Lesson 11 - February 12, 2017
Focus Text: Romans 12:1-13
Central Truth: God's grace obligates us to offer our lives in worship.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list three ways they can be more diligent in service to God or others.
Lesson Outline:
https://youtu.be/BVpLCnpuUYA
In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:
The perfect obedience of Christ is a standard that no man on his own can equal. When man compares himself with Christ, he sees how totally impossible it is for him to “establish [his] own righteousness.” Christ did not destroy the law, but His perfect obedience made it forever impossible for man to claim his own righteousness as a reason for salvation. But notice the qualification — to every one that believeth. Once a man believes in Christ as Savior, he abandons any attempt to attain righteousness by his own merit. For those without faith, Christ is not the end of the law for righteousness. They, like the Jews of verse 3, continue the vain effort of salvation by works.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 59.
and publicly.
In "Word Focus" Glenn McClure writes:
In the New Testament “confession” is understood as a proclamation (profession), as a confession made openly and publicly. “Confession is a sign of repentance (conversion) and thus a mark of the new life of faith” (D. Furst, Dict. of N.T. Theology). It is also seen that a public confession of sins means that the one who confesses is also being set free from them.“ When someone either places himself on the side of Jesus or separates himself from Him in the sight of those who know him, he makes a decision on which God will act in judgment. The believer is so completely included in fellowship with Jesus that his confession before man . . . is regarded as though it had been made before God’s judgment seat. In such a context ‘confession’ includes not only what a man says but also his obedience which has become visible in his whole life” (Furst in Dict. of N.T. Theology).
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 58.
In "God's Word for Today" William Snider writes:
Paul's emphasis on the redeeming work of Christ flows out of his intense burden for the Jewish people. Reflecting upon his own background as a Pharisee, he could appreciate that they were zealous for what they understood to be God's purpose and method, but they had misunderstood and twisted the plan to emphasize the human rather than the divine. Their insistence upon the obedience to the law had, in fact, revealed their impotence to keep the law. Yet they had wrapped themselves in self-righteous robes and pronounced themselves acceptable to God. The result was an ethical (and racial) arrogance. The true salvation process is to admit sin and come to Jesus for divine forgiveness. It is a purposeful acknowledgment of Christ as the sole source of salvation and faith in His death to accomplish this purpose. For the Jew, this was to reject their system of religion which had major implications for past and present. Accepting Christ for salvation is no less radical now.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 58-59.
Read Isaiah 45:18-25
“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (v. 22).
What does God want me to do? We ask God to reveal His will for our lives in so many areas. What school should I attend? What career should I pursue? Who should I marry? Where should I live? What church should I attend? In these areas, God's will is certain to vary from person to person. There is one area, however, where God's will is the same for all of us. Verse 22 tells us that we are all to look to Him for salvation. Second Peter 3:9 tells us that He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God wants all to be saved. The “whosoever” in John 3:16 applies to us all. Have you received God's gift of salvation? If not, confess and repent of your sins, and believe in Him for salvation. Do your unsaved friends understand what it means to be saved? Do they know that it is God's plan for their lives? (Daniel Merkley)
I am happy today, and the sun shines bright,
The clouds have been rolled away;
For the Savior said, whosoever will
May come with Him to stay.
“Whosoever” surely meaneth me,
Surely meaneth me, oh, surely meaneth me;
“Whosoever” surely meaneth me,
“Whosoever” meaneth me.
— James E. McConnell (Public Domain)
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p style="text-align:center;">“Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).
This devotional is the Wednesday, January 25, 2017 entry of Opening the Word.
Father, I pray for my local church. I thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I praise You for the blessings You have bestowed upon us and ask for continued grace.
You know the needs of our congregation. (List specific needs here). I pray that, according to Your will, You would give healing to those who are suffering with physical needs. Encourage them, despite their pain, to live for You. I pray for those with financial needs. Supply what they lack. Provide for them, as a sign of Your love and grace. I ask You also to remember those who are under heavy burdens of stress, etc. Lighten their load. Let them know that You are with them, to help them through these trials and to give grace for every hour.
Father, help our church to be a light of love and holiness to this community. May we be known as a people who love God and one another. Increase our influence for Christ in our world. Thank You for all this. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Lesson 10 - February 5, 2017
Focus Text: Romans 10:1-17
Central Truth: The steps to salvation are simple and plain so all may be saved.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to clearly explain how a person can know Jesus Christ as his Savior.
Lesson Outline:
In "God's Word for Today" William Snider writes:
Definitions are imperative. Be prepared to define “election,” “foreknowledge,” and “free will.” What was God's intention for the Jews, and how does it compare to His mission for the Church in our day? Discuss the character of God and the necessity of maintaining a proper image of our Heavenly Father. Be prepared to portray the sovereignty of God in a positive and uplifting manner to your class. Consider the reality of our humanity and its reaction to divine sovereignty. How does sovereignty relate to evangelism? How does the sovereignty of God relate to the future of our world? Relate this lesson with the promise found in Romans 8:28.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 54.
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Omar Lee writes:
Election, in Arminian circles, has generally been placed in three categories:
- Election (choice) of individuals to perform special tasks.
a. The twelve apostles.
b. Paul as a chosen vessel.- Election (choosing) of nations, bodies of people, for special privileges.
a. Abraham's seed through Isaac.
b. The Church.- Individual election because they have conformed to His conditions. That is, through grace by faith they have believed in Him (adapted from Wiley's Intro. to Christian Theology).
From this discussion, we draw these conclusions:- That a sovereign God has everything as well as all people in His control.
- That having created man, He predestined a plan to recover them when they sinned.
- That He elects (chooses) as His own those who elect (choose) to believe and thus meet His conditions.
- That as election is only if we believe, therefore, to fail to believe or to decide to abandon our belief results in judgment and final damnation.
It is good to know that God has a predestined plan for our complete restora-tion to fellowship with Him throughout the ages. Our choice makes the difference!
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 56.