Adults 4th quarter 2024
November 3, 2024
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” ( John 5.24 )
PRACTICAL TRUTH
The promise of everlasting life is the greatest divine blessing for all who believe in Jesus Christ.
DAILY READING
Suggested Hymns: From the Christian Harp
277 ARE YOU SAFE? ARE YOU CLEAN?
491 THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS
CLASSROOM BIBLE READING
John 3:14-21
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up:
15 That whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 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.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21-But he who practices truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.
LESSON PLAN
1- INTRODUCTION
Teacher, in this Sunday’s lesson we will study the most important of God’s promises: the promise of salvation. It continues to be God’s main promise to humanity. What good is it to have prosperity and health and not have salvation? The doctrine of salvation reveals to us how great God’s love and grace are for us (John 3:16). All of God’s children who believe in this promise cannot live in any way, without holiness, without taking due care with their conduct before God and the world. We also cannot forget that salvation is a divine work; we depend on Him, on His mercy and His favor toward us lost sinners. Humbly accept God’s love and grace on your behalf, because Jesus paid a high price so that those who believe in Him may be saved, and those who reject Him may remain lost in their trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1).
2- LESSON PRESENTATION
A) Lesson Objectives:
I) To explain biblically the promise of salvation;
II) To show the nature of the promise of salvation;
III) To reflect on the importance of the promise of salvation and perseverance in it. C) Suggested Method:
B) Motivation: We have the gift of Salvation. Jesus paid a high price for our redemption, but in our Christian journey we will face obstacles and difficulties. Our Savior said that in this world we would have afflictions, but that we should be of good cheer (John 16:33). Good cheer is the result of faith, of the certainty that God is faithful to fulfill His promises. Our faith must be founded on God so that, when we find ourselves facing obstacles in our spiritual journey, we will not faint and abandon the valuable promise of salvation. The challenges may be great, but they are not greater than our God, so trust in Him and be faithful to the end.
We suggest that you discuss with your students that “the saving work of Christ is the central pillar in the temple of divine redemption. It is the support that carries most of the weight, without which the structure could never have been completed. We can also compare it to the axis around which all of God’s activity in revelation revolves. It is the work that gives a head to the body, an antitype to the type, a substance to the shadows and purifications. Such statements in no way diminish the importance of what God did for his people, according to the Old Testament covenant, and for the nations around them. For students of the Scriptures, its incalculable relevance remains, reflecting the thought of Hebrews 1:1. God has spoken infallibly and relevantly in the past, but not for the last time. His final word only came with the coming of His Son, and the record of this coming appears infallibly and definitively in the 27 books of the New Testament canon” (HORTON, Stanley. Systematic Theology: A Pentecostal Perspective. 19th ed. Rio de Janeiro: CPAD, 2018, p. 335).
3- LESSON CONCLUSION
A) Application: Today’s lesson is an excellent opportunity for you and your students to reflect on the gift of salvation and its effects. Show that, as we become aware of God’s grace and mercy, our faith increases and becomes an antidote to the lack of hope in the Lord’s promises. Conclude the class by quoting the Scriptures: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)
4- TEACHER SUPPORT
A) Christian Teacher 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 Support: At the end of the topic, you will find support resources that will support you in preparing your class:
1) The text at the end of the second topic expands the reflection on the aspects of salvation: regeneration, salvation and sanctification, but the focus is on regeneration;
2) The text at the end of the third topic shows that the promise of salvation is not unconditional and that there is a danger of apostasy.
INTRODUCTION
Salvation is one of the most important themes in the pages of the Bible, because it is God's main promise to humanity. The biblical doctrine of salvation leads us to know how great God's love is for human beings. This is exactly what the Gospel of John shows us in chapter 3, in which we will study the promise of salvation, its nature and perseverance.
KEYWORD: SALVATION
I – THE PROMISE OF SALVATION
1- A wonderful salvation. The Bible Reading in Class reminds us of the Old Testament passage in Numbers 21.4-9 , which deals with a symbolic act in which physical healing would be a reality for those who looked at the Bronze Serpent in the desert, and would have the curse removed from their lives. Similarly, Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary provides redemption for the soul in need of salvation ( John 3.14,15 ). In this way, God's love is revealed in the Scriptures in a way that cannot be measured, to the point of giving His Only Son to save those who believe (John 3.16). This precious promise brings two realities: 1) that whoever believes will not be condemned (John 3.18); 2) that whoever does not believe is already condemned (John 3.18). Therefore, salvation is a wonderful gift from God to all who believe in His Son.2- The work of salvation. The Gospel of John shows us that the work of salvation is a providence of God to save human beings from eternal condemnation. In its general sense, the word “salvation,” which comes from the Greek soteria, carries the meaning of “deliverance from danger, from threat” ( Luke 1:69,71 ); “health” ( Acts 27:34 ); “deliverance from prison” ( Phil. 1:19 ); “deliverance from the flood” (Heb. 11:7). In this way, salvation itself has to do with those who receive Christ Jesus as their sufficient Savior. When this happens, we are immediately freed from slavery to the power of sin and eternal condemnation ( Acts 4:12 ; Rom. 6:4-11).
3- The Savior. The work of salvation is based on the delivery of the Son of God as the One who paid the price for sin. Jesus is our Savior, as the Greek term sõter, “savior, liberator, preserver, conservative,” expresses ( Luke 2:11 ; John 4:42; Acts 5:31 ; 2 Peter 1:11). Thus, the Gospel of John reveals to us that every human being has been corrupted by sin and, therefore, needs a Savior. This Savior, revealed in John 3:16,17 , assures us of the glorious promise of Salvation: “whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Whoever repents, believes and remains in Jesus will never perish eternally.
SYNOPSIS I
Salvation is a precious gift from God to all who believe in His Son.
II- THE NATURE OF THE PROMISE OF SALVATION
We can understand the nature of the Promise of Salvation by studying some salvific aspects of this great work.1- Justification. One of the aspects of the salvific work that is presented in biblical terms is “justification.” Whoever is reached by the Gospel of Christ and believes in the Son of God with all his heart is “declared righteous,” that is, free from guilt and the deserving of divine punishment. He is no longer condemned; he is declared absolved. He is saved! Through Justification, the sinner is seen by God as if he had not committed any transgression. In this way, we have been justified and, therefore, we have complete peace with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ( Romans 5:1 ).
2- Regeneration. In order for the work of Salvation, presented in the Gospel of John 3, to be manifested in the life of the saved, it is necessary for Regeneration to occur, called the New Birth in the same chapter (John 3:1-6). A person who is born again goes through a process of inner transformation in which the heart undergoes a radical change through the Gospel, through the power of the Spirit ( John 16:7-11 ). This work is done directly by the Holy Spirit. Then, the sinner becomes a child of God, a new creature who walks in newness of life ( Romans 8:16,17 ; 2 Corinthians 5:17 ). Once we are born again, we become part of God's family ( Hebrews 2:11 ).
3- Sanctification. Sanctification is an aspect of salvation as a result of the Calvary work of our Lord Jesus. First, through Justification and Regeneration, we are sanctified by God in a positional way, that is, immediately. Second, we are sanctified progressively through our relationship with Christ. This process will occur until the advent of our final glorification at the time of the transformation of our body at the advent of the Rapture of the Church, for we will have a body similar to that of the resurrected Jesus ( Phil 3:21 ). Therefore, the work of salvation exposed in the Gospel of John is complete.
SYNOPSIS II
We can understand the nature of the Promise of Salvation by studying some salvific aspects of this great work: justification, regeneration and sanctification.
BIBLICAL HELP
Teacher, explain that the second topic of the lesson will deal with the salvific aspects of the promise of salvation: regeneration, justification and sanctification. As there is not enough space, we will focus here on the first aspect, which is Regeneration. So, start the topic by asking the following question: “What is regeneration?” Explain that “regeneration is the decisive and instantaneous action of the Holy Spirit, through which He creates the inner nature anew. The Greek noun (palingenesis) translated as 'regeneration' appears only twice in the New Testament. Matthew 19:28 uses it with reference to the end times. Only in Titus 3.5 does it refer to the spiritual renewal of the individual. Although the Old Testament has the nation of Israel in view, the Bible uses several figures of speech to describe what happened. The New Testament presents the figure of being created again (2 Cor 5.17) and devotion (Titus 3.5), but the most common is that of 'being born' (John 3.3). Peter declares that God, in his great mercy, has 'begotten us again to a living hope' (1 Peter 1:3). It is a work that only God performs. Being born again involves a radical transformation. Regeneration is the beginning of our growth in the knowledge of God, in our experience of Christ and the Spirit in our moral character” (HORTON, Stanley. Teologia Sistematica. Uma Perspectiva Pentecostal. 19.ed. Rio de Janeiro: CPAD, 2018, p. 371).
III- PROMISE AND PERSEVERANCE IN SALVATION
1- The basis of the promise of salvation is Christ. John 3 clearly shows that our Lord is the center of the promise of our salvation. God chose a people from among sinful people who repented and believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior ( Eph 1:4 ; 2 Thess 2:13,14). Therefore, the Church of Christ, the people of God, is made up of people united to the Lord Jesus (Eph 1:9,10). Thus, we are part of the Body of Christ and this is only possible because of the work accomplished on Calvary (Eph 1:7).2- Individual Apostasy. In the Scriptures we also find a great warning concerning the promise of Salvation. The Bible shows us that salvation is not unconditional, because people can resist it ( John 3:18-20 ). It also shows that those who have received it and experienced God’s love and forgiveness can break off this relationship, completely rejecting the fundamental teachings revealed in the Word of God (doctrinal apostasy), as well as becoming slaves to the practice of sin again (moral apostasy). We call this “apostasy,” which implies a rebellion against God, a deliberate abandonment of the faith that was once delivered to us. There are several biblical records that confirm this possibility ( Acts 14:21,22 ; 1 Tim 6:10-12; Heb 2:1-3 ).
3- The Promise and Assurance of Salvation. The promise of Salvation also brings us a comforting assurance, the same one that the apostle Paul wrote: “But I am in a strait between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” ( Phil 1:23 ). The biblical teaching of the New Testament affirms that, upon passing through death, the saved person is immediately with Christ. Thus, those who believe in Christ submit to Him as their Lord and, through a personal relationship with Christ, are definitively assured of eternal life ( 1 John 5:13 ).
SUMMARY III
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the center of the promise of our salvation.
TEACHING AID
Teacher, begin the topic by asking the following question: “Is the promise of salvation unconditional?” Encourage everyone to participate and listen carefully to the students. Then, explain that the Bible shows us that salvation is not unconditional, because people can resist it. Explain that those who have received it can also break this relationship with God, completely rejecting the teachings revealed in the Word of God (doctrinal apostasy), as well as becoming slaves to the practice of sin again (moral apostasy). Therefore, we must not neglect the study of the Word of God, prayer, fasting, and communion with the saints. Without the Word of God and the disciplines of the Christian life we become easy prey for the Enemy and end up succumbing to the false doctrines of today.
CONCLUSION
The Promise of Salvation reminds us that we cannot neglect our conduct before God and the world. Salvation, first of all, depends on God, who extends his hand to the lost sinner. But it is also necessary for human beings to humbly accept God’s love and grace in their favor. Whoever believes in Jesus is saved, but whoever rejects him remains lost in sins and transgressions ( Eph 2:1 ).
REVIEWING THE CONTENT
1- What are the two realities that are presented in the promise of salvation?
This precious promise brings two realities: 1) he who believes will not be condemned (John 3:18); 2) he who does not believe is already condemned (John 3:18). Therefore, salvation is a wonderful gift from God to all who believe in His Son.
2- What is the basis of the work of salvation?
The work of salvation is based on the giving of the Son of God as the one who paid the price for sin.
3- In justification, how is the sinner seen by God?
Through Justification, the sinner is seen by God as if he had committed no transgression.
4- What are the two types of sanctification, as the lesson teaches us?
Positional sanctification and progressive sanctification.
5- Cite biblical texts that present the possibility of individual apostasy in the life of a saved person.
Acts 14:21,22; 1 Timothy 6:10-12; and Hebrews 2:1-3.
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