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Sabbath Bible Lessons

“God With Us”

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Lesson 11 Sabbath, September 10, 2011

The Two Covenants

“In that [God] saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old” (Hebrews 8:13).

“While there are different degrees of development and different manifestations of His power to meet the wants of men in the different ages, God’s work in all time is the same.”—Education, p. 50.

Suggested Reading:   Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 370-373

Sunday September 4

1. THE OLD COVENANT

a. Who was the Lord that made a covenant with Israel? Malachi 3:1; John 1:1–3, 14; Acts 7:37, 38. What is the law that Christ wrote on two tables of stone called? 2 Corinthians 3:3; Galatians 6:2.

“The Father has given the world into the hands of Christ, that through His mediatorial work He may redeem man and vindicate the authority and holiness of the law of God. All the communion between heaven and the fallen race has been through Christ.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 366.

b. How was the old covenant ratified, and on what law was it based? Exodus 24:3, 7, 8; Hebrews 9:18–20.

c. What was meant by “all the words of the Lord” (Exodus 24:3) or “every precept” “according to the law” (Hebrews 9:19) concerning God’s covenant with His people? Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13; 9:10.

d. After proclaiming every commandment of the law as the basis of the covenant (Deuteronomy 5:2), did God add any more to what He wrote on the two tables of stone? Deuteronomy 5:22. Are we permitted to add or subtract anything? Deuteronomy 4:2.


Monday September 5

2. AN EVIDENT SIMILARITY

a. Does the new covenant also have a sanctuary? If so, where? Who was its builder? Who officiates as the High Priest? Hebrews 8:1, 2.

b. What did the old covenant also have? Hebrews 9:1.

“[Hebrews 9:1–5 quoted.] The sanctuary to which Paul here refers was the tabernacle built by Moses at the command of God as the earthly dwelling place of the Most High.”—The Great Controversy, p. 411.

c. In a comparison between the two covenants, what similarity does the Scripture also imply? Does it also establish a parallel in the services of the two sanctuaries? Hebrews 8:5. Is the Mediator of both covenants the same Saviour?

“[In Hebrews 8:1, 2] is revealed the sanctuary of the new covenant. The sanctuary of the first covenant was pitched by man, built by Moses; this is pitched by the Lord, not by man. In that sanctuary the earthly priests performed their service; in this, Christ, our great High Priest, ministers at God’s right hand. One sanctuary was on earth, the other is in heaven.”—Ibid., p. 413.

“The Saviour typified in the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law is the very same that is revealed in the gospel. The clouds that enveloped His divine form have rolled back; the mists and shades have disappeared; and Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, stands revealed. He who proclaimed the law from Sinai, and delivered to Moses the precepts of the ritual law, is the same that spoke the Sermon on the Mount. The great principles of love to God, which He set forth as the foundation of the law and the prophets, are only a reiteration of what He had spoken through Moses to the Hebrew people. . . . The teacher is the same in both dispensations. God’s claims are the same. The principles of His government are the same. For all proceed from Him ‘with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning’ (James 1:17).”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 373.


Tuesday September 6

3. THE LAW AND THE TWO COVENANTS

a. Under the old covenant, from where did Moses obtain the transcript of God’s law? Exodus 31:18. Where do we see God’s law in the new covenant? Hebrews 8:2, 5; 9:3, 4; Revelation 11:19.

b. Where did God write His law? Deuteronomy 33:2; Exodus 24:12. What did the self-sufficient Hebrews think they could do? Exodus 24:7 (last part); Joshua 24:24. By not relying on the powerful grace of Christ, how did they show their inability? Romans 9:31, 32; Psalm 78:5, 10.

“While the law is holy, the Jews could not attain righteousness by their own efforts to keep the law.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 54.

c. Under the new covenant, where does Christ, by the Holy Spirit, write God’s law? Jeremiah 31:31–33 (Hebrews 8:10). How only can we successfully obey? Ezekiel 36:26, 27; Philippians 4:13.

“The same law that was engraved upon the tables of stone is written by the Holy Spirit upon the tables of the heart. Instead of going about to establish our own righteousness we accept the righteousness of Christ. His blood atones for our sins. His obedience is accepted for us. Then the heart renewed by the Holy Spirit will bring forth ‘the fruits of the Spirit.’ Through the grace of Christ we shall live in obedience to the law of God written upon our hearts. Having the Spirit of Christ, we shall walk even as He walked.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 372.

“Human effort avails nothing without divine power; and without human endeavor, divine effort is with many of no avail. To make God’s grace our own, we must act our part. His grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort. . . .

“Those who walk in the path of obedience will encounter many hindrances. Strong, subtle influences may bind them to the world; but the Lord is able to render futile every agency that works for the defeat of His chosen ones; in His strength they may overcome every temptation, conquer every difficulty.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 487.


Wednesday September 7

4. THE TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY

a. Why was the earthly sanctuary called “the tabernacle of testimony”? Exodus 38:21; Numbers 1:50, 53. What is the “testimony”? Exodus 25:16; 31:18; 34:27–29.

b. By what name does the Bible call the heavenly sanctuary? Revelation 15:5. In the sanctuary in heaven, what does “the ark of his testament” contain? Revelation 11:19. What are the words of God’s covenant? Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13.

“Again, ‘the temple of God was opened’ (Revelation 11:19), and [the apostle John] looked within the inner veil, upon the holy of holies. Here he beheld ‘the ark of His testament,’ represented by the sacred chest constructed by Moses to contain the law of God.”—The Great Controversy, p. 415.

c. When Moses said, “By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3), to what did he refer primarily? Deuteronomy 8:1, 6; 30:14–16.

“With the word of God in his hands, every human being, wherever his lot in life may be cast, may have such companionship as he shall choose. In its pages he may hold converse with the noblest and best of the human race, and may listen to the voice of the Eternal as He speaks with men.”—Education, p. 127.

d. How did Jesus confirm what He had inspired Moses to say? Matthew 4:4 (compare Acts 7:38; 1 Corinthians 10:4, 9).

“Not by one word, not by many words, but by every word that God has spoken, shall man live. We cannot disregard one word, however trifling it may seem to us, and be safe. There is not a commandment of the law that is not for the good and happiness of man, both in this life and in the life to come.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 52.


Thursday September 8

5. LIVING BY GOD’S WORD

a. Under the new covenant, what are Christ’s followers to do with God’s law (the testimony)? Isaiah 8:14–16, 20; 1 Peter 2:6–8.

“The mission of Christ on earth was not to destroy the law, but by His grace to bring man back to obedience to its precepts.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 48.

b. In life’s struggles, what must we realize about the power of God’s grace? 1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10.

“It was impossible for those who had once weakened themselves by transgression to fulfill the requirements of God; the consequence and penalty of sin was upon the race; but the Lamb of God paid the penalty of the past transgressions, and will impart to those who believe on Him power to become the sons of God, power to obey the commandments of the law. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we may be conquerors in the battle with ‘the world, the flesh, and the devil.’ Jesus says, ‘Without me ye can do nothing;’ we are dependent upon Him for divine grace and help from day to day. . . .

“Our hearts will be so melted with the love that Jesus has manifested toward us, that we cannot be taken up with the affairs of this world. When Christ is abiding in the heart and we have a true conception of the sacrifice that He has made, we shall talk about it. We shall understand something of the perfection of the law that He came to magnify and make honorable. The privilege of obedience will seem precious and gracious to our souls.”—The Signs of the Times, February 10, 1888.


Friday September 9

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. For how long has Christ been reconciling humanity to God?

2. What is implied in comparing the two covenants (Hebrews 9:1)?

3. What is seen by faith in comparing Hebrews 9:4 to Revelation 11:19?

4. Why is God's word worthy of our trust?

5. What did Christ (in Matthew 4:4) confirm about Deuteronomy 8:3?

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