The School Taught Me

FRIDAY October 24

Further Study:

Defining Grace: “We would never have learned the meaning of this word ‘grace’ had we not fallen. God loves the sinless angels who do His service and are obedient to all His commands, but He does not give them grace. These heavenly beings know naught of grace; they have never needed it, for they have never sinned. Grace is an attribute of God shown to undeserving human beings. We did not seek after it, but it was sent in search of us. God rejoices to bestow this grace on everyone who hungers for it, not because we are worthy, but because we are so utterly unworthy.”—Ellen G. White, My Life Today, p. 100.

Redemption: Not an Afterthought: “The purpose and plan of grace existed from all eternity. Before the foundation of the world it was according to the determinate counsel of God that man should be created, endowed with power to do the divine will. But the defection of man, with all its consequences, was not hidden from the Omnipotent, and yet it did not deter Him from carrying out His eternal purpose; for the Lord would establish His throne in righteousness. God knows the end from the beginning. . . . Therefore redemption was not an afterthought.”—Ellen G. White, God's Amazing Grace, p. 129.

“Not only was He to die, but he knew precisely the shame, the humiliation, He would have to suffer, the cruel treatment He should receive. There was no compulsion in bringing Him to the ignominious death on the cross; yet He made His soul an offering for sin. The mind of God to save the world was the mind of Christ. His own love was one with that of the Father, and that love constrained Him.”—Ellen G. White, The Bible Echo, November 25, 1895.

Discussion Questions:

In the Ellen White quote above, she makes it clear that God knew beforehand about our fall, and hence all the pain and suffering that would come with it. And yet He created us anyway? Why would He do that, knowing what would happen? How does the following paragraph help answer that question? How does the suffering of Jesus Himself help us better understand why God allows our own suffering? Write out a page summarizing whatever point impressed you the most from this week’s lesson. Bring it to class and share it with others.

Summary:

God not only took the initiative to save us, but did it voluntarily out of His loving nature. That decision, which revealed the nature of His gracious character, was made in eternity, before we were created, and it required the sacrificial death of God's Son. The plan was fully revealed and implemented in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

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		I N S I D E Story
		The School Taught Me by IVETTE RIVERA My children attended a private school that only went through the tenth grade. I began looking for a good school where they could finish their education. A friend told me about the Adventist school in town, but she warned me that the school was not big or fancy. I visited the school and saw that my friend was right; it wasn't big or fancy. However, I was impressed with the teachers, and the students seemed happy. After talking with the director, I enrolled my son in the school and let my daughter finish her last year at the other school. My son loved his new school and his teachers. He often talked about what he was learning, but I refused to let him talk about religion. I knew almost nothing about Adventists and thought that they worship someone called Ellen White on Saturdays. One day while I was waiting at a stoplight, a man gave me a magazine. I took it, and laid it aside. When I found the magazine again and started reading it, I didn't trust what was printed there. So I looked up Sabado (Saturday) in the dictionary. It said that Sabado is the seventh day, and Domingo (Sunday) is the first day. I realized that these Adventists were not as crazy as I had thought. I read the articles and verified every fact in the magazine. I even looked up the change of Sabbath to Sunday. I was amazed that nothing in the magazine could be disputed. Even though I didn't want to admit it, this church was right. I started keeping the Sabbath as I understood it. But I wondered how this Mrs. White fit into Adventist worship. I asked a teacher at the school, and she loaned me several books by Ellen White. There I found great truth. Because I didn't allow my son to talk to me about what he was learning about religion, I didn't realize that he already knew much of what I was discovering. When I told my children that I wanted to start attending the Adventist church, my son was excited, for he had wanted to go. I allowed my daughter to attend our former church until she was convinced, as I was, that the Adventists were right. She listened as I explained what I was learning, and soon she decided to join my son and me in the Adventist church. Eventually we all were baptized together. I believe in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its school system, for through it God introduced us to His church. I believe in our publishing work, for it was a magazine that led me to the feet of Jesus. Our mission offerings support Adventist schools around the world and lead people such as us to God. Thank you for being a part in this great endeavor. IVETTE RIVERA lives in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.
		Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Web site: www.adventistmission.org