1. Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2014 Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2014 powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com

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4. Christ and His Law Contents 1 Laws in Christ’s Day 2 Christ and the Law of Moses 3 Christ and Religious Tradition 4 Christ and the Law in the Sermon on the Mount 5 Christ and the Sabbath 6 Christ’s Death and the Law 7 Christ, the End of the Law 8 The Law of God and the Law of Christ 9 Christ, the Law and the Gospel 10 Christ, the Law and the Covenants 11 The Apostles and the Law 12 Christ’s Church and the Law 13 Christ’s Kingdom and the Law

5. Christ and His Law Our Goal WE WILL study the law, especially the question of why so many Christians—misunderstanding the relationship between law and grace—have fallen into the trap of denying the continued validity of the Ten Commandments, thus unwittingly helping the attempt to “overthrow” God’s law.

6. Christ and His Law Lesson 12, June 21 Christ and His Law Lesson 12, June 21 Christ’s Church and the Law

7. Key Text Revelation 14:12 NKJV “HERE IS the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”

8. Christ’s Church and the Law Initial Words THE SYMBOL of continuity for God’s church is His law, which, after the Fall, must always be coupled with God’s saving grace. Together, both are the essence of the gospel. This lesson traces the continuity of the law (and grace) in God’s church through the ages.

9. Christ’s Church and the Law Quick Look 1. Adam to Noah to Abraham (Genesis 2:16, 17) 2. Abraham to Moses to Jesus (Genesis 12:17-19) 3. Jesus to the Remnant (Revelation 12:17)

10. Christ’s Church and the Law 1. Adam to Noah to Abraham Genesis 2:16, 17 NKJV “AND THE Lord God commanded the man saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

11. 1. Adam to Noah to Abraham A Moral Test THE GREEK term for “church” is ekklesia. Borrowed from the secular world, it refers to those who have been “called out.” In every generation God has “called out” a people to reflect His will by lives of faithfulness, trust, love, and obedience.

12. 1. Adam to Noah to Abraham A Moral Test In order to be able to love, Adam and Eve had to be created as morally free agents. They had to have the ability and the freedom to do wrong, even if they had no valid reason to do so. The test at the tree was a moral test: In what way would they use their God-given moral freedom?

13. 1. Adam to Noah to Abraham A Moral Test At the center of morality is law, God’s law, which defines good and evil for us (note: “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”). The law itself would be meaningless in a universe of automatons—beings able to do only good. God chose to create us as beings who could truly love.

14. 1. Adam to Noah to Abraham Noah “The wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5 NKJV). The world into which Noah was born was worse than any society that has ever existed to the point that God became sorry that He ever created people to begin with!

15. Christ’s Church and the Law 2. Abraham to Moses to Jesus Genesis 12:17-19 NKJV “BUT THE Lord plagued Pharaoh…because of Sarai…. And Pharaoh called Abram and said, ‘What is this you have done to me? Why did you tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say “She is my sister?” Now therefore, here is your wife, take her and go your way.’ ”

16. 2. Abraham to Moses to Jesus Abrahamic Covenant UNFORTUNATELY, NOT too long after the Flood, the inhabitants of the earth again rebelled (Gen. 11:1–9). God called Abraham, a descendant of Shem, and made a covenant of blessing with him (Gen. 12:1–3).

17. 2. Abraham to Moses to Jesus Abrahamic Covenant Abraham was a man of true faith, and by God’s grace this faith was credited to him as righteousness. Although he was not perfect, he was willing to listen to the voice of God, even if it meant trusting God for things that seem all but impossible from a human standpoint.

18. 2. Abraham to Moses to Jesus Abrahamic Covenant Abraham was not alone among those who were willing to listen to God’s voice and obey His commandments. Pharaoh, the two Abimelechs, and Joseph were well aware that God did not approve of adultery and lying. This is more evidence that knowledge of God existed, even before the work and ministry of Moses.

19. 2. Abraham to Moses to Jesus Covenant with Israel When God chose Israel to be the depository for His law, He knew that they were an imperfect people. Nonetheless, He entrusted them with the task of sharing His will with other imperfect people. As a “ ‘kingdom of priests and a holy nation’ ” (Exod. 19:6, NKJV) Israel was to be God’s mediating priesthood for the entire world.

20. Christ’s Church and the Law 3. Jesus to the Remnant Revelation 12:17 NKJV “AND THE dragon was enraged with woman, and went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandment of God and have the testimony of Jesus.”

21. 3. Jesus to the Remnant From the “Seed” THOUGH MANY in ancient Israel understood the single noun form of “seed” to mean Israel as a single corporate entity, Paul presents Jesus Himself, as the true and complete fulfillment of the covenant promise. So, the gospel itself, with its clear emphasis on both law and grace, most fully manifests and reveals the covenant.

22. 3. Jesus to the Remnant From the “Seed” As the Second Adam, Jesus came to this earth without sin, and through constant devotion to His Father managed to maintain His obedience all the way to the Cross. Through the power of the Spirit, the resurrected Christ shares His righteousness with every believer.

23. 3. Jesus to the Remnant From the “Seed” Unfortunately, the Christian church proved itself less faithful to the covenant, and deep apostasy soon took over. The Reformation faltered, and many false doctrines have remained, including wrong views about the role and purpose of the law. God would call out a remnant people to restore many lost truths.

24. Christ’s Church and the Law Final Words “THE THEME of greatest importance is the third angel’s message, embracing the messages of the first and second angels. All should understand the truths contained in these messages and demonstrate them in daily life, for this is essential to salvation.” —Evangelism 196.