Just an hour or so ago, a dear Brother in India who I've known for a long time asked me for help.
Every year he creates a calendar - not just any old calendar, but an evangelistic, SDA calendar. I've been helping him do this for around 5 years, and have heard several stories of people's faith being strengthened by them, young SDAs being encouraged by them, and even of some baptisms by people who purchased them for the colorful pictures and Bible verses, and then agreed the SDA faith was correct after reading them carefully.
The subject of the calendar for 2016 is "Christ and the commandments".
What I need help with, is:
1. List of bible texts dealing with this subject (one for each day except Friday)
2. Six different SOP quotes dealing with this subject (around one paragraph each)
3. Links to pics to illustrate it (need 6 as 2 months are on one page)
I'd like to get it to him by the end of this month, as he plans to show it to the division president on September 10th, and needs to do layout work etc.
Now I'll get cracking on the sundown times for 6 cities in India
Just an hour or so ago, a dear Brother in India who I've known for a long time asked me for help.
Every year he creates a calendar - not just any old calendar, but an evangelistic, SDA calendar. I've been helping him do this for around 5 years, and have heard several stories of people's faith being strengthened by them, young SDAs being encouraged by them, and even of some baptisms by people who purchased them for the colorful pictures and Bible verses, and then agreed the SDA faith was correct after reading them carefully.
The subject of the calendar for 2016 is "Christ and the commandments".
What I need help with, is:
1. List of bible texts dealing with this subject (one for each day except Friday)
2. Six different SOP quotes dealing with this subject (around one paragraph each)
3. Links to pics to illustrate it (need 6 as 2 months are on one page)
I'd like to get it to him by the end of this month, as he plans to show it to the division president on September 10th, and needs to do layout work etc.
Now I'll get cracking on the sundown times for 6 cities in India
Not sure exactly what you are looking for... so I will just post one search for now...
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Mat_19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mar_12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Luk_1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Joh_14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh_14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh_15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
1Co_7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
1Co_14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
1Th_4:2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
1Jn_2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn_2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn_3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1Jn_3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1Jn_5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn_5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
2Jn_1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
Rev_12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rev_14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev_22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Just an hour or so ago, a dear Brother in India who I've known for a long time asked me for help.
Every year he creates a calendar - not just any old calendar, but an evangelistic, SDA calendar. I've been helping him do this for around 5 years, and have heard several stories of people's faith being strengthened by them, young SDAs being encouraged by them, and even of some baptisms by people who purchased them for the colorful pictures and Bible verses, and then agreed the SDA faith was correct after reading them carefully.
The subject of the calendar for 2016 is "Christ and the commandments".
What I need help with, is:
1. List of bible texts dealing with this subject (one for each day except Friday)
2. Six different SOP quotes dealing with this subject (around one paragraph each)
3. Links to pics to illustrate it (need 6 as 2 months are on one page)
I'd like to get it to him by the end of this month, as he plans to show it to the division president on September 10th, and needs to do layout work etc.
Now I'll get cracking on the sundown times for 6 cities in India
Here is a link to some bible pictures that maybe you can use...
"And to keep himself unspotted from the world." The religion of Christ demands that we be distinct from the world, which has trampled the law of God underfoot. Said Christ: "If ye love me, keep my commandments. . . . He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. . . . He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." Do you show that you love God supremely by rendering obedience to his commandments? If not, you are not "unspotted from the world." Only the obedient will is accepted by God; and by constant reliance upon his power, we may gain strength to do his commandments. {RH, May 4, 1897 par. 4}
THE COMMANDMENTS, INCLUDING THE SABBATH WILL BE IMPORTANT IN END TIMES
SOP says....The children of Israel were to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations "for a perpetual covenant." Exodus 31:16. The Sabbath has lost none of its meaning. It is still the sign between God and His people, and it will be so forever. Now and ever we are to stand as a distinct and peculiar people, free from all worldly policy, unembarrassed by confederation with those who have not wisdom to discern the claims of God, so plainly set forth in His law. {OHC 345.3}
The true Sabbath is to be the sign that distinguishes those who serve God from those who serve Him not. Let those who have become sleepy and indifferent awake. ...We are conscientiously to honor God, diligently using every means of keeping in covenant relation with Him, that we may receive His blessings--the blessings so essential for a people who are to be so severely tried. To give the impression that our faith, our religion, is not a dominating power in our lives, is greatly to dishonor God.{OHC 344.4}
As the tree of knowledge was placed in the midst of the Garden of Eden, so the Sabbath command is placed in the midst of the Decalogue. In regard to the fruit of the tree of knowledge, the restriction was made, "Ye shall not eat of it, . . . lest ye die." Genesis 3:3. Of the Sabbath God said, Ye shall not defile it, but keep it holy. "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." Exodus 20:8. As the tree of knowledge was the test of Adam's obedience, so the fourth command is the test that God has given to prove the loyalty of all His people. {OHC 343.3}
IT IS POSSIBLE AND NECESSARY TO KEEP LAW
The Religion of Jesus Christ never degrades the receiver, it never makes him course or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hard-hearted. On the contrary, it refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment, purifies and ennobles the thoughts, by bringing them into captivity to Jesus Christ. God's ideal for his children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. The living God has given in his holy law a transcript of his character. The greatest teacher the world has ever known is Jesus Christ. And what is the standard he has given for all who believe in him, to reach?--"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." As God is perfect in his high sphere of action, so man may be perfect in his human sphere. The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. There is opened before us a path of continual advancement. We have an object to reach, a standard to gain which includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated. There should be continual striving and constant progress onward and upward toward perfection of character, (See 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Romans 15:4; Colossians 2:8-10.) {PH154 53.1}
This is the will of God concerning every human being, "even your sanctification." In urging your way upward, heavenward, every faculty must be kept in the most healthy condition to do the most faithful service. The powers with which God has endowed men, are to be put to the stretch. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Man cannot possibly do this of himself; he must have divine power. What shall the human agent do in the great work?--"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." {PH154 53.2}
But here you build your happiness, here you study how you can have fine and goodly houses, how you can add field to field, and treasure to treasure; and while you are doing this, brain, bone, and muscle, are taxed to the utmost to secure your earthly treasure, and you have no time to serve God, you have no time to spend in seeking for Heaven, you have no time to devote to repentance, and the separating of your sins from you, and becoming perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect. {RH, April 12, 1870 par. 11}
This perfection we must reach. Should I tell you that you need not be very earnest, you need not be very active, the Lord is pleased to have you enjoy the things of this life, therefore you may be as calm and moderate in religious things as you choose, and while you are thus doing you will be gaining everlasting life, I should be telling you things not written in this book. {RH, April 12, 1870 par. 12}
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." The word of God is like a treasure-house, containing everything that is essential to perfect the man of God. We do not appreciate the Bible as we should. We do not have a proper estimate of the richness of its stores, nor do we realize the great necessity of searching the Scriptures for ourselves. Men neglect the study of the word of God in order to pursue some worldly interest, or to engage in the pleasures of the time. Some trivial affair is made an excuse for ignorance of the Scriptures given by inspiration of God. But anything of an earthly character might better be put off, than this all-important study, that is to make us wise unto eternal life. {RH, July 17, 1888 par. 1}
God requires moral perfection in all. Those who have been given light and opportunities should, as God's stewards, aim for perfection, and never, never lower the standard of righteousness to accommodate inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong. Christ took upon Him our human nature, and lived our life, to show us that we may be like Him by partaking of the divine nature. We may be holy, as Christ was holy in human nature. Why then are there so many disagreeable characters in the world? It is because they do not suspect that their disagreeable ways and rough, impolite speech is the result of an unholy heart. . . . {TDG 32.2}
It is the fragrance of our love to our fellow men that reveals our love for God. It is patience in service that brings rest to the soul. It is through humble, diligent, faithful toilers that the welfare of Israel is promoted. God upholds and strengthens the one who is willing to learn Christ's way. . . . {TDG 32.3}
All right inventions and improvements have their source in Him who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. Whatever we do, in whatever department of the work we are placed, God desires to refine and ennoble us. He desires to control man's mind, that he may do perfect work. {TDG 32.4}
The delicate touch of the physician's hand, his power over nerve and muscle, his knowledge of the delicate organism of the body, is the wisdom of divine power, to be used in behalf of suffering humanity. The skill with which the carpenter uses the hammer, the strength with which the blacksmith makes the anvil ring, comes from God. He has entrusted men with powers, and He expects that they will look to Him for counsel. Thus they may use His gifts with unerring aptitude, testifying to God's glory that they are workers together with Him. Thus they purify their souls by sanctification of the Spirit through the truth. In their experience, the words of Christ are fulfilled, The pure in heart shall see God (see Matthew 5:8). {TDG 32.5}
All should feel that they are working to one great end. The work in every department is God's, and those who do that work with exactness, without blunder, represent God's perfection.--Letter 9, Jan. 24, 1899, to those occupying important positions in the General Conference.
There is order in heaven. There are rules and regulations which govern the whole heavenly host. All move in order. All there is cleanly, all in perfect harmony. And everyone who will be counted worthy to enter heaven will be thoroughly disciplined and will be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. The uncultivated have spots and wrinkles upon them now. They had better lose no time in commencing the work of cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. {OHC 230.4}
Thanks for the help, Ed and nb. Here's what I just sent my contact in India. What do you think?
======================================================= WHAT ARE THE COMMANDMENTS?
Talks and Sermons vol.1 p.267 What are the commandments of God? They are the ten holy precepts, the royal law, the holy law of God, which is the standard of character, which every soul present must meet in the judgment, notwithstanding it may be proclaimed from the pulpits of the day that God has no law. Now who believes it? Every nation has a law; but the God of heaven has given us His law to represent His character, and there it stands. There is not one of the precepts done away. They stand immutable and eternal. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Why should anyone want to change a perfect thing? You cannot get anything more than perfect, and the law of the Lord is for us to respect and reverence and obey. And if the inhabitants of the world had obeyed the law of God instead of hearing reiterated from the pulpits that God has no law, that God has no commandments; and if the parents should educate their children as Christ enshrouded in the billowy cloud gave the direction to Moses to give to Israel, we should not hear of the...crime and wickedness that prevails in our world to such a fearful extent. Now we would say, Let us love God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. ======================================================= JESUS EQUATES COMMANDMENTS WITH LOVE
Bible Echo 1895-7-29, Review and Sabbath Herald 1893-5-9, Signs of the Times 1893-2-13 Let Christ's righteousness, the righteousness of the law of God, be the standard, and let the Christian's prayer be, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." The world will soil the soul every day unless the cleansing blood is our reliance. Every thought is to be brought into captivity to Christ; every angry word is to be left unspoken. There must be no deception; selfishness or carelessness is a deviation from right. God's law should be the rule in all business transactions.
Prayer and alms-giving are closely linked together,--the expression of love to God and to our fellowmen. They are the out-working of the two great principles of the divine law, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength;" and "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Thus while our gifts cannot recommend us to God, or earn his favor, they are an evidence that we have received the grace of Christ. They are a test of the sincerity of our profession of love.
The law of love is the foundation of God's government, and the service of love the only service acceptable to heaven. ========================================================= JESUS AND FOLLOWERS KEPT SABBATH MADE IN FIRST WEEK OF CREATION
Signs of the Times 1898-4-7 & Signs of the Times 1895-11-14 God is calling upon all to behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. Christ lifts the guilt of sin from the sinner, standing Himself under the condemnation of the Lawgiver. He came to this world to live the law in humanity, that Satan's charge that man can not keep the law might be demonstrated as false. He kept the law in humanity, and when He was accused falsely by the Pharisees, He turned to them, asking with a voice of authority and power, "Which of you convinceth Me of sin?" He came to reveal to the heavenly universe, to the worlds unfallen, and to sinful men, that every provision has been made by God in behalf of humanity, and that through the imputed righteousness of Christ, all who receive Him by faith can show their loyalty by keeping the law.
One soul gained brings joy to the Father and to the Son, and there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of heaven, and an anthem of praise goes up from countless harps and voices through the heavenly courts. Those who break the law of God, and teach others to break God's commandments, are not following Jesus, who says, "I have kept my Father's commandments;" they are following another leader. It was Christ's own voice that proclaimed on Mount Sinai the Ten Commandments, and he will not countermand his statutes. =======================================================
GOD'S COMMANDS ARE ALL GOOD, MAN'S LAWS ARE SOMETIMES NOT
Signs of the Times 1894-7-16 Jesus commended his (lawyer's) wisdom, and said, "This do, and thou shalt live." Jesus presented the law as a divine unity, and showed that it is not possible to keep one precept and break another, but that man's position in the courts above will be according to his obedience to the whole law....The views entertained by the scribes and Pharisees are still in vogue in the world, and men think that by a partial obedience to the law, they will be cleared from sin; but Jesus taught that if any man offended in one point, he was guilty of breaking the whole law. The commandments are connected one with another as links in a chain, and if one link is broken, the chain is worthless. It is impossible for a man to obtain eternal life and break the commandments of Jehovah. Men cannot obey one commandment without rendering obedience to all the commandments. We are to regard the whole law as holy, just, and good. The first four precepts reveal the duty of man to God, and the last six reveal the duty of man to his fellow-man. On these two great principles hang all the law and the prophets; and when they are carried out in the life, they constitute the righteousness of their keeper....Love to God is the golden chain that binds the ten precepts of Jehovah together. ======================================================== IT IS POSSIBLE AND NECESSARY TO KEEP LAW
Signs of the Times 1886-4-15 Obedience to the law is essential, not only to our salvation, but to our own happiness and the happiness of all with whom we are connected. "Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them," says the inspired word. Yet finite man will present to the people this holy, just, and good law, this law of liberty, which the Creator himself has adapted to the wants of man, as a yoke of bondage, a yoke which no man can bear. But it is the sinner who regards the law as a grievous yoke; it is the transgressor that can see no beauty in its precepts. For the carnal mind "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."... To those who love God it will be the highest delight to keep his commandments, and to do those things that are pleasing in his sight. But the natural heart hates the law of God, and wars against its holy claims.... To man alone, the crowning work of his creation, God has given a conscience to realize the sacred claims of the divine law, and a heart capable of loving it as holy, just, and good; and of man prompt and perfect obedience is required. Yet God does not compel him to obey; he is left a free moral agent. ======================================================== THE COMMANDMENTS, INCLUDING THE SABBATH WILL BE IMPORTANT IN END TIMES
Manuscript Releases vol.5, vol.8, Letter to S. N. Haskell 1909
In the last days Satan will appear as an angel of light, with great power and heavenly glory, and claim to be the lord of the whole earth. He will declare that the Sabbath has been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week, and as lord of the first day of the week, he will present this spurious sabbath as a test of loyalty to him. Then will take place the final fulfillment of the Revelator's prophecy; "They worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Ministers and people, with the Bible open before them, show contempt for the Word of God in His holy precepts, while they exalt a spurious sabbath, which has no other foundation than the authority of the Roman Church. Protestant churches, having received doctrines that the Word of God condemns, will bring these to the front and force them upon the consciences of men.
The time will not be long delayed when a false sabbath will be exalted and men will be commanded to regard as sacred a day that has no sanctity in it. This spurious Sabbath will be made a testing question with all.
======================================================= Extra - not used in calendar: Signs of the Times 1882-9-14 Many endeavor to evade the claims of the fourth commandment by urging that the law of God was given to the Jews exclusively; that the seventh day of the week is the Jewish, while the first day is the Christian Sabbath. This distinction is not recognized in the Scriptures. There is no such contrast as is often claimed to exist between the Old and the New Testament, the law of God and the gospel of Christ, the requirements of the Jewish and those of the Christian dispensation. Every soul saved in the former dispensation was saved by Christ as verily as we are saved by him today. Patriarchs and prophets were Christians. The gospel promise was given to the first pair in Eden, when they had by transgression separated themselves from God. The gospel was preached to Abraham. The Hebrews all drank of that spiritual Rock, which was Christ. It was by Christ that the worlds were made. By Christ the law was proclaimed from Sinai. Hence, Christ is, in the fullest sense, as he declares himself to be, "Lord of the Sabbath." He made the day sacred to himself, on which to receive the worship of angels and of men.
It was disobedience that put Adam and Eve out of the garden.
The only thing that makes sense is that obedience will get them back in.
It is illogical to think that somehow disobedience will get them back in... as God does not change. He would have to change His Law and His Character and that's not going to happen.
The Commandments of Christ are the product of the Love, and Righteousness, dwelling in Christ, and attempting to obey them through love and faith to Christ, the person receives from Christ, gifts of righteousness and gifts of love, that originate in Christ, into them from Christ . "Look up "vital transfusion" & "not saved until" - notice the phrase "complete in Christ in both search results.
Agreed to both comments. I wanted to get more quotes on how the commandments can only be kept thru Jesus, but didn't find them in time for this calendar.