Issue: 2014 November

Bible Study Guides – Walking With Jesus

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December 21, 2014 – December 27, 2014

Key Text

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6, 7.

Study Help: Steps to Christ, 115–126.

Introduction

“The world needs today what it needed nineteen hundred years ago—a revelation of Christ. A great work of reform is demanded, and it is only through the grace of Christ that the work of restoration, physical, mental, and spiritual, can be accomplished.” The Ministry of Healing, 143.

1 GOD IS CALLING US

  • Describe God’s desire for us in His work of restoration. Luke 15:4.

Note: “It is God’s design that His name shall be honored before the heavenly universe. The whole earth is to show forth His infinite glory. He is gathering from this earth a people for Himself. His will is the law of the universe. He calls upon every human being to cooperate with Him. But He forces no one. He has placed man’s destiny in His own hands, telling him that his future welfare depends on his choice. To be saved, he must cooperate with God in His work of restoration.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, 271.

“The strongest evidence of man’s fall from a higher state is the fact that it costs so much to return. The way of return can be gained only by hard fighting, inch by inch, every hour. By a momentary act of will, one may place himself in the power of evil; but it requires more than a momentary act of will to break these fetters and attain to a higher, holier life. The purpose may be formed, the work begun; but its accomplishment will require toil, time, and perseverance, patience and sacrifice.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 313.

2 A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE

  • What does the Lord invite His people to experience today? Job 22:21, 22; I Peter 1:21–25.

Note: “A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character.

“This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come.” The Ministry of Healing, 409.

“To practice the principles of love which Christ taught by precept and example, will make the experience of every one who follows Him like the experience of Christ.” The Review and Herald, January 15, 1895.

  • What should we learn from the disciples’ depth of commitment and determination in their desire to follow Christ? John 11:16; 13:37; I Thessalonians 5:23.

Note: “The soul that lives by faith on Christ desires no other nor greater good than to know and to do the will of God.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 644.

“Christians are bidden to present their bodies, ‘a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God’ (Romans 12:1). In order to do this, all their powers must be preserved in the best possible condition. Every practice that weakens physical or mental strength unfits man for the service of his Creator.” A New Life, 17.

“Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel. … This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. If we can awaken an interest in men’s minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, we may step aside, and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God. … He whose eyes are fixed on Jesus will leave all. He will die to selfishness. He will believe in all the Word of God, which is so gloriously and wonderfully exalted in Christ.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1113.

3 A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

  • Describe the relationship the Lord wants to have with His children, even in life’s adversities and challenges. Luke 15:22–24; John 17:3, 16–20.

Note: “If you confess your sins, believe they are pardoned, because the promise is positive. ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9). Why, then, dishonor God by doubting His pardoning love? Having confessed your sins, believe that the word of God will not fail, but that He is faithful that hath promised. It is just as much your duty to believe that God will fulfill His word and forgive your sins as it is your duty to confess your sins. Your faith must be exercised in God as one who will do just as He has said He would do—pardon all your transgressions.” In Heavenly Places, 126.

“If we make an entire surrender to Him [Christ], leave our life of sin and passion and pride, and cling to Christ and His merits, He will fulfill to us all that He has promised. He says that He will give liberally to all who ask Him. Cannot we believe it? I have tested Him on this point, and know that He is faithful to fulfill all His promises.” The Signs of the Times, September 29, 1887.

  • What degree of influence will the cross of Calvary have in establishing our relationship with God? John 12:32.

Note: “The cross of Calvary challenges, and will finally vanquish every earthly and hellish power. In the cross all influence centers, and from it all influence goes forth. It is the great center of attraction; for on it Christ gave up His life for the human race. This sacrifice was offered for the purpose of restoring man to his original perfection. Yea, more, it was offered to give him an entire transformation of character, making him more than a conqueror. …

“If the cross does not find an influence in its favor, it creates an influence. Through generation succeeding generation, the truth for this time is revealed as present truth. Christ on the cross was the medium whereby mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other. This is the means that is to move the world.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1113.

4 TROUBLES AND TRIALS

  • When faced with trials and difficulties, and feeling that we are alone and in despair, what may we remember? Matthew 11:28; Psalm 36:9, 10.

Note: “Christ’s words, so comforting and cheering to those that listened to them, are for us today. As a faithful shepherd knows and cares for his sheep, so Christ cares for His children. He knows the trials and difficulties surrounding each one. ‘He shall feed his flock like a shepherd,’ declares Isaiah; ‘He shall gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom’ (Isaiah 40:11). Christ knows His sheep intimately, and the suffering and helpless are objects of His special care. He gave His life for them, and He knows their wants as no one else can.” The Review and Herald, May 18, 1897.

“Jesus has not left you to be surprised and amazed at the trials and difficulties you meet. He has told you all about them, and He has also told you that you should not be cast down and oppressed when trials come. You are to look to Jesus, your Redeemer, and be cheerful and rejoice. … We have a living Saviour, who so loved us that He died for us, that through Him we might have hope, strength, and courage, and a seat with Him upon His throne.” The Upward Look, 211.

“Satan suggests that you are helpless and cannot bless yourself. It is true; you are helpless. But lift up Jesus before him: ‘I have a risen Saviour. In Him I trust, and He will never suffer me to be confounded. In His name I triumph. He is my righteousness and my crown of rejoicing.’ Let no one here feel that his case is hopeless, for it is not. You may see that you are sinful and undone, but it is just on this account that you need a Saviour.” Faith and Works, 37.

  • What is to characterize our experience? Psalm 16:11; Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 2:6, 7.

Note: “The seraphim around the throne [of Jehovah in the holy of holies] are so filled with reverential awe as they behold the glory of God, that they do not for an instant look upon themselves with admiration. … They are fully satisfied to glorify God; abiding in His presence, beneath His smile of approbation, they wish for nothing more.” God’s Amazing Grace, 72.

5 CHRIST-CENTERED SERVICE

  • How is a real Christian walk revealed? I John 2:6; 4:19.

Note: “Christ attaches a weight of importance to the obedience of His people to the commandments of God. They are to have an intelligent knowledge of them and bring them into their daily life. Man cannot keep the commandments of God, only as he is in Christ, and Christ in him. And it is not possible for him to be in Christ, having light on His commandments, while disregarding the least of them. By steadfast, willing obedience to His word, they evidence their love for the Sent of God. …

“In all their emergencies and perplexities they will have a helper in Jesus Christ.” This Day With God, 142.

  • Ultimately our life’s destiny is determined by each right or wrong decision we make. What appeals echo down to every one of us? Deuteronomy 30:19; I Peter 1:13–16; Ephesians 4:1. Why? Revelation 5:12.

Note: “There is one great central truth to be kept ever before the mind in the searching of the Scriptures—Christ and Him crucified. … It is only in the light of the cross that we can discern the exalted character of the law of God. The soul palsied by sin can be endowed with life only through the work wrought out upon the cross by the Author of our salvation.” That I May Know Him, 208.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 What is God’s desire for His children?

2 Describe what it means to have a right relationship with God.

3 How committed is God to our restoration?

4 When we are faced with difficulties, what should we remember?

5 What great central truth can lead us to purity of heart and life?

Copyright © 2013 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – Living for Jesus

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December 14, 2014 – December 20, 2014

Key Text

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” I Corinthians 6:9–11.

Study Help: Steps to Christ, 105–113.

Introduction

“Devotion, piety, and sanctification of the entire man come through Jesus Christ our righteousness. The love of God needs to be constantly cultivated. O how my heart cries out to the living God for the mind of Jesus Christ! I want to lose sight of self.” That I May Know Him, 55.

1 TRANSFORMATION THROUGH CHRIST

  • What transformation takes place in our life as we accept Jesus Christ? John 14:23; I John 2:3–6; 4:15–21.

Note: “If we are Christ’s, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. All we have and are is consecrated to Him.” Steps to Christ, 58.

“When Christ abides in the heart, the whole nature is transformed. Christ’s Spirit, His love, softens the heart, subdues the soul, and raises the thoughts and desires toward God and heaven.” Ibid., 73.

“Let this point be fully settled in every mind: If we accept Christ as a Redeemer, we must accept Him as a Ruler. We cannot have the assurance and perfect confiding trust in Christ as our Saviour until we acknowledge Him as our King and are obedient to His commandments. Thus we evidence our allegiance to God. We have then the genuine ring in our faith, for it is a working faith. It works by love.” Faith and Works, 16.

2 THE ISSUE AT STAKE

  • Describe how the marvelous work of transformation through Christ involves an ongoing battle. Ephesians 6:12, 13; I Peter 5:6–10.

Note: “In every soul two powers are struggling earnestly for the victory. Unbelief marshals its forces, led by Satan, to cut us off from the Source of our strength. Faith marshals its forces, led by Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Hour by hour, in the sight of the heavenly universe, the conflict goes forward. This is a hand-to-hand fight, and the great question is, Which shall obtain the mastery? This question each must decide for himself. In this warfare all must take a part, fighting on one side or the other. From the conflict there is no release.” Sons and Daughters of God, 328.

“If our eyes could be opened to see the good and evil agencies at work, there would be no trifling, no vanity, no jesting or joking. If all would put on the whole armor of God and fight manfully the battles of the Lord, victories would be gained that would cause the kingdom of darkness to tremble.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 41.

“The test comes to everyone. There are only two sides. On which side are you?” Ibid., vol. 8, 120.

  • What is the most expensive thing in the world—and how is its magnitude revealed? Romans 6:23, first part; Hebrews 9:27.

Note: “Can we not understand that the most costly thing in the world is sin? It is at the expense of purity of conscience, at the cost of losing the favor of God and separating the soul from Him, and at last losing heaven. … What a scene will be presented when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened to testify the salvation or the loss of all souls! It will require the unerring decision of One who has lived in humanity, loved humanity, given His life for humanity, to make the final appropriation of the rewards to the loyal righteous, and the punishment of … the disloyal, and the unrighteous.

“The work of our salvation lies between God and our own souls. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before Him, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being on earth.” In Heavenly Places, 360.

3 ACTIVE FAITH

  • Describe the intensity of faith needed in salvation. Luke 10:27.

Note: “Anything less than active, earnest service for the Master gives the lie to our profession of faith. Only the Christianity that is revealed by earnest, practical work will make an impression upon those who are dead in trespasses and sins. Praying, humble, believing Christians, those who show by their actions that their greatest desire is to make known the saving truth which is to test all people, will gather a rich harvest of souls for the Master. …

“We are doing a work in the world, but we are not showing sufficient activity and zeal. If we were more in earnest, men would be convinced of the truth of our message. … We may perform all the outward acts of service and yet be as destitute of the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit as the hills of Gilboa were destitute of dew and rain. We all need spiritual moisture, and we need also the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness to soften and subdue our hearts. … Bible principles are to be taught and then backed up by holy practice.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 417, 418.

  • How does Jesus vividly illustrate the drastic change He wants to see in us? John 3:5–7.

Note: “The old ways, the hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given up; for grace is not inherited. The new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, new tendencies. Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit have become partakers of the divine nature, and in all their habits and practices, they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ.” The Review and Herald, April 12, 1892.

“Let those who wish for something new seek for that newness of life resulting from the new birth. Let them purify their souls by obeying the truth, and act in harmony with the instruction Christ gave to the lawyer who asked what he must do in order to inherit eternal life:

“ ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.’ ‘This do and thou shalt live’ (Luke 10:27, 28). All who will conform their lives to the plain requirements of God’s word will inherit eternal life.” Notebook Leaflets, vol. 2, 164.

4 ALL IS OF GOD

  • What thought should ever be kept in our mind? I Chronicles 29:14.

Note: “Every member of the human family is given wholly into the hands of Christ, and whatever we possess—whether it is the gift of money, of houses, of lands, of reasoning powers, of physical strength, of intellectual talents—in this present life, and the blessings of the future life, are placed in our possession as God’s treasures to be faithfully expended for the benefit of man. Every gift is stamped with the cross and bears the image and superscription of Jesus Christ. All things come of God. From the smallest benefits up to the largest blessing, all flow through the one Channel—a superhuman mediation sprinkled with the blood that is of value beyond estimate because it was the life of God in His Son. …

“We possess nothing, can offer nothing in value, in work, in faith, which we have not first received of God and upon which He can lay His hand any time and say, They are Mine—gifts and blessings and endowments I entrusted to you, not to enrich yourself, but for wise improvement to benefit the world.” Faith and Works, 22.

  • How should this reality affect our attitudes? Romans 2:1–4; I Corinthians 6:9–11.

Note: “You cannot have a thought without Christ. You cannot have an inclination to come to Him unless He sets in motion influences and impresses His Spirit upon the human mind. …

“Then don’t let us ever say that we can repent of ourselves, and then Christ will pardon. No, indeed. It is the favor of God that pardons. It is the favor of God that leads us by His power to repentance. Therefore, it is all of Jesus Christ, everything of Him, and you want to just give back glory to God. Why don’t you respond more when you meet together in your meetings? Why don’t you have the quickening influence of the Spirit of God when the love of Jesus and His salvation are presented to you? It is because you do not see that Christ is first and last and best, and the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the very Author and Finisher of our faith.” Faith and Works, 73.

5 FOLLOWING IN OUR MASTER’S FOOTSTEPS

  • Explain the cross in our daily life. Ephesians 2:11–18; Matthew 16:24, 25.

Note: “Look not to a future, more convenient season, when the cross to be lifted will be less heavy, when the inclinations of the carnal heart will be subdued with less effort. ‘Today,’ saith the Spirit of God, ‘if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart’ (Hebrews 3:7, 8). Today go about the work, else you may be one day too late.” The Review and Herald, November 2, 1886.

  • We cannot earn salvation—it is attained only through the merits of Christ—yet what are we nonetheless bidden? Philippians 2:12, 13.

Note: “It is not committed to us, weak, feeble mortals to work out our own salvation in our own line. It is Christ that worketh in you. And this is the privilege of every son and daughter of Adam. But we are to work. We are not to be idle. We are put here in this world to work. We are not put here to fold our arms.” This Day With God, 72.

“You cannot enjoy His [God’s] blessing without any action on your part. Salvation is a gift offered to you free; on no other condition can you obtain it, than as a free gift. But cooperation on your part is essential for your salvation. … We are daily working out our destiny. We have a crown of eternal life to win, a hell to shun.” The Review and Herald, August 25, 1891.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Explain the change that comes when we accept Christ as Lord of our life.

2 What is the most costly thing in the world—and why?

3 Describe the fruits of true repentance and conversion.

4 Explain how far-reaching is the basic truth that God is all-in-all.

5 What can or cannot we do toward our salvation?

Copyright © 2013 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – Our Value in Christ

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December 7, 2014 – December 13, 2014

Key Text

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” II Corinthians 13:5.

Study Help: Steps to Christ, 93–104.

Introduction

“In the light of the cross alone can the true value of the human soul be estimated.” The Acts of the Apostles, 273.

1 REALIZING OUR DANGER

  • Against what must we be continually on guard to avoid falling from grace? Jeremiah 17:9, 10; Proverbs 16:18; I Corinthians 10:12.

Note: “Christ has provided means whereby our whole life may be an unbroken communion with Himself; but the sense of Christ’s abiding presence can come only through living faith. …

“Let all contemplate the completeness it is their privilege to have and ask themselves the question, Is my will submerged in Christ’s will? Is the fullness and richness of the Living Vine—His goodness, His mercy, His compassion and love—seen in my life and character?” In Heavenly Places, 56.

  • Give an example of a proper self-view and of submitting to the will of Jesus. I Corinthians 9:26, 27; 15:30, 31; Mark 7:14–23.

Note: “The essential work is to conform the tastes, the appetite, the passions, the motives, the desires, to the great moral standard of righteousness. The work must begin at the heart. That must be pure, wholly conformed to Christ’s will, else some master passion, or some habit or defect, will become a power to destroy. God will accept of nothing short of the whole heart.” Christian Education, 51.

2 DEVELOPING A PROPER PERSPECTIVE

  • What could likely be hindering our ability to serve God? Matthew 18:1–4.

Note: “Self-will in us must die; Christ’s will alone must be obeyed. The soldier in Christ’s army must learn to endure hardness, deny self, take up the cross, and follow where His Captain leads the way. There are many things to do which are trying to human nature, and painful to flesh and blood. This work of self-subduing requires determined, continuous effort. In fighting the good fight of faith, obtaining precious victories, we are laying hold of eternal life.” The Youth’s Instructor, December 22, 1886.

“Jesus gave His life for the life of the world, and He places an infinite value upon man. He desires that man shall appreciate himself, and consider his future well-being. … If the spiritual vision is clear, unseen realities will be looked upon in their true value.” Counsels on Stewardship, 136.

  • What needs to change that we may have a right relationship with God? Matthew 6:24; Proverbs 8:13.

Note: “Naturally we are self-centered and opinionated. But when we learn the lessons that Christ desires to teach us, we become partakers of His nature; henceforth we live His life. The wonderful example of Christ, the matchless tenderness with which He entered into the feelings of others, weeping with those who wept, rejoicing with those who rejoiced, must have a deep influence upon the character of all who follow Him in sincerity. By kindly words and acts they will try to make the path easy for weary feet.” The Ministry of Healing, 157, 158.

“There are some who think that in matters of practical Christianity, they have a superior intelligence. Whether or not this is so, will be demonstrated by the life-actions. Are they self-centered, or are they moved by the Holy Spirit of truth and righteousness? Religion is to become a living, active principle. The one all-absorbing motive of the true Christian is to give an expression of the goodness and love of Christ.” Loma Linda Messages, 318.

3 WE ARE SERVANTS WITHOUT MERIT

  • In seeking God, what should we keep in mind? James 4:6–10; Luke 17:10.

Note: “Jesus is officiating in the presence of God, offering up His shed blood, as it had been a lamb slain. Jesus presents the oblation offered for every offense and every shortcoming of the sinner.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 344.

“When Christ died upon the cross of Calvary, the new and living way was thrown open to Jew and Gentile alike.

“Angels rejoiced as the Saviour cried, ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30)! The great plan of redemption was to be carried out. Through a life of obedience, the sons of Adam might be exalted finally to the presence of God.” The Story of Jesus, 147.

“Perfection through our own good works we can never attain. The soul who sees Jesus by faith, repudiates his own righteousness. He sees himself as incomplete, his repentance insufficient, his strongest faith but feebleness, his most costly sacrifice as meager, and he sinks in humility at the foot of the cross. But a voice speaks to him from the oracles of God’s Word. In amazement he hears the message, ‘Ye are complete in Him’ (Colossians 2:10). Now all is at rest in his soul. No longer must he strive to find some worthiness in himself, some meritorious deed by which to gain the favor of God.” Faith and Works, 107.

  • What must we always remember about salvation? I Corinthians 1:27–31.

Note: “The science of salvation is to be the burden of every sermon, the theme of every song. Let it be poured forth in every supplication. Let nothing be brought into the preaching of the Word to supplement Christ, the Word and power of God. Let His name, the only name given under heaven whereby we may be saved, be exalted in every discourse, and from Sabbath to Sabbath let the trumpet of the watchmen give a certain sound. Christ is the science and eloquence of the gospel, and His ministers are to hold forth the Word of life, presenting hope to the penitent, peace to the troubled and desponding, and grace and completeness and strength to the believing.” The Voice in Speech and Song, 337.

4 GAINING DEEPER PERSPECTIVE

  • What are we commanded to do with regard to our own spiritual condition? Galatians 6:4; II Corinthians 13:5.

Note: “A great many are likely to be deceived in regard to their spiritual condition. In Christ we shall have the victory. In Him we have a perfect Model. While He hated sin with a perfect hatred, He could weep over the sinner. He possessed the divine nature, while He had the humility of a little child. He had in His character that which we must have in our characters, undeviating perseverance in the path of duty, from which no obstacles or dangers could divert Him, while His heart was so full of compassion that the woes of humanity touched His heart with tenderest compassion.” This Day With God, 279.

  • How does God see us in relation to His law with its demands of justice? Isaiah 63:5, 8, 9; I Peter 1:18, 19; Romans 5:8–10.

Note: “The law of God had been broken. The divine government had been dishonored, and justice demanded that the penalty of transgression be paid.

“To save the race from eternal death, the Son of God volunteered to bear the punishment of disobedience. Only by the humiliation of the Prince of heaven could the dishonor be removed, justice be satisfied, and man be restored to that which he had forfeited by disobedience. There was no other way. For an angel to come to this earth, to pass over the ground where Adam stumbled and fell, would not have sufficed. This could not have removed one stain of sin, or brought to man one hour of probation.

“Christ, equal with God, the brightness of the Father’s ‘glory, and the express image of his person’ (Hebrews 1:3), clothed His divinity with humanity, and came to this earth to suffer and die for sinners. The only-begotten Son of God humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. By bearing in His body the curse of sin, He placed happiness and immortality within the reach of all. …

“When we realize that His suffering was necessary in order to secure our eternal well-being, our hearts are touched and melted.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 308, 309.

5 PRIDE IN CONTRAST TO HUMILITY

  • What are the differences between pride, humility, and self-pity? Daniel 4:29–33; James 4:13–16; Genesis 27:34.

Note: “In self-love, self-exaltation, and pride, there is great weakness; but in humility there is great strength. … In our separation from God, in our pride and darkness, we are constantly seeking to elevate ourselves, forgetting that lowliness of mind is power.” The Signs of the Times, October 21, 1897.

  • Why did God’s people fail to obey His will in times past? Numbers 13:30–14:4; I Samuel 17:4–11, 24; I Kings 19:1–18. How should we behave instead?

Note: “Zeal and energy must be intensified; talents that are rusting from inaction must be pressed into service. The voice that would say, ‘Wait; do not allow yourself to have burdens imposed upon you,’ is the voice of the cowardly spies. We want Calebs now who will press to the front—chieftains in Israel who with courageous words will make a strong report in favor of immediate action. When the selfish, ease-loving, panic-stricken people, fearing tall giants and inaccessible walls, clamor for retreat, let the voice of the Calebs be heard, even though the cowardly ones stand with stones in their hands, ready to beat them down for their faithful testimony.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 383.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Of what must the Christian constantly beware?

2 How does one develop a proper perspective?

3 Are we deserving of salvation?

4 How do I stand in relation to the cross of Christ?

5 What do we too often forget about pride in opposition to humility?

Copyright © 2013 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – Securing the Pearl of Righteousness

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November 30, 2014 – December 6, 2014

Trusting in the Love of Jesus

Key Text

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:45, 46.

Study Help: Steps to Christ, 85–91.

Introduction

“We cannot earn salvation, but we are to seek for it with as much interest and perseverance as though we would abandon everything in the world for it.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 117.

1 THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

  • How are we to understand the Pearl of great price? Matthew 13:45, 46.

Note: “Christ Himself is the pearl of great price. … The righteousness of Christ, as a pure, white pearl, has no defect, no stain. No work of man can improve the great and precious gift of God. It is without a flaw.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 115.

  • How does one obtain the Pearl of great price? Isaiah 55:1–3. What must be surrendered to get it? Zechariah 3:4; Ephesians 4:22–32.

Note: “Salvation is a free gift, and yet it is to be bought and sold. …

“The poorest are as well able as the richest to purchase salvation; for no amount of worldly wealth can secure it. It is obtained by willing obedience, by giving ourselves to Christ as His own purchased possession.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 117.

“O that you would search the Scriptures with prayerful hearts, and a spirit of surrender to God! O that you would search your hearts as with a lighted candle, and discover and break the finest thread that binds you to worldly habits, which divert the mind from God!” Maranatha, 48.

2 THE PROCESS OF BUYING CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

  • What does “buying” righteousness really mean? How is Christ’s righteousness “bought”? Revelation 3:18.

Note: “The Saviour comes with jewels of truth of the richest value in distinction from all counterfeits, all that is spurious. He comes to every house, to every door; He is knocking, presenting His priceless treasure, urging, ‘Buy of me’ (Revelation 3:18).” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 964.

“In the parable the pearl is not represented as a gift. The merchantman bought it at the price of all that he had. Many question the meaning of this, since Christ is represented in the Scriptures as a gift. He is a gift, but only to those who give themselves, soul, body, and spirit, to Him without reserve. We are to give ourselves to Christ, to live a life of willing obedience to all His requirements. All that we are, all the talents and capabilities we possess, are the Lord’s, to be consecrated to His service. When we thus give ourselves wholly to Him, Christ, with all the treasures of heaven, gives Himself to us. We obtain the pearl of great price.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 116.

  • Why do we need to buy of Christ wholeheartedly? Jeremiah 29:11–13.

Note: “Jesus is going from door to door, standing in front of every soul-temple, proclaiming, ‘I stand at the door, and knock’ (Revelation 3:20). As a heavenly merchantman, He opens His treasures. … ‘Open your doors,’ says the great Merchantman, the possessor of spiritual riches, ‘and transact your business with Me. It is I, your Redeemer, who counsels you to buy of Me.’ ” The Review and Herald, August 7, 1894.

“To talk of religion in a casual way, to pray without soul hunger and living faith, avails nothing. A nominal faith in Christ, which accepts Him merely as the Saviour of the world, can never bring healing to the soul. The faith that is unto salvation is not a mere intellectual assent to the truth. He who waits for entire knowledge before he will exercise faith, cannot receive blessing from God. It is not enough to believe about Christ; we must believe in Him. The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour; which appropriates His merits to ourselves.” [Emphasis author’s.] The Desire of Ages, 347.

3 PAYING FOR THE PRECIOUS PEARL

  • What do we all—rich, poor, those who have grown up in the church, and those who have grown up among worldly-minded persons—need to realize in seeking to pay for the Pearl of great price? Proverbs 22:2; Acts 10:34, 35.

Note: “Abandon the idea that temporal or spiritual advantages will win for you salvation. God calls for your willing obedience. He asks you to give up your sins. …

“There are some who seem to be always seeking for the heavenly pearl. But they do not make an entire surrender of their wrong habits. They do not die to self that Christ may live in them. Therefore they do not find the precious pearl. They have not overcome unholy ambition and their love for worldly attractions. They do not take up the cross and follow Christ in the path of self-denial and sacrifice. Almost Christians, yet not fully Christians, they seem near the kingdom of heaven, but they cannot enter there. Almost but not wholly saved, means to be not almost but wholly lost.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 117, 118.

  • What could cause us to miss this sale? Luke 9:24; 14:33; James 4:10.

Note: “How many, if now called to render up their accounts, would do it with grief, regret, and remorse that their God-given probationary time was so fully employed in self-serving! The eternal interests of the soul have been fearfully neglected for unimportant affairs. The mind is kept busy, just as Satan designs it shall be, with selfish interests and nothing of any consequence, and time may be passing into eternity without a fitting up for heaven at all.

“What can be compared with the loss of a human soul? It is a question which every soul must determine for himself—whether to gain the treasures of eternal life or to lose all because of his neglect to make God and His righteousness his first and only business. Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, … looks with grief upon the large number of those who profess to be Christians who are not serving Him but themselves.” That I May Know Him, 321.

4 APPRECIATING THE VALUE OF THE PEARL

  • Why would anyone sell all to buy the Pearl of great price? What makes it such a profitable business transaction? Job 28:12–23; Proverbs 2:1–5.

Note: “The Gospel of Christ is a blessing which all may possess. It takes men as they are, poor, wretched, miserable, blind, and naked. The only condition Christ presents to those who come to Him to be clothed with His righteousness is obedience to His commandments. And by the obedient soul the law is found to be a law of perfect liberty, liberty to lay hold by faith on the hope that is sure and steadfast. When we render back to God His own, when we wash our robes of character, and make them white in the blood of the Lamb, then we shall be entitled to a celestial crown.” The Signs of the Times, December 15, 1898.

“What do we give up, when we give all? A sin-polluted heart, for Jesus to purify, to cleanse by His own blood, and to save by His matchless love. And yet men think it hard to give up all! I am ashamed to hear it spoken of, ashamed to write it.

“God does not require us to give up anything that it is for our best interest to retain. In all that He does, He has the well-being of His children in view. Would that all who have not chosen Christ might realize that He has something vastly better to offer them than they are seeking for themselves.” Steps to Christ, 46.

  • What motivates the buyer to “sell” in order to “buy”? How does duty become “a delight and sacrifice a pleasure”? Numbers 21:8, 9; Matthew 13:44.

Note: “A view of our sinfulness drives us to Him [our Saviour] Who can pardon; and when the soul, realizing its helplessness, reaches out after Christ, He will reveal Himself in power. The more our sense of need drives us to Him and to the word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of His character, and the more fully we shall reflect His image.” Steps to Christ, 65.

“When once the gaze is fixed upon Him [Jesus], the life finds its center. The enthusiasm, the generous devotion, the passionate ardor, of the youth find here their true object. Duty becomes a delight and sacrifice a pleasure. To honor Christ, to become like Him, to work for Him, is the life’s highest ambition and its greatest joy.” Education, 297.

5 DISCERNING VALUE

  • What happens when we discern the value of the Pearl? Acts 2:37.

Note: “As the apostles set forth the glory of the Only-Begotten of the Father, three thousand souls were convicted. They were made to see themselves as they were, sinful and polluted, and Christ as their friend and Redeemer. Christ was lifted up, Christ was glorified, through the power of the Holy Spirit resting upon men. By faith these believers saw Him as the One who had borne humiliation, suffering, and death that they might not perish but have everlasting life.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 120.

  • What happens when we understand the cost and value of the Pearl—so much so that we decide to buy it? Isaiah 55:7; Philippians 3:7, 8.

Note: “If we have forsaken all for Christ, our lives will be humble, our conversation heavenly, our conduct blameless. The powerful, purifying influence of truth in the soul, and the character of Christ exemplified in the life, are a confession of Him.

“Integrity, firmness, and perseverance are qualities that all should seek earnestly to cultivate; for they clothe the possessor with a power which is irresistible—a power which makes him strong to do good, strong to resist evil, strong to bear adversity. … Those who have placed themselves without reserve on the side of Christ will stand firmly by that which reason and conscience tell them is right.” God’s Amazing Grace, 277.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Who is the Pearl of great price?

2 What process is involved in the purchase of the Pearl?

3 What is the biblical purchasing method? Explain.

4 Why would a person sell all for one pearl?

5 What happens inside us when we truly appreciate the value of the Pearl?

Copyright © 2013 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Recipe – Shredded Raw Salad with Jicama

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Shred the following vegetables into Equal amounts, e.g., ½ cup each or 1 cup each:

Beets

Jicama

Zucchini, green

Carrots

Cover with an oil and lemon juice dressing seasoned with salt and sprinkled with dried basil or your favorite dressing. This is a very simple nutritious recipe.

Food – Jicama

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What is a jicama [HEEK-ka-ma] known also as a Mexican potato or Mexican turnip? How do you eat it?

A jicama bulb can weigh anywhere from one to two pounds. It has a tough, brown outer skin but the flesh is white. Preparation is very easy. Simply peel off the outer skin and then it can be eaten, either cooked or raw—both ways are great—either sliced or diced. Basically, jicama is similar to a raw potato but moister and crunchier. Jicama can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores.

What is so good about a Jicama?

One cup of jicama, amounting to about 4.6 ounces, contains just 49 calories and virtually no fat. Jicamas are mostly carbohydrates—offering 11.47 grams per cup. Jicama is not a significant source of protein, with just 0.94 grams of protein per cup.

Jicama provides 6.4 grams of fiber per cup. This is about 16 percent of the 38 grams recommended daily for men and 25 percent of the 25 grams recommended daily for women by the Institute of Medicine. Fiber is important to digestive health, contributes to lower cholesterol levels, controls blood sugar, and aids in weight loss.

Other nutrients: A cup of jicama provides 40 percent of the daily value of vitamin C, notes Joanne Larsen, R.D., on Ask the Dietitian. It also provides about 16 percent of your daily folic acid needs. Jicama, per cup, is a moderately good source of potassium offering 195 milligrams—the same amount as you get in a peach, notes www.drugs.com. Potassium is important for fluid balance and blood pressure control. www.livestrong.com/article/262688-nutrition-information-on-jicama/

Jicama can be diced, cut into slices for a vegetable tray or grated and added to coleslaw or salads. It can also be steamed or stir-fried.

Who, Self or Christ?

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The great challenge facing every Christian is to constantly choose either self or Christ as the master of his or her life when the basic philosophy that governs the world is self-recognition, self-exaltation and self-esteem.

This philosophy is promoted in various ways; for example, Frank Sinatra sang in the year 1969 “… I did it my way.” Elvis Presley sang, “I did it my way” as he borrowed Sinatra’s song in the quest to change the stream of thinking of Americans and the rest of the world! Nat Naiel sang, “Do what you wanna do, Be what you wanna be …”

Lynyrd Skynyrd, an American rock band sang, “Follow your heart and nothing else.” Shirley MacLaine in the film Out on a Limb was encouraged by her Buddist friend to say, “The kingdom of Heaven is within; I love myself; I am god.” She was reluctant to say it so her Buddist friend David said to her, “See how low you think of yourself; you can’t even say the words.” She then said, “I am god.”

Universalist Unitarianism – every man chooses what he wants to believe. Religious authority lies not in a book or creed or religion but in ourselves.

Secular Humanism is man-centered philosophy that excludes God. There is no belief in a Supreme Being and the primary belief is that everything revolves around man rather than God.

It is quite evident that this worldly philosophy (self-esteem) has slowly crept into the Christian church and has become the driving force behind most if not everything that many Christians do. Many of the spiritual maladies that the church has suffered and is now suffering are as a result of this deadly philosophy. The doctrine of “SELF-ESTEEM” is the core principle that propels the world.

Brief History of Self-esteem

  • The psychologist William James (1842–1910) was born in New York City and was the older brother of Henry James, the famous novelist. He was trained at Harvard as a physician (although he never practiced) and later taught physiology and eventually philosophy at Harvard. Dr. James is the one credited for crafting the phrase “self-esteem” and he is responsible for the upstart of the self-esteem movement.
  • Dr James’ original formula of self-esteem is:
  • Pretensions
  • Success
  • “The two elements, feeling good about ourselves (pretensions) and how well we actually do (success), are inextricably linked; we can feel better about ourselves by succeeding in the world but also by varying the levels of our hopes and expectations.” positivepsychology.org.uk
  • “William James (1890) defined self-esteem as the feeling of self-worth that derives from the ratio of our actual successes to our pretensions. By pretensions he meant our estimation of our potential successes and this is informed by our values, goals and aspirations. This definition of self-esteem highlights that it is a construct which addresses the way we evaluate ourselves and measure our own sense of self-worth by comparing how we are and how we aspire to be.” Positive Psychology, Alan Carr, p. 204.

Self-esteem Defined

Todd F. Heatherton and Carrie L. Wyland wrote an article entitled “Assessing Self-Esteem” in which they provided two basic but important definitions of self-esteem.

They state that, “Self-esteem is the evaluative aspect of the self-concept that corresponds to an overall view of the self as worthy or unworthy (Baumeister, 1998). This is embodied in Coopersmith’s (1967) classic definition of self-esteem: the evaluation which the individual makes and customarily maintains with regard to himself: it expresses an attitude of approval and indicates the extent to which an individual believes himself to be capable, significant, successful and worthy. In short, self-esteem is a personal judgment of the worthiness that is expressed in the attitudes the individual holds towards himself. Thus, self-esteem is an attitude about the self and is related to personal beliefs about skills, abilities, social relationships, and future outcomes.”

Note carefully that the emphasis in this self-esteem doctrine is “self.” Its all inclusive nature as well as philosophy centers in “me, myself and I.” Studies have revealed that self-esteem is positively associated with narcissism or self-love.

Dr. Larry Day, in his book By God’s Design and In God’s Image, pages 24, 25, 1994 edition wrote, “People talk about self-esteem in a lot of different ways. Words like ‘self-image,’ ‘self-concept,’ ‘self-identity,’ ‘self-worth,’ ‘self-respect,’ and ‘self-esteem’ have been used inter-changeably, yet each can carry a distinct meaning. When I use the word self-esteem, I think of a core-felt belief that is formed in our hearts about the worth of our personhood.

“To help us appreciate the richness of the word esteem let’s look at a list of synonyms:

To value Self

To prize Self

To hold dear Self

To honor Self

To respect Self

To think highly of Self

To love Self

To appreciate Self

To cherish Self

To treasure Self

To admire Self

To like Self

To be fond of Self

To care for someone or something Self

“The doctrine of ‘self-esteem’ is a teaching that is totally opposite to the teachings of Jesus Christ!”

Two Main Areas of Self-Esteem

High or Positive Self-Esteem – I love myself!

Low or Negative Self-Esteem – I always look down on myself.

Basic Characteristics of High Self-Esteem Individuals:

  1. People are considered to be psychologically happy and healthy.
  2. They feel good about themselves, they are able to cope effectively with challenges and negative feedback.
  3. They live in a social world in which they believe that people value and respect them.
  4. They dismiss negative feedback as unreliable or biased.
  5. They trivialize failures or attribute them to external causes.
  6. They take less personal responsibility for harmful actions and develop an inaccurate self-concept, hindering growth and change.
  7. They become angry and aggressive toward those who threaten their ego.
  8. They engage in downward social comparisons, a process that underlies prejudice and discrimination.
  9. The motivation to protect feelings of self-worth can also lead to a rigid, closed mind-set that cannot tolerate alternative viewpoints known as ‘‘need for cognitive closure.”
  10. They sometimes engage in dysfunctional behaviors.
  11. Their inflated ego is easily pricked and insatiable need for social approval often leads to relationship problems. (Source: kristin.neff@mail.utexas.edu)

Basic Characteristic of Low Self- Esteem Individuals

  1. Individuals believed to be psychologically distressed and perhaps even depressed.
  2. They see the world through a more negative viewpoint.
  3. Their general dislike for themselves colors their perceptions of everything around them.

Low Self-Esteem is as Diabolical as High Self-Esteem!

“In one sense, low self-esteem is the opposite of pride. In another sense, low-self-esteem is a form of pride. Some people have low self-esteem because they want people to feel sorry for them, to pay attention to them, to comfort them. Low self-esteem can be a declaration of “look at me” just as much as pride. It simply takes a different route to get to the same destination; that is, self-absorption, self-obsession, and selfishness.” (Source: www.gotquestions.org/self-esteem.html)

Self-Esteem and Self-Respect Contrasted

Self-Esteem has to do with the promoting of the “self” or the “person.” Its main focus is uplifting one’s self over and above everyone else. Self is the idol, self is always number one!

Webster defines self-esteem as the holding of a good opinion of one’s self; self-respect; also self-conceit.

Self-conceit according to Webster is an overwhelming opinion of one’s own powers, endowments, merits, or the likes; vanity.

Self-Respect – Proper respect for oneself or one’s own character. (The Chambers Dictionary, 11th ed.)

Self-Esteem – A good opinion of oneself; an overestimation of oneself. It is giving the “I” undue prominence in speech and action. (Synonyms: egoism, pride, self-conceit, self-confidence, self-assertion, self-exaltation.) Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary, International Edition.

Laurence Sterne (1713–1768) penned the following: “To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; and to have a deference (respect) for others governs our manners.”

Ellen White says of self-respect: “The word of God forbids our attaching undue importance to our works, but it nowhere forbids self-respect. There is a conscious dignity of character which is not pride or self-esteem, but is the safeguard of youth. He is impressed that he has a reputation to sustain, a character to lose or to keep. In God’s inspired book you will have a faultless instructor, an unerring counsellor, an unfailing guide.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, 259.

Maltbie D. Babcock (1858–1901) wrote the following: “Our business in life is not to get ahead of other people, but to get ahead of ourselves.”

The Holy Scriptures teach us: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3.

“The self-esteem movement has its most recent roots in clinical psychology, namely in the personality theories of such men as William James, Alfred Adler, Erich Fromm, Abraham Maslow, and Carl Rogers. It became further popularized by their many followers. Nevertheless, the roots of the self-esteem movement reach further back into … history.” (Source: www.psychoheresy-aware.org/selfestm.html)

The True Origin of Self-Esteem

Isaiah 14:12–14: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

Ezekiel 28:14–15, 17: “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. … Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”

Ellen White tells us how this evil was developed: “Little by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation. The Scripture says, ‘Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness’ (Ezekiel 28:17). ‘Thou hast said in thine heart … I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. … I will be like the Most High’ (Isaiah 14:13, 14). Though all his glory was from God, this mighty angel came to regard it as pertaining to himself. Not content with his position, though honored above the heavenly host, he ventured to covet homage due alone to the Creator. Instead of seeking to make God supreme in the affections and allegiance of all created beings, it was his endeavor to secure their service and loyalty to himself. And coveting the glory with which the infinite Father had invested His Son, this prince of angels aspired to power that was the prerogative of Christ alone.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 35.

Lucifer’s Real Problem That Caused the Rebellion in Heaven

“He left the immediate presence of the Father, dissatisfied, and filled with envy against Jesus Christ. Concealing his real purposes, he assembled the angelic host. He introduced his subject, which was himself. As one aggrieved, he related the preference God had given Jesus to the neglect of himself. He told them that henceforth all the sweet liberty the angels had enjoyed was at an end. For had not a ruler been appointed over them, to whom they from henceforth must yield servile honor? He stated to them that he had called them together to assure them that he no longer would submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs; that never would he again bow down to Christ; that he would take the honor upon himself which should have been conferred upon him, and would be the commander of all who would submit to follow him and obey his voice.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 18, 19.

Sincere and Loving Appeals Were Made to Lucifer!

“Angels that were loyal and true sought to reconcile this mighty, rebellious angel to the will of his Creator. … They anxiously sought to move Satan to renounce his wicked design and yield submission to their Creator; for all had heretofore been peace and harmony, and what could occasion this dissenting, rebellious voice?

“Satan refused to listen. And then he turned from the loyal and true angels, denouncing them as slaves. … Again the loyal angels warned Satan, and assured him what must be the consequence if he persisted; that He who could create the angels, could by his power overturn all their authority, and in some signal manner punish their audacity and terrible rebellion. …

“The mighty revolter then declared that he was acquainted with God’s law, and if he should submit to servile obedience, his honor would be taken from him.” Ibid., 19–21.

“All Heaven had rejoiced to reflect the Creator’s glory and to show forth His praise. And while God was thus honored, all had been peace and gladness. But a note of discord now marred the celestial harmonies. The service and exaltation of self, contrary to the Creator’s plan, awakened forebodings of evil in minds to whom God’s glory was supreme. The heavenly councils pleaded with Lucifer. The Son of God presented before him the greatness, the goodness, and the justice of the Creator, and the sacred, unchanging nature of His law. God Himself had established the order of Heaven; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker, and bring ruin upon himself. But the warning, given in infinite love and mercy, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed jealousy of Christ to prevail, and he became the more determined.

“Pride in his own glory nourished the desire for supremacy. The high honors conferred upon Lucifer were not appreciated as the gift of God, and called forth no gratitude to the Creator. He gloried in his brightness and exaltation, and aspired to be equal with God. He was beloved and reverenced by the heavenly host. Angels delighted to execute his commands, and he was clothed with wisdom and glory above them all. …

“He sought to create sympathy for himself, by representing that God had dealt unjustly with him in bestowing supreme honor upon Christ. He claimed that in aspiring to greater power and honor he was not aiming at self-exaltation, but was seeking to secure liberty for all the inhabitants of Heaven, that by this means they might attain to a higher state of existence.

“God, in his great mercy, bore long with Lucifer. He was not immediately degraded from his exalted station when he first indulged the spirit of discontent, nor even when he began to present his false claims before the loyal angels. Long was he retained in Heaven. Again and again he was offered pardon, on condition of repentance and submission. … But pride forbade him to submit. He persistently defended his own course, maintained that he had no need of repentance, and fully committed himself, in the great controversy, against his Maker.” The Great Controversy, (1888) 494–496.

The Seer of Patmos records the awful consequence of Lucifer’s self-esteem attitude. He wrote, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12: 7–9.

Self-esteem causes human beings to set their will against the will of God, which ultimately allows us to be at war with our Maker.

Are you at war with your Maker Who also is your Saviour?

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-882-3900.

Health – Calcification and Acidification

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A vegetarian diet rich in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds is the best way to prevent hardening of the arteries and having an acidic body. Diet is just one of the eight laws of health that are designed to keep this mortal body free of disease. The others are exercise, pure water, sunshine and temperance in all things that are healthful, fresh air, proper rest, and trust in God.

A diet that contains excessive protein causes calcification or hardening of the arteries causing the arterial walls to lose their elasticity. It is a sign of aging, which appears as a result of the disturbance in the metabolism and an unhealthy diet.

During calcification, calcium is withdrawn from the bones and deposited in vessels and tissues. This process causes the bones to become porous and fragile, often resulting in fractures. The tissues, blood vessels, and scar tissue accumulate deposits.

Autopsies have shown that calcification occurring in various parts of the body is a common problem for many people today. It is indicated elsewhere in the body with the appearance of calculus on the teeth and is confirmed in living subjects by CT scans. It increases with age in coronary arteries of both healthy and symptomatic people. It is influenced by vitamin C intake, and by many other diet and lifestyle variations. It is responsible for a multitude of disorders such as kidney stones, atherosclerosis, calcified gall stones, dental calculus, spurs, dysfunction of the heart valves, hardening of the pineal gland and other endocrine glands, ovarian disease, calcification of the joints, inflammatory disorders, fibrocystic problems, and many more.

Calcification is preceeded by or accompanied by five sub-clinical effects:

  1. Acidemia
  2. Free calcium excess
  3. Chronic inflammation
  4. Connective tissue degeneration
  5. Oxidative stress

All of these defects are a result of lifestyle violations. When God’s laws of health are violated, the pH of the body fluids generally tend toward acid. The scale that is used for measuring the pH, or hydrogen ion concentration, is from 0 to 14, with 7 being the neutral point. Below 7 is acidic; above 7 is alkaline. The optimal pH of the body’s fluids, such as the blood and urine, is 7.4, slightly alkaline. Outside of this range the body’s activity is no longer optimal and the metabolism is out of balance. The pH of the body is largely influenced by metabolic byproducts and our diet. Thus, pH is directly affected by the various categories of food that we eat and the internal mechanisms involved in their processing. Some foods that are acid in their composition, such as lemons, can become alkalinizing following metabolization by the body. Accordingly, it is important to become more aware of the impact that various foods and our eating habits have on the internal environment of the body.

An acidic pH can occur from an acid-forming diet, emotional stress, and toxic overload as well as immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients. The body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals stored in other parts of the body. If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a buildup of acids in the cells will occur.

The reason acidosis is more common in our society is mostly due to the typical standard diet, which is far too high in acid producing animal products, such as meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in alkaline-producing foods like fresh vegetables. Additionally, we eat acid-producing processed foods like white flour and sugar and drink acid-producing beverages like coffee, soft drinks, and cola. We use too many drugs which are acid forming; and we use artificial chemical sweeteners, which are all poison and extremely acid forming. One of the best things we can do to correct an overly acid body is to clean up the diet and lifestyle.

An acidic balance will decrease the body’s ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease its ability to repair damaged cells, decrease its ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and increase susceptibility to fatigue and illness.

A blood pH of 6.9, which is only slightly acidic, can induce coma and death. The body’s effort to maintain an arterial blood pH of 7.4 overrides just about every other function. Let us consider the common practice of many people who drink colas to show how the body compensates.

Cola upsets the pH balance

A glass of cola has a pH of approximately 2.6. It would take approximately 10 liters of pH 10 alkaline water to neutralize one glass of pH 2.6 cola. When a glass is added to 45 liters of water with a pH of 7.4 (remember the blood is 7.4), the cola will acidify the entire solution, resulting in a pH of 4.6. When a person drinks a glass of cola, the arterial blood starts to acidify, dropping to 7.39, 7.38, 7.37, 7.36, and so on. By the time it reaches 7.35 the oxygen level in the blood has reduced by 65%. This condition is known as acidemia. In an effort to prevent death, the body will draw phosphates from the bones to alkalize the blood. This will correct the pH fairly quickly, but calcium will be freed from the bones and will need to be eliminated from the system. After drinking a glass of coke, calcium can be measured in the urine, along with sodium, magnesium and other important minerals. If the calcium is not excreted quickly, it will be deposited on the bones, in organs, muscle tissue and many other places. Wherever calcification occurs, other toxins are soon deposited into the surrounding tissue. Eventually excessive blood will be sent in to cleanse the diseased tissue, resulting in chronic inflammation.

An acidic system means oxidation which means decay. Excess acidity can cause numerous disturbances such as weakening of the skin, hair, nails, teeth, and bones, deterioration of the digestive tract, leaky gut syndrome, candida, allergies, excitability of the nervous system, sciatica, depression, anxiety, panic disorders, muscular spasms and cramps, enhances susceptibility to infections, (bacterial and viral), chronic fatigue, blockage of certain minerals which become unavailable and increased risk of cancerous cells proliferating.

To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline-forming foods and 40% acid-forming foods. To restore health, the diet should consist of 80% alkaline-forming foods and 20% acid-forming foods. Generally, alkaline-forming foods include most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, and seeds and nuts. Generally, acid forming foods include meat, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, and legumes.

A healthy diet does not need to be complicated. God has provided in abundance a large variety of healthy foods to satisfy all tastes from which to choose.

Kaye Sehm, Back to Eden Newsletter. Spring 2011, No. 48.
P.O. Box 850, Lavington, Australia

Children’s Story – A Mother’s Love

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The story was reported of a mother’s sacrifice during the Japan earthquake.

After the earthquake had subsided and the rescuers reached the ruins of a young woman’s house, they saw her dead body through the cracks. But her pose seemed somehow strange, for she knelt on her knees like a person who was worshiping; her body was leaning forward, and her two hands were supporting an object.

With great difficulty the leader of the rescue team put his hand through a narrow gap in the wall to reach the woman’s body. He hoped that this woman would be still alive. However, her cold, stiff body told him that she had passed away for sure. The collapsed house had crushed her back and her head.

The team left this house and moved on to search for life in the next collapsed building. But for some strange reason the team leader was driven by a compelling force to go back to the ruined house of the dead woman. Again, he knelt down, wriggled his hand in through the narrow cracks to search the little space under the dead body. Suddenly, he screamed with excitement, “A child! There is a child!”

The whole team worked together; carefully they removed the piles of ruined objects and under the young mother’s dead body they rescued a three-month-old little boy wrapped all snug in a flowery blanket. It was obvious that the woman, desperate to save her son had made the ultimate sacrifice. When her house was falling, she used her own body to make a shelter to protect her son. The little boy was still sleeping peacefully when the team leader picked him up.

The medical doctor came quickly to examine the little boy for injuries and when he opened the blanket he saw a cell phone inside the blanket with a text message on the screen. It said, “If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.” As the cell phone was passed around from one hand to another all of the rescuers that read the message wept. “If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.” Such was the mother’s love for her child!

This world is collapsing all around us. Every day brings more news of disaster and death. But there is One who loves even more than this little Japanese mother who gave her life that another would have the opportunity for life.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes and the mountains slide into the sea, though the oceans roar and their waves foam, or the mountains sway in the bottom of the sea.

“There is a quiet stream called the River of Life that makes us glad. It begins at the heavenly Sanctuary and flows through the Holy City of God, the place where God Himself lives. God is also with us in our city and does not intend for Jerusalem [or our city] to be destroyed. Even if we die, He will be with us until the resurrection morning. When God speaks, nations crumble and the earth itself melts.

“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Look at what the Lord has done! He has caused amazing events to happen on earth. He will stop all wars. He will halt the flying arrow, break the strongest spear and set on fire the weapons of mass destruction. Fighting will stop everywhere. He will say, ‘Be still and know that I am God. My name will be exalted among nations, and I will assume my place as King.’

“The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psalm 46 (paraphrase).

This world is on a collision course and its time is running out, but before it is to be completely destroyed, God sent His only Son into this world to provide a shelter to everyone who believes in Him. He wrapped us in His arms of security and then took the brunt of the wrath when He died the cruel death of the cross so we could live on. When we realize that we have been saved at the cost of His life, we realize that His love for us is even greater than that expressed in the text message of a dying mother to her child, “If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.”

Lord’s Prayer Series – Claiming a Relationship with Others

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To be successful in our relationships with others we first need to know our own true identity and our relationship with our heavenly Father.

In Isaiah 63:9 and 10, the prophet describes the history of the children of Israel who were God’s professed people. He says, “In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.”

Notice that while ever God’s people were obedient they were protected, saved, and delivered by the Angel of His Presence. The Bible describes angels as beings that are both stronger and wiser than human beings. An evidence of this is found in 11 Kings 19:35: “And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead.”

However, concerning the righteous, the Bible says, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7. Angels are both wiser and more powerful than man. The book of Ezekiel reveals that angels are subject to receiving directives and have greater awareness and knowledge than humans. Whenever prayers are sent to God, directions are given to the angels concerning the answering of those prayers.

Malachi said, “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the fathers?” Malachi 2:10.

The disciples often heard Jesus praying to His Father and came to Him saying, “ ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught His disciples.’ ” Luke 11:1. The prayer He taught them is what we call today the Lord’s Prayer.

Contrary to what some people know, this prayer was not given to the world, but only to the disciples of Jesus Christ in answer to their request for not everybody can truthfully claim God as their Father but would be lying. The Bible says in Matthew 13:38 that, “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.”

Jesus once told the religious leaders of His time that they were children of the devil. “Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.’ ” John 8:42–44.

Since sin entered this world the devil has claimed it as his own and when we are born we are not born as sons of God but children of the devil. This is affirmed often throughout the New Testament.

Paul said, “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 devil], 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.” Ephesians 2:1–3.

Writing to the Ephesian church, he said that we were by nature the children of wrath, just as the others who are not Christians. That being the case, how is it possible to tell if a person is a child of God or a child of the devil? The Bible gives a very strict rule by which that can be determined.

John speaks very plainly on this subject. He said, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and He cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” I John 3:4–9.

Clearly, then, a person born into this world is by nature a child of wrath. By committing sin he/she declares to the universe that he/she is a spiritual son of the devil for “He who sins is of the devil” (I John 3:8) unless he/she has been born again. This was the essence of what Jesus told Nicodemus: there is no other way to enter into the kingdom of heaven except to be born again. The born again Christian is then adopted into a different family, the family of God.

Paul explained this in Galatians 4:4–7: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

If you have been born again, born of the Holy Spirit, then you are no longer a child of wrath but have become a son of God. A person who has not been born again has no right to claim God as his father, for that person’s father is the devil. The person who is living in sin has no right to say the Lord’s Prayer and call God his Father because he is a child of wrath, a spiritual child of the devil.

We have read what John and Paul said about this, but notice what Jesus said to Nicodemus: “ ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time in his mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ ” John 3:3–7.

It is clear that to be born again is a requirement to enter the kingdom of heaven. You must receive what the apostle Paul calls in Galatians 4, verse 5, “the adoption as sons.” The apostle Paul repeats this concept often in his writings. Notice how he describes it in Romans 8:14–16: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

The fact that the first century Christians could now call God their Father and not just address Him as the Infinite, or Eternal, or Most Powerful One in the Universe, was considered a most precious privilege. He was acknowledged as Someone who had a fatherly interest in them. Right after His resurrection, Jesus told Mary Magdalene, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” John 20:17.

But how can a person who has been born a child of wrath and destined to destruction be born again and receive a new heart and a new spirit and receive eternal life and avoid his destiny of everlasting destruction? John explains this miracle in his opening remarks in his book where He wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not comprehend it.

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light that all through Him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” John 1:1–11. Jesus talked with them long about the fact that they would not receive Him. In John 5:40, He said to the Jews, “… you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

Again in John 8:47, He said, “He who is of God hears God’s word; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

Many times Jesus told the people of His time that they were going to lose their soul, lose eternal life because they would not receive Him. But then, there is a most wonderful promise in John 1:12, 13. It says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Those who receive Jesus and accept Him receive the right to become the children of God. They receive a right to be adopted into God’s family, to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, to be born with the Holy Spirit, to have a change of heart, to have a changed mind. When a person is born again of the Holy Spirit he begins to live a holy life. When the Spirit of God leads a person, he will live in harmony with the words of God.

Paul said, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Hebrews 2:9–11.

If you are being sanctified, it is evident that the Holy Spirit is working a change in your life giving you the right to call God your Father and Christ your elder Brother. To be sanctified simply means to be made a holy person. This is not complicated. A holy person is not necessarily anybody special, but simply a person who lives in harmony with God’s law.

If you are living in harmony with God’s law, then you are a holy person, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Paul was very specific about this when writing to the Hebrews. He said, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.

When a person is born again it is the work of the Holy Spirit to make him/her into a holy person, giving him/her the right to call God, “my Father.” If people would think this through, there would probably be fewer people to glibly quote the Lord’s Prayer. It is a profound thing to call the God of heaven your Father. The apostle John drew this to the attention of the Christians. He said, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” I John 3:1–3.

The greatest privilege that any human being can have is to receive what the apostle Paul calls, “the adoption as sons.” To be born again, as Jesus said to Nicodemus, to receive the Holy Spirit into the life, to have a new spirit and new mind is promised to all who accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

Having this new relationship with God also brings us into a new relationship with other people in this world, recognizing that we are all brothers. I John 4:20, 21, says, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God Whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”

The most wonderful thing that you can have is to be adopted into the family of God so that you can call God your Father. The value of sonship in God’s family can only be estimated when considering the price that has been paid for man’s redemption. Have you been born again?

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.