Adults 4th quarter 2024
October 27, 2024
GOLDEN TEXT
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
PRACTICAL TRUTH
Obedience to Christ demands spiritual blessings that influence various areas of life.
DAILY READING
Thursday - 1 Tim 2.5 Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant
Suggested Hymns: : from the Christian Harp
CLASSROOM BIBLE READING
Deuteronomy 29:1,9-12; Hebrews 8:6-13
Deuteronomy 29
1 – These are the words of the covenant that the Lord commanded Moses in the land of Moab to make with the children of Israel, besides the covenant that he made with them at Horeb.
9 – Therefore you shall keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.
10 – You all stand today before the Lord your God: the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officers, every man of Israel,
11 – your little ones, your wives, and the stranger who is among your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water;
12 – that you may enter into the covenant of the Lord your God and into his oath that the Lord your God makes with you today.
Hebrews 8
6 But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been blameless, no place would have been sought for a second.
8 For he rebukes them and says to them, “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in my covenant, therefore I regarded them not,” declares the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.
11 They will not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ but they will teach me the Lord. for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In proclaiming a new covenant, the first covenant has become obsolete. Now that which is old and grows old is ready to come to an end.
LESSON PLAN
1- INTRODUCTION. Take advantage of the theme of this lesson to, together with the class, raise awareness that obedience is the fruit of a grateful and sincere heart. In the Lord, in addition to attitude, the motivation behind the action is taken into account; this makes obedience an important virtue.
2- LESSON PRESENTATION
A) Lesson Objectives:
I) To present the terms of God's Covenant with His people in the Old Testament;
II) To show that the principle of obedience is also present in the New Covenant;
III) To reflect on the blessings that come from obedience to Christ.
B) Motivation: In both the Old and New Testaments, we see obedience as a sign of faith and love for God on the part of those who are in alliance with Him.
C) Suggested Method: Since the first century Church, many questions have been raised about what is really necessary to obtain salvation. Therefore, we suggest that you begin the class by proposing this reflection: Does grace exempt us from obedience? And does disobedience exclude us from grace? Conclude this moment with the apostolic answer, reading Romans 6.9-15.
3- LESSON CONCLUSION
A) Application: Salvation is by the grace of God, but it does not nullify obedience. In the New Covenant, obedience is required of the saved. Thus, there are promises of justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit for those who obey the commandments of Christ. Obedience is an indispensable virtue for the Christian.
4- SUBSIDY FOR THE TEACHER
A) Ensinador Cristão Magazine. It is worth getting to know this magazine that brings reports, articles, interviews and support resources for Adult Bible Lessons. In issue 99, p.38, you will find a special resource for this lesson.
B) Special Aids: At the end of the topic, you will find aids that will support you in preparing your class:
1) The text “GOD’S COVENANT WITH THE ISRAELITES”, located after the first topic, highlights that the Lord’s Covenant with His people, as well as the promises arising from it, were conditioned on obedience;
2) The text “THE NEW COVENANT”, located after the third topic, deepens the understanding of Jesus as the fulfiller of the divine promise in the OT.
INTRODUCTION
The Bible presents a relationship between promise and obedience. Throughout the Scriptures, we realize that obedience is a divine principle that did not expire in the New Testament. It continues to be required by Our Lord in order for us to live specific promises of God in this world. The God who promised in the Old Testament is the same one who promised in the New and, at the same time, demands obedience to His Word from His people. However, what are the terms of obedience in the New Covenant as revealed in the New Testament? This is what we will study in this lesson.
Keyword: Obedience
I – OBEDIENCE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
1- The Covenant of Horeb. The Covenant made by God with the people of Israel in the desert of Horeb (Deut. 29:1; Exod. 19) was a reaffirmation of the promises He had made to Abraham and his descendants (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:8). In the desert of Horeb (also called “Sinai”) it became clear that the divine covenant required holy obedience from the people in order to be successful among the nations: “If you will obey My voice indeed and keep My covenant, then you shall be a treasured possession to Me above all peoples, for all the earth is Mine” (Exod. 19:5). Through holy obedience, the people would be “a priestly kingdom,” a “holy people” (Exod. 19:6). The nation of Israel was to obey the Lord’s commandments in order to live the promises throughout their pilgrimage in the desert (Exod. 20:1-17).2- The Covenant on the Plains of Moab. Many years had passed since the Covenant at Horeb (Exodus 19), and most of the pilgrims had perished in the wilderness. Then Moses gathered the people together again, this time on the plains of Moab, for a new generation was about to enter the Promised Land: “These are the words of the covenant that the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant that he made with them at Horeb” (Deuteronomy 29:1). The basic exposition of this Covenant can be seen in Deuteronomy 4 to 26:19, as well as its emphasis on the blessings and curses in chapters 27 to 30 of the same book. Everything in this Covenant would depend on the faithfulness of the people of Israel to the divine commandments.
3- The promises arising from obedience. The Covenant of Moab lists the promises that would be made on Mount Gerizim: blessings in the countryside, in the city, in procreation, in domestic life, and when entering and leaving the land (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). In every area of the Jews’ lives, divine blessings would be poured out as a consequence of obedience to the divine commandments established in the covenants made by Moses. It is also true that curses would be made from Mount Ebal as a consequence of disobedience to the Lord’s commandments (Deuteronomy 27:11-26). Therefore, in the Old Testament, we see that obedience had a direct relationship to the fulfillment of a promise in the lives of the people of Israel.
SUMMARY I
In God’s Covenant with Israel, we observe the fulfillment of the promises based on the people’s obedience.
BIBLIOLOGICAL AID
“GOD’S COVENANT WITH THE ISRAELITES
1) God’s promises in this covenant were basically the same as those made to Abraham. God promised that He would give the Israelites the land of Canaan after He freed them from slavery in Egypt (Ex. 6:3-6; 19:4; 23:20, 23) and that He would be their God and adopt them as His people (Ex. 6:75-19:6; see Deut. 5:2 note). […]
2) […] After God revealed the Ten Commandments and many other laws of the Covenant, the Israelites swore with one voice: 'All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do' (Exod. 24:3). Without this solemn promise to accept the standards of God's Law, the Covenant between them and the Lord would not have been confirmed.
3) This resolution to fulfill God's Law remained a precondition of the Covenant. Only through perseverance in obedience to the Lord's commandments and the sacrifices determined by God in the Covenant would Israel continue to be God's precious possession and would also continue to receive His blessings” (Pentecostal Study Bible. Rio de Janeiro: CPAD, 2002, p. 333).
EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE
“Covenant. Pact, Covenant or agreement (Heb. berit). The corresponding NT word diathêkê, defined as the legal 'disposition' of personal property. A covenant is something that binds parties together or obligates one party to another. Although there are legal implications associated with a covenant, the relational aspect of a covenant is best understood as a relationship with the related illegalities. […] Although the theme of the covenant is less widespread in the NT, its Christological significance is profound. The NT highlights the significant messianic role of Christ in relation to covenants.” Expand your knowledge further by reading the Baker Bible Dictionary, edited by CPAD, pp.32-33.
II – OBEDIENCE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1- A New Concert. Hebrews 8 presents aspects of the Old Covenant, showing how much they point to the perfect ministry of the Lord Jesus. There, we see that the relationship between God and his people took place through faith manifested by obedience to the commandments of the Law and observation of the Old Testament sacrificial system. However, the prophet Jeremiah prophesied that the time would come when God instituted a new Covenant and that his Law would be established within the person, that is, in the heart: “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days , says the Lord: I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jer 31:33; cf. Heb 8:8-12).2- Jesus Christ, the mediator. The Lord Jesus is the mediator who establishes the New Covenant, the New Covenant prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah (Hb 8.10). In view of this, we can affirm that the New Covenant is a promise of God's grace and love to those who respond with repentance and faith to the offer of Salvation. Thus, the relationship of obedience between the saved person and God takes place under the terms of the New Covenant, in which the Lord Jesus is the true mediator (1 Tim 2.5).
3- Obedience to the New Covenant. The teachings of the New Testament show that faith and obedience go hand in hand. Our Lord taught: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). This expression “you will keep” can also be replaced by “you will obey”. This means that our love for the Savior, who was first obedient to the Father (Phil 2.8), cannot be just in words, but in acts of obedience (Acts 26.19). In this way, we can enjoy spiritual blessings that come from a life of obedience to God and his Word.
SYNOPSIS II
The NT shows Jesus as the New Covenant, fulfilling the promise of salvation to all who respond with repentance and faith.
III – BLESSINGS FROM OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST
1- Spiritual blessings. In the New Testament, it is the Holy Spirit who rules the lives of those who are part of the New Covenant through Jesus Christ through faith (2 Cor 3.4-6). In this context, we learn that a life of obedience to Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit, demands blessings of a spiritual nature that encompass all areas of our lives: “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14-17).2- Righteousness and Peace. Those who obey Christ live godly in His presence and in righteousness (Mt 5.6). In this way, we have a life of righteousness that comes from faith and obedience to Christ, because we have been justified and sanctified by God (1 Cor 6.11). Then, the peace that surpasses all understanding becomes a reality in us (Phil 4.7). It is the peace that the Lord Jesus spoke of to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. “I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Thus, obedience to Christ generates in us righteousness and peace in the midst of the turbulence of the world.
3- Joy in the Holy Spirit. The joy that comes from a relationship with Christ is the hallmark of the life of those who walk in righteousness and have the peace of Christ. The Bible shows that joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). As the Scriptures teach us, this joy is not conditioned by the external environments of our lives, but is a consequence of a life filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit fills us with joy.
SYNOPSIS III
Those who obey Christ live in holiness and righteousness, governed by the Holy Spirit.
THEOLOGICAL AID
“THE NEW COVENANT – Jeremiah prophesied that, in a future time, God would make a new Covenant, a better Covenant, with his people (Jer 31.31-34 notes cf. Hb 8.8-12) [...] Jesus is the one who instituted the New Covenant or the New Testament (both ideas are contained in the Greek word diatheke), and their heavenly ministry is incomparably superior to that of the earthly OT priests. The New Covenant is an agreement, promise, last will and testament, and a declaration of the divine purpose in bestowing grace and blessing on those who come to the Lord through obedient faith. […] Having established the New Covenant in Christ, the Old Covenant became obsolete (8.13). However, the New Covenant does not invalidate the entire Old Testament Scriptures, but only those of the Mosaic covenant, by which salvation was obtained through obedience to the Law and its system of sacrifices. The Old Testament is not abolished; much of its revelation points to Christ [...], and because it is the inspired Word of God, it is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and instructing in righteousness” (Pentecostal Study Bible. RJ: CPAD, 1995, pp. 1910- 1911).
CONCLUSION
In this lesson, we studied obedience as a relationship with God from both the Old and New Testament perspectives. We saw that, despite the New Covenant having overcome the Old, the principle of obedience to God and His Word remains the same. Thus, there are promises of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit for those who obey the commandments of the Lord Jesus. These promises are conditioned on our obedience to Christ.
REVIEWING THE CONTENT
1- What was the Horeb Covenant?
It was a reaffirmation of the promises that God had made to Abraham and his descendants (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:8).
2- How can one see a basic exposition of the Covenant on the Plains of Moab?
The Moab Covenant shows a list of promises that would be spoken on Mount Gerizim: blessings in the field, in the city, in procreation, in domestic life, in entering and leaving the land (Deut 28.1-14).
The Moab Covenant shows a list of promises that would be spoken on Mount Gerizim: blessings in the field, in the city, in procreation, in domestic life, in entering and leaving the land (Deut 28.1-14).
3- What does Hebrews 8 present?
Hebrews 8 presents aspects of the Old Covenant, showing how much they point to the perfect ministry of the Lord Jesus.
Hebrews 8 presents aspects of the Old Covenant, showing how much they point to the perfect ministry of the Lord Jesus.
4- Who governs the lives of those saved from the New Covenant?
The Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit.
5- Where does joy come from?
The joy that comes from a relationship with Christ is the hallmark of the life of those who walk in righteousness and have the peace of Christ.
The joy that comes from a relationship with Christ is the hallmark of the life of those who walk in righteousness and have the peace of Christ.
Tags:
ebd estrangeira