Good morning and
happy Sabbath, ASI family.
00:00:19.81\00:00:22.38
It's good to have you
here this morning with us
00:00:22.42\00:00:24.79
in Houston in 2017 ASI.
00:00:24.82\00:00:28.49
I brought just a few people
on stage with me this morning,
00:00:28.52\00:00:31.59
and they represent someone,
00:00:31.63\00:00:34.00
they represent our
international attendees.
00:00:34.03\00:00:37.27
This morning, I
just want to get a feel
00:00:37.30\00:00:39.73
for how many other
00:00:39.77\00:00:41.10
international attendees we have.
00:00:41.14\00:00:42.60
You can see, we have Mongolia
represented here this morning.
00:00:42.64\00:00:45.47
Welcome from Mongolia.
00:00:45.51\00:00:47.14
And we have
Australia represented.
00:00:47.18\00:00:49.64
They said they didn't come in
00:00:49.68\00:00:51.01
their national
dress this morning,
00:00:51.05\00:00:52.38
but you can see that
00:00:52.41\00:00:54.92
we have guests from
all over the world here.
00:00:54.95\00:00:56.69
I would like to ask
those in the audience
00:00:56.72\00:00:59.52
who are from
somewhere else in the world
00:00:59.55\00:01:01.92
besides the
North American division
00:01:01.96\00:01:04.09
to please stand.
00:01:04.13\00:01:05.46
If you're from
some other country
00:01:05.49\00:01:07.36
attending ASI,
00:01:07.40\00:01:08.86
you're not from the
North American division...
00:01:08.90\00:01:11.73
Amen, hallelujah.
00:01:11.77\00:01:13.67
What a blessing!
00:01:13.70\00:01:15.44
Thank you so much
for coming to ASI.
00:01:15.47\00:01:18.21
Thank you for joining us here.
00:01:18.24\00:01:19.97
And we're praying
for God's blessing
00:01:20.01\00:01:22.74
upon the work in Mongolia,
and upon the work in Australia,
00:01:22.78\00:01:25.81
and everywhere around the world
00:01:25.85\00:01:27.35
where God is reaching
out, doing amazing things
00:01:27.38\00:01:30.82
to help finish the
work of spreading the gospel
00:01:30.85\00:01:33.09
to the entire world.
00:01:33.12\00:01:34.46
Thank you for coming to ASI here
00:01:34.49\00:01:36.22
in North American division.
00:01:36.26\00:01:37.89
Wonderful, merciful Savior
00:01:52.77\00:01:58.71
Precious redeemer and friend
00:01:58.75\00:02:04.59
Who would have
thought that a Lamb could
00:02:04.62\00:02:10.96
Rescue the souls of men
00:02:10.99\00:02:15.53
Oh, You rescue the souls of men
00:02:15.56\00:02:21.77
Counselor, comforter, keeper
00:02:26.11\00:02:32.11
Spirit we long to embrace
00:02:32.15\00:02:38.09
You offer hope
when our hearts have
00:02:38.12\00:02:44.23
Hopelessly lost our way
00:02:44.26\00:02:48.56
Oh, hopelessly lost our way
00:02:48.60\00:02:56.27
You are the one that we praise
00:02:56.30\00:03:02.28
You are the one we adore
00:03:02.31\00:03:08.08
You give the healing and grace
00:03:08.12\00:03:12.62
Our hearts always hunger for
00:03:12.65\00:03:18.46
Oh, our hearts always hunger for
00:03:18.49\00:03:25.67
You are the one that we praise
00:03:25.70\00:03:31.54
You are the one we adore
00:03:31.57\00:03:37.35
You give the healing and grace
00:03:37.38\00:03:41.85
Our hearts always hunger for
00:03:41.88\00:03:47.49
Oh, our hearts always
00:03:47.52\00:03:50.63
Hunger for
00:03:50.66\00:03:58.03
Almighty, infinite Father
00:03:58.07\00:04:03.84
Faithfully loving Your own
00:04:03.87\00:04:09.64
Here in our weakness You find us
00:04:09.68\00:04:15.58
Falling before Your throne
00:04:15.62\00:04:19.92
Oh, we're falling
before Your throne
00:04:19.95\00:04:27.36
You are the one that we praise
00:04:27.40\00:04:33.17
You are the one we adore
00:04:33.20\00:04:38.77
You give the healing and grace
00:04:38.81\00:04:43.48
Our hearts always hunger for
00:04:43.51\00:04:48.98
Oh, our hearts always hunger for
00:04:49.02\00:04:56.29
You are the one that we praise
00:04:56.32\00:05:02.06
You are the one we adore
00:05:02.10\00:05:08.07
You give the healing and grace
00:05:08.10\00:05:12.41
Our hearts always hunger for
00:05:12.44\00:05:17.88
Oh, our hearts always hunger for
00:05:17.91\00:05:25.62
Amen.
00:05:35.36\00:05:37.07
Good morning, ASI.
00:05:37.10\00:05:40.24
Happy Sabbath, and
welcome to Sabbath School.
00:05:40.27\00:05:43.94
As we get started this
morning with Sabbath School,
00:05:43.97\00:05:45.97
I'd like us to bow
our heads for prayer.
00:05:46.01\00:05:49.08
Father in heaven indeed
as the words of the song
00:05:49.11\00:05:51.85
we just heard,
00:05:51.88\00:05:53.58
You are the one that we adore,
our hearts hunger for You.
00:05:53.62\00:05:58.75
And this morning
at this time of study,
00:05:58.79\00:06:01.69
Father, I just ask
that Your Holy Spirit
00:06:01.72\00:06:04.66
who was already present with us
00:06:04.69\00:06:07.50
will be with us now
as we open Your word
00:06:07.53\00:06:10.63
for this very important study.
00:06:10.67\00:06:12.93
Guide us, direct
our hearts towards You.
00:06:12.97\00:06:16.57
And, Father, may we discover
something strange and new
00:06:16.60\00:06:20.08
that will
transform us into Your image
00:06:20.11\00:06:23.28
and hasten Your coming.
00:06:23.31\00:06:25.15
Be with each of the panelists,
I pray for Jesus' sake, amen.
00:06:25.18\00:06:31.35
Well, it's a great
privilege to be here
00:06:31.39\00:06:36.16
as the moderator
of this panel today,
00:06:36.19\00:06:39.86
not because I'm an expert
00:06:39.89\00:06:41.23
but because we
certainly all love the gospel
00:06:41.26\00:06:44.53
and want to share it together.
00:06:44.57\00:06:47.37
As often it's
the case with panel,
00:06:47.40\00:06:49.17
sometimes we could
exclude the audience,
00:06:49.20\00:06:51.27
but we want to
include you today.
00:06:51.31\00:06:53.31
And so I like you to
listen, and actively listen.
00:06:53.34\00:06:59.71
I am Lyndi Schwartz,
00:06:59.75\00:07:01.08
and I'm the
moderator of the panel,
00:07:01.12\00:07:02.45
and I'm from Ohio.
00:07:02.48\00:07:03.89
And to my far left,
I have Bob Hunsaker,
00:07:03.92\00:07:09.19
he does happen to be a relative,
00:07:09.22\00:07:10.56
he is my brother-in-law.
00:07:10.59\00:07:12.69
And then we have Elias Baquero,
and he is from California.
00:07:12.73\00:07:19.33
And then to my immediate
right, we have Justin Kim,
00:07:19.37\00:07:24.14
who is no
stranger to our audience.
00:07:24.17\00:07:26.21
And then also James
Rafferty, my far right,
00:07:26.24\00:07:29.88
and again, he's
certainly no stranger to us.
00:07:29.91\00:07:32.98
We're going to open
the Word this morning,
00:07:33.01\00:07:34.52
and if you have your Bibles,
00:07:34.55\00:07:37.12
I'd like you to turn
00:07:37.15\00:07:40.66
to the Book of Galatians
00:07:40.69\00:07:44.93
from where the study is today.
00:07:44.96\00:07:49.56
The Book of Galatians,
00:07:49.60\00:07:51.87
I'll be reading the
entirety of the passage
00:07:51.90\00:07:54.74
which is Galatians 3:15 to 19,
00:07:54.77\00:08:00.58
and then we'll
have a panel discussion.
00:08:00.61\00:08:03.88
The title of the lesson today
is the Priority of the Promise.
00:08:03.91\00:08:09.88
And inherent in the title,
00:08:09.92\00:08:12.19
we recognize that somehow
the promise has priority.
00:08:12.22\00:08:16.29
So let's read
together. Galatians 3:15 to 19.
00:08:16.32\00:08:22.60
"Brethren, I speak
in the manner of men.
00:08:22.63\00:08:26.13
Though it is only
in a man's covenant,
00:08:26.17\00:08:29.04
yet if it is confirmed,
no one annuls or adds to it.
00:08:29.07\00:08:35.11
Now to Abraham and his
seed were the promises made.
00:08:35.14\00:08:40.02
He does not say, 'And
to seeds,' as of many,
00:08:40.05\00:08:44.02
but as of one,
'And to your Seed,'
00:08:44.05\00:08:47.82
who is Christ.
00:08:47.86\00:08:50.06
And this I say, that the
law, which was 430 years later,
00:08:50.09\00:08:55.86
cannot annul the
covenant that was confirmed
00:08:55.90\00:08:59.47
before God in Christ,
00:08:59.50\00:09:02.00
that it should make
the promise of no effect.
00:09:02.04\00:09:06.04
For if the
inheritance is of the law,
00:09:06.07\00:09:09.24
it is no longer of promise,
00:09:09.28\00:09:11.81
but God gave it to
Abraham by promise.
00:09:11.85\00:09:15.58
What purpose then
does the law serve?
00:09:15.62\00:09:18.45
It was added
because of transgressions,
00:09:18.49\00:09:21.42
till the seed should come
to whom the promise was made,
00:09:21.46\00:09:25.89
and it was
appointed through angels
00:09:25.93\00:09:28.56
by the hand of a mediator."
00:09:28.60\00:09:34.14
So today, we want to
have a robust discussion
00:09:34.17\00:09:37.64
about this passage.
00:09:37.67\00:09:39.57
And I want to ask
the first question
00:09:39.61\00:09:41.81
to our panelists.
00:09:41.84\00:09:43.41
In the interest of
time, I believe that
00:09:43.45\00:09:45.91
several commentators
agree that covenant and promise
00:09:45.95\00:09:49.98
are essentially the same thing.
00:09:50.02\00:09:52.02
Some may
disagree, and that's okay,
00:09:52.05\00:09:53.96
and I can be challenged on
that as I make that statement.
00:09:53.99\00:09:57.19
In verse 16, however,
let me read that again.
00:09:57.23\00:09:59.56
In verse 16, the text says,
00:09:59.59\00:10:03.06
"Now to Abraham and his seed
00:10:03.10\00:10:06.40
were the promises made.
00:10:06.43\00:10:08.34
He does not say, 'And to seeds,'
00:10:08.37\00:10:11.41
as of many, but as of one,
00:10:11.44\00:10:14.04
'And to your
Seed,' who is Christ.'
00:10:14.08\00:10:17.08
" So the question then is,
00:10:17.11\00:10:19.21
why was the promise not
made just to Abraham or seeds,
00:10:19.25\00:10:24.45
but to his seed, singular?
00:10:24.49\00:10:27.59
And who was the main recipient
anyway of this promise?
00:10:27.62\00:10:33.40
Inherent in this question,
00:10:33.43\00:10:35.23
I'd like you to
also discuss the concept
00:10:35.26\00:10:38.03
that there is
something crucial, central,
00:10:38.07\00:10:41.04
and core to the gospel in
this text, and what is it?
00:10:41.07\00:10:47.14
Andy, it's so... I mean,
Lyndi. Whoo, it's so exciting.
00:10:47.18\00:10:50.81
You told me not to do that, huh?
00:10:50.85\00:10:52.18
He just called me Andy,
that's my wonderful twin sister
00:10:52.21\00:10:54.88
who I adore.
00:10:54.92\00:10:56.25
I will forgive you James.
00:10:56.28\00:10:57.62
I think it's so exiting
that we're studying Galatians,
00:10:57.65\00:10:59.79
and I'm hoping, this
time, we get it right.
00:10:59.82\00:11:02.22
It seems like from
our discussion previously
00:11:02.26\00:11:04.76
and even from the
quarterly which I think
00:11:04.79\00:11:06.70
is been really super.
00:11:06.73\00:11:08.10
I've really enjoyed it
that we are on track this time
00:11:08.13\00:11:11.47
to understand that the
focus of the Book of Galatians
00:11:11.50\00:11:14.27
is the seed being Jesus Christ,
00:11:14.30\00:11:16.71
that the promises
were made to Jesus
00:11:16.74\00:11:19.01
not primarily to us or
even to Abraham's descendants
00:11:19.04\00:11:21.74
but to Him as a
descendant of Abraham.
00:11:21.78\00:11:24.75
Primarily
because He's the only one
00:11:24.78\00:11:26.61
that could actually
fulfill the covenant promises
00:11:26.65\00:11:29.32
that He is the
focus of the covenant,
00:11:29.35\00:11:32.19
and He is the covenant keeper.
00:11:32.22\00:11:33.72
So I love this
whole idea that the seed
00:11:33.76\00:11:36.69
is singled out by Abraham...
00:11:36.73\00:11:38.39
I mean, by Paul
himself in Galatians.
00:11:38.43\00:11:41.36
He says, he emphasizes
not seeds but to the seed,
00:11:41.40\00:11:45.47
speaking of Jesus Christ.
00:11:45.50\00:11:46.84
Yes, okay.
00:11:46.87\00:11:48.20
Yeah, I think, just following
upon what you're saying there,
00:11:48.24\00:11:49.57
James, I think it's really neat
to appreciate all the promises
00:11:49.60\00:11:53.11
God has for us.
00:11:53.14\00:11:54.48
But we don't commonly
think about all those promises
00:11:54.51\00:11:57.08
relating that Jesus
read those promises,
00:11:57.11\00:11:59.21
"Hey, that's in there for me."
00:11:59.25\00:12:01.42
You know, when He saw that
promise to Abraham, it said,
00:12:01.45\00:12:04.59
"In you shall all the
nations be blessed," He said,
00:12:04.62\00:12:06.76
"You know,
that's speaking to me."
00:12:06.79\00:12:08.72
So he read those
Old Testament stories
00:12:08.76\00:12:10.99
and as He was growing
in wisdom, and stature,
00:12:11.03\00:12:13.86
and favor with
God and man, He said,
00:12:13.90\00:12:15.50
"These promises
in the Old Testament
00:12:15.53\00:12:16.87
are for me to experience."
00:12:16.90\00:12:18.23
And that, I think,
brings up the point
00:12:18.27\00:12:19.60
that just like we
have the privilege
00:12:19.63\00:12:21.97
of having faith
and God's promises.
00:12:22.00\00:12:23.81
Jesus experienced faith
and God's promises to Him.
00:12:23.84\00:12:28.48
Amen.
00:12:28.51\00:12:31.15
Okay.
00:12:31.18\00:12:33.98
So also, I just wanted
to look at something here
00:12:34.02\00:12:36.25
that I think is
really interesting
00:12:36.28\00:12:37.65
in the quarterly, and that is,
00:12:37.69\00:12:40.42
we misunderstand sometimes
the idea of a covenant.
00:12:40.46\00:12:43.63
And I don't know, in my mind,
it's been a little bit blurry,
00:12:43.66\00:12:48.70
and I thought this was really...
00:12:48.73\00:12:50.07
I just want to read this.
00:12:50.10\00:12:51.43
This is right on the first day,
00:12:51.47\00:12:52.87
actually it's
Sunday's lesson, July 30,
00:12:52.90\00:12:57.61
so it's right as
the quarterly begins
00:12:57.64\00:13:00.88
to enter into the discussion.
00:13:00.91\00:13:02.94
And I read this, I
started, I emphasized,
00:13:02.98\00:13:07.28
I just thought, "Wow!
00:13:07.32\00:13:08.65
This is really powerful,
this can really impact people."
00:13:08.68\00:13:10.59
So it impacted me.
00:13:10.62\00:13:12.02
"So a covenant," it says,
00:13:12.05\00:13:13.52
"and a will are
generally different."
00:13:13.56\00:13:15.76
A covenant and a will
are generally different.
00:13:15.79\00:13:18.49
A covenant is
typically a mutual agreement
00:13:18.53\00:13:21.16
between two or more people,
00:13:21.20\00:13:22.73
often called a
contract or a treaty.
00:13:22.76\00:13:26.17
In a contract...
00:13:26.20\00:13:27.54
In contrast, excuse me,
a will is the declaration
00:13:27.57\00:13:29.94
of a single person.
00:13:29.97\00:13:31.37
And you get that so far, right.
00:13:31.41\00:13:32.97
A covenant is like an
agreement between two parties
00:13:33.01\00:13:35.11
but a will is like a declaration
00:13:35.14\00:13:36.48
of a single person.
00:13:36.51\00:13:37.85
This is my will
and testament, okay?
00:13:37.88\00:13:40.08
Now, I've always
read the word covenant,
00:13:40.12\00:13:42.18
and I've
understood automatically,
00:13:42.22\00:13:43.72
it's an agreement
between two people.
00:13:43.75\00:13:46.25
As the quarterly
describes, as it goes on to say
00:13:46.29\00:13:48.32
it this way, it says that
00:13:48.36\00:13:50.76
the Greek translation
of the Old Testament,
00:13:50.79\00:13:54.43
the Septuagint,
00:13:54.46\00:13:56.00
that's the Greek translation
of the Old Testament,
00:13:56.03\00:13:57.70
the Septuagint never translates
God's covenant with Abraham
00:13:57.73\00:14:03.64
with the Greek word
used for mutual agreements
00:14:03.67\00:14:06.47
or contracts, okay?
00:14:06.51\00:14:09.08
Instead, it uses the word
for a testament or a will, why?
00:14:09.11\00:14:14.62
Probably because the
translators recognize that
00:14:14.65\00:14:16.99
God's covenant with
Abraham was not a treaty
00:14:17.02\00:14:19.49
between two individuals
00:14:19.52\00:14:21.62
where mutually
binding promises are made,
00:14:21.66\00:14:24.36
on the contrary God's
covenant was based on nothing
00:14:24.39\00:14:27.80
other than His own will.
00:14:27.83\00:14:30.23
No strings, no if's,
and's, or but's was attached.
00:14:30.27\00:14:33.90
Abraham was simply
to take God at His word.
00:14:33.94\00:14:36.94
I love that. Okay, very good.
00:14:36.97\00:14:40.61
What's great about
that is that, you know,
00:14:40.64\00:14:42.61
it shows that if it's a
will, we then become heirs.
00:14:42.64\00:14:46.38
And it's not something
that we work towards...
00:14:46.41\00:14:49.78
We just happen to
have such a loving God
00:14:49.82\00:14:52.49
that He gave us this inheritance
00:14:52.52\00:14:54.86
and we by faith appropriate it.
00:14:54.89\00:14:56.89
And so it's great that
it's something that shows that,
00:14:56.93\00:14:59.86
it's not something that we
can do in our own strength.
00:14:59.89\00:15:01.86
Okay.
00:15:01.90\00:15:03.23
Yeah, I was just
gonna say the point
00:15:03.26\00:15:04.60
you bring out there, James.
00:15:04.63\00:15:05.97
It, sort of, is in
the context really,
00:15:06.00\00:15:07.34
even though the word
is covenant, it says,
00:15:07.37\00:15:09.70
"No one can annul or add to it."
00:15:09.74\00:15:12.07
So in a two-party
system, either one can annul it,
00:15:12.11\00:15:15.08
but in a one-party
system, only the one
00:15:15.11\00:15:16.71
who makes the will can annul it.
00:15:16.75\00:15:18.11
So it's bringing
that out through that,
00:15:18.15\00:15:19.65
there's nothing we can do
to annul God's promise to us,
00:15:19.68\00:15:22.75
He is always gonna be faithful
even if we're faithless.
00:15:22.78\00:15:24.72
Okay.
00:15:24.75\00:15:26.82
Now, this is an awesome
point you're both making.
00:15:26.86\00:15:30.59
But we've gotten a
little ahead of ourselves.
00:15:30.63\00:15:33.16
I want to bring
us back a little bit
00:15:33.19\00:15:35.66
because we're going to
come and discuss this point,
00:15:35.70\00:15:37.50
that's a very vital point
00:15:37.53\00:15:39.47
that James, and
Elias, and Bob have all made,
00:15:39.50\00:15:43.17
but I want to drill that a
little further on this text
00:15:43.20\00:15:46.07
that we have
just read in verse 16.
00:15:46.11\00:15:49.21
There are many items there.
00:15:49.24\00:15:50.58
And certainly the
promise and the covenant
00:15:50.61\00:15:51.98
is also in there,
we'll come back to that.
00:15:52.01\00:15:54.15
But I want to read
an interesting text,
00:15:54.18\00:15:56.69
Romans 4:13.
00:15:56.72\00:15:59.02
If we could look
over there, Romans 4:13,
00:15:59.05\00:16:03.96
this is an interesting passage.
00:16:03.99\00:16:06.26
It says that, "For the promise
00:16:06.29\00:16:08.13
that he would be
the heir of the world
00:16:08.16\00:16:10.37
was not to Abraham or
his seed through the law,
00:16:10.40\00:16:15.34
but through the
righteousness of faith."
00:16:15.37\00:16:18.27
Now how would you
apply that text to the seed,
00:16:18.31\00:16:23.71
Jesus Christ.
00:16:23.75\00:16:25.08
Was Jesus Christ
righteous by faith?
00:16:25.11\00:16:30.32
If He was righteous by
faith, how could that be?
00:16:30.35\00:16:33.92
After all, He was
the divine Son of God.
00:16:33.96\00:16:37.76
I think, we know
and Paul mentions
00:16:37.79\00:16:39.76
seed versus seeds.
00:16:39.79\00:16:41.26
He's making a distinction
00:16:41.30\00:16:42.63
between the
singular and the plural.
00:16:42.66\00:16:44.50
If it was seeds, if a
plural, it will be up to us,
00:16:44.53\00:16:47.44
it will be up to human beings,
00:16:47.47\00:16:48.80
it will be up
to our performance,
00:16:48.84\00:16:51.77
our fulfilling of the law.
00:16:51.81\00:16:53.91
But he mentions
seed, a singularity,
00:16:53.94\00:16:56.34
there's gonna be almost
an anomaly with the seed.
00:16:56.38\00:17:01.58
I don't want to
emphasize too much to divinity
00:17:01.62\00:17:03.42
or too much to
humanity of Christ.
00:17:03.45\00:17:04.85
Christ is Christ, but He comes,
00:17:04.89\00:17:07.26
and He fulfills that component
of which Israel has failed
00:17:07.29\00:17:11.06
with its
throughout entire history.
00:17:11.09\00:17:13.86
Jesus becomes the new Israel.
00:17:13.90\00:17:16.03
And where Israel
failed in the lack of faith,
00:17:16.06\00:17:18.67
Jesus comes, and His faith
replaces all their failures.
00:17:18.70\00:17:22.94
Okay. Yeah.
00:17:22.97\00:17:25.11
I think, to me, I
remember when someone talk to me
00:17:25.14\00:17:28.04
about Jesus having
faith, a few years ago,
00:17:28.08\00:17:31.25
that was a new thought to me.
00:17:31.28\00:17:32.78
And it's been
really encouraging to me
00:17:32.81\00:17:35.15
over the years
to appreciate that
00:17:35.18\00:17:37.69
just as I need to walk by faith
and trusting in the Father,
00:17:37.72\00:17:40.62
Jesus understands
that by experience.
00:17:40.66\00:17:43.89
He didn't have, you
know, He wasn't born
00:17:43.93\00:17:47.16
with a logo
software in His brain.
00:17:47.20\00:17:49.63
He had to grow in wisdom,
He had to grow in His faith.
00:17:49.66\00:17:52.40
He wasn't ready for
Calvary at two years old
00:17:52.43\00:17:54.40
or at ten years old.
00:17:54.44\00:17:55.77
His faith had to grow
and mature as He believed
00:17:55.80\00:17:57.87
and trusted in God's promises.
00:17:57.91\00:17:59.74
And that's an
encouragement to us I think.
00:17:59.77\00:18:02.51
Yeah, I love what you just said.
00:18:02.54\00:18:03.95
Faith is not some abstraction,
00:18:03.98\00:18:05.38
it's not something that
that's objective and you get,
00:18:05.41\00:18:07.98
it's based on a
relationship with Jesus.
00:18:08.02\00:18:09.98
I love this because it
transformed my experience.
00:18:10.02\00:18:15.89
Faith is based on two elements,
according to Hebrews 11,
00:18:15.92\00:18:20.53
the goodness of God
00:18:20.56\00:18:21.93
and the power,
the ability of God.
00:18:21.96\00:18:24.07
And whenever we're
in a crisis of faith,
00:18:24.10\00:18:26.20
those two things are questioned.
00:18:26.23\00:18:28.20
I love my grandmother,
she's a million years old.
00:18:28.24\00:18:31.34
I know, I without a
doubt, she loves me.
00:18:31.37\00:18:34.88
But when I went
into a dark alley,
00:18:34.91\00:18:37.65
I know she is not able,
00:18:37.68\00:18:39.61
she's not powerful
enough to defend me
00:18:39.65\00:18:42.12
against any enemies
that may come about.
00:18:42.15\00:18:44.45
Now there's
Arnold Schwarzenegger.
00:18:44.49\00:18:47.66
Well, I don't know
about now, but back ago,
00:18:47.69\00:18:49.46
he had the muscle
tissue to protect me.
00:18:49.49\00:18:51.23
I know he has
the power to do so.
00:18:51.26\00:18:53.19
But I have no relationship.
00:18:53.23\00:18:54.56
I know he doesn't
have a good character,
00:18:54.60\00:18:55.93
he will not
defend me in a situation.
00:18:55.96\00:18:59.73
So in a crisis of faith,
I always have to ask myself,
00:18:59.77\00:19:02.84
"God, are you good enough
to save me in this situation?
00:19:02.87\00:19:07.68
Well, of course you're
good. Of course, you'll love me.
00:19:07.71\00:19:10.05
But are you strong enough?"
00:19:10.08\00:19:11.81
And this is
where doubt comes in.
00:19:11.85\00:19:13.78
And these are, I
believe, the struggles
00:19:13.82\00:19:15.62
that Jesus had to
develop during His lifetime
00:19:15.65\00:19:18.55
and through the promises of God
00:19:18.59\00:19:20.29
that He's
developed in His faith.
00:19:20.32\00:19:21.69
And that's the faith
that He transfers to all of us
00:19:21.72\00:19:24.53
through sanctification.
00:19:24.56\00:19:26.63
To me, the other
aspect of Jesus' faith in us,
00:19:26.66\00:19:29.10
it's analogous too
when you as a parent,
00:19:29.13\00:19:33.44
or a teacher, or whatever,
00:19:33.47\00:19:35.07
even though you see in
the student or the child
00:19:35.10\00:19:37.94
an inability to do
what they need to do,
00:19:37.97\00:19:40.28
you speak to them encouragement,
00:19:40.31\00:19:42.21
and you speak to them that
they're better than they are,
00:19:42.24\00:19:45.01
and investing
in them that faith,
00:19:45.05\00:19:47.82
it causes them to
experience the things
00:19:47.85\00:19:49.55
that they wouldn't
be able to experience
00:19:49.58\00:19:50.92
if you hadn't spoken of them
00:19:50.95\00:19:52.65
or, if you want to use
the word accounted them
00:19:52.69\00:19:54.76
better than they were.
00:19:54.79\00:19:56.16
So that's what God is
essentially doing towards us.
00:19:56.19\00:19:58.33
He's saying, "Listen,
you're not where you could be
00:19:58.36\00:20:01.53
where I want you to
be, but I believe in you,
00:20:01.56\00:20:04.67
I have confidence in you.
00:20:04.70\00:20:06.03
If you trust in me,
00:20:06.07\00:20:07.40
I will bring you to this point."
00:20:07.44\00:20:08.77
It's His faith in us
00:20:08.80\00:20:10.14
that can produce
a responsive faith.
00:20:10.17\00:20:11.51
It's His confidence
in us that can produce
00:20:11.54\00:20:12.87
a responsive faith in us to Him.
00:20:12.91\00:20:14.24
You know, I really see
that taking place on Calvary,
00:20:14.28\00:20:16.75
the whole life of Christ
was a preparation for Calvary,
00:20:16.78\00:20:20.78
and we know that that
was something He exercised.
00:20:20.82\00:20:24.65
As Justin said,
He had to trust in
00:20:24.69\00:20:27.66
not only God's
goodness but also His power
00:20:27.69\00:20:29.76
to deliver Him.
00:20:29.79\00:20:31.13
It was dark.
00:20:31.16\00:20:32.49
But also, think about this,
when Christ comes to Calvary,
00:20:32.53\00:20:36.80
everyone has forsaken
Him, everyone is gone.
00:20:36.83\00:20:40.00
"The whole human race,"
Satan is whispering in His ear,
00:20:40.04\00:20:42.64
"looks like they're
not going to respond
00:20:42.67\00:20:44.74
to this gift of love."
00:20:44.77\00:20:46.51
And it becomes
very dark for Christ.
00:20:46.54\00:20:49.31
At that point, I want
to read this statement.
00:20:49.34\00:20:50.68
It's found in Faith in
Works, page 72, it says,
00:20:50.71\00:20:54.12
"It is faith that works by love
00:20:54.15\00:20:57.95
that is
witnessed by Jesus Christ
00:20:57.99\00:20:59.79
on the cross of Calvary.
00:20:59.82\00:21:02.16
It is the love
that He has for my soul.
00:21:02.19\00:21:04.73
Christ has died for me.
00:21:04.76\00:21:06.56
He has purchased me
at an infinite cost,
00:21:06.59\00:21:09.30
and He has atoned for everything
00:21:09.33\00:21:11.10
that is offensive to Him."
00:21:11.13\00:21:13.47
He is dying by faith in
us that we will respond.
00:21:13.50\00:21:18.87
Even though
everything around Him tells Him,
00:21:18.91\00:21:21.64
"We're not gonna respond,
He's gonna do it by faith."
00:21:21.68\00:21:24.41
I love that picture,
that beautiful picture
00:21:24.45\00:21:26.25
of God's heart.
00:21:26.28\00:21:27.62
And, James, I agree with you.
00:21:27.65\00:21:29.45
Jesus Christ was
dying having faith in us
00:21:29.48\00:21:31.95
that someone may respond.
00:21:31.99\00:21:33.52
He was also dying by
having faith in His Father.
00:21:33.56\00:21:37.99
Ellen White speaks of how
He was victorious by faith.
00:21:38.03\00:21:43.80
I just, as we close out
this particular section,
00:21:43.83\00:21:45.87
I want to read
an interesting quote
00:21:45.90\00:21:47.90
to think about.
00:21:47.94\00:21:49.90
And that Jesus Christ's
entire life was one of faith.
00:21:49.94\00:21:56.34
One of the first instances
of Ellen White's writing
00:21:56.38\00:21:58.91
was in the Desire of
Ages, page 336, paragraph 1.
00:21:58.95\00:22:03.72
And when I came
across this, I was surprised
00:22:03.75\00:22:05.39
but this is just
to close this section,
00:22:05.42\00:22:07.62
just to nail
down the point that,
00:22:07.66\00:22:10.73
by faith, Jesus
Christ was righteous.
00:22:10.76\00:22:13.90
"When Jesus was awakened,"
00:22:13.93\00:22:16.20
this is when the storm came
up and disciples were upset.
00:22:16.23\00:22:19.47
"When Jesus was
awakened to meet the storm,
00:22:19.50\00:22:22.77
He was in perfect peace.
00:22:22.80\00:22:25.27
There was no trace
of fear in word or look,
00:22:25.31\00:22:29.78
for no fear was in His heart.
00:22:29.81\00:22:32.31
But He rested
not in the possession
00:22:32.35\00:22:35.82
of almighty power.
00:22:35.85\00:22:38.12
It was not as the
00:22:38.15\00:22:39.52
"Master of
earth, and sea, and sky"
00:22:39.55\00:22:42.02
that He reposed in quiet.
00:22:42.06\00:22:44.83
That power He
laid down, and He says,
00:22:44.86\00:22:48.50
"I can of Mine
own self do nothing."
00:22:48.53\00:22:50.93
He trusted in
His Father's might.
00:22:50.97\00:22:53.87
It was in faith, faith
in God's love and care,
00:22:53.90\00:22:57.61
that Jesus rested,
and the power of that word
00:22:57.64\00:23:01.68
which stilled the
storm was the power of God."
00:23:01.71\00:23:05.71
And I think this is
the wonderful quote,
00:23:05.75\00:23:07.52
letting us recognize
that in this promise,
00:23:07.55\00:23:11.85
we see here the faith of Jesus.
00:23:11.89\00:23:15.22
It would take faith to
accomplish the promise,
00:23:15.26\00:23:19.53
and that's life for us.
00:23:19.56\00:23:21.16
Okay, now let's just move
to the next question here.
00:23:21.20\00:23:26.40
And James began to hit
on the question already,
00:23:26.43\00:23:29.60
and he already read the section.
00:23:29.64\00:23:31.01
I want to get a little bit more
into this concept of covenants
00:23:31.04\00:23:34.41
because I think that not
only are other Christians
00:23:34.44\00:23:39.21
a little bit confused about
00:23:39.25\00:23:40.58
what the
covenants are all about,
00:23:40.62\00:23:42.32
but sometimes,
even in our church
00:23:42.35\00:23:44.85
we can confused about
00:23:44.89\00:23:46.22
what the
covenants are really about.
00:23:46.25\00:23:48.36
And so, James,
you already read that
00:23:48.39\00:23:49.79
from the quarterly.
00:23:49.82\00:23:51.16
Let me just reiterate again.
00:23:51.19\00:23:52.53
Part of it, there's
another section of it.
00:23:52.56\00:23:53.90
Yes, okay, there's more to it.
00:23:53.93\00:23:55.46
And let's do that.
00:23:55.50\00:23:56.83
So, again, the Greek translation
00:23:56.87\00:23:58.90
of the Old Testament,
00:23:58.93\00:24:00.27
the Septuagint never translates
God's covenant with Abraham
00:24:00.30\00:24:04.31
with the Greek word
used for mutual agreements
00:24:04.34\00:24:06.37
or contracts, syntheke.
00:24:06.41\00:24:09.68
Instead, it uses the word
00:24:09.71\00:24:11.58
for testament or will, diatheke.
00:24:11.61\00:24:13.75
Why does Paul use that word,
00:24:13.78\00:24:18.72
and what are the
implications inherent
00:24:18.75\00:24:21.86
in the use of mutual
agreements versus will?
00:24:21.89\00:24:26.49
Well, in the
context of Galatians,
00:24:26.53\00:24:27.96
we're talking about circumcision
00:24:28.00\00:24:29.33
and where the role of
the works takes place.
00:24:29.36\00:24:31.47
And in a contrast that
I need to do something,
00:24:31.50\00:24:34.50
and the other person
needs to do something,
00:24:34.54\00:24:36.24
and if I follow
through what I do,
00:24:36.27\00:24:38.77
I'll get what I
agreed upon what the...
00:24:38.81\00:24:43.68
I just got confused,
00:24:43.71\00:24:45.05
but you all
know what I'm saying.
00:24:45.08\00:24:46.55
And in a uni-lateral
agreement, I can do nothing.
00:24:46.58\00:24:49.25
I just gonna sit
there, and I wait for the will
00:24:49.28\00:24:54.32
to carry on the
power that it has to do.
00:24:54.36\00:24:57.39
And this is the model of
00:24:57.43\00:25:00.40
which the biblical
covenants come from.
00:25:00.43\00:25:02.86
We can do nothing, circumcision
and we have our modern day
00:25:02.90\00:25:06.07
circumcision
manifestations today,
00:25:06.10\00:25:08.97
but we can do nothing.
00:25:09.00\00:25:11.47
To add to that, that
righteousness component.
00:25:11.51\00:25:13.91
Okay, all right.
00:25:13.94\00:25:15.28
He's going a little
bit further than that.
00:25:15.31\00:25:17.15
Also in the second paragraph,
00:25:17.18\00:25:18.88
I'll just read it, here it says,
00:25:18.91\00:25:20.25
"Paul picks up on this
double meaning of a will
00:25:20.28\00:25:23.02
and covenant in order to
highlight specific features
00:25:23.05\00:25:25.95
of God's covenant with Abraham.
00:25:25.99\00:25:28.09
As with a human will,
00:25:28.12\00:25:30.79
God's promises
concerns a specific
00:25:30.83\00:25:36.10
beneficiary," excuse me.
00:25:36.13\00:25:39.97
Beneficiary, excuse me, I'm...
00:25:40.00\00:25:44.01
Beneficiary.
Beneficiary, yes, thank you.
00:25:44.04\00:25:46.47
"Abraham in his offspring.
It also involves inheritance.
00:25:46.51\00:25:50.48
Most important to Paul
is the unchanging nature
00:25:50.51\00:25:53.68
of God's promise.
00:25:53.72\00:25:55.18
In the same way
that a person's will
00:25:55.22\00:25:57.79
cannot be changed once
it is been put into force,
00:25:57.82\00:26:01.02
so the giving of
the law through Moses
00:26:01.06\00:26:04.56
cannot simply nullify
God's previous covenant
00:26:04.59\00:26:06.76
with Abraham.
00:26:06.80\00:26:08.13
God's covenant is a promise.
00:26:08.16\00:26:09.73
And by no means is
God a promise breaker?"
00:26:09.76\00:26:11.83
So here's the point.
00:26:11.87\00:26:13.74
Justin started on it,
00:26:13.77\00:26:15.67
he began it with
mentioning circumcision,
00:26:15.70\00:26:17.87
and definitely, that was a fire,
00:26:17.91\00:26:20.94
a point of
contention with the Jews.
00:26:20.98\00:26:23.88
But as we come down
to our time, in 1888,
00:26:23.91\00:26:28.38
we come into
another controversy.
00:26:28.42\00:26:30.15
It's okay for us
as Adventists to say,
00:26:30.19\00:26:32.12
"Oh, yes, circumcision,
00:26:32.15\00:26:33.49
that's wasn't
part of the covenant.
00:26:33.52\00:26:34.86
We don't need to
be circumcised, etc."
00:26:34.89\00:26:36.62
But now, we see a
broader perspective
00:26:36.66\00:26:39.69
of the law in Galatians
including the moral law.
00:26:39.73\00:26:42.90
And basically,
Galatians is speaking
00:26:42.93\00:26:45.37
not only the ceremonial
law but also of the moral law.
00:26:45.40\00:26:47.97
And what God is saying here
is, "Hey, God made a promise
00:26:48.00\00:26:51.71
based on what He
was going to accomplish
00:26:51.74\00:26:53.48
without the moral law.
00:26:53.51\00:26:55.04
You do not
complete God's covenant
00:26:55.08\00:26:58.41
by obeying the moral law."
00:26:58.45\00:26:59.95
The moral law was added later,
00:26:59.98\00:27:02.75
it can't delete,
it can't undermine,
00:27:02.78\00:27:04.62
it can't nullify
the covenant promise
00:27:04.65\00:27:06.86
that God made which is a will.
00:27:06.89\00:27:09.92
And He is going
to accomplish that
00:27:09.96\00:27:11.39
where we're gonna
inherit that will,
00:27:11.43\00:27:13.03
that salvation
promise that God has given us
00:27:13.06\00:27:15.70
without the law.
00:27:15.73\00:27:17.30
It's not through
obedience to the moral law
00:27:17.33\00:27:19.00
that we inherit that promise.
00:27:19.03\00:27:20.64
And even from the
beginning, you know,
00:27:20.67\00:27:22.14
speaking of circumcision,
00:27:22.17\00:27:23.61
if you read
Deuteronomy 30:6, it says,
00:27:23.64\00:27:28.18
"And the Lord thy God
will circumcise thine heart
00:27:28.21\00:27:31.41
and the heart of thy
seed to love the Lord
00:27:31.45\00:27:33.92
thy God with all thine
heart and with all thine soul
00:27:33.95\00:27:36.08
that thou mayest live."
00:27:36.12\00:27:37.55
And from the beginning,
00:27:37.59\00:27:39.19
it's always been
God working in us.
00:27:39.22\00:27:41.76
It's Him, He's the
one giving the promise,
00:27:41.79\00:27:46.09
fulfilling the promise,
and we're just receiving it.
00:27:46.13\00:27:49.33
Okay. Yes, Bob.
00:27:49.36\00:27:50.70
It's interesting,
00:27:50.73\00:27:52.07
Ellen White makes
this interesting statement
00:27:52.10\00:27:53.44
in Steps to Christ that
the spirit of Phariseeism
00:27:53.47\00:27:55.77
is the spirit of human nature.
00:27:55.80\00:27:57.54
And we have this natural
bias and bent towards legalism.
00:27:57.57\00:28:03.01
And we can even turn
righteousness by faith
00:28:03.04\00:28:06.15
into a legalistic mindset.
00:28:06.18\00:28:07.55
Ellen White says
that there's danger
00:28:07.58\00:28:09.55
of placing merit on faith.
00:28:09.58\00:28:11.75
So sometimes what we'll do is...
00:28:11.79\00:28:13.42
Well, it's a two part system.
00:28:13.46\00:28:14.96
God's part is all that He does,
00:28:14.99\00:28:16.46
and then He in
response to my faith,
00:28:16.49\00:28:18.63
He's obligated to
me, and He owes me,
00:28:18.66\00:28:20.80
and my part is faith.
00:28:20.83\00:28:22.46
Therefore, we are both
00:28:22.50\00:28:23.83
contributing to
the salvation process
00:28:23.87\00:28:26.07
rather than appreciating
that my faith is merely
00:28:26.10\00:28:28.80
appropriating all
that He's already done.
00:28:28.84\00:28:31.21
It's appreciating
a preexisting reality
00:28:31.24\00:28:34.74
rather than creating a reality
that did not previously exist.
00:28:34.78\00:28:37.65
Yes.
00:28:37.68\00:28:39.01
Which makes our faith important.
00:28:39.05\00:28:41.45
But it doesn't allow
it to be meritorious.
00:28:41.48\00:28:43.79
Yeah, our faith becomes
00:28:43.82\00:28:45.55
God's
accommodating our free will
00:28:45.59\00:28:48.06
rather than in another
work that we need to do
00:28:48.09\00:28:50.53
to earn God's favor towards us.
00:28:50.56\00:28:52.59
We don't earn God's
favor by being faithful.
00:28:52.63\00:28:54.93
We respond to His favor
towards us by being faithful.
00:28:54.96\00:28:58.13
Okay.
00:28:58.17\00:29:00.44
So, Bob, since
you mentioned that,
00:29:00.47\00:29:01.80
let me ask you a question.
00:29:01.84\00:29:03.17
I want to make sure
we're all in agreement.
00:29:03.20\00:29:04.54
First of all, before we do that,
00:29:04.57\00:29:07.88
I believe that it seems
that He wanted to make us sure
00:29:07.91\00:29:13.15
that this is not a
contractual agreement.
00:29:13.18\00:29:18.12
Do you agree with that?
00:29:18.15\00:29:20.66
What does not entering
into a contractual agreement
00:29:20.69\00:29:24.33
as opposed to will do to us.
00:29:24.36\00:29:26.83
How does that make us feel
00:29:26.86\00:29:29.23
to not enter into
contractual agreement?
00:29:29.26\00:29:34.97
I think when you're in
a contractual agreement,
00:29:35.00\00:29:37.87
to one degree or another,
you're gonna do your part
00:29:37.91\00:29:40.14
under a sense of
obligation merely.
00:29:40.18\00:29:42.84
And God is not
wanting us to relate to Him
00:29:42.88\00:29:45.05
in a sense of obligation merely
00:29:45.08\00:29:47.12
because we're required to do so.
00:29:47.15\00:29:49.02
He wants us to relate to Him
00:29:49.05\00:29:50.39
because we see
something in Him to appreciate.
00:29:50.42\00:29:52.82
We see something in Him
00:29:52.85\00:29:54.19
that's beautiful and attractive,
00:29:54.22\00:29:55.56
and we respond from our heart,
00:29:55.59\00:29:57.39
not because
we're obligated to you
00:29:57.43\00:29:59.03
to get my slice of the pie,
00:29:59.06\00:30:00.73
we're responding
because, you know,
00:30:00.76\00:30:02.10
He's so beautiful,
He's so attractive,
00:30:02.13\00:30:03.73
He's related to me
so faithful and so well,
00:30:03.77\00:30:06.20
how can I do anything
else but say, "Thank you, Lord.
00:30:06.23\00:30:08.04
I want to be
part of Your kingdom."
00:30:08.07\00:30:09.80
In addition to that, a
contract, an agreement,
00:30:09.84\00:30:14.18
an obligation would
put us in a situation
00:30:14.21\00:30:17.18
where we are lost
00:30:17.21\00:30:19.78
because we have
nothing to contribute,
00:30:19.81\00:30:21.48
we can't contribute anything
that actually is meritorious,
00:30:21.52\00:30:24.82
so when you look at it
from the perspective of that,
00:30:24.85\00:30:28.79
God is actually
recognizing our lostness.
00:30:28.82\00:30:31.93
Now we don't
always recognize that,
00:30:31.96\00:30:33.40
so when God initiated
the covenant with Abraham,
00:30:33.43\00:30:37.43
with Moses, excuse me, in Sinai,
00:30:37.47\00:30:39.87
when God told them
about this covenant,
00:30:39.90\00:30:42.20
they said, all the
Lord has said, what?
00:30:42.24\00:30:44.87
We will do and be obedient.
00:30:44.91\00:30:46.47
And this is what I
think Paul is talking about
00:30:46.51\00:30:48.44
in Galatians when he
said the law was added.
00:30:48.48\00:30:50.95
It was added to help us see that
00:30:50.98\00:30:53.62
all the Lord has said
we can't be obedient to,
00:30:53.65\00:30:56.08
because 40 days
later, they weren't obedient.
00:30:56.12\00:30:58.19
So the law actually brings us
to realization of our lostness
00:30:58.22\00:31:02.02
and the impossibility
of us actually contributing
00:31:02.06\00:31:04.73
to this covenant.
00:31:04.76\00:31:06.09
It shows us how
lost and sinful we are.
00:31:06.13\00:31:09.00
It continually reflects
to us, like in a mirror,
00:31:09.03\00:31:11.77
our sinfulness and leads us
00:31:11.80\00:31:13.90
to put our trust
100% in Jesus Christ.
00:31:13.94\00:31:16.30
Okay, so the important
thing about the covenant
00:31:16.34\00:31:18.91
has to do with,
and what I'm hearing
00:31:18.94\00:31:20.54
you all saying is that
God wants us to recognize
00:31:20.58\00:31:24.05
that we cannot do anything.
00:31:24.08\00:31:26.41
In fact, as I like to say,
00:31:26.45\00:31:29.18
this is not a
potluck, is that right?
00:31:29.22\00:31:32.79
This is dinner, He's
providing the dinner.
00:31:32.82\00:31:34.92
Now let me ask
you a question, Bob,
00:31:34.96\00:31:36.39
keying of what you just said.
00:31:36.42\00:31:37.76
This is a simple
question. Did the promise...
00:31:37.79\00:31:40.30
That's the kind
I need, thank you.
00:31:40.33\00:31:41.66
What? That's the kind I need.
00:31:41.70\00:31:43.43
Yeah.
00:31:43.47\00:31:45.03
So did the promise precede
00:31:45.07\00:31:47.60
or follow Abraham's obedience?
00:31:47.64\00:31:52.81
Preceded. Okay. Next question.
00:31:52.84\00:31:55.01
Next question,
but he was hesitant.
00:31:55.04\00:31:56.38
Next question.
00:31:56.41\00:31:57.75
Did the promise precede
00:31:57.78\00:31:59.71
or follow Abraham's faith?
00:31:59.75\00:32:05.15
Preceded. It preceded.
00:32:05.19\00:32:06.92
That is a significant point,
00:32:06.96\00:32:08.96
because sometimes faith,
even faith can become a work.
00:32:08.99\00:32:13.53
Is that right?
00:32:13.56\00:32:14.90
And so we have to be
very careful about that.
00:32:14.93\00:32:16.26
Yeah, it's in
how we process faith.
00:32:16.30\00:32:19.13
You can process faith as
my obligatory response to God,
00:32:19.17\00:32:23.10
or you can process faith
00:32:23.14\00:32:24.57
as my heart appreciation
of what He has already done.
00:32:24.61\00:32:27.24
And those are two
different mindsets,
00:32:27.28\00:32:29.61
two different mindsets.
00:32:29.64\00:32:31.01
One is an old covenant mindset.
00:32:31.05\00:32:32.38
I'm following God out
of sense of obligation
00:32:32.41\00:32:34.78
because I'm required to do so.
00:32:34.82\00:32:36.15
Ellen White says,
00:32:36.18\00:32:37.52
"If we obey out of a
sense of obligation merely
00:32:37.55\00:32:39.19
because we're required
to do so, we do not obey."
00:32:39.22\00:32:41.76
Okay, all right.
00:32:41.79\00:32:44.13
And, James, you've already
taken us there a little bit,
00:32:44.16\00:32:46.49
but let us continue
and read a few more verses,
00:32:46.53\00:32:49.13
and then we'll come
to the crucial question
00:32:49.16\00:32:50.63
you just
mentioned about the law.
00:32:50.67\00:32:52.93
And just to summarize
again with this section,
00:32:52.97\00:32:56.94
it is clear that
God wants to remove
00:32:56.97\00:33:00.68
every confidence we
have in the flesh, right.
00:33:00.71\00:33:04.48
In fact, that's why
Abraham was circumcised.
00:33:04.51\00:33:07.25
Circumcision for
Abraham was not a work,
00:33:07.28\00:33:10.59
it was, "Abraham,
00:33:10.62\00:33:12.62
I want you to remove
every confidence in the flesh."
00:33:12.65\00:33:16.12
All right, now let's read this,
and then we'll come to the law.
00:33:16.16\00:33:20.63
So in Galatians, I
need to get there myself.
00:33:20.66\00:33:23.33
Galatians, back
to Galatians 3:17,
00:33:23.37\00:33:27.14
"And this I say, that the
law, which was 430 years later,
00:33:27.17\00:33:32.24
cannot annul the covenant
00:33:32.27\00:33:34.68
that was
confirmed by God in Christ,
00:33:34.71\00:33:38.38
that it should make
the promise of no effect.
00:33:38.41\00:33:41.58
For if the
inheritance was of the law,
00:33:41.62\00:33:44.25
it is no longer of promise,
00:33:44.29\00:33:46.25
but God gave it to
Abraham by promise.
00:33:46.29\00:33:49.22
What purpose then
does the law serve?"
00:33:49.26\00:33:52.79
My question to you
is, why then the law?
00:33:52.83\00:33:55.90
Also in Romans, Paul
says, why then the law?
00:33:55.93\00:33:58.13
What purpose does it serve?
00:33:58.17\00:34:00.50
And then the
question then that says,
00:34:00.54\00:34:02.80
"It was added
because of transgressions,
00:34:02.84\00:34:06.57
till the seed should come
to whom the promise was made."
00:34:06.61\00:34:11.38
So let's discuss
that. Why then the law?
00:34:11.41\00:34:13.88
What purpose was it
added, and why was it added?
00:34:13.92\00:34:18.32
What does the seed
coming have to do with the law
00:34:18.35\00:34:21.82
or even transgression?
00:34:21.86\00:34:24.13
Yeah, I find the
answer in verse 24.
00:34:24.16\00:34:26.59
I have a weird
translation Bible.
00:34:26.63\00:34:28.33
Verse 24 says, "The law then
was our guardian unto Christ
00:34:28.36\00:34:33.07
so that we could be
justified by faith."
00:34:33.10\00:34:35.30
It seems that the law was
this temporary school teacher,
00:34:35.34\00:34:39.04
a tutor in some translations.
00:34:39.07\00:34:42.28
Back then, these rich
families would have a slave
00:34:42.31\00:34:45.68
come and be a teacher
to the heirs of the family.
00:34:45.71\00:34:48.88
And this school
teacher would hit,
00:34:48.92\00:34:51.32
would totally
discipline this child
00:34:51.35\00:34:54.26
totally underneath the
authority of the master
00:34:54.29\00:34:57.16
but a little
bit above the child.
00:34:57.19\00:34:59.39
And until the
appropriate age came,
00:34:59.43\00:35:01.96
when the child became an adult,
00:35:02.00\00:35:03.47
then the school teacher
just reverted back to a slave.
00:35:03.50\00:35:06.47
And the law kind of
functions in that capacity
00:35:06.50\00:35:09.04
until Jesus was to come,
00:35:09.07\00:35:10.41
until the right
time of adulthood,
00:35:10.44\00:35:12.37
if you will, the
fullness of time,
00:35:12.41\00:35:15.24
this school teacher,
the law is to discipline us,
00:35:15.28\00:35:18.11
is to teach us
that we are sinners,
00:35:18.15\00:35:20.58
that whatever you do, you,
00:35:20.62\00:35:23.08
and it drives us to
the foot of the cross,
00:35:23.12\00:35:25.72
drives us to a
deeper hope for the faith.
00:35:25.75\00:35:28.79
That's the function of the
law according to this verse.
00:35:28.82\00:35:30.43
Okay. All right, all right.
00:35:30.46\00:35:31.89
I just want to read a
quote that goes along with that.
00:35:31.93\00:35:35.10
This is from Faith
and Works, page 103.
00:35:35.13\00:35:37.70
It says, "As
the penitent sinner,
00:35:37.73\00:35:40.00
contrite before God,
00:35:40.04\00:35:41.60
discerns Christ's
atonement in his behalf
00:35:41.64\00:35:44.54
and accepts this atonement
as his only hope in this life
00:35:44.57\00:35:48.48
and the future life,
his sins are pardoned.
00:35:48.51\00:35:51.38
This is justification by faith."
00:35:51.41\00:35:54.18
And so as we see that
we can't fulfill the law,
00:35:54.22\00:35:57.45
but Jesus has.
00:35:57.49\00:35:58.95
He's our only hope in
this life and the future.
00:35:58.99\00:36:02.22
And we rest in that promise,
that's justification by faith.
00:36:02.26\00:36:05.59
Lyndi, a really good
quote also from Romans 5
00:36:05.63\00:36:09.03
where Paul is dealing
with the subject, in verse 20,
00:36:09.06\00:36:12.27
just a quick snippet, he says,
00:36:12.30\00:36:13.74
"Moreover the law entered
that the offense might abound.
00:36:13.77\00:36:18.71
But where sin abounded
00:36:18.74\00:36:20.08
and grace did much more abound."
00:36:20.11\00:36:21.51
So the law came in to
show us how sinful we are.
00:36:21.54\00:36:24.35
And therefore, the
law is never nullified,
00:36:24.38\00:36:26.95
it never ends.
00:36:26.98\00:36:29.18
It's never done
away with because we need
00:36:29.22\00:36:31.49
a continual reminder
of how sinful we are.
00:36:31.52\00:36:34.26
The law is not just a
code of moral do's and don'ts,
00:36:34.29\00:36:37.76
the law is a revelation
of a character of God.
00:36:37.79\00:36:41.16
It's the heart of God,
00:36:41.20\00:36:42.53
it's the heart
of unselfish love.
00:36:42.56\00:36:44.13
And so the more we see
00:36:44.17\00:36:45.50
the principles
of God's government
00:36:45.53\00:36:46.87
and we see who He
is through His law,
00:36:46.90\00:36:48.80
the more we realize how selfish
and self-centered we are,
00:36:48.84\00:36:52.34
and the more we
see our need of Jesus.
00:36:52.37\00:36:54.31
Okay.
00:36:54.34\00:36:55.68
It's been
helpful for me to think
00:36:55.71\00:36:57.05
why didn't God gave
the Ten Commandments
00:36:57.08\00:36:58.85
on stone to Abraham.
00:36:58.88\00:37:01.38
He was a different,
more mature relationship.
00:37:01.42\00:37:04.59
God was actually condescending
00:37:04.62\00:37:06.25
to sort of meet the
Israelites where they are...
00:37:06.29\00:37:07.99
They needed those ten laws
posted right in front of them
00:37:08.02\00:37:11.03
to see their true
condition, whereas Abraham,
00:37:11.06\00:37:13.26
out of more mature
experience than they did.
00:37:13.29\00:37:15.16
There's this fascinating quote,
00:37:15.20\00:37:16.53
I'm sure we're
all familiar with,
00:37:16.56\00:37:17.90
from Patriarchs
and Prophets, 364,
00:37:17.93\00:37:19.43
but just listen
to what she's saying
00:37:19.47\00:37:21.47
about how God is related
to us because we needed too.
00:37:21.50\00:37:24.81
"If man had kept the law of God,
00:37:24.84\00:37:26.68
as given to Adam after his fall,
00:37:26.71\00:37:28.78
preserved by Noah,
and observed by Abraham,
00:37:28.81\00:37:31.28
there would have
been no necessity
00:37:31.31\00:37:33.45
for the
ordinance of circumcision."
00:37:33.48\00:37:35.55
No need for circumcision.
00:37:35.58\00:37:37.19
"And if the
descendants of Abraham
00:37:37.22\00:37:38.65
had kept the covenant,
00:37:38.69\00:37:40.02
of which
circumcision was a sign,
00:37:40.06\00:37:41.62
they would never have
been seduced into idolatry,
00:37:41.66\00:37:44.33
nor would it have
been necessary for them
00:37:44.36\00:37:46.23
to suffer a life
of bondage in Egypt,
00:37:46.26\00:37:48.23
they would have
kept God's law in mind,
00:37:48.26\00:37:51.90
and there would
have been no necessity
00:37:51.93\00:37:54.60
for the proclaiming
of the law from Sinai,
00:37:54.64\00:37:56.84
engraved on tables of stone.
00:37:56.87\00:37:59.91
And had the people
practiced the principles
00:37:59.94\00:38:02.88
of the Ten Commandments,
there would have been no need
00:38:02.91\00:38:05.35
of the additional
instructions given to Moses."
00:38:05.38\00:38:08.32
So God is
progressively meeting us
00:38:08.35\00:38:10.65
where we are at in
our levels of immaturity,
00:38:10.69\00:38:13.49
that doesn't mean the
law has always been there,
00:38:13.52\00:38:17.06
but He had to express it in
a more direct revelatory way
00:38:17.09\00:38:20.30
because of our immaturity.
00:38:20.33\00:38:22.36
Okay.
00:38:22.40\00:38:24.40
I want to move to
the next question,
00:38:24.43\00:38:26.30
but I was
anticipating that one of you
00:38:26.33\00:38:30.84
would discuss
something related to Romans 7
00:38:30.87\00:38:33.78
where Paul says
that the law is holy,
00:38:33.81\00:38:37.48
it's just, and it's good.
00:38:37.51\00:38:39.15
And Paul is saying, "But
how am I gonna fulfill it?"
00:38:39.18\00:38:41.32
In other words, it has
to be fulfilled, right?
00:38:41.35\00:38:43.92
And then later on in Romans 8...
00:38:43.95\00:38:46.55
Let's just turn
over there very quickly
00:38:46.59\00:38:48.79
because the law is
not going anywhere.
00:38:48.82\00:38:51.89
It is here to
stay. It must be obeyed.
00:38:51.93\00:38:55.00
In fact, it is a
transcript of God's character,
00:38:55.03\00:38:59.10
and the ultimate
idea of the covenant
00:38:59.13\00:39:02.67
is to bring us back in
harmony reconciled to God
00:39:02.70\00:39:07.34
and fulfilling
all He wants us to do.
00:39:07.38\00:39:09.01
So Romans 8 as we close and
go to another very important
00:39:09.04\00:39:14.32
and practical question.
00:39:14.35\00:39:16.22
Romans 8:3 and 4,
00:39:16.25\00:39:20.42
"For what the law could not do
00:39:20.46\00:39:23.39
in that it was
weak through the flesh,
00:39:23.43\00:39:26.33
God did by sending His own Son
00:39:26.36\00:39:29.33
in the likeness of sinful flesh,
00:39:29.36\00:39:31.07
on account of sin, He
condemned sin in the flesh."
00:39:31.10\00:39:33.77
By the way, as He is
experiencing this as us,
00:39:33.80\00:39:37.67
this is also our hope,
"that the righteous requirements
00:39:37.71\00:39:41.44
of the law might
be fulfilled in us."
00:39:41.48\00:39:44.25
By faith, we grasp
hold of what He did by faith
00:39:44.28\00:39:48.42
and make it our own.
00:39:48.45\00:39:50.69
"So the righteous
requirement of the law
00:39:50.72\00:39:52.42
might be fulfilled in us
00:39:52.45\00:39:53.79
who do not walk
according to the flesh
00:39:53.82\00:39:55.52
but according to the Spirit."
00:39:55.56\00:39:57.33
We have a very few
minutes for this next question
00:39:57.36\00:40:00.63
because we just have
a very few minutes left.
00:40:00.66\00:40:03.70
Lyndi, you're so organized
00:40:03.73\00:40:05.07
but we can't always
follow the organization.
00:40:05.10\00:40:07.50
Yes, that's true.
00:40:07.54\00:40:08.87
I just want to
illustrate this a little bit.
00:40:08.90\00:40:10.24
When I wash and wax my
car, and it's perfectly clean,
00:40:10.27\00:40:14.48
I have an extra measure
of desire to keep it clean.
00:40:14.51\00:40:18.31
When my car is
dirty, I don't care.
00:40:18.35\00:40:20.72
And so when the gospel
says to us, Jesus says to us,
00:40:20.75\00:40:23.72
"I give you My righteousness.
00:40:23.75\00:40:25.09
We have a perfectly
clean waxed, polished car,
00:40:25.12\00:40:27.22
it's perfect.
00:40:27.26\00:40:28.59
And the illustration fails
00:40:28.62\00:40:31.93
a little bit of
course, or maybe a lot.
00:40:31.96\00:40:33.33
But we are
motivated by the love of God
00:40:33.36\00:40:36.73
because of the
righteousness gift
00:40:36.77\00:40:38.43
we received from Christ
00:40:38.47\00:40:40.54
to keep clean, to stay clean,
if you know what I'm saying.
00:40:40.57\00:40:43.41
But when we're
dirty, when we're guilty,
00:40:43.44\00:40:45.71
that just drives us to not care,
00:40:45.74\00:40:47.71
if you
understand what I'm saying.
00:40:47.74\00:40:49.08
Yes, I do.
00:40:49.11\00:40:50.45
And, James, my organization
is not natural to me,
00:40:50.48\00:40:53.05
it's dictated by
that clock down there.
00:40:53.08\00:40:57.09
In one minute, let
me ask this question
00:40:57.12\00:40:59.89
because I do want to
mix some summary remarks.
00:40:59.92\00:41:02.62
Seventh-day Adventists
have something unique to say.
00:41:02.66\00:41:06.09
In fact, I believe that
we were not meant to be here
00:41:06.13\00:41:08.60
as a regular denomination
00:41:08.63\00:41:10.83
because we are a
prophetic movement
00:41:10.87\00:41:13.20
with the prophetic voice.
00:41:13.23\00:41:15.17
A prophet has
something unique to say.
00:41:15.20\00:41:17.87
And as we don't have
something unique to say,
00:41:17.91\00:41:19.87
we should not exist.
00:41:19.91\00:41:21.41
No prophet, no
message, we shouldn't exist.
00:41:21.44\00:41:25.18
So what are the implications
on what we've studied here
00:41:25.21\00:41:28.55
for the preaching of
the gospel in the context
00:41:28.58\00:41:31.75
of the third angel's message,
the one that says, you know,
00:41:31.79\00:41:34.76
"Here is the
patience of the saints.
00:41:34.79\00:41:36.69
Here are they who keep
the commandments of God
00:41:36.73\00:41:40.10
and the faith of Jesus.
00:41:40.13\00:41:42.06
One minute, you got it.
00:41:42.10\00:41:43.50
Just quickly, you
know, Ellen White says
00:41:43.53\00:41:45.30
it justification by faith,
00:41:45.33\00:41:46.74
everything we've
been talking about
00:41:46.77\00:41:48.10
is the third
angel's message in verity.
00:41:48.14\00:41:50.34
And you know, I just...
00:41:50.37\00:41:52.24
When we have this
devotion to Christ
00:41:52.27\00:41:54.68
and we're living this,
you can't help but share it.
00:41:54.71\00:41:56.51
And this quote from Steps
to Christ really touches me.
00:41:56.54\00:41:59.38
It says, "When
the love of Christ
00:41:59.41\00:42:00.75
is enshrined in the heart,
00:42:00.78\00:42:02.15
like sweet
fragrance it cannot be hidden.
00:42:02.18\00:42:04.39
Its holy influence will be felt
00:42:04.42\00:42:06.09
by all with whom
we come in contact.
00:42:06.12\00:42:07.89
The Spirit of
Christ in the heart
00:42:07.92\00:42:09.42
is like a spring in the
desert, flowing to refresh all
00:42:09.46\00:42:12.46
and making those
who are ready to perish,
00:42:12.49\00:42:14.30
eager to drink of
the water of life.
00:42:14.33\00:42:16.20
Love to Jesus will be manifested
00:42:16.23\00:42:18.50
in a desire to work as He worked
00:42:18.53\00:42:20.84
for the blessing and
uplifting of humanity.
00:42:20.87\00:42:23.20
It will lead to love,
tenderness, and sympathy
00:42:23.24\00:42:25.51
toward all the creatures
of our heavenly Father."
00:42:25.54\00:42:27.94
And so if we see, for
example, in 2 Peter 3 that
00:42:27.98\00:42:32.85
the reason Jesus
hasn't come is because of us.
00:42:32.88\00:42:37.42
It's because we
haven't appropriated that faith
00:42:37.45\00:42:40.12
of Jesus, the love of God.
00:42:40.16\00:42:41.99
And so we haven't
actually had that true desire
00:42:42.02\00:42:44.16
to go out and share it.
00:42:44.19\00:42:46.03
And just to backup
what you just said,
00:42:46.06\00:42:47.46
there's a quote.
00:42:47.50\00:42:48.83
She said we haven't
entered in because of unbelief.
00:42:48.86\00:42:51.17
That's right, okay.
00:42:51.20\00:42:52.57
I'm just looking
at righteous by faith,
00:42:52.60\00:42:53.94
there are so many counterfeits
00:42:53.97\00:42:55.30
when it comes to
righteous by faith.
00:42:55.34\00:42:56.67
You have
righteous by works by which
00:42:56.71\00:42:59.44
the majority of the world
00:42:59.47\00:43:00.81
has religions based around that.
00:43:00.84\00:43:02.91
You also have
unrighteousness by faith.
00:43:02.94\00:43:05.61
You have people,
Christian denominations
00:43:05.65\00:43:07.88
who believe in
double predestination
00:43:07.92\00:43:09.92
and that God has
preordained and etc, etc.
00:43:09.95\00:43:13.32
And you have
righteous by presumption,
00:43:13.36\00:43:15.56
that, yeah, you
just kind of wing it.
00:43:15.59\00:43:18.09
Could it be that
Seventh-day Adventists
00:43:18.13\00:43:19.69
have been called for
this time to really preach
00:43:19.73\00:43:22.50
a biblical
righteousness by faith?
00:43:22.53\00:43:24.63
Amen. Praise God. Let's do it.
00:43:24.67\00:43:27.64
I want to wrap up in
the few minutes we have left
00:43:27.67\00:43:32.17
recognizing a
very important thought.
00:43:32.21\00:43:37.55
And that is, that
the giver of the promise,
00:43:37.58\00:43:40.58
when the promise
was made to Abraham,
00:43:40.62\00:43:43.39
it was made by, it says, Yahweh,
00:43:43.42\00:43:45.65
that is the self existent God,
00:43:45.69\00:43:48.02
that promise was
given to Jesus Christ,
00:43:48.06\00:43:51.43
God gave God the promise.
Isn't that very unusual?
00:43:51.46\00:43:54.90
And so as we look at the
initiator of the covenant
00:43:54.93\00:43:58.40
and the
recipient of the covenant,
00:43:58.43\00:44:00.84
we see a very
unique relationship
00:44:00.87\00:44:03.20
there in the Godhead
00:44:03.24\00:44:04.61
that's very salvific for us.
00:44:04.64\00:44:08.91
And I wanted to
conclude our concept today
00:44:08.94\00:44:12.48
by looking at
Genesis 15 very, very quickly
00:44:12.51\00:44:16.28
'cause we don't have much time.
00:44:16.32\00:44:18.29
Genesis 15,
this is the last text
00:44:18.32\00:44:20.69
that the
quarterly actually gave us
00:44:20.72\00:44:22.96
and it just says there
that Abraham was having
00:44:22.99\00:44:26.63
a difficult time, a
struggle with faith.
00:44:26.66\00:44:28.20
And he said,
"Lord, how do I know that
00:44:28.23\00:44:31.37
somebody in my home,
00:44:31.40\00:44:33.44
from my loins will be the heir."
00:44:33.47\00:44:36.44
And Jesus told
him to count this...
00:44:36.47\00:44:38.24
God told him to count
the stars and so forth.
00:44:38.27\00:44:39.67
And He says, "But I
need more than that."
00:44:39.71\00:44:42.11
And so God asked Abraham
00:44:42.14\00:44:45.98
to bring Him a
three-year-old heifer,
00:44:46.01\00:44:49.05
a female goat, and a
ram, and then two birds.
00:44:49.08\00:44:52.85
Abraham then cut
those animals in half
00:44:52.89\00:44:57.19
and separate the pieces.
00:44:57.23\00:44:59.39
And then, although
the text doesn't say it,
00:44:59.43\00:45:01.83
Ellen White said he
walked between them.
00:45:01.86\00:45:05.03
Mysteriously, maybe not
so mysteriously, a deep,
00:45:05.07\00:45:11.64
supernatural sleep came upon him
00:45:11.67\00:45:14.24
as the sun was going down.
00:45:14.28\00:45:16.41
Now what's
going on in this text?
00:45:16.44\00:45:18.58
There's an ancient
treaty where a superior person
00:45:18.61\00:45:23.28
and an inferior
person would have a contract.
00:45:23.32\00:45:27.72
And in that contract,
several things were laid out,
00:45:27.76\00:45:31.59
there were stipulations
and the stipulations were
00:45:31.63\00:45:34.56
blessings if you
obeyed, curses if you disobeyed.
00:45:34.60\00:45:38.63
And as a
ratification of that covenant,
00:45:38.67\00:45:42.27
that both of them were to walk
00:45:42.30\00:45:45.71
between the pieces
that was severed signifying,
00:45:45.74\00:45:49.21
"If we disobey
with this contract,
00:45:49.24\00:45:52.48
so happen to us as
happened to these animals."
00:45:52.51\00:45:56.72
I want to draw your attention,
00:45:56.75\00:45:59.05
in Genesis 15:17,
00:45:59.09\00:46:03.99
"And it came to pass,
when the sun went down
00:46:04.03\00:46:07.20
and it was dark, that
behold, there was a smoking oven
00:46:07.23\00:46:11.37
and a burning torch that
passed between those pieces."
00:46:11.40\00:46:14.87
Ellen White says that
this represents the Godhead,
00:46:14.90\00:46:17.84
this is divine,
this is the God the Son,
00:46:17.87\00:46:20.54
God the Father.
00:46:20.58\00:46:22.18
The text does not say
that Abraham and these two
00:46:22.21\00:46:25.21
walk between the pieces
but just what was happening
00:46:25.25\00:46:27.85
in the Ancient
Near Eastern treaties,
00:46:27.88\00:46:30.15
this was God the Father
saying, "I've got this."
00:46:30.19\00:46:34.76
May God be ripped from
God if we're not faithful
00:46:34.79\00:46:38.66
to deliver and our
promise to make you righteous,
00:46:38.69\00:46:42.66
to sanctify you, to justify you,
00:46:42.70\00:46:45.20
and to give you a work to do.
00:46:45.23\00:46:47.54
And I think the beauty
00:46:47.57\00:46:48.90
of what we have been
discussing here today,
00:46:48.94\00:46:51.27
that promise from
the initiator, Yahweh,
00:46:51.31\00:46:53.74
God the Father, and
Jesus Christ the Seed,
00:46:53.78\00:46:56.04
God the Son, by faith, the
seed fulfilled the mission.
00:46:56.08\00:47:01.08
And when Jesus
cried on the cross,
00:47:01.12\00:47:02.82
"My God, My God, why
have You forsaken Me."
00:47:02.85\00:47:06.59
That was a
fulfillment of walking
00:47:06.62\00:47:08.92
between those pieces,
God being ripped from God.
00:47:08.96\00:47:12.46
I want to thank James, and
Justin, and Elias, and Bob,
00:47:12.49\00:47:16.87
and all of you
for participating.
00:47:16.90\00:47:18.83
And I'd like to
have prayer as we close.
00:47:18.87\00:47:22.54
Let's bow our heads.
00:47:22.57\00:47:23.91
Father in
heaven, what a gracious,
00:47:23.94\00:47:26.14
and wonderful,
beautiful God you are.
00:47:26.17\00:47:28.48