Church of God Mission International – ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL – DATE: SUNDAY AUGUST 28th, 2022 – TOPIC: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND GOD’S GRACE
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ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
DATE: SUNDAY AUGUST 28th, 2022
TOPIC: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND GOD’S GRACE
TEXT: Titus 2:11-14, Gal 2:21; Rom 6:1-2; 2 Cor 6:1-2; Hen 6:4-6
CENTRAL THOUGHT: No one can claim to have God’s grace without divine transformation
HYMN: S, S & S 894 , “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound”
INTRODUCTION:
Like we have seen in our previous lesson, grace is not a licence to live in sin. No one can claim to have God’s grace
without Divine transformation. Therefore,
those who think they can live the way they wish and continue with their licentious, promiscuous and fraudulent
lifestyles on the unfounded belief that grace abounds, deceive themselves. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”. God’s grace in a believer’s life produces a dramatic change and makes him a new creature in Christ. This transformation
will be visible for everyone to see.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are to:
1.Understand the place of grace in our walk with God:
- Know what it means to frustrate the grace of God if possible:
- Learn from the examples of biblical characters;
- highlight the consequences of frustrating the grace of God:
and - highlight the benefits of not frustrating the grace of God.
BIBLE TRUTH:
Q1. WHAT IS THE PLACE OF GRACE IN A BELIEVER’S LIFE? (Tit.2: 11 15; Eph.2:8-9
(NASB); Rom.6:23; 1 Pet.3:18; Jn.3:16; Heb.4:15-16;1 Pet.4:10)
Without the grace of God, we would still be separated from Him, condemned to die for our sins. This is the first major
work of grace in our lives. Hence a ransom was needed (one we couldn’t pay) to buy us out from suffering God’s
judgment for sin, which is death, and Jesus, the Son of God took our place.
Being saved does not immediately translate us to heaven physically. We are still in a world that hates God and
is full of temptation to do wrong. Grace comes in again and we see its second major work in the Christian’s life. We
overcome sin and stand firm in trials by grace. Besides battling with temptations, believers also face trials and persecution. God’s grace helps us to endure and hold on to our faith in the face of these.bAs God grants us victory over sin and temptations, and makes us patient in trials by His grace, we see ourselves growing in our faith (James
1:2-4). Alongside He gives us
responsibilities. We don’t remain babies forever. He sends us to share the gospel
heal the sick, teach and strengthen the saved, etc. But many of the tasks God assigns us cannot be accomplished in
our own power or wisdom. In Comes the grace again. For we are able to do the work of the kingdom by grace. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and godly fear- Hebrews 12:28 (KJV).
Also Read: Open Heaven 28 August 2022 Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Topic: FULFILLING PURPOSE
Q2.WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD?
Gal.2.12-21; Rom.6:1-10
To frustrate the grace of God means to deliberately embrace ungodly passions, to ignore/set aside/disregard God’s leadings and instruction. It means to limit the move or workings of God
upon one’s life, which become a stumbling block to others. Frustrating the grace of God is a great and horrible sin which the Apostle Paul vindicates
himself from. “I do not frustrate the grace of God.” This sin is committed in two ways: First, by not receiving
the grace of God when it is tendered. The grace of God is frustrated when it is not
received: the right entertaining of it is by
receiving it. The apostle exhorts the Corinthians, “We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also, that you receive not the grace of
God in vain,” (2 Cor. 6:1) Secondly, this sin is also committed by men’s taking
other methods and shifts to obtain the favour of God than this grace alone; they frustrate the grace of God, by seeking
other ways and expedients for
righteousness than the grace of God.
Finally, people frustrate the grace of God by liVing in sin unrepentantly even after
divine warnings. Also, by giving up on the love of God and plunging into backsliding
or apostasy, and by taking one’s life through suicide, grace is being frustrated.
Q3.GOD’S GRACE AND PRINCIPLES AT WORK IN SOME BIBLICAL CHARACTERS
a. EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO FOUND GRACE AND FRUSTRATED THE GRACE OF GOD
I. Samson: Judge. 13:2-5, 24-25; 16: 16-22
Samson was a peculiar child and
by way of angelic heavenly choice, to lead and judge Israel. Grace chose him
but his amorous lifestyle derailed him out of grace and he died a shameful and
premature death.
ii. Solomon: 1 Kings 1-11
Solomon was a product of grace: an unmerited favour chose him over his siblings and made him to become a
great and prosperous king. During his reign, Solomon became famous for his
wisdom.
Under Solomon’s reign Israel reached her
greatest point as a nation, honour, wealth, power, and respect were hers because of the administration of her
greatest king. But he displeased God by marrying 700 wives and 300 concubines
(many from heathen nations), but more importantly, he allowed the women to turn his heart away from the God of Israel. (1 Kings 11:1-11).
iii. Judas Iscariot: Matt.
10:1-4;26:25;27:3: Lk.9:1 -2;22:3-4, 47-48
Judas was chosen as one of the disciples and became a follower of Christ, had the privilege of witnessing and partaking in all the miracles in
the ministry of the Lord Jesus He was endowed with power like the other disciples but at last he loved money and sold the Master for thirty pieces of silver.
iv. Demas: Philemon 24; Col. 1:14;2 Tim. 4:10
Demas, found grace as one of the early disciples but he jettisoned and abandoned grace and followed the ways
of the world. Paul’s report about him: “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica”.
b. EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO FOUND GRACE AND REMAINED IN GRACE (DID NOT FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD).
There are very many examples in Scripture, but we shall consider the two below
- Abraham: Gen.12:1-4 Gen.18:19; Rom.4:17-24
God called Abraham to follow Him from a heathen nation, and made him the father of faith. (Romans 4:19) He
understood that the birth of Isaac had to happen solely because of the grace of God, so he staggered not at the
promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God.
Gal.2:12 -21; 1″
ii. Paul: Tim.1:15-16
Paul had this testimony about
how grace chose him. “This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the
worst.” 1 Tim 1:15.It’s no Wonder, then, that Paul wrote so much about God’s grace and goodness. He was a living
and profound example of God’s grace in action. As he wrote further in 1Timothy
1:16 (NLT): “But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience
with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in Him and receive eternal life.”
- WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF FRUSTRATING THE GRACE OF GOD?
Rom.6:23: Lam.1:9: Hosea.1:8-9; Rom.1:28
The dangers or consequences of frustrating the grace of God are quite numerous. No one has the capacity to live a holy life without the enabling grace
of God nor the ability to bear up under the trials of life, there is loss of fellowship with God and exposure to the enemy of our soul. The seed of bitterness is built in one’s heart. He/she becomes reprobate. The joy of salvation
is lost and the work of God hindered.
Q5. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF NOT FRUSTRATING THE GRACE OF GOD? Eph.1:7 3:19-20; Rom.5:1-2:
Heb.4:16; Matt.13:12, 2 Thess.1:12
There are many benefits the believer in Christ will enjoy if the grace of God is not
frustrated. Some are outlined below:
Sin will not have dominion over the believer, the believer is able to follow peace with all men and experience a deeper fellowship with God. The
work of God is unhindered in his/her life. The believer also receives clearer instruction to do the things of God, and
whatever he does prospers because he/she depends absolutely on God and not on human strength, skills or capacity. The believer also receives protection from God He/she finds grace to help in
times of need. When we do not frustrate the grace of God, people see Christ in us and the name of God is glorified.
Eternity with God is sure.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
While the true Christian has experienced the grace of God in salvation, he or she cannot produce grace by will power
or good intentions. Grace comes only from God. God does not wish that we receive His grace in vain or frustrate
His grace; He wants us to be progressive by growing in grace. God wants us to share His grace with others for them
to taste and see that the Lord is good.
May we find the grace of God sufficient for our every need, and may others see the grace of God through us, to the
the praise of the glory of His His Name.
MEMORY VERSE
Rom. 6:1 “What shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin that
grace may abound?”
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