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Commentary on "Loving Brothers and Sisters"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 3: Monday, August 17, 2009

 

Today's lesson is another example where some very good things are stated, but a very troubling statement is made at the end of the lesson of which one must be aware. First, let's look at a positive statement found on page 92 of the Teacher's Quarterly:

“The best definition of love is the character and work of the Godhead as revealed in the plan of salvation, with Jesus giving Himself for us.”

This is a good statement. There is one problem, however. The phrase could have ended after the word “Godhead.” It would read, “The best definition of love is the character ... of the Godhead.” Love existed between the members of the Godhead before man was created. The sacrificial act of Jesus on the cross to redeem mankind is God's most loving act toward mankind, granting free salvation to all who believe. But the ultimate expression of love, between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is something that believers will take all eternity to understand, and may even be beyond our ability to comprehend.

The real problem of today's lesson is near the end, where the author attempts to keep the learner from misunderstanding. It is in this very process, of keeping you from misunderstanding, that the author introduces some misunderstanding of his own.

It is true that “faith (true belief) and love belong together.” However, it does not follow that “love and keeping the commandments do too.” This second statement must be understood in the context of the Quarterly in which it appears. This is a Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath School Quarterly. The phrase “the commandments” that is used by the author has a very specific meaning in this context. In the SDA context, this means the Ten commandments, the decalogue as found in Exodus 20:1-17.

One may argue this point. However, in the SDA context, even if one says that the author means the “commandments of Jesus” the reader would be led to the Sermon on the Mount, through several of the Ten commandments that Jesus expands, and then would be led back to the Ten commandments themselves. If one argues, “No, this is the Law of Liberty expounded by James” one would also be eventually led to the Ten commandments.

No matter how long the process, the eventual end of the road is at the stone tablets, “engraved by the finger of God.” Even faith in Jesus is used to lead people who are already Christians, who have believed in the free gift of salvation on the cross, to a keeping of the commandments, the seventh-day Sabbath, as well as the clean and unclean food laws of Leviticus.

For the author to state:

“Anyone can say that he or she loves God; John shows us how that love is to be revealed.”

is misleading. It is not John's purpose to show us that the Ten commandments are how “love is to be revealed.” The continuing use of the word “commandments” in this lesson becomes almost overwhelming.

The word “commandment” is used in the memory text for the first day. The word “commandments” is found only once on today's lesson. However, on Thursday's lesson, both words are used seventeen (17) times, whereas the word “love” is found numerous times on some lessons, it is only used ten times on Thursday. By Thursday, the words “commandment” and “commandments” is used 70% more than the word “love.”

Percentage of use, I admit, is not a perfect indicator. However, given all the other factors, it is a telling one.

Contrary to what the author states, John did not show us how love is to be revealed. Jesus did that completely and perfectly. To point to any apostle, any commandment, or any practice, is to denigrate the place of Jesus as Almighty God in the flesh who has revealed the God, who is love, to humankind.

Even if Jesus is held up first, but something is added, then the place of Jesus has been compromised. God is love, as John states. That love was fully expressed to us in the person of Jesus Christ as the remainder of the New Testament states.

 

Summary

  1. “The best definition of love is the character ... of the Godhead.” We may never, in all eternity, comprehend the fullness of the love expressed between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  2. The keeping of the commandments is being more fully expressed in today's lesson, but will be further developed in later lessons.
  3. The use of the word “commandment[s]” is increasing as the week progresses, while the use of the word “love” is decreasing in relation.
  4. Jesus is the fullest expression of love. Our expressions of love do not flow out of the commendments, but by being followers of Christ, allowing his Holy Spirit to lead us, revealing how to love others.

 

 

Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised August 17, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

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