As Seventh Day Adventist, we believe in the full Gospel as God's amazing grace bestowed to everyone. This Gospel includes relationship, love, forgiveness, leniency, mercy and His bountiful grace.

Inspiration declares, "The gospel is to be presented, not as a lifeless theory, but as a living force to change the life. God desires that the receivers of His grace shall be witnesses to its power." {DA 826.2}

The Plan Of Salvation Preceded The Fall

The heavenly sanctuary being for confession and the blotting out of sin, it could not have existed before sin entered and brought about the necessity for such a structure. Although the sanctuary service was originated after Adam sinned, the plan of salvation had always existed, and was revealed in, and by, the sanctuary service. Thus the plan that preceded the fall is found in Christ, in whom there was and is redeeming power for all. {2SR 188.1}

The following are to be considered in this week's SSL; I. Before and After Jesus, II. Those Who Shared Jesus, A. Rejecting anger and sharing love, B. Rejecting Evil and Sharing Jesus, III. Sharing the Story of Jesus, A. The Assurance of Salvation, B. Sharing Jesus.

Memory Verse:

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. {1 John 5:13}

Prayer Thought:

Young men are to enter the ministry as co-workers with Jesus, sharing His life of self-denial and sacrifice, voicing the words of the Master, "I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified." [John 17:19.] If they will yield themselves to God, He will use them in helping to carry out His plan for the salvation of souls. Let the young man who has entered the ministry look his calling fairly in the face, and determine to devote his time, his strength, his influence, to the work, well aware of the conditions under which he serves the Redeemer. {GW 104.1}

I. Before and After Jesus

“even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:5)

1. Before Jesus: Ephesians 2:1-3

Man is dead, without God, and without hope in the world. But over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, Christ proclaimed, "I am the resurrection and the life." Not only will all who are in the graves hear His voice and come forth, He is today the Restorer of those dead in sin. Today Jesus is working His miracles. The great Physician stands by the side of the faithful worker, saying to the repentant, discouraged soul, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." Mrs. E. G. White. {ST, June 6, 1900 par. 12}

• We're all die because of our sins. Dead in our sins - 1 Pet. 2:24; AA 522.3; ChS 44.2; CCh 62.5

• We're all under Satan's control - AA 557.2; CE 121.3; CTBH 133.2; CCh 247.7

• We're doing our own will - Prov. 3:17; CE 68.1; FE 462.3

• We're following the course of the world - AH 289.3; CSA 24.2

• We're children of wrath - CET 208.2; CTBH 155.2; EW 275.1

2. After Jesus - Ephesian 2:4-10

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." {RH, April 27, 1897 par. 9}

• We'll be alive in Christ - washed our sins - Rev. 1:5; CTr 292.1; AG 178.2

• We're saved by grace - Eph. 2:8, 9; AG 319.5

• We'll be doing good works through His graces - walk in newness - TDG 150.2

• We'll be seating in heavenly places - COL 236

• We'll be enjoying the riches of His glory -

• We're children of God (made by Him) -

A. Rejecting Anger and Sharing Love

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11)

1. Slow to Anger and Great in Power

"The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him." Nahum 1:3-6. {RH, June 3, 1915 par. 14}

2. The Anger of Moses.

The breaking of the tables of stone was but a representation of the fact that Israel had broken the covenant which they had so recently made with God. It is a righteous indignation against sin, which springs from zeal for the glory of God, not that anger prompted by self-love or wounded ambition, which is referred to in the scripture "Be ye angry, and sin not." Such was the anger of Moses.--RH, Feb 18, 1890. (TM 101.)

3. Christ's Holy Wrath.

Christ's indignation was directed against the hypocrisy, the gross sins, by which men were destroying their own souls, deceiving the people and dishonoring God. In the specious deceptive reasoning of the priests and rulers He discerned the working of satanic agencies. Keen and searching had been His denunciation of sin, but He spoke no words of retaliation. He had a holy wrath against the prince of darkness, but He manifested no irritated temper. So the Christian who lives in harmony with God, possessing the sweet attributes of love and mercy, will feel a righteous indignation against sin; but he will not be roused by passion to revile those who revile him. Even in meeting those who are moved by a power from beneath to maintain falsehood, in Christ he will still preserve calmness and self-possession.--DA 619, 620 (1898). {2MCP 517.2}

Additional Thoughts:

• James and John asked for permission to destroy a Samaritan village because people refused to lodge Jesus and His apostles.

• However, their relationship with Jesus transformed their feelings and thoughts eventually:

(1) James lost his life for sharing Jesus with others (Acts 12:1-2).

(2) The gospel and letters of John are full of love for God and our neighbor (Jn. 13:35; 1Jn. 4:8; 2Jn. 1:6; 3Jn. 1:6-7).

B. Rejecting Evil and Sharing Jesus

“When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce […]” (Matthew 8:28)

1. Beware of Rejecting the Truth

"But beware of rejecting that which is truth. The great danger with our people has been that of depending upon men, and making flesh their arm. Those who have not been in the habit of searching the Bible for themselves, or weighing evidence, have confidence in the leading men and accept the decisions they make; and thus many will reject the very messages God sends to His people, if these leading brethren do not accept them." -- Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 106, 107.

2. Danger is not in listening to error but in Rejecting the Truth

Consequently, the greatest danger of the people has not been their listening to error but rather their rejecting present truth. "If a message comes," saith the Lord, "that you do not understand, take pains that you may hear the reasons the messenger may give,...then produce your strong reasons; for your position will not be shaken by coming in contact with error." -- Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, pp. 65, 66. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Cor. 10:12. {3Tr. 10.1}

3. Rejecting Christ is not Rejecting Error

Many will come from the grossest error and sin, and will take the place of others who have had opportunities and privileges but have not prized them. They will be accounted the chosen of God, elect, precious; and when Christ shall come into His kingdom, they will stand next His throne. {COL 236.1}

In rejecting Christ the Jewish people committed the unpardonable sin; and by refusing the invitation of mercy, we may commit the same error. We offer insult to the Prince of life, and put Him to shame before the synagogue of Satan and before the heavenly universe when we refuse to listen to His delegated messengers, and instead listen to the agents of Satan, who would draw the soul away from Christ. So long as one does this, he can find no hope or pardon, and he will finally lose all desire to be reconciled to God. {DA 324.3}

Let's Consider these:

• The life of the demon-possessed men in Gadara changed dramatically after meeting Jesus. They were restored physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20).

• Then, Jesus asked them to share their story with all the people in that region.

• They had a story to tell because the power of Christ had changed their lives. They could share their personal testimony and encourage others to let Jesus transform their lives.

II. Sharing the Story of Jesus

The old, old story of the love of Jesus, repeated by the teachers and the superintendent, with the love of Jesus in the heart, will have a power that will convict and convert souls. If the love and tenderness of Jesus has touched your heart, you will be able to work for your scholars. The simplicity of the gospel must be kept in view. With help from above we can do faithful work for the Master. The fact should be kept continually before the scholars that without heart work all our efforts will be in vain. Affection and love should be seen in every movement of the teachers and managers of the school. Cold formality should be replaced by earnest zeal and energy. The love of Jesus should so pervade the whole school that the pupils will learn to regard this as the highest education. Sternness or faultfinding should find no place in Sabbath-school or day school. This should be put far from the hearts of the teachers, and of all who act a leading part in the school. {TSS 89.2}

A. The Assurance of Salvation

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)

1. The Story of the Cross

I point you to the cross of Calvary. The cross is everything to us. It is the pledge of our salvation, the pledge that we shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. It is to be our support in every trial, our refuge in every sorrow. It is the assurance to us that the Father loves us, and has given his Son for us. It is the assurance to us that our joy may be full. {ST, April 11, 1892 par. 11}

2. Human Greatness is not an Assurance of Salvation

The force of much human teaching is found in assertion, not in truth. The teachers of the present day can use only the ability of previous teachers; and yet with all the weighty importance that may be attached to the words of the greatest human authors there is a conscious inability to trace back to the first great principle, the Source of unerring wisdom. There is a painful uncertainty, a constant searching, a reaching for assurance, that can be found only in God. The trumpet of human greatness may be sounded, but it is with an uncertain sound; it is not reliable, and the salvation of souls cannot be assured by it. {CT 439.2}

3. Jesus - the Advocate, the Righteous - Assurance of Salvation

Until the Lord takes us back to our own land, though, there to change our hearts and to write on them His law (Ezek. 36: 24-28), until then the struggle in which the apostle Paul found himself -- a struggle to obey the law of the Spirit while the law of the flesh is against it -- is to be our lot. But we thank God Who gives us power to overcome day by day in the Lord our Saviour. Though we fall seven times a day, though we sin unintentionally, if we arise and run the race we shall win. We cannot lose, because we have an Advocate, even Jesus Christ, the Righteous. Our assurance of salvation is therefore guaranteed. {2TG 19.7}

Notice the Following:

• The message in the Bible is clear: those who believe in Jesus will be saved (Jn. 3:15, 36; 6:40, 47; Acts 16:31; 1Jn. 5:13). We don’t have to wait until we’re good enough to be saved.

• Salvation may be lost (Ex. 32:33; Mt. 10:28; 2P. 2:20-21; Rev. 3:5, 11), but this could only happen if we purposefully decide to reject God.

• The assurance of salvation empowers our testimony. It’s easier to share something you know for sure.

B. Sharing Jesus

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)

1. Sharing Christ's Life of Self-denial and Sacrifice

Young men are to enter the ministry as co-workers with Jesus, sharing His life of self-denial and sacrifice, voicing the words of the Master, "I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified." [John 17:19.] If they will yield themselves to God, He will use them in helping to carry out His plan for the salvation of souls. Let the young man who has entered the ministry look his calling fairly in the face, and determine to devote his time, his strength, his influence, to the work, well aware of the conditions under which he serves the Redeemer. {GW 104.1}

2. THOSE WHO COME TO GOD IN FAITH.

God justly condemns all who do not make Christ their personal Saviour; but He pardons every soul who comes to Him in faith, and enables him to work the works of God, and through faith to be one with Christ. Jesus says of these, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one [this unity brings perfection of character]; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:23). {Hvn 85.2}

3. Enthrone Christ in our Heart

The standard-bearers are falling, and young men must be prepared to take the places left vacant, that the message may still be proclaimed. The aggressive warfare is to be extended. Those who have youth and strength are to go into the dark places of the earth, to call perishing souls to repentance. But they must first cleanse the soul-temple of all impurity, and enthrone Christ in the heart. {GW 104.2}

Important Points:

• Jesus asks us to give everything to Him (Lk. 9:23). But what has He given us? (see Jn. 1:12; 10:10; 14:27; 1Co. 1:30)

(1) He made us children of God

(2) He gave us life

(3) He gave us peace

(4) He gave us wisdom

(5) He made us righteous

(6) He sanctified us

(7) He redeemed us

• When we realize everything Christ has done for us, our natural response is to give everything to Him in sacrifice–no matter the cost–and to share the wonders He has done in us and for us.

From the Pen of Inspiration:

“We are to be witnesses for Christ; and this we shall be when we grow up daily into the full stature of men and women in Christ. It is our privilege to grow more and more like Him every day. Then we shall acquire the power to express our love for Him in higher, purer speech, and our ideas will enlarge and deepen, and our judgment become more sound and trustworthy, while our testimony will have more of life and assurance.” {Sons and Daughters of God, March 6}