1.Reflect on this week’s study guide. Faith was the key that made these healings possible. In contrast, the leaders demonstrated the dangers of doubt and unbelief. Why should we not confuse questions (which we all have) with doubts? Why are they not the same, and why is it important to know the difference between the two?

In this week’s study guide, it is clear that faith was the crucial key that made Jesus’ healings possible. People like the royal official whose son was healed or the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda experienced miracles through their faith in Jesus’ words. In contrast, the religious leaders who rejected Jesus despite His clear signs demonstrated the dangers of doubt and unbelief.

Why Should We Not Confuse Questions with Doubts?

Questions are a natural part of the faith life. They arise when we do not immediately understand things or when we are confronted with difficult situations. Questions can lead us to search deeper, pray, and seek God’s guidance. In the Bible, we see many examples of believers who asked questions—from Abraham to Jesus’ disciples. These questions are part of a living and growing faith.

Doubts, on the other hand, are often a form of mistrust or rejection of God’s actions or His word. Doubts can paralyze faith because they undermine trust in God’s character and promises. Doubting means questioning God’s ability or willingness to work in our lives.

Why Is It Important to Know the Difference?

The difference between questions and doubts is crucial because questions can strengthen faith, while doubts can weaken it. Questions lead to growth because they prompt us to seek answers, trust God, and get to know Him better. Doubts, however, can weaken faith by distancing us from God and preventing us from fully trusting Him.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ time had studied the Scriptures and seen many signs, yet they rejected Jesus. Their unbelief prevented them from recognizing the truth and caused them to ignore even the most obvious signs. This serves as a warning for us: we must remain open to God’s answers and trust Him, even when we do not understand everything immediately.

Conclusion: Questions are part of a living faith, while doubts can stifle it. It is important to recognize the difference so that we can trust God’s promises and be willing to seek His answers. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time studied the Scriptures and saw signs but still rejected Him. Their unbelief hindered them from recognizing the truth and led them to dismiss even the most obvious signs. This is a warning for us: we must remain open to God’s answers and trust Him, even when we do not understand everything immediately.

2.Look at the last question in the Thursday section. Why must we, as Seventh-day Adventists, be especially cautious about this danger? As important as it is, for example, to know and keep the correct Sabbath day or to understand something about the state of the dead—why does this knowledge not save us? What saves us and how?

The question of how to guard against believing in God and upholding correct teachings without fully submitting to Christ is central to our faith life. Faith and scholarship are not the same, and mere knowledge of biblical truths is not sufficient for our salvation. As Seventh-day Adventists, we must be especially cautious because we place great emphasis on understanding biblical teachings. However, even though knowledge of the truth is important, it is not what ultimately saves us.

1. Why Must We, as Seventh-day Adventists, Be Especially Cautious?

As Seventh-day Adventists, we place great importance on biblical teachings such as the Sabbath, the Second Coming of Christ, the state of the dead, and other prophetic insights. These truths are crucial and valuable, but they are not a substitute for a living relationship with Jesus. There is a danger that we may rely on our knowledge or adherence to certain rules and teachings and thereby forget that salvation comes solely through grace and faith in Jesus Christ.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ time upheld the correct teachings regarding the law and the Sabbath, but they missed the central truth—the relationship with God. They were proud of their knowledge, but this pride prevented them from recognizing Jesus as the Savior. Similarly, we could fall into the trap of emphasizing our knowledge of teachings without fully surrendering our hearts to Christ.

2. Why Does Knowledge of the Truth Not Save Us?

Knowledge of biblical teachings, as important as it is, cannot save us because salvation is not obtained through knowledge or works. The Bible clearly states that we are saved by grace through faith—by believing in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our understanding of truths like the Sabbath or the state of the dead is important because it helps us better comprehend God’s will, but it is not the knowledge itself that saves us.

What saves us is faith in Jesus Christ and accepting His sacrifice. This faith means more than just agreeing with certain teachings—it involves fully submitting our lives to Christ’s authority. We are called to surrender our hearts and wills to Him, live daily in His grace, and trust in His guidance.

3. What Saves Us and How?

Salvation comes through grace, which we receive by faith in Jesus Christ. This means:

• Recognizing that we are sinners and cannot save ourselves.

• Believing in Jesus’ sacrifice, which paid the price for our sins.

• Accepting Him not only as Savior but also as Lord of our lives and allowing Him to guide us in all areas.

Jesus’ saving work encompasses more than merely following rules or knowing certain teachings. It involves our entire lives being permeated by His grace and love. When we fully submit to Jesus, our knowledge of the truth becomes alive because it is rooted in our relationship with Him.

Conclusion: As Seventh-day Adventists, we must be particularly careful to ensure that our focus is not solely on knowing the correct teachings but on fully submitting our lives to Christ. It is essential to recognize that our knowledge of biblical truths does not save us—only God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice can do that. When we surrender our hearts and lives to Him, we can be confident that we not only know the truth but also live in that truth and are redeemed through it.

3.Examine John 5:47 closely. In what way do those who today, for example, deny the universality of the Flood or the literal six-day creation, do exactly what Jesus warned against?

In John 5:47, Jesus warns the religious leaders that their unbelief in the testimony of the Scriptures, especially the testimony of Moses, prevents them from believing in Him: “If you do not believe his testimony, how are you going to believe anyone else’s?” This warning is significant because it highlights that faith in the Old Testament Scriptures is closely tied to faith in Jesus and His teachings. Jesus refers to Moses because Moses’ writings prophesied the coming Messiah.

Relation to Today: Denying the Biblical Account of the Flood or the Literal Six-Day Creation

When people today deny the universality of the Flood or the literal six-day creation, they are doing exactly what Jesus warned against in John 5:47. They are doubting the fundamental accounts that God revealed through Moses and other prophets. This has far-reaching implications for their faith and ability to accept the entirety of Scripture and its claims, including the testimony of Jesus.

Why Is This Problematic?

1. Doubt in the Reliability of Scripture: When people interpret parts of the Bible, such as the creation account or the Flood, as non-literal or symbolic, they question the credibility of the entire Scripture. The Bible teaches in Genesis that God created the world in six days and that the Flood was a universal event. These accounts are not merely symbolic but form the foundation for understanding God’s intervention in human history. Denying these fundamental narratives makes it difficult to fully trust other biblical teachings.

2. The Bible as a Whole: The Bible forms a unified whole, spanning from creation to redemption through Jesus Christ. Denying the literal meaning of Genesis undermines the foundation on which many other biblical doctrines rest. If the creation and Flood accounts are viewed as mythological or symbolic, the belief in God’s sovereign action in human history and His power to guide the world is weakened.

3. Contradiction to Jesus’ Teachings: Jesus Himself referred to the creation account and the Flood as historical events. In Matthew 19:4–6, He spoke of the creation of man as male and female, and in Matthew 24:37–39, He compared the time of His return to the days of Noah. Denying these accounts contradicts not only the Old Testament but also Jesus’ own words.

Connection to John 5:47:

In John 5:47, Jesus warns that those who do not believe in the Scriptures of the Old Testament cannot believe in His words either. The principle applies today: if we dismiss fundamental accounts like creation or the Flood as untrue or symbolic, we undermine the trustworthiness of the entire Bible—including Jesus’ words. This shows that faith in the Bible’s revelation from the first to the last page is crucial for maintaining faith in Jesus Christ and His redemption.

Conclusion: Denying the universality of the Flood or the literal six-day creation is an expression of doubt in the authority and credibility of the Bible. Jesus warned in John 5:47 against not taking the Scriptures seriously, as this leads to rejecting His words as well. As believers, we are called to accept the entire Bible as God’s inspired revelation, as it not only teaches us the truth about the past but also points the way to redemption through Christ.

0

0