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http://www.ssnet.org/lessons/13a/#Helps
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Lesson 9 – February 23 to March 1, 2013
Marriage: A Gift From Eden
(All Bible texts are in the NKJV Bible unless otherwise indicated)Sabbath Afternoon
Memory text: Genesis 2:18
18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
‘Marriage is honorable’ (Hebrews 13:4); it was one of the first gifts of God to man, and it is one of the two institutions that, after the Fall, Adam brought with him beyond the gates of Paradise. When the divine principles are recognized and obeyed in this relation, marriage is a blessing; it guards the purity and happiness of the race, it provides for man’s social needs, it elevates the physical, the intellectual, and the moral nature.”-Ellen G. White, Patriarch and Prophets, p. 46.
‘Marriage is honorable’ (Hebrews 13:4); it was one of the first gifts of God to man, and it is one of the two institutions that, after the Fall, Adam brought with him beyond the gates of Paradise. When the divine principles are recognized and obeyed in this relation, marriage is a blessing; it guards the purity and happiness of the race, it provides for man’s social needs, it elevates the physical, the intellectual, and the moral nature.”-Ellen G. White, Patriarch and Prophets, p. 46.
Ellen G. White, Patriarch and Prophets, p. 45-47
After the creation of Adam every living creature was brought before him to receive its name; he saw that to each had been given a companion, but among them “there was not found an help meet for him.” Among all the creatures that God had made on the earth, there was not one equal to man. And God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Man was not made to dwell in solitude; he was to be a social being. Without companionship the beautiful scenes and delightful employments of Eden would have failed to yield perfect happiness. Even communion with angels could not have satisfied his desire for sympathy and companionship. There was none of the same nature to love and to be loved.
God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided “an help meet for him”—a helper corresponding to him—one who was fitted to be his companion, and who could be one with him in love and sympathy. Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control him as the head, nor to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him. A part of man, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, she was his second self, showing the close union and the affectionate attachment that should exist in this relation. “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it.” Ephesians 5:29. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one.”
God celebrated the first marriage. Thus the institution has for its originator the Creator of the universe. “Marriage is honorable” (Hebrews 13:4); it was one of the first gifts of God to man, and it is one of the two institutions that, after the Fall, Adam brought with him beyond the gates of Paradise. When the divine principles are recognized and obeyed in this relation, marriage is a blessing; it guards the purity and happiness of the race, it provides for man’s social needs, it elevates the physical, the intellectual, and the moral nature.
“And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed.” Everything that God had made was the perfection of beauty, and nothing seemed wanting that could contribute to the happiness of the holy pair; yet the Creator gave them still another token of His love, by preparing a garden especially for their home. In this garden were trees of every variety, many of them laden with fragrant and delicious fruit. There were lovely vines, growing upright, yet presenting a most graceful appearance, with their branches drooping under their load of tempting fruit of the richest and most varied hues. It was the work of Adam and Eve to train the branches of the vine to form bowers, thus making for themselves a dwelling from living trees covered with foliage and fruit. There were fragrant flowers of every hue in rich profusion. In the midst of the garden stood the tree of life, surpassing in glory all other trees. Its fruit appeared like apples of gold and silver, and had the power to perpetuate life.
The creation was now complete. “The heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.” “And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Eden bloomed on earth. Adam and Eve had free access to the tree of life. No taint of sin or shadow of death marred the fair creation. “The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:7.
Introduction: Including Him Eph. 5:22-33
To create a successful marriage, for it to be a blessing, both husband and wife must invite the Creator to be a part of their personal lives and their marriage. This is because Christ is the definition of love: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:4-8, NIV). Not experiencing Christ and His love leaves us unable to love fully.
Thus, we are to honor God by including Him in our marriages. We must let Him guide us to our future spouse. Yes, God is love. He makes all the difference, not just in helping us to make a marriage work, but in making it a gift from heaven. Nejc and Monika Kotnik, Velika Pirešica, in Slovenia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Sabbath February 23, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Introduction: Including Him Eph. 5:22-33
To create a successful marriage, for it to be a blessing, both husband and wife must invite the Creator to be a part of their personal lives and their marriage. This is because Christ is the definition of love: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:4-8, NIV). Not experiencing Christ and His love leaves us unable to love fully.
Thus, we are to honor God by including Him in our marriages. We must let Him guide us to our future spouse. Yes, God is love. He makes all the difference, not just in helping us to make a marriage work, but in making it a gift from heaven. Nejc and Monika Kotnik, Velika Pirešica, in Slovenia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Sabbath February 23, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Sunday – Lo Tov
Genesis 2:18 – See memory verse
Genesis 1:31
31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis 2:19-21
19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
God had declared all aspects of the Creation “good” up to the time that He created Adam. At that point, Adam was the only human. Although he was made in the image of God, in his aloneness, he could not reflect the full image of God, who exists in relationship with other parts of the Godhead. The Godhead, of course, is composed of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thus, Adam needed someone like himself with whom he could form a relationship of mutual love and cooperation, reflecting the loving relationship exemplified within the Godhead.
As he named the animals, Adam must have noticed that they came in pairs, male and female, unlike himself, who was a singular creation. We can be sure that the Lord all along intended for Adam to have a wife. Perhaps the Lord intended to create a longing in Adam, the sense that something was missing in his own existence, which would make him that much more appreciative of the gift that the Lord was going to give him in a wife. L. James Gibson, Sabbath School lesson of the day. He's director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Logos: The First Wedding Vow Genesis 1; 2; 1 Corinthians 13; Eph. 5:22-33
Preparation (Gen. 2:1-10); Good Versus Bad (Gen. 1:1, 4, 10, 21, 25; 2:18); The Wedding Vows (Gen. 2:23-25); The Perfect Marriage (Eph. 5:22-33); Guidelines (1 Corinthians 13) What we learn in a marriage about how to grow and to get along with one another is easily transferable to all of our relationships. God wants us to be helpers to one another. In this way, every day can be a little piece of heaven. Veronika Lipohar, Pozega, Croatia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Sunday February 24, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
God had declared all aspects of the Creation “good” up to the time that He created Adam. At that point, Adam was the only human. Although he was made in the image of God, in his aloneness, he could not reflect the full image of God, who exists in relationship with other parts of the Godhead. The Godhead, of course, is composed of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thus, Adam needed someone like himself with whom he could form a relationship of mutual love and cooperation, reflecting the loving relationship exemplified within the Godhead.
As he named the animals, Adam must have noticed that they came in pairs, male and female, unlike himself, who was a singular creation. We can be sure that the Lord all along intended for Adam to have a wife. Perhaps the Lord intended to create a longing in Adam, the sense that something was missing in his own existence, which would make him that much more appreciative of the gift that the Lord was going to give him in a wife. L. James Gibson, Sabbath School lesson of the day. He's director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Logos: The First Wedding Vow Genesis 1; 2; 1 Corinthians 13; Eph. 5:22-33
Preparation (Gen. 2:1-10); Good Versus Bad (Gen. 1:1, 4, 10, 21, 25; 2:18); The Wedding Vows (Gen. 2:23-25); The Perfect Marriage (Eph. 5:22-33); Guidelines (1 Corinthians 13) What we learn in a marriage about how to grow and to get along with one another is easily transferable to all of our relationships. God wants us to be helpers to one another. In this way, every day can be a little piece of heaven. Veronika Lipohar, Pozega, Croatia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Sunday February 24, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Monday – A Companion for Adam
Genesis 2:20
20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
Genesis 2:21-22
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
Genesis 2:23
23 And Adam said:
“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”
Genesis 2:20, in which Adam names the animals, helps to reveal the great gap between humans and other earthly creatures. There was no animal that was comparable to Adam.
As God had personally crafted Adam’s body from the dust of the ground, so He personally crafted Eve’s body, using one of Adam’s ribs. God did not need Adam’s rib to create Eve; He could have created her as He had created Adam or even spoken her into existence.
But God had a reason for forming Eve out of one of Adam’s ribs. If the two had been created completely separately, it could indicate that by nature they were completely independent individuals. But the sharing of flesh in both persons indicates that the two were to be united and were intended to be “one flesh.”
After being created, Eve was brought to Adam to be his helper (vs. 18). She was made from Adam (vs. 22) and given to Adam (vs. 22). The process by which God created Eve showed clearly that God could provide any companion that Adam needed. This point became important later when Adam faced the temptation of whether to join Eve in the eating of the fruit or to trust God to take care of the situation. Adam had ample reason to believe that God could take care of him, and this made his sin the more grievous.
Adam was so excited when he saw Eve that he sang out in poetry. This is the first poem in the Bible and reflects Adam’s regard for his wife and the closeness of their relationship. She was to be his equal, another aspect of Creation that was damaged by the Fall. L. James Gibson, Sabbath School lesson of the day. He's director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
“To gain a proper understanding of the marriage relation is the work of a lifetime. Those who marry enter a school from which they are never in this life to be graduated. . . . Make Christ first and last and best in everything. . . . And as your love for Him increases, your love for each other will grow deeper and stronger. . . . Neither husband nor wife is to make a plea for rulership. The Lord has laid down the principle that is to guide in this matter. The husband is to cherish his wife as Christ cherishes the church. And the wife is to respect and love her husband. Both are to cultivate the spirit of kindness, being determined never to grieve or injure the other.”3
“God wants the home to be the happiest place on earth, the very symbol of the home in heaven. Bearing the marriage responsibilities in the home, linking their interests with Jesus Christ, leaning upon His arm and His assurance, husband and wife may share a happiness in this union that angels of God commend.
“Marriage does not lessen their usefulness, but strengthens it. They may make that married life a ministry to win souls to Christ.”4 Matija Kovacevic, Zagreb, Croatia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Monday February 25, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”
Genesis 2:20, in which Adam names the animals, helps to reveal the great gap between humans and other earthly creatures. There was no animal that was comparable to Adam.
As God had personally crafted Adam’s body from the dust of the ground, so He personally crafted Eve’s body, using one of Adam’s ribs. God did not need Adam’s rib to create Eve; He could have created her as He had created Adam or even spoken her into existence.
But God had a reason for forming Eve out of one of Adam’s ribs. If the two had been created completely separately, it could indicate that by nature they were completely independent individuals. But the sharing of flesh in both persons indicates that the two were to be united and were intended to be “one flesh.”
After being created, Eve was brought to Adam to be his helper (vs. 18). She was made from Adam (vs. 22) and given to Adam (vs. 22). The process by which God created Eve showed clearly that God could provide any companion that Adam needed. This point became important later when Adam faced the temptation of whether to join Eve in the eating of the fruit or to trust God to take care of the situation. Adam had ample reason to believe that God could take care of him, and this made his sin the more grievous.
Adam was so excited when he saw Eve that he sang out in poetry. This is the first poem in the Bible and reflects Adam’s regard for his wife and the closeness of their relationship. She was to be his equal, another aspect of Creation that was damaged by the Fall. L. James Gibson, Sabbath School lesson of the day. He's director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Testimony Marriage: A Living Book About a Loving God Eph. 5:21-33
“Christ honored the marriage relation by making it also a symbol of the union between Him and His redeemed ones. He Himself is the Bridegroom; the bride is the church, of which, as His chosen one, He says, ‘Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee.’ [Song of Sol. 4:7.]”1“To gain a proper understanding of the marriage relation is the work of a lifetime. Those who marry enter a school from which they are never in this life to be graduated. . . . Make Christ first and last and best in everything. . . . And as your love for Him increases, your love for each other will grow deeper and stronger. . . . Neither husband nor wife is to make a plea for rulership. The Lord has laid down the principle that is to guide in this matter. The husband is to cherish his wife as Christ cherishes the church. And the wife is to respect and love her husband. Both are to cultivate the spirit of kindness, being determined never to grieve or injure the other.”3
“God wants the home to be the happiest place on earth, the very symbol of the home in heaven. Bearing the marriage responsibilities in the home, linking their interests with Jesus Christ, leaning upon His arm and His assurance, husband and wife may share a happiness in this union that angels of God commend.
“Marriage does not lessen their usefulness, but strengthens it. They may make that married life a ministry to win souls to Christ.”4 Matija Kovacevic, Zagreb, Croatia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Monday February 25, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Tuesday – Ideal Marriage
Mark 10:7-9
7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Ephesians 5:22-25
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
The benefits of leaving one’s parents in order to create a home with one’s spouse are so well known that they hardly need to be mentioned. Problems with in-laws are one of the leading causes of marital discord. One of the first steps to take when establishing a happy home is to respect the independence of the marriage partners by the establishment of a home separate from their parents when at all possible. In cases when it is not possible, the privacy and intimacy of marriage should still be respected.
Unity is another feature of a good marriage. Unity does not mean that the two partners should give up the use of their separate brains, but that they should be united in their purpose to do the very best for each other and for their union.
Jesus also emphasized the lasting nature of marriage. Marriage is not a casual relationship to be entered into or dismissed at will. It is a lifetime commitment. Those who are not prepared to commit themselves for life should postpone such a step until they are ready.
It is the husband’s privilege to give himself to his wife in loving service, as Christ gave Himself for the church. In turn, the wife is to respect her husband and to cooperate in their work toward their mutual goals. Here is the solution to the discord that sin has brought into the marriage relationship. Self-sacrificing love will be met by loving respect and mutual happiness. Our homes can be a foretaste of heaven. L. James Gibson, Sabbath School lesson of the day. He's director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Evidence Marriage—A Gift From God Gen. 2:18
In the beginning, God created a relationship between Adam and Eve. He meant for their relationship, and indeed for all marriages, to be the closest, most satisfying of all human relationships. The “Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is right for him’ ” (Gen. 2:18, NCV). Everything God had created before Adam was good (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31), but with Adam something was missing. Why? Because from the start God planted in us the need to share our lives with others, the need for comfort and compassion, the need to belong to someone apart from ourselves. So God made a companion for him (Gen. 2:21-23).
God joined the first couple in marriage as one flesh. That is why Jesus said that no one should separate a husband and wife (Mark 10:8, 9). When the marriage vows are said and a couple commit themselves to each other, they become as one in body and mind. Such a union only God can create. It's not always easy to walk on the same path together. Married couples have their differences, and sometimes it seems they can't overcome them. Without God's intervention, it is difficult if not impossible.
Marriage is a covenant between a man, a woman, and God. God joins the two together, and if they are faithful and surrender their lives to Him, their marriage will succeed. A healthy marriage is built on a mutual desire to submit to each other's needs. Christ is our greatest Example. He showed us unconditional love, mercy, grace, and how to submit to God's will. From His example, we learn how to have a good marriage and how to help our spouse become Christlike in character. How great is the type of love that helps us to live in such a way? As the vows say, “Till death do us part.” Martina Salajster, Bjelovar, Croatia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Tuesday February 26, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
The benefits of leaving one’s parents in order to create a home with one’s spouse are so well known that they hardly need to be mentioned. Problems with in-laws are one of the leading causes of marital discord. One of the first steps to take when establishing a happy home is to respect the independence of the marriage partners by the establishment of a home separate from their parents when at all possible. In cases when it is not possible, the privacy and intimacy of marriage should still be respected.
Unity is another feature of a good marriage. Unity does not mean that the two partners should give up the use of their separate brains, but that they should be united in their purpose to do the very best for each other and for their union.
Jesus also emphasized the lasting nature of marriage. Marriage is not a casual relationship to be entered into or dismissed at will. It is a lifetime commitment. Those who are not prepared to commit themselves for life should postpone such a step until they are ready.
It is the husband’s privilege to give himself to his wife in loving service, as Christ gave Himself for the church. In turn, the wife is to respect her husband and to cooperate in their work toward their mutual goals. Here is the solution to the discord that sin has brought into the marriage relationship. Self-sacrificing love will be met by loving respect and mutual happiness. Our homes can be a foretaste of heaven. L. James Gibson, Sabbath School lesson of the day. He's director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Evidence Marriage—A Gift From God Gen. 2:18
In the beginning, God created a relationship between Adam and Eve. He meant for their relationship, and indeed for all marriages, to be the closest, most satisfying of all human relationships. The “Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is right for him’ ” (Gen. 2:18, NCV). Everything God had created before Adam was good (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31), but with Adam something was missing. Why? Because from the start God planted in us the need to share our lives with others, the need for comfort and compassion, the need to belong to someone apart from ourselves. So God made a companion for him (Gen. 2:21-23).
God joined the first couple in marriage as one flesh. That is why Jesus said that no one should separate a husband and wife (Mark 10:8, 9). When the marriage vows are said and a couple commit themselves to each other, they become as one in body and mind. Such a union only God can create. It's not always easy to walk on the same path together. Married couples have their differences, and sometimes it seems they can't overcome them. Without God's intervention, it is difficult if not impossible.
Marriage is a covenant between a man, a woman, and God. God joins the two together, and if they are faithful and surrender their lives to Him, their marriage will succeed. A healthy marriage is built on a mutual desire to submit to each other's needs. Christ is our greatest Example. He showed us unconditional love, mercy, grace, and how to submit to God's will. From His example, we learn how to have a good marriage and how to help our spouse become Christlike in character. How great is the type of love that helps us to live in such a way? As the vows say, “Till death do us part.” Martina Salajster, Bjelovar, Croatia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Tuesday February 26, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Wednesday – Protecting What’s Precious
Matthew 5:27-30
27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Ellen G. White, Counsels on Health, p.621-623
I come again to Christians. If all who profess to obey the law of God were free from iniquity, my soul would be delivered; but they are not. Even some who profess to keep all the commandments of God are guilty of the sin of adultery. What can I say to arouse their benumbed sensibilities? Moral principle, strictly carried out, becomes the only safeguard of the soul. If ever there was a time when the diet should be of the most simple kind, it is now. Meat should not be placed before our children. Its influence is to excite and strengthen the lower passions and has a tendency to deaden the moral powers. Grains and fruits prepared free from grease, and in as natural a condition as possible, should be the food for the tables of all who claim to be preparing for translation to heaven. The less feverish the diet, the more easily can the passions be controlled. Gratification of taste should not be consulted irrespective of physical, intellectual, or moral health.
Indulgence of the baser passions will lead very many to shut their eyes to the light, for they fear that they will see sins which they are unwilling to forsake. All may see if they will. If they choose darkness rather than light, their criminality will be none the less. Why do not men and women read, and become intelligent upon these things, which so decidedly affect their physical, intellectual, and moral strength? God has given you a habitation to care for and preserve in the best condition for His service and glory. Your bodies are not your own. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17
Satan rejoices to have sinners enter the church as professed Sabbath keepers, while they allow him to control their minds and affections, using them to deceive and corrupt others.
In this degenerate age many will be found who are so blinded to the sinfulness of sin that they choose a licentious life, because it suits the natural and perverse inclination of the heart. Instead of facing the mirror, the law of God, and bringing their hearts and characters up to God’s standard, they allow Satan’s agents to erect his standard in their hearts. Corrupt men think it easier to misinterpret the Scriptures to sustain them in their iniquity, than to yield up their corruption and sin and be pure in heart and life.
There are more men of this stamp than many have imagined, and they will multiply as we draw near the end of time. Unless they are rooted and grounded in the truth of the Bible and have a living connection with God, many will be infatuated and deceived. Dangers unseen beset our path. Our only safety is in constant watchfulness and prayer. The nearer we live to Jesus, the more will we partake of His pure and holy character; and the more offensive sin appears to us, the more exalted and desirable will appear the purity and brightness of Christ.
John 8:1-11
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
One of the greatest examples of God’s love for humanity can be found in human sexuality. It is truly a wonderful gift from God. Yet, as with all the gifts that we have been given, it doesn’t come unconditionally. That is, it’s not something we can just do with as we please. God has set some rules. Indeed, He is very clear: sexual activity is to be between a husband and wife, male and female, and only in the context of marriage. Anything outside of that is sin.
However much we like to focus (and rightly so) on all the grace and forgiveness that Jesus bestows upon sinners, we can’t forget the high standards of morality that He lived and preached. It’s hard to imagine how Jesus could have expressed more strongly the warning against sexual immorality as revealed in these few verses. Plucking out your eye? Cutting off your hand? If this is what it takes to be pure, then it’s worth it; otherwise you are in danger of losing your eternal life.
“If all who profess to obey the law of God were free from iniquity, my soul would be delivered; but they are not. Even some who profess to keep all the commandments of God are guilty of the sin of adultery. What can I say to arouse their benumbed sensibilities? Moral principle, strictly carried out, becomes the only safeguard of the soul.”-Ellen G. White, Counsels on Health, pp. 621, 622. in L. James Gibson, Sabbath School lesson of the day. He's director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
How-to: The Bride and the Bridegroom Matt. 22:37-39; 1 John 4:7-11; Rev. 19:5-9
God knew from the beginning of time what condition the world would be in today. Wars and rumors of wars increase by the day, people trample one another to get the latest flat screen television in time for Christmas, and the world economy teeters on the brink of collapse.
However, God also knew from the beginning that Christ would come to show us how to live and how to love, how to spread the Word of God, how to have strong marriages and families, and how to persevere in our walk with Him so that one day we can live with Him in heaven.
But how is this supposed to happen? In a world full of sin, when things are not what they seem to be, when evil is disguised as good, how can humanity find a way to return home? How can we have healthy marriages and families? The following texts guide us.
Matthew 22:34-39. When we put God first in our lives, when we love Him above all else, He can help us love the way we should. In fact, we are not keeping God's law if, through the help of the Holy Spirit, we do not cultivate love for God and for other people.
First John 4:7-11. When we become children of God, we love one another as He loves us—unselfishly. And just as He loved us enough to send us His only Son to save us, so we should love our spouse enough to give our all to him or her.
Revelation 19:5-9. In these verses, we read about the wedding of the Lamb (Christ) and the Lamb's bride who made herself ready with “ ‘fine linen, bright and clean,’ ” which “ ‘was given her to wear’ ” (NIV). This garment symbolizes “the sanctified deeds of the Christian, his victorious life developed by the grace of the indwelling Christ [Gal. 2:20; James 2:17, 18, 20].”*
It is such deeds that strengthen marriages and grow strong families.
We are to love each other more than we love ourselves, and we are to love God more than anything else. Through marriage, God can teach us to love others more than ourselves. Bledar and Armanda Barmeta, Durres, Albania in Collegiate Quarterly, Wednesday February 27, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
One of the greatest examples of God’s love for humanity can be found in human sexuality. It is truly a wonderful gift from God. Yet, as with all the gifts that we have been given, it doesn’t come unconditionally. That is, it’s not something we can just do with as we please. God has set some rules. Indeed, He is very clear: sexual activity is to be between a husband and wife, male and female, and only in the context of marriage. Anything outside of that is sin.
However much we like to focus (and rightly so) on all the grace and forgiveness that Jesus bestows upon sinners, we can’t forget the high standards of morality that He lived and preached. It’s hard to imagine how Jesus could have expressed more strongly the warning against sexual immorality as revealed in these few verses. Plucking out your eye? Cutting off your hand? If this is what it takes to be pure, then it’s worth it; otherwise you are in danger of losing your eternal life.
“If all who profess to obey the law of God were free from iniquity, my soul would be delivered; but they are not. Even some who profess to keep all the commandments of God are guilty of the sin of adultery. What can I say to arouse their benumbed sensibilities? Moral principle, strictly carried out, becomes the only safeguard of the soul.”-Ellen G. White, Counsels on Health, pp. 621, 622. in L. James Gibson, Sabbath School lesson of the day. He's director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
How-to: The Bride and the Bridegroom Matt. 22:37-39; 1 John 4:7-11; Rev. 19:5-9
God knew from the beginning of time what condition the world would be in today. Wars and rumors of wars increase by the day, people trample one another to get the latest flat screen television in time for Christmas, and the world economy teeters on the brink of collapse.
However, God also knew from the beginning that Christ would come to show us how to live and how to love, how to spread the Word of God, how to have strong marriages and families, and how to persevere in our walk with Him so that one day we can live with Him in heaven.
But how is this supposed to happen? In a world full of sin, when things are not what they seem to be, when evil is disguised as good, how can humanity find a way to return home? How can we have healthy marriages and families? The following texts guide us.
Matthew 22:34-39. When we put God first in our lives, when we love Him above all else, He can help us love the way we should. In fact, we are not keeping God's law if, through the help of the Holy Spirit, we do not cultivate love for God and for other people.
First John 4:7-11. When we become children of God, we love one another as He loves us—unselfishly. And just as He loved us enough to send us His only Son to save us, so we should love our spouse enough to give our all to him or her.
Revelation 19:5-9. In these verses, we read about the wedding of the Lamb (Christ) and the Lamb's bride who made herself ready with “ ‘fine linen, bright and clean,’ ” which “ ‘was given her to wear’ ” (NIV). This garment symbolizes “the sanctified deeds of the Christian, his victorious life developed by the grace of the indwelling Christ [Gal. 2:20; James 2:17, 18, 20].”*
It is such deeds that strengthen marriages and grow strong families.
We are to love each other more than we love ourselves, and we are to love God more than anything else. Through marriage, God can teach us to love others more than ourselves. Bledar and Armanda Barmeta, Durres, Albania in Collegiate Quarterly, Wednesday February 27, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Thursday – Marriage as a Metaphor for the Church
Exodus 34:15-16
15 lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods.
Jeremiah 3:14
14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the LORD; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
Ephesians 5:28-32
28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Revelation 19:5-9
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”
6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
At the same time, the image of the church as the bride of
Christ points toward unity among believers and with Christ, especially
when understood in the context of the biblical ideal for marriage: one
man and one woman in a loving, self-sacrificing relationship.
God invites His people to join with Him in an intimate relationship. This is an amazing picture of God’s interest in His people and His desire to bring us into His fellowship.
L. James Gibsons is director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day from Sabbath School lesson of the day at www.ssnet.org added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Thankfully, Christ's endeavors are not in vain. When He returns to
earth, He will gather His bride to Himself. “ ‘Let us rejoice and be
glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his
bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given
her to wear’ ” (Rev. 19:7, 8,
NIV). From then on, their marriage will be pure. She will be ready to
go with her Groom rather to a hotel with one of her former lovers. This
marriage, Christ's marriage, will be celebrated by all of heaven and for
all eternity.
Estera and Milan Vidaković, Mislinja, Slovenia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Thursday February 28, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
It is well-known among students of the Bible that both in the
Old Testament and in the New Testament marriage is used as a symbol of
the relationship between God and His covenant people. That’s why, for
example, on numerous occasions the Bible uses the image of an
unfaithful woman to symbolize the apostasy and backsliding that was
prevalent in ancient Israel.
God invites His people to join with Him in an intimate relationship. This is an amazing picture of God’s interest in His people and His desire to bring us into His fellowship.
L. James Gibsons is director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day from Sabbath School lesson of the day at www.ssnet.org added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Opinion: Christ's Marriage Rev. 19:5-9
The Bible compares Christ's relationship with His church to marriage. However, when we read the Bible and when we look at the church today, we find occasions when God's people have been unfaithful to their Groom. Ezekiel 16 provides us with one such example.
Many couples would give up on their future marriage in such
circumstances, but Christ does not. Although His wife (the church) is
painfully unfaithful to Him, He longs for her to return to Him.
Estera and Milan Vidaković, Mislinja, Slovenia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Thursday February 28, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Friday – Further Study
Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, pp150-151
Jesus reproved self-indulgence in all its forms, yet He was social in His nature. He accepted the hospitality of all classes, visiting the homes of the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, and seeking to elevate their thoughts from questions of commonplace life to those things that are spiritual and eternal. He gave no license to dissipation, and no shadow of worldly levity marred His conduct; yet He found pleasure in scenes of innocent happiness, and by His presence sanctioned the social gathering. A Jewish marriage was an impressive occasion, and its joy was not displeasing to the Son of man. By attending this feast, Jesus honored marriage as a divine institution.
In both the Old and the New Testament, the marriage relation is employed to represent the tender and sacred union that exists between Christ and His people. To the mind of Jesus the gladness of the wedding festivities pointed forward to the rejoicing of that day when He shall bring home His bride to the Father's house, and the redeemed with the Redeemer shall sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb. He says, "As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." "Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; . . . but thou shalt be called My Delight; . . . for the Lord delighteth in thee." "He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing." Isa. 62:5, 4, margin; Zeph. 3:17. When the vision of heavenly things was granted to John the apostle, he wrote: "I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready." "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." Rev. 19:6, 7, 9.
Proverbs 31:10-31
The Virtuous Wife
10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
in L. James Gibsons, director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day from Sabbath School lesson of the day at www.ssnet.org added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Nathan Brown, Melbourne, Australia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Friday March 1rst, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Without the
objective standard of morality given by the Creator, we would have no
basis for the evaluation of sexual behavior as morally good or bad. The
current push to approve homosexual partnerships illustrates this point.
It is only in the light of Creation that marriage is properly
understood.
“In both the Old and the New Testament, the marriage relation
is employed to represent the tender and sacred union that exists
between Christ and His people. To the mind of Jesus the gladness of the
wedding festivities pointed forward to the rejoicing of that day when
He shall bring home His bride to the Father’s house, and the redeemed
with the Redeemer shall sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”-Ellen G. White, The
Desire of Ages, p. 151.
in L. James Gibsons, director of the Geoscience Research Institute (www.grisda.org) in Loma Linda, California. Citation of the day from Sabbath School lesson of the day at www.ssnet.org added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
Exploration The First “Not Good” Gen. 2:18
The recurring theme in Genesis 1 is God proclaiming each aspect of His
new creation as “good,” “very good,” and “excellent.” The first “not
good” recorded in the story comes before the entry of sin into the world
when God recognizes that “ ‘it is not good for the man to be alone. I
will make a companion who will help him’ ” (Gen. 2:18, NLT).
So He created a partner for Adam and the first marriage. Throughout the
Bible, the marriage relationship is affirmed and is also used as a
symbol of the intimate but sometimes difficult relationship between God
and His people.
Nathan Brown, Melbourne, Australia, in Collegiate Quarterly, Friday March 1rst, 2013, www.cqbiblestudy.org, Citation of the day added by us here at sse6.blogspot.com
