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Lesson 10: Holy Spirit and the Law
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to do the things that you know you need to do? Have you ever felt powerless to do what is right? The fact that it is so much easier to be lazy, dishonest, self centered, and angry should be ample proof to us all that human beings are not naturally good. It is a biblical fact that we have a natural tendency towards sin and disobedience. But it is also true that there is a solution.
In a previous lesson, we learned about the importance of baptism in the life of a believer. In short, it is a symbol of our rebirth into a new life with Jesus at its center. Jesus said that we had to be reborn of water and the Spirit. In this lesson, we will delve deeper into the truth of His statement about the role of the Spirit in rebirth and how it affects our ability to please God. Let’s start with Jesus’ own words.
Q1. If we love Jesus what will we do? Read John 14:15.
A.______________________________________________________________________
Q2. Who is the Helper that Jesus would send? Read John 14:16-18.
A._____________________________________________________________________
Q3. Where will the Spirit of Truth live?
A.______________________________________________________________________
It is important that we notice a few things about what Jesus said. First, He said that if we love Hm we would keep His commandments. Second, He said that after His death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven, He would send a Helper. The Helper would be a spirit that lives in us and among us. The Helper obviously isn’t another human because a person can’t live inside us. Fourth, there is a direct link between Jesus’ commandments and the work of the Spirit of Truth. Before we learn what that is, let’s see what happened when some ladies challenged Fatma’s understanding of who the Helper is.
Shining Stars Series (Philippians 2:14-16)
“Fatma, will you be going with the girls for breakfast on Sunday morning,” Gülsün asked.
“Yeah, that was my plan. Who will be there?”
“Well right now I think there will be about five or six of us. Merve, Ceyda, Banu, and İdil are definitely coming. Of course, they might bring some friends. Any idea where we can go?” Gülsün asked.
“I will leave that completely up to you all. I just want to relax; it has been a long week and I don’t need the stress of making sure everyone is happy. You know how the ladies get sometimes!” Fatma replied.
“Well don’t worry. I have a place in mind.”
“Great! Listen Gülsün, I will be leaving in a little bit. Make sure you have the shop locked up before dark. I will see you on Sunday. Give me a call when you have news.” Fatma said.
“Okay sweety.” Gülsün said reassuringly.
Sunday morning, on the way to breakfast, Fatma wondered who might show up. She also wondered if they would start asking her questions about the study group. She was never one to keep secrets and all the ladies knew that she was studying the Bible, especially after she told Banu and Ceyda!
“Gülsün, this place is to die for! I just love the garden, the chirping birds, and the sweet smelling flowers. How did you find it?” Merve asked.
“Thanks Merve. Actually, Fatma’s sister in law, Filiz, told me about it.” Gülsün replied.
“Really?” Fatma exclaimed.
“How is Filiz, Fatma?” İdil enquired.
“Well, I haven’t seen her much lately.”
“You mean she doesn’t attend your “study” group anymore?” Idil snidely replied.
“Usually, but they haven’t come in a couple of weeks,” Fatma calmly spoke.
“Hmm. Have you found that text yet that talks about our prophet?” İdil snickered.
“I don’t think there is a text that talks about him. But I think I know what you are mistaken about,” Fatma said with a calm and dignified tone. “When Jesus was talking to His disciples, He told them that He was going to die, come back to life, and then go to heaven. But He reassured them that He would always be with them. In fact, He said that He would send a Helper called the Spirit of Truth. I think this is the verse that many people are confused about. But they don’t realize it because they never read the Bible for themselves. They just blindly believe what others say. You see, this verse can’t be about a human being because the Helper is a spirit and lives within the believer. I know that is a lot to swallow, but it is the truth as far as I understand.”
“Hmm. Thanks for the lesson,” İdil sarcastically remarked.
To say that there was tension in the air would be an understatement. But Fatma was pleased with her own testimony. It wasn’t easy defending her new found faith. She glanced at Gülsün, raised her eyebrows, took a deep breath through her nostrils, and silently thanked God that she didn’t have to deal with this animosity all the time.
Q4. What was the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, going to do? Read John 16:7-11.
A._____________________________________________________________________
The Spirit of Truth convicts us of sin, reminds us of the judgment to come, and teaches what is right.
Q5. Why is it necessary for the Spirit of Truth to come?
A.______________________________________________________________________
We need the Spirit of Truth, the Helper, because Jesus isn’t on this earth. When He was walking on this earth, He taught people the difference between sin and righteousness. It was He who reminded the people of not only the judgment to come, but that He was given the authority to judge. So if the Spirit of Truth lives in us, how do we receive Him in the first place?
Q6. When the people asked what they must do to be saved, what did Peter tell them? Read Acts 2:36-38.
A.____________________________________________________________________
Q7. According to the verse above, what happens as a result of repentance and baptism?
A._____________________________________________________________________
When we are baptized in Jesus’ name, our sins are forgiven and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Helper, the Spirit of Truth, is the Holy Spirit. We know this because 10 days after Jesus ascended to heaven He sent the Helper to the disciples and they were filled with the Holy Spirit just as Jesus had promised. Read Acts 2:1-4.
Let’s be very clear about how we receive the Holy Spirit.
Q8. How do we receive the Holy Spirit, by doing good works, or through faith? Read Galatians 3:2-9.
A._____________________________________________________________________
As a result of our faith in Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit and become children of God.
Q9. As spiritual children of God, can we call Him father? Read Galatians 3:26; 4:6, 7.
A.______________________________________________________________________
Yes, we can, and the Holy Spirit in our lives is both proof and a guarantee that we have an inheritance in God’s kingdom. The Holy Spirit actually seals the decree that we are forgiven and have become God’s children. Read Ephesians 1:13-14.
We see the same truth in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. Read 2 Corinthians 1:21, 22 and Romans 8:14-17.
In essence, the Holy Spirit reminds us of our salvation. As believers we will make mistakes because we are at war with sin and self. Sometimes we may say things and do things that we later regret. Before we believed in Jesus, we were at war with God. But the Holy Spirit eliminates our war with God. The Spirit strengthens us to fight with the sin that tries to hold us down, as well as the troubles of this world.
Q10. When we believe that Jesus paid the penalty for our sin, how does our condition in relation to God change? Read Romans 5:1, 2.
A.______________________________________________________________________
When we are accounted righteous by faith in Jesus Christ we are at peace with God. We are no longer resisting His urgings or fighting against His laws. In fact, all we want to do is be in His glory. Does that mean life will be perfect, that we will never have any problems? No, it just means we will be better able to handle them.
Q11. Are trials bad? Why or why not? Read Romans 5:3, 4.
A.______________________________________________________________________
As believers, we don’t worry about trials and hardships because they will only make our faith, perseverance, characters, and hope stronger. Does that mean it will be easy to deal with trials? Not all the time, but we have God on our side and the help of the Holy Spirit.
Q12. What does the Holy Spirit pour out into our hearts? Read Romans 5:5.
A.______________________________________________________________________
The Holy Spirit pours out God’s love into our hearts.
Q13. Can people who depend on self and their own good works please God and fulfill all of His commandments? Can they fulfill the call of Jesus to love others more than themselves? Read Romans 8:5-8.
A.______________________________________________________________________
No, they can’t because they are enemies of God. They are trying to earn salvation instead of receiving it freely by faith in Jesus. They may try to do what is right by praying, fasting, and visiting holy sites. But they will always meet with failure because no amount of good works can erase even one sin. But praise the Lord, believers have received the gift of salvation by faith and the Holy Spirit lives in them teaching them what is sinful and empowering them to live a righteous life of gratitude. Moreover, in addition to God’s love, His law is written on their hearts. In fact, His law is love.
Q14. Where does the Holy Spirit write God’s laws? Read Hebrews 10:15-18.
A.______________________________________________________________________
For believers, God’s law isn’t a list of rules written on paper or wood and hung on the wall in the house. They are written on our hearts and in our minds. They become part of us. As believers, we keep God’s law just as naturally as we broke it before we knew Jesus. In the Old Testament we can easily see what happens when God’s law never enters the human heart. Humans continue to fall into sin and rebellion against God. In Christ, we see the opposite. God’s law is written on our hearts and minds, working on us in love from the inside out. Read John 14:15.
Q15. Do you love Jesus?
A._____________________________________________________________________
If you love Jesus, you will keep His commandments. Do you know what Jesus said when He was asked what the greatest commandment was? Read Matthew 22:35-40.
Jesus actually gave two commandments.
Q16. What was the first commandment?
A.______________________________________________________________________
Q17. What was the second commandment?
A.____________________________________________________________________
Both commandments can be summed up with one word, love. We are to love God and love our neighbor. According to Jesus, who is our neighbor? Everyone is our neighbor, even our enemies!
Q18. If loving others fulfills the law, can we commit adultery? Kill? Steal? Covet? Read Romans 13:8-10.
A.______________________________________________________________________
Paul described several things we can’t do if we really want to love others. If we want to really love others we can’t covet what they have and use any means to get it. We can’t steal what doesn’t belong to us or refuse to give what belongs to someone else. We also can’t lie.
Q19. How does stealing go against God’s law of love for your neighbor? Could not paying your taxes, rent, or electric bill be considered stealing? After all, you are withholding what rightfully belongs to someone else.
A._____________________________________________________________________
Q20. How does adultery, even lusting in your mind about other women, go against God’s law of love for your neighbor? Have you ever considered that the woman you lust after is, or one day could be, another man’s wife? Would you want someone to think that way about your wife, or future wife? Read Matthew 5:27, 28.
A.______________________________________________________________________
Q21. How does telling even the smallest lie go against God’s law of love for your neighbor?
A._____________________________________________________________________
People typically lie to protect themselves or their own interests. Therefore, lying is a selfish action. If a person is selfish, then they can’t be concerned about other people. If you aren’t concerned for the well being of others, which includes their ability to trust you, then you aren’t loving them.
Q22. Is yelling at someone when they cut in front of you or hit your car while driving show love for your neighbor?
A.______________________________________________________________________
Remember, we don’t love others because it will earn us a place in heaven. We love others because God loves us, because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross, and because God’s love and law is written in our hearts. In short, we can’t keep from loving others! God’s commandments aren’t suggestions, they are a standard of life that must be lived.
Q23. How do we show our love to God? Read 1 John 5:1-3.
A.______________________________________________________________________
We show our love to God by keeping His commandments. In the book of Exodus, we can read the 10 commandments that God wrote with His own finger. We already read about a few of them when exploring how to show love to our neighbor. Let’s read the ones that show our love to God.
Q24. What are the first four commandments? Read Exodus 20:1-11.
A.______________________________________________________________________
Q25. How can keeping the first four commandments show our love for God?
A.______________________________________________________________________
We show our love of God by not worshipping other gods, making idols, and using His name in vain. We also show our love for Him by keeping the seventh day Sabbath holy. God has given us the Sabbath as a gift. We live in a busy world and He wants us to rest, gather with other believers, and worship Him. Every week on Sabbath (Saturday), we show the world that God is the Creator and Jesus is the Savior by not working and resting (a symbol of being in Christ).
In later lessons, we will study in more detail how the Holy Spirit works in our lives and the importance of the Sabbath day. Until then, let’s remember that Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit as a guide and motivator in our lives so that we can fulfill God’s law by loving Him and others. By so doing, we become a holy people representing God and Jesus in the Great Controversy. Read Deuteronomy 26:16-19.
Let’s be a holy people unto God!
Commitment through prayer
For further study read:
1 Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 5:16-24 and Revelation 14:12
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to do the things that you know you need to do? Have you ever felt powerless to do what is right? The fact that it is so much easier to be lazy, dishonest, self centered, and angry should be ample proof to us all that human beings are not naturally good. It is a biblical fact that we have a natural tendency towards sin and disobedience. But it is also true that there is a solution.
In a previous lesson, we learned about the importance of baptism in the life of a believer. In short, it is a symbol of our rebirth into a new life with Jesus at its center. Jesus said that we had to be reborn of water and the Spirit. In this lesson, we will delve deeper into the truth of His statement about the role of the Spirit in rebirth and how it affects our ability to please God. Let’s start with Jesus’ own words.
Q1. If we love Jesus what will we do? Read John 14:15.
A.______________________________________________________________________
Q2. Who is the Helper that Jesus would send? Read John 14:16-18.
A._____________________________________________________________________
Q3. Where will the Spirit of Truth live?
A.______________________________________________________________________
It is important that we notice a few things about what Jesus said. First, He said that if we love Hm we would keep His commandments. Second, He said that after His death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven, He would send a Helper. The Helper would be a spirit that lives in us and among us. The Helper obviously isn’t another human because a person can’t live inside us. Fourth, there is a direct link between Jesus’ commandments and the work of the Spirit of Truth. Before we learn what that is, let’s see what happened when some ladies challenged Fatma’s understanding of who the Helper is.
Shining Stars Series (Philippians 2:14-16)
“Fatma, will you be going with the girls for breakfast on Sunday morning,” Gülsün asked.
“Yeah, that was my plan. Who will be there?”
“Well right now I think there will be about five or six of us. Merve, Ceyda, Banu, and İdil are definitely coming. Of course, they might bring some friends. Any idea where we can go?” Gülsün asked.
“I will leave that completely up to you all. I just want to relax; it has been a long week and I don’t need the stress of making sure everyone is happy. You know how the ladies get sometimes!” Fatma replied.
“Well don’t worry. I have a place in mind.”
“Great! Listen Gülsün, I will be leaving in a little bit. Make sure you have the shop locked up before dark. I will see you on Sunday. Give me a call when you have news.” Fatma said.
“Okay sweety.” Gülsün said reassuringly.
Sunday morning, on the way to breakfast, Fatma wondered who might show up. She also wondered if they would start asking her questions about the study group. She was never one to keep secrets and all the ladies knew that she was studying the Bible, especially after she told Banu and Ceyda!
“Gülsün, this place is to die for! I just love the garden, the chirping birds, and the sweet smelling flowers. How did you find it?” Merve asked.
“Thanks Merve. Actually, Fatma’s sister in law, Filiz, told me about it.” Gülsün replied.
“Really?” Fatma exclaimed.
“How is Filiz, Fatma?” İdil enquired.
“Well, I haven’t seen her much lately.”
“You mean she doesn’t attend your “study” group anymore?” Idil snidely replied.
“Usually, but they haven’t come in a couple of weeks,” Fatma calmly spoke.
“Hmm. Have you found that text yet that talks about our prophet?” İdil snickered.
“I don’t think there is a text that talks about him. But I think I know what you are mistaken about,” Fatma said with a calm and dignified tone. “When Jesus was talking to His disciples, He told them that He was going to die, come back to life, and then go to heaven. But He reassured them that He would always be with them. In fact, He said that He would send a Helper called the Spirit of Truth. I think this is the verse that many people are confused about. But they don’t realize it because they never read the Bible for themselves. They just blindly believe what others say. You see, this verse can’t be about a human being because the Helper is a spirit and lives within the believer. I know that is a lot to swallow, but it is the truth as far as I understand.”
“Hmm. Thanks for the lesson,” İdil sarcastically remarked.
To say that there was tension in the air would be an understatement. But Fatma was pleased with her own testimony. It wasn’t easy defending her new found faith. She glanced at Gülsün, raised her eyebrows, took a deep breath through her nostrils, and silently thanked God that she didn’t have to deal with this animosity all the time.
Q4. What was the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, going to do? Read John 16:7-11.
A._____________________________________________________________________
The Spirit of Truth convicts us of sin, reminds us of the judgment to come, and teaches what is right.
Q5. Why is it necessary for the Spirit of Truth to come?
A.______________________________________________________________________
We need the Spirit of Truth, the Helper, because Jesus isn’t on this earth. When He was walking on this earth, He taught people the difference between sin and righteousness. It was He who reminded the people of not only the judgment to come, but that He was given the authority to judge. So if the Spirit of Truth lives in us, how do we receive Him in the first place?
Q6. When the people asked what they must do to be saved, what did Peter tell them? Read Acts 2:36-38.
A.____________________________________________________________________
Q7. According to the verse above, what happens as a result of repentance and baptism?
A._____________________________________________________________________
When we are baptized in Jesus’ name, our sins are forgiven and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Helper, the Spirit of Truth, is the Holy Spirit. We know this because 10 days after Jesus ascended to heaven He sent the Helper to the disciples and they were filled with the Holy Spirit just as Jesus had promised. Read Acts 2:1-4.
Let’s be very clear about how we receive the Holy Spirit.
Q8. How do we receive the Holy Spirit, by doing good works, or through faith? Read Galatians 3:2-9.
A._____________________________________________________________________
As a result of our faith in Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit and become children of God.
Q9. As spiritual children of God, can we call Him father? Read Galatians 3:26; 4:6, 7.
A.______________________________________________________________________
Yes, we can, and the Holy Spirit in our lives is both proof and a guarantee that we have an inheritance in God’s kingdom. The Holy Spirit actually seals the decree that we are forgiven and have become God’s children. Read Ephesians 1:13-14.
We see the same truth in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. Read 2 Corinthians 1:21, 22 and Romans 8:14-17.
In essence, the Holy Spirit reminds us of our salvation. As believers we will make mistakes because we are at war with sin and self. Sometimes we may say things and do things that we later regret. Before we believed in Jesus, we were at war with God. But the Holy Spirit eliminates our war with God. The Spirit strengthens us to fight with the sin that tries to hold us down, as well as the troubles of this world.
Q10. When we believe that Jesus paid the penalty for our sin, how does our condition in relation to God change? Read Romans 5:1, 2.
A.______________________________________________________________________
When we are accounted righteous by faith in Jesus Christ we are at peace with God. We are no longer resisting His urgings or fighting against His laws. In fact, all we want to do is be in His glory. Does that mean life will be perfect, that we will never have any problems? No, it just means we will be better able to handle them.
Q11. Are trials bad? Why or why not? Read Romans 5:3, 4.
A.______________________________________________________________________
As believers, we don’t worry about trials and hardships because they will only make our faith, perseverance, characters, and hope stronger. Does that mean it will be easy to deal with trials? Not all the time, but we have God on our side and the help of the Holy Spirit.
Q12. What does the Holy Spirit pour out into our hearts? Read Romans 5:5.
A.______________________________________________________________________
The Holy Spirit pours out God’s love into our hearts.
Q13. Can people who depend on self and their own good works please God and fulfill all of His commandments? Can they fulfill the call of Jesus to love others more than themselves? Read Romans 8:5-8.
A.______________________________________________________________________
No, they can’t because they are enemies of God. They are trying to earn salvation instead of receiving it freely by faith in Jesus. They may try to do what is right by praying, fasting, and visiting holy sites. But they will always meet with failure because no amount of good works can erase even one sin. But praise the Lord, believers have received the gift of salvation by faith and the Holy Spirit lives in them teaching them what is sinful and empowering them to live a righteous life of gratitude. Moreover, in addition to God’s love, His law is written on their hearts. In fact, His law is love.
Q14. Where does the Holy Spirit write God’s laws? Read Hebrews 10:15-18.
A.______________________________________________________________________
For believers, God’s law isn’t a list of rules written on paper or wood and hung on the wall in the house. They are written on our hearts and in our minds. They become part of us. As believers, we keep God’s law just as naturally as we broke it before we knew Jesus. In the Old Testament we can easily see what happens when God’s law never enters the human heart. Humans continue to fall into sin and rebellion against God. In Christ, we see the opposite. God’s law is written on our hearts and minds, working on us in love from the inside out. Read John 14:15.
Q15. Do you love Jesus?
A._____________________________________________________________________
If you love Jesus, you will keep His commandments. Do you know what Jesus said when He was asked what the greatest commandment was? Read Matthew 22:35-40.
Jesus actually gave two commandments.
Q16. What was the first commandment?
A.______________________________________________________________________
Q17. What was the second commandment?
A.____________________________________________________________________
Both commandments can be summed up with one word, love. We are to love God and love our neighbor. According to Jesus, who is our neighbor? Everyone is our neighbor, even our enemies!
Q18. If loving others fulfills the law, can we commit adultery? Kill? Steal? Covet? Read Romans 13:8-10.
A.______________________________________________________________________
Paul described several things we can’t do if we really want to love others. If we want to really love others we can’t covet what they have and use any means to get it. We can’t steal what doesn’t belong to us or refuse to give what belongs to someone else. We also can’t lie.
Q19. How does stealing go against God’s law of love for your neighbor? Could not paying your taxes, rent, or electric bill be considered stealing? After all, you are withholding what rightfully belongs to someone else.
A._____________________________________________________________________
Q20. How does adultery, even lusting in your mind about other women, go against God’s law of love for your neighbor? Have you ever considered that the woman you lust after is, or one day could be, another man’s wife? Would you want someone to think that way about your wife, or future wife? Read Matthew 5:27, 28.
A.______________________________________________________________________
Q21. How does telling even the smallest lie go against God’s law of love for your neighbor?
A._____________________________________________________________________
People typically lie to protect themselves or their own interests. Therefore, lying is a selfish action. If a person is selfish, then they can’t be concerned about other people. If you aren’t concerned for the well being of others, which includes their ability to trust you, then you aren’t loving them.
Q22. Is yelling at someone when they cut in front of you or hit your car while driving show love for your neighbor?
A.______________________________________________________________________
Remember, we don’t love others because it will earn us a place in heaven. We love others because God loves us, because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross, and because God’s love and law is written in our hearts. In short, we can’t keep from loving others! God’s commandments aren’t suggestions, they are a standard of life that must be lived.
Q23. How do we show our love to God? Read 1 John 5:1-3.
A.______________________________________________________________________
We show our love to God by keeping His commandments. In the book of Exodus, we can read the 10 commandments that God wrote with His own finger. We already read about a few of them when exploring how to show love to our neighbor. Let’s read the ones that show our love to God.
Q24. What are the first four commandments? Read Exodus 20:1-11.
A.______________________________________________________________________
Q25. How can keeping the first four commandments show our love for God?
A.______________________________________________________________________
We show our love of God by not worshipping other gods, making idols, and using His name in vain. We also show our love for Him by keeping the seventh day Sabbath holy. God has given us the Sabbath as a gift. We live in a busy world and He wants us to rest, gather with other believers, and worship Him. Every week on Sabbath (Saturday), we show the world that God is the Creator and Jesus is the Savior by not working and resting (a symbol of being in Christ).
In later lessons, we will study in more detail how the Holy Spirit works in our lives and the importance of the Sabbath day. Until then, let’s remember that Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit as a guide and motivator in our lives so that we can fulfill God’s law by loving Him and others. By so doing, we become a holy people representing God and Jesus in the Great Controversy. Read Deuteronomy 26:16-19.
Let’s be a holy people unto God!
Commitment through prayer
For further study read:
1 Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 5:16-24 and Revelation 14:12