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Sermon Outline

Uniting Heaven and Earth: Christ in Philippians and Colossians

Complete in Christ

Lesson #10 for March 7, 2026

Scriptures: Colossians 2;Hebrews 7:11; Isaiah 61:3; 1 Corinthians 3:6; Deuteronomy 31:24-26; Romans 2:28-29; 7:7.

  1. What does the term complete in Christ mean? Does complete mean mature?

[From the Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide=T-BSG:] This … lesson emphasizes two major themes:

  1. Completion in Christ involves knowing Him and growing in Him. This protects us from being misguided by false teachers.
  2. Completion in Christ also involves trusting solely in Him for salvation, not in regulations. It is important to note, however, that the Cross makes the ceremonial law unnecessary, not the moral law. The Old Testament ceremonial events were but shadows of the future work and sacrifice of Christ. These types came to an end with His death. The Ten Commandments, nevertheless, including the seventh-day Sabbath, are still valid for Christians.—T-BSG* 132.†‡
  3. How many of us have actually encountered someone for whom the Sabbath is really a question? How few of those people would even know aboutColossians 2:14-16?

Colossians 2:14-16: 14He canceled the unfavorable record of our debts [sins] with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross. 15And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession. [So, what actually happened on the cross?]

16So let no one make rules about what you eat or drink or about holy days or the New Moon Festival or the Sabbath.—American Bible Society. (©1992). The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation®* [GNT] (Today’s English Version) [TEV], Second Edition, (Colossians 2:14-16). Philadelphia: American Bible Society [abbreviated as Good News Bible-TEV* or GNB-TEV*].‡

  1. In the context of Colossians, some of the false teachings troubling the church were:

[From the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide=BSG:] … Described as “philosophy,” “the tradition of men,” “the basic principles of the world,” and “not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8, NKJV).—BSG* for Sabbath.‡§

Colossians 2:8: See to it, then, that no one enslaves you by means of the worthless deceit of human wisdom, which comes from the teachings handed down by human beings and from the ruling spirits of the universe, and not from Christ.—GNB-TEV.* [Is that people with extra rules?]‡

[BSG:] It [false teachings] also involved circumcision and the keeping of Jewish festivals (Col. 2:11, 16), along with Jewish purity rituals and regulations connected with food (Col. 2:16, 21). It involved the worship of or with angels or an attempt to emulate angelic worship (Col. 2:18).

And, finally, it was based on “the commandments and doctrines of men” and possibly involved ascetic practices [that is, severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.] (Col. 2:22, 23).—BSG* for Sabbath.‡§ [Does that include celibacy?]‡

  1. How do you understand the words from Paul inColossians 2:14? See Item #2 above.
  2. Paul recognized that there were people trying to suggest that their Christianity was superior to others because of various extra rules that they were obeying. Superficially, they may have seemed to be important rules; but, in fact, they were useless and even dangerous. Would that include rules for how far one can walk on the Sabbath?
  3. We should be acutely aware of the fact that Satan will take truth and twist it just a little bit and/or leave something out─perhaps some key part or parts—or perhaps add something to make it false. This is what we call counterfeiting the gospel.

[T-BSG:] Paul said, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6, ESV). Commenting on David’s spiritual journey, Alan Redpath expresses the same idea: “The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment, the manufacture of a saint is the task of a lifetime.”—Redpath, The Making of a Man of God: Lessons From the Life of David (Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 2013), from the Foreword.—T-BSG* 133.†‡§

  1. What do you think about when someone mentions wisdom and knowledge? To a Christian, true wisdom and knowledge should be recognized as the truth about God’s character and government as represented in the life and death of Jesus. Real wisdom means living lives following the example of Jesus instead of following false goals and objectives as set out by various worldly ideas. To someone who fully understands what it means to follow Christ, much of the world’s wisdom and knowledge lose their appeal.
  2. Do we realize and understand the following? The Iife and death of Jesus Christ give us a choice: (1) With the help of the Holy Spirit and the angels, we can live lives as close as possible to the life of Christ; or, (2) We will die the death that He died, separated from His Father who is the only Source of life. (Genesis 2:17; Romans 6:23; Isaiah 59:2; The Desire of Ages 753.1-2 as quoted below)

[From the writings of Ellen G. White=EGW:] Upon Christ as our substitute and surety was laid the iniquity of us all. He was counted a transgressor, that He might redeem us from the condemnation of the law. The guilt of every descendant of Adam was pressing upon His heart. The wrath of God against sin, the terrible manifestation of His displeasure because of iniquity, filled the soul of His Son with consternation…. But now with the terrible weight of guilt He bears, He cannot see the Father’s reconciling face. The withdrawal of the divine countenance from the Saviour [sic-British spelling] in this hour of supreme anguish pierced His heart with a sorrow that can never be fully understood by man. So great was this agony that His physical pain was hardly felt. [Sin did it!]

Satan with his fierce temptations wrung the heart of Jesus. The Saviour [sic-British spelling] could not see through the portals of the tomb. Hope did not present to Him His coming forth from the grave a conqueror, or tell Him of the Father’s acceptance of the sacrifice. He feared that sin was so offensive to God that Their separation was to be eternal. Christ felt the anguish which the sinner will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race. It was the sense of sin, bringing the Father’s wrath [separation] upon Him as man’s substitute, that made the cup He drank so bitter, and broke the heart of the Son of God.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 753.1-2.†‡ [Underlining of text is added for emphasis.]‡ [Do we feel that when we sin?]‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.3718&index=0]‡

  1. The truth about God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son is life eternal! (John 17:3) How does that set us free? It sets us free from chasing worldly goals instead of Christian goals. At the third coming, everyone will be alive again. The righteous are inside the city and the wicked outside the city; all will see their lives! GC 666.2!

The Wisdom and Knowledge of God

  1. Although Paul had never personally been to Colossae, he recognized and had received information that they were being led astray by false ideas. He reminded them that he was exerting untiring labor and intense wrestling and struggle for the spread, growth, and strengthening of the faith as the goal of his mission.

Colossians 2:1-7: 1 Let me tell you how hard I have worked for you and for the people in Laodicea and for all others who do not know me personally. 2I do this in order that they may be filled with courage and may be drawn together in love, and so have the full wealth of assurance which true understanding brings. In this way they will know God’s secret, which is Christ himself. 3He is the key that opens all the hidden treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge. [What resources for study did they have?]

4 I tell you, then, do not let anyone deceive you with false arguments, no matter how good they seem to be. 5For even though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I am glad as I see the resolute firmness with which you stand together in your faith in Christ.

6 Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him. 7Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.—Good News Bible-TEV.*†‡

  1. Paul was encouraging the Colossians to become true Christians and develop a wonderful Christian family relationship that would be the envy of all around.

John 13:35: “If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*† [Such a loving and friendly community would attract many followers. Are we like that?]‡

  1. Paul was convinced that following the advice that Paul’s associates had established in Colossae, the Colossians would remain faithful. Wherever Paul worked, and also places where his associates worked, they sought to establish a correct method of doing things by establishing elders and deacons to properly guide the new converts.
  2. The Bible has always recognized the importance of having order and structure in presenting the truth. SeeHebrews 7:11; 5:6,10. But, there are times when following the traditional order of things has to be changed. Throughout the Old Testament and even into the New Testament, the church was guided by priests who were supposed to be teaching the truth about God. They were supposed to correctly represent God to His people. But, unfortunately, in the days of Jesus, many had corrupted that idea. So, Jesus is described as coming from a new order, the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:20)
  3. What does that teach us about what Christ is doing right now? ReadZechariah 3:1-5 andDaniel 7:9-10.Zechariah 3:1-5 says that Satan is accusing us, and Yahweh is defending us.Daniel 7:9-10 describes the court scene in heaven with God which is happening now as millions of beings of the universe watch. It is important to notice that in the proceedings in heaven, the one who is condemned is not sinners but rather is Satan himself for causing all the problems. Notice especially that Jesus is NOT pleading with the Father to accept us. (SeeJohn 16:25-27.)
  4. Right now in heaven, Jesus is defending us while Satan is accusing us of all the sins that he has tempted us to commit and saying that God is being unfair in saving us while rejecting him and his angels. The whole universe is watching! (See Prophets and Kings3.)
  5. Paul wrote several times about the Colossians being faithful to the biblical record. What copies of the Bible or even letters from Paul did they have? Did they recognize that Paul’s writings would become a part of Scripture?

Rooted and Growing in Christ

  1. Some of us have been greatly blessed by being taught by leaders/teachers who have/had a clear picture of the great controversy over God’s character and government and its implications for our lives! Colossians is one of the clear places in Paul’s writings where he talked about being rooted and grounded and growing in Christ.

Ephesians 2:20: You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself.—GNB-TEV.*

[BSG:] More than anything else, accepting Christ means a death to self, a complete surrender of self to the living Christ.

The Living Word (Jesus) cannot be separated from the Written Word (the Bible). They are two sides of the same coin. In fact, only through Scripture can we know Jesus. We “walk” or live our lives “in Him,” meaning that we allow His Word and His Spirit to guide us in all our decisions and practices.

InColossians 2:7, Paul employs a common biblical metaphor that likens Christians to plants. We become rooted in Christ by accepting Him as our Savior and ordering our life according to His Word. That is how we become “established in the faith.”—BSG* for Monday, March 2.†‡

  1. There are many passages in both the Old Testament and the New Testament comparing the Christian life to the growth of plants. (For example, seeIsaiah 61:3; Matthew 3:10; Luke 18:11-15; 1 Corinthians 3:6.)

[BSG:] Paul clearly delineates the two alternatives open to believers. One is to remain a “planting of the Lord” (Isa. 61:3) and continue being complete in Christ by holding on to Him and His teachings. The other could be likened to an artificial plant that may look real but is actually lifeless. By adopting human philosophies and traditions, we are taken “captive” (Col. 2:8, [See #3 above.] ESV). Although Christ has set us free, it is possible to be enslaved again with a yoke of bondage (Gal. 5:1; compareActs 15:10).—BSG* for Monday, March 2.†‡§

  1. How many of us are led astray by the so-called “gods” of this world? How would you describe the gods of this world?
  2. Paul and Silas did an excellent job of spelling out the differences between the old Jewish ways and the new Christian ways especially for Gentiles in Acts 15.

Acts 15:10: “So then, why do you now want to put God to the test by laying a load on the backs of the believers which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry?”—Good News Bible-TEV.* [Paul, as a former Pharisee of the Pharisees, once persecuted and killed Christians! He surely understood these problems!]‡

  1. If we allow ourselves to be distracted or led astray by non-biblical teachings, we are, in effect, rejecting Christ. Are we in danger of being drawn in by false teachings even in the church? There is only one true gospel, Jesus Christ! Are we correctly representing the character of God as lived out in the life of Christ to all around us?
  2. Paul felt very strongly about the truth of the gospel!

Galatians 1:6-9: 6I am surprised at you! In no time at all you are deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ, and are accepting another gospel. 7Actually, there is no “other gospel,” but I say this because there are some people who are upsetting you and trying to change the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell! 9We have said it before, and now I say it again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel that is different from the one you accepted, may he be condemned to hell!—Good News Bible-TEV.*† [Did Paul sound like he was assured of the gospel and salvation in Christ?]‡

  1. Do we clearly understand what it means to die to self in order to receive Christ? Why did Paul say, “I die daily”? How certain are we, or can we be, that the gospel that we understand and believe is the truth about God? We have had so much help from EGW.
  2. In Colossians, Paul used words suggesting that he had gone to excruciating efforts to correctly represent the truth. That also included pointing out false teachings and errors that were leading some astray.
  3. In our day, is it our responsibility to instruct those who have a legalistic understanding of the gospel about the great controversy over the character and government of God and what it means to us?

[T-BSG:] The concept of knowledge is very important in Colossians. Throughout the letter, Paul wants his audience to have knowledge of “the grace of God in truth” (Col. 1:6, NKJV); God’s “will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9, NKJV); “the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you” (Col. 1:27, NKJV); “the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ” (Col. 2:2, NKJV). Thus, in short, Paul shows that the antidote against false teachings is knowledge of God and Christ (Col. 2:1–4, 8). This knowledge comes from the Word of God, as Paul hints inColossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (NKJV).—T-BSG* 133.†‡§ [What access did the Colossians have to Christian truth?]‡

  1. We must never forget the truth found in Jesus’s prayer:

John 17:3: “And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent.”—GNB-TEV.* [It must not be following a set of rules that makes us feel that we are superior to other believers.]‡

  1. ReadColossians 2:11-15. In these verses, Paul was emphasizing that our salvation, our hope, is only in Christ. CompareJeremiah 31:31-34.
  2. Victory processions for the ancient rulers and emperors were standard after a victorious battle. Remember that just as Jesus was dying, the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom, indicating that all those old ways of approaching God were eliminated!

[From https://www.christchurchmemphis.org/stories/led-in-christs-victory-parade]‡

Nailed to the Cross – Circumcision of the “Heart”

  1. Often, opponents to Seventh-day Adventists useColossians 2:14 especially to try to suggest that the Sabbath is no longer a valid requirement for Christians. This is directly opposed to the idea that Paul mentioned in several locations that obedience to the commandments is still required. Paul himself continued to keep the seventh-day Sabbath.
  2. What did Paul mean when he mentioned the “handwriting” (NKJV) nailed to the cross?

Colossians 2:14: He canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross.—GNB-TEV.*

  1. The “unfavorable record of our debts” could only mean the record of our past sins!
  2. Matthew 27:37 andJohn 19:19-20 talk about the words that were placed on the cross above Christ, saying that He was “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
  3. Paul made it very clear that his understanding of conversion involved a “change in the inward man, the circumcision of the heart.” Conversion was more than the circumcision of the external being. Our baptism is supposed to remind us that we have entered into Christ’s death and resurrection. No infant can do that! Infant baptism is useless.

Romans 2:28-29: 28After all, who is a real Jew, truly circumcised? It is not the man who is a Jew on the outside, whose circumcision is a physical thing. 29Rather, the real Jew is the person who is a Jew on the inside, that is, whose heart has been circumcised, and this is the work of God’s Spirit, not of the written Law. Such a person receives praise from God, not from human beings.—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

Colossians 2:11-12: 11In union with Christ you were circumcised, not with the circumcision that is made by human beings, but with the circumcision made by Christ, which consists of being freed from the power of this sinful self. 12For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ through your faith in the active power of God, who raised him from death.—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

  1. And how does that experience impact us? Read againColossians 2:13-14. See alsoJeremiah 31:31-34.
  2. What does it mean to say that “he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts (Is that our sins?) with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross”? Was this record of sins visible on the cross? Could one really nail sins to a cross?
  3. The word Paul used that is translated ordinances in the King James Version refers to legal decrees. They included decrees made by the emperor. However, Paul included in that group the ceremonial rules or laws that seemed to be a barrier between Jews and Gentiles. Paul intended to break down that barrier as much as possible.

Ephesians 2:14-15: 14For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. 15He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace.—Good News Bible-TEV.* [The Mishnah is full of rules that separated the Jews!]‡

  1. What Jewish law or laws kept the Jews separate from Gentiles?
  2. Clearly, Paul was talking about physical circumcision as a part of the requirements which were no longer necessary for Gentiles.
  3. Peter recognized that as well:

Acts 10:28,34-35: 28He said to them, “You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not allowed by his religion to visit or associate with Gentiles. But God has shown me that I must not consider any person ritually unclean or defiled….”

34Peter began to speak: “I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. 35Those who fear [worship] him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to.”—GNB-TEV.*‡

Shadow or Substance?

Colossians 2:16-19: 16 So let no one make rules about what you eat or drink or about holy days or the New Moon Festival or the Sabbath. 17All such things are only a shadow of things in the future; the reality is Christ. 18Do not allow yourselves to be condemned by anyone who claims to be superior because of special visions and who insists on false humility and the worship of angels. For no reason at all, such people are all puffed up by their human way of thinking 19and have stopped holding on to Christ, who is the head of the body. Under Christ’s control the whole body is nourished and held together by its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God wants it to grow.—Good News Bible-TEV.*† [Are there ideas like this today?]‡

  1. We do not know exactly what was involved when those people were claiming special visions or even false humility and the worship of angels.
  2. God has already made it very clear that for those who have God’s law “written on their hearts” and have come to know the truth about God, their sins are nothing more than old history. God chooses to ignore those sins and treat us as if we had never sinned! (See Jeremiah 31:34;John 17:3-6.) What matters is to know the truth about the Father and the Son (and about Satan), as represented in the life and death of Jesus.
  3. Colossians 2:16-18 talk about some of the Jewish practices that Paul was suggesting as no longer being necessary. Some passages in the scrolls of the Qumran talk about the worship of angels, etc. These may have been some of the ideas that Paul was mentioning.
  4. Jesus—as was Paul, being a former Pharisee—was particularly concerned about those who practiced religious customs to be seen of men. Do we do things to be seen of men?

Matthew 6:1,5,7,16: 1 “Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public so that people will see what you do. If you do these things publicly, you will not have any reward from your Father in heaven….

5 “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full….

7 “When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long….

16 “And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*

  1. Even correct teachings in the Old Testament could be perverted so much that they would be wrong. Think of the story of Gomer in the book of Hosea. CompareIsaiah 1:10-20.

Isaiah 1:10-17: 10Jerusalem, your rulers and your people are like those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Listen to what the Lord is saying to you. Pay attention to what our God is teaching you. 11He says, “Do you think I want all these sacrifices you keep offering to me? I have had more than enough of the sheep you burn as sacrifices and of the fat of your fine animals. I am tired of the blood of bulls and sheep and goats. 12Who asked you to bring me all this when you come to worship me? Who asked you to do all this tramping about in my Temple? 13It’s useless to bring your offerings. I am disgusted with the smell of the incense you burn. I cannot stand your New Moon Festivals, your Sabbaths, and your religious gatherings; they are all corrupted by your sins. 14I hate your New Moon Festivals and holy days; they are a burden that I am tired of bearing….

16 “Stop all this evil that I see you doing. Yes, stop doing evil 17and learn to do right. See that justice is done—help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows.”—GNB-TEV.*†

  1. Clearly, even those who believed that they were faithfully following God’s requirements were an abomination to God! We also must turn from our evil ways!
  2. Particularly, we must remember that Sabbath had nothing to do with the ceremonial requirements given to Moses. The Sabbath was established at creation!

Commandments of Men

Colossians 2:20-21: 20 You have died with Christ and are set free from the ruling spirits of the universe. Why, then, do you live as though you belonged to this world? Why do you obey such rules as 21 “Don’t handle this,” “Don’t taste that,” “Don’t touch the other”?—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

[BSG:] As in his epistle to the Galatians, Paul characterizes the concern over keeping Jewish ceremonies as “the basic principles of the world” (Col. 2:8, 20, NKJV; compareGal. 4:3, 9). In other words, like the earthly temple, these things belong to the earth, but our citizenship is in heaven. We need not be encumbered with the ceremonial law because it merely foreshadowed the reality that we now enjoy through Christ. That is, even though originally given by God, these ordinances, having served their function, are no longer needed.—BSG* for Thursday, March 5.‡§

  1. Paul concluded by reminding us that when we are Christians, we live following a different example: That of Christ. We do not follow the ways of the world. We do not belong to the world. We now know God and His ways. Again, the clearest indication that the old ceremonial customs were eliminated at the death of Christ is the fact that the curtain in the temple itself was torn in two from top to bottom by an angel as Jesus died.

Matthew 27:51: Then the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart.—Good News Bible-TEV.*

Daniel 9:27: “That ruler will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and when half this time is past, he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The Awful Horror will be placed on the highest point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meets the end which God has prepared for him.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

[BSG:] Besides the fact that Pharisees and scribes had added additional human requirements on top of the Mosaic regulations (seeMark 7:1–13), the perpetuation of Old Testament ceremonies, which had been fulfilled by Christ, could no longer be considered divinely required, but only as humanly imposed duties. Indeed, it seems that they were becoming a burden to faith, as opposed to something that would enhance it. It’s so easy to start to look at doing all these things as not only making oneself superior to those who don’t, which is bad enough, but also perhaps even subtly as somehow being meritorious for salvation, a trap into which we don’t want to step.—BSG* for Thursday, March. 5.‡§

  1. As an example, readMark 7:1-13. CompareIsaiah 29:13.
  2. Clearly, Paul was an observer of the seventh-day Sabbath. He also followed the other rules of the Ten Commandments.

[T-BSG:] The true knowledge of God naturally leads to submission and faithfulness to Him. In that regard, the moral law plays a critical role, since it teaches us about God’s character and reveals His will to us. Yet, some people say that the law is an obstacle to the gospel. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth. The reality is quite the opposite. In the words of Joe M. Sprinkle, a non-Adventist scholar, the moral law “is a prelude to the gospel” in the sense that it “points to Christ who is the fulfillment of the law.”—Sprinkle, Biblical Law and Its Relevance: A Christian Understanding and Ethical Application for Today of the Mosaic Regulations, quoted in Roy E. Gane, Old Testament Law for Christians: Original Context and Enduring Application (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2017), p. 4, footnote 2.—T-BSG* 135-136.‡§

[EGW:] The warnings of the word of God regarding the perils surrounding the Christian church belong to us today. As in the days of the apostles, men tried by tradition and philosophy to destroy faith in the Scriptures, so today, by the pleasing sentiments of higher criticism, evolution, spiritualism, theosophy, and pantheism, the enemy of righteousness is seeking to lead souls into forbidden paths….

The follower of Christ will meet with the “enticing words” against which the apostle warned the Colossian believers. He will meet with spiritualistic interpretations of the Scriptures, but he is not to accept them. His voice is to be heard in clear affirmation of the eternal truths of the Scriptures. Keeping his eyes fixed on Christ, he is to move steadily forward in the path marked out, discarding all ideas that are not in harmony with His teaching. The truth of God is to be the subject for his contemplation and meditation. He is to regard the Bible as the voice of God speaking directly to him. Thus he will find the wisdom which is divine.—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles* 474.1-2.‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p127.2095&index=0]‡

[BSG:] Ellen G. White wrote above [in The Acts of the Apostles] that we should regard the Bible “as the voice of God speaking directly” to us. Why must we, then, guard ourselves diligently against anyone or anything that would weaken our faith in the authority and inspiration of all Scripture, even the parts that, in places, might make us uncomfortable?—BSG* for Friday.‡§

©2026, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged. *Electronic version. †Bold type is added. ‡Brackets and content in brackets are added. §Italic type is in the source.

Last Modified: February 20, 2026                                                                               Email: [email protected]