Memory Verse: Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14
Scripture Reading: Revelation 22:11-12; 2 Corinthians 5:12-21
Introduction:
Though no one can know positively the time or the hour, current world events point ever increasingly to the Lord’s return. If you are straddling the fence, still putting off making the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, perhaps this is the day you should make your commitment. Procrastination may mean your spiritual death.
Christ’s death was for all believers, just as Christ’s believers die to sin. Because believers, Christians, are united with Jesus both in His death and His resurrection, they participate in the new creation, that is, being restored by Christ to what God originally created them to be.
A Christian’s life should change, and because we are changing, we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. This becomes a ministry of reconciliation, meaning a change of relation from enmity to peace. Christ’s death was in our place and for our sins, if we believe in Jesus, God counts Jesus’ righteousness as our righteousness. Reconciliation is then entrusted to us to tell all people that God wants to restore them to a relationship with Himself. In this way Christians are God’s ambassadors with the mission to implore people to be reconciled to God, to listen to the forgiving voice of their Creator.
The grace of God is the source of salvation; faith is the channel, not the cause. Salvation never originates in the efforts of people but arises out of the loving-kindness of God. We cannot do anything to earn our salvation, truly, salvation is of the Lord.
Study Questions:
- What is the fulfillment of Christ’s will? 1 Corinthians 9:21; Matthew 5:17-19. Note: The word “fulfill” means: “to fill out, expand or complete.” It does not mean to bring to an end.
- Can we obey God’s law through obedience? Galatians 3:10; Romans 1:17; 3:9-10, 19-23. Note: All fall short of the Law’s standard. Faith is found at the beginning of the salvation process.
- Is keeping the Law natural to us? Romans 2:12-20; Galatians 3:2-9. Note: Gentiles believed in a basic moral law such as, honoring their parents, they knew in their hearts that there was a difference between right and wrong. This “law of conscience” serves as a judge to them in place of Moses’ law. Now, the work of the law is written on our hearts.
- How can we live as we are called? 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. Note: There is a “faithfulness” to the Christian calling.
- Is there any particular urgency with regard to salvation? 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Isaiah 49:8; Hebrews 10:36-38. Note: Paul encourages those who are saved to work out and develop their salvation. God is always ready to listen, help and deliver, if we turn to Him in faith.
- What is the whole duty of man? Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
- Can we keep just those commandments we wish to keep? Deuteronomy 27:26; Galatians 3:10; James 2:8-13.
- Are the commandments difficult to keep? Matthew 11:29-30; 1 John 3:16-24.
- Does the Lord take pleasure in seeing people perish? Ezekiel 18:30-32; 33:11; Lamentations 3:26, 31-33.