Tag / William Earnhardt

by In Light Of The Cross

Ephesians 3: A Shattered Relationship Perfectly Restored

Photo by Adrien Olichon on Pexels.com

In Ephesians 1-2 we saw ourselves in Christ. We saw ourselves accepted in Christ in Ephesians 1:6, and then saw ourselves sitting in heavenly places in Christ in Ephesians 2:6. This idea of being in Christ is our justification. Justification is our deliverance from the penalty of sin and is our title to heaven. But justification is way more than a legal procedure allowing us to have eternal life. Justification is restoring our relationship with God in the here and now. Being accepted in the Beloved means our relationship with God is restored and we are all friends again. The Father is at peace with us now as much as He is at peace with His own son.

Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. Romans 5:1-2 AMP

Now we turn to Ephesians 3 where we begin to see Christ in us. While us in Christ is our justification, Christ in us is our sanctification. Our sanctification is our deliverance from the power of sin and is our fitness for heaven. But just like justification, sanctification is way more than a legal procedure allowing us to have eternal life. Sanctification means we belong to God. In Genesis 2:1-3 God sanctified the Sabbath and it became the Lord’s day. See Mark2:28.  In Numbers 3:13 God sanctified the firstborn by calling them His own. Sanctification makes us God’s very own intimate friends.

Look at how Jesus uses the terms of us in Him and Him in us to describe a very intimate relationship.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. John 15:4-10 NKJV Emphases supplied. 

Justification and sanctification are way more than legal terms. They are relational terms describing our relationship of how we are in Christ and Christ is in us. In previous weeks we have seen how Ephesians 1-2 portrays us being in Christ. Now we will look at how Ephesians, beginning in chapter 3 portrays Christ in us. 

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 NKJV Emphases supplied. 

I find this amazingly awesome! We can be filled with all the fulness of God. Let that sink in. Here on earth, in our sin torn fallen natures we can be filled with all the fulness of God. Our own works could never make such a grand  theme possible, but yet the impossible is possible by the Power that works in us.

My mother used to collect plates. One day while dusting she accidently knocked a plate off the mantle and it shattered into pieces on the floor. She was upset as it was one of her favorite plates. She watched as dad swept all the pieces into a dustpan and took them to the garage. My mother was sure he was just going to throw the pieces away in the garbage can in the garage. My mother never thought it was possible to ask or think that the plate could ever be restored, but instead of throwing the pieces in the trash he placed them on his work bench. A few weeks later my dad presented the plate back to my mother, with every single piece glued back together with invisible glue. As far as my mother was concerned, the plate she thought was hopelessly shattered to smithereens  had been perfectly restored.

This was something she never asked or thought possible. Have you ever thought that you had ruined your relationship with God and blown it to smithereens? Have you ever felt hopelessly lost in sin, and thought you and God could never be friends again? Well God the Father has taken those shattered pieces of your relationship, and instead of throwing them in the garbage can, through Christ He has perfectly restored your friendship with Him. At one time you may have felt  “you were without Christ, …..having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12 ” But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13. While sin blew your relationship with God to smithereens and you thought the only solution was to throw all the pieces in the trash, God did what you never asked or thought possible. Christ’s blood was the glue that perfectly restored your relationship with the Father. Now, instead of being alienated from God and without hope, you have been brought very near. So near He is now filling you with all the fulness of God! The relationship with God that you thought impossible to restore has been perfectly restored. While you once thought you were without God and without hope, Christ did the unthinkable and unimaginable. He is filling you with all the fulness of God. A Shattered relationship has been restored to a higher level of intimacy than we ever thought possible, not by our works, but by the Power working in us. 

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

Ephesians 2: Sitting With Jesus in Heavenly Places

Practically all Christians understand we are saved by grace, but what exactly does grace save us from? 

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJV 

Grace saves us from death. This is our justification. Last week we saw that justification is “me in Jesus.” I was in Jesus when He lived a perfect life and I am saved by His life (Romans5:10) as well as by his death. This is my title to heaven. In Ephesians 2:1-10 we see that grace also saves us from the power of sin and gives us good works. This is our sanctification, which is “Jesus in me.” This my deliverance from the power of sin and my fitness for heaven. 

Last week we talked about being in Christ when He was crucified. See Galatians 2:20. We were in Christ when He lived a perfect life. See Romans 5:10. Now in Ephesians 2:6 we see we are already sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 

and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6 NKJV

The story goes of a pastor who was changing trains at a station near Washington D.C. While between trains he met a man who tried to hand him some religious literature. The pastor smelled alcohol on the man’s breath and asked him about it. The man conceded that he was an active alcoholic, but that it was okay because Jesus had already gotten the victory over sin so he did not have to. The pastor asked the man, “So Jesus died so you don’t have to?” “Right!” The man replied. “And Jesus overcame so you don’t have to overcome?” the pastor asked. “Right!” The man replied. To which the pastor also said, “Then do you know what else Jesus did for you? He went up to heaven so you don’t have to.” The pastor was sharing with the man that if Jesus died and overcame so we don’t have to die to self and overcome, then Jesus also went to heaven so we don’t have to go to heaven. The pastor was sharing that the reality of grace is, Jesus died so that we can also die to self. See Romans 6:3-7 and Galatians 2:20. Jesus also overcame sin so we also may overcome. See Revelation 3:21. Jesus also went to heaven so we can also go to heaven. See John 14:1-3. Everything Jesus did He did it so by His grace we can do it too. 

Grace does way more than just save us from death. 

Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, Romans 1:5 NKJV

In Romans 1:5 grace gives us obedience. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV

In Ephesians 2:8-10 grace gives us good works. 

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11-12 NKJV

In Titus 2:11-12 grace helps us live righteous and godly lives right here and now. 

Jude warned us,

I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4 NLT

In the very same book where Paul tells us we are saved by grace Paul also tells us,

For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Ephesians 5:5 NKJV

Sometimes when people have a hard time believing that victory over sinful addictions is possible, they get accused of wanting cheap grace, and wanting to continue in sin. I don’t believe this is the case. I believe these fallen ones (and that would be all of us!) feel awful about breaking their Father’s heart by giving in to sinful addictions. To such a  one I would say,

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17 NKJV

God does not and never will despise a broken and contrite heart, no matter how many times sin has broken that heart before. But while Jesus continues to forgive us every time our hearts are broken because we have broken our Father’s heart, His grace also gives us the power to stop breaking hearts. In Genesis 44:18-34, Judah explains to Joseph that he had already broken his father’s heart before, and he was now prepared to die a slave in a foreign land before he would break his father’s heart again. Grace gave Judah the victory over breaking his father’s heart, and grace can give us the victory over breaking our Father’s heart. 

Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephesians 2:5-6 NKJV

Grace gives us all the forgiveness we will ever need. Grace gives us all the power we will ever need to overcome sin. Don’t give up. by grace you are already sitting in heavenly places with Jesus. 

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

Ephesians 1: In Christ

When I first became a Bible Worker I began studying with a young woman who went to a Methodist AME Church. She invited me to her church one Sunday so I could hear her sing in the choir. After the choir sang, a lady guest speaker stood up to preach and to this day, that Methodist woman gave the best ever “Adventist” sermon I have heard on the book of Ephesians. She spoke about how the first part of Ephesians begins with us “in Christ.” In Christ is where we find our justification, which is our deliverance from the penalty of sin and is our title to heaven. She then explained how the second part of Ephesians talks about “Christ in us” which is where we find our sanctification, which is our deliverance from the power of sin and is out fitness for heaven. 

Let’s take a look at us “in Christ” and see why that is so powerfully important.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,  that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:3-14 NKJV Emphases supplied. 

Why is this idea of in “in Christ” so important? Because again our justification is in Christ. We can only be accepted in the Beloved. We can only be saved in Christ. This is why it is so important to appreciate the humanity of Christ. 

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:3-4 NKJV

Jesus took on my flesh so that He could not only die for me, but so He could also die as me. God only has one solution for human flesh. It must be crucified. I have now been crucified in Christ and with Christ. See Romans 6:3-6 and Galatians 2:20. What else has Christ accomplished by taking my humanity? 

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17 NKJV

When Jesus went into the water He had taken upon Himself all humanity, and was thus being baptized and repenting for and on behalf of the entire human race. When the Father said “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus was representing the entire human race. Therefore when the Father accepted His Son the Beloved, He was accepting all humanity in the Beloved. See Ephesians 1:6. Jesus repented on behalf of the entire human race and the Father has accepted the entire human race on behalf of Jesus. 

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 5:10,12,19 NKJV 

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

Let’s summarize what we have learned so far.

All humanity sinned in Adam. Romans 5:12

All humanity was crucified in Christ. Romans 6:3-6, Romans 8:3-4 and Galatians 2:20.

All humanity repented in Christ. Matthew 3:15-16,

All humanity has lived a perfect life in Christ. Romans 5:10.

All humanity is accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6. 

This is how all humanity is  predestined to become adopted as God’s children in Ephesians 1:4. However God never turns any of His children into robots and so everyone is free to reject this plan if they choose. Unless they resist or reject this plan they will be  saved,

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” John 12:32 NKJV 

The sinner may resist this love, may refuse to be drawn to Christ; but if he does not resist he will be drawn to Jesus; a knowledge of the plan of salvation will lead him to the foot of the cross in repentance for his sins, which have caused the sufferings of God’s dear Son.-Ellen White, Steps to Christ, Page 28. 

In Ephesians 1 we see that we have been accepted in Christ. Next week in Ephesians 2 we will see how we all sit in heavenly places right now-in Christ Jesus. See Ephesians 2:6. 

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

The Book of Ephesians Challenge

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Ephesians 6:17 NKJV

I am so happy we will be studying Ephesians, one of my favorite books of the Bible this quarter. There are many things I love about the book. I love how Paul teaches in Ephesians 1:1-6 that we are accepted in the Beloved and destined by God’s grace to be formed in His image. I love how Ephesians 1:6 and Ephesians 2:6  brings out that we are justified in Christ and how Ephesians 3:14-21 teaches how we are sanctified by Christ being in us. I love how Ephesians 2:1-10 shows how grace saves us from the penalty of sin and the power of sin. I love how Ephesians Chapters 4-6 shows us the obedient lifestyle of a grace filled Christian. I could go on and on but you probably have your own favorite passages in Ephesians as well which brings me to my challenge for all of us this quarter.

Our weekly Sabbath School lessons are designed to explore different ideas in the book of Ephesians as well as covering those same ideas elsewhere in Scripture. This approach is very beneficial. I also believe since Paul wrote this book as a letter, He intended for it to be read verse by verse as a whole and complete message within itself, just like we read a letter today. Therefore I would like to encourage all my friends and fellow Bible students around the world to take some time to read the book of Ephesians from beginning to end just like when you receive a letter today or a personal e-mail. The book or letter is only six chapters and could be read in one sitting but I do not want to encourage you to rush through. Take your time and let Paul’s ideas soak into your mind and heart. I appreciate how our lesson authors have divided the lesson topics, but I also believe a rich blessing is in store for those who read Ephesians verse by verse as a whole passage, just the way it was written.

Will you join me in reading the entire book of Ephesians verse by verse from beginning to end this week? 

by In Light Of The Cross

1: Paul and the Ephesians-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, July 1, 2023.

Main Theme: In the book of Ephesians Paul tells us how God’s grace protects us against the wicked powers in our community.

Read in Class: Acts 19:13-20. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What strange event leads to widespread reverence for “the Lord Jesus” in Ephesus?

Apply: What did the burning of their own books signify, even at such an expense to themselves? What does that say about a total commitment to the Lord?

Share: Your friend asks why the demons were able to overpower the people using the name of Jesus? What clues from the passage itself can you share with your friend? Also see Matthew 7:21-23.

Read in Class: Acts 19:21-Acts 20:1. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What lessons can we draw from this story?

Apply: At the end of his third missionary journey, Paul meets with elders of the Ephesian church. How would you summarize Paul’s concerns? (See Acts 20:17-38)

Share: After reading these warnings, you friend asks, “What do you think Paul would warn our church today about, and why?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Ephesians 1:1-2 and Ephesians 6:21-24. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: How does Paul begin and end his letter to the believers in Ephesus? What do we learn about his deepest desires for them? How does Paul worry about the effect his imprisonment will have on believers in Ephesus? See Eph. 3:13.

Apply: How can you use your personal tribulations as a witness to others about the goodness of God?

Share: Your friend says, “I thought the whole point of accepting Jesus as our Savior was so He would bless us and make us prosperous? If we still have tribulations what’s the point of having Jesus in our lives? How has God’s grace protected us from the evil in our community if we still suffer harm?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Ephesians 1:9-10. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: How does Paul announce the theme of his letter?

Apply: In the church of which you are a part, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, God is drawing together a transnational, multilingual, multiracial, cross-cultural community (Rev. 14:6, 7) that points the way to the fulfillment of His plan to unite all things in Jesus (Eph. 1:9, 10). How can we work in concert with God’s grand plan?

Share: Can you think of a friend who would enjoy these studies on Ephesians? Can you invite your friend to Sabbath School?

by In Light Of The Cross

True, But…..

A few years ago I was visiting family and friends in an Adventist community. Various friends and family members attend various Adventist churches in the area. On Sabbath, I decided to join a particular friend at his church. The sermon was on how we are not to judge others. As I sat and listened to the sermon, I could not help, but in my mind think of texts that say we are to judge, Like 1 Corinthians 5- 6. I thought the sermon was very much one-sided. Then I believe the Holy Spirit spoke to me. William there are about 20 Adventist churches in the area God could have sent you to this morning, but I sent you to this church so you could hear this particular message. This is the side of the topic that you need to hear.

Often instead of bringing up opposing views, we need to just hear what the other person has to say. We don’t have to exhaust both sides of the topic in one conversation. Often the person has a single valid point, and we take away from that point by bringing up “the other side.”

For example, suppose I have a friend in New Zealand who has been battling depression, because she misses her home in South Africa. One morning she gets up and is trying to look at the bright side of the situation, so she posts a picture of a beautiful New Zealand sunrise on Facebook, with the message, “New Zealand sure has some beautiful scenery.” Then suppose all of her friends in America and South Africa start commenting back about how beautiful their land is too. No doubt South Africa and America are beautiful too, but wouldn’t that distract from the point that is relevant to my friend in New Zealand? My friend in New Zealand is already aware that America and South Africa are beautiful. But that is not the point. Instead of commenting back with, “True, but…..America is beautiful too!” maybe I should just agree, “Yes! That is a very beautiful sunrise. You live in a wonderful land” and just leave it at that. It is not going to help my NZ friend battle depression by totally exhausting the subject of beautiful places to live on her post. She needs affirmation, not competition. I have an older friend, who told me when she was younger and would get carried away thinking about all the different ways people might be interpreting her actions, her mother would tell her, “stop trying to play every instrument in the band.” Occasionally I will finish a sermon and some “helpful” saint will try to remind me of all the points on the topic that I left out. Fact is I left them out on purpose. Its not that I did not consider them to be true or even important, its just that in a 20 minute, wait who am I kidding? In a 40 minute sermon I can’t play every instrument in the band. I can’t cover every single point of truth in one presentation. Remember we will be studying the Gospel throughout all eternity and will be learning the entire time, so please do not expect me to cover every point of truth in a 30 or 40 minute sermon. 

Believe it or not Jesus Himself did not exhaust every subject in every discourse. He spoke words that needed to be heard in that particular situation. Over time and by cross-examining Scripture we get the big picture. Jesus’ sermon in Luke 4 is an example of how Jesus purposely left out certain points because they were not relevant to the specific group He was addressing.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. Luke 4:18-19 NLT

Jesus was quoting from Isaiah 61:1-2 which went on to read, “and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.” But Jesus left that part out!. Jesus knew the crowd He was talking to would become a little too happy about God’s anger on their enemies, so He left that out. It was totally true but not a truth that they needed to hear. So when we accuse a preacher or Sabbath school teacher of not preaching truth, because they leave out the morsel of truth we enjoy feasting on, we are making an unwarranted judgment of “heresy.” We can have unity by listening to what others have to say without constantly bickering and arguing, even with a “true….but.” Sometimes those “true….buts” are a distraction from what God wants us to see. Often times the point in the “true….but” has already been well established, and the other person is not trying to disagree, but just give the topic a proper balance, and if we reply back with a “true…but,” we throw the topic off balance again.

For example we all know the emphases the church has placed on marriage over the years. Considering that my congregation already knew full well how sanctified and blessed marriage is, I decided to encourage some of my widowed, single and divorced friends by sharing the encouraging things Jesus said in Matthew 19, and Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7 regarding the blessings of being single. I affirmed our married members and our single members. After my sermon an elderly lady came up to me and complained that I did not talk about the blessings of being married as much as I did the blessings of being single. The reason I spent 25 minutes on the blessings of being single and only 15 minutes on the blessings of being married is because over the years pastors have preached thousands of sermons on the blessings of being married while rarely if ever preaching about the blessings of being single. I was simply trying to share the teachings of Jesus and Paul that are rarely if ever shared behind the pulpit. Like my illustration with my friend in New Zealand, I did not need a rebuttal. I did not need to hear the other side of the story I have already heard a trillion times. I just needed my single friends to hear an encouraging word from Scripture without everyone protesting about the parts I left out. The goal of my sermon was not to play every instrument in the band. 

We can encourage oneness and promote unity by listening to understand instead of just listening to reply with our opinion. We don’t always have to bring up the other side of the topic. Maybe God knows you are already grounded on one side and now need a more balanced understanding of the topic by hearing some other truths on the topic. That is what I realized God was telling me while listening to the sermon in my friend’s church that Sabbath.

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

How Spiritualism Leads to idol Worship

Shortly after my mother died, I went to a restaurant alone, to write in my journal about my thoughts about my recent loss. My mother’s name was “Sara,” so I thought it interesting when the waitress came to my table and told me her name was “Sara.” I ordered my usual favorite beverage, but the waitress brought my mother’s favorite beverage instead, by mistake. Even in my grief I could not help but see the humor. I told a friend who I used to go to church with, about the irony of the waitress having my mother’s name and bringing me my mother’s  soda.  I was surprised when my friend assured me it was my mother who caused all those ironies, to let me know she was still with me. I had to remind my friend what we learned in the Bible about what happens when a person dies. 

For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 NKJV. 

By things my Adventist friends are telling me, and things they share on their Facebook pages, like wishing their dead loved ones a “happy heavenly birthday” and so on, is showing me that even many Adventists are falling for the deception of spiritualism. It gives them a false sense of comfort to think that their dead loved one is still watching over them. Does God not do a good job of watching over us? Can we not trust God so we trust our dead loved ones to care for us instead? They want to believe in signs letting them know their dead loved one still loves them.  This would not be a temptation if they realized how much God loves them. When my mother died there were so many miracles letting me know that God cared. A friend sent me a substantial amount of money, totally unsolicited, which was greatly needed. When I pleaded with God He woke my mother up from unconsciousness one last time so I could tell her I loved her before she fell asleep in Jesus. Shortly after my mother died I was suddenly hit with an overwhelming sense of loneliness and cried out to God that I was all alone in the world. At that same moment when I cried out to God, I received a text message from a friend from out of state, with whom I had not spoken in ages. He texted me to remind me that God loves me, and so do my friends. These were not miracles from my mother letting me know she cared. These were greater and more wonderful miracles from God showing me God cares. 

When people are more comforted by a supposed miracle from a dead loved one than from God Himself, it shows that they love their dead loved one more than God. That is making an idol of their dead loved one. Why should it mean more to get a “heavenly message” from a dead loved one than from God Himself? God is constantly showering us with love and miracles. When we credit those miracles to our dead loved ones we are now putting our dead loved ones in the place of God. A gentle breeze brushing my face means a lot more to me, coming from God, than it would even if it could come from a dead loved one. Why should a dead loved one, or even a living being, mean more to me than God? 

I knew an elderly Adventist woman who lived in a small Adventist community. Her husband died and was buried in a cemetery just a block or so from her house. About every day, she would visit his grave and “talk” to him. One day she looked out her front window and perceived him walking up the sidewalk. He stopped at the window and stared at her through the glass. Being an Adventist and knowing the state of the dead, she knew it was not her husband, but a demon. This scared her into realizing she had been putting herself on the devil’s playground by her excessive visits, talking to her dead husband at his grave. After this experience she never returned to his grave. After all, she did not need to talk to her dead husband. She needed to be talking to Jesus, who could hear what she was saying, just like Saul did not need to be talking to dead Samuel. He should have been talking to God. I don’t know if a demon really personified itself as this woman’s husband, or if it was just her imagination. She claimed it was real and not just her imagination. Either way, it was a direct result of her acting like she was talking to the dead – which spiritualism teaches to be a real possibility, but the Bible teaches is an impossibility. 

Years ago, a friend came back from vacation with a terrible story. While he was visiting his in-laws, his wife’s sister’s toddler drowned in the pool. On the way to the hospital, the wife’s sister was pleading with the virgin Mary to save her son. Mary is dead. There was nothing Mary could do anyway. The elderly Adventist woman, and my friend’s sister-in-law should not have been talking to dead people. That is a waste of time. They know nothing. We need to be talking to Jesus who can hear us, and does love us and constantly provides miracles, showering us with love. 

I attended a wedding where the groom had lost his father a couple of years before the wedding. All through the wedding and reception it was repeated over and over that the groom’s father was dead and could not be at the wedding. So much emphasis was placed on the father not being there that it was almost like all the living people there did not matter. I am not one to tell people how to grieve, and forgive me, I am not trying to sound cold, but this seems like another form of idol worship. What was to be a joyous and sacred service turned out to be all about the groom’s dead loved one. What about his new bride? What about all the family and friends who were there? Did they mean nothing? Did our heavenly Father’s presence mean nothing? When we spend all our time grieving those who are gone, we fail to appreciate our loved ones who are still with us. We fail to appreciate God’s love. 

Of course we all grieve, and that is healthy and natural. But excessive grief, which does not allow us to be in the moment and appreciate God and those still living, could be a form of idolatry. Feeling the need to credit dead loved ones for miracles and answered prayers is idolatry. Even thinking that we need a dead family member’s love more than we need God’s love is idolatry. As much as my family loves me, God loves me more. As much as I need my family, I need God more. As much as I love my family, I love God more. I can’t allow any loved one, living or dead, to take God’s place in my life. Spiritualism teaches us to put dead loved ones in the place of God. By giving dead loved ones excessive attention and adoration it becomes worship and idolatry. Only God Himself deserves that much attention and adoration. By wishing to pray or communicate with dead loved ones supposedly in heaven is to put them in God’s place. God is in heaven and I can pray and communicate with Him. We don’t need to talk to our dead loved ones when we can talk to God Himself. We don’t need spiritualism or idolatry which puts dead loved ones in God’s place in heaven. We have a God in heaven who loves and cares for us more than any loved one can. We have a God in heaven who can take care of us better than any family member. Let’s give our sleeping loved ones the rest they deserve and worship God who is Worthy of our trust and worship. 

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

Living Like Daniel in the Middle of Babylon

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As Adventists, we believe that in the last days there will be a showdown between spiritual Babylon and those who have the seal of God, who reflect the character of Jesus. While Daniel had his haters, it amazes me how he seemed to thrive and even find favor among the leaders of Babylon and Persia. Daniel was not one to compromise his standards. The life of Daniel shows us that it is possible to live a life of uncompromising integrity and still get along with those of different beliefs and lifestyles. Years later, Paul wrote,

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, Titus 2:11-12 NLT

We can’t wait for heaven to live a righteous life. God’s grace empowers us to reflect Christ’s character in this evil world. Daniel is an example of how we can be like Jesus in the midst of corruption. Let’s take a look.

Then Daniel went in to see Arioch, whom the king had ordered to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, “Don’t kill the wise men. Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream.” Daniel 2:24 NLT

When Daniel received the vision the king had dreamed, his first thought was to save the lives of the wicked wise men. Jesus always put the salvation of others first, and  did Daniel too. The wise men in Daniel’s day were preserved by the integrity of Daniel. In Genesis 12:3, God said all the families of the earth (not just believers) would be blessed by the Messiah. Likewise, even the unbelievers of Daniel’s day were blessed by Daniel’s integrity. In the last days, I believe men and women of God will be a blessing to the evil world around them.

I marvel at Daniel’s humility. In Daniel 1:20, Daniel and his friends were found to be ten times wiser than the other wise men, but look at what Daniel says when he tells the king his dream.

And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart. Daniel 2:30 NLT

Daniel did not claim to have any special wisdom, and neither did Jesus. Jesus always pointed people to the Scriptures, instead of spouting off like a know-it-all. Daniel did not claim to have any special abilities, and neither did Jesus. Look at what Jesus says about Himself,

“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. John 5:19 NLT

Look at what Jesus says about others who believe.

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. John 14:12 NLT

Daniel lived a life of uncompromising integrity in the midst of Babylon and Persia. Amidst his haters, he more than survived; he thrived and found favor, even among wicked rulers. Some blame corruption in the workplace for why they were passed over for promotions, but God promoted Daniel right in the heart of all the corruption. God can promote you too, anytime, anywhere.

Jesus lived a life of uncompromising integrity, in the heart of the Roman Empire and a corrupt religious system. He too had His haters, but He too found favor “with both God and man” and was able to tell His Father,

I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. John 17:4

Daniel lived a life of uncompromising integrity, and thrived among all the corruption of Babylon. Jesus lived a life of uncompromising integrity, and thrived amid pagan Rome and a religious system that left a lot to be desired. So today, in the midst of spiritual Babylon, by God’s grace, we can live a life of uncompromising integrity, and make friends along the way, if we will depend fully on our Father God, just as Daniel and Jesus did.

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

Why Worshiping God has to be a Choice and not an Addiction

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Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. Jonah 2:8 NLT

Over the last 30 years of studying the Bible with people I have had a few conversations that have have gone like this.

Friend: I am so bored right now I wish there was something to do, anything! I am just tired of being bored.

Me: Hey would this be a good time for a Bible study?

Friend: Maybe when things settle down a little bit. My life is a whirlwind right now. 

Granted the last time this happened was during the COVID quarantine but it has happened other times also. It is sad people will do everything they can to avoid worshipping God, while He is the only One who can bring true purpose and satisfaction. In John 4:1-42, Jesus tells the woman at the well that He is the Living Water which will never make her thirsty again. After 5 failed relationships she needed to know that a relationship with Jesus is the only relationship that brings true satisfaction. So today, many worship immoral sex, and other addictive vices such as drugs that never quench their thirst and never satisfy. You have heard the definition for insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. I believe the reason many of us have addictive vices is not because the addictions satisfy but rather because the addictive behavior does not satisfy, but we keep expecting it to satisfy each time we repeat the behavior even though it never does. So we keep repeating the addiction over and over expecting it to bring us satisfaction that we can only obtain by worshiping God. This is insanity. I had a pastor back home in Oklahoma who would often say, “sin is insanity.” I believe he is right. When I get thirsty my body needs water, but sometimes I may try to tell myself what I really need is a cold glass of iced sweet tea or a soda. Reality is those other drinks dehydrate me and leave me even more thirsty. Thinking that tea and colas will quench my thirst is insanity. Only water will quench my thirst. My taste and cravings may make me think I need a cola but my tastes and cravings are a lie. They are insanity. Logic tells me what my body needs is water. 

Many worship immoral sex and drugs and such thinking that it will bring satisfaction but it never does, and thus the repeated addictive behavior, expecting drugs and sex to do for us what it has never done before.  By the way, later in the story in John 4:1-42 Jesus tells His disciples that His food is to do the will of His Father. I think what Jesus meant was that His satisfaction does not come from food, or drugs or immoral sex for that matter. His satisfaction comes from worshiping the Father and doing His will. Sure Jesus repeats this behavior of worship, but not as an addiction but rather because it is truly satisfying and exactly what He needs. After all God always gives us free will and free choice when it comes to worship. Worshiping God is a choice we make every day, and not an addiction. This is why Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23 to take up the cross every day, because every day we have to make that choice. It will never become an addiction. Only Satan uses addictions. Jesus died to free us from all addictions and only accepts worship done every day by free choice, as we choose every day to take up our cross and follow and worship Him. 

God knows worshiping Him really does bring true satisfaction and purpose so there is no reason for Him to make it addictive. God knows if we taste and see that the Lord is good we will freely choose to worship Him every day. He does not have to trick us by making it addictive. Satan on the other hand knows sin does not satisfy or give us purpose. Murder, lying, stealing, lust,  coveting and so forth have never been a logical solution for any problem. Thus Satan has to make these behaviors addictive in order to make us repeat them, because the fact is they do not bring satisfaction or purpose. Sin and sinful addictions are insanity like my pastor said. If that sounds too harsh, then lets just say sinful addictions are not a logical solution for any craving. Only Jesus satisfies. 

We worship because we are created to worship by nature. The only question is what or who do we worship? Like in my illustration at the beginning of this article, many people will do all they can to avoid worshiping God-even when they are bored and feel a void. I’ve had people tell me they don’t have time to study their Bible or worship God because they are too busy making money, or practicing other hobbies or just too busy watching sports and TV. Fact is they have plenty of time to worship. Its just that they are so busy worshiping everything else that they don’t have time to worship God. By the way do you know how I know that worshiping God truly satisfies? Sometimes I will plan on watching a ball game and will tell myself that I can do my Bible study before the game, but I often fall so in love with what and Who I am studying that by the time the game comes on I don’t desire to watch the game anymore. I want to keep studying, because I choose to because worshiping God is truly quenching my thirst, and giving me satisfaction so that I feel no need to watch the ball game. I am not addicted to the Bible. I keep studying because I want to and not because I am addicted. Again God does not want us to worship Him because we are addicted. We can stop worshiping Him anytime we want. He is not an addiction. He only accepts worship that comes by choice and not by addiction. But when I find how satisfying God is and how unsatisfying my addictions are, I then choose to worship God instead of my addictions, and God gives me the freedom to choose Him instead of my addictions when it is my sincere choice. 

In closing, I believe in my heart the reason many make themselves drunk with the cares of this life or with literal drugs and alcohol is so they can ignore the sobriety of life. They use drugs and alcohol which leads to death as a way to escape this world. Oh how I pray they find out soon there is a better way to escape the pains of this world and life. Jesus, offers us a way out of this world of misery, but His way out is not drinking yourself to death. His way out is the opposite of death, it is eternal life. A more fulfilling and satisfying life that will remove us from this world of misery and sin and give us eternal life in paradise with Him. Satan wants us to get so drunk with our addictions that we no longer think about life. He wants us to be numb to the realities of life and just drift away to a peaceful death. Let’s all wake up! instead of being drunk and numb to the realities of life and drifting off into a peaceful death, let’s be sober and worship God and accept the everlasting Gospel which will help us drift into a peaceful eternal life. 

PS Earlier I mentioned that our sinful addictive cravings are a lie. I want to help make this idea practical. Many times I have walked into a convenience store thinking I needed a cola, but walked out with a bottled water instead, after praying and telling myself that my desire for soda was a lie. When I think I need a soda, I have found myself drinking water instead by praying and then telling myself I was lying to myself when I told myself I needed a cola. I tell myself the truth is I want water. It also helps to stop and ask myself, did drinking cola really satisfy anything last time I drank it? No. Did water satisfy my thirst last time I drank it? Yes! Now I am free to make a sane and logical choice. 

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

6: The Hour of His Judgment- Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School Class, May 6, 2023.

Main Theme: The cleansing of the Sanctuary justifies God’s people as well as His character of love.

Read in Class: Daniel 8:14, and Daniel 9:24-27. Discuss the link between these two passages.

Note: Gabriel tells Daniel that 490 years are “cut off” (the literal meaning of the Hebrew word chathak, sometimes translated “determined”). Cut off from what? It could be the only other time prophecy alluded to here: the 2,300 days of Daniel 8:14. These 490 years, a time prophecy, is directly linked back to the time prophecy of Daniel 8:14, the only part of the vision left unexplained in Daniel 8 and the only time prophecy in Daniel 8, as well. Thus, we can see that Gabriel with this prophecy is coming to help Daniel understand what he didn’t understand in the previous chapter: the 2,300 days.

Study: What was to happen at the end of the 2300 days?

Apply: Why is it significant that the death of Jesus, as revealed in Daniel 9:24-27, is directly linked to the judgment, in Daniel 8:14? What great truth is taught here by this link?

Share: Your friend says there is no reason for an investigative judgment because God already knows everything. What do you tell your friend? See also The Cleansing of the Sanctuary in Scripture.

Read in Class: Leviticus 16:7-9, 15-22. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What did the priest do with the blood? What did he do with the sins? Who does the scapegoat represent? See The Sanctuary and the Scapegoat.

Apply: How does this segment of the cleansing of the sanctuary and Jesus dying on the cross help you to see that God is love and not the evil tyrant Satan wants us to believe He is? See Was the Atonement to Appease an Angry God or an Angry Race.

Share: Your friend says that the scapegoat cannot be Satan because Satan does not make an atonement. What do you tell your friend. See The Sanctuary and the Scapegoat.

Read in Class: Leviticus 23:27-30. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What are God’s people to be doing during this time? What happens to those who do not repent and turn from open sin?

Apply: How might Galatians 5:19-26 help us to understand what it means for us to “do not work” during the literal atonement we are in today?

Share: Your friend asks, how does God’s people being purified help others to see God as a God of love? What do you tell your friend? Hint: An ancient philosopher once told a group of Christians, “If you want me to believe in your Redeemer, you are going to have to start looking a lot more Redeemed.”

Read in Class: Hebrews 4:14-16. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What assurance does this passage give us in the investigative judgment and cleansing of the sanctuary?

Apply: How has God’s grace and mercy changed your behavior and attitude towards others?

Share: How can you help your friends see the love of God in the cleansing of the sanctuary and investigative judgment?

For further resources see The Cleansing of the Sanctuary in Light of the Cross.