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Assemblies Of God Nigeria, Rivers District

  /  Adult Sunday School Manual   /  Adult Sunday School Lesson. Sunday, 21st January, 2024

Adult Sunday School Lesson. Sunday, 21st January, 2024

*Adult Teacher January – June, 2024*

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*UNIT 1: Redemption*

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*Sunday January 21, 2024*

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*LESSON 3*

*RESULTS OF REDEMPTION*

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*Memory Verse: Galatians 3:13, 14*

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_Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, … that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith,_ (KJV).

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*Central Truth*

_All the blessings of salvation come through our redemption by Christ._

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*Learning Objectives*

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify and appreciate the benefits of redemption in setting us free from the bondage of sin with liberty to serve God.

2. Realise that in redemption, believers are accepted by God and now members of His family.

3. Understand as Christians that Christ is at work in our lives to bring to completion the result of redemption Christlike living now and eternity.

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*The Lesson Outline*

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*1. Freedom from Sin’s Bondage*

A. Freed by the Son

*John 8:31-36*

B. Freed for Service

*Romans 6:16-18*

*2. Adoption By God*

A. Chosen for Adoption

*Ephesians 1:3-5*

B. Accepted by God

*Ephesians 1:5-7*

*3. Christlike Living*

A. Live as God’s Servant

*Romans 6:22*

B. Live to Please God

*Colossians 1:10-14*

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*Introducing the Lesson*

People like to see results from their efforts. Those starting an exercise programme or a diet like to step on the scales in a week and see significant weight loss. Many investors just starting out hope their initial outlay quickly produces profits.

Results are a good way to measure the effectiveness of a plan or programme. prog However, results sometimes can be misleading or downright discouraging. However, results some people who try intense exercise of diet changes may see little or no weight loss at first. Many give up at that point, feeling their efforts were wasted. Long- term changes must be put into perspective.

When people come to Christ, they may experience immediate, dynamic changes. Some changes, however, will likely come at a slower pace. As Christians, we can be certain Christ is at work in our lives to bring to completion the results of redemption.

In this lesson, we will identify some of the benefits of the redemption we have in Christ and learn how to appreciate those benefits. All the blessings of salvation come through our redemption by Christ.

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*THE HOLY SCRIPTURES*

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*John 8:31.* “`Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

35. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

36. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Rom *6:18.* Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Eph. 1:3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. according to the riches of his grace; Rom 6:22. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Col 1:10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.“`

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*COMMENTARY AND APPLICATION*

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*1. Freedom from Sin’s Bondage*

A. Freed by the Son

*John 8:31-36*

Freedom is described in many ways. It is viewed as having the liberty to live life with no restrictions. Others see it as the independence to make choices on your own. Freedom is also the autonomy to live life without chains. Those who are bound by slavery cannot make the choices that a free person can.

Jesus spoke to a group of Jewish followers about spiritual freedom (John 8:31-36). He first defined a true disciple as one who listens to and follows His teaching (verse 31). Hearing and obeying His words words would lead them to the truth: this truth they would find freedom in (verse 32).

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*Question for Application*

_What events in Israel’s history suggest that its people had known slavery many times?_

Though Israel was under Roman occupation in the first century AD and the Jewish people had been slaves in Egypt at one time, these Jews seemed to be in denial. Other nations had conquered them, but their spirit remained unsubdued. They were still the chosen people, the descendants of Abraham. By the nature of their relationship to Abraham they claimed they had never been enslaved, so they did not need to be set free (verse 33)

Jesus was trying to teach them a deeper, spiritual lesson. He clarified His message by stating no one who sins is free. Sinners are slaves to sin (verse 34). The place of the slave is to serve, not to be a part of the family. However, a son is born into the privilege of the home. At that time in history, a son could free a family slave. Jesus referred to himself as the Son who provides liberty to those who want freedom from sin (verses 35-36). This freedom is still given by Him today to all who seek liberty from the oppression of sin.

It is important not to miss a vital application of this passage. Many people of Jesus’ day, and our own, have admired Jesus and believed He was Someone special. But Jesus showed we must do more than just admire Him and His teachings. We must learn them and live by them. Only as we daily obey God’s Word does the truth become a part of our thinking. The truth as revealed by God through His Word – the Bible – can make us free from false ideas and theories, and from the anxieties and fear of our world.

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B. Freed for Service

*Romans 6:16-18*

The role of the slave offered little human dignity. Slaves were often ill- treated, ordered from one task to another, and forced to put their personal needs aside for their master. Slavery sometimes reduced a person to the place of a beast of burden.

Slavery was an active practice when Paul wrote to the believers in Rome. He referred to the practice of wilful service, when someone owing a debt too large to repay asked to be a servant to the lender to repay him. A servant would have to obey the one he served.

People can be wilful slaves to sin, which pays them with death, or they can offer themselves as servants who obey God and find life and righteousness (Romans 6:16). Paul gave thanks that, though once ensiaved by sin, believers found freedom through obedience to God’s good news (verse 17). Through Christ’s redemption, they were free from the devastation of sin so they might serve righteousness (verse 18). This might seem a contradiction, for a slave is still a slave. However, the servant of Christ gives his life willingly and finds the joy and peace no servant of sin can possibly know.

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*Question for Application*

_How can a slave to righteousness be free?_

Freedom for the Christian comes through the relationship developed with God the Father. It is a relationship much deeper than any human slave and master could ever establish. His gra draws a Christian to be embraced as a true child, one the Father loves and cares for. In Him, we can find true freedom to choose to do what is right, rather than living in guilt and frustration over never being able to refuse the destructive urging of a mind sold to sin.

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*2. Adoption by God*

A. Chosen for Adoption

*Ephesians 1:3-5*

*Question for Application*

_What are the benefits of being adopted by a family?_

Adoption is the practice of providing a loving home for children who do not have parents or caretakers. Most often, the adopted child takes on the full legal status of any children born naturally to the family. This gives that child access to the resources of the home. An adopted child is loved like the other children of the family, and given the same rights and responsibilities. Where a child might have felt rejected or unwanted before, the adopted child becomes a part of his or her new family with a growing sense of acceptance and love. Adoption was hardly mentioned

in the Old Testament, where we find no direct laws or principles regarding its practice. The New Testament era brought about a wider understanding of this practice through the Greek and Roman culture enveloping Israel. Paul was the only one in the New Testament to use the term directly. He used it in reference to believers becoming children of God.

In writing to the church in Ephesus, Paul explained that all believers including us were chosen for adoption into the family of God, so they and we – might gain the full benefits of being a son or daughter of God (Ephesians 1:3-5). Because He chose us in Christ, God has given us access to all the spiritual blessings of Christ (verse 3).

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*Question for Application*

_What are some of the spiritual blessings made available through Christ?_

These spiritual blessings are numerous, including redemption, the fruit of the Spirit, and eternal life.

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*Question for Application*

_Why has God made these blessings ours?_

First, God made these blessings ours because it is His will or choice for us to be holy (verse 4). The root meaning of holy is one of separation or difference. But its basic idea in the New Testament usage is a positive one of dedication to God and His service. The Bible expects Christians to be different in the inner consecration and dedication of our hearts.

Second, it is God’s will or choice for us to be blameless. This word is used of Christ who presented himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God (Hebrews 9:14). God pours out heaven’s blessings on us, not so we can waste them on fulfiling our desires, but so we can be like Jesus. Just as adoption into a family brings one acceptance and love, so adoption into God’s family uniquely brings one into a right relationship with God. We find that we were wanted by our Father long before we were born. He did not need to see we would somehow benefit the family; He wanted us regardless so we could enjoy the blessings of His glorious Son Jesus.

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B. Accepted by God

*Ephesians 1:5-7*

The results of an adoption bring one into a place of love and family. The results of of adoption into God’s family are greater by far. God’s desire for us is that we be adopted as His children through the redemption made available by Christ (Ephesians 1:5). Because of His great kindness, we have been “accepted in the beloved” (verse 6), and and given the blessings of His grace. Grace is unearned approval. It is the characteristic of God that most denotes His love and favour for His people. We do not deserve His love, but He is love incarnate and extends His grace to us.

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*Questions for Application*

_What does the child of God receive as a member of God’s family?_

An adopted child usually has access to the resources of his or her family. A child of God is given freedom from sin through Christ’s blood. Along with this he receives forgiveness from his sins, forgiveness that would be impossible for him to earn. God provides this forgiveness freely through the richness of His grace (verse 7).

Because of our adoption into God’s household, we exist for His praise and glory. Our lives now can be lived in holiness, and in Christ we find our ultimate joy. It is a miraculous thing to step from loneliness into abundant life. It is beyond our understanding to imagine what blessings await us when we enter our eternal home to be with our Father forever.

Ephesians 1:5 states that God “predestined us into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself”.

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*Question for Application*

_Does this mean that some people are predestined to receive salvation while others are predestined to be lost? Explain._

God’s choice and predestination have to do with the predestina Body, not individuals. They simply state His purpose for all Christians. God is not a respecter of persons. The Bible’s clear teaching is that whosoever will may come (see John 3:16; Revelation 22:17). It is a sad misrepresentation of God’s character and plan to say that He predestines some to be saved and some to be lost.

God’s plan of salvation was only partially revealed in the Old Testament, much of it remained a mystery until New Testament times. Then the mystery was cleared up as God brought together and summed up everything in Christ, bringing His plan to a climax through Christ’s death and resurrection. Now we can see that God decided beforehand that if we trust in Christ, we will be saved to the praise of God’s glory. This is His purpose.

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*3. Christlike Living*

A. Live as God’s Servant

*Romans 6:22*

When he was set free, a slave realised that liberty allowed him to make certain choices he could not have made before. Freedom provided a sense of dignity and self- worth. Those set free from sin find the dignity to choose what is right.

In Romans 6:22, we learn that Christians are freed from sin through faith in Christ. We were once restricted by sin, but now we are servants of God. In this new relationship we find it possible to live a life of holiness. We are able to experience the hope of eternal life God promised to those who have placed their faith in Christ. Sin once clouded our judgement and obstructed our resolve to do what was formerly impossible, to live righteously each day.

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*Question for Application*

_What are the major differences between religion and a relationship with Christ?_

Religion is primarily founded on external principles that are meant to guide choices and govern appearance. A relationship with Christ develops one inwardly, transforming the heart and mind. There will be outward changes, but they are not the focus. They are only the evidence that God has changed the inner person. The goal of one who has been redeemed by Christ is to live like Christ lived – to always please God.

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B. Live to Please God

*Colossians 1:10-14*

Living to please God was a theme Paul addressed in his letter to the church in Colosse (Colossians 1:10-14). He stated Christians are to live their lives worthy of their holy calling in order to please God. This would involve producing fruit through good works, growing the knowledge of God, and finding strength in God to endure life’s struggles with patience and joy.

By God’s grace, we can share in the inheritance of the saints. We are now in the kingdom of God’s Son, no longer under the rule of darkness we once experienced (verses 12, 13). This gives Christians a reason to be thankful.

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Question for Application*

_*What implication does our deliverance from darkness have regarding our relationship to sin?_

Through our relationship, we are the sole property of Christ. We are under no obligation to our old master, Satan. Just as a slave would not return to his former owner and continue in his service, neither are we to return to a life of sin after we have been redeemed by Christ.

Christ freed us from the power of darkness by means of His blood, providing us with forgiveness from our sins (verse 14). When we are forgiven, we get a fresh start. We are changed so we can live to please God. The rule of darkness is lifted and we gain wisdom and strength from Christ’s presence in our life. The ability to live to please God is but one of the results of redemption.

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*Call to Discipleship*

In a world desiring immediate and measurable results, finding life in Christ may be seen as outdated or old-fashioned. However, the results of redemption reveal what an amazing change God makes in the lives of those who put their faith in Christ. Christians find freedom from sin’s bondage, adoption into God’s family, and the ability to live a life of service to God that pleases Him.

Are we experiencing the benefits of redemption in our lives? Sometimes we can allow ourselves to believe we can’t overcome temptation, at least certain ones. But through Christ we can! We may struggle with doubt-does God really love and desire to make something worthwhile of our lives? God chose us and set us apart so our lives can bring Him praise and glory. Because we are forgiven, sin is no longer our master. We can live as servants of God and, like Christ, we can please God in all we do. Let us begin today to appreciate the benefits of redemption we have in Christ.

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*Ministry in Action*

Extend the message of God’s loving adoption to those in your class who may not know that God desires them as His own sons and daughters. Remind Christians that living a redeemed life testifies to the unsaved of the saving power of Christ.

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*Copied@ ASSEMBLIES OF GOD PUBLICATION*

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