Closer To Heaven
|
|
|
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The New Covenant Life” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:
With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.
(0)The post 13: The New Covenant Life – HopeSS Video Discussion first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/KSDoV_vziZk/
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).
All over the world, people often struggle with what South African writer Laurens Van Der Post called “the burden of meaninglessness.” People find themselves with the gift of life, yet they do not know what to do with it, do not know what the purpose of this gift is, and do not know how to use it.
Image © Krieg Barrie from GoodSalt.com
It is like giving someone a library filled with rare books, only to have the person not read the books but use them to build fires. What a terrible waste of something so precious!
For the new-covenant Christian, however, that problem is not one they need to struggle with. On the contrary, those who know (and have personally experienced) the wonderful news of a crucified and risen Savior, who died for the sins of every human being everywhere that they all might have eternal life, know joy. Considering the unequivocal call in Matthew 28:19-20, the believer certainly has a mission and purpose in life, and that is to spread to the world the wonderful truth he or she has personally experienced in Christ Jesus. What a privilege! Most anything else we do in this world will end when this world does. But spreading the gospel to others is a work that will make an imprint on eternity. Talk about a sense of mission and purpose!
| As new-covenant Christians, we have been given a clear mandate by the Lord Himself. Whoever we are, whatever our station in life, whatever our limits, we can all play a role. Have you been doing anything? Can you do more? What can your class do, together, to have a greater role in this work? |
(1)The post Thursday: New Covenant and Mission first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/sEQOFGYS7YY/
“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” (John 11:25-26).
There are two dimensions to eternal life. The present dimension brings to the believer an experience of the abundant life now (John 10:10), which includes the many promises that we have been given for our lives now.
The future dimension is, of course, eternal life — the promise of the resurrection of the body (John 5:28-29; John 6:39). Though still in the future, that is the one event that makes everything else worth it, the one event that caps all our hopes as Christians.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
Of course, we all die, but according to Jesus, this death is only a sleep, a temporary hiatus that — for those who believe in Him — will end in the resurrection of life. When Christ returns, the dead in Christ will rise immortal, and the living followers of Christ will be changed into immortality in the twinkling of an eye. Both the dead and the living who are Christ’s will possess the same kind of resurrection body. Immortality begins at that time for God’s people.
What a great joy to know now that our end is not in the grave but that there is no end, that we will have a new life that lasts forever.
“Christ became one flesh with us, in order that we might become one spirit with Him. It is by virtue of this union that we are to come forth from the grave, — not merely as a manifestation of the power of Christ, but because, through faith, His life has become ours. Those who see Christ in His true character, and receive Him into the heart, have everlasting life. It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 388.
| In what ways can we now enjoy the benefits of eternal life? In other words, what does this promise do for us now? Write down some of the benefits this promise of eternal life gives to you, personally, in your day-to-day life. How could you take this hope and promise and share it with someone who is struggling, perhaps with the death of a loved one? |
(0)The post Wednesday: New Covenant and Eternal Life first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/TiUiu3GhTlc/
This quarter “The Week at a Glance” shows God’s covenant is spoken of mostly. God has made his promises (covenant) with many people in the Bible, and continues to give us promises for today, hence for a theme hymn I find that I wish to keep standing on the Promises that God has given to us all –
Hymn 518 – Standing on the Promises as
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less – Hymn 522.
The first hymn for this week comes from the study on Sunday,
Hymn 430 – Joy By and By. Further into the study we see that we can be
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee – Hymn 12.
The hymns that show what the Bible says about being guilt-free (Monday) are:
Hymn 109 – Marvelous Grace,
Hymn 177 – Jesus, Your Blood and Righteousness,
Hymn 254 – The Great Physician Now Is Near,
Hymn 268 – Holy Spirit, Light Divine,
Hymn 293 – Heavenly Father, Bless Us Now,
Hymn 297 – God Be Merciful to Me,
Hymn 298 – I Lay My Sins On Jesus,
Hymn 300 – Rock of Ages,
Hymn 336 – There Is a Fountain,
Hymn 342 – Is This a Day of New Beginnings,
Hymn 396 – Lord God, Your Love Has Called Us Here and
Hymn 517 – My Faith Looks Up to Thee.
It is then that we find
Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary – Hymn 476.
The opening Bible text for Tuesday shows the Love of God as do
Hymn 76 – O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go,
Hymn 77 – O Love of God Most Full,
Hymn 79 – O Love of God, How Strong and True! and
Hymn 148 – O Love How Deep How Broad. It is then that we find
My Faith Looks Up to Thee – Hymn 517,
Hymn 523 – My Faith Has Found a Resting Place and ultimately
Faith Is the Victory – Hymn 608.
The study on eternal life (Wednesday) is an exciting prospect that we all look forward to with great anticipation so that we find
No Night There – Hymn 427, we will be in
The Homeland – Hymn 436, where we can sing
The Glory Song – Hymn 435 and
“We Shall” Gather at the River – Hymn 432.
We are reminded on Thursday to
Go, Preach My Gospel – Hymn 378.
Blessings to you all until we meet again for our third quarter of lessons, commencing next week, entitled “Rest in Christ”.
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 13: The New Covenant Life – Singing with Inspiration first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/e2BGwxwlcA8/
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).
As earlier lessons this quarter showed, the new covenant is one in which the Lord puts the law in our hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-33). Not only is the law there, but according to the texts for today, Christ is, as well, which, of course, makes good sense, for Christ and His law are so closely connected. Thus, with Christ’s law in our hearts, and with Christ dwelling there too (the Greek word translated in the above text dwell means also “to settle in,” giving the idea of permanency), we come to another one of the great covenant benefits — a new heart.
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
Read again the text for today. Notice that Paul stresses the element of love, saying that we must be “rooted and grounded” in it. These words imply stability, firmness, and permanency in the foundation of love. Our faith means nothing if it is not rooted in love for God, and love for others (Matthew 22:37-39, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13). This love does not come in a vacuum. On the contrary, it comes because we get a glimpse of God’s love for us (a love that “passeth understanding”) as manifested through Jesus. As a result, our lives are changed, our hearts are changed, and we become new people with new thoughts, new desires, and new goals. It is our reaction to God’s love for us that changes our hearts and instills love for others. Perhaps this is what Paul means, at least partially, when he talks about our being filled with “the fullness of God.”
| Look at texts we have studied today. What can you do that will allow the promises of these texts to be fulfilled in you? Are there things you need to change, things that are perhaps hampering you from experiencing the “fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19)? Make a list of what changes you need to make in your life. Make one for yourself and, if you are comfortable, make one that you could share with the class. How can we help each other make necessary changes? |
(1)The post Tuesday: New Covenant and New Heart first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/pv2AV1i_T6c/
Intercer is a website with biblical materials in Romanian, English, Hungarian and other languages. We want to bring the light from God's Word to peoples homes. Intercer provides quality Christian resources...[Read More]
