Topic: GOD’S GRACE AND HIS PRINCIPLE [Church of God Mission International] Above Only Daily Devotional 21 August 2022
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ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
DATE: SUNDAY AUGUST 21sT, 2022
TOPIC: GOD’S GRACE AND HIS PRINCIPLE
TEXT: Titus 2:11-14, Gal 2:21; Rom 6:1-2
CENTRAL THOUGHT: God’s grace teaches us to overcome sin
HYMN: S, S & S , “It’s so sweet to trust in Jesus.”
INTRODUCTION:
A clear understanding of God’s grace shows that grace was made abundant so that man can live to please God whereas the principles of God is God’s nature made manifest. His grace is the enabling strength to walk in His principles. One does not make the other invalid. God’s
word says the soul that sins will die but it also says that grace and truth has come
through His son Jesus Christ. It is by the shedding of HIS incorruptible blood that man receives salvation for soul.
Salvation is a free gift from God but anyone that refuses will face the eternal death. He that hath the son hath life; and
he that hath not the son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:12. God’s grace can be abused from another side, which mistakes the grace of God for licentiousness (Jude 4). Many professing Christians wrongly think that God’s grace means that He gives out free passes that allow us to sin, with no
Consequences for disobedience. The mistake those who are taking grace to
ridiculous extreme are making is the lack of understanding
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this study are to:
- Explain what God’s grace means;
2.Identify the principles of Christian living;
3.Know whether God’s grace nullifies His principles;
4.Highlight some wrong belief about the grace of God; and
- Know what annuls the grace of God in a believer’s life
BIBLE TRUTH:
Qa. WHAT IS GOD’S GRACE?
God’s grace is His unmerited favour. Grace means that God showers favour and blessings on those who do not in any way deserve or earn it. They
deserve His judgment and Wrath;but He shows them favour. It can also be seen as the spontaneous divine given to sinners for their soul’s salvation.
In the scriptures the term grace most often refers to the divine disposition and power to bless, bestow gifts, or
otherwise act favourably toward man. The Bible Dictionary puts it this way:
The main idea of the word grace is Divine means of help or strength. Grace is an enabling power, it enables the recipient to do and to be what he or she cannot do and cannot be if left to his or her
own means. Grace is intended to enable us to more perfectly keep the commandments and pursue a more godly walk, until we attain the full stature of Christ. Finally, it is the virtue that
comes from God alone.
Q1b. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE PRINCIPLE ROOTED IN GOD’S WORD’ WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THIS STUDY?
A principle is an enduring truth, a law, a rule that guides Someone in making decisions, the general of fundamental
truth and a governing law of conduct. Therefore, a Principle rooted in God’s word means a truth, law, or a rule that stems or emanate from God’s word, which the believer in Christ patterns
his/her life after.
Q2. HIGHLIGHT AND DISCUSS THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN LIVING IN Titus 2:11-14
From the passage, the principles of
following Christian living are outlined:
- GOD’S GRACE DELIVERS – THE
POWER OF GRACE- Titus 2:11
God’s Grace is definite and also dynamic. “For the grace of God.. has appeared to all men”. Grace appeared historically, personally, visibly, and universally when
Jesus entered our world (Tit. 3:3-7). Grace is not a philosophy or a religion,
grace is found in Christ and in a relationship with Him. - GOD’S GRACE TEACHES OR TRAINS
THE PRINCIPLES OF GRACE. Titus 2:12-13
I. What to Leave (A Life of Separation) “Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly Iusts, we should…”
(2:12a)..
ii. How to Live (A Life of Dedication) “We should live soberly, righteously and we
should live godly lives.
ii. Where to Look (A Life of Expectation) “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God
and Savior Jesus Christ”
(2:13)
- GOD’S GRACE SET APART- THE PURPOSE OF GRACE – Titus 2:13c -14
Set apart for consecrated service and activity, by God Himself, at a great cost and for a purpose. To put it very briefly, the grace that saves a person also changes that person.
Q3a. CAN GOD’S GRACE NEGATE THE WORD OF GOD OR HIS PRINCIPLES?
The answer is emphatic No! God’s grace is not opposed to His principles or standards; it is opposed to earning by
work. This is because:
i.He is the God of justice Job
37:23; Ps. 89: 14
ii. His word is yea and amen
Isa. 55:11:2 Cor. 1 :20
ii. His word is forever settled
in heaven Ps. 119: 89
iv. All His Word must be
fulfilled Matt. 5:17-20
v. He has sworn and will not
repent Ps 110:4
vi. He cannot change Mal. 3:66
vii. The soul that sins shall
die. Ezek. 18:20
vii. Without the shedding of
blood there is no remission of
sin. Heb.9:22
Q3b. FROM QUESTION 3a. ABOVE, DISCUSS HOW A BELIEVER SHOULD WALK IN GRACE AND NOT GO AGAINST THE WILL AND PURPOSE OF GOD.
Heb.12:12-17; Rom.6:11-b16; Col.2:9-10; James 4:6
For believers to walk in grace simply means that we trust Christ to be who He is in us and through us. Empty religion makes it hard, but the Lord Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
To walk in grace is not to walk in our human capacity and strength but in what God has accomplished for us on the
cross and appropriating that by faith. God’s value of us is on the basis of His Grace. To walk in grace is to understand
the personality of Christ and be guided in every decision by biblical principles.
Since what Christ has done for us is a settled fact, we should start living like who we are. This means that we are free to live the Christian life because
of what Christ has done. Paul puts it clearly in Romans 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in
Christ Jesus our Lord”.
Q4. SOME ERRONEOUS BELIEFS ABOUT GOD’S GRACE AND PRINCIPLE
The few of the erroneous beliefs about God’s grace and principle are highlighted:
- God is too loving to punish
sinners
ii. God is not so wicked to
send people to hell
i. God’s mercy is for ever
iv. His grace covers my sins
even if continue in them
v. It is my body that sins and
not my soul/heart
vi. I am not under any
bondage. (A drift to
disobedience in the name of
freedom)
Q5. WHAT COULD NEGATE THE GRACE OF GOD IN A BELIEVER’S LIFE?
There are a number of things that could negate the grace of God in a believer’s life, some are outlined below:
I. Holding on to doctrine of
works of righteousness
ii. Being unable to forgive
self and others
ii. Holding to doctrine of
once saved, saved forever.
Phil. 2:12; Heb. 12:12-17
iv. Disobedience to God’s
principles. Deut. 28:45
v. Not abiding in Christ. Jn.
15:5-6
vi. The love of the world. 2
Jn. 2: 15-17; 2 Tim. 4:10; I
Tim. 6:6-9
vii. Grieving the Holy Spirit.
Eph. 4:30
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
The word of God stands sure forever and the LORD cannot change His standard for anybody. Though His grace is so rich and abundant towards man, it cannot negate His principles. There are
consequences for every choice we make and action we take irrespective of who we are. God still rules in the affairs of men till Christ comes again.
MEMORY VERSE: TITUS 2:11-12
“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”.
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