July 23, 2023 – Bible Doctrine 8 – God’s Plan and Method for Man’s Salvation

Lesson Date: July 23, 2023

Focal Scripture Passage: Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 19:16, 24-26; John 6:37; Acts 13:48; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:4-5, 7, 11; 2:1-10; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 2:24

AIM: To lead students to recognize that salvation is only available through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ, and to give any who desire to receive God’s gift of salvation an opportunity to do so.

Before class: Read the chapters containing the focal passages several times during the week.  Get enough copies of the Lesson Outline handout for your anticipated attendance.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Be sure to warmly welcome any guests your students have brought with them.

Ask everyone to turn to Matthew 19, and then ask a volunteer to read Matthew 19:16.  Ask: “What did the man ask Jesus?” (“What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”).  Tell everyone that is a question people have asked for thousands of years.

Tell the class there are many different beliefs about heaven and how to get there.  For example:

• Some people think you must do missionary work and knock on doors to be saved.
• Others think you must believe in Jesus, be baptized, and take communion every week to go to heaven.
• Some people think there’s no way to know if you’ll go to heaven, so you must work hard all your life, hoping to make it.
• Some people think everyone is going to heaven.
• Others don’t think there is any afterlife at all.

Read Matthew 19:16 again.  Ask everyone to think for a moment about how they would answer that question.  Tell them there are many opinions about how to be saved, but the most important question is, “What does the Bible say about how to be saved?”   

Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is God’s Plan and Method for Man’s Salvation.  Tell them as we study several Bible passages, we will learn about man’s need for salvation and God’s gracious provision of salvation through Jesus Christ.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the class that we are in a survey of Bible doctrine.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Man and His Problem With Sin; we learned about the origin of man, the nature of man, and why we have so much trouble with sin).
2. Man’s Natural Condition.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Ephesians 2, and then ask a volunteer to read Ephesians 2:1, 5.
     • Ask: “What do those verses say about our spiritual condition before we met Christ?” (we were dead in our sins).
     • Tell the students the first fact the Bible reveals about man’s natural condition is that he is dead in sins.
     • Ask: “What do you think it means to be dead in sin?” (allow time for responses).
     • Tell the class someone who is physically dead is unresponsive, without hearing, and cannot act; the same is true of someone who is spiritually dead in sins.
   • Read Ephesians 2:2-3.
     • Ask: “According to verse 2, whose course or path do unsaved people follow?” (the world and the devil).
     • Tell the students the second fact about man’s natural condition is that he is controlled by the devil.
     • Ask: “What does verse 3 say about man’s natural desires?” (they are to fulfill the lusts of the flesh and the mind; in other words, to please self).
     • Ask: “What does verse 3 call natural (unsaved) people?” (“children of wrath;” their sin makes them objects of God’s wrath).
   • Ask everyone to turn back to Matthew 19, and then read Matthew 19:24-26.
     • Explain that after His encounter with the rich young ruler, Jesus taught that it is very difficult for someone who trusts in their riches to be saved.
     • Ask: “What did Jesus’ amazed disciples ask in verse 25?” (“Who then can be saved?”).
     • Ask: “How did Jesus answer?” (“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible”).
     • Tell the students Jesus made it very clear that man cannot save himself; this is the third fact about man’s natural condition.
   • Summarize: Man’s natural condition is that he is dead in sins, controlled by the devil, and cannot save himself. Man needs a Savior.
3. God’s Plan to Save Sinners.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Ephesians 1, and explain that this letter was written to believers (see v. 1).
     • Ask a volunteer to read Ephesians 1:4.
     • Ask: “What did God do for us before He created the world?” (He chose to save us: to pay for our sins so we can be holy and without blame before Him).
     • Tell the students the first fact the Bible reveals about God’s plan to save sinners is that God chose to save us.
   • Read Ephesians 1:5.
     • Explain that the word predestinated simply means to choose or decide in advance.
     • Ask: “What did God predestinate us to?” (adoption as His children).
     • Ask a volunteer to read Ephesians 1:11.
     • Ask: “When a will is read, who usually receives the inheritance?” (children, heirs).
     • Tell the students the second fact about God’s plan to save sinners is that God planned to adopt us.
   • Ask: “God planned to save and adopt people, but how do we know those He planned to save will come to Him?”
     • Ask everyone to turn to John 6, and then ask a volunteer to read John 6:37.
     • Ask: “How many of those God plans to save will come to Jesus?” (every one of them; not a one will be lost).
     • Ask everyone to turn to Acts 13, and then read Acts 13:48.
     • Ask: “When the apostles preached, which of their listeners believed in Jesus?” (those who “were ordained to eternal life;” in other words, those God had chosen).
     • Tell the students the third fact about God’s plan to save sinners is that God saves all those He has chosen.
   • Summarize: God has graciously chosen to save some people and adopt them as His children, and everyone He has chosen will be saved.
4. Christ Died to Save Us.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Isaiah 53, and then ask a volunteer to read Isaiah 53:6.
     • Ask: “What did the Lord do with our sins?” (He laid them on Jesus).
     • Tell the students the first fact about Christ dying to save sinners is that God laid our sins upon Jesus.
   • Ask everyone to turn to 1 Peter 2, and then read 1 Peter 2:24.
     • Ask: “What did Jesus do with our sins?” (bore them in His body on the cross).
     • Ask everyone to turn to 2 Corinthians 5, and then read 2 Corinthians 5:21.
     • Ask: “What happened to Jesus on the cross?” (even though He had never sinned, He was made to be sin for us).
     • Ask: “As a result of Jesus’ sacrifice, what happens to those who trust Him?” (they are made “the righteousness of God in Him” – they receive Christ’s righteousness).
     • Tell the students the second fact about Christ dying to save sinners is that Christ died to make us righteous; in other words, right with holy God.
     • Tell the class that Dr. Jimmy Millikin, in his book Christian Doctrine for Everyman (p. 65), states the following: “How can a sinful man and a holy God be reconciled? Reconciliation between God and man is based on the death of Christ.”
   • Ask everyone to turn to Ephesians 1, and then ask a volunteer to read Ephesians 1:7.
     • Ask: “What do we receive through the blood of Jesus?” (redemption and forgiveness).
     • Explain that the word redemption means to purchase something or buy something back; Jesus purchased our salvation through His blood.
     • Ask everyone to turn to Hebrews 9, and then read Hebrews 9:12.
     • Ask: “What did Jesus obtain for us with His blood?” (eternal redemption).
     • Stress the fact that eternal redemption can never be lost; once Jesus saves us, we are saved for all eternity!
     • Tell the students the third fact about Christ dying to save sinners is that Christ redeemed us through His blood.
   • Summarize: God sent His Son to pay for our sins with His blood, through which He redeems us and makes us right with Himself.
5. God’s Gift of Salvation.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Ephesians 2, and then ask a volunteer to read Ephesians 2:4.
     • Ask: “What does that verse reveal about God?” (He is full of mercy and love for us).
     • Tell the students the motivation for God’s gift of salvation is that God is merciful and loves us.
   • Read Ephesians 2:5-6.
     • Remind the students that we read verse 5 earlier in the lesson.
     • Ask: “According to verse 5, what was our condition before Christ saved us?” (we were dead in our sins).
     • Ask: “What did God do for us through Jesus Christ?” (quickened us [made us alive] and raised us up to have fellowship with Him).
     • Tell the students that through His gift of salvation God gives us new life.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Ephesians 2:7-8.
     • Ask: “According to verse 7, what will God show (or display) in the ages to come?” (His great grace and kindness toward us).
     • Explain that grace is a gift that we do not deserve and cannot earn.
     • Ask: “How does verse 8 say we are saved?” (by grace through faith, which is a gift of God).
     • Tell the students that salvation is a gift of God’s grace.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Ephesians 2:9-10.
     • Ask: “According to verse 9, can salvation be achieved by man’s works?” (no).
     • Ask: “How are we described in verse 10?” (we are God’s creation).
     • Ask: “What were we created to do?” (good works).
     • Tell the students that salvation cannot be achieved by man’s works.
   • Summarize: Because of God’s great mercy and love, He gives new life to those who accept His gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students that the title of today’s lesson is God’s Plan and Method for Man’s Salvation.  Give each of them a copy of the Lesson Outline handout.  Review the lesson by reading the main points and subpoints from that outline:

God’s Plan and Method for Man’s Salvation

Man’s Natural Condition

• • Dead in sins – Ephesians 2:1, 5
  • Controlled by the devil – Ephesians 2:2-3
  • Cannot save himself – Matthew 19:24-26

God’s Plan to Save Sinners

• • He chose to save us – Ephesians 1:4
  • He planned to adopt us – Ephesians 1:5, 11
  • He saves all those He has chosen – John 6:37; Acts 13:48

Christ Died to Save Us

• • God laid our sins upon Jesus – Isaiah 53:6
  • Christ died to make us righteous – 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21
  • Christ redeemed us through His blood – Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12

God’s Gift of Salvation

• • God is merciful and loves us – Ephesians 2:4
  • God gives us new life – Ephesians 2:5-6
  • Salvation is a gift of God’s grace – Ephesians 2:7-8
  • Salvation cannot be achieved by man’s works – Ephesians 2:9-10

Tell the students that man is hopelessly lost and cannot save himself, but God graciously sent His Son to pay for our sins and die in our place.  Tell them that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, salvation is available to anyone who will turn away from their sins and place their faith (trust) in Jesus.

Ask: “Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior?  If not, would you like to?”

Read Romans 10:9-10, 13.

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Urge any who do not know Jesus to silently confess their sin, and in faith call upon the name of the Lord Jesus to save them.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize John 3:3.  Tell the students if any of them received Jesus this morning they should make it public right away.  Tell them you will be happy to talk with them after class and go forward with them during the invitation at the end of this morning’s worship service.  Tell them to keep the Lesson Outline handout in their Bibles so they can refer to it again later.