GOD’S LOVE DEMONSTRATED
Thur. 24/3/2022
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 DEMOSTRATED
Jn. 3:14-16; Rom 5:6; 1 Pet 1:18-19
The only saving grace for man is God’s love. It is interesting to note that while cursing man in the garden, God made provision for his redemption (Gen. 3:15). While man was in the state of hopelessness, God fulfilled this promise. God’s love for man will not allow Him see us perish. He made all necessary provisions for our salvation, redemption, restoration, justification, reconciliation, and sanctification. When the blood of animals was not effective to atone for our sin, God gave us His only begotten Son - Jesus, He made Himself man, came to the world and shed His precious blood. There is no greater love than for Him to lay down His life for His friends (Jn. 15:13). He did this not because we merited or deserved it. It was purely because He so much loves us despite our sins. This love is also the reason He does not want any sinner to die until he comes to repentance. As a matter of fact, God wants all to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). The sacrifice He made is for all including you.
Point of Emphasis: God’s sacrifice of love is for all!
Prayer Point: Lord, may Your sacrifice of love not be in vain in my life.
Reading The Bible Through in a Year: Morning: Eph. 1; Evening: Job 34-36
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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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.
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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.
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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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