Today I was listening to a several of the current Sabbath School classes available at http://itsaboutgod.tv/hart_class.html
Now I can't say I was terribly impressed with any of the 3 I listened too. Unfortunately even Progressive Adventists seem to be firmly entranced with extra biblical mythology produced for the Adventist church by Ellen White. I still don't understand why they believe such things as Lucifer is Satan See Who is Lucifer (or Satan Misidentified) But the Pine Knoll Sabbath School even goes farther and the teacher Jon Paulien keeps saying that Lucifer and Christ were covering Cherubs. Surprisingly similar to the Lucifer and Christ being Spirit brothers of the Mormon Belief. Last week in his lesson he said there was good evidence for the two being covering cherubs. Of course he did not give that good evidence. But if you want to know it is not from the Bible it is from Ellen White. Probably a teaching from her Pre-Trinitarian days back when SDA's were substantially Semi-Arian.
Anyway once you get past all the mythology and assumptions about Satan the lessons get to the Temptation in the Wilderness of Jesus. One of the main points I felt it was important to point out because naturally none of the classes could manage to do that is as follows.
Luke 4:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
What is so surprising to me is how none of the classes I listened to noticed that the devil claimed all the world was his and it had been given to him and he could give it to whom he choses. The catch being if only Jesus would worship him. Now Jesus could have said according to Scriptures that all the world is God's Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;" Pointing out the lie in the Devils claim...which amazingly enough lots of people seem to believe and they point to this temptation text. But instead Jesus deals with the logical fallacy in the devils claim. If as the devil claimed the world had been given him, Who was it that gave it to him? The one that could give something to someone that they did not have before clearly has more power then the one given something. So the devil's next claim to be worthy of worship would be another lie. The one with the greater power to give the devil the world would be the one worthy of worship more so then the devil even if his claim had been true. Thus with brevity the soul of wit, Jesus destroys the devils entire argument with You shall worship only the Lord your God.
Now I can't say I was terribly impressed with any of the 3 I listened too. Unfortunately even Progressive Adventists seem to be firmly entranced with extra biblical mythology produced for the Adventist church by Ellen White. I still don't understand why they believe such things as Lucifer is Satan See Who is Lucifer (or Satan Misidentified) But the Pine Knoll Sabbath School even goes farther and the teacher Jon Paulien keeps saying that Lucifer and Christ were covering Cherubs. Surprisingly similar to the Lucifer and Christ being Spirit brothers of the Mormon Belief. Last week in his lesson he said there was good evidence for the two being covering cherubs. Of course he did not give that good evidence. But if you want to know it is not from the Bible it is from Ellen White. Probably a teaching from her Pre-Trinitarian days back when SDA's were substantially Semi-Arian.
Anyway once you get past all the mythology and assumptions about Satan the lessons get to the Temptation in the Wilderness of Jesus. One of the main points I felt it was important to point out because naturally none of the classes could manage to do that is as follows.
Luke 4:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Temptation of Jesus
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around [a]by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of [b]the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and [c]its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore if You [d]worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”What is so surprising to me is how none of the classes I listened to noticed that the devil claimed all the world was his and it had been given to him and he could give it to whom he choses. The catch being if only Jesus would worship him. Now Jesus could have said according to Scriptures that all the world is God's Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;" Pointing out the lie in the Devils claim...which amazingly enough lots of people seem to believe and they point to this temptation text. But instead Jesus deals with the logical fallacy in the devils claim. If as the devil claimed the world had been given him, Who was it that gave it to him? The one that could give something to someone that they did not have before clearly has more power then the one given something. So the devil's next claim to be worthy of worship would be another lie. The one with the greater power to give the devil the world would be the one worthy of worship more so then the devil even if his claim had been true. Thus with brevity the soul of wit, Jesus destroys the devils entire argument with You shall worship only the Lord your God.
2 comments:
so what are you saying?
Well I have said several things what part is confusing you?
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