[uplifting music]
00:00:00.46\00:00:04.30
[uplifting music]
00:00:11.57\00:00:14.48
>>Eric Flickinger:
Welcome to "Sabbath School,"
00:00:15.48\00:00:16.78
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:00:16.81\00:00:18.75
We're delighted to have
you joining us again this week
00:00:18.78\00:00:21.08
as we look at lesson number 5.
00:00:21.12\00:00:23.95
We are in for a real treat.
00:00:23.99\00:00:26.05
But before we begin,
let's start with prayer.
00:00:26.09\00:00:29.32
Father, we wanna thank
You for being with us today
00:00:29.36\00:00:31.63
and giving us an
opportunity to delve more deeply
00:00:31.66\00:00:34.03
into one of the greatest themes
in the history of the world:
00:00:34.10\00:00:37.57
the great controversy.
00:00:37.60\00:00:39.23
As we continue our journey,
we ask for Your blessings
00:00:39.27\00:00:42.04
and we thank You in Jesus' name.
00:00:42.07\00:00:43.81
>>Mark Finley:
Amen. >>Eric: Amen.
00:00:43.84\00:00:45.81
With us again this
week is Pastor Mark Finley.
00:00:45.84\00:00:48.81
He is the author
of this quarter's
00:00:48.84\00:00:50.25
"Sabbath School" lesson,
00:00:50.28\00:00:51.71
and he is also an
international speaker,
00:00:51.75\00:00:53.95
author, and
international evangelist.
00:00:53.98\00:00:56.62
Pastor Mark,
welcome back once again.
00:00:56.65\00:00:58.72
>>Mark: It is always great
to be here at It Is Written.
00:00:58.75\00:01:02.06
It's a ministry that I love,
and thank you for inviting me.
00:01:02.09\00:01:05.56
>>Eric: All right, so
let's delve into this lesson.
00:01:05.59\00:01:08.43
It's called
"Faith Against the Odds."
00:01:08.46\00:01:10.60
We're on lesson number 5.
We are making our way rapidly
00:01:10.63\00:01:13.30
through these 13
lessons that we're studying.
00:01:13.34\00:01:15.27
"Faith Against the Odds"--
00:01:15.30\00:01:16.60
why did you call this
lesson "Faith Against the Odds"?
00:01:16.64\00:01:20.98
>>Mark: During the
period we know as the Dark Ages,
00:01:21.01\00:01:24.88
or the Middle Ages,
00:01:24.91\00:01:27.18
the church of
God was persecuted,
00:01:27.22\00:01:30.15
and to stand
with biblical faith,
00:01:30.19\00:01:33.39
they had to
stand against the odds.
00:01:33.42\00:01:35.22
Because church and
state had united at that time,
00:01:35.26\00:01:38.63
they were oppressed, persecuted,
and to see their faithfulness
00:01:38.66\00:01:44.37
really inspires
our faithfulness today.
00:01:44.40\00:01:47.27
>>Eric: So it was
a very difficult time
00:01:47.30\00:01:48.77
for people to be Christians.
00:01:48.80\00:01:50.27
And we know that there are
going to be some times ahead
00:01:50.31\00:01:52.44
that are also going to
be very much like that,
00:01:52.47\00:01:54.34
if not worse than that.
00:01:54.38\00:01:56.14
In the introduction
to this week's lesson,
00:01:56.18\00:01:57.81
you share a term with
us called "the empty self."
00:01:57.85\00:02:02.35
What do you mean
by this expression?
00:02:02.38\00:02:04.42
What is the empty self?
00:02:04.45\00:02:06.09
>>Mark: Well, actually,
Philip Cushman, a psychologist,
00:02:06.12\00:02:09.52
coined that term,
Eric, "the empty self."
00:02:09.56\00:02:13.13
And what he meant by
that was that people are empty
00:02:13.16\00:02:17.90
in the sense that they lack of--
00:02:17.93\00:02:19.70
they lack
purpose; they lack meaning;
00:02:19.73\00:02:21.67
they lack
direction in their life.
00:02:21.70\00:02:23.74
In particularly Western society,
00:02:23.77\00:02:25.94
they have beautiful homes;
they have adequate food to eat;
00:02:25.97\00:02:31.31
they have electronics
and all the luxuries of life
00:02:31.35\00:02:35.95
in the middle-class America.
00:02:35.98\00:02:38.62
And I recognize that much
of America has experienced
00:02:38.65\00:02:41.29
some poverty as well,
particularly in the inner city.
00:02:41.32\00:02:44.16
But Cush was speaking
about the fact that you can have
00:02:44.19\00:02:47.03
material blessings
but have an empty heart.
00:02:47.03\00:02:51.53
This is in
contrast to the believers
00:02:51.57\00:02:55.34
in the Middle Ages.
They had deep faith.
00:02:55.37\00:02:59.21
They may not have had
the material possessions,
00:02:59.24\00:03:01.44
they may not have had
the things that we have,
00:03:01.48\00:03:04.25
but their faith in Christ,
00:03:04.28\00:03:06.65
their confidence
in the Word of God,
00:03:06.68\00:03:09.02
their belief in foundational
truths of Scripture,
00:03:09.05\00:03:12.79
kept them going in
spite of their circumstances.
00:03:12.82\00:03:16.16
>>Eric: So they
were-- they were very full
00:03:16.19\00:03:18.73
as opposed to empty,
00:03:18.76\00:03:20.70
which we see in a
lot of people today.
00:03:20.73\00:03:23.03
We know that faith is
going to have to be full again
00:03:23.06\00:03:25.07
as we get closer and
closer to the end of time
00:03:25.10\00:03:27.77
and the challenges that
we're going to face there.
00:03:27.80\00:03:30.31
The Reformation time
was a significant time.
00:03:30.34\00:03:35.14
It was a time when people had
the opportunity to figure out
00:03:35.18\00:03:38.45
what they believed in,
what they were living for,
00:03:38.48\00:03:41.45
and out of the Reformation came
this term: "sola scriptura."
00:03:41.48\00:03:46.45
What was this expression?
00:03:46.49\00:03:48.12
What did they mean
by "sola scriptura"?
00:03:48.16\00:03:52.13
And is that
important for us today?
00:03:52.16\00:03:53.96
>>Mark: By "sola
scriptura," the reformers meant
00:03:54.00\00:03:57.27
that the Bible
and the Bible alone
00:03:57.30\00:03:59.80
became the
foundation of their faith.
00:03:59.83\00:04:02.00
So as the reformers
went through Scripture,
00:04:02.04\00:04:05.84
they would read
passages, for example--
00:04:05.87\00:04:08.74
and we have this
in Sunday's lesson--
00:04:08.78\00:04:11.68
they would read passages
like in Psalm 119, verse 103,
00:04:11.71\00:04:17.19
that says this:
00:04:17.22\00:04:19.22
"How sweet are
Your words to my taste,
00:04:19.25\00:04:22.26
sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
00:04:22.29\00:04:26.06
Or Psalm 119, verse 147:
00:04:26.09\00:04:30.57
"I rise before the
dawning of the morning,
00:04:30.60\00:04:33.44
and cry for help;
I hope in Your word."
00:04:33.47\00:04:37.47
So the reformers
meant by "sola scriptura"
00:04:37.51\00:04:42.11
that the Word of God was sweet,
00:04:42.14\00:04:43.95
that hope was
in the Word of God,
00:04:43.98\00:04:45.98
and that they believed
in the bedrock principles
00:04:46.01\00:04:48.92
of the Word of God
rather than tradition.
00:04:48.95\00:04:52.15
I think this can
be important today,
00:04:52.19\00:04:54.66
because as you
look at what's happening
00:04:54.69\00:04:56.99
in society today,
00:04:57.03\00:04:58.93
there is the tendency,
even by Christian churches,
00:04:58.96\00:05:02.53
to have cultural accommodation,
00:05:02.56\00:05:05.77
to feel pressured by
the world around you.
00:05:05.80\00:05:08.77
And you know, Scripture
says in Romans 12, verse 1,
00:05:08.80\00:05:12.24
"Be not conformed to this world,
00:05:12.27\00:05:14.21
but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind."
00:05:14.24\00:05:17.31
That was the
Reformation theology.
00:05:17.35\00:05:19.81
>>Eric: And that
renewing of the mind helped
00:05:19.85\00:05:22.05
the Reformation
continue to move forward
00:05:22.08\00:05:24.99
and to become even
bigger and greater.
00:05:25.02\00:05:27.66
And today, we
need that in our lives
00:05:27.69\00:05:29.99
to help us
through difficult times.
00:05:30.03\00:05:31.86
At the end of Monday's lesson,
00:05:31.89\00:05:33.19
you share something
about William Tyndale
00:05:33.23\00:05:35.76
and the significance
of his contribution there.
00:05:35.80\00:05:38.87
It's an interesting passage.
00:05:38.90\00:05:40.20
Share a little bit more
about why you included that
00:05:40.24\00:05:42.34
in Monday's lesson.
00:05:42.37\00:05:43.67
>>Mark: Well, you know,
in Revelation 14, verse 13,
00:05:43.71\00:05:46.07
it says, "Blessed are the
dead [that] die in the Lord
00:05:46.11\00:05:48.54
"from henceforth.... And
their works do follow them."
00:05:48.58\00:05:51.65
And the reformers
lived not only for their day
00:05:51.68\00:05:54.58
but for our day, because
the translation of the Bible,
00:05:54.62\00:05:58.62
particularly that Tyndale made,
impacts every one of us today
00:05:58.65\00:06:02.46
as we read the
King James Version
00:06:02.49\00:06:03.96
or the New King
James Version of the Bible.
00:06:03.99\00:06:06.76
When the King James
Version of the Bible celebrated
00:06:06.80\00:06:10.90
its 400th anniversary,
00:06:10.93\00:06:13.90
it had already
printed one billion copies.
00:06:13.94\00:06:17.67
It's just staggering.
00:06:17.71\00:06:19.51
Millions of people
have been impacted by that.
00:06:19.54\00:06:22.28
Now, here's the
interesting thing:
00:06:22.31\00:06:24.15
76% of the King James
Version of the Bible is based
00:06:24.18\00:06:28.22
on Tyndale's translation;
00:06:28.25\00:06:30.55
83% is based-- in
the New Testament--
00:06:30.59\00:06:33.76
is based on
Tyndale's translation.
00:06:33.79\00:06:35.72
So when we look at the
concept in Monday's lesson
00:06:35.76\00:06:39.33
of passing on God's Word,
00:06:39.36\00:06:40.96
the reformers lived not only for
their generation but for ours.
00:06:40.96\00:06:44.27
And every time we
pick up the Bible,
00:06:44.30\00:06:45.77
we pick it up with
this sense of sacredness.
00:06:45.80\00:06:48.57
When Tyndale was burned
at the stake, he prayed,
00:06:48.60\00:06:52.77
"Lord, open the
king of England's eyes."
00:06:52.81\00:06:55.61
Four years after that,
00:06:55.64\00:06:56.95
the King James Version
of the Bible was translated.
00:06:56.98\00:06:59.58
>>Eric: So we're
seeing, we're benefiting
00:06:59.61\00:07:01.42
from what God impressed Tyndale
to do back in those days.
00:07:01.45\00:07:05.29
And even though he
gave his life for it, we are
00:07:05.32\00:07:07.56
the beneficiaries of
that-- >>Mark: Right.
00:07:07.59\00:07:09.59
>>Eric: ...and we are
able to spread that message
00:07:09.62\00:07:11.39
and that encouragement and
that light throughout the world.
00:07:11.43\00:07:13.96
>>Mark: You know, the
Bible came at a great cost.
00:07:14.00\00:07:16.10
And every time I
pick up the Word of God,
00:07:16.13\00:07:17.93
I think about the
fact that this is not only
00:07:17.97\00:07:20.94
the inspired Word of God,
00:07:20.97\00:07:22.67
but it was given to us by
men who shed their blood for it,
00:07:22.70\00:07:26.17
and that I wanna treat
the Word of God sacredly
00:07:26.21\00:07:29.21
and allow its inspiration
to impact my own heart,
00:07:29.24\00:07:33.05
my own life.
00:07:33.08\00:07:34.35
>>Eric: Very powerful.
Let me ask you this question.
00:07:34.38\00:07:37.69
Let's talk about
David for a moment.
00:07:37.72\00:07:39.82
You talk about
David in the lesson.
00:07:39.85\00:07:41.29
What was his
attitude toward God's Word?
00:07:41.32\00:07:43.89
And how does that really
apply to our lives today?
00:07:43.93\00:07:47.00
>>Mark: You know,
when you read the Psalms,
00:07:47.03\00:07:48.90
particularly Psalm 119--
we quoted a little earlier--
00:07:48.93\00:07:52.00
you find this
passion that David had.
00:07:52.03\00:07:54.04
You find this
commitment to the Word of God.
00:07:54.07\00:07:57.07
He's writing things like,
"How sweet are Your words."
00:07:57.11\00:08:00.31
He's writing things
like, "I hope in Your word."
00:08:00.34\00:08:03.28
He's writing things like,
the word of God is "precious,"
00:08:03.31\00:08:06.31
the word of God is "eternal."
00:08:06.35\00:08:08.12
David had a passion
for the Word of God.
00:08:08.15\00:08:10.52
And I think this was illustrated
in the life of the reformers.
00:08:10.55\00:08:14.79
If we are going to get through
00:08:14.82\00:08:16.66
the last days
of earth's history,
00:08:16.69\00:08:18.79
it's gonna require a
passion for the Word of God
00:08:18.83\00:08:21.26
because the track of
truth and the track of error
00:08:21.30\00:08:23.33
are gonna be so close
00:08:23.37\00:08:25.30
that unless the mind is
worked by the Holy Spirit
00:08:25.33\00:08:29.27
leading us to the Word of God,
it'll be so easy to be deceived.
00:08:29.30\00:08:34.01
And I think my appeal
to those who are watching
00:08:34.04\00:08:39.18
our lesson today and
studying along with it
00:08:39.21\00:08:41.85
is anchor your
mind in the Word of God;
00:08:41.88\00:08:45.55
saturate your life
with the Word of God.
00:08:45.59\00:08:47.89
As it says in
Jeremiah 15, verse 16,
00:08:47.92\00:08:51.53
"Thy words were
found, and I did eat them;
00:08:51.56\00:08:54.10
...[they were] joy and
rejoicing [to my] heart]."
00:08:54.13\00:08:57.43
The Word of God
is a living word.
00:08:57.47\00:08:59.67
It changes our lives.
00:08:59.70\00:09:01.70
>>Eric: The Word of
God is a living word.
00:09:01.74\00:09:03.27
It changes our lives.
That's what we need today.
00:09:03.30\00:09:06.98
That's what the
world needs today.
00:09:07.01\00:09:09.78
We're going through
this quarter looking at
00:09:09.81\00:09:11.28
this great struggle,
this great controversy
00:09:11.31\00:09:13.55
between light and darkness,
between truth and error,
00:09:13.58\00:09:17.32
goodness and evil.
00:09:17.35\00:09:19.12
And we're getting a good picture
of it through our daily lessons.
00:09:19.15\00:09:23.93
But you've also
written a companion book
00:09:23.96\00:09:26.56
to this quarter's
"Sabbath School" lesson.
00:09:26.59\00:09:28.70
Share with us a little bit
more about that companion book
00:09:28.73\00:09:30.93
and why it would be
worthwhile to pick that up.
00:09:30.97\00:09:34.10
>>Mark: Well, the
companion book is entitled
00:09:34.14\00:09:36.71
"The War Between Good and Evil."
00:09:36.74\00:09:40.68
There's only so
much you can do, Eric,
00:09:40.71\00:09:44.01
with the writing of the lessons
because you're limited by space.
00:09:44.05\00:09:48.62
But in the companion book,
00:09:48.65\00:09:50.15
I use many more illustrations
to illustrate the lessons.
00:09:50.19\00:09:54.69
We look at the spiritual depth
00:09:54.72\00:09:58.36
in each lesson,
add more Bible texts.
00:09:58.39\00:10:01.46
It's particularly
good for teachers.
00:10:01.50\00:10:03.57
So for anyone who's studying
the "Sabbath School" lesson,
00:10:03.60\00:10:07.00
the companion book will be a
rich resource to each of you,
00:10:07.04\00:10:11.27
be a tremendous
blessing for you as you open
00:10:11.31\00:10:14.98
the Word of God and study
the "Sabbath School" lesson.
00:10:15.01\00:10:19.45
>>Eric: So that "Sabbath School"
lesson stands on its own,
00:10:19.48\00:10:22.62
but there is more, and
that's in that companion book.
00:10:22.65\00:10:28.02
You want to pick up
that companion book;
00:10:28.06\00:10:29.69
you want to make
sure that you continue
00:10:29.72\00:10:31.69
to study along with
us as we go week by week
00:10:31.73\00:10:34.40
through this quarter.
00:10:34.46\00:10:36.03
You can also pick up the book
"The Great Controversy" itself
00:10:36.06\00:10:38.87
that goes right along
with this quarter's lesson,
00:10:38.90\00:10:42.10
and you'll get
even more out of it.
00:10:42.14\00:10:44.14
And our hope and prayer
is that not only are you
00:10:44.17\00:10:46.84
going to be
encouraged by what you learn
00:10:46.88\00:10:49.64
and what you see here,
00:10:49.68\00:10:51.45
but you're also going
to share this with others.
00:10:51.48\00:10:54.28
As we get closer and
closer to Christ's return,
00:10:54.32\00:10:57.69
more and more people are
going to be looking for answers
00:10:57.72\00:11:00.99
to what's
happening in the world today.
00:11:01.02\00:11:03.63
We see that there are
wars and rumors of wars,
00:11:03.66\00:11:05.76
there are
famines and pestilences
00:11:05.79\00:11:07.60
just as Jesus said
that there would be,
00:11:07.66\00:11:09.83
and there is also a
great hunger for truth,
00:11:09.86\00:11:12.93
a desire to understand
what's happening in the world.
00:11:12.97\00:11:17.11
And this great controversy theme
00:11:17.14\00:11:19.27
that we are
studying week by week
00:11:19.31\00:11:21.44
really transcends all of that
00:11:21.48\00:11:23.95
and helps people to get a
picture of what is going on.
00:11:23.98\00:11:28.58
So if you know
somebody who is discouraged,
00:11:28.62\00:11:31.12
who is facing some challenges--
00:11:31.15\00:11:32.79
either health or financial
or relationship challenges
00:11:32.82\00:11:35.92
or spiritual challenges--
00:11:35.96\00:11:37.63
this will give them the
encouragement that they need.
00:11:37.66\00:11:40.46
We're going to be right back
as we continue studying more
00:11:40.50\00:11:43.73
into the challenges that people
faced back in the Middle Ages.
00:11:43.77\00:11:48.37
We'll be right back.
00:11:48.40\00:11:50.11
[uplifting music]
00:11:50.14\00:11:52.14
>>Announcer: If you'd like
to deepen your understanding
00:11:54.04\00:11:55.78
of the powerful themes
brought out in this program,
00:11:55.81\00:11:58.51
we invite you
to explore the book
00:11:58.55\00:12:00.28
"The Great Controversy."
00:12:00.32\00:12:01.78
For more information, simply
text the code "GC24" to 71392.
00:12:01.82\00:12:06.82
This book delves into
critical end-time themes,
00:12:06.86\00:12:09.89
offering profound
insights into historical events,
00:12:09.92\00:12:12.63
Bible prophecy, and
spiritual preparation
00:12:12.66\00:12:15.16
essential for
today's unique challenges.
00:12:15.20\00:12:18.10
Discover how "The
Great Controversy"
00:12:18.13\00:12:19.60
can illuminate your path
in these uncertain times.
00:12:19.63\00:12:22.80
>>John Bradshaw: From
the beasts of the land
00:12:24.47\00:12:26.44
to the fish of the sea,
00:12:26.47\00:12:28.28
from the birds of the
air to the tiniest insects,
00:12:28.31\00:12:31.61
everywhere we look in
nature, we see selfishness,
00:12:31.65\00:12:36.05
creatures harming other
creatures in order to survive.
00:12:36.08\00:12:39.29
The Bible tells
us that God is love.
00:12:39.32\00:12:42.12
But if the God of love created
the earth and everything in it,
00:12:42.16\00:12:45.36
how did the world come
to operate on principles
00:12:45.39\00:12:47.56
so inconsistent
with His character?
00:12:47.60\00:12:51.17
Join me for "The
Selfishness Paradigm,"
00:12:51.20\00:12:53.90
part 1 of It Is Written's
series "Prequel of the Bible."
00:12:53.94\00:12:58.07
We'll begin to
unravel how a world created
00:12:58.11\00:13:00.64
by a God of love
could come to function
00:13:00.68\00:13:03.14
on a system that is so unloving,
and we'll look to the Bible
00:13:03.18\00:13:08.22
and see how God
is going to restore
00:13:08.25\00:13:10.19
all things to the
way they're meant to be.
00:13:10.22\00:13:13.05
Don't miss "The
Selfishness Paradigm," part 1
00:13:13.09\00:13:16.93
of our five-part
series "Prequel of the Bible"
00:13:16.96\00:13:19.93
on It Is Written TV.
00:13:19.96\00:13:22.06
>>John: Hi, I'm
Pastor John Bradshaw
00:13:24.33\00:13:25.77
from It Is Written,
00:13:25.80\00:13:27.27
inviting you to join me
00:13:27.30\00:13:29.37
for "Finishing Strong,"
00:13:29.40\00:13:31.54
a four-part series
designed especially for students
00:13:31.57\00:13:35.51
starting on May 6.
00:13:35.54\00:13:37.88
We're going to
open the Bible together.
00:13:37.91\00:13:40.02
We're gonna look at
encouraging Bible stories.
00:13:40.05\00:13:42.72
We'll discuss the cross
of Christ and the love of God
00:13:42.75\00:13:46.05
and what to do
with discouragement.
00:13:46.09\00:13:48.39
We'll discover that
God is a forgiving God,
00:13:48.42\00:13:51.46
and we'll look at
stories, insightful stories,
00:13:51.49\00:13:54.00
that will encourage
us to finish strong.
00:13:54.00\00:13:57.50
There'll be beautiful music.
00:13:57.53\00:13:58.93
We'll answer Bible questions
00:13:58.97\00:14:00.87
that have come in
from around the country.
00:14:00.90\00:14:02.94
Now, to participate
in "Finishing Strong,"
00:14:02.97\00:14:05.07
be sure that you go
to finishingstrong.live.
00:14:05.11\00:14:08.74
You'll find more
information there.
00:14:08.78\00:14:10.91
Or you can participate
on the It Is Written YouTube
00:14:10.95\00:14:13.52
and the It Is
Written Facebook page.
00:14:13.55\00:14:16.32
"Finishing Strong"--
00:14:16.35\00:14:17.69
grab all the students you can
00:14:17.72\00:14:19.65
and join us for the journey
00:14:19.69\00:14:21.62
starting May 6.
00:14:21.66\00:14:23.32
[uplifting music]
00:14:24.56\00:14:29.10
>>Eric: Welcome
back to "Sabbath School,"
00:14:29.13\00:14:30.77
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:14:30.80\00:14:32.77
We are continuing our study
of lesson number 5 this week,
00:14:32.80\00:14:36.54
"Faith Against the Odds."
00:14:36.57\00:14:38.71
Pastor Mark, we've
looked at some of the challenges
00:14:38.74\00:14:42.11
that people have
gone through in the past
00:14:42.14\00:14:44.35
and how we are
benefiting from that today.
00:14:44.38\00:14:46.78
When we take a look at
certain Bible passages,
00:14:46.82\00:14:49.35
some of them are
easier to understand,
00:14:49.38\00:14:51.35
and some of them are a
little bit more difficult
00:14:51.39\00:14:53.39
to understand. In
fact, even Peter says
00:14:53.42\00:14:55.56
there are some
things that Paul writes
00:14:55.59\00:14:56.73
that are
difficult to understand.
00:14:56.76\00:14:58.29
We don't want to be led
astray when we come across
00:14:58.33\00:15:01.20
some Bible passage that
doesn't seem to fit with others,
00:15:01.23\00:15:05.60
but it sure is
clear in our own minds.
00:15:05.63\00:15:08.17
How do we make sure that
we stay on the right path
00:15:08.20\00:15:10.51
and heading in
the right direction?
00:15:10.54\00:15:12.01
>>Mark: You know, Eric,
I'm thinking of a discussion
00:15:12.04\00:15:14.34
that John Knox,
the Scottish reformer,
00:15:14.38\00:15:16.91
had with Mary
the Queen of Scots.
00:15:16.95\00:15:19.71
And so, John Knox
was encouraging her
00:15:19.75\00:15:22.55
to study the Bible. He was
talking about the Word of God,
00:15:22.58\00:15:25.95
and Mary the Queen of Scots,
looks at him, and she says,
00:15:25.99\00:15:29.29
"But, Pastor
Knox, you say one thing;
00:15:29.32\00:15:32.56
"the priests say another thing.
00:15:32.59\00:15:34.36
"You say one
thing about the Bible;
00:15:34.36\00:15:36.13
they interpret it a different
way. How shall I know?"
00:15:36.16\00:15:38.93
And John Knox looks at
her, and he says to her,
00:15:38.97\00:15:42.97
"My Queen, you shall
not understand anything
00:15:43.00\00:15:47.64
"that the Holy
Spirit has not written.
00:15:47.68\00:15:49.68
"But if the Holy
Spirit has written it,
00:15:49.71\00:15:51.41
"you shall understand it,
and the Spirit that wrote it
00:15:51.45\00:15:54.45
will enable you
to understand it."
00:15:54.48\00:15:56.45
And, you know, that may
seem very simple, but it's true.
00:15:56.48\00:15:59.89
If we approach the
Bible with an open heart,
00:15:59.92\00:16:03.29
desiring to do what God says,
00:16:03.32\00:16:06.16
the Spirit of God interprets
the scripture for our mind.
00:16:06.19\00:16:10.30
For example, in John
7, verse 17, it says,
00:16:10.33\00:16:13.03
"If any man"--or woman--"will
do His"--Christ's--"will,
00:16:13.07\00:16:18.01
he shall know the doctrine."
00:16:18.04\00:16:19.67
So, understanding
the Bible first begins
00:16:19.71\00:16:22.31
in the--in the heart
before it begins in the mind.
00:16:22.34\00:16:26.11
It begins with a
desire to do God's will.
00:16:26.15\00:16:29.42
And Christ Himself
has made these promises.
00:16:29.45\00:16:32.55
We look at this
in Tuesday's lesson
00:16:32.59\00:16:35.42
in John 14, verse 25 and
26. The scripture says this.
00:16:35.46\00:16:42.26
Jesus says, "These
things I have spoken to you
00:16:42.30\00:16:45.83
"while being present with you.
00:16:45.87\00:16:47.74
"But the
Helper, the Holy Spirit,
00:16:47.77\00:16:50.64
"whom the Father
will send in my name,
00:16:50.67\00:16:52.44
"He will teach you all things,
00:16:52.47\00:16:54.28
"and bring to...remembrance
all things that I have said
00:16:54.31\00:16:57.88
to you."
00:16:57.91\00:16:59.21
So Jesus Himself
says that the Holy Spirit
00:16:59.25\00:17:04.02
will be our teacher.
00:17:04.05\00:17:05.62
So when you take the
Bible and you open it,
00:17:05.65\00:17:08.12
it's the Spirit of God
that is speaking to you.
00:17:08.16\00:17:10.63
That's why the Bible should
never be opened without prayer.
00:17:10.66\00:17:14.56
In John 16, verse 13 to 15--
00:17:14.56\00:17:18.80
and, Eric, do you
want to read those,
00:17:18.83\00:17:20.14
John 16, verse 13 to 15?
00:17:20.17\00:17:21.97
>>Eric: Sure. Jesus
says, "However, when He,
00:17:22.00\00:17:24.77
"the Spirit of truth, has come,
00:17:24.81\00:17:26.94
"He will guide
you into all truth;
00:17:26.98\00:17:29.14
"[and] He will not
speak on His own authority,
00:17:29.18\00:17:31.28
"but whatever He
hears He will speak;
00:17:31.31\00:17:33.62
"and He will tell
you things to come.
00:17:33.65\00:17:35.45
"He will glorify me,
00:17:35.48\00:17:36.79
"for He will take of what
is mine and declare it to you.
00:17:36.82\00:17:40.52
"All things that
the Father has are mine.
00:17:40.56\00:17:43.22
"Therefore I said
that He will take of mine
00:17:43.26\00:17:45.93
and declare it to you."
00:17:45.96\00:17:47.40
>>Mark: You know,
in the Tuesday's lesson
00:17:47.40\00:17:49.93
under the text
that you've just read,
00:17:49.96\00:17:53.07
I've written this paragraph:
00:17:53.10\00:17:54.27
"What's so
powerful in these verses--"
00:17:54.30\00:17:57.04
that is, in the verses
in John that talk to us
00:17:57.07\00:18:00.34
about the Holy Spirit guiding
us when we read the Word of God
00:18:00.38\00:18:03.61
and the Holy
Spirit teaching us--
00:18:03.65\00:18:04.95
"What's so
powerful in these verses
00:18:04.98\00:18:07.28
"is the assurance
that the same Holy Spirit
00:18:07.32\00:18:09.45
"that inspired Bible writers
guides us as we read Scripture.
00:18:09.48\00:18:13.32
"He is the divine
interpreter of divine truth.
00:18:13.36\00:18:17.19
"Unfortunately, many
[confessed] Christians
00:18:17.23\00:18:19.83
"today downplay the
supernatural element
00:18:19.86\00:18:22.13
in the Bible and
exaggerate the human element."
00:18:22.16\00:18:24.73
So we believe that the
Bible is inspired by God,
00:18:24.77\00:18:29.24
and the same Holy
Spirit that inspired the Bible
00:18:29.27\00:18:32.94
interprets Scripture for us
00:18:32.97\00:18:34.98
as we read it with an open
heart desiring to do God's will.
00:18:35.01\00:18:38.15
>>Eric: So even though
we may come across passages
00:18:38.18\00:18:40.78
that seem difficult, they're
not impossible to understand.
00:18:40.82\00:18:44.69
If we are saturating
our minds and our hearts
00:18:44.72\00:18:47.02
with the Word of
God and we're allowing
00:18:47.06\00:18:48.36
the Holy Spirit to guide us,
00:18:48.39\00:18:50.16
we can compare
scripture with scripture.
00:18:50.19\00:18:52.16
We can let the Bible
be its own interpreter.
00:18:52.19\00:18:53.96
The Holy Spirit can
guide us through that.
00:18:54.00\00:18:56.80
And really, the
Reformation was a wonderful time
00:18:56.83\00:18:59.87
of enlightenment for Christians.
00:18:59.90\00:19:04.11
We learned more about the Bible,
and we benefited from that.
00:19:04.14\00:19:07.31
>>Mark: You know, I had a
professor once in college,
00:19:07.34\00:19:10.81
and we were
talking in class about--
00:19:10.85\00:19:13.75
he was a religion professor--
we were talking about
00:19:13.78\00:19:15.42
the things in the
Bible we don't understand.
00:19:15.45\00:19:17.09
He said, "Well,
this is what I do."
00:19:17.12\00:19:18.95
He said, "I have a
little mental jar in my mind,
00:19:18.99\00:19:22.79
"and I write the things I don't
understand on a piece of paper,
00:19:22.82\00:19:25.96
and I put them on a shelf
in this mental jar in my mind."
00:19:25.99\00:19:29.93
He said, "I don't let
the things I don't understand
00:19:29.96\00:19:32.33
keep me from doing the
things I do understand."
00:19:32.37\00:19:35.37
And he said, "Do
you know what happens?
00:19:35.40\00:19:36.94
"I'm reading the Bible one day,
00:19:36.97\00:19:38.61
"and that text that
I didn't understand--
00:19:38.64\00:19:41.31
"I had read it many times--
it just becomes clearer to me,
00:19:41.34\00:19:44.55
and one text
explains another text."
00:19:44.58\00:19:46.68
So I think a lot
of people get confused
00:19:46.72\00:19:49.35
because they are focused
on what they don't understand
00:19:49.38\00:19:53.02
rather than doing
what they do understand.
00:19:53.05\00:19:54.96
And Jesus, in John
12, verse 35, says,
00:19:54.99\00:19:57.56
"Walk while ye have the light,
lest darkness come upon you."
00:19:57.59\00:20:01.06
So we follow the light;
00:20:01.10\00:20:03.43
we walk in the
truth God has revealed,
00:20:03.47\00:20:06.23
knowing that God
will reveal more truth.
00:20:06.27\00:20:08.94
>>Eric: So, speaking
of walking in the light--
00:20:08.97\00:20:10.94
and that's an important
part of the Christian walk--
00:20:10.97\00:20:13.94
the reformers had a motto:
"Christ alone, grace alone."
00:20:13.98\00:20:19.18
"Sola scriptura" we
already talked about.
00:20:19.21\00:20:21.92
If we're talking about
Christ alone and grace alone,
00:20:21.95\00:20:24.19
sometimes people
will take these phrases,
00:20:24.22\00:20:27.36
concepts, ideas and
come to the conclusion
00:20:27.39\00:20:29.69
that if we are living
and walking in grace alone,
00:20:29.72\00:20:34.00
that we don't have
to worry about actions,
00:20:34.00\00:20:37.77
works--if I may use that word--
00:20:37.80\00:20:40.10
that those are separate
from the Christian walk.
00:20:40.14\00:20:43.17
I have a sense that
that's not entirely accurate.
00:20:43.20\00:20:46.57
>>Mark: Yeah, not only
is it not entirely accurate,
00:20:46.61\00:20:49.01
it's false. [laughs]
00:20:49.04\00:20:51.51
You know, the reformers
believed that the Word of God
00:20:51.55\00:20:57.19
pointed out that
Christ alone was our Savior.
00:20:57.22\00:21:00.59
But if you come to Christ alone,
00:21:00.62\00:21:02.72
you want to live the
Christ-like life alone.
00:21:02.76\00:21:06.59
And, you know, the passage that
some people use is Ephesians 2.
00:21:06.63\00:21:09.60
It's a wonderful passage.
Now, we need to make clear
00:21:09.63\00:21:11.93
that we are saved
by grace through faith.
00:21:11.97\00:21:16.37
There is--our human
works do not save us.
00:21:16.40\00:21:20.61
We are not saved by our works.
00:21:20.64\00:21:22.98
We're saved through
the grace of Christ.
00:21:23.01\00:21:25.55
And the Bible makes that
plain in Ephesians, chapter 2.
00:21:25.58\00:21:28.82
And we begin there with verse 8:
00:21:28.85\00:21:30.62
"For by grace you have
been saved through faith,
00:21:30.65\00:21:33.32
and...not of yourselves;
[it's] the gift of God."
00:21:33.36\00:21:36.12
So salvation is a
gift that comes to us
00:21:36.16\00:21:40.06
through the death
of Christ on the cross.
00:21:40.10\00:21:42.36
When He died on the cross,
00:21:42.40\00:21:43.70
He bore the guilt and shame
and condemnation of our sin.
00:21:43.73\00:21:46.97
Then it says, verse 9,
00:21:47.00\00:21:48.27
"Not of works, lest
anyone should boast."
00:21:48.30\00:21:50.11
But look at the next verse:
00:21:50.14\00:21:51.71
"For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus
00:21:51.74\00:21:55.94
"for good works,
00:21:55.98\00:21:57.21
which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in them."
00:21:57.25\00:22:01.92
Salvation by grace leads
us to live obedient lives.
00:22:01.95\00:22:08.12
Somebody said, "If you
are faithful to Christ,
00:22:08.16\00:22:12.76
you can do whatever you please."
00:22:12.79\00:22:14.76
And the question is, no,
you do whatever He pleases.
00:22:14.83\00:22:18.03
>>Eric: Yeah,
powerful, powerful.
00:22:18.07\00:22:20.24
Now, we have a--there's
on one side of the fence,
00:22:20.27\00:22:24.47
you have people who kind of slip
00:22:24.51\00:22:27.21
into a
lackadaisical Christian life.
00:22:27.24\00:22:32.11
But on the other side, you have
those who fall into legalism,
00:22:32.15\00:22:36.28
and those may not
be complete opposites,
00:22:36.32\00:22:38.29
but
they--they're both challenging.
00:22:38.32\00:22:41.32
Help us understand
what legalism looks like.
00:22:41.36\00:22:44.66
What's the
difference between legalism
00:22:44.69\00:22:47.13
and living a life
according to God's will?
00:22:47.20\00:22:50.77
>>Mark: Well, first, let's
talk about what legalism is not.
00:22:50.80\00:22:53.84
You can never be a legalist
by doing what God says, okay?
00:22:53.87\00:22:58.01
So you're not a legalist if
you do exactly what God says.
00:22:58.04\00:23:00.81
Legalism has to
do with the belief
00:23:00.84\00:23:04.01
that my works legally
justify me before God,
00:23:04.05\00:23:09.05
that my works are the means
of and merit for my salvation.
00:23:09.08\00:23:15.96
If you take that position, you
live the Christian life in fear
00:23:15.99\00:23:20.40
because you never
can be good enough.
00:23:20.43\00:23:21.86
You live the Christian
life in guilt because you are
00:23:21.90\00:23:24.93
not as perfect as you so desire.
00:23:24.97\00:23:27.67
So legalism has to
do with a focus on me.
00:23:27.70\00:23:30.67
Salvation by grace through faith
00:23:30.71\00:23:33.64
has to do with
a focus on Christ:
00:23:33.68\00:23:36.08
"Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith."
00:23:36.11\00:23:39.61
Philippians 1:6--"Being
confident of this very thing,
00:23:39.65\00:23:42.62
that He [that] has begun a good
work in you will [finish] it."
00:23:42.65\00:23:45.95
So the basis of the Christian
life is looking to Jesus.
00:23:45.99\00:23:50.76
I find in Him the one
who lived the perfect life
00:23:50.79\00:23:53.63
that I should have lived.
00:23:53.66\00:23:54.86
I find in Him the one who died
the death I should have died.
00:23:54.93\00:23:58.43
I find in Him my
righteousness, my salvation.
00:23:58.47\00:24:02.74
So my focus is upon Christ.
00:24:02.77\00:24:05.77
But when my focus is upon Him
00:24:05.81\00:24:08.11
and I see how
much He's done for me,
00:24:08.14\00:24:10.61
joyfully, happily,
I desire to serve Him.
00:24:10.65\00:24:14.62
The difference
between that and legalism is
00:24:14.65\00:24:17.49
legalism focuses on
myself, my works, my efforts,
00:24:17.52\00:24:22.32
and if you do
that, you're frustrated
00:24:22.36\00:24:24.73
because you can never be
good enough in your strength.
00:24:24.76\00:24:27.60
>>Eric: You know, we in and
of ourselves can't be perfect.
00:24:27.66\00:24:30.93
Now, Christ in us, He can--
00:24:30.97\00:24:33.10
He can change our
lives. >>Mark: Right.
00:24:33.13\00:24:35.10
>>Eric: He can turn us into the
person that He desires us to be,
00:24:35.14\00:24:37.77
but that's Him
working, not us working.
00:24:37.81\00:24:42.08
Let's talk for just a
moment in the few minutes
00:24:42.11\00:24:44.38
that we have left here
about salvation by grace alone.
00:24:44.41\00:24:49.98
Are there any
dangers in believing that
00:24:50.02\00:24:53.96
we are saved by grace alone?
00:24:53.99\00:24:55.96
First of all, are we
saved by grace alone?
00:24:55.99\00:24:57.96
What does that mean?
00:24:57.99\00:24:59.29
And how might we
stumble into dangers
00:24:59.33\00:25:03.16
if we don't understand that?
00:25:03.20\00:25:04.37
>>Mark: Sure, we are saved
by grace alone through faith.
00:25:04.40\00:25:08.30
Faith does not save us,
00:25:08.34\00:25:10.27
but faith receives the salvation
that Christ has provided for us
00:25:10.31\00:25:14.71
in Calvary's cross.
00:25:14.74\00:25:16.38
So my faith reaches up,
and I say, "Lord, I believe it.
00:25:16.41\00:25:21.12
"I believe that when You died
on the cross, You bore my guilt.
00:25:21.15\00:25:25.32
"You bore my shame. I believe
that Your righteousness is mine.
00:25:25.35\00:25:28.82
"I believe that
Your priesthood in heaven
00:25:28.86\00:25:32.56
and intercession provides for
me the strength that I need."
00:25:32.59\00:25:36.90
Hebrews 4 says,
00:25:36.93\00:25:39.07
"Come boldly"--or confidently--
"to the throne of grace,"
00:25:39.10\00:25:41.40
that you can "find
grace [and] help" for those--
00:25:41.44\00:25:43.61
for "in time of
need." So, grace enables me;
00:25:43.64\00:25:49.11
my faith in God's
grace enables me to recognize
00:25:49.14\00:25:53.55
His salvation on my behalf.
00:25:53.58\00:25:55.92
What becomes dangerous is
if I fail to recognize that
00:25:55.95\00:26:01.76
the grace of God
is not license to sin.
00:26:01.79\00:26:06.76
"There is...no condemnation
00:26:06.80\00:26:08.30
to those [that]
are in Christ Jesus."
00:26:08.33\00:26:10.80
Grace frees me
from condemnation,
00:26:10.83\00:26:14.20
but grace does
not give me license
00:26:14.24\00:26:16.64
to do whatever I please.
00:26:16.67\00:26:19.74
My works are the result of
God's grace working within me.
00:26:19.77\00:26:25.95
It becomes dangerous when I
say, "Don't worry about works."
00:26:25.98\00:26:30.22
Works are the fruit of
faith that receives God's grace.
00:26:30.25\00:26:35.96
Works are the
result of salvation,
00:26:35.99\00:26:39.09
not the means of salvation.
00:26:39.13\00:26:40.96
As somebody said,
"Apple trees produce apples
00:26:40.96\00:26:44.10
"because they're apple trees,
00:26:44.13\00:26:45.43
not in order to
become apple trees."
00:26:45.47\00:26:47.94
>>Eric: Well said, and I
think very easy to understand,
00:26:47.97\00:26:50.11
but it's true.
There are so many people
00:26:50.14\00:26:51.77
who get mixed up on that today.
00:26:51.81\00:26:53.94
And by the grace of God,
00:26:53.98\00:26:55.28
today's lesson
will help with that.
00:26:55.31\00:26:57.45
And we hope that
today's lesson has helped you
00:26:57.48\00:27:00.12
as we continue our journey
through "The Great Controversy."
00:27:00.15\00:27:03.39
We are looking at "Faith
Against the Odds" this week,
00:27:03.42\00:27:06.12
and next week we're
going to be back once again
00:27:06.15\00:27:08.49
as we continue our journey
through this incredible theme,
00:27:08.52\00:27:11.69
this incredible book,
"The Great Controversy,"
00:27:11.73\00:27:14.23
that will help us
to understand better
00:27:14.30\00:27:16.00
where we are in earth's
history, what lies ahead,
00:27:16.03\00:27:20.24
and how we can
be prepared for it.
00:27:20.27\00:27:22.27
So we look forward to
seeing you again next time
00:27:22.30\00:27:25.21
as you join us once
again here on "Sabbath School,"
00:27:25.24\00:27:27.78
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:27:27.81\00:27:30.11
[uplifting music]
00:27:30.15\00:27:34.15
[uplifting music]
00:28:23.97\00:28:26.94
[Captions provided by Aberdeen
Captioning www.abercap.com]
00:28:26.97\00:28:41.98