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February 2025

Further Thought

Read Ellen G. White, “The Origin of Evil,” pp. 492–504, in The Great Controversy.

The Nature of the Cosmic Conflict

We have seen some passages that teach a cosmic conflict between God and Satan. But how is such a conflict even possible? How could anyone oppose the omnipotent God? If the cosmic conflict were over sheer power, it would have been over before it started. It must be of a different kind. Indeed, Scripture reveals that the conflict is a dispute over God’s character—a conflict over slanderous allegations raised by the devil against God, that (among other things) He is not fully good and loving.

If You Worship Me

Satan’s quest to usurp God’s throne is also revealed in the temptation narratives found in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. In the striking encounter between Jesus and the tempter, much is revealed about the nature of the conflict. Here we see the reality of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, but played out in stark and graphic terms.

Read Matthew 4:1–11. How is the reality of the great controversy between Christ and Satan revealed here?

The Origin of the Controversy in Heaven

Genesis 1–3 alone shows that evil existed before the fall of Adam and Eve. Even if evil was not a concrete reality in Eden, conceptually, “evil” has already appeared, in the name of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:9, 17). Then the serpent accuses God of lying when, in fact, he, the serpent, is the one lying. The existence of the serpent (Rev. 12:9), along with his lying, shows the reality of evil there. Thus, even in Eden before the Fall, the presence of evil is manifest.

The Origin of the Controversy on Earth

Parallel to the question in the parable—about why there is bad seed in the field if the owner planted only good seed—is another question: if God created the world entirely good, how did evil arise here?

Read Genesis 1:31. What do God’s words reveal about the state of creation when God finished creating, and why is this answer important?

An Enemy Has Done This

Read Matthew 13:24–27. How does the parable help us understand evil in our world?

Jesus tells the story of a landowner who sows only good seeds in his field. However, tares spring up among the wheat. Upon seeing this, the servants of the owner ask him, “ ‘ “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?” ’ ” (Matt. 13:27, NKJV). This is similar to the question often asked today concerning the problem of evil: If God created the world entirely good, why is there evil in it?

The Cosmic Conflict

Read for This Week’s Study

Matt. 13:24–27; Gen. 1:31; Ezek. 28:12–19; Isa. 14:12–15; Matt. 4:1–11; John 8:44, 45.

Memory Text:

Further Thought

Read Ellen G. White, “ ‘God With Us,’ ” pp. 19–26, in The Desire of Ages.

Christ Has Overcome the World

If everything occurred according to God’s ideal will, there would never have been evil but only the perfect bliss of love and harmony. Eventually, the universe will be restored to this perfect, ideal will of God. In the meantime, God is working out His will in a way that takes into account the free decisions of His creatures.

God’s Ideal and Remedial Wills

Read Ephesians 1:9–11. What is this text saying about predestination? Are some people predestined to be saved and others to be lost?

The Greek term translated “predestination” here and elsewhere in Scripture (prohorizo) does not itself teach that God causally determines history. Rather, the Greek term simply means “to decide beforehand.”

Of course, one can decide something beforehand unilaterally, or one can decide something beforehand in a way that takes into account the free decisions of others. Scripture teaches that God does the latter.

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Sabbath School Week

Sat 17 May 2025
In the Psalms: Part 1
Sun 18 May 2025
Our High Priest
Mon 19 May 2025
On Mount Zion
Tue 20 May 2025
Law in Our Hearts
Wed 21 May 2025
Psalm 5
Thu 22 May 2025
Teach Transgressors Your Way
Fri 23 May 2025
Further Thought
Sat 24 May 2025
In the Psalms: Part 2

Sabbath School Last Week

Sat 10 May 2025
Foundations for Prophecy
Sun 11 May 2025
Here I Am, Send Me
Mon 12 May 2025
The Two Cherubim
Tue 13 May 2025
Like Burning Coals of Fire
Wed 14 May 2025
God Among His People
Thu 15 May 2025
The Fall of Lucifer
Fri 16 May 2025
Further Thought
Sat 17 May 2025
In the Psalms: Part 1

Sabbath School Next Week

Monthly archive

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