Victory in Jesus – YouTube
The Formula for Victory
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Omar Lee writes:
First Peter 2:1-11 gives the formula for victorious living.
- Spiritual hunger — maintaining a healthy hunger for the Word of God will help to promote spiritual renewal and victory.
- Spiritual growth — eating a balanced diet will ensure us of advancing into maturity and in the understanding of the Christian life.
- Spiritual liveliness — our liveliness will be an inspiration to others until a spiritual house (church) will be established which will attract others to it as well.
- Spiritual values — we can see the true cornerstone is Jesus, and we will measure all other things in relation to His reaction to them through the Word, through the Spirit, and through our consciences.
- Spiritual heritage — it should be cause for celebration to know that we are a chosen people. We are a people belonging to God, and we are no longer orphans!
- Spiritual sanctity — we are in a spiritual war, but by abstaining from fleshly lusts, we can win.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 44.
Are the Law and grace at odds?
In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:
The law that was twisted by sin to enslave man was from the beginning the righteous counsel of God. God's purpose then in condemning sin was first to establish that His original counsel was righteous. But the purpose of sending Christ was also that the law might be fulfilled in us. God wanted it to be seen that His original plan for man was pos-sible, and our lives are to be the proof of that. Seen in this way there is no conflict between law and grace.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 41.
Can a Christian live in victory over willful sin?
In "God's Word for Today" William Snider writes:
Can a Christian live each day without condemnation for sins committed while successfully resisting temptation and pleasing God moment by moment? The remarkable answer is “Yes.” Testimonies of defeat can be replaced with proclamations of resounding overcoming lives through the power of the resurrected Christ. To claim such victory is not the language of human accomplishment nor a subtle (or not so subtle) announcement of personal determination and sanctification. It is rather a current possibility and, for the Christian, a present necessity. Contentment with less reflects negatively on the provisions of Christ and is indicative of a defective understanding of the possibilities of grace. Living today and every day with sins forgiven and willful sin resisted is made possible by the resurrected power working in our daily lives.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 40.
The Spirit of Bondage versus the Spirit of Adoption
In "Word Focus" Glenn McClure writes:
First, the spirit of bondage — the Greek word for bondage refers to one who is under unwilling and unhappy servitude. It is one who is in subjection to a master, whether that master is a person, a passion, or an influence… On the other hand, the awareness of the new relationship is the Spirit of adoption. The word adoption means “placing as a son.” It is taking and treating a stranger as one's own child. Instead of fear, as in the slave-master relationship, there is the feeling of love, affection, and confidence which pertains to children. This spirit of adoption is diametrically opposed to the spirit of bondage.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 40.
Pray for Fellow Sunday School Teachers
Lord, I pray today for my fellow Sunday school teachers. I thank You that our church has a team working together to train people how to live for Christ. I value their ministry, whether they are teachers of younger ages or a different class of adults. Thank You for the privilege of serving You with others.
I pray that my fellow teachers might be filled with wisdom and understanding as they direct their classes. Give them the creativity to teach their students that every week the class is excited to learn about You.
Give my fellow teachers encouragement in their ministry. I know that they, like me, will have those days and weeks where busyness, troubles of various kinds, and interruptions tend to suck the energy and life from their spirit. Help them to persevere for You. Let them know that their work has eternal results and eternal rewards.
Help me to be an encouragement to my fellow teachers. May I never be a source of frustration or irritation. Instead, help me to be a great team player for the cause of Christ. I pray all this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Victorious Living
Lesson 7 - January 15, 2017
Focus Text: Romans 8:1-17
Central Truth: We can have victory over sin through Christ's grace.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify some signs of victory in the Christian life.
Lesson Outline:
- The Provision for Victorious Living (Romans 8:1-5)
- The Priority of Victorious Living (Romans 8:6-11)
- The Power of Victorious Living (Romans 8:12-17)
What causes a person to act contrary to their desires?
In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:
If the law is not the problem (v. 16), then what causes me to act contrary to my own desires? Paul answered by distinguishing between I and sin that dwelleth in me. The former is the man as created by God, which in verse 15 made good decisions. The latter is the principle of sin that entered the human race at the Fall and holds controlling influence in the natural man.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 36.
What does it mean to die to the law?
In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes concerning Romans 7:4:
In verses 1-3 Paul had shown how death changes the relationship of the surviving marriage partner to the deceased. In this analogy the sinner is married to the law. But death (i.e., being crucified with Christ) breaks that bond. We would have expected that if man is married to the law, the law would have had to die in order for man to be free to marry another. It is not the law that dies, but the believer dies to the law. So long as we live for the law, we cannot live for Christ. That ye should be married to another. The person who is satisfied merely to be delivered from guilt does not truly understand the work of the cross. We are delivered from the law to be united with Christ, that we should bring forth fruit. In 6:22 Paul spoke of “fruit unto holiness,” and that thought seems to be carried on here, as the next two verses suggest.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 34.