|
||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||||||
Commentary on "Garments of Splendor"
Day 5: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Garments of Splendor
Overview
“The ‘garments of splendor’ are the garments of righteousness, the covering that all have who are surrendered to the Lord and who live by faith and obedience to His commandments. It was never complicated; from Eden onward, all God has asked of His people is to live by faith in obedience to Him.” (Teacher’s Quarterly, Page 96)
Problems
Today’s lesson gives a partial answer the question left hanging on Tuesday: “Is knowing what is right enough in and of itself to cause us to do right, or is more needed? If so, what?” Unfortunately, keeping the Law is substituted for the piece left out of the answer.
Here is the partial answer, from the bottom of the Teacher’s Quarterly, Page 96: “It is only by God’s grace that we are saved, a grace revealed through the incredible sacrifice made for us on the cross.”
Again, salvation is not the result of the cross. Salvation is the result of the resurrection. Without the resurrection we are lost: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17)
Grace is revealed by that incredible sacrifice, but Grace is realized when a person is born again of the Holy Spirit. Grace is nothing less than the indwelling Holy Spirit. If you are not indwelt by the Spirit you are not saved, period (see Romans 8:9 and Titus 2:11-14).
Honestly, stop trying to keep the commandments! Every moment you spend looking to the Law for salvation, justification or sanctification is a moment wasted. If the Law has convicted you of your sin, it has done its work. Praise God for it, and then accept the forgiveness and eternal life offered to us in Jesus Christ.
Do not start “in the Spirit” and then try to finish “by the flesh” (see Galatians 3:1-3).
Here is the complete answer: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’ ” (Romans 1:16-17 NASB) Righteousness is in salvation, not the cause of it. The gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, is the power of God for salvation. Nothing in this definition even hints at law keeping!
I wish the lesson’s author(s) had followed through from their strong beginning. Isaiah 52 is amazing, because the promised Messiah is amazing. Jesus is the Messiah, and the garments of splendor are ours in Him, because saved people are fellow heirs with Him!
Summary
- Salvation is in the resurrection, not the crucifixion.
- Grace is realized when a person is born again of the Holy Spirit.
- Righteous is in salvation, not the cause of it.
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised May 2, 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 8
Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 8
Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Wk 8
Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings
Please Support This Project
