Easy Reading Edition May 2430

READ FOR THIS WEEKS LESSON: Romans 7:712;

Deuteronomy 30:1520; Matthew 7:2427; Acts 10:34,
35; John 15:10; Ephesians 2:1.
MEMORY VERSE: Moses gave us the law. Jesus Christ
has given us grace and truth (John 1:17, NIrV).
ONE HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE CHRIST, THE ROMAN
POET LUCRETIUS WROTE A FAMOUS POEM. It was
lost in history until it was found in the Middle Ages. It was
called On the Nature of Things. Often Lucretius was
accused of being an atheist.
1
But in his poem he did not
deny that there were gods. He just argued that the gods
would have no interest in anything human because they
were gods.
But the Bible argues that there is only one God. And He
is interested in what happens here on earth. Two exam-
ples of His great interest in people are found in His law and
in His grace.
2
His law is meant to guide how we live. And
His grace is His method of saving us even though we have
broken that law. Law and grace seem opposed to each
other. But the two are always connected. Their methods
of operation may be different. But together they show that
righteousness (holiness) must have victory over sin. The
examples of Gods law and His grace give powerful proof
of His love for people and His desire to save us into His
eternal kingdom.
9
SABBATHMAY 24
Christ, the Law, and the Gospel
1. reformationthe ongo-
ing process in which a per-
son changes his or her life-
style in order to follow Gods
will after having accepted
Christ as Savior.
2. revivalrenewed inter-
est in God and the desire to
improve ones spiritual life.
3. graceGods gift of
mercy and forgiveness that
He freely gives us to take
away our sins.
60 CHRIST, THE LAW, AND THE GOSPEL
1. atheistsomeone who
does not believe in God.
2. graceGods gift of mercy
and forgiveness that He freely
gives us to take away our
sins.
DEFINITIONS
SUNDAYMAY 25 Lesson 9
3. covetingdesiring some-
thing that belongs to some-
one else.
Just because something
is a law does not make
it good. For example,
in early America, a law
required people to return
escaped slaves to their
masters.
CHRIST, THE LAW, AND THE GOSPEL 61
DEFINITIONS
SIN AND THE LAW (Romans 7:712)
Read Romans 7:712. What is Paul saying about
the relationship between sin and the law? Why would
he even ask such a question as, Is the law sin?
(Romans 7:7, NKJV).
Paul connects the law and sin so closely that he asks this
question, Is the law sin? The answer is No! He ends by
saying, So the law is holy. The commandment also is holy
and right and good (verse 12, NIrV). The so points out
the strength of his argument. The argument is that the law
is not sin. Instead, it is really holy and good.
What Paul says is the same as the relationship between
criminal law and crime. An action is thought of as criminal
only if there is a law against it. You might go to jail in one
country for doing something. But in another country that
same thing may be legal. Why? One country has a law that
does not permit that action. But the other does. It is the
same action but with two different results. What makes the
difference? The law.
Here is another important point to remember. Just because
something is a man-made law does not make it good. For
example, in early America, a law required people to return
escaped slaves to their masters. It was the law. But it was
not a fair one. We know that human laws are fawed when
compared to Gods law. In the case of Gods law, we know
that what He asks of us points out His loving character
(holiness; who God is). So, Pauls words are that the law
is holy and good. What else could it be? This is because
God created it.
What importance is there in the commandment that
Paul uses in Romans 7:7 to prove his point about the
law? Why does Paul use that commandment instead of
another, such as Thou shalt not steal?
Perhaps Paul uses that commandment instead of some
of the others because it may not be so clear to others that
it is wrong. Murder, stealing, yes! A person does not usu-
ally need the Ten Commandments to know that. But covet-
ing?
3
So, it is a perfect example of Pauls point: it is the law
that shows us what sin is. Without it, Paul might not have
known that coveting was wrong.
Lesson 9 MONDAYMAY 26
4. covenanta promise or
an agreement between God
and His people.
DEFINITIONS
62 CHRIST, THE LAW, AND THE GOSPEL
THE LAW AND ISRAEL (Deuteronomy 30:1518)
The giving of the law to Israel was Gods special act.
Before He gave the law to Moses, God reminded His
people that they are a kingdom of priests to serve me.
You will be my holy nation (Exodus 19:6, NIrV). Among
all nations on the face of the earth, it was to Israel that
God specially showed His law (Romans 9:4). The law
was not designed to be a burden to the people but to be
a tool. The chosen nation would use this tool to show the
rest of the nations the code (rules) that is the foundation of
Gods government. Israel was to be a partner with God in
preaching the gospel to the world. And Gods law was to
be the badge of authority for His workers who spread His
message of love.

According to Deuteronomy 30:1520, what is the rela-
tionship between the law and the promises given to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Also, even more impor-
tant, how can we use these principles (important rules)
under the new covenant?
4
Read Matthew 7:2427.
God chose Israelites to be His representatives. Israel
would be the people who would share with the nations of
the earth the blessings promised to Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. But the blessings were not automatic. As a chosen
nation, Israel was expected to follow the Lords will. Moses
made it clear that life and success would come to the peo-
ple only if they obeyed Gods commands, rules and laws
(Deuteronomy 30:16, NIrV).
We have read many stories of rebellion (turning from
God) that spoil Israels history. So, Israel as a nation failed
to obey Gods commandments. But we must not forget that
everyone has sinned. No one measures up to Gods glory
[perfection] (Romans 3:23, NIrV). No nation on earth has
perfectly obeyed the will of God. Even in recent history,
nations that claim to be Christian have failed to obey God.
They have been guilty of starting wars and making people
suffer.
In your own experience, how are obedience and faith
related? When you obey, what happens to your faith,
or what happens when you disobey? How does obedi-
ence make faith stronger?
TUESDAYMAY 27 Lesson 9
Nature is Gods second
Bible, showing His love
and truth.
CHRIST, THE LAW, AND THE GOSPEL 63
THE LAW AND THE NATIONS (Acts 10:34, 35)
Read Acts 10:34, 35; Acts 17:26, 27; Romans 1:20;
and Romans 2:14. What is the main point or teaching
of these verses?
Israel made mistakes. But God did not leave the people
in other nations without a witness. Those who did not have
opportunities to receive Gods written messages received
His messages through nature (Romans 1:20). Gods book
of nature holds enough information to lead a person to Him.
God has also put a measure of spiritual desire in every
person. According to Paul, those who sense Gods Spirit
will start a search to fnd Him (Acts 17:27). So many people
feel that their lives are empty. This is because nothing this
world offersfame, power, money, sexcan help them
spiritually. At its heart, this was the message of the book of
Ecclesiastes. This empty feeling can lead people to search
for something that is spiritual. They are attracted to truth in
a desire to satisfy their empty souls.
Gods will is described through the Bible or nature. Either
way, the person who receives it has the responsibility to
live it. Truth is truth, no matter who shares it. Those who
try to cover up the truth will experience the wrath (anger) of
God (Romans 1:18). Many people may not have received
the Bible or the Ten Commandments. But God still holds
them responsible for the parts of truth that they have
learned. Finally, everyone will be judged. And the standard
(basis; set of rules) of judgment will be law. It will be the
law of God, given through His prophet (special messenger)
Moses. Or it will be the law of conscience for those who
do not know of the written law. The law of conscience has
been developed by listening to Gods voice in nature.
What great disappointments have you faced that
have helped you to understand just how untrustworthy
and unsatisfactory the things of this world really can
be? How can you learn from these disappointments
about what is really important?
Lesson 9 WEDNESDAYMAY 28
64 CHRIST, THE LAW, AND THE GOSPEL
The gift that Jesus desires
to give to all people is
eternal life.
GRACE AND TRUTH (John 1:17)
John shortened the history of salvation into one verse.
Moses gave us the law. Jesus Christ has given us grace
and truth (John 1:17, NIrV). As a result of Adams sin,
all people have had to die. This is because no one born
to human parents, except Jesus, has been free from sin.
So, God chose a people to whom He gave His law. God
expected them to be His light to the other nations. God did
not give the law to Israel to save them but to remind them
of their need for His righteousness.
What do Philippians 2:8; John 15:10; and Matthew
26:39 tell us about the kind of life that Jesus lived?
The frst Adam disobeyed the command of God. By
so doing, the entire world fell into confusion and slavery.
On the other hand, through His obedient life, the Second
Adam, Jesus, came to save the world from the slavery that
the frst Adam had brought. When Jesus walked this earth,
He surrendered His own will to the will of His Father and
chose not to sin. The frst Adam brought guilt into the world.
But Jesus brought in grace and truth. Grace and truth did
not replace the law. Jesus showed why the law alone was
not enough to receive salvation. The truth that He brought
was a more complete understanding of grace.
According to Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8, what
is the nature of the grace that starts in Jesus? How did
Jesus give grace to humans?
The Greek word translated as grace (charis) can also
mean gift. Grace is related to the word for joy (chara).
The gift that Jesus desires to give all people is eternal life.
Plus, grace shows itself as the presence of Christ within
us, helping us to take part in the righteousness that the
law asks of us. Paul says that in overcoming sin in His life,
Jesus has made it possible for us to do everything the
law requires (Romans 8:4, NIrV). Grace frees us from the
curse of the law and helps us to keep the law in the way
that God expects us to do.
THURSDAYMAY 29 Lesson 9
A person living in sin is
just a walking corpse.
CHRIST, THE LAW, AND THE GOSPEL 65
THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL (Romans 1:16, 17)
No matter how good our lives are, no one can escape sin.
Sadly, happiness is spoiled by sickness, death, or accidents.
For so many of us, feelings of spiritual safety are often chal-
lenged by memories of past sins. Even worse, we may be
bothered by the urge to sin again.
In what ways do Romans 6:23; Romans 7:24; and
Ephesians 2:1 describe the infuence of sin?
A person living in sin is just a walking corpse. He or she is
just waiting for the day when the last breath leaves his or her
body. When Paul sums up the human condition, he cries out
sadly, Who will save me from this sin that brings death to my
body? (Romans 7:24, NIrV). This is a cry for freedom from
unrighteousness (an unholy life). Paul quickly understands
that freedom comes through Jesus (Romans 7:25).
This is the gospel. The good news is that we who have
been trapped in bodies of sin can be covered with the righ-
teousness of Christ. The gospel is the guarantee that we can
escape the judgment of the law because we now have the
righteousness that the law encourages us to have (Romans
8:1).
When Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, the story of
Jesus death was still being taught throughout the Roman
Empire. Those who had heard knew very well that the way
Jesus had died was terrible and shameful. People whose
loved ones had been executed on a cross were often left
to a life of shame. But Paul and countless other Christians
understood that Christs shameful death was the most pow-
erful event in human history. That is why Paul says, I am not
ashamed of the good news. It is Gods power. And it will save
everyone who believes (Romans 1:16, NIrV). And the heart
of that gospel is the great promise that in the end death will
not be fnal. Those saved by Jesus will live forever in a new
earth.
Many people believe that life is meaningless because
it always ends in death. So, nothing we do is important
in the long run. It is hard to argue with that reasoning, is
it not? If everything we have ever done and every person
we have ever infuenced will all be forever lost and for-
gotten, what can life mean?
Lesson 9 FRIDAYMAY 30
5. evangelismgoing from
place to place to share the
good news that Jesus saves
us from our sins.
6. penancesomething that
you do or are given to do (by
a priest) to show that you
are sad or sorry about doing
something wrong.
7. justificationcleansing
from sin and full forgiveness
from God.
DEFINITIONS
66 CHRIST, THE LAW, AND THE GOSPEL
ADDITIONAL STUDY: Read Ellen G. White, Preaching
the Distinctive Truths, pages 231, 232, in Evangelism;
5

The Faith That Works; How Faith Is Made Perfect,
pages 88, 89, in The Faith I Live By.
Let the subject be made clear that it is not possible to
change anything in how we stand before God or in the gift
of God to us. Should faith and works buy the gift of salva-
tion for anyone, then the Creator is under debt to the per-
son. Here is an opportunity for lies to be accepted as truth.
Suppose any man can earn salvation by anything he may
do. Then he does the same as the Catholics do. Through
penance,
6
the Catholics buy forgiveness for their sins. If
true, then salvation is part of debt that may be earned as
wages. But man cannot, by any of his good works, earn
salvation. So, it must be wholly of grace. Salvation must
be received by man as a sinner because he receives and
believes in Jesus. It is fully a free gift. No doubt, justifca-
tion
7
by faith is given fully and freely. And all these argu-
ments about our works saving us are ended. Then this
issue about fallen man earning from good works is settled.
He can never gain eternal life from good works.Adapted
from Ellen G. White, Faith and Works, pages 19, 20.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1
Think deeply about the Ellen G. White statement above
that you have just read from Faith and Works. Think through
the wonderful and hopeful truths found in these words for
even the worst of sinners. How can we learn to claim these
promises for ourselves and live as if we really believe them?
2
God gave His law to Israel through Moses. But the Bible
suggests that God uses other methods to show His will to
people who may not have the Bible (for example, Romans
1:20; Romans 2:14; Acts 17:26, 27). If God does speak to
all people, what are missionaries and evangelists for?
3
John 1:17 says that grace and truth started with Jesus
Christ. Using that verse, many people put the law in opposi-
tion to grace and truth. Why is this false? In what ways do
the law and grace and truth all work together to show us the
character of God as shown in the plan of salvation?