Presenting a Biblical response by concerned former Seventh-day Adventists to the Sabbath School Bible Study Guide.

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Commentary on "Sin"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 3: Monday, May 4, 2009

There are three points that are made in today's study, sins of thought, sins of omission and the lack of stewardship with that which the Lord has given us.

First, the quarterly asks the individual to think about what he/she has fantasized in the past 24 hours as an indication as to where the heart is. A Sabbath School class is, usually, an inadequate place to deal with these issues. Men need to be accountable to other men, women need to be accountable to other women, and husbands and wives need to be accountable to each other.

For the believer, there will be an on-going battle with our old nature. The presence of this battle is an indication that one has been born again. Although non-believers battle with similar things, those battles are waged by the flesh against the flesh. This would be similar to a firefighter trying to put out a small paper or wood fire by using fire. A small paper or wood fire is quenched by water.

For the believer, the flesh is fought by our born-again spirit, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul, in Romans chapter 7, has shown that this battle between our old nature and our new nature is something that will continue until the redemption of our bodies. Believers have been born again. But we still live in these decaying bodies, which have yet to be renewed. After the clear picture Paul provides in Romans 7, he then says in Romans 8:3 what we are waiting for.

8:3 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (NIV)

The sin of omission and the lack of stewardship by a believer are other sins mentioned in today’s study. Jesus' forgiveness is mentioned and the question asked, “Why should this mean so much to us?”

Forgiveness has been provided for us in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Although forgiveness should mean much to us, the result of the forgiveness is what the believer must come to. Having been forgiven, it is now our purpose in life to glorify the Lord. It is this for which we were created, and it is this for which we have been recreated (born again.)

 

Summary

  1. The believer will have a life-long struggle against the flesh. This is a war of the spirit against the flesh, not a fleshly battle. If we are not born again, we fight flesh against flesh, if we are born again, we fight spirit against flesh.
  2. The sins of thought, omission and poor stewardship are not an indication that we haven't been born again. They are an indication that we live in bodies that haven't been glorified.
  3. Jesus' forgiveness means so much to us, that believers seek nothing more than to glorify God. This is why we were created and this is why believers have been recreated (born again.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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