Commentary on "Immorality on the Border"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 7: Friday, December 11, 2009, "Further Study"

 

Overview

This week’s material is sumerized with a quote from the pin of Ellen White:

“It was when the Israelites were in a condition of outward ease and security that they were led into sin. . . . They neglected prayer and cherished a spirit of self-confidence. . . . A long preparatory process, unknown to the world, goes on in the heart before the Christian commits open sin. The mind does not come down at once from purity and holiness to depravity, corruption, and crime. It takes time to degrade those formed in the image of God to the brutal or the satanic. By beholding we become changed. By the indulgence of impure thoughts man can so educate his mind that sin which he once loathed will become pleasant to him.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 459.

 

Observations

The Bible does no say Israel sinned because they “were in a condition of outward ease and security”. It doesn’t say they “neglected prayer and cherished a spirit of self-confidence”. It simply says “the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab”. Earlier in the week we were reminded that their root sin was unbelief in their God.

They did not “come down at once from purity and holiness to depravity, corruption, and crime”. Instead they were born and lived in depravity from the time they lived in Egypt until this very time. They had just spent forty years in the wilderness because they were anything but a holy people.

The words of Moses:

"For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord . How much more after my death! (Deut. 31:27 ESV)

King David spoke for all of us when describing his own sins:(Remember, God called him “a man after my own heart”, I Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22.).

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psa. 51:2-5 ESV)

 

Summary

1. The book of Hebrews Chapter Eleven lists an honor roll of those who God has set apart as People of Faith. Abraham, Moses, Rahab and King David, among many others, are listed. Nowhere, does the Bible speak of them as those who had become sinless or perfect in their own works.
2. Faith in God is the common denominator that binds these into the family of God and what separates them from those who, in unbelief, have died in their sins.
3. Place your faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ, and your name will be added to this honor roll. It has nothing to do with your own works or righteousness. In faith, we receive the Seal of the Holy Spirit and receive the righteousness of the Perfect Lamb of God.

 

 

Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised November 30, 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.

 

Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 11

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 11

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 11

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