Don’t miss this “we-need-this-kind-of”

[Burnt Mills Sabbath School]

 

Burnt Mills Sabbath School

 

Dear Friend & Sabbath School Member,

 

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

 

Our Sabbath School Program presented by Brenda Phillips at 10:30 am on July 24, 2010 is just what we’ve all needed to hear lately ! 

 

When God chisels the dead weight out of our lives it can be very painful.  This is a look at a typical believer having to go through the process of God’s discipline.  Sometimes we all need a reminder of who we are and what God thinks of us. 

 

Don’t miss this “we-need-this-kind-of” presentation by The Skit Guys.

 

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.

 

Justified By Faith | July 24, 2010 | Adapted from Contemporary Comments

 

Roman 3:19-28.    -   Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 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, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

 

“According to Wikipedia, a pardon is defined as “the forgiveness of a crime and the penalty associated with it. It is granted by a head of state, such as a monarch or president, or by a competent church authority.”  This definition doesn’t imply that a person didn’t commit a crime and is innocent. Nor does it state that a person shouldn’t have paid the penalty. But it does say that all-important word: forgiveness.

 

Different countries have different rules surrounding their pardons. In America, the President of the United Sates has pardon power for federal crimes under the Constitution. If you wish to be pardoned, you must apply for it. Usually the Office of the Pardon Attorney (an official of the United States Department of Justice) refers the applications for review and recommendation. The Department of Justice recommends that a person wait five years after their conviction or release from prison before receiving a pardon. That person must also have demonstrated that he or she has led a responsible and productive life since their conviction or release from prison. All petitions are sent to the President, but not all applicants are granted their wish. The President has the power to grant or deny. Should he grant a pardon, with the acceptance must come an admission of guilt. So in reality, the convicted isn’t saying, “I’m innocent and deserve to be pardoned.” He or she is admitting, “I’m guilty and desire pardon.”

 

Presidential pardons date back to George Washington. On his final day in office, he granted the first high-profile pardon when he declared it for leaders of the Whiskey Rebellion. Many other pardons have also been controversial. Critics who have argued against a particular pardon usually do so on the basis that they believe it was more for the sake of political benefit—not to actually correct a judicial mistake. A famous pardon still talked about is that of President Richard Nixon by President Gerald Ford in 1974 for the Watergate Scandal. It wasn’t a popular decision by any means. Most Americans, feeling “had” by Nixon’s actions, disapproved.  It sent Ford’s public-approval ratings spiraling downward. Other unpopular pardons included Jimmy Carter’s granting amnesty to Vietnam-era draft dodgers; George H. W. Bush’s pardons of 75 people which included six of Regan’s Administration who were accused or convicted in the Iran-Contra affair; and Bill Clinton’s pardon of 140 people in his last day of office, including billionaire fugitive Marc Rich.

 

Although receiving a presidential pardon does restore various rights of the formerly condemned, it does not erase or obliterate the record of the conviction. It’s still there as a reminder that the person disobeyed the law. Because of this, those pardoned must always disclose their conviction on any form which requires information about their past. Though they can state that they have indeed been pardoned, they must always divulge the offense. So in a sense, it’s never really gone. In addition most lose the right to vote and hold state public office—another reminder that they once disobeyed the law.

 

So pardons are not easy to come by. There are papers to be filled out, a review to go through before it even gets to the President, a five year wait, and an admission of guilt. And still, the record of the offense is kept—never to be erased.

 

Thankfully, as Christians, our pardon declared by God is much easier to obtain. Sure, we need to admit that we are guilty, because we are. But there is no review before we come to God—no five-year waiting period. And unlike a federal pardon, the answer is always “Yes!” when we repent and ask.  And the best part? No record of our sins is kept! When we are pardoned, we are free from our past. God has forgotten, so we should let go of self-condemnation. And, unlike a federal pardon that limits what a former convict can participate in, we have full access to the same rites that all Christians have.

 

All of this is because of Jesus. As the memory text says, we are “justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28). Although we obey God’s laws because we love God and know that they are actually for our good, we cannot possible keep them well enough to deserve Heaven.  Jesus knew that, so He died in our place.  We are justified by faith—faith in Him as our substitute.  Faith in His pardon—a pardon we will never deserve and could never repay.”

 

Best wishes for a delightful sabbath !

 

Regards,

 

Joseph Pakkianathan

Burnt Mills Sabbath School