powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2012 Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2012

Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide An Appeal Dear User…. This PowerPoint Show is freely shared to all who may find it beneficial. While intended primarily for personal use, some find it useful for teaching the lesson in church. There are those, however, who add illustrations, change background, change fonts, etc. While their intention may be good, this is not right. Slide #1 says “designed by claro ruiz vicente.” For honest Christians, it is not necessary for another’s creation to be copyrighted in order to be respected. P LEASE U SE A S I S.

Kwabena Donkor Principal Contributor

Growing in Christ Contents 1. The Great Controversy: The Foundation 2. Revelation and the God Revealed in It 3. Man: God’s Handiwork 4. Salvation: The Only Solution 5. Growing in Christ 6. Victory Over Evil Forces 7. “Arming” for Victory 8. The Church: In Service to Humanity 9. The Church: Rites and Rituals 10. The Law and the Gospel 11. The Christian Life 12. Last Things: Jesus and the Saved 13. When All Things Become New

Growing in Christ Our Goal {169} THE goal of the quarter is to help us to not just believe the Truth (John 14:6), but to love Him even more and to grow in His grace.

Growing in Christ Lesson 4, October 27 Growing in Christ Lesson 4, October 27 Salvation : The Only Solution

Key Text John 3:16 NKJV “ ‘FOR God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ ”

Salvation: The Only Solution Initial Words {207} THE doctrine of salvation primarily concerns God and His work to save us. But humanity has an important role too. Our crucial part comes in the answering of the question, What will be our response to that provision? On that answer, the eternal destiny of souls truly hinges.

Salvation: The Only Solution Quick Look 1. Scope of the Problem (Romans 5:12) 2. God’s Provision (Romans 3:23-25) 3. Practical Knowledge of Salvation (Acts 3:19)

Salvation: The Only Solution 1. Scope of the Problem Romans 5:12 NIV “ ‘THEREFORE, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”

1. Scope of the Problem Sin’s Damage {207} THE “sin problem” refers to the crisis caused by the fall of Adam and Eve, which brought to the earth the great controversy between good and evil. God’s part has been to stop, and ultimately eliminate, the effects of sin, not just on the earth but on the creation as a whole. God’s action constitutes the doctrine of salvation.

1. Scope of the Problem Sin’s Damage {208} The extent of sin’s damage determines the scope of the solution. John 2:25 human nature Psalm 59:2 bloodthirsty men Jer 17:9 deceitful, wicked heart James 5:1–7 materially rich Isaiah 5:23 justify the wicked 2 Thess 2:10 rejected the truth

1. Scope of the Problem Sin’s Damage {208} Every aspect of human existence on this planet is, to some degree, dominated by the reality of sin. It is so bad that, without a divine solution, there would be no solution. It’s called “the plan of salvation,” and its purpose is to solve the problem of sin.

Salvation: The Only Solution 2. God’s Provision Romans 3:23-25 NKJV “FOR all have sinned and fall short of the glory of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith….”

2. God’s Provision From Eternity {209} “AS soon as Adam sinned, the Son of God presented Himself as surety for the human race, with just as much power to avert the doom pronounced upon the guilty as when He died upon the cross of Calvary.” — EGW SDA Bible Commentary 1: 1084

2. God’s Provision From Eternity {209} Titus 1:1, 2 before time began Eph. 1:3–5 before the foundation of the world 2 Thess. 2:13, 14 from the beginning Rev. 13:8 from the foundation of the world

2. God’s Provision Death of the Son {210} The Cross alone proves the futility of humanity to solve the sin problem by itself. An extreme situation called for an extreme solution, God bearing in Himself our sins. 1. Justification (right standing) 2. Sanctification (living right) 3. Glorification (eternal life)

Acts 3:19 NKJV “REPENT therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Salvation: The Only Solution 3. Practical Knowledge of Salvation

Repentance {211} THE provision that God has made for the justification and reconciliation of humankind to Himself through the death of Christ needs to be brought into the experience of the believer. It is not enough to just have a theoretical knowledge about justification. We need to experience what it means for ourselves.

3. Practical Knowledge of Salvation Repentance {211} “Nothing so touches the depths of the soul as a sense of Christ’s pardoning love. When sinners contemplate this unfathomable divine love, displayed on the cross, they receive the most powerful motivation possible to repent. This is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.” Seventh-day Adventists Believe 135, 136.

3. Practical Knowledge of Salvation Repentance {211} It is the goodness of God that leads to repentance and justification. Thus, if I should repent of sin and experience justification, God is the one to receive the credit. Salvation, then, is truly a gracious gift from God, for, indeed, it is by grace through faith that we are saved (Eph. 2:8).

3. Practical Knowledge of Salvation Repentance {211} Repentance is the prerequisite for entering into the experience of forgiveness and justification, and it comes accompanied by confession and baptism (Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:9). This helps to explain the fact that although forgiveness is available to all, not all will be forgiven.

God’s Amazing Grace 23 Final Words {213} “The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam. …. God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency. … He covenanted to give His only- begotten Son….”