Sabbath School Insights No. 14, Qtr 4-05

Special Insights No. 14

Fourth Quarter 2005 Adult Sabbath School Lessons

“Ephesians: The Gospel of Relationships”

(Produced by the Editorial Board of the 1888 Message Study Committee)

“The Christian Communion and Conduct” 

 

As we say goodbye to our fourth quarter’s Sabbath School Lessons, we do not say goodbye to Paul’s beautiful letter to the Ephesians. It has become our life long friend. We shall often re-read it. It’s the purest Good News and deserves a lifetime of our love.

 

The Lesson Study Guide by John M. Fowler has been excellent historic SDA instruction. Our weekly contributions have supplemented these truths with “insights” from the “most precious” “beginning” of the Loud Cry and the latter rain message that the Lord sent to us in 1888.

 

There is special “good news” about the “helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,.... [and] praying always,.... being watchful.” It’s not a difficult battle we have to fight. Many new Christians are afraid that they can’t hold up. But the assurance of Jesus still holds good even while we face the last great conflict: “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:30). Why does He say that for these trying times? Could He be deceiving us? No! The “third angel’s message in verity” is GOOD News, not Bad!

 

Paul describes all this in military language that fits the Roman soldier’s daily armor. When he has slept for the night and rises in the morning, the first thing he meets is all that armor laid in his path—he can’t take a step unless he sees it and is reminded to put it on. So the love (agape) of Christ is so constant that He is personally concerned about each of us getting up in the morning! If we read Isaiah 50:4 we see that He takes the initiative to confront us the moment we wake up every morning—“here’s your armor—put it on!” He has an intimate care for you. Unless we have banished the Holy Spirit from our consciousness (which God forbid!), He daily reminds us anew of our need for a spiritual “helmet” and “sword.” You don’t start your new day by dialing His telephone; He starts your new day by ringing yours! Let’s learn to listen! This Good News is so good that many hesitate to believe that the Lord loves them so much that He actually takes the initiative in meeting them individually each new morning.

 

When Paul asks the brethren and sisters to pray for him that in his witnessing he might “speak boldly, as I ought to speak,” he is revealing how every true ambassador for Jesus constantly feels unworthy of the blessing of the Lord to be a teacher or a pastor, or even to know how to visit a sick person or give an effective simple Bible study. If you forget how much is your need, you fall flat on your face even though the people may unwisely praise you.

 

“Wrestling” in this warfare appears to be very painful and difficult. It is, but only if you forget Jesus. Kneel with Him in Gethsemane, hear Him cry to His father, see Him sweat those drops of blood; “watch with Me one hour” He says. Alexander the Great’s soldiers loved each battle for they knew they would win with him as their commander. We can love these “battles”!

 

Now, let’s review how the message of Ephesians contains the unique, long-lost 1888 truths that must yet lighten the earth with glory (Rev. 18:1-4):

 

1.  The Father has chosen us, predestined us to be saved, adopted us “in Christ,” granted us the gift (more than mere offer) of justification in Him (1:3-7; 2:4-9, 13). We can refuse through unbelief, but if we do not resist, He will bring us all the way into the New Jerusalem (see Steps to Christ, p. 27). This is not forcing everyone to go to heaven, no; but Christ is already “the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe” (1 Tim. 4:10). Don’t “despise” or “sell” your birthright He has given you!

 

2. The great dimensions of the love (agape) of Christ are revealed in His sacrifice, in His life, and His death on His cross (3:14-18). When we learn to appreciate those dimensions of His love, we are prepared for translation at the second coming of Jesus (vss. 19-21), because to be “filled with all the fullness of God” is the ultimate. That’s why Ephesians belongs with Daniel and Revelation as present truth for these last days!

 

3. Christ took our fallen, sinful flesh, yet “abolished in His flesh the enmity” that is natural for all of us for we have the same flesh which He took (2:15; Heb. 2:14). That truth ushers us into the Most Holy Apartment of the sanctuary where Christ is performing His final work of reconciling hearts to God. This is most precious present truth! We hunger for it!

 

4. If we find it difficult to forgive “and be kind to one another, tenderhearted,” all we have to do is to remember, yes remember, “just as God in Christ also forgave you” (4:32). Again we look at Him on His cross! It is He who “sanctifies” us, and we cooperate with Him. We LET Him do it! We stop hindering Him!

 

May the Lord bless your new life of love for Ephesians!

—Robert J. Wieland

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