Commentary on "Revelation"

RICHARD PEIFER

 

Day 6: Thursday, April 30, 2009

 

Overview

“Jesus Christ is the focus of the Scriptures.”

 

Problems

Honestly, this is the best lesson of the entire week. I wish the authors had started here, and then built on what they outlined in this section.

I do question the author’s statement that “He took on Himself our humanity.” If by this statement the author means that Jesus had the same propensity to sin as I do, then we have a very big problem. Jesus was the second Adam, not the second Richard. Jesus was born spiritually alive; we are born spiritually dead. This is why He is compared to Adam (who was created spiritually alive) and not compared to any other human.

If the author means that Jesus was fully human and fully divine, then I apologize for this trip into the weeds.

The only complaint I have with this section is that, as it has been throughout the week, no mention is made of the Holy Spirit’s role in revealing the meaning of the Bible to us. It is as if Adventism, smug in its belief that Ellen White, and only Ellen White, is the authoritative source of truth and practice, faith and belief, completely ignores the living Holy Spirit Who has sealed each born again child of God guaranteeing our salvation (see Ephesians 1:13-14).

There is only one way “in which you can read the Bible in order to come away from it knowing God better” – “However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’—but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10a NIV).

 

Summary

1. This should have been the foundation upon which the entire week’s lesson was built.
2. The Bible cannot be read for meaning without the indwelling Holy Spirit revealing that meaning to us.

 

 

 

 

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