THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHETS Lesson 10 for March 7, 2009

THE MESSAGE: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH God’s role Our role He convincts us of our sin. “And when He [the Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:8) We all are sinners. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) We must repent of our sins. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” (Acts 3:19) He leads us to repentance. “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

THE MESSAGE: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH God’s role Our role We forgives our sins for nothing. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) We receive forgiveness. “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) We act accordingly. “Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” (James 2:22) He moves us to do good deeds. “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

THE MESSAGE: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH God’s role Our role He perfects us as He leads us to grow in holiness. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23) We grow spiritually. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22)

THE MESSAGE: THE SANCTUARY God showed the people of Israel the plan of atonement by using the rites of the sanctuary and the annual feasts as an example

THE MESSAGE: THE SANCTUARY Daily ceremonies The people of Israel understood how they could receive forgiveness thanks to the example of the ceremonias in the sanctuary and the priests’ intercession. Sanctuary Fulfillment Ceremonies at the Outter Court. Ceremonies at the Holy Place. Baptism and Death of Christ. Christ interceding at the Heavenly Sanctuary

THE MESSAGE: THE SANCTUARY Annual feasts Sanctuary Fulfillment Passover. The weaved sheef and the unleavened bread Pentecost. Jesus’ Death. Resurrection. The first harvest of believers.

THE MESSAGE: THE SANCTUARY Annual feasts Sanctuary Fulfillment Trumpets. Atonement Day. Tabernacles The divine judgment is announced. Investigative judgment at Heaven. Christ’s Second Coming and the Millenium at Heaven.

THE MESSAGE: SABBATH After the first six days of Creation, the kind Creator rested on the seventh day and established the Sabbath for all people as a remembrance of Creation (Genesis 2:1-3). The fourth commandment of God’s immutable Law requires the Sabbath to be observed as the weekly day of rest (Exodus 20:8-11), praise and ministry, according to Jesus’ teaching and acts as the Lord of Sabbath (Luke 4:16; Mark 2:27 y 28).

THE MESSAGE: SABBATH The Sabbath is a commandment that is not directly related to the physical and moral laws God as placed in every man’s heart. He gave us instructions to properly keep it (Levítico 23:32) and He gave us special promises if we do so (Isaiah 56:5-6; 58:3-14) We show our faith and our dependance on God by obeying the Sabbath commandment as believers who have been saved by His grace (1 John 5:2-3) Sabbath is a mark between God and His people (Exodus 31:12-17), especially at the End Time (Revelation 14:12).

“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 58:13-14

THE MESSAGE: THE STATE OF THE DEAD Only God has immortality. “He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality.” (1 Timothy 6:15-16) We all must die and be judged. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) We all will be resurrected. “for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (John 5:28-29)

What happens between death and resurrection? THE MESSAGE: THE STATE OF THE DEAD What happens between death and resurrection? “ ‘Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go that I may wake him up.’ Then His disciples said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.’ However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly: ‘Lazarus is dead.’ ” (John 11:11-14) “the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9: 5-6) “His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish.” (Psalm 146:4)

THE MESSAGE: THE STATE OF THE DEAD When those words are used to describe the punishment of the wicked, it describes the divine origin of the punishment, and it involves a limited period of time, since they won’t receive immortality. When the words “eternal”, “everlasting” or “forever” are used to describe the life of the redeemed, that means for endless time, because they will receive immortality. “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:54) “as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Judas 7)

THE MESSAGE: THE SECOND COMING “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” James 5:8

How and why will Jesus return? THE MESSAGE: THE SECOND COMING How and why will Jesus return? We don’t know when it will happen (Matthew 24:42, 44). He will come by surprise like a thief in the night (Luke 12:40; 21:34; 2 Peter 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:2) He will come as a physical being with all His angels in a visible way (Acts 1:11, Matthew 25:31) Like a lightning (Matthew 24:27). To destroy the wicked ones, to resurrect the just and to transform the living ones (2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55). We must live actively waiting His coming (2 Peter 3:12). We must live always ready (Luke 12:40).

Who studied it for the first time When the Adventist movement began, God gave instructions about doctrine to Ellen White. She only received a vision about an specific doctrine AFTER IT HAD BEEN STUDIED by the Church. No doctrine was introduced or explained by Ellen White first. Doctrine Who studied it for the first time Justification by faith E. J. Waggoner Sanctuary Hiram Edson Sabbath Joseph Bates The state of the dead Several people, Ellen’s parents believed it too The Second Coming William Miller Although some of those doctrines were explained in Ellen White’s visions, they are firmly based in the Bible.