Bible Study - Sabbath School Podcast

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English Sabbath School Bible Study podcast - an unpretentious and fun way to study the Bible Classe da Escola Sabatina em inglês do Unasp SP. English Sabbath School Class at Unasp SP Brazil

  1. 15h ago

    Episode 2857 - Lesson 8 - Thursday August 20 - Final Victory over Death ✌🏻

    Final Victory Over Death Read 1 Corinthians 15:54-57. What does this passage tell us about our ultimate victory over death? Paul begins the last paragraph in 1 Corinthians 15 with an intriguing statement: "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 15:50, NKJV). Many Bible readers use this declaration to say that Paul defends an immaterial existence in heaven. But the context indicates otherwise. The parallelism of 1 Corinthians 15:50 suggests that "flesh and blood" is in parallel with "corruption," such as "the kingdom of God" is in parallel with "incorruption." Just as happened in 1 Corinthians 15:42-49, here as well Paul is contrasting the body now (or even the corpse) to the resurrected body. The buried body is marked by corruption and mortality, whereas the resurrected body is characterized by incorruption and immortality (1 Cor. 15:50, 53, 54). Simply put, Paul is saying that our bodies need to undergo a radical transformation in order to inherit heaven. In short, Paul uses the ideas of corruption and mortality to refer to our sinful nature. In Jewish writings, "flesh and blood" is a phrase for fallen humanity, which is why our bodies must be transformed and purged of all imperfection at His return. Only when our sinful nature is removed (1 Cor. 15:54) and we go through the experience of glorification (1 Cor. 15:51-53, 1 Thess. 4:13-17) will the proclamation " 'Death is swallowed up in victory' " (1 Cor. 15:54, NKJV) be fulfilled. Then, this bold and defiant hymn will be Sung: " 'O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?' " (1 Cor. 15:55, NKJV). This all will take place at the second coming of Christ (1 Cor. 15:51-52). Think about it: we close our eyes in death, and the next thing we will experience is the second coming of Jesus, when He raises us from the dead. No matter when a believer died, even thousands of years ago, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," they will be made alive "at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:52, NKJV). Who hasn't bemoaned how quickly life passes us by? In our own experience, that's how quickly the second coming of Jesus will seem. Perhaps our first thought at His return will be "Wow, Lord, Your coming really was soon!" How does this idea help us better come to terms with what is seen as "the delay"?

  2. 1d ago

    Episode 2856 - Lesson 8 - Wednesday August 19 - The Resurrected Body

    The Resurrected Body In 1 Corinthians 15:35-39, Paul turns to a brief discourse on the resurrected body. He begins this section by positing two questions: " 'How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?' " (1 Cor. 15:35, NKJV). These questions are answered in 1 Corinthians 15:36-49. Read 1 Corinthians 15:36-41. How does this passage answer the questions in 1 Corinthians 15:35? Paul applies three analogies to help his readers understand what happens in the resurrection. The first analogy (1 Cor. 15:36-38) remarks that the body is like a seed that must first die (or cease to be a seed) in order to miraculously become a plant. The teaching is clear: resurrection is a miracle of God. Second, the analogy of the bodies (1 Cor. 15:39-40) highlights that, in this world, God provided different types of bodies for animals and for humans appropriate to the current environment. Likewise, our bodies will be suitable for the new circumstances in the heavenly world. This idea is taken a step further with the third analogy of a glorious body (1 Cor. 15:40-41), which emphasizes that the glory of the resurrected body enormously exceeds that of the body that came before, our earthly fallen ones. This idea can also be seen through four contrasts between our earthly body here and now, and the resurrected body. The former is terrestrial, perishable, weak, and natural. In turn, the latter is heavenly, imperishable, powerful, and spiritual (1 Cor. 15:40-44). This does not mean there is no continuity between the two. Paul's use of the Greek term sōma ("body") for both the buried body and the resurrected body shows continuity. Conversely, the four contrasts above also show discontinuity. Our new bodies (thank the Lord) will not be the same as the decaying ones we have now. Paul does not relate the term "spiritual" to an immaterial existence. Elsewhere, he says that Jesus "will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body" (Phil. 3:21, ESV). We will have real bodies, but they will not wear down or decay. Because all we know now is decay, sickness, and death, it's hard to imagine life without these things, but that is what we are promised in Jesus. How does the assurance that our bodies will be transformed into perfection help us be resilient regarding our physical limitations today?

  3. 2d ago

    Episode 2855 - Lesson 8 - Tuesday August 18 - Christ, the 🥝Firstfruit🍓s

    Christ, the Firstfruits If Jesus were not alive, any expectation about the future would be only delusion (1 Cor. 15:12-19). "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead" (1 Cor. 15:20, ESV). His resurrection is a historical event. Consequently, we can be sure that all who have died in Christ will be resurrected at His coming (1 Cor. 15:20-23). Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-23. What does it mean to say that Jesus is the "firstfruits"? The end of the present evil age will be marked by the bodily resurrection of those who died in Christ (1 Cor. 15:24; Rev. 20:5-6). As the last Adam, Christ will deliver the kingdom back to the Father by bringing the rulership of this world back to Him (1 Cor. 15:25-28). Christ's subjecting Himself to God (1 Cor. 15:28) must be understood in terms of how Adam and Christ are depicted in relationship to each other. As the ultimate Adam in the plan of redemption (1 Cor. 15:45), Jesus submits Himself entirely to the will of the Father, something that the first Adam failed to do. In 1 Corinthians 15:29-34, Paul resumes his thought about the foolishness of denying Christ's resurrection. He uses the illustration of baptism because it is itself a symbol of a believer's union with Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12); it makes no sense to deny the reality of the resurrection. What is difficult to grasp, however, is what Paul meant by the expression "baptized for the dead" (1 Cor. 15:29). "Different suggestions have been offered, but it is better to interpret the expression as referring to the decision of some to be baptized so that they would be able to be reunited with dead loved ones at the resurrection. It could also be that the decision to be baptized was a response to the exemplary life of those who had died in Christ. This case would refer to people not being baptized in place of the dead but because of the dead."--Carl P. Cosaert, "1 Corinthians," Andrews Bible Commentary: New Testament (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2022), p. 1652. Second, risking death would be pointless if there were no resurrection (1 Cor. 15:30-32). It would be better, instead, to delight in the pleasures of this world (1 Cor. 15:32). Reflect on Paul's words in 2 Timothy 1:12. How could he be so sure about the future? How can we?

  4. 3d ago

    Episode 2854 - Lesson 8 - Monday August 17 - The Risen Christ, Our Only Hope!

    The Risen Christ, Our Only Hope! In 1 Corinthians 15:9-19, Paul explains how severe and dreadful the consequences of denying the resurrection are. Without the resurrection, believers have no hope in the present, much less in the future. Read 1 Corinthians 15:9-19. What do we lose if Christ has not been raised? By and large, ancient pagans did not believe in resurrection, especially in the Greek world, with its belief in body-soul dualism (at death the soul soars off to wherever the souls of the dead supposedly go). Paul begins the paragraph in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 with a rhetorical question that shows his deep bewilderment: "What? How can some of you say that there is no such thing as the resurrection of the dead?" (1 Cor. 15:12, author's translation). For Paul, disbelieving in the resurrection is inconceivable, especially because there were so many eyewitnesses (1 Cor. 15:5-8). But even worse, without the resurrection, their hope is built on a lie, and they are still in their sins. He says, in fact, that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then (1) Christ has not been raised (1 Cor. 15:13, 16); (2) our preaching is empty (1 Cor. 15:14); (3) our faith is also empty (1 Cor. 15:14); (4) we are false witnesses (1 Cor. 15:15); (5) our faith is futile (1 Cor. 15:17); (6) we are still in our sins (1 Cor. 15:17); and, obviously, (7) those who have died are no more (1 Cor. 15:18). Without the resurrection, both preaching and faith are empty (1 Cor. 15:14). The Greek term rendering the word "empty" is kenos. This is a good translation, but it is too broad. Interpreters debate whether kenos means "empty" in the sense of lacking truth (so, "untrue") or lacking results (so, "without result or effect") or lacking purpose (so, "without purpose," "in vain"). Whatever the specific meaning, in a scenario in which resurrection does not exist, faith is portrayed as futile, from the Greek mataios (1 Cor. 15:17). Although mataios is not much different from kenos, the idea is that if Jesus is not alive, faith is fruitless, a delusion, because our sins have not been forgiven (1 Cor. 15:17). We would be false witnesses, deceiving and being deceived (1 Cor. 15:15). How does one make sense of 1 Corinthians 15 if the dead soar off to heaven (or to hell) immediately? Why, then, is understanding that the dead sleep such an important teaching?

  5. 4d ago

    Episode 2853 - Lesson 8 - Sunday August 16 - Proclaiming the Resurrection of Christ

    Proclaiming the Resurrection of Christ Paul begins 1 Corinthians 15 by focusing on the gospel. He speaks about the gospel: (1) which he preached to the Corinthians; (2) which they received; (3) in which they stood; and (4) by which they were saved (1 Cor. 15:1-2, NKJV). This opening prepares the reader for what comes next in the chapter and shows how essential Christ's resurrection is for our salvation (see also Rom. 10:9-10). His resurrection is such a vital part of the gospel message that denying it contradicts one's faith in Christ. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Luke 24:44-47, and Romans 1:1-4. What do these passages have in common? In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, one can find a summary of Paul's message. Whether the phrase "according to the Scriptures" refers to particular Old Testament passages or to the Old Testament as a whole doesn't matter. Jesus' death and resurrection fulfill God's promises found in the Old Testament. Read 1 Corinthians 15:2, 11. Why do these verses place the concepts of believing and preaching side by side? What is the relationship between the two? All who proclaim that Christ is risen must first believe that His resurrection is a historical event. In this case, 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 plays a critical role in the New Testament. This passage provides solid scriptural evidence that Christ was seen by numerous people after His resurrection, many of whom were still alive by the time Paul wrote the letter (1 Cor. 15:6). Basically, Paul is saying, Go ask them for yourselves what they saw. That is how confident he was in the reality of Christ's resurrection. These people were eyewitnesses. They were what Jesus said they would be, namely, "witnesses of these things" (Luke 24:48). What reasons do we have for believing in Christ's resurrection? Also, what other things, secular or sacred, do we believe even if we haven't seen them ourselves?

  6. 5d ago

    Episode 2852 - Lesson 8 - Saturday August 15 - The Power of Christ's Resurrection

    Read for This Week's Study: 1 Corinthians 15; Luke 24:44-47; Rev. 20:5-6; Col. 2:12; 2 Tim. 1:12; 1 Thess. 4:13-17 Memory Text: "And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. . . . And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!" (1 Corinthians 15:14-17, NKJV). How fascinating that, even in his time, Paul had to deal with those who denied the resurrection of the dead. After all, people back then saw what death did to the human body. They knew how the corpse liquifies, then dries up into dust, and then becomes almost nothing. And they knew that people have been dead for a long time, too. In fact, most people have been dead a lot longer than they were alive. The resurrection of the dead seemed no more plausible to them back then than it does to us now, at least from a human standpoint. And that must have been an issue that Paul was addressing. And it was crucial, too. If Jesus is not risen, He is not who He said He was, the Cross had no effect, and our sins have not been paid for. Despair is really all we would have remaining. But our Lord is risen, ascended into heaven, and will return to take us home! This week we will focus on 1 Corinthians 15 and its teaching on the resurrection of Christ. Influenced by the surrounding pagan worldview, some in Corinth were saying that there is no resurrection. In response, Paul affirms the resurrection of Christ as our only hope of salvation. * Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 22.

  7. 6d ago

    Episode 2851 - Lesson 7 - Friday August 14 - Further Thought

    Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, "The Need of Love," pp. 545, 546, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, August 28, 1888. "No matter how high the profession, he whose heart is not filled with love for God and his fellow men is not a true disciple of Christ. Though he should possess great faith and have power even to work miracles, yet without love his faith would be worthless. He might display great liberality; but should he, from some other motive than genuine love, bestow all his goods to feed the poor, the act would not commend him to the favor of God. In his zeal he might even meet a martyr's death, yet if not actuated by love, he would be regarded by God as a deluded enthusiast or an ambitious hypocrite."--Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 318, 319. "We have an abundance of sermonizing. What is most needed ... is love for perishing souls, that love which comes in rich currents from the throne of God. True Christianity diffuses love through the whole being. It touches every vital part, the brain, the heart, the helping hands, the feet, enabling men to stand firmly where God requires them to stand, so that they will not make crooked paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. The burning, consuming love of Christ for perishing souls is the life of the whole system of Christianity."--Ellen G. White, Lift Him Up, p. 134. "Only the love that flows from the heart of Christ can heal. Only he in whom that love flows, even as the sap in the tree or the blood in the body, can restore the wounded soul."--Ellen G. White, Education, p. 114. Discussion Questions: Do you think Paul's list of positive features of love is exhaustive? If not, what other elements would you add to the list?What do you think Paul meant by the command "Pursue love" (1 Cor. 14:1, NKJV)? What does this have to do with what he says in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7?Which characteristic of love do you most need to put into practice in your daily life? Which ones are more necessary in your local church? By the way, why does Paul compare love with such gifts as prophecy, tongues, and knowledge (1 Cor. 13:8)?Paul hints that love is the ultimate solution for the lack of unity among members in Corinth. Why? How does this apply to our churches today?

  8. Aug 13

    Episode 2850 - Lesson 7- Thursday August 13 - Faith, Hope, and Love ❤️

    Faith, Hope, and Love Thus far, we have learned that love is patient, kind, joyful, resilient, believing, hopeful, and enduring (or perseverant) because Jesus is all these things. Once we see these qualities in Jesus, the next step is to imitate Him. That was Paul's wish for the Corinthians. However, if we remove the "not" in the eight negative features of love, "we get a pretty good description of the Corinthians' conduct within their church circle: envious, boasting, arrogant, rude, self-seeking, easily offended, and looking to see what others were doing wrong. Paul is tailoring the verbs he uses here to the Corinthian situation."--Verlyn D. Verbrugge, "1 Corinthians," in The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Romans--Galatians, revised edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008), p. 372. The Corinthians had much to learn. So do we. After describing what love does and does not do, Paul concludes his section by emphasizing the everlasting nature of love so as to stimulate the practice of genuine love. One day, prophecies will no longer be necessary; we will speak only one language; and flawed human knowledge will be replaced by a brand, new knowledge of God (1 Cor. 13:12). The gifts of the Spirit will cease only when the purpose for which they exist has reached its fulfillment (1 Cor. 13:10). "But love will last forever!" (1 Cor. 13:8, NLT). Likewise, when Christ returns, faith will give place to sight (2 Cor. 5:7), and that which we have long hoped for will be reality (Rom. 8:24). And, most of all, love will endure as an emblem of the character of our triune God. Yet, there is a sense in which faith and hope will also last forever. Faith as the experience of salvation (Rom. 4:3), and hope as the desire and expectation of new delights and knowledge in the new earth, will mark the experience of the redeemed forever. Yet love, God's love, will eternally prevail. Very soon, we will see our Lord face-to-face (1 Cor. 13:12). Until that day comes, we are supposed to define our lives with these three virtues: faith, hope, and love. This triad is representative of the fullness of Christian life through the Spirit. That is why it was often referred to among Christians (Rom. 5:1-5; Gal. 5:5-6; Eph. 1:15, 18; 4:1-5). Love, however, is the greatest; after all, it is the only virtue used to describe the very nature of God Himself (1 John 4:8). Dwell on the statement "God is love." How are we supposed to understand exactly what that means? And though we can grasp the idea only in part, why is that phrase such good news for us?

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English Sabbath School Bible Study podcast - an unpretentious and fun way to study the Bible Classe da Escola Sabatina em inglês do Unasp SP. English Sabbath School Class at Unasp SP Brazil

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