Study: What do these verses teach us about the plan of salvation?
Apply: Read Ephesians 1:4. Think about what it means that, even before the “foundation of the world,” you had been “chosen” in Christ to have salvation in Him. Why should you find this truth so encouraging?
Share: Your friend asks, “What does it mean that we were “chosen” before the foundation of the world? Does that mean that we are predestined to be saved or lost without any choice of our own?” What do you tell your friend? See Does Romans 9 Teach Predestination?
Study: What is the extent of the proclamation of the everlasting gospel, and why is the answer important to us and our mission and calling as a church? How does Matthew 28:19-20 link with the first angel’s message?
Apply: What has been your own experience in being involved in something bigger than yourself? How does that experience help you understand the point of this day’s study? Also, what could be bigger than being used by the Creator of the cosmos to make an eternal difference in the universe?
Share: Your friend asks, “How is the everlasting gospel going to be preached when many of the countries of the world are anti-Christian – either Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Shintu, Communist, or Atheist? How cam God’s people share this gospel in antagonistic areas?” What do you tell your friend?
Main Theme: The three angels’ messages is Jesus’ final message of mercy, a call that leads us from trusting in our own righteousness to trusting the righteousness of Jesus to justify us, to sanctify us, and, at the end of time, to glorify us.
Study: What promise did Jesus give to His disciples regarding the worldwide spread of the gospel just before His return?
Apply: How does God shape our characters? What means does He use for us to grow in grace? What can we do to more fully allow the Holy Spirit to transform us to be more like Jesus?
Study: Read Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14. Why did Daniel call Jesus the “Son of Man” in something as serious as the judgment? What, given what we have already looked at, should be comforting in knowing that the “Son of Man” is so central to judgment?
Apply: Think about the fact that your whole life will come under scrutiny before God. What, then, is your only hope when this happens? (See Rom. 8:1).
Share: Your friend asks, “Why is the title “Son of Man” an encouragement in the judgment hour as we anticipate the second coming of Christ? Why is it comforting to realize that a man, a human being, is up there representing us in the judgment?” What do you tell your friend?
Study: What similarities do you see between the texts? What are they both talking about?
Apply: “The germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life, and the development of the plant is a beautiful figure of Christian growth. As in nature, so in grace; there can be no life without growth. The plant must either grow or die. As its growth is silent and imperceptible, but continuous, so is the development of the Christian life. At every stage of development, our life may be perfect; yet if God’s purpose for us is fulfilled, there will be continual advancement. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime. As our opportunities multiply, our experience will enlarge, and our knowledge increase.” — Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 65, 66.
How do you understand Ellen G. White’s statement that “at every stage of development, our life may be perfect”? What does that mean, especially when we can see our faults and defective characters now?
Share: Your friend asks, “What is the difference between being saved by grace and growing in grace?” What do you tell your friend?
Appy: How well can you discern the contrast between good and evil? Why is it important that we do? (See Heb. 5:14).
Share: Can you think of someone who you can share the gospel with this week? How can you share the gospel of the third angels message with them? See The Gospel Presentation.
And he [Elijah] said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”…… Yet I [God] have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:14,18 NKJV
Yes, Elijah was living during a time of severe apostasy from truth, but he was not the only one left who was true to God. Elijah thought he had to run from Israel because of the apostasy, while God assured him He had 7,000 faithful people who had not run away from Israel.
For several years now, I have heard people in the church complain that they are the only ones still preaching the three angels’ message, while on the other hand, I have heard many preachers preaching the three angels’ message. There are also many authors in the church still writing about our special message. As with Elijah, it is tempting, while many are apostatizing from the truth, to think we are the only faithful ones left. However, just as John predicted in Revelation 14:6-12, the three angels’ message is being proclaimed to every creature on earth. God does have a people who are faithful to Him and keep His commandments. So, why are so many tempted to think they are the only true worshipers left? Why do some preachers and teachers even suggest they are the last ones still teaching this special truth?
1. Like Elijah, they may be very discouraged by the apostasy, and feeling isolated, but they need to be encouraged as Elijah was, that God still has thousands in the church, who remain faithful and are not running away.
2. Or they could be on an ego trip and wanting to put themselves in an elite group or class of the “remnant of the remnant,” thus elevating themselves above everyone else. Years ago, I was at a men’s ministry retreat where the speaker kept reiterating, over several discourses, how men everywhere were falling into sin and immorality, and in each illustration he was the only man in the story doing the right thing. After several of his presentations, a group of us men were on a walk, when it started being discussed that this speaker was presenting himself as “the last good man left on earth.” None of us were buying it, and sadly, a couple of years later, this man was caught having an affair. He was clearly not the last good man left!
3. Satan will create conflicts, trying to work things to where God’s faithful people will have personality issues with each other, and isolate from each other. Is it possible Elijah was aware of the other 7,000, but just did not get along with them? Nothing in Scripture indicates that this was or was not the case. It is something for us to consider in our own personal cases, when we feel isolated for the sake of truth.
Remember, it was Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12-14 who wanted to isolate himself into a class all his own. It is God who tells us there are 7,000 more for every one of us who thinks he is alone. It is God who told John the Revelator, in Revelation 7, that there is a faithful multitude which cannot even be numbered .
During times of widespread apostasy, Satan wants to discourage God’s people by making them feel alone, or send them on an ego trip by making them feel they are in a special class by themselves. Yes, in the last days, we are facing widespread apostasy, but let’s not neutralize the power of the everlasting gospel given by the first angel, by trying to make it look like we are the last ones preaching truth, and are in a special class all by ourselves. During apostasy, we need unity more than ever. Let’s not put ourselves in a special class above the 7,000 faithful who do not run away from the church. Let’s not isolate ourselves from the multitude of faithful who are way beyond number. Let’s all keep faithfully and humbly preaching Bible Truth, and pray for and encourage God’s faithful people in our church and around the world.
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17 KJV
Years ago, I was having Bible studies with a Protestant family who believed the Ten Commandments were abolished in the New Testament. One evening, their Protestant pastor came to our Bible study. I showed them that God’s people will still be keeping the commandments in the last days. The pastor told me that the commandments in Revelation 12:17 are not the Ten Commandments. I asked him what commandments they were then. He told me, “I don’t know, but they are not the Ten Commandments. Those were done away with.” I believe the Bible will not leave us to guess what the law and commandments are in the New Testament. I believe the New Testament will tell us what commandments the New Testament is talking about. Let’s take a look at the New Testament and let the Bible explain itself.
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matthew 19:16-19 KJV
When asked point-blank which commandments He was talking about, Jesus referred to the Ten Commandments. Yes, Jesus says this before the cross, but does He give any indication they will be done away with? As a matter of fact, earlier Jesus said,
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:17-18 KJV
Of course I am sure that, like me, you have heard people try to say that once Jesus fulfilled the commandments, He then abolished them. But if that were the case, then it would make no sense to say “not to destroy, but to fulfill.” Does fulfill mean to eventually destroy or abolish? Let’s see how Jesus uses the world fulfill. When Jesus went to be baptized, John the Baptist was hesitant at first, until Jesus told him,
Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Matthew 3:15 KJV
After Jesus fulfilled the rite of baptism, did He then abolish baptism? Of course not. He told the disciples right before his accension to go and baptize. Fulfill does not mean to abolish. Fulfill means to continue. Now, I have also heard people tell me that the law was only valid till everything was fulfilled. Again we just talked about the word “fulfill,” but let’s also see how the word “till” is used in the Bible. Paul tells Timothy,
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:13 KJV
Now Paul only said, “Till I come.” Does that mean that Paul wanted Timothy to stop attending to doctrine after he came? Of course not! When you tell some one, “I’m on my way to help! Hang on till I get there!” You don’t mean for them to give up when you arrive. In the same way, Paul did not mean for Timothy to stop attending to doctrine when he arrived. Likewise, Jesus did not mean for everyone to stop keeping the law of Ten Commandments once everything was fulfilled. Again, fulfill does not mean to abolish. It means to continue to carry out.
Let’s keep looking at the commandments in the New Testament.
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Romans 7:7 KJV
Paul is speaking about his life after the cross when he says he knows sin by the law, and then quotes the tenth commandment. Did Paul ever say the law was was abolished or made void?
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:31 KJV
Does Paul talk about the Ten Commandments elsewhere in the New Testament?
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:9-10 KJV
Again, Paul is referring to the Ten Commandments in the New Testament. Some say that the commandment to love each other replaces the Ten Commandments, but Paul tells us that loving our neighbor fulfills, or continues to carry out, the Ten Commandments. This will also help us to understand in a moment what James means by saying that when we break one commandment we have broken them all. The principle of every commandment is consideration for others. Whenever we put self first, it does not matter which commandment we broke. If we break one commandment, we break the principle of the entire law. Before we go to James, let’s take a look at the how Paul refers to the Ten Commandments in Ephesians.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. Ephesians 6:1-3 KJV
Paul is telling us in the New Testament that there is a promise for us by keeping the 5th commandment. If the promise is still valid, the commandments must still be valid. Paul writes as though the Ten Commandments are very much still in effect. Sure, in Galatians 2:16 Paul tells us we can’t be justified by the law, but the same was true in the Old Testament. No one in the Old or New Testament was ever saved by the law. In both Old and New Testaments we are saved by grace, and in both Old and New Testaments we have the Ten Commandments. Now let’s go to James.
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. James 2:10-12 KJV
Here in the New Testament, James is clearly referring to the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20 as the commandments. He also refers to them in the present tense, meaning that, if we break one today, we are breaking all of them today. He also explains we will be judged by them! So we see when Jesus, Paul and James refer to the commandments in the New Testament, they are referring to the Ten Commandments. So we understand that the commandments God’s remnant people will be keeping, in the last days, are the Ten Commandments.
God’s remnant people will be keeping His Ten Commandments, not in order to be saved. In both Old and New Testaments we are saved by grace. God’s people will be keeping the Ten Commandments because they love Jesus. And they will not be keeping them in their own power. The Holy Spirit will be helping us keep the commandments out of love. We can’t keep the law to be saved, but we can keep the law with the Holy Spirit’s help because we love Jesus.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17 NKJV
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here,
In Light of The Cross 
