Topic: The Christian Heritage – Church of God Mission International – CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL – Sunday 17th July,2022
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CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
DATE:
Sunday 17th July,2022
HYMN:
S S & S 616 “Take my life and let it be”
TOPIC:
The Christian Heritage
TEXT:
2Corin 4:17-18; Eph 1:11-23
CENTRAL THOUGHT:
Believers who live a consistent Christian life will partake of God’s inheritance in Christ
INTRODUCTION
Heritage is the history, traditions and qualities that a society has had for many years and are considered as important part of its character. It comes to a person by reason of birth. This is usually passed down from one generation to subsequent generations in order to ensure the continuity. As Christians, we are those who God has separated and brought out of all people of the earth as His portion, His heritage, His inheritance and His heirs.
This study seeks to discuss and consider some aspects of Christian heritage.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives are to:
- Discuss what the phrase “The Christian Heritage” means
- Describe the inheritance we have in Christ as stated in the scriptures
- State how we can become partakers and recipients of this eternal inheritance
- Examine what can hinder an individual from partaking of this inheritance
- Know what the word of God says of us concerning this inheritance
Also Read: Open Heaven 16 July 2022 Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye –WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF VIRTUE
BIBLE TRUTH
QUESTION 1
WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE PHRASE “CHRISTIAN HERITAGE” ?
Heritage can be seen as tradition, a practice or set of values passed down from preceding generations through families or through institutional memory or an inheritance, property that may be inherited. It can also be a birthright, the status acquired by birth, especially of but not exclusive to the first born.
A Christian is one who has given his/her life to Jesus Christ to be his/her Saviour, Lord and Master. Simply put, the fellow is referred to as being born-again. This qualify such a person to become a child of God. John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name”. Such a person is adopted into the family of God. Therefore, as a son, he partakes in that which he has a claim on by virtue of sonship.
Christian heritage therefore can be seen as those Christian elements, cultures, shared values, laws and institutions which have been passed down to us by virtue of the fact that we are Christians. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, so are qualified to partake of this heritage
QUESTION 2
FROM THE FOLLOWING BIBLE PASSAGES DESCRIBE THE INHERITANCE WE HAVE IN GOD (Matt 25:34; Rom 5:17; 8:17-23; 1Corin 15:50-58;1Pt 1:3-4)
As believers, we have inheritance in God by virtue of the fact that we are counted as members of the family of God. Through the abundant mercy of God, He has begotten us again unto a lively hope and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade which is reserved in heaven for us. This entitled us to be partakers of the kingdom of God. Thus, we are inheriting a kingdom prepared by God for us from the foundation of the world. A part of our inheritance is God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness to reign in life through Christ. The glory of God will be revealed in us. This cannot be compared to the suffering of the present time. We shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. We are adopted into sonship. In the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible and shall be changed. The corruptible will put on incorruption and the mortal shall put on immortality. Then we can bodily say “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Corin 15:57)
QUESTION 3
HOW DO WE BECOME PARTAKERS AND RECIPIENTS OF THIS ETERNAL INHERITANCE ? Jn 1:12; 3:1-3, 16; Rom 8:17; Gal 4:4-7; Eph 1:4-6,11,13; Heb 9:15
In order to become partakers and recipients of this eternal inheritance, there are steps we must take to access the inheritance. Firstly, we must be born again so as to become members of the household of God. Jesus said “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). When we received Christ into our lives as our Lord and Saviour then He gives us power to become the sons of God, even those who believe on His name. We must be ready to suffer with Christ so that we may be also glorified together; as we become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We must live holy, without blame before God in love having predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ
QUESTION 4
WHAT CAN HINDER INDIVIDUAL FROM PARTAKING OF THIS INHERITANCE
God has given every individual the opportunity to be a partaker of this inheritance. God said, “whosoever.” The onus lies on the individual to decide on whether to partake of this inheritance or not. There are many things that can hinder one from being a partaker of this inheritance. Anyone who is not born again cannot partake of this inheritance. Accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour is the gateway. A sinful and disobedient lifestyle can also be a hinderance. It is only by obeying God’s word and doing same that we can enjoy His blessing. An inconsistent Christian or backsliding lifestyle will have exclude one from being a partaker of the inheritance. We must remain resolute that we will hold fast our profession to the end in order not to miss out ” For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end. (Hebrews 3:14)
Question 5.
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAYS OF US CONCERNING THIS INHERITANCE ? Isa 53:4-5; 60:1-3; Matt. 8:17; Lk 10:19; Jn 1:12; Rom 10:17; 2Corin 2:14; Eph 6:16 Col 3:23-24; 2Tim7:1; 1Jn 5:4
The scriptures are repleted with many promises of God to us concerning our inheritance in Christ. By virtue of this inheritance, Christ has borne our griefs and carried out sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, by His stripes we are healed. God’s glory radiates in us and we shine forth light as we arise. The glory of God over us will cause nations to come to our light and kings to the brightness of our rising. Jesus has given us power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the powers of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt us. We have been given power of sonship as those who have received Christ and believed on His name. Our faith is built up by hearing the word of God. God always causes us to triumph in Christ and make manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place. By taking the shield of faith, we shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked.
Whatever we do, we must work at it with all our heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. We will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of sound mind. Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that overcome the world, even our faith. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:37-39
This is a great assurance that God is ever with us to keep us in His love despite all odds. However, we must take heed that we do not separate ourselves from this love of God by living unacceptably unto our Father and our God.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
Beign partakers of the great inheritance that our heavenly Father has freely given us in Christ should be the desire of every believer. However, there are conditions that must be met for one to qualify to enjoy these great and precious promises. The starting point is to remain in Christ, living a consistent holy life and daily submitting oneself to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, by daily presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God which is our reasonable service.
After the new birth therefore, spiritual growth is crucial to possessing our inheritance in God. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the standard, the pattern for our development, who moulds us into His very image, so we can possess our inheritance.
MEMORY VERSE
Romans 8:17 NIV
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
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