Closer To Heaven
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Join the Hit the Mark panel as they discuss Sabbath School Lesson 11 – What More Could I Have Done? It’s the fastest hour of the week!
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/what-more-could-i-have-done-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school/
Daily Lesson for Thursday 13th of March 2025
Ultimately, God’s name is vindicated in every way. Through the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption, the perfect righteousness and love of God is manifested beyond any reasonable doubt (see Romans 3:25-26; Romans 5:8).
Image © Stan Myers Goodsalt.com
In Romans 3:1-31 and Isaiah 5:1-30, we see that God (in some limited sense) invites mere creatures to judge His character, even though we have no right or standing to do so. In the end, when all the “books” are opened, we will see the evidence that God is perfectly just and righteous. God will vindicate Himself before all intelligent creation.
Throughout Scripture, God shows concern for His name. Why? You cannot have a deep love relationship with someone whose character you detest or do not trust. If someone told your spouse or spouse-to-be horrible lies about your character, you would do what you could to counter any such claims, for if such claims are believed, they would fracture your love relationship.
In the end, God is vindicated at the cross and through the entire plan of redemption. In the pre-Advent judgment, God is vindicated before the onlooking universe.
Then, in the post-Advent judgment, during which the redeemed will even “judge angels” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3), God is vindicated, as the redeemed have been given the opportunity to review the records and see for themselves why God has acted as He has, and that all of God’s judgments have always and only been perfectly righteous and loving. Who among us doesn’t have a lot of questions that need answering? Before it’s all done, we will have those questions answered (see 1 Corinthians 4:5).
Finally, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). This is all part of the vindication of the character of God.
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25a-11-the-vindication-of-gods-name/
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 12th of March 2025
In the parable of the vineyard owner, in Matthew 21:1-46, Jesus picks up where Isaiah 5:1-30 left off, shedding additional light on the character and actions of the vineyard owner on behalf of His vineyard.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
The first part of Christ’s parable quotes directly from the song of Isaiah 5:1-30 about the vineyard owner and His vineyard. Then, Jesus adds, the vineyard owner “ ‘leased’ ” His vineyard “ ‘to vinedressers and went into a far country’ ” (Matthew 21:33, NKJV). Yet, when the vineyard owner twice sent His servants (the prophets) to collect the produce, those renting His vineyard beat and killed His servants (Matthew 21:34-36). Finally, He sent His Son (Jesus), saying, “ ‘They will respect my son’ ” (Matthew 21:37, NKJV). But they murdered His Son, too, saying, “ ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him” (Matthew 21:38-39, NKJV).
What more could He do? The Father loved us so much that He gave His beloved Son (John 3:16). If the cosmic conflict is of the kind suggested here, it could not be settled prematurely by exercise of divine power but required first a public demonstration of God’s character. This demonstration has been set forth ultimately in the work of Christ (Romans 3:25-26; Romans 5:8). What more could we ask than that God (in Christ) give Himself to die for us so that He might justify us without in any way compromising His justice and perfect love?
The cross event demonstrates that God has done everything that could be done to mitigate and eliminate evil, but without destroying the context for the flourishing of genuine love. If there had been any preferable avenue available to God, would He not have chosen it? While people suffer greatly in this cosmic conflict, God Himself suffers most of all. When we look at the Cross, we can, indeed, see what suffering and pain sin has brought to God Himself. Yet, so sacred was the freedom inherent in love that Christ was willing to endure this in our behalf.
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Read Isaiah 53:4. Whose “griefs” and “sorrows” did Christ bear on the cross? What should this tell us about all that God has done for us and what salvation has cost Him? |
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25a-11-christs-parable-of-the-vineyard/
Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, John C. Peckham, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson.”
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/11-what-more-cold-i-have-done-it-is-written-discussion-with-the-author/
View an in-depth discussion of What More Could I have Done? in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
Click on the image below to view the video:
With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/11-what-more-could-i-have-done-hope-sabbath-school-video-discussion/
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