Our Prayer

Our Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You and that my sins separate me from You. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to You for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of You. My greatest purpose in life is to follow Your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Friday, May 7, 2021

Class Lesson May 9, 2021

 



Question 1:

Where do you turn for trustworthy information?


THE POINT

Jesus saves those who

trust in Him.




THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Developing relationships 
online has become commonplace, but what happens if one of those “friends” refuses to meet in person? A documentary TV series investigates just such online only relationships. Suspicions arise that the person refusing to meet isn’t who he pretends to be, and the show’s investigators seek to discover the truth. Unfortunately, most cases are heartbreaking because the person being deceived has no idea she’s not in the relationship she thought she was.

We long to connect with others who will love us authentically. Many who feel they have no success in relationships turn to the Internet as a way to connect with someone else. This documentary reveals some people’s need to trust someone who will value them.

Trust is a major issue in our society. The documentary is indicative of a culture plagued with identity theft, trafficking, and scams. In short, our culture is severely lacking in trust, but fortunately there’s an answer. His name is Jesus.

A relationship with Him can always be trusted.


WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Romans 10:8b-10

8b The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

God didn’t make discovering and experiencing salvation some massively difficult task; salvation is as near as our mouths and our hearts. And what we do with our mouths and hearts is seen in two simultaneous actions: 

1. Believe in your heart. Faith is believing and trusting in something or someone. Trust is our reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of the thing or person in which we place our trust. Our salvation is not dependent on anything we do, but it is secured by our faith in what Jesus has done. Belief is much deeper and richer than just knowing something is true. As James said, “Even the demons believe—and they shudder” (Jas. 2:19). To “believe in your heart” is to place total trust and reliance on what we believe. Through faith in Jesus, we believe and receive Him as our Savior, the perfect atoning sacrifice through His death and resurrection. His resurrection is the validation of His sacrifice for our sins. Jesus overcame death, and He made the way for us to be reconciled to God. This is the gospel we believe in our hearts. 

2. Confess with your mouth. We confirm our belief in the gospel and the lordship of Christ by confessing it with our mouth. Confessing Jesus as Lord is to set Him apart from anyone or anything else. There is no other god; only Jesus is Lord. We acknowledge Jesus has paid the price for our salvation; therefore, our lives are no longer our own. Since He paid the price, He is Lord and Master, having all power and authority over us. 

Question 2:

What are some obstacles to

acknowledging Jesus as Lord?



Our inward belief and outward confession go hand in hand; they are two sides of the same coin. Interestingly, in verse 9, Paul ordered the actions: “confess” and “believe”; however, in verse 10, he reversed them: “believe” and “confess.” The result of confessing and believing (or of believing and confessing) is salvation and righteousness. Jesus saves us by removing our sin and His righteousness is ascribed to us. Jesus is our righteousness, and He makes us righteous (Rom. 5:19).

Without turning to Jesus with believing hearts, we wouldn’t be able to make an honest confession with our mouths. Belief and confession lead to righteousness and attest to our salvation. Our profession of faith confirms Jesus as God and His authority over life and death. Without this acknowledgment, we have no salvation or righteousness. Though God reveals Himself in creation and many believe in His existence, a saving faith is found only in belief and confession of the risen Christ.



Romans 10:11-13

11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, 12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 

The gospel is not for an elite social 
club, where God only extends invitations to those deemed worthy of membership. Such a club would be empty anyway, because none of us is worthy. That was Paul’s point in the opening chapters of the Book of Romans: no matter how good or bad we think we are, we all have sinned and are not worthy (Rom. 3:23). 

But the beauty of the gospel is that, just as all of us are unworthy sinners, we all have the opportunity to believe and accept the gospel. All of us—regardless of ethnicity or background. The earliest Christians were slow in realizing this truth, but the Book of Acts contains repeated reminders of this truth. When Jesus reminded His followers of the promised Holy Spirit, He told them the Spirit would empower them to “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8b). The Holy Spirit would enable the disciples to carry the gospel from Jerusalem, a solely Jewish culture; to Judea, the region where Jerusalem was located; to Samaria, the beginning of Gentile territory; out to the ends of the earth, which is inclusive of all people.

We also saw this in our first session with the Great 
Commission Jesus gave us. Jesus’ command to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19) goes right along with Romans 10:13: “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

These verses assure us that God’s desire has always been that we invite all people to believe on Him “for the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame” (v. 11). Shame is that painful emotion we feel when we become conscious of our guilt and wrongdoing. We have brought disgrace on ourselves and we are ashamed. Adam and Eve felt no shame (Gen. 2:25) until they sinned against God—and the shame of sin has been with us ever since. But the gift of salvation frees us from shame. When we believe and trust in the death of Jesus, who took our condemnation and shame upon Himself, He frees us from sin and shame.

Those who believe and call on the name of the Lord, regardless of who they are or where they come from, are assured of receiving the gift of salvation and the blessing of God’s abundant promises. God extends the invitation to all for a relationship with Him. This means that, as believers carrying out the Great Commission, we should be motivated to share the gospel with any and all with whom we cross paths. 

Question 3:

What does it mean to recognize Jesus as Lord?



Romans 10:14-17

14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. 16 But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

As beautiful as this promise of salvation is, it does not happen in a vacuum. Someone had to proclaim the message that calling on the name of the Lord leads to salvation. Starting with the point of salvation, Paul walked us backward to see what was involved and who initiated the whole process. It all begins with God Himself!


Question 4:

What do these verses teach us

about the character of God?


People have used a variety of means to spread the message of salvation, but it boils down to one essential element: one person telling another. When we accept and receive the good news, we receive both the benefits of that salvation—a forgiven life fully restored to a relationship with God—and the privilege of sharing that same gift with someone else.

Salvation is not automatic. Just because someone hears the gospel doesn’t mean he is automatically saved. It’s only the person who truly hears—takes to heart the message he hears—who believes. The connection between hearing and obeying is seen in verse 16: “Not all obeyed the gospel” (v. 16).

Not everyone will accept the gospel, but those who do believe will be forever grateful to those who bring the good news to them. We are the ones who deliver the message of life. Two things should motivate us: 

1. Gratitude. We express our thanks to God for the salvation we have through Christ by sharing that message of salvation with others. We can be grateful that God used someone else to tell us about Jesus. 

2. Love. Just as God has loved us, we can be a conduit of His love to others. We have benefited from His love, and that love leads us to love others. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).



Question 5:

What are some ways our group

can work together to share the good news?




DELIVERING THE MESSAGE

Technology has increased our capacity to share the gospel in many ways.
Use the space below to record ways that you’ve communicated with others in the
past few weeks. Then explain how you could use that method to share the gospel.









“Jesus replied, ‘This is the work of God —
that you believe in the one he has sent.’”
JOHN 6:29



LIVE IT OUT

What will you do this week with the message of salvation? Choose one of the following applications: 


Reflect. Reflect on those who contributed to your salvation and consider what they did that led you to accept the good news they shared? List ways you can do something similar for others.                                                                                                                      
Write. Write a note or call the individuals who played a role in your coming to faith in Christ. Thank them for their love and obedience in sharing the gospel with you.                                                           
Share. Prayerfully consider those whom God has placed in your path. Look for opportunities to tell them the message of Christ. Let God empower you to be an instrument that brings others to a saving knowledge of Him. 

Some of us have a more difficult time connecting with people and trusting them than others. But there is One who is utterly trustworthy. We can put our trust in Him.


Teacher's Notes:





A MOTHER'S IMPACT: Greg Laurie

Mothers play such a vital role in our society. Not only do they impact their children, but they also impact their grandchildren and maybe even their great-grandchildren. They impact generations because of the truths they pass on.

“You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.” - 2 Timothy 3:15

The apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy about the impact of Timothy’s mother and grandmother on his life: “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you” (2 Timothy 1:5 NLT). This shows us the importance of a godly heritage. For Timothy, it started with his grandmother, Lois, went to his mother, Eunice, and next to Timothy. And then Timothy passed that faith on.

 

George Washington said, “The greatest teacher I ever had was my mother.”

Abraham Lincoln said, “All that I am or hope to be, I owe it to my angel mother.”

Ronald Reagan said, “From my mother, I learned the value of prayer, how to have dreams and believe I could make them come true.”

 

When you think about it, a mother that points her children to Christ impacts them for eternity!

 

 

Trust is a major issue in our society.

We live in a culture plagued with identity theft, trafficking, and scams. In short, our culture is severely lacking in trust, but fortunately there’s an answer. His name is Jesus. A relationship with Him can always be trusted.

 

Romans 10:8b-10

The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

 

How is the Christian faith more than just believing facts about God?

 

How would you summarize the central message of the gospel?

 

The gospel message is centered on the resurrection and lordship of Christ.

  • The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of personal faith in Him as Lord.
  • Only by trusting and believing in Christ alone can we lay claim to God’s righteousness and receive His salvation.

 

What we do with our mouths and hearts is seen in two simultaneous actions:

 

1. Believe in your heart. Faith is believing and trusting in something or someone. Trust is our reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of the thing or person in which we place our trust. Our salvation is not dependent on anything we do, but it is secured by our faith in what Jesus has done. Through faith in Jesus, we believe and receive Him as our Savior, the perfect atoning sacrifice through His death and resurrection. His resurrection is the validation of His sacrifice for our sins. Jesus overcame death, and He

made the way for us to be reconciled to God. This is the gospel we believe in our hearts.

2. Confess with your mouth. We confirm our belief in the gospel and the lordship of Christ by confessing it with our mouth. Confessing Jesus as Lord is to set Him apart from anyone or anything else. There is no other god; only Jesus is Lord. We acknowledge Jesus has paid the price for our salvation; therefore, our lives are no longer our own. Since He paid the price, He is Lord and Master, having all power and authority over us.

 

 

Romans 10:11-13

For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

 

What motivates you to tell others about Jesus?

 

What does it mean to recognize Jesus as Lord?

 

The gospel message offers salvation to all people.

  • All are in need of a Savior because all have sinned.
  • The Lord is no respecter of persons; that is, He shows no favoritism; He is impartial.
  • Everyone who calls on the Lord in faith believing shall be saved.

 

But the beauty of the gospel is that, just as all of us are unworthy sinners, we all have the opportunity to believe and accept the gospel. All of us—regardless of ethnicity or background. The earliest Christians were slow in realizing this truth, but the Book of Acts contains repeated reminders of this truth. When Jesus reminded His followers of the promised Holy Spirit, He told them the Spirit would empower them to “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8b). The Holy Spirit would enable the disciples to carry the gospel from Jerusalem, a solely Jewish culture; to Judea, the region where Jerusalem was located; to Samaria, the beginning of Gentile territory; out to the ends of the earth, which is inclusive of all people.

 

Those who believe and call on the name of the Lord, regardless of who they are or where they come from, are assured of receiving the gift of salvation and the blessing of God’s abundant promises. God extends the invitation to all for a relationship with Him. This means that, as believers carrying out the Great Commission, we should be motivated to share the gospel with any and all with whom we cross paths.


Romans 10:14-17

How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

 

Why is it necessary that people verbally share the gospel?

 

 

The gospel message should be communicated to others.

  • Believing requires a hearing of the message, the word of God.
  • Hearing requires someone who is faithful to speak the message.

 

As beautiful as this promise of salvation is, it does not happen in a vacuum. Someone had to proclaim the message that calling on the name of the Lord leads to salvation. Starting with the point of salvation, Paul walked us backward to see what was involved and who initiated the whole process. It all begins with God Himself!

 

We are the ones who deliver the message of life.

 

Two things should motivate us:

 

  • Gratitude. We express our thanks to God for the salvation we have through Christ by sharing that message of salvation with others. We can be grateful that God used someone else to tell us about Jesus.
  • Love. Just as God has loved us, we can be a conduit of His love to others. We have benefited from His love, and that love leads us to love others. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

 

Close:

Not much has changed over the centuries. Various views still exist over how one gains right standing with the Lord, or even if it is necessary. Some deny sin is a relevant factor

over which to have any concern. Others are convinced that in the end everything will turn out okay; that God as a God of love will accept everyone; that salvation is an entitlement, a right. The view that gaining right standing with God is a matter of performance—doing the right things, being a nice person—continues to be popular.

 

But if Paul were standing in our pulpit today, or interacting with others in our marketplaces, he would denounce those messages as completely untrue. But he’s not standing in our pulpit today, or in our marketplaces, we are, and we have been charged to declare the truth. Salvation is found by faith in Christ. It calls for a great commitment to Him as Lord.

 

Jesus saves those who trust in Him.













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