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Sabbath Bible Lessons

THE SANCTUARY IN THE CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION

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Lesson 6 Sabbath, November 5, 2011

Everyone Is Accountable

“Every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).

“Every man’s work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness.”—Lift Him Up, p. 327.

Suggested Reading:   The Great Controversy, pp. 483-485

Sunday October 30

1. ONLY TWO CLASSES OF PEOPLE

a. In the light of the plan of redemption, specify the two classes of people that exist in the world. Romans 2:6–10; 1 Peter 4:18.

“Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. . . . There are those who are watching and waiting and working for our Lord’s appearing; while the other party are rapidly falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. . . .

“There are but two parties.”—Testimonies for Ministers, pp. 364, 365.

b. Since God sees all (Hebrews 4:13), and each individual is accountable for his or her actions before the divine tribunal (Psalm 62:12; Romans 14:12), where does the Almighty keep exact records of every human being? Jeremiah 2:22; 17:1.

“Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel.

“The law of God is the standard by which the characters and the lives of men will be tested in the judgment.”—The Great Controversy, p. 482.


Monday October 31

2. EXACT RECORDS

a. What is written about the book of life and the book of death? Psalm 90:8; Revelation 20:12.

“The books are opened—the book of life and the book of death. The book of life contains the good deeds of the saints; and the book of death contains the evil deeds of the wicked. These books are compared with the statute book, the Bible, and according to that men are judged.”—Early Writings, p. 52.

b. What does the book of remembrance contain, and why is it important to us? Malachi 3:16; Psalm 56:8.

“ ‘A book of remembrance’ is written before God, in which are recorded the good deeds of ‘them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name’ (Malachi 3:16). Their words of faith, their acts of love, are registered in heaven. Nehemiah refers to this when he says: ‘Remember me, O my God, . . . and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God’ (Nehemiah 13:14). In the book of God’s remembrance every deed of righteousness is immortalized. There every temptation resisted, every evil overcome, every word of tender pity expressed, is faithfully chronicled. And every act of sacrifice, every suffering and sorrow endured for Christ’s sake, is recorded.”—The Great Controversy, p. 481.

“A book of remembrance is written of those who do not forsake the assembling of themselves together, but speak often one to another. The remnant are to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Some expect to overcome alone by the blood of the Lamb, without making any special effort of their own. I saw that God has been merciful in giving us the power of speech. He has given us a tongue, and we are accountable to Him for its use. We should glorify God with our mouth, speaking in honor of the truth and of His unbounded mercy, and overcome by the word of our testimony through the blood of the Lamb.

“We should not come together to remain silent; those only are remembered of the Lord who assemble to speak of His honor and glory and tell of His power; upon such the blessing of God will rest, and they will be refreshed.”—Early Writings, pp. 114, 115.


Tuesday November 1

3. WARNING AGAINST A FALSE DOCTRINE

a. How can you prove that the doctrine “Once saved, always saved” is in conflict with the Bible? 2 Peter 1:10, 11; Matthew 24:13. After Christ has saved a person from the control of evil spirits, what may happen? Luke 11:24–26.

“Self-righteousness is a curse, a human embellishment, which Satan uses for his glory. Those who garnish the soul with self-praise and flattery prepare the way for the seven other spirits more wicked than the first. In their very reception of the truth these souls deceive themselves. They are building upon a foundation of self-righteousness.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1093.

b. After Paul had been saved from the control of Satan (2 Timothy 1:9), what danger did he keep in mind? 1 Corinthians 9:26, 27. How did he warn the Hebrew Christians against the “once saved-always-saved” doctrine? Hebrews 6:4–6.

c. What hope, based on Christ’s promise, should be held by those who accept Christ as their personal Saviour? Romans 8:24, 25; Titus 3:7. What warning should we take from Peter’s fall?

“Peter’s fall was not instantaneous, but gradual. Self-confidence led him to the belief that he was saved, and step after step was taken in the downward path, until he could deny his Master. Never can we safely put confidence in self or feel, this side of heaven, that we are secure against temptation. Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved. This is misleading. Everyone should be taught to cherish hope and faith; but even when we give ourselves to Christ and know that He accepts us, we are not beyond the reach of temptation.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 155.

“We are never to rest in a satisfied condition and cease to make advancement, saying, ‘I am saved.’ When this idea is entertained, the motives for watchfulness, for prayers, for earnest endeavor to press onward to higher attainments, cease to exist. No sanctified tongue will be found uttering these words till Christ shall come, and we enter in through the gates into the city of God.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 314.


Wednesday November 2

4. THE DANGER OF A LAX, CASUAL SPIRIT

a. Of these two forms of iniquity considered in the judgment, which is more offensive to God? 2 Peter 2:20–22; Hebrews 10:26–31.

“Man’s great danger is in being self-deceived, indulging self-sufficiency, and thus separating from God, the source of his strength. Our natural tendencies, unless corrected by the Holy Spirit of God, have in them the seeds of moral death. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we cannot resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. . . .

“Only as we see our utter helplessness and renounce all self-trust, shall we lay hold on divine power.”—Testimonies, vol. 8, pp. 315, 316.

b. What admonitions should we take into serious consideration every day? 1 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Corinthians 13:5, 6.

“As long as life shall last, there is need of guarding the affections and the passions with a firm purpose. There is inward corruption, there are outward temptations, and wherever the work of God shall be advanced, Satan plans so to arrange circumstances that temptation shall come with overpowering force upon the soul. Not one moment can we be secure only as we are relying upon God, the life hid with Christ in God.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 2, p. 1032.

c. How can we avoid a lax attitude in worship? 1 Corinthians 14:40. What modern worship style often accompanies false doctrines? 2 Timothy 4:3, 4.

“There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit.

“The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. . . .

“The Lord desires to have in His service order and discipline, not excitement and confusion.”—Maranatha, p. 234.


Thursday November 3

5. OUR MAIN CONCERN

a. Why will many names be removed from the book of life in the investigative judgment? Exodus 32:33; Ezekiel 18:20, 24.

“The book of life contains the names of all who have ever entered the service of God. If any of these depart from Him, and by stubborn persistence in sin become finally hardened against the influences of His Holy Spirit, their names will in the judgment be blotted from the book of life, and they themselves will be devoted to destruction.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 326.

b. As we wish to have a place in the kingdom of glory, what assurance should we have concerning our names? Revelation 3:5; 21:27.

“The names of all those who have once given themselves to God are written in the book of life, and their characters are now passing in review before Him. Angels of God are weighing moral worth. They are watching the development of character in those now living, to see if their names can be retained in the book of life. A probation is granted us in which to wash our robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. Who is doing this work? Who is separating from himself sin and selfishness?”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 960.

“If we find no pleasure now in the contemplation of heavenly things; if we have no interest in seeking the knowledge of God, no delight in beholding the character of Christ; if holiness has no attractions for us—then we may be sure that our hope of heaven is vain. Perfect conformity to the will of God is the high aim to be constantly before the Christian.”—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 745.


Friday November 4

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Define the two classes of people in the light of the plan of redemption.

2. What do you know about the book of life and the book of death?

3. What scriptures disprove the “Once-saved, always-saved” doctrine?

4. Explain Hebrews 10:26–31.

5. Explain Revelation 3:5.

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