SYLLABUS for BIBLE DOCTRINES, Volume I by Edvard Reppenstall Theology Department La Sierra College, Arlington, California COKIENT Study and Classroom Procsdures I. Divine Revelation and Inspiration of the Scriptures IIa The Existence of a Personal God III. Creation IV. Ihe Origin and Nature of Evil V. Ihe Fall of Man 71. Ihe Eternal Son of God - Diety of Christ VII. The Son of Man IIII, Ihe Incarnation IX. The Place of the Cross in the Redemptive Plan X. The Place of the Cross in the Life o£ Christ XI. The Place of the Cross in Christian Experience - Justification XII, The Place of the Cross in Christian Experience - Regeneration Eli. The Place of the Cross in Christian Experience - Sanctification XIV. Resurrection, Ascension, and Exaltation XV. The Threefold Office and Ministry1 of Christ XVI. Ihe Holy Spirit - His Position and Person WLI, The Dispensation of the Holy Spirit XO.II. The Work of the Spirit in the Life XIX. Righteousness by Faith XX. Christian Experience - Christian Growth XXI. The Law of God(l) XXII. The Law of God (2) XXIII. The Law of God and Salvation XXIV. The Ceremonial Law XXV. The Covenants Bibliography I. Objectives of Study 1. To acquire certain bodies of knowledge. 2. To acquire certain abilities in study, class presentation and discussion of the Word of God, The bodies of knowledge you acquire is subordinate to the ability to use knowledge. Education, p, 230 "For years education has had to do chiefly with the memory. . . . "The education that consists in the training of the memory, tending to discourage independent thought, has a moral bearing which is too little appreciated. As the student sacrifices the power to reason and judge for himself, he becomes incapable of discriminating between truth and error, and falls an easy prey to deception." Education, p, 7 "Every human being ... is endowed with a power akin to that of the Creation, - individuality, power to think and to do ... It is the work of true education to develop this power; to train the youth to be thinkers, and not mere reflectors of other men's thought." 3. To acquire a genuine experience of the truths discovered. Education, pp. 15, l6 "To restore in man the image of his Maker, to bring him back to the perfection in which he was created, to promote the development of body, mind, and soul, that the divine purpose in his creation might be realized, - this was to be the work of redemption. This is the object of education, the great object of life." II. Class Procedures I. Use of the Syllabus a. The syllabus is intended to give to you some basic texts, truths and suggestions. It is not intended to complete or exhaust the various topics. The student is expected to work out each lesson, setting forth his own outline of each topic. b. Additional help can be secured from the Bibliography, where is listed varied books covering all important Bible Doctrines. Use these as source material. Get into the method of outlining each Bible topic and doctrine as YOU UNDERSTAND IT. Do not simply copy someone else. You know only as much as you can explain thoroughly yourself. c. Take note of the problems suggested in the respective outline They are, for the most part, vital as part of the fundamentals of the Third . Angel's Message and Faith. 2. Term Papers a. The subject of the paper may be taken from the list suggested by the instructor or your own personal choice in counsel with the teacher. b. A term is required each semester or several short papers suggested by the instructor. 3. Collateral Reading a. Make a constant reference to the Scriptnral and Topical "Index to the Writings of Mrs. White." You will find here many of the clearest interpretations of the Scripture and Doctrines. 4. Examinations a. Frequent class quizzes may be expected, b. Mid-semester and Semester Examinations - questions will include the essay type, exegetical and interpretive questions. You will receive credit in proportion as the material you present is your own rather than that of other people's work memorized. 5. Bibliography The Bibliography is placed at the end of the syllabus rather than at the close of each lesson. All of these books practically may be used with each lesson, particularly the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy. Perhaps the best suggestion for the student at this point is to refer him to the Index to the Writings of Mrs. E. G. White. From the author's experience, this bibliography contains one of the finest compilations on the devotional life from the point of view of real practical Christian living. Lesson I - Diving Revelation and Inspiration of the Scriptures I. The Nature of Revelation The first basic pre-supposition in this world is: There is a God. The second is: God has revealed himself. And the Third: Where has God revealed Himself? The Answer is to be found in the Scriptures, In Jesus Christ and in Nature. 1. What is the Bible meaning of Revelation? The Bible uses many words and methods which reveal the process of revelation. Make a list of these together with Scriptural examples. 2. Biblical revelation is the manifestation of something that had been absolutely concealed, a knowledge that comes from outside the normal sphere of knowledge, which cannot be achieved by man otherwise. Hence it is a’Twy^g?’ acquiring knowledge that is essentially opposite to the usual-humao' Mthod of acquiring knowledge through observation, research and thought. Bible revelation means a supernatural kind of knowledge. Job 11:7 Romans 11:33 Isa. 1*0:18, 25 Ps. 10:4 God is absolute mystery until He reveals Himself. We have an analogy to this in our relation to persons; a_person is a mystery which can be disclosed only through self-manifestation. The real content of revela­ tion, in the Bible is not "something"; it is not "creed^Vut God Himself. 3. Channels of God’s revelation to man a. Through His works - Rom. 1:20 b. Through inspired men - Heb. 1:1 c. Through Jesus - 1 John 5:20, John 1:18 d. Through the Spirit in Personal experience - 1 Johnj2i2Q, 27 ; II. The Record and Proof of Divine Revelation in the Bible 1. How is the nature of revelation affected by the Pall? Gen. 3:8, 9 Isa. 59:2 Heb. 1:1 - Method of communication with God changed. 2. What now becomes God's medium of revelation to sinful men? a. Rom. 3:1,2$ 9:24 b. What is to be the form of this revelation? Ex, 17:14; 24:4 Prov. 1:23 c. How did Jesus refer to this written revelation in His day: What constitues it? Luke 22:44 John 10:35 Luke 21:33 d. What claims are made for the 0. and N, T, books? 2 Tin. 3:16 2 Peter 1:21 Gal. 1:11,12 Rev. 1:1 Notice the promise cf God to his disciples and its fulfilment - John 14:26; 17:8 1 Cor. 2:10,13 1 Peter 1:11,12 3, What are the terns applied to the Biblical record which affirm its divine origin? Isa. 34:16 Rom. 1:1; 3:2 Heb. 6:5 Col. 3:16 4. How sacred and inviolable is this divine revelation? Deut, 4:2 Luke 21:33 1 Peter 1:23 Rev, 1:3 Definition of Inspiration: "Inspiration is that influence of the Spirit of God upon the minds of the Scripture writers which made their writings the record of progressive divine revelation sufficient, when taken together an£. interproted ty the same Spirit who inspired thorn*.to lead every hone st incjuirejLto Christ and to salvation," &.H. Strong. Systematic Theoiofy. P. 196 . . III. The Reason for the Divine Revelation 1. Revelation includes within itself a negative presupposition; without it man is always in some way orother 4ni a kind of Jartaiess or bondage*/ It is an absolute, desperately serious darkness. It is the darkness of men who are lost. It is the darkness of sin. Thus Biblical.revelation is_ always related to sin. For through sin man"is separated from Cod, The door is closed between men and God, Isa, 59:2 Job 37:23 John 5:37 2. How is revelation related to man'-s natural ability to acquire knowledge? Study carefully 1 Cor. Chapts, 1,2 On the limitations of human wisdom. Natural acquisition of'secular knowledge makes us masters of that which we know. But in revelation the-opposite is the case, God, through.His revelation becomes Lord over me; He makes me His property. In revelation God makes Himself ay Lord, and in so doing He makes me truly free. John 8:36 2 Cor. 3:16-18 3 3. In man's change from darkness to light, what is the divine procdss? Gal, 1:15,16 John 14:2l - Is a "believer" a person who accepts the doctrine revealed in the Bible? What is the Purpose of this divine revelation for nan? Tho whole business of revelation is solely and unfathonably concerned with God’s adaptation to man; the whole purpose of this is to lay hold of man, and to draw him once more: to Himself, in order to set him once again within the Kingdom of His dear Son, 4. What is the change to bo wrought by means of this revelation? Eph. 2:1,2 1 Peter 1:23; Rom 1:16; 2 Tim. 3*16,17 IV. The Reception of the Divine Revelation 1. What is man’s most urgent responsibility and task? i Poter 3*15 1 John 5:13, Hob. 2:1, PE 532,5.%536 2. What is the relation of faith and reason in the understanding of the Divine Revelation? a. Paith is first an act of knowledge. 2 Cor, 4:6. But faith is more than intellectual assent. It is obedience and surrender to the divine revelation. This faith is not a relation to just a set of ideas, certain dogmatic truths and doctrines; it is wholly a person­ al relationship; my trustful obedience to Him who has revealed Himself. Very early in the history of tho Christian faith this conception of . Paith was lost. Faith became related to revealed doctrine as content, the authoritative teaching of tho Church. But faith is not the acceptance of the statement of a roliable authority; it is tho relation of trust in another person; it is personal relation between two human beings. This is the test whether God has revealed Himself to us in His Word and in His Son. So long as we are dealing with some doctrines to be intellectually mastered, we remain the masters even in the theological act of knowledge. But "knowledge puffeth up." A new creation is not due to intellectual theological knowledge. Genuine theology moans this personal relationship, which is the genuine faith. Truo faith is the work of grace which changes the sinful, independent solf into a self that depends utterly upon God. Faith then does not simply depend on learning something that is true, even though it be the Biblo truth; it has to do with God Himself, how He reveals Himself to us in His Word, is present with us, and how we respond to this divine Revelation. All tho doctrines and truths in tho Bible point to nothing else than that God Himself addresses us in order that wo ourselves may answer Him in faith. That is the significance of Jesus being the Word - John 1:1-3. It moans that God, when ho became man, came down to man’s lovol, in order that man might meet Him and havo fellowship with God. b. Beamon and" Itevelaticn, f-f > It Is imparteartrto -realise that the faculty of reason is but tho channel of knowledge tdiich is to load ultimately to faith and acknowledgement. But reason is strictly limited. It is possible to understand the GcSpols and Epistles of Paul completely, intellectually and logically without haring real faith. An unbeliever can pass the stiff eat theological examination and prove that he understands New Testament theology and yet, in tho sense of spiritual understanding based on real faith, he has under­ stood nothing, The Devil himself could pass the most rigorous examination in dogmatic and Biblical theology with distinction. Correct doctrine alone is something that can be loarned by anyone who has a good brain. But faith is not something that a man can •’learn”; it is the free gift of God. It is dangerous for tho Church or the College to confuse that which is the gift of the Holy Spirit with that which anyone with a good brain can learn at Collage. Hence a very complete outfit of theological ideas and conceptions is absolutely no criterion for faith: for it is simply a natter of reason and can bo understood apart from faith. - Faith means being gripped by the Word of God: it moans that the person submits in tho very center of his boing, in His heart, in his will, to Him who has revealed Himself. To be actually surrendered liko this is altogether different from knowing about God and doctrine. Hare lies the gulf between reason and roveletion. Hob. 11:6 c. Revocation, reason and faith brought together by the Holy Soirit in tho bolievor, 5T 703; SC, 91; COL H3,132; 5T 704; GC 526-527,598. 3. Man’s Responsibility towards the Revelation a. Individual and personal study and interpretation basod upon priost- hood of all believers - GC 526,527,596,598, DA Ul, IM 109 b. How does man’s individual character and attitudo condition under­ standing of the Word of God - GC VII - Job. 23:12; Ps. 119:103; FE 386 - Live in Harmony with the Revelation - 5T 705; CT 357, Prov. 3:32 - Attitude of love and diligence in study for further light - Ps, 119:127,i62,UO; 5T 707,708;Prov. 2:3-5 - Attitude of Prayer and Reverence - SC 91 - Reflective Thinking - Ed. 191; SC 91} DA 390 V. Problems for Discussion 1. What are the limitations of human wisdom and knowledge in the understanding of God's revelation to man? "Just how far can the revelation of God be submitted" to the judgment of nan? 2. Show the difference between Revelation, Inspiration and Divine Dictation, 3. How would you evaluate the revelation and inspiration of the of Prophecy? 4. To what extent is there progressive revelation in the Bible, this allow for seeming contradictions in any way? Writings of the Spirit Lesson II - The Existence of a Personal God How We Know There is a God! The existence of God is a first truth. That is, it precedes and conditions all our thinking, our observation and knowing. That is the reason why mere human thinking can never find out God. DA 494,495, COL 1131 MYP. 158, 190 /Jeb. 11:7; Rom. 11:33, Job. 37:23 The Scriptures do not attempt to prove the existence of God: they assume and declare that God does exist. God has placed that first truth within every man to some extent, Rom. 1:19-21, John 1:9. The very fact that all men assent to this first truth is proof of the Scripture statement. Notice what the Scripture says of those who deny this first truth - Ps. 53:1 Therefore, it must always be born in mind, that human reason is strictly. limited and altogether inadequate in knowing God. Personal God 1. Why man cannot discover God in the same way we understand physical persons a, John 5:37 - God cannot be comprehended by natural faculties Job 9:11 - He is invisible to mortal eyes John 1:18, 1 Tim. 6:16 Col, 1:15 - Implies that God is not matter b, John 4:24 - He is not subject to the limitations of human personality c. Ex, 33:20 - Because sinful man cannot approach unto God d. John 5:26 - His attributes are inherent in Him, whereas man's are derived from God. 9. In all tilings He infintely transcends His creatures. Psa, 147:5; Eccl. 7:24, Matt. 19:26; 1 Sam 2:2 2, Testimony of Bible to a personal God a. Jer, 10:10 - He is the Living God b. Personal faculties and actions are attributed to Him - 1 Peter 3:12 c. The relation of members of the Godhead is that of a family - father and son. Gal. 4:4,5, Luke 23:46 d. The relation between God and men is that of a family - father and sons. Deut. 14:1 Note: Since Man cannot approach God on a natural plane, the revelation of a personal God must come in and through His attributes. We can determine from God's works and words what qualities, dispositions, determinations, powers of His He has actually made known to us, e. God is Love - I John 4:8; Love is that virtue by which God is eternally moved to self-communication - John 17:24; Jer. 31:3; 1 John 3:1 f. God is holiness - righteousness 1 Peter 1:16; Matt. 5:48. This holiness is the ground and reason of moral obligation, the basis for law. For law without a lawgiver or law-enforcer means no obligation. g. Testimony of nature to personality of God - Ron. 1:20 3. How can wo discover a personal God? 1 Cor. 2:14; 1 John 2:20,27 1. The Spirit of Prophecy declares "God can be known by experience" (DA 494,495) What is the experience of the Christian that knows God? 2. What is meant by the transcendence and the immenence of God? 3. Four fundamental arguments are generally presented supporting the existence of God: the cosmological argument, the teliological the anthropological, and the antological arguments. Explain briefly. DA 494,495 Problems for discussion I. The Revelation of God in Creation 1. The Scripture teaches the revelation of God in Creation. This can only bo so because God is the creator of the Universe. Ps. 19 2. How is creation a revelation of God to all men? Rom. l:18ff, 2:14ff John 1:^-9; Acts 14:17; 17:26,27 How important is creation in the correct understanding of God? a. What does Paul mean in Romans 1 by these who "hold down" this revelation of God in Creation? The knowledge of God begins to dawn upon all men through creation. To "hold down" the truth of Creation is to deny the revelation. b. What attributes of God are explicitly taught in the works of Creation? Rom. 1:20 3. How has man been so created by God that he can perceive God in His works? Gen. L;26; Rom. 2:14ff; 1:32 II. The 1'ieaning and Method of Creation 1. The free act of God - Of the Intellect - C-f the Wil John 1:1; Fsn. 33:6,9; Gen. 1 - "God said" 2. Act of the triuae God - all having a part in it. a. Through Christ - Eph. 3:9; John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:10 L. Through the aid of the Holy Spirit - Gen 1:2 3. The Terms used for creation a. "Bara" - Hebrew word, v. 1,21,27 - used to create something entirely new. In each of these verses, what "entirely new" phase of matter or life is brought into being? b. "Yazah" to make or fora out of natter already created, v.7,25; 2:7 c. Read carefully 8T 264/05^260 III. The Prooess of Creation 1. The first six days of creation are divided into two triads of three days each. One day in each group pairs with and balances one in the other group. Arrange this accordingly, find out the purpose of this arrange­ ment, its importance in the doctrine of creation. 2. The oldest child of creation is light. Why is this? Psa. 119:130 Isa. 9:2 Luke 1:78,79 Luke 16:8 John 1:9 3. Gen. 1:6-8 In the "dividing of the Waters" and making of the firmament what fundamental fact of life has continued ever since? Acts 14:17 Jer. 14:22 4. In the first three days of creation, in what way is the work of grace comparable to the order of Creation? 5. Prove from the creation record that each successive day of creation did not represent long ages of time, pp 112 Exod. 20:11 6. What is the significance and meaning of the phrase "after his kind"? Gen. 1:12,25 7. Why is such high honor given to the 7th day for all time to come? Gen. 2:2,3 Heb. ch.4 PP 111 Exod. 20:8-11 8. What three things ordained and created in the beginning did man bring with him from the Garden of Eden? What things did he keep and what things did he lose? IV. Creation of Man 1, What direct claim does God make regarding the origin of nan? Gen. 2:7 Isa. 43:7 PP 45 2. With what nature was man created? a. Physical nature - Gen. 2:7 Acts 17:25 Eccl. 3:19 PP 45 b. Difference between man’s nature and the lower orders of creation (i) Gen. 9:6 - A nature akin to God. (ii) Matt. 4:4 - Communion with God, Hal, 3:10 (iii) Threefold nature - 1 Thess. 5:23 (1) Brute is conscious, but man is self-conscious (2) Brute has only percepts; man has also concepts, e.g, brute knows white things but not whiteness (3) Brute has no language for language is the expression of general notions or symbols (4) Brute forms no judgments (5) Brute has no reasoning (6) Brute has determination but not self-determination; no freedom of choice. (7) Brute has no conscience and no religious nature "All heaven took a deep and joyful interest in the creation of the world and of man. Human beings were a new and distinct order." Mrs. E. G. White, Review and Herald, Feb. 11, 1902 V. Creation and Preservation 1. Definition - that continuous agency of God by vhich He maintains in existence the things he has created, together with the properties and powers with which he has endowed them. Creation explains the existence of the universe and preservation explains its continuance. 2. Proof of the doctrine of preservation Neh, 9:6 Psa. 36:6; 104:29,30 Acts 17:28 Col. 1*17 Heb. 1:2,3 8T 259,260,264 VI. Creation and Providence 1. Definition - that continuous agency of God by which he makes all the events of creation fulfil the original design with which he created it, 2, Proof a. Over the universe at large - Psa, 103:19 Eph, 1:11 b. Over the Physical world - Job 37:5,10 c. Over brute creation - Psa. 104:21,28 Matt. 26:26 d. Over affairs of nations - Job 12:23 Psa. 22:28 Psa. 66:7 Acts 17:26 e. Over man's birth and lot in life - 1 Sam. 16:1 Psa. 139:16 VII. What is the Relation of the Doctrine of Creation to other Fundamental Doctrines? Write out, as fully as you can, answers showing this relationship. 1. To the Sabbath - value ns commemorating; God's act of creation, and thus God's personality, sovereignty and transcendence. The Sabbath is of perpetual obligation ns God's appointed memorial of his creating activity. Sabbath antedates the decalogue; forms part of moral law, 2. To Justification and Sanctification - Ezek. 20:12 Heb. 4 3. To the Trinity - See Gen. 1 U. To Immortality of the Soul - Gen. 2:5 5. To Sin and Human nature 6. To Second Advent 7. To Judgment 8. To the Bible as Revealed and Inspired Word of God 9. To Redemption VIII. Creation and the Unity of the Human Face 1. Scriptures teach the whole human race to be descended from a single pair Gen. 3:20 2. How is the organic unity of mankind taught in the first transgression? Rom. 5:12,19 1 Cor. 15:21,22 3. Show that the unity of mankind forms the basis for the teaching of univer­ sal brotherhood. Acts 17:26 IX. Problems for Discussion 1. Dualism, Emanation and Evolution are the three theories which oppose Bible creation. Define them clearly explaining briefly reasons why they are not supported by truth? 2. Tgqisra and Continuous Creation are the two theories which deny Bible doctrine of Preservation. Define them briefly giving reasons for their falsity. ’ 3 3. Fa tali an the Bible Doctrine of Providence, Define it and show its falsity. Lesson IV - The Origin and Nature of Evil I, In God's original creation and man's original state, has evil any part and place? Gen. 1:31 1. How did nan compare with God? Eccl. 7:29 Eph. 4:24 2. How did man compare with Christ? Gen. 1:26,27 2 Cor. 4:4 PP 45 Why must there have been a beginning to evil? Why could not evil have existed eternally? II. The Origin of Evil with Satan 1. 1 John 3:8 Rev. 12:9 Isa. 14:12 Ezek. 28:15. Show who the devil is and how he cane to be called "devil". a. What has been and is Satan's position in relation to the supreme God? Col. 1:16 Eph. 6:12 2 Peter 2:4 Rev. 20:2 2. The Controversy in Heaven. Ezek. 28 Isn. 14. Rev. 12 a. Read PF, Chapt. 1-5, Great Controversy - Chapt, 39, Spiritual Gifts, Vcl. 1, Chapt. 1 b. Outline the charges Lucifer makes against God - What is the position of law in the controversy? MB 161. "When Satan rebelled against the law of Jehovah, the thought that there was a law cane to the an{els almost as an awakening to something unthought of." -What is the position of Christ in the controversy? PP 38ff, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3, Chapt. 2j Ibid, Vol. 1, Chapt. 1 -What i3 the position of God in the controversy? "Satan has accused God of requiring self-denial of the angels, when he knew nothing of what it meant hinself, and when he could not . hinself make any self-sacrifice for others. This was the accusation that Satan made against God in heaven; and after the evil one was expelled from heaven, he continually charged the Lord with exacting service which he would not render himself. Christ came to the world to meet these false accusations, and to reveal the Father." Review, Feb. 18, 1890. c. Why did not God destroy Satan immediately? PP 41,42,68,69, D.A. 758,759,693 d. What is the position of the angels in the controversy and the out­ come? Jude 6 Rev. 12:7,8 -u- 3. The Plan to Destroy Satan a. What must God provide for in the Plan? - PP 68,69 DA 693,759 b. 1 John 3:8 Heb„ 2:14 c. When is the power and influence of Satan cast down? John 12:31 III. Problems for Discussion 1. Why did God not destroy Lucifer immediately upon the rebellion instigated by him? 2. Discuss the possibility of evil in a world where a good God is Sovereign. 3. List the charges made against God. How did God refute them? Lesson V - The Fall of Man I. The Original S^ate of Man 1. What was his state as coming from God's hand? Gen 1:26,27,31 Col. 3*10 Gen. 9:6 Likeness to God included: a. The Image of God as including physical likeness - PP 4-5,4-6. Why should this be so? b. The Image of God as including personality - Will, feeling, intellect. By personality we mean the power of self-consciousness and self- determination as related to God, to one's fellow men and to the world in view of moral and spiritual ends. James 3:9; Eccl. 7:29 Eph. 4:24 c. The Image of God as including spiritual nature - John 4:24 1 Thess. 5:23 Gen. 2:16; 3:8 Read PP Chapter 2. II. The Original Probation of Man 1. What is the Purpose o| Probation? jGen. 2:9 Heb. 2:10 PP 60 a. As related to character. PP 60,61 b. As related to life and immortality - Gen. 2:9 1 Cor, 15:45 PP 60 2. What is involved in the idea and meaning of probation? a. PP 53. As to the basis of the trial Review, July 15, 1890 "God required of Adam in paradise, before ho fell, perfect obedience to His law." MB 116 Review, Feb. 26, 1901. "What the law demanded of Adam and Sve in Eden ... it demanded of Christ, the second Adam." b. As to the nature and freedom of Adam and Eve Y.I. July 20, 1899 "He (Christ) was a free agent, placed on probation, as was Adam, and as is every man. In his closing hours, while hangin, on the cross, he experienced to the fullest extent what man must experience when striving: against sin." c. As to the nature of the law Spiritual Gifts, Vol. Ill, p. 295 "The law of Jehovah dating back to creation, was comprised in the two great principles, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with ail, thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.' These two great principles embrace the first four commandments, showing the duty of man to God, and the last six, showing the duty of man to his fellow men. The principles were more explicitly stated to man after the fall, and worded to meet the case of fallen intelligences. This was necessary in consequence of the minds of men being blinded by transgression." Mrs. E. G. White, Signs, April 15, 1975. "The law of God existed before the creation of man or else Adam could not have sinned. After the transgression of Adam the principles of the law were not changed, but were definitely arranged and expressed to meet man in his fallen condition." Signs, March 1^, 1878. In connection with Adam's probation in Eden seek to determine: - what is the position of grace and law - what is the method of obedience - what type of covenant God made with Adam III. Th£ Original Sirnof Adam 1. Definition of Sin - I John 3:^, I John 5‘17> James It-: 17 a. As to conduct - I John 3:*+, Rom. 7:8~10 b. As to a state, an inner condition - Matt. 5:22, 28, Luke 6:^5 Heb, 3:12, Isa. 1:5, Jer. 17:9, Rom. 6:12. c. What is the essential principle of Sin? To say that sin is lack of conformity to the divine law, means more than mere acts and conduct. Of what did Eve and Adam's sin consist? What was their first step into sin? What faculty begins the disobedience to God? Gen. 3 Read PP, Chap. 3> See Isa. lU:13,lh. The essential principle of sin is selfishness, that choice of self as opposed to love to God. It prefers self and the world to God. Selfishness may reveal itself in the elevation to supreme dominion of any one of man's natural appetites, desires or affections. Sin is a fundamental and positive choice or preference of self instead of God, as the object of affection and the supreme end of being. Instead of making God the center of his life, surrendering himself unconditionally to God and possessing himself only in sub­ ordination to God's will, the sinner makes self the center of his life, sets himself directly against God, and constitutes his own interest the supreme motive and his own will the supreme rule. It has four principal characteristics or manifestations. (i) Self-suffioiency, instead of faith (ii) Self-will, instead of submission (iii); Self-seeking, instead of benevolence (ivy Self-righteouanese, Instead of humility and reverence If the sin which is now hidden in the sinner's heart were permitted to develop itself according to its own nature, it would hurl the Almighty from his throne, and would set up its own kingdom upon the ruins of the moral universe. Compare Isa. 14:13,14 2. Consequences of the Fall a. As concerning Adam - Threefold death, Horn. 5:12 (i) Physically - Gen. 2:17 (ii) Spiritually - Eph. 2:1,2 Col. 2:13 - Eph. 4:18 - Jer. 17:9 - Titus 1:15 - Rem. 8:7 (iii) Eternally - Rom. 6:23 b. As concerning his posterity - Rom. 5:19,16,12. Study whold passage 5:12-21 Eph. 2:3 Psa. 51:5 1 Cor. 15:22 Copy all the passages you can find from Mrs. White on the depravity of man. Explain clearly and completely the doctrine of "total depravity." God imputes the sin of Adam immediately to all his posterity, in virtue of that organic unity of mankind by which the whole race at the time of Adam's transgression existed, not individually, but seminally, in him .as its head. The total life of humanity was then in Adam; the race as yet had its being only in him. IV. Problems for Discussion 1. What do you understand by the term "total depravity"? 2. What are the degrees of sin referred to in Romans 5:14? LesecaJEL- The Eteasaal^W Itetisr of Christ I. The Testimony of Scripture 1. As to the nature of Christ - 1 Wm. 3*16 John 1:1 2. As to the whole purpose of Scripture - John 20:31 II. The Testimony of Jesus concerning Himself 1. What was Christa own testimony as to where He came from? John 3:13; 2. How did tJhrist speak of his relationship to the Father in coming to this world? - John 5:36; 6:44,57 - Christ often speaks of His having been sent by the Father. The fact that Christ was sent into this world by the Father, is mentioned at least twenty-five times in the Gospel of John alone. 3. Christ’s reference to his experience with the Father before the world was created. John 17: 5,24. DA, 17 "From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father." 4. What is Christas own testimony as to his coming from and going back to the Father? - John 16:28 1 Peter 3:22 III. What further-'proofs and claims show Jesus to be Divine? 1. Testimony of Holy Spirit at His baptism, Jesus was recognized as the Son . of God, John 1:33,34 2. As the 'Creator of the World - Son of God must have existed before the creation of the world, since He is the Creator, John 1:3 Col, 1:12-17 3. Jesus did not commence His existence when He was born of the Virgin Mary, but in takjng.-the. flesh He experienced a change in the order of His being, John lvl,14 Phil. 2:3-7 DA 663-664 "Christ had not ceased to te God when he became man. Though he had humbled himself to humanity, the Godhead was still his own." 4 4. The claim of Omnipotence - Matt, 28:18 5. Claim.-of Gm43Pieace - Col« 2*3 6. Claim of Perfect holiness -Jfehn 3:5 Heb,. 4:15 7. Claim of eternal existence - Col, 1*17 8. Claim of possession of fulness of divine attributes - Col. 2*9j 1*15 9. How was Jesus4 Divinity' manifest in His life? a. Luke 5:17 - By His miracles b, Luke 4:32 John 7:46 - By His authoritative teachings c. Matt. 9*6 - By his divine prerogative to forgive sins d, John 5*21 - By his possessing the power to give life 10. What was the testimony of the disciples as to His divinity? John 20:28 Matt. 16*16 11. What was the testimony of the spiritual forces of evil? Luke 4:41 12. What are sometimes designated as the theophanies were temporary manifestations usually in human form, of the Son of God before He assumed human nature: a. To Abraham - Gen, 18*1,2,22,33 PP 139 b. To Jacob - Gen, 32:24-30 PP 199 c. To Moses - Ex, 3*2,4.16 d. To Joshua 5*13-15} o*l,2 PP 488 e. To Gideon - Judges 6*11-14 f. To Manoah and wife - Judge? 13:3,6,8-10,16-22 1 < - /, ■ j.