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A Meditational
Framework
PART 1:
Sometimes we come across statements that demand deep thought. At such times
you might want to use a table, as we have done below, to help you to better
structure your thoughts. The statement following is one of those statements
- it is from page 608 of the Desire of Ages. |
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`The Law points out
man's duty and shows him his guilt. To Christ he must look
for pardon and for power to do what the law enjoins.' (DA608) |
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Guilt |
←
The Law → |
Duty |
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↕ |
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↕ |
The
Sinner |
↕ |
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↕ |
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Pardon From
Our Guilt |
←
Jesus → |
Power To Do
Our Duty |
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`As the
Son of man He gave us an example of
obedience, . . . |
. . . as the
Son of God, He gives us power to obey.' (DA24) |
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`
"God with us" is the surety of our deliverance from
sin, . . . |
. . . the
assurance of our power to obey the law of heaven.' (DA25) |
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PART
2: Having laid out
your thoughts as best you can in a table, you may now use another table to
record the relationships between the elements that are included in the
statement in question. We invite you to fill in the blanks at the foot of
the table below. |
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Relationships |
Observations |
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Law - Jesus |
¤
The law exposes our
weakness, Jesus exposes God's love - despite our weakness
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The law shows us that we are off the road, and it
shows us the way to go. Jesus is the vehicle that gets us to our
destination. Truth is the road.
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Guilt - Duty |
¤
Guilt
is the result of failed duty
¤
No
guilt, no pardon, and no power
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The Two
Stern Hands of the Law - Duty and Guilt.
The Two Compassionate Hands Of The Law - Love and Mercy |
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Pardon - Power |
¤
Two
Hands of Jesus - Pardon and Power
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His pardon releases us from the
result of our fall - His power keeps us from falling
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Pardon tells us we can
stand again - His power helps us to stay on our feet
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Guilt - Pardon |
¤
If
pardon is the fruit of repentance, and repentance is the fruit of
guilt, then there is no salvation without guilt - hence the conscience. |
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Duty - Power |
¤
Power is duty in action
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God would not be a Friend
if He did not give us the power to perform our duty
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Pardon - Duty |
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Guilt - Power |
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Law - Sinner -
Saviour |
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For
Related Meditation
`They were to
proclaim (1) the gospel of peace and (2) salvation through
repentance and (3) the power of the Saviour.' (DA805) |
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