‘the prodigal’
Burnt Mills Sabbath School
Welcome to Burnt Mills Sabbath School. We invite you to come study, fellowship and worship at Burnt Mills this sabbath – September 11, 2010.
Our feature program at 10:30 a.m. this Sabbath presented by Willy Calderon is titled ‘the prodigal’ – through the eyes of both father and son, one of the most powerful of Jesus’ parables comes to life.
Romans 4:7 - "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
1 John 3:1 - How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Who are you in this story? Are you a prodigal, a pharisee or a servant? Are you the rebellious son, lost and far from God? Are you the self-righteous pharisee, no longer capable of rejoicing when a sinner returns to God? Maybe you've hit rock-bottom, come to your senses and decided to run to God's open arms of compassion and mercy? Or are you one of the servants in the household, rejoicing with the father when a lost son finds his way home? Don’t miss this incredible presentation
This Sabbath we will continue to learn the new theme song – prepared for this quarter’s study on the Book of Romans (ref: Romans 8:28, 31-32) - “And We Know That All Things” by Bodil Morris. Thanks to Suzie Dallas for helping us learn this song. Many of you have appreciated the music and the lyrics.
We know you have been blessed by the contemporary comments on the weekly lessons - often tied to a current national or world event. Please forward this email to someone if you have been blessed. Be sure to study and share your own views and understanding of this week’s lesson. It will be a blessing to others in your class.
The Election of Grace | September 11, 2010 | Adapted from Contemporary Comments
Romans 11:1-22
The Remnant of Israel
I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"? And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written:
"God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes so that they could not see
and ears so that they could not hear,
to this very day." And David says:
"May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever."
Ingrafted Branches
Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
“Some people are passionately interested in election time. Others yawn with boredom. What peaks interest is recognizing the personal impact elections have in one’s life. Would you be more inclined to take part in elections if you knew certain freedoms would be removed? And would you be deterred from casting your ballot if you might be shot and killed?
Afghanistan is not a safe place to vote. The Taliban is threatening violence against voters if they go to the polls in an upcoming parliamentary election. These leaders are encouraging voters to boycott the elections saying it is a part of foreign occupation of their country that should not be tolerated. In fact, at least 900 polling stations will be closed because of these threats.
The election for a new parliament is to take place in a couple of weeks. The progress of a better outcome for Afghanistan doesn’t appear hopeful. Fraud and violence left many doubts over the last election. Yet, millions voted for the positions (2400 candidates, including 400 women in a male-dominated society).
Security is a major concern. Four candidates were killed. Five campaign workers were murdered. It’s difficult to go out and campaign when you fear for your life. Suicide attackers have been on the uprise. Fraud is right on its heels. Stuffing ballot boxes, vote buying, and intimidation are all too common. The country’s Electoral Commission and the United Nations-backed Electoral Complaints Commission are working to turn this around.
Our Sabbath school lesson this week focuses on “The Election of Grace” and Paul’s discussion of how Jews, Gentiles and the law fit into the framework of salvation. Has God elected the Gentiles and rejected the Jews? A cursory reading of Romans 10 and 11 give some readers this impression. But Paul makes it very clear in Romans 11:1 that God has not rejected the Jews.
The message here focuses more on debunking the concept that you can secure your salvation by keeping the law. Paul teaches that without Christ this is an impossibility. Salvation cannot come through a system of rules and regulations, but through the gospel. Jesus Christ is the “end” of the law. He is the fulfillment, the end-point, the purpose and final summary of what the law is all about. The Messiah culminates the essence of the law. When we reject Christ, we are rejecting the meaning of the law.
An interesting way to look at this notion of election is to ask, “Who is voting for whom?” We often are quick to think of our freedom to choose or reject God—which is certainly important. But in these chapters we might flip the coin and realize that it speaks more of God’s choice of us. The Lord is not about rejecting people. The Creator wants all to come to salvation. “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). “God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew…” (Romans 11:2). The message is not about God’s rejection of us, but of our rejection of God.
God took a great risk in opening up the election polls of the universe and giving mankind freedom to choose their candidate of choice. No matter what our race, heritage, gender, or social status—we all may freely choose or reject God.
And the Lord took a hit in running for office as Creator and Redeemer of this world. We shot the Candidate. We murdered the runner for the most important election in history. Jesus Christ campaigned for the Heavenly Father and lost His life.
Freedom of choice alone can engender salvation that comes by faith in the gospel. It is not a matter of keeping rules or having the right genes or gender. It is a matter of believing in and trusting a Contender who was willing to lose his life at the polls for you and me.
So, go cast your vote.
Again, while studying our lesson this week we need to keep in mind that God in His mercy has but one goal: to save everyone who has faith in Him.”
Wishing you an abundance of God's Sabbath blessings.
Regards,
Joseph Pakkianathan
Burnt Mills Sabbath School