GOD’S LOVE DEMONSTRATED
Sun. 27/3/2022
Suggested Hymns: 75, 210, 342
Devotional Reading: Romans 5:5-8
Topic for Adults: The Best Time to Love
Topic for Youths: Despite Your Sin, God Still Loves You
Topic for Intermediates: God Loves you Still
Lesson Scriptures: Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 7:15-23; 5:6-8; Phil. 2:5-8
MEMORY VERSE
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
Romans 5:6-8 (NKJV).
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GOD'S LOVE RECIPROCATED
Mark. 12:28-32
If God has so much expressed His love to us, we need to consider how we will reciprocate His love. He loves us without any reason and when we do not deserve it. Each one who has experienced and enjoyed God’s love must strive to reciprocate it to the best of his or her ability. God wants us to love Him in return by obeying His will (Mk. 12:30). You cannot claim to love God without obeying Him. We need to also love the people God placed around us. You cannot claim to love God whom you have not seen if you have not loved the people you can see (Mk. 12:31; 1 Jn. 4:20-21). You need to also love your enemy (Matt. 5:43-48). It is not in your place to kill your enemy. That enemy can also receive the love of God and be saved through you. You cannot be a recipient of the love of God without loving Him in return.
Point of Emphasis: You cannot be a recipient of the love of God without loving Him in return.
Prayer Point: Lord, help me to fully reciprocate Your love to me in Jesus name.
Reading The Bible Through in a Year: Morning: Eph. 4:1-16; Evening: Ps. 1-4
BACKGROUND
This week’s lesson exposes us to the kind of love God has for mankind. We failed Him by obeying another voice different from His and as a result of this, we lost all the benefits provided for us. We became wild and uncontrollable and eternal death was waiting for us all. Despite this, God demonstrated His love by redeeming and restoring us through Jesus to Himself. He gave us another chance to return to Him. As many as accept His unconditional love and reciprocate it will reign with Him here on earth and in eternity
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NOTES ON THE LESSON
PART 1: THE NEED FOR GOD’S LOVE – ROM. 3:23; 6:23; 7:15-23
Man failed God by disobeying His instruction thereby losing his place both in the Garden of Eden and in God’s eternal kingdom. All earthly and heavenly benefits originally enjoyed by man were withdrawn and a different, wicked nature of sin replaced God’s nature. All human race, through Adam, inherited this sinful nature that leads to eternal death. We became hopeless and unable to free ourselves from this sinful nature and its consequences. We became slaves to sin (Jn. 8:34) and a “thing” owned, used and prone to destruction by the devil (1 Jn. 3:8). A slave does not abide in the house forever and he cannot free himself. Besides, the devil, a wicked taskmaster has no mercy for every prey in his trap.
The relationship that was once cordial between God and man became sour. Man completely lost God and our fellowship with Him. Man also lost the dominion (the reason why he was made). He became dominated by sin, the devil and other lower creatures he was made to rule over. Man became so wicked in thoughts and deeds. All the intents of man’s thoughts became evil (Gen. 6:5). Different forms of images were made to replace the Almighty God. Some come around to say there is no God whatsoever. The Bible says in Rom. 1:28 “… and even as they did not retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which were not fitting…” . This was the reason God sent flood to destroy the world in the time of Noah.
The helpless situation of man continues today. Paul the Apostle expressed this helpless situation in Rom. 7:15-23. It was the lamentation of one who needed help. He declared that another force was working within him as what he desired to do he could not do but what he hated was what he did. This is the same for everyone born of man. Until help comes, man will remain in this sorry state.
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PART 2: THE GREATEST SACRIFICE – ROM. 5:6-8; PHIL. 2:5-8
God is justified for cursing man and preparing an eternal place of torment for him and the devil who deceived him. God loves man so much that He would not allow man to be forever separated from Him. He therefore made provision for his salvation (forgiveness, sanctification, redemption, justification, restoration, and reconciliation) through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son.
There is no other price that is precious enough to pay for man’s ransom than the unblemished, pure blood of the Lamb. The blood of animals was not sufficient and since no man was good in the sight of God, God caused His Son - Jesus Christ to come down as man to pay with His blood for our sins. Despite our sin, He loved us and showed this by paying the ultimate price to have us permanently restored to Himself. He chose to die the painful and shameful death like criminals on the cross. He was mocked, spat on, beaten, pierced and nailed for our sin. If the devil knew the mystery behind the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:8). The greatest mistake the devil made till date was the crucifixion of Jesus. Salvation was guaranteed for man through His death.
PART 3: RECIPROCATE GOD’S LOVE - MK. 12:28-31; ROM. 8:38-39; MATT. 5:43-48.
God so much loves us that He gave us His Son who had to die for our sins to redeem and restore us to Himself. If we believe He has done so much for us, what is the best way to reciprocate His love? Some reciprocate God’s love by denying His existence. Some claim it is stupidity to believe that Jesus came in human form to die for sinners while some others simply make different gods (physical and imaginary) for themselves and bow to them. All those who deny God’s love are condemned already (Jn. 3:18).
Believers must reciprocate God’s love in the following ways; (1) Give your life to Him. Giving your life to Him shows that you indeed appreciate His sacrificial love. (2) Obey His commandments (Jn.14:15). Loving God is not primarily by words but by acts. (3) Love your spouse as Christ loves the Church and gave Himself for her (Eph. 5:25-33). (4) Love God’s people. We cannot claim to love God whom we have not seen when we have not loved the brethren whom we see (1 Jn. 4:20-21; 3:10-12). (5) Love your enemies (Matt. 5:43-48). Loving our enemies is a direct instruction from the Master Himself. Jesus demonstrated this love to us by dying for us while we were still His enemies. While on the cross, Jesus showed us example of how to love our enemies. He prayed for, restored the ear of the servant of the high priest who followed those who came to arrest Him. (6) Serve the Body of Christ in any capacity you can. We are meant to serve others (Matt 20:20-28). (7) Do not let anything or anyone separate you from the love of Christ (Rom 8:38-39). Whatever you are going through whether positive or negative should not stop you from loving God and being with Him to the end.
CONCLUSION
God’s love is available for all to explore. It is not discriminatory. Jesus died once for all. He instructed His disciples to go and make disciples of all the nations. This means, His love life and death are not meant for only Israel but for the whole world.
QUESTIONS
1. Explain why man needs God’s love.
2. How did man lose all the privileges available to him at creation?
3. Explain why God’s love is not discriminatory.
4. How best can we reciprocate God’s love?
5. Is there any danger in forsaking God’s love? Justify your answer.
DO HAVE A BLESSED DAY
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