SALVATION BRINGS LIBERTY
Sunday 17/4/2022
Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 35, 147,
Devotional Reading: Rom. 8:1-11
Topic For Adults: No True Liberty Without Jesus
Topic For Youths: Liberty Is Possible For All
Topic For Intermediates: Be Diligent To Ensure Your Liberty
Lesson Scripture: Jn. 3:16; Rom. 8:1-39
MEMORY VERSE
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”
(Romans 8:1) NKJV.
YOUR LIBERTY IS GUARANTEED
Rom. 8:31-39
What awaits the people in Christ Jesus is overwhelming victory. Those who celebrate Easter without cordial relationship with Jesus are the most miserable on earth. You should rejoice if you have good relationship with Jesus. Celebration of Easter is not in eating and drinking. You must rejoice if you have given your life to Jesus. Reflect on your relationship with Jesus. Are you truly saved? It will be disastrous for you to celebrate Easter if your liberty is not guaranteed in Jesus. Let your time of reconciliation be now because deferring it may be dangerous.
Point of Emphasis: Celebrating Easter without Christ is like building a castle in the air.
Prayer Point: I receive the grace to build an intimate relationship with Jesus and live for Him forever.
Reading The Bible Through in a Year: Morning: 1 Thess. 4; Evening: Ps. 65 – 67
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BACKGROUND
Jesus’ selfless and sacrificial life set human race at liberty through the salvation He offered the whole world. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ changed the history of the human race. Prior to what He offered through the cross and His resurrection, we were under the bondage of sin and its consequences. Jesus Christ willingly atoned for our sins on the cross and rose up on the third day to bring salvation to mankind which set us at liberty. This is the point for our discussion this week.
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NOTES ON THE LESSON
PART 1: FREE FROM ADAM AND EVE’S SIN – ROM. 8:1-8; JN. 3: 16
All mankind were condemned through the sin of our first parents (Adam and Eve) on earth. Some erroneously have the illusion that freedom is doing anything we want but freedom on the part of the creator of heaven and earth is obedience to His will. This is having knowledge of what to do and what not to do. It is also doing the right thing. Disobedience is sin. The holiness of God demands that sin should be checked and punished. We are from the lineage of Adam and Eve. We are therefore sinners from birth. Due to the sin committed by Adam and Eve, our relationship with God was broken. God was willing to forgive and restore our relationship with Him. God planned to offer salvation to the world through His only begotten Son-Jesus Christ.
The fall experienced by our first parents on earth affected all mankind. Before their fall, life to them was like living in heaven. The fall of Adam and Eve made all of us lose our relationship with God. It became impossible for anyone to please God no matter how good the person may be. God in His mercy sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins in order for our relationship with God to be restored. Jesus took away our sins and reconciled us with God. The Scripture declares in Romans 8:1 that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The death and resurrection was the price paid which granted us freedom from the bondage of sin and its consequences.
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PART 2: ADOPTED AS GOD’S CHILDREN – ROM. 8:9-17
There are many opportunities that accrue to Christians as a result of what Jesus did for the human race. It is mandatory for anyone who wishes to partake in the unparalleled love of Christ to forsake his/her sins and accept Him as personal Lord and Saviour. Some of the privileges that could be enjoyed through Jesus are:-
a) Reconciliation is made possible with God.
b) Those in Christ Jesus are no more controlled by sinful nature.
c) The Spirit of God dwells in the saints of God.
d) We are empowered to do God’s will.
e) One is made right with God and the Spirit of God gives eternal life, through our body we may experience physical death.
f) God who raised Jesus Christ from death will make us to resurrect on the last day.
g) We became joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
h) The born again receive God’s spirit which qualifies them as children of God.
i) The saints can call God their Father and present their requests to Him.
j) At the end of our sojourning here on earth, we will share in the future glory.
The benefits are more than whatever we may go through in the world.
PART 3: CERTAINTY OF FUTURE GLORY – ROM. 8:17-39
Paul enjoins all Christians to endure all kinds of sufferings that we may experience because of our faith in Christ Jesus. He posited that none of the trials can compare with the rewards awaiting us. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is a historical event whereby Jesus came back from physical death to newness of life with a glorified body, never to die again. The bodily resurrection of Jesus is one of the central tenets of the Christian faith. God delivered Jesus Christ for our offences and raised Him for our justification. Jesus atoned for our salvation which set us at liberty.
While sinners remain under the bondage of sin, Christians have hope of future glory. They passionately look for a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to wait patiently for what God had promised. Evidences abound in the Bible that Jesus Christ resurrected. In view of this, Christians are certain that all true believers will not taste the second death.
CONCLUSION
The fact that God imputed our sins to Jesus Christ and made Him to die for us to be reconciled with Him is great demonstration of His unparalleled love towards mankind. Reflection on what God did through Jesus Christ should prompt a reasonable person to appreciate Him and accept Jesus as personal Lord and Saviour.
QUESTIONS
1. Explain what obedience is from God’s perspective.
2. How did God offer salvation to mankind?
3. Mention the price paid which set us free from the bondage of sin.
4. State some privileges we enjoy through Jesus.
5. What should you do in response to what Jesus did for mankind?
DO HAVE A BLESSED DAY
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