1. Lesson 6 for November 7, 2015
SYMBOLIC ACTS

2. Salvation by works Salvation by faith
TRUTH IN SYMBOLS
“I have also spoken by the prophets, and have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.” (Hosea 12:10)
There are many symbols in the Bible. They may be stories or objects that represent a spiritual truth.
CAIN AND ABEL (Genesis 4:3-5; Hebrews 11:4)
Salvation by works
Salvation by faith

3. THE BRONZE SERPENT (Numbers 21:4-9)
TRUTH IN SYMBOLS
“I have also spoken by the prophets, and have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.” (Hosea 12:10)
There are many symbols in the Bible. They may be stories or objects that represent a spiritual truth.
It represented Jesus who would be lifted up while carrying our sins (John 3:14-15)
THE BRONZE SERPENT (Numbers 21:4-9)

4. THE SANCTUARY LA VERDAD EN SÍMBOLOS Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice
“I have also spoken by the prophets, and have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.” (Hosea 12:10)
There are many symbols in the Bible. They may be stories or objects that represent a spiritual truth.
THE SANCTUARY
Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice
Jesus working as our mediator
The judgement before the Second Coming
Sin is finally destroyed

5. THE POTTER’S CLAY: GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY
“‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the Lord. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!’” (Jeremiah 18:6)
God is the potter. We are a jars in His hands… stubborn and obstinate jars.
We can learn several lessons from this metaphor:
God reigns above all. He rules all creation (Romans 9:20)
He has a purpose for each one of us (Romans 9:21)
We are free to either accept or break His work in us (Jeremiah 18:6)
God’s purpose for this world will be fulfilled either if we accept to be His “jars” or not (Jeremiah 18:7-11)

6. THE BROKEN JAR: A DEGENERATE NATION
“Then you shall break the flask in the sight of the men who go with you, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Even so I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot be made whole again; and they shall bury them in Tophet till there is no place to bury.”’” (Jeremiah 19:10-11)
Jeremiah had to take some of the leaders with him to perform this parable (Jeremiah 19:1).
They were responsible for the degeneracy of the people of Judah to a great extent. They were represented by a jar that was already baked and couldn’t be molded again.
They molded their ways like the pagan people around them. That way they lost their relationship with God. They hardened their conscience so much that they didn’t listen to God anymore.
They would be broken like the jar Jeremiah smashed. God rejected them.

7. “What is the condition in the world today
“What is the condition in the world today? Is not faith in the Bible as effectually destroyed by the higher criticism and speculation of today as it was by tradition and rabbinism in the days of Christ? Have not greed and ambition and love of pleasure as strong a hold on men’s hearts now as they had then? In the professedly Christian world, even in the professed churches of Christ, how few are governed by Christian principles. In business, social, domestic, even religious circles, how few make the teachings of Christ the rule of daily living. Is it not true that ‘justice standeth afar off: ... equity cannot enter.... And he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey’? Isaiah 59:14, 15”
E.G.W. (The Ministry of Healing, cp. 9, pg. 142)

8. THE LINEN BELT: TURNING AWAY FROM GOD
“This evil people, who refuse to hear My words, who follow the dictates of their hearts, and walk after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be just like this sash which is profitable for nothing.” (Jeremiah 13:10)
THE SYMBOL
Jeremiah had to buy a linen belt (like the priests’) and to use it but not getting it wet. Jeremiah 13:1.
He took the belt off, then went to river Euphrates and buried it there. Then he came back to Jerusalem. Jeremiah 13:2-5.
After some days, he returned to river Euphrates and unearthed it. He saw it was rotten and came back to Jerusalem. Jeremiah 13:6-7.
MEANING
The belt is the people of Israel. God is wearing it. It doesn’t get wet because God’s not the one causing the rottenness. Jeremiah 13:11.
Israel would be deported to Babylon. Jeremiah 13:19.
The people got corrupted because they turned away from God. They became like their neighbors; they got ruined. Jeremiah 13:10. 1 1 2 2 3 3

9. “I have seen that there is danger that even the professed children of God will be corrupted. Licentiousness is binding men and women as captives. They seem to be infatuated and powerless to resist and overcome upon the point of appetite and passion. In God there is power; in Him there is strength. If they will take hold upon it, the life-giving power of Jesus will stimulate everyone who has named the name of Christ. Dangers and perils surround us; and we are only safe when we feel our weakness and cling with the grasp of faith to our mighty Deliverer.”
E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, cp. 39, pg. 473)