cause grief in heaven.” He imagined that “if he could in any way beguile them [Adam and Eve] to disobedience, God would make some provision whereby they might be pardoned, and then himself and all the fallen angels would be in a fair way to share with them of God’s mercy.” — Ellen G. White, The Story of Redemption, p. 27. Fully aware of Satan’s strategy, God warned Adam and Eve not to expose themselves to temptation (Genesis 2:16-17). This means that even when the world was still perfect and blameless, there were already clear restrictions for human beings to obey.
This week we will reflect on the fall of Adam and Eve, on how sin and death took over our world, and on how God planted a seed of hope for humanity even back in Eden.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 8.
(0)The post Sabbath: Death in a Sinful World first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
The post Sabbath: Death in a Sinful World appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/sabbath-death-in-sinful-world/
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