What Took So Long?

March 21

Further Study:

Read The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, pp. 553-560, 658-660, 881-887, 1110; Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 779-828 (Chapter 81, 82, 83, 84, 85); The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 9-56 (Chapetrs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5); Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 21; Acts 1, 2.

"Let the subject be made distinct and plain that it is not possible to effect anything in our standing before God or in the gift of God to us through creature merit. Should faith and works purchase the gift of salvation for anyone, then the Creator is under obligation to the creature. Here is an opportunity for falsehood to be accepted as truth. If any man can merit salvation by anything he may do, then he is in the same position as the Catholic to do penance for his sins. Salvation, then, is partly of debt, that may be earned as wages. If man cannot, by any of his good works, merit salvation, then it must be wholly of grace, received by man as a sinner because he receives and believes in Jesus. It is wholly a free gift. Justification by faith is placed beyond controversy. And all this controversy is ended, as soon as the matter is settled that the merits of fallen man in his good works can never procure eternal life for him."—Ellen G. White, Faith and Works, pp. 19,20.

Discussion Questions:

How do we understand Mark 16:16? Is Jesus saying that you have to be baptized to be saved? In what ways does the text itself supply the answer? What is our understanding, as a church, of the meaning and importance of baptism?

Think about your local church and how it fits in with the worldwide mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, as given to us in the texts for this week. What role does your church have? What part is it playing? How can you, working through even your Sabbath School class, help get your church more involved in the work of spreading the gospel to all nations?

Why is it so important for us, as disciples, to understand the gospel before we can be effective witnesses for Jesus? What is your understanding of the gospel? Write it out in a single paragraph. Bring it to class and be prepared to share it with others there. What insights can you gain from the above Ellen G. White quote?

What more can your local church do to help the poor and the needy in your area? What kind of commitment does your church have to this important aspect of being a disciple?

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		I N S I D E Story
		What Took So Long? by PRUDENCIO TORRES My brother, Hipolito, accepted the Adventist faith while living in New York City some years ago. When he returned to Puerto Rico, he shared his faith with me and invited me to church. I was still a teenager and was not sure how my family would feel if I visited another church. I knew they felt there was only one church-our church. I visited the Adventist church occasionally and made some friends there. But for the most part what I learned didn't change my life. I married, and we moved to our own home. Some Adventists lived nearby and visited us often. We agreed to study the Bible with them, and the next year my wife accepted Jesus and joined the Adventist Church. But I didn't. I attended church with her and returned tithe, but I didn't take a stand for God. Then my mother became terminally ill. My brother and I took the Adventist pastor to visit her often. We shared Bible promises with her, and she accepted Jesus as her Lord before she died. The church we attend divided itself into small groups that meet in members' homes. We opened our home for one small-group meeting and invited our neighbors. The group grew to 13 members, and we decided to start a new congregation. My father gave us a piece of land on which to build a small chapel, and we set to work. Everyone helped when they could, but my wife and I did most of the work or paid to have it done. The small group grew and was organized into a company with 25 members. Finally, after waiting 27 years, I sealed my commitment to Christ and was baptized. Today our congregation is an organized church with more than fifty members. My father visits our little church occasionally, and two other brothers and their families are attending church. One is preparing for baptism. What took me so long? I have no excuse. My unwillingness to make a commitment to Christ cost a lot of years and missed opportunities to share my faith. But God was patient and gracious to me. He waited for me, and He has saved me. However, I wonder how my life would have been different if I had made my decision years ago when I first knew these wonderful truths. Mission offerings help raise up new churches in Puerto Rico and around the world. PRUDENCIO TORRES lives in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico.
		Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Awareness. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org