January 17—23
Memory Verse: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16 – 17 STUDY HELP: Great Controversy, Introduction pages v – xii.
Introduction “In the Bible, we have the unerring counsel of God. Its teachings, practically carried out, will fit men for any position of duty. It is the voice of God speaking every day to the soul. How carefully should the young study the word of God and treasure up its sentiments in the heart, that its precepts may be made to govern the whole conduct. Our young ministers, and those who have been some time preaching, show a marked deficiency in their understanding of the Scriptures. The work of the Holy Spirit is to enlighten the darkened understanding, to melt the selfish, stony heart, to subdue the rebellious transgressor, and save him from the corrupting influences of the world. The prayer of Christ for His disciples was: ‘Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.’ The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, pierces the heart of the sinner and cuts it in pieces. When the theory of the truth is repeated without its sacred influence being felt upon the soul of the speaker, it has no force upon the hearers, but is rejected as error, the speaker making himself responsible for the loss of souls. We must be sure that our ministers are converted men, humble, meek, and lowly of heart.” Testimonies Volume 4, 442.
- ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD
- How did the Scriptures come to be written? 2 Timothy 3: 16
NOTE: ” ‘Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.’ The word and will of God are expressed in the Scriptures by inspired penmen. We should bind them as frontlets between our eyes and walk according to their precepts; then we shall walk safely. Every chapter and every verse is a communication of God to man. In studying the word, the soul that hungers and thirsts for righteousness will be impressed by the divine utterances. Scepticism can have no power over a soul that with humility searches the Scriptures.” Testimonies Volume 4, 449.
- What part did the Holy Spirit play in the writings of the prophets? Micah 3: 8, 2 Peter 1: 21.
NOTE: “Before the entrance of sin, Adam enjoyed open communion with his Maker; but since man separated himself from God by transgression, the human race has been cut off from this high privilege. By the plan of redemption, however, a way has been opened whereby the inhabitants of the earth may still have connection with heaven. God has communicated with men by His Spirit, and divine light has been imparted to the world by revelations to His chosen servants.” Great Controversy, Introduction page 1.
- How did Paul describe the source of his knowledge of Christ? Ephesians 3: 3 – 6.
NOTE: “The Lord had given Paul his commission to enter the broad missionary field of the Gentile world. To prepare him for this extensive and difficult work, God had brought him into close connection with Himself and had opened before his enraptured vision views of the beauty and glory of heaven. To him had been given the ministry of making known ‘the mystery’ which had been ‘kept secret since the world began’ (Romans 16:25), ‘the mystery of His will’ (Ephesians 1:9), ‘which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.’ ” Acts of the Apostles, 159.
- Why could the Scriptures not have been written without the Holy Spirit’s guidance? 2 Corinthians 2: 9 – 11.
NOTE: “If it were possible for created beings to attain to a full understanding of God and His works, then, having reached this point, there would be for them no further discovery of truth, no growth in knowledge, no further development of mind or heart. God would no longer be supreme; and men, having reached the limit of knowledge and attainment, would cease to advance. Let us thank God that it is not so. God is infinite; in Him are ‘all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ And to all eternity men may be ever searching, ever learning, and yet they can never exhaust the treasures of His wisdom, His goodness, and His power. God intends that, even in this life, truth shall be ever unfolding to His people. There is only one way in which this knowledge can be obtained. We can attain to an understanding of God’s word only through the illumination of that Spirit by which the word was given.” Testimonies Volume 5, 703.
- How did God communicate His will to His people Israel? 2 Kings 17: 13.
NOTE: “In giving the word, ‘holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.’ The word was not given at the option of men, and the use to be made of it is not left to their option. Men may not dissect or pronounce upon, wrest or misinterpret, take from or cast aside, any portion of that word according to their own judgement. Although its compilation, preservation, and transmission have been committed to men, it is wholly divine in its origin and in the thoughts expressed. It may not be demerited and pronounced upon by finite minds, because of its transmission through human agents.” Bible Echo, August 26, 1895.
- How did the prophets show the origin of their messages? Jeremiah 1: 1–2, 7, 9; Ezekiel 1: 3, Malachi 1: 1, Micah 1: 1.
NOTE: ‘The Bible is God’s word, and is for His people. It was communicated by men; but ‘they spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.’ It was given at different periods, and the men called to express the divine will and diffuse the light of truth, were chosen from all stations, from the humblest to the most exalted. The wonderful thing about it is the harmony there is in the divine word, coming to us, as it does, through these different channels and such widely separated periods. Each wrote in his own natural style, giving utterance, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to his own personal impressions, relating the events and scenes opened before him, or made to pass before his eyes; yet link is connected with link in the chain of precious truth given us in the word of God. The plan of redemption, and the will and character of God, are revealed to meet the necessities of man in every age; for these human instrumentalities were under divine control, and are not false witnesses of what they saw and heard.” Bible Echo, August 19, 1895.
- How did Paul’s hearers regard the things that he preached to them? 1 Thessalonians 2: 13.
NOTE: “The disciples were men who knew how to speak and pray sincerely, men who could take hold of the might of the Strength of Israel. How closely they stood by the side of God, and bound their personal honour to His throne! Jehovah was their God. His honour was their honour. His truth was their truth. Any attack made upon the gospel was as if cutting deep into their souls, and with every power of their being they battled for the cause of Christ. They could hold forth the word of life because they had received the heavenly anointing. They expected much, and therefore they attempted much. Christ had revealed Himself to them, and to Him they looked for guidance. Their understanding of truth and their power to withstand opposition were proportionate to their conformity to God’s will. Jesus Christ, the wisdom and power of God, was the theme of every discourse. His name—the only name given under heaven whereby men can be saved, was by them exalted. As they proclaimed the completeness of Christ, the risen Saviour, their words moved hearts, and men and women were won to the gospel. Multitudes who had reviled the Saviour’s name and despised His power now confessed themselves disciples of the Crucified.” Acts of the Apostles, 594.
- How did Paul indicate that the counsel He was sharing was from the Lord? 1 Corinthians 7: 10; 11: 23.
NOTE: “Patriarchs, prophets, and apostles spoke as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and they plainly stated that they spoke not by their own power, nor in their own name. They desired that no credit might be ascribed to them, that no one might regard them as the originators of anything whereof they might glory. They were jealous for the honour of God, to whom all praise belongs. They declared that their ability and the messages they brought, were given them as delegates of the power of God. God was their authority and sufficiency. Jesus had imparted a knowledge of God to patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. The revelations of the Old Testament were emphatically the unfoldings of the gospel, the unveiling of the purpose and will of the infinite Father. Through the holy men of old, Christ laboured for the salvation of fallen humanity. And when He came to the world it was with the same message of redemption from sin, and restoration to the favour of God.” Advent Review & Sabbath Herald, January 7, 1890.
- How did Paul distinguish between the Word of the Lord and his own counsel? 1 Corinthians 7: 12, 25, 40.
NOTE: “The Lord has one path of safety for His people, and that is the path of obedience to His word. That word is given to us as our guide. God is its Author; but the Scriptures were written by human hands, and they bear marks of the individuality of the different writers. In every book of the Bible, the stamp of the mind and character of the writer is manifest. And this is just as God designed it should be. He does nothing in the plan of redemption without human cooperation.” Bible Echo, August 19, 1895.
- How did John describe the source of his writings? Revelation 1:1 – 3.
NOTE: “Christ’s aged representative was exiled, that his testimony might no longer be heard; for it was a living power on the side of right. But though separated from his brethren, he was visited by Christ, whom he had not seen since the ascension. ‘I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,’ he writes, ‘and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. . . . I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore.’ Christ knew just where to find John; and there, on the lonely island, He gave him a view of the closing scenes of this earth’s history. This has been recorded for us. The record is ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ The Revealer is the Revealed. The living God is shown, superintending, day by day, the events connected with His church.” Advent Review & Sabbath Herald, May 16, 1899.
- What was the response of the people to the teaching of Jesus? Matthew 7: 28 – 29.
NOTE: “When Jesus spoke to the people, they were astonished at His doctrine; for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. The scribes had laboured to establish their theories, and they had to labour to sustain them, and to keep their influence over the minds of the people, by endless repetition of fables and childish traditions. The loftiest models of public instruction consisted largely in going through heartless rounds of unmeaning ceremonies, and in the repetition of frivolous opinions. The teaching of Jesus inculcated the weightiest ideas and the most sublime truths in the most comprehensible and simple manner, and ‘the common people heard Him gladly.’ This is the kind of instruction that should be given in our Sabbath-schools.” Testimonies on Sabbath School Work, 40. See also, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 46-47 and Desire of Ages, 253.
- What was the source of Christ’s teaching? John 7: 16.
NOTE: “His discourse showed that he was well acquainted with the law in all its bearings, and was a clear interpreter of the Scriptures. The question passes from one to another, ‘How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?’ Some, less acquainted with His former life, inquire among themselves in what school He has been instructed. Finally, the rulers recover their presence of mind sufficiently to demand by what authority He stands so boldly teaching the people. They seek to turn the attention of the multitude from Jesus to the question of His right to teach, and to their own importance and authority. But the voice of Jesus answers their queries with thrilling power: ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory; but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.’ Jesus here declares that His Heavenly Father is the source of all strength, and the foundation of all wisdom. No natural talent nor acquired learning can supply the place of a knowledge of the will of God. A willingness to obey the requirements of the Lord opens the mind and heart to candid inquiry, and diligent searching for the doctrine of truth. He declares that, with a mind thus open, men can discern between him who speaks in the cause of God and him who speaks for his own glory for selfish purposes.” Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2, 339.