Sabbath School Program at 10:30 am – “the verdict”

[Burnt Mills Sabbath School]

Burnt Mills Sabbath School

 

Dear Friend & Sabbath School Member,

 

Happy Sabbath ! We wish you and yours again an abundance of God's Sabbath blessings !

 

Our Sabbath School Program at 10:30 am on July 31, 2010 will feature again The Skit Guys and their new presentation – “the verdict”. 

 

So many times we play jury, judge and executioner in our lives and condemn ourselves (and others) to a life ridden with guilt. In this powerful video from The Skit Guys, we are reminded that as Christians we are free from the chains of sin.  

 

If you watched “God’s Chisel” last Sabbath, you don’t want to miss this “we-need-this-kind-of” presentation.  Invite a friend or someone that needs to know of “Jesus’ triumph over sin and death on the cross has enormous ramifications for those who put their faith and trust in him and are “in Christ.” Because of what Jesus did on the cross, there is no condemnation for the sin in our lives as we stand before a holy God who is both our judge and jury. This reality allows followers of Jesus to live as free people.”

 

 

We encourage our teachers to conclude their lesson study at 10:25 am, so your members can appreciate this entire presentation.

 

This week’s thoughts on the lesson adapted from Contemporary Comments provides some interesting scripture and thoughts.  Please feel free to print and share.

 

Justification and the Law | July 31, 2010 | Adapted from Contemporary Comments

 

Genesis 15:6 -  Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

 

2 Samuel 11, 12 - In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.  One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. 

From the roof . . . . . .

 

Romans 3:20-23 -  Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.  But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

 

Galatians 3:19 -  What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator.

 

1 John 3:4 - Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

 

 

“There have been laws to obey ever since the creation of the human race. Throughout history, laws have been made for social, cultural and religious reasons. They were made to create additional order so that we can coexist safely and happily. Many laws have changed with the times. But there are some laws that have remained and no one knows why. Some of them make sense and we can trace their backgrounds; others seem absurd. Consider some of the world’s strangest laws:

 

It is illegal for a cab in the city of London to carry rabid dogs or corpses.

 

It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside down.

 

In Florida, unmarried women who parachute on Sundays can be jailed.

 

In Vermont, women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth.

 

It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.

 

In France, it is forbidden to name a pig Napoleon.

 

In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while driving a vehicle.

 

In Victoria, Australia, only a licensed electrician is allowed to change a light bulb. 


 

In Eureka, Nevada, it is illegal for men with moustaches to kiss women.

 

In Maryland, it is illegal for radio stations to play Randy Newman's song “Short People”.

 

In Oklahoma, it is illegal to make faces at a dog, a crime that could result in a prison sentence.

 

In Baltimore, Maryland, it is an offence to take a lion into a cinema.

 

In Kentucky, it is illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your pocket.

 

In Romania, Mickey Mouse was banned in 1935 because the authorities thought that the sight of a 10-foot high rodent on screen would terrify the nation's children.

 

In Arizona, it is illegal to hunt camels.

 

Just as most would believe that these laws shouldn’t pertain to us in this day and age, many don’t believe that God’s laws given in the Old Testament times need to be followed today. They say that because of Jesus’ death, we are under the “New Covenant”. And since we’re saved by grace, works don’t matter.

 

Yet Paul clearly tells us in Romans 3:20, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” We can’t be declared righteous by observing the law because it’s not possible for us to keep it perfectly—only Jesus could do that. Rather, the law makes us conscious of sin—it warns us of the things that can separate us from God.

 

One of the clearest scriptures telling why we should obey God’s law is found in 1 John 2:3-6: “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

 

So this is why we take God’s law into our hearts: It’s proof of our love for God; it’s proof that God’s love is made complete in us; and it’s proof that we are truly in Him. If we want to be Christians—followers of Christ—John says we must walk as Jesus walked. Yet try as we might, this will never save us.  We are justified by faith alone.  Faith that Jesus paid it all.”

 

Best wishes for a delightful Sabbath !

 

Regards,

 

Joseph Pakkianathan

Burnt Mills Sabbath School