CHRIST’S CHURCH AND THE LAW

Lesson 12 for June 21, 2014

Adam Abraham Jesus

The term “Christ’s Church” may refer to just the Christ Jesus founded, but we are going to use it in a broader sense.This week we are studying the evolution of “Christ’s Church” during the entire history of this world, from Eden to the End Time.

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CHRIST’S CHURCH AT EDEN“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you

shall surely die.’”(Genesis 2:16-17)

Why did God test Adam and Eve’s loyalty?

The forbidden fruit could bring “knowledge of good and evil”. According to Paul, the law has the same goal for us (Romans 7:7)Both eating the fruit and transgressing the law result in the same way, practical knowledge of evil. That is, SIN.Adam and Eve were created morally free. They were able to choose between obeying God and disobeying Him; that is, to love Him or to reject Him.

THE ANTEDILUVIAN PERIOD“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)

How could the human kind deteriorate to such an extent?

Since Abel was murdered, men began to take lightly God’s Commandments.Idolatry, theft, adultery, murder… spread quickly.Those who remained faithful to God began joining the disloyal ones (Gn. 6:1-2)When Noah was born, Christ’s Church consisted of very few people who still remained faithful to God’s law.

“The race of Cain, spreading from the place of their first settlement, dispersed over the plains and valleys where the children of Seth had dwelt; and the latter, in order to escape from their contaminating influence, withdrew to the mountains, and there made their home. So long as this separation continued, they maintained the worship of God in its purity. But in the lapse of time they ventured, little by little, to mingle with the inhabitants of the valleys. This association was productive of the worst results. ‘The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair.’ The children of Seth, attracted by the beauty of the daughters of Cain’s descendants, displeased the Lord by intermarrying with them. Many of the worshipers of God were beguiled into sin by the allurements that were now constantly before them, and they lost their peculiar, holy character. Mingling with the depraved, they became like them in spirit and in deeds; the restrictions of the seventh commandment were disregarded, ‘and they took them wives of all which they chose.’ The children of Seth went ‘in the way of Cain’ (Jude 11); they fixed their minds upon worldly prosperity and enjoyment and neglected the commandments of the Lord. Men ‘did not like to retain God in their knowledge;’ they ‘became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.’ Romans 1:21. Therefore ‘God gave them over to a mind void of judgment.’ Verse 28, margin. Sin spread abroad in the earth like a deadly leprosy.”

E.G.W. (Patriarchs and Prophets, cp. 6, pg. 81)

THE ANTEDILUVIAN PERIOD

Which were Noah’s moral strengths?

“This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9)

1. A just man.2. Perfect.3. He walked with God.

Was he saved because of his moral strengths?

NO. Only divine grace can save a person from damnation, both then and now. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6:8)

AFTER THE FLOOD

After the Flood, it took only 100 years until men openly rebelled against God again.

“And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’” (Genesis 11:4)

Despite that, the principles of God’s law still remained in the hearts of humankind. For example, read the words of Pharaoh or Abimelech (Gn. 12:18-19; 26:9-10). In addition, some people still served the true God; for example, Melchizedek (Gn. 14:18)

When Abram was born (292 years after the Flood), the true God and His law were almost forgotten.

God poured down His grace on Abram like He did to Noah.Thanks to God’s grace, Abraham “obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” (Gn. 26:5)

Despite his own mistakes, Abraham was a man of true faith. That faith was counted as righteousness by God’s grace.

AFTER THE FLOOD

“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’” (Genesis 15:1)

“For a time the descendants of Noah continued to dwell among the mountains where the ark had rested. As their numbers increased, apostasy soon led to division. Those who desired to forget their Creator and to cast off the restraint of His law felt a constant annoyance from the teaching and example of their God-fearing associates, and after a time they decided to separate from the worshipers of God. Accordingly they journeyed to the plain of Shinar, on the banks of the river Euphrates. They were attracted by the beauty of the situation and the fertility of the soil, and upon this plain they determined to make their home.”

E.G.W. (Patriarchs and Prophets, cp. 10, pg. 118)

ISRAEL: CHRIST’S CHURCH“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth… Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them.” (Deuteronomy 7:6, 11)

Israel was a “holy people”. What does that mean?

Israel was a people that was set apart for God. They were priests that should act like stewards of God’s law.God poured down His grace on Israel like He did to Adam, Noah and Abraham. He also demanded obedience from them.

“The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in

number than any other people… but because the

Lord loves you…” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)

THE REMNANT

“And the dragon was enraged with the

woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring,

who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus

Christ.” (Revelation 12:17)

With His resurrection, Jesus crossed the finish line, for He broke the chain of death. Now, through the power of the Spirit, the resurrected Christ shares His righteousness with every believer.Unfortunately, the Church Jesus founded apostatized soon. God then called a faithful remnant, from Jesus to our days.

Like in a relay race, Adam passed the baton (the Promise) to Noah, Noah to Abraham, Abraham to Israel, and Israel to Christ (the Promise)

“Not all in this world have taken sides with the enemy against God. Not all have become disloyal. There are a faithful few who are true to God; for John writes: ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ Revelation 14:12”

E.G.W. (Counsels for the Church, cp. 2, pg. 39)