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Holiness, God's Plan for the Redeemed
Lesson 9 - April 26, 2015
Focus Text: Isaiah 44:1-6; John 17:17-19; Ephesians 1:3, 4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24
Central Truth: God has ordained a holy bride for His Son.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to state at least three reasons why the redeemed need to be entirely sanctified and to begin seeking this second work of grace if they have not been entirely sanctified.
Lesson Outline:
- God's Promise (Isaiah 44:1-6)
- God’s Prayer (John 17:16-19)
- God’s Purpose (Ephesians 1:3, 4)
- God’s Power (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24)
Regeneration — Its' Necessity
Read John 3:1-8
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (v. 5).
“Smack, smack,” went the doctor’s hand. The air was filled with a beautiful cry! Such rejoicing and emotion went all through the room. A brand new life had been born into this world.
Five times over my husband and I have been allowed this privilege — this joy. In order for us to share living with our children, there had to be a place of birth! Then the benefits and responsibilities became ours.
Jesus shared with Nicodemus the essential requirement to obtaining an eternal life. One cannot only have an earthly birthplace, but one must experience a birthplace of the Holy Spirit.
How do we have such a birthplace? Jesus says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (v. 18)
Do you remember the day you really believed in the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from your sins? If not, you can! Let this be the time and place. Believe in Jesus and be born again! Then, eternal life is yours! Jesus is the only way! (Janene Dubbeld)
By night he came to seek the Truth
Although he’d studied from his youth.
The Master said, “Be born again!”
This is OUR hope — amen, AMEN! — Janene Dubbeld
To obtain eternal life one cannot only have an earthly birthplace, one must experience a birthplace of the Holy Spirit.
This devotional is the entry for Monday, April 13, 2015, of Opening the Word.
Photo credit: "Baby" by Gabi Menashe used under CC BY 2.0.
Essentials of Salvation
Lesson 8 - April 19, 2015
FOCUS TEXT: Ephesians 4:20-24; Romans 3:20-26; 8:14-17
CENTRAL TRUTH: Our conversion marks a complete transformation in our identity.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to clearly define regeneration, justification, and adoption and explain how these doctrines at work change the life of the person saved by God's grace.
LESSON OUTLINE:
- Regeneration (Ephesians 4:20-24)
- Justification (Romans 3:20-26)
- Adoption (Romans 8:14-17)
Godly Sorrow for Sin
Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-10
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (v. 10).
“I don’t want to go to jail,” wailed one of my sons. Little sister joined in the crying, “He doesn’t have to go to jail, does he? I don’t want him to go to jail!” I was amused at how quickly what had seemed so funny was now so serious. You see, the little man had discovered how to call some- one and block the Caller ID so that it would show up “Restricted.”
He was having such fun calling random numbers and teasing whoever happened to answer the phone (without my knowledge or permission). One little girl he called thought he was her friend and would not believe he was just a random prankster, so to prove it he sent her a picture as a text. This time his number showed up, and it was not long until her father called and left an urgent message. I was able to talk to the father and apologize. Soon the matter was resolved, but not before my son experienced some godly sorrow. (Daniel Edwards)
Once in sin’s darkest night I was wand’ring alone;
A stranger to mercy I stood.
But the Savior came nigh when He heard my faint cry,
And He put my sins under the Blood. — Nellie Edwards
True repentance makes you sorry enough to quit!
This devotional is the entry for Monday, April 6, 2015, of Opening the Word.
Photo credit: "Liberation" by jar () used under CC BY 2.0 / Resized, cropped.
Steps to Salvation
Lesson 7 - April 12
Focus Text: Acts 2:36-39; Luke 13:1-5; Romans 10:9-13

Central Truth: Salvation involves a change of allegiance from self to Jesus.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to clearly explain how a person may be saved.
- The Recognition of Sin (Acts 2:36-39)
- Repentance for Sin (Luke 13:1-5)
- The Response of Faith (Romans 10:9-13)
Proof of the Resurrection
Read Luke 24:36-44
“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (v. 39).
We have all waited as the jury struggled with the evidence. I can only imagine the difficulty it would be to sweep away all bias and make a decision based entirely on evidence.
Not that Jesus was on trial, but the disciples were able to see and even handle the evidence. I can only imagine what it must have been like to see and feel those nail-scarred hands, and see the scars showing through the straps of His sandals.
Let us not miss the impact of this scenario. Here is the evidence of the most epic event in the history of the world. God dispatching Himself to earth, reaching out to humanity, and while He is reaching, they pierce those outstretched hands and those good-news traveling feet. They pierce them because of so-called evidence, and mount them on a cross thinking they have served the community by getting rid of a rabble-rousing resister. It seems unfair, and it was illegal. Actually their evidence was none at all. But they followed through on their mission, silenced the crowd, and tucked Him in the tomb.
But we know the rest of the story! He arose and shared the evidence with His disciples and the world that HE LIVES! (Rick Tallman)
Thankfully we know the rest of the story!
This devotional is the entry for Sunday, April 5, 2015, of Opening the Word.
Photo credit: "Jesus' Tomb" by upyernoz used under CC BY 2.0 / Resized, cropped.