MEMORY VERSE: ‘Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.’ 2 Timothy 4:2.
LESSON AIM: Many Christians consider the virtues of the Bible as the most important, e.g. love, patience or goodness and more. They see these as the characteristics of heaven, while doctrine is divisive. This lesson will show that the foundation of our experience is doctrine. The teachings of the Bible are what prevent us from being tossed about by every wind of doctrine or from following after a man, who teaches some aspect of love or unity, but not as God would have it.
‘If you come to the Bible to find texts simply to prove your theory or vindicate your opinion, you will not be enlightened by the Spirit of God; but if you come with fasting and humility of soul, with love for man and God in your heart, your prayers will be answered, and light will break upon you. We every one need to seek the Lord with our whole heart and in humble prayer. We need to lay down the prejudices that have for years bound us about. . . . Timothy learned many things of Paul. Although a young man, he obtained knowledge of the word of God by patient industry. He put his powers to the task of understanding the word of God, and he was richly rewarded. Paul writes to Timothy: “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.... Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”’ Signs of the Times, May 26, 1890.
1. How does the Bible describe God’s throne and His kingdom? Psalm 45:6.
NOTE: ‘“A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.” Hebrews 1:8. What is a sceptre? It is a symbol of power. It is the emblem of kingly power and authority. The fact that the sceptre of Christ’s kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness, shows that the kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness. Christ rules in righteousness. He wins, “not by might nor by power,” as men understand those terms, but by the inherent righteousness of His cause. “Righteousness and judgement are the foundation of Thy throne.” Psalm 89:14, R. V. God’s throne, Christ's throne, is forever and ever, because it is founded on righteousness, it is righteousness. Whatever is right must stand forever.’ E. J. Waggoner: Present Truth, July 22, 1897.
2. How are we shown that God’s Word stands forever unchanged? Psalm 119:89.
NOTE: ‘As long as God’s throne stands, so long must God’s law as spoken from Sinai remain unchanged. “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3. If the Ten Commandments, the foundation stones of God’s throne, were destroyed, the throne itself would fall, and the hope of the righteous would perish. But none need fear such a catastrophe. “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven,” because His word is settled for ever in heaven. That is one of “the things which cannot be shaken.”’ E. J. Waggoner: Present Truth, December 3, 1896.