October 29, 2017 – Bible Doctrine # 9 – Results of Salvation

Survey of Bible Doctrine, Week 9 – The Results of Salvation

OUTLINE OF THE LESSON:

Our New Relationship to God

1. Justification – Romans 3:24-28
2. Reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Romans 5:10
3. Adoption – Romans 8:14-17

The Final Perseverance of the Saints

1. We are Kept by God – 1 Peter 1:3-5; Jude 1:1
2. We are Sealed by the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22
3. God will Complete His Work in Us – Philippians 1:6; Jude 1:24

Lesson Date: October 29, 2017

Focal Scripture Passage: Romans 3:24-28; 5:10; 8:14-17; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Jude 1:1, 24

AIM: To lead students to describe the new relationship Christians have to Almighty God, and to accept the fact that God’s power enables Christians to persevere to the end.

Before class: Get enough copies of the lesson outline handout for your anticipated attendance.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Tell the following “parable” to your class:

There once was a rich man who was a childless widower. He had great wealth, houses, lands, and valuable possessions; but there was no one to inherit his wealth when he died. He decided he must find some deserving person to adopt as his son. That person would live in his home and one day inherit all his wealth. He spent much time trying to decide who that person should be.

One day, while riding through town in his limousine, he saw a young homeless man rummaging through some trashcans. The young man was filthy, wore rags, and obviously malnourished. The rich man decided this would be the man he would adopt to be his son and heir.

The deal was legally done. The rich man had his lawyer draw up the adoption papers in such a way that neither he nor the homeless man could ever break the agreement.

After a short time of enjoying the fine food and luxuries of his new home, the formerly homeless man became worried. He was concerned that if the rich man broke his agreement he could be back on the street again. He felt that he was losing his physical toughness and resourcefulness, both of which are essential to surviving on the street. Despite his new status as the legally adopted son a wealthy man, he decided to spend two nights every week back out on the street. In that way, he would keep up his skills – just in case.

Ask the class the following questions:

“Did the adopted man actually lose any of his privileges?” (no).

“On the nights he lived in the street, was he any less the heir than when he lived in the fine mansion?” (no, he was simply living beneath his position).

“Could he actually lose his position as heir?” (no).

“What do you think of this man’s behavior?” (it is foolish).

Stress the fact that the man had all the same wealth, position, and privilege on the street as he did in the fine home. Because of the unbreakable agreement he was a son and heir, whether he lived like it or not.

Give everyone a copy of the lesson outline handout. Tell the class today’s lesson about the Christian’s position in Jesus Christ focuses on two major topics: the Christian’s RELATIONSHIP to God, and his PERSEVERANCE as a child of God. Unfortunately, many Christians are like that formerly homeless man in the opening “parable” – they are children of God but choose to live beneath their privilege.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Central Truth):

1. Review.
   • Remind the students that we are in a study of a “Survey of Bible Doctrine.”
   • Read the first seven lesson titles found on page 3 of the Sunday School Member Quarterly.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (God’s plan and method for man’s salvation).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (John 3:3)
2. Relationship.
   • Tell the class that the Christian’s RELATIONSHIP to God is to be close, intimate, and personal. Three theological terms used to describe that relationship are Justification, Reconciliation, and Adoption.
   • Ask students to suggest a definition of the word Justification (to declare innocent, righteous, or not guilty – “just as if” you had never sinned).
     • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 3:24-28.
     • Explain that the Bible makes it abundantly clear we are all sinners who have disobeyed God’s commands (Rom. 3:23). Because of this we are all guilty. God would have no trouble convicting any of us as sinners. Instead of doing that, God has graciously chosen to justify Christians – declaring us completely innocent and just.
     • Ask: “Are we justified because of our good works?” (no).
     • Ask: “How, then, are we justified?” (by God’s grace, apart from our works).
     • Tell the class when we are saved, God declares us to be not guilty before Him. (See also Rom. 4:25 and 8:1-4).
   • Ask students to suggest a definition of the word Reconciliation (to make two hostile parties friendly again).
     • Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.
     • Explain that before we were saved we were enemies of God (see Rom. 8:7 and James 4:4). God, through Jesus Christ, has reconciled us to Himself.
     • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 5:10.
     • Ask: “What did Jesus do to reconcile us?” (He died in our place).
   • Ask students to suggest a definition of the word Adoption (making a child who is not naturally yours legally yours, with all the rights and privileges of a natural-born child).
     • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 8:14-17.
     • Ask: “Based on our new relationship to God and according to verse 15, what can we call God?” (Abba, Father).
     • Stress the fact that no one is a child of God until he or she receives Jesus Christ. When we are saved, we become adopted children (and heirs) of God (Eph. 1:5).
3. Perseverance – Kept and Sealed.
   • Tell the class the second major area to be covered in this lesson is called the PERSEVERANCE of the saints. This deals with God’s ongoing work in the spiritual life of the Christian.
   • Ask some volunteers to look up the following scriptures and to be prepared to read them to the class: 1 Peter 1:3-5; Jude 1:1; Philippians 1:6; Jude 1:24.
   • Ask the volunteers to read 1 Peter 1:3-5 and Jude 1:1.
   • Ask: “What does God do for us on an ongoing basis?” (keeps or preserves us).
   • Tell the class the Christian life is not a matter of us trying to hold on to God; instead, it is the fact that God is holding on to us.
   • Tell the class all Christians are KEPT (preserved) by God (this is called eternal security).
   • Ask: “Once a person is saved, can he lose his salvation?” (absolutely not).
   • Remind the class that last week’s lesson established the fact that salvation is the result of God’s work, not man’s (Eph. 2:8-10). If man could work to get saved, then he would have to work to stay Since God is the one who works to get us saved, He is the one responsible for keeping us saved. Also, if we can lose our salvation, then Jesus lied when He offered everlasting life (John 3:15-16; 10:28).
   • Tell the class not only are Christians kept by God, we are also SEALED with the Holy Spirit.
   • Read Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; and 2 Corinthians 1:22.
   • Ask: “What are some things that we seal?” (envelopes, food containers, and bank vaults; also, legal documents are impressed with a notary’s seal).
   • Ask: “Why do we seal those things?” (to protect them, keep them off limits from others, and to prove that they are authentic).
   • Tell the class the Holy Spirit seals us for the exact same reasons.
4. Perseverance – God’s Continuing Work in Us.
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteers to read Philippians 1:6 and Jude 1:24.
   • Ask: “What does God promise to do in the Christian’s life? (bring His redemptive work to completion).
   • Explain that the Christian doctrine of the perseverance of the saints not only means that a saved person cannot lose his or her salvation, it also means he will persevere to the end, growing and living for God.
   • Ask: “What about those who say they are saved but don’t live for the Lord?”
   • Explain that if an individual claims to be saved but later walks away from God without ever coming under conviction and returning to the Lord, that person was never saved in the first place (1 John 2:19).
   • Stress the fact that the Bible assures us that God will complete His work in us.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Lead the students to review the lesson content by asking this question: “Who are we in Jesus Christ?” (answers should include the following: we are justified, reconciled to God, adopted children of God, we cannot lose our salvation, and while we may be disobedient from time to time, we will ultimately live for and serve the Lord).

Remind the class of the homeless man you told them about in the introductory activity. He had a new position and relationship to the rich man, but he did not feel secure in that position. Christians are often the same way.

Tell the students if they are living under guilt or feeling they are not good enough to stay saved, then Satan is causing them to believe a LIE. If they are truly saved, urge them to acknowledge their position in Jesus Christ and accept the fact that God saved them and now keeps them. Tell them they can do this personally as you pray publicly. Urge any who are not saved to place their trust in Jesus Christ right now.

Lead a closing prayer, thanking God for the justification, reconciliation, adoption, eternal security, and perseverance that we enjoy as children of God.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Philippians 1:6. Tell them to thank God every day for continuing to work in them. Next week’s lesson is about the doctrine of the Christian Life, focusing on our worship, work, and walk. Encourage everyone to do the Daily Bible Readings each day and to read and answer all the questions in their Sunday School Member Quarterly.