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

This website is NOT connected to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The offical Seventh-day Adventist Church website is linked here.

HOME | 2011 | SECOND QUARTER | WEEK 5 | DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 | DAY 6 | DAY 7

BibleStudiesForAdventistsHead

Commentary on "The Priestly Garments of Grace"

RICHARD PEIFER

 

Day 7: Friday, April 29, 2011 - Further Study

 

Overview

As always, several Ellen G. White quotes are offered as “proof” of the Adventist position.

 

Problems

Throughout this week’s lesson, several excellent analyses have been offered regarding how the Mosaic Covenant’s priesthood pointed forward to Jesus. At least this is the case in the regular quarterly.

As always, the teacher’s quarterly has much extra material, most of which is designed to push the Adventist positions regarding the Ten Commandments, holiness, sanctification, etc. I don’t begrudge this extra material. After all, this is an SDA publication. It would be disingenuous of them not to present their own positions.

The problem is that Adventism always errs on the side of behaviorism over faith, fear over assurance and law over grace.

The lesson’s consistent appeal is to consider how our behavior should somehow mirror that of the Aaronic priesthood. The fact is we never are called to mimic that priesthood in any way. The Mosaic Covenant in total was a symbol/shadow of the reality to be found in Jesus. He fulfilled every aspect of it. Therefore, there is none of it left for you and me to fulfill.

In fact, “…when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.” (Hebrews 7:12).

Did Jesus change the Law? Yes! He defined it completely in terms of Himself.

Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”

Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:26-29)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34)

This Law is completely different than the Mosaic Law. Jesus summarized it by quoting Deuteronomy and Leviticus when questioned about the greatest commandment of the law.

And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

The Mosaic Covenant necessarily was a limited instrument. It had to be because it was only a shadow of the reality found in Jesus. Even so, it was completely holy. It also was spiritual (see Romans 7). And, even in its limited state, we humans find it impossible to keep, because we are unspiritual.

This is the beauty and hope of the New Covenant. The Law to which it refers cannot be that found the Mosaic Covenant. Jesus fulfilled that Law completely. Now that we’re under grace it is the Holy Spirit’s job to work God’s agape love in and through us, to renew our minds, to teach us to choose the way of faith, to assure us of our eternal security and forgiveness in the face of our inevitable failures to continually walk by faith.

We are never to ask ourselves, “How am I doing? Am I keeping the Law perfectly?” Instead, we are to ask, “How am I being? Am I being a child of God, walking by faith in Jesus’ completed work, relying on Him to finish what He started in me?”

It is this “being” that defines and equips us as priests, enabling us to minister God’s love to others as it pours through us. Nothing else will do. Nothing else comes close.

 

Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised April 20, 2011. 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 5

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 5

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Wk 5

SSNET Study Guide Week 5

Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings

 

Please Support This Project

ONLINE DONATIONS

egw20112
ss20112