Memory Verse: Joshua 24:16 – As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (KJV).

Central Truth:

God blesses the family that lives by His Word.

Bible Text:
Joshua 24:14-24; Psalm 127:1-7; 128:5-6.

INTRODUCING THE LESSON

What evidence do we have that God values the family? His Word offers so many examples of His care and concern – from Genesis account of creation, in which God gave life to a husband and wife and commanded them to have children, to Revelation’s description of the return of Christ for His Church in language reminiscent of a wedding celebration.

The narratives spanning these books include a wealth of stories about people’s everyday lives and the way in which they relate to one another. Father, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, and a host of cousins, in-laws, and other relatives all interact in the pages of Scripture. Their lives are recorded to provide guidance for our own.

God does not just offer His Word as a guidebook for family living, however, and expect us to do all the reading and application for ourselves. He desires to be our partner in building our marriages and raising our children. When His participation is sought, healthy families are built. God not only values the family; He invests Himself in it.

LESSON OUTLINE
1. CHOOSE TO SERVE GOD

A. Example Of Righteousness – Joshua 24:14-15
B. Response Of Commitment – Joshua 24:16-18,24

2. GOD BUILDS THE HOME

A. Don’t Try It Alone – Psalm 127:1-2
B. Trust In God – Psalm 127:3-5.

3. GOD BLESSES THE HOME

A. Rewards of Faithfulness – Psalm 128:1-4
B. Impacting Our World – Psalm 128:5-6.

*Learning Objectives*
At the end of this lesson.
students will be able to:

1. Make early and timely
decision to lead and inspire their family to live for God and serve the interest of His Kingdom.

2. Show and Maintain
consistency in following God’s footsteps in building the home: Without Him, every home is destined for disaster.

3. Understand that God rewards and blesses our faithful work with Him.

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
Joshua 24:14-18
[14]Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
[15]And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
[16]And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
[17]For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:
[18]And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.

Psalms 127:1-5
[1](A Song of degrees for Solomon.) Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
[2]It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
[3]Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
[4]As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
[5]Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Psalms 128:1
[1](A Song of degrees.) Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

Commentary And Application

1. Choose to Serve God
A. Example of Righteousness–Joshua 24:14, 15

When Joshua called the Israelites together near the end of his life, the gathering should have been a great celebration. In the years Joshua had led the armies of Israel through Canaan, God had granted them repeated victories. More and more of the Promised Land came under Israel’s control.

God had promised that victory in Canaan would be a gradual process so His people could take over farms, vineyards, and homes that were maintained rather than inherit a wasteland (See Deuteronomy 7:22).

With much of Canaan under Israel’s control and with a lifetime battle record that included only one defeat, Joshua could have been expected to offer a glowing speech of lsrael’s gratitude for God’s blessings. Sadly, Joshua could only half meet such an expectation.

In Joshua 24:1-13, Joshua reviewed God’s protection and provision for His people, God had remained faithful. But Israel’s victories in battle had not led to day-to-day spiritual victories.

When God outlined lsrael’s battle campaign in Deuteronomy 7, He called for the complete removal of Canaan’s inhabitants and their false gods. But in recounting lsrael’s victoríes over their enemies, the Book of Joshua also records their disobedience (17:12,13).

Joshua was well aware of Israel’s compromise, and his speech reveals that the problem stretched back to the days of the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt. Not only was Israel influenced by the idolatry that remained in Canaan, they had never totally removed the idols of Egypt (Joshua 24:14). Joshua’s statement in verse 15 is tinged with bitter irony.

Question for Application

Was Joshua really inviting the Israelites to live in idolatry?

Joshua was pointing Israel to the only correct choice they could make. They had to give up their false gods and serve the true God who had proven His faithfulness to them.
Joshua’s own commitment to God is clear in his statement of determination to serve the Lord regardless of the path lsrael might choose (verse 15).

Godly parents today can find themselves in Joshua’s position. After years of living a Christian testimony before their children and encouraging them to make a commitment to Christ, the final decision remains with those children. When grown sons and daughters decide to pursue their own paths and exclude God, grieved parents must still proclaim their own undying devotion to the Lord. Their faith may be the means of drawing a child back to God, or salvaging the lives of grandchildren being raised in a home where Christ is not welcomed.

*B. Response Of Commitment–Joshua 24:16-18, 24

The people’s response to
Joshua’s plea was what he had hoped for. They identified themselves as faithful servants committed to living for God. To forsake God in order to serve idols Would be the farthest thing from their minds (Joshua 24: 16). They acknowledged that God had delivered them from slavery and protected them during their journey.

to Canaan (verse 17). He was the One who was responsible for their victories over their enemies, and they committed themselves to serve Him (verse 18). “He is our God,” they proclaimed.

History proves the fleeting worth of Israel’s promises. It wasn’t too many years after Joshua died, that the Book of Judges recorded one act of rebellion after another. But where a human reading of Joshua 24:16-18 in light of Judges would dismiss the value of the Israelites’ promises, God’s view of the human heart takes into account human failure. His grace seeks to work in sinful lives at whatever point they are opened to Him.

Parents must never forget this in their struggle to bring up their children to live for the Lord. The parent who gives up on a child in that child’s times of rebellion may be cutting off the child’s greatest reason to ever come back to God the parent’s own unwavering encouragement to live a holy life.

Joshua knew the Israelites’ longstanding tendencies when it came to their obedience to God. That obedience came and went (verses 19, 20). But he continued to goad the lsraelites into making a firmer commitment to God, a commitment they voiced again in verse 24. Had Joshua given up and let the lsraelites go their way, idolatry would have overrun the land. As it was, his encouragement and example led to a revival that lasted for some years after his death (see verses 25-31).

Parents who commit to raising the children to serve Christ are headed for years of hard work,
fervent prayer, and maybe some challenging confrontations. That is reality. But they are not called to undertake this task alone. God is the divine Builder of every home.

2. God Builds the Home

A. Don’t Try It Alone–Psalm 127:1, 2
Every picture-perfect family we may encounter has gone through a lot of challenges to achieve whatever measure of order we observe. Young married couples move into their years of establishing a household with the uncertainty of fledgling independence.

The challenge in the formative years of a marriage is to remain independent enough to develop personal life skills without overlooking the wisdom offered by people with many years of experience. In pursuing healthy adult independence, we must be especially careful to maintain our dependence on God. Without Him, any home is destined for disaster.

Psalm 127:1 , 2 identifies God as the indispensable member of any team, whether the project is home construction or community oversight. At every level of organisation, God is the One who gives the needed strength and wisdom.

The context of this psalm shows that the references to building
include the establishment of the family. Building a family is a task spanning many years and includes countless difficulties as well as vast rewards. When parents attempt to look too far ahead, they can become discouraged at the scope of their responsibilities. yet the primary mistake is relying exclusively on human effort to meet needs. Just as verse 1 proclaimed about the

builders and the watchmen, verse 2 shows that no amount of human effort will prove fruitful without God’s
assistance.

*Question for Application*
ls Psalm 127 calling for inactivity on our part?

By no means are these verses ridiculing human industry. Rather, they are stressing that all such effort will help them reach worthy goals only when carried out in cooperation with God.

Couples receive so many conflicting messages from the world when establishing their homes and raising their children. If one were to believe every ad, no family could be happy without living in a mansion, driving a fleet of new cars, or owning closets full of the latest fashions.

When materialistic messages are allowed to take root, parents find themselves working extra hours or taking on extra jobs in order to “adequately provide” for their children. This comes at the sacrifice of the most crucial provision of all -a loving relationship built through quantity as well as quality time together. No amount of possessions can substitute for a healthy parent/child relationship. It is Just such a relationship that will most strongly Influence children to put their trust in their loving Heavenly Father.

B. Trust God-Psalm 127:3-5

Just as parents can fall for the myth of “more is better” in terms of materialism, they can also fall for the myth of “less is better’ when it comes to building their families. Contrary to popular belief, large families are not a threat to our planet but are an avenue for God’s blessing (verse 3). However full your quiver may be (verse 5), the key to this blessing is the kind of trust in God that is the basis for this entire psalm. Whether you have numerous sons (and certainly daughters) or few, if they are raised to fear God, they will grow up to be a support to you and a blessing to the community (verses 4,5).

In the final analysis, however, Psalm 127 calls for a reorientation of focus. The tasks needed to house and clothe and feed a family have to be carried out. But rather than focusing on these tasks first, godly parents must focus on God first (see MatthewW6:25-34). Daily communion with Him sets the stage for accomplishing those tasks at work and around the home to meet the needs of the family.

3. God Blesses the Home
A. Rewards of Faithfulness– Psalm 128:1-4

Psalm 128:1 issues a call for daily consecration. God’s blessings do not materialise in an instant like wishes from some genie in a bottle. He works with the believer day by day, blessing that person’s life in response to faithful obedience. Parents who want to experience God’s blessings In their home need to be consistently obedient. They cannot pick and choose from God’s Word what they find attractive. They cannot make excuses for or attempt to hide besetting sins. Their lives must be laid before God submission. This is what it means to “walk in his ways” (verse 1. NIV).

It is no accident that the perspective of psalm 128 is from that of a husband. As the leader of the home and family, the husband bears the particular responsIbility of modelling godly character before family members. Verse 1 refers to “all who fear the Lord,” so no one is exempt from the principle. But the husband sets an example that is vital to a family’s spiritual health.

The rewards for obedience are evident in verses 2 and 3. There are few better examples of peace and unity in the home than a shared meal. The food itself represents God’s provision. The wife and children around the table represent the web of positive family relationships that are built within the home.

Such relationships require special care, illustrated by the use of plant imagery, in an agricultural society, the value of the wife and children is wonderfully illustrated by the images of prized plants that need faithful care and attention if their growth is to be healthy and complete.

Verse 4 drives home the point again – all of the blessings listed come about as a result of “fearing.” or consistently serving God. While the God-fearing individual is the focus here, there is a definite cause- and-effect ripple throughout the believer’s community as well.

B. Impacting Our World–Psalm 128:5, 6

Families do not typically live in isolation. They develop reputations among their neighbours and mingle within broad social circles. The Christian family bears a heavy responsibility as a ministry team representing Christ to a lost world.

Question for Application
What contemporary application can we find in Psalm 128:5?

God’s blessings “from Zion” refer to His blessings from His presence. Zion – the holy hill on which the temple, which housed the ark, was built – symbolised God’s dwelling. Christians understand
even better than Old Testament believers that God’s presence abides within everyone who accepts Christ as Saviour.

For Jews to “see the prosperity of Jerusalem” meant that life in their homeland would be marked by peace and prosperity. Any believer would wish the same for his homeland. The person who has prayed for the blessing of a prosperous homeland is the same one who has guided his household according to God’s Word. Though not stated explicitly, the blessed homeland is an outgrowth of the blessed home.

Verse 6 bears this out. Parents who raise their children to live for God are very likely to see those children raise up other children to live righteously. A multiplication of godly citizens within any community serves to counter the decay of public morality and promote the well-being
of a nation.

Call to Discipleship
It is one thing to contemplate God’s presence and help when experiencing a relatively calm period in life. The test of faith is to remember His presernce and help are also realities in life’s dark places.

When children become rebellious, Christian parents need to rely on God’s WIsdomn in applying discipline. When finances dwindle, Christian families must trust God to supply every need. When marriage relationships become strained, husbands and wives must remember that God is the third Partner in their union.

With every challenge God allows to cross a family’s path, He supplies a means of gaining victory. His perspective is eternal, and He has in focus His eternal plan for every family member. Believers who structure their family life around God’s Word will find God’s help and encouragement at every challenge they encounter.

1. List the area ofyour family life that may need to be more focused on the Lord.
2. How can your family bea witness of God’s grace?
*Ministry in Action*
Encourage your students to be mindful of the attention their families receive in their neighbourhoods’, in their communities, and as they travel on vacations. They may never know when the most mundane activities they share with their children will prove to be an inspiration to someone who is lost.

Action Point
PS: If you would like to have an online course on any of the courses that you found on this blog, I will be glad to do that on individual and corporate level, I will be very glad to do that I have trained several individuals and groups and they are doing well in their various fields of endeavour. Some of those that I have trained includes staffs of Dangote Refinery, FCMB, Zenith Bank, New Horizons Nigeria among others. Please come on Whatsapp and let’s talk about your training. You can reach me on Whatsapp HERE. Please note that I will be using Microsoft Team to facilitate the training.

I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you can drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.

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*Memory Verse: Galatians 3:13, 14

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

Central Truth
All the blessings of salvation come through our redemption by Christ.

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.

The Lesson Outline

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

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.

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
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.`

COMMENTARY AND APPLICATION

*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).

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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Adult Teacher January – June, 2024

Sunday January 14, 2024

UNIT 1: Redemption

LESSON 2

REDEMPTION BY CHRIST

MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 20:28

The Son of man came not to be ministered unto… to give his life a ransom for many. (KJV).

Central Truth

Jesus Christ came to redeem us from sin.

Learning Objectives

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

1. Acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Redeemer and live in the salvation He provides.

2. Accept the fact that Christ paid the eternal price for our freedom and that He stands as our Mediator.

3. Understand and enjoy the privilege of Justification and the Inheritance believers have in Christ.

The Lesson Outline

*1. Redemption by Christ Foretold

A. By Simeon – Luke 2:27-32

B. By Anna – Luke 2:36-38

2. Christ the Redeemer

A. The Ransom

*Mark 10:45; Luke 24:21, 25-27*

B. The Mediator – 1 Timothy 2:5, 6

3. Redemption Accomplished by Christ

A. Provides Justification – Romans 3:22-26

B. Provides an Eternal Inheritance

Hebrews 9:11-15

Introducing the Lesson

The promise of redemption goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when God told Eve that one of her descendants would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:9-15).

The prophet Isaiah told how the Lord would raise up a Suffering Servant: “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, KJV).

For hundreds of years, the Israelites longed for the Messiah to come and deliver them from their oppressors. He would redeem Israel and bring about a new age when they would no longer feel the sting of oppression.

But when Jesus came, the Jewish people failed to see Him as the One who fulfilled the Bible passages about the Messiah.

They failed to see that God would deal with redemption from the bondage of sin before He would set them free from political oppression. Instead of a conquering king, Jesus Christ came as a suffering Saviour.

In this week’s lesson, we will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the promised Redeemer. He came to redeem us from sin. Redemption brings freedom in a dynamic way -through the transformation of spirit and mind.

*THE HOLY SCRIPTURES*

*Luke 2:36.* “`And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

37. And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

*Luke 24:21.* But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

25. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

*1 Timothy 2:5.* For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

*Romans 3:23.* For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

*Commentary and Application

*1. Redemption by Christ Foretold*

*A. By Simeon* – Luke 2:27-32*

It had been more than 400 years since the last prophet of Israel ministered. Israel was under Roman occupation. The desire of the Jewish people to see their Deliverer grew with each year. It was into this setting Jesus was born.

After Jesus’ birth, Mary, Jesus’ mother, and Joseph, her husband, went to the temple with their newborn child. There, they dedicated Jesus to fulfil the Law of Moses about the dedication of children.

At this point of the narrative, Simeon is introduced as a just and devout man who was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25). He approached Mary, took Jesus in his arms, and gave praise to God (verses 27, 28).

The Lord had promised Simeon he would not die until he saw the Lord’s (Christ) Anointed. We can assume Simeon was quite old at this time, for he stated he could now die in peace because the Lord’s promise to him was fulfilled – he had seen the Lord’s salvation (verses 29, 30).

He recognised Jesus was the One who would bring about the redemption God had promised in His Word. Through Jesus, all people, both Jews and Gentiles, would experience the glory of God (verses 31, 32). The time for salvation had appeared after so many years of silence and frustration. Simeon knew he held the redemption of God’s people in his arms.

The praise of Simeon came as a result of years of waiting. His joy must have been boundless as he looked into the face of Jesus. Just as the angels had been and John the Baptist would be, Simeon stood as a herald to foretell the greatness of the Lord. God had kept His promise to provide redemption for all people.

We are able to embrace this great redemption as well, for the salvation of the Lord reaches to all people. Simeon’s voice, recorded in Scripture, still calls people to come and see the salvation of the Lord. Like Simeon, we can praise God for the salvation that is available through Jesus.

*B. By Anna – Luke 2:36-38*

Simeon was not the only one to see Jesus at the temple on the day of His dedication. There was a woman named Anna who also recognised Jesus as the One who would bring about the redemption foretold in God’s Word.

Anna is described as a prophetess who was always at the temple worshipping the Lord and seeking His face through fasting and prayer (Luke 2:36, 37). She had been married for 7 years, but on the death of her husband, she devoted the rest of her life completely to the service of God. At age 84, she saw Mary and Joseph with the Baby Jesus and knew He was the Messiah.

She approached them and was filled with thanksgiving to God for the Child and the redemption He would bring to Jerusalem (verse 38). Because of her devotion to God, she too saw the salvation of Israel.

Anna knew Jesus would one day save His people from their sins.

We too can give thanks for all that Christ has accomplished and will accomplish in our lives and the lives of others. Redemption is available to all people, for through Christ everyone who believes in Him can find the freedom foretold by God in His Word.

Anna spoke about Jesus to all who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem (verse 38).

Question for Application

What are some ways we can let others know about the redemption available through Christ?

One way to get out the good news about Jesus is by inviting people to attend church. A sincere invitation coupled with the witness of a life that is lived in dedication to God can powerfully influence the unsaved.

2. Christ, the Redeemer – A. The Ransom*

*Mark 10:45; Luke 24:21, 25-27*

An incident occurred during the ministry of Jesus in which two of the apostles, James and John, sought positions of honour with Him when He entered His glory (Mark 10:35- 45). Jesus used this event to inform His followers He had not come as a leader to be served by others.

Rather, the Son of Man, a messianic term Jesus often used of Himself (used 93 times in the Book of Ezekiel), had come to be a servant who would give His life “a ransom for many” (verse 45).

Questions for Application

What is the purpose of a ransom?

In New Testament times, slaves could find freedom by working off their debt or by having someone else pay the price for their freedom. This amount would be the ransom paid to set them free.

For those held captive in sin, Jesus stated His death on the cross would be that ransom. His life would be forfeited so sinful people might find freedom from the captivity of sin and experience the life that God desires for them.

Redemption comes only when we trust in Christ, the Redeemer. Freedom from sin cannot be gained through human means, if this were not the case, Christ would not have come to give His life as a ransom. Indeed, if righteousness could be obtained by human effort, such as keeping the Law, then Christ died in vain (see Galatians 2:16 21).

Despite Jesus’ efforts to teach the disciples about His purpose for coming, they did not grasp that Jesus had to die to pay the ransom for humanity’s sin.

This is seen by their actions after the Crucifixion. Luke gave an account that highlights the reaction of Jesus’ followers to His death on the cross.

On the road to Emmaus, a small town about 7 miles from Jerusalem, two disciples walked and wondered what would happen to them since Christ was dead (Luke 24:13-27). Another man joined them on their journey who seemed intrigued by their concern.

This other man was later revealed to be Jesus, who had risen from the dead. They had hoped that Jesus was going to redeem Israel, perhaps freeing them from Roman oppression, but now their hope was gone (verse 21).

Jesus challenged the weak faith of these two men, noting the prophets had referred to the suffering of the Messiah that would happen before His glorification (verses 25, 26). Jesus then stirred their troubled hearts by explaining from the Scriptures the true nature of the Messiah’s mission (verse 27).

Questions for Application

How does knowing that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah help you to believe in Him as the Redeemer?

By believing that Jesus is who He claimed to be the Christ who came to give His life as a ransom for many we are redeemed by faith in Him. When we observe in the Bible how Jesus fulfilled so many prophecies by His crucifixion and resurrection, this faith is strengthened. May we not be “slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” concerning how Christ redeemed us by His sufferings.

*B. The Mediator* – 1 Timothy 2:5, 6*

The statement found in Deuteronomy 6:4, 5 is a basic tenet of the Jewish faith: There is only one God and we are to devote our love and lives to Him. Paul affirmed that this truth is also a basic tenet of the Christian faith in a letter to Timothy. Paul explained that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between the one true God and people (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus fills this role because He freely gave Himself as the ransom for all people (verse 6).

Questions for Application

If Jesus is the only Mediator between God and people, what responsibility do those who believe in Jesus have toward those who do not believe in Him?

God’s will is that each person accepts salvation through the knowledge of His Son, Jesus, the only Mediator between God and people. In a world that has proposed many false alternatives to reaching God other than through Jesus, we have been given the responsibility of reaching everyone with the gospel.

3. Redemption Accomplished by Christ

A. Provides Justificationn

Romans 3:22-26

Paul discussed at length the redemptive work of Christ in his letter to the church at Rome. He noted that righteousness – being in right relationship to God comes only through faith in Christ (verse 22).

This is vital since there is no one alive without sin; no one is able to live up to God’s standard (verse 23). Yet each person can be justified freely by God’s grace “through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (verse 24). Being justified means being declared not guilty and restored to a right standing with God.

Question for Application

How did Christ’s death satisfy God’s justice?

God looks on Christ’s death as a propitiation an atoning sacrifice that reconciles people to Him. Sin must be punished because of the nature of God’s justice, but His justice was satisfied because Christ shed His blood.

Through “faith in His blood” that is, through faith in the atoning death of Christ on the cross – a person is no longer found guilty in God’s sight (verse 25, 26).

Question For Application

Does it make a difference how we live since we are justified freely by God’s grace? Explain.

By God’s grace our faith in Christ and His atoning death on the cross brings us into right relationship with God.

This does not imply that we are not to walk daily in holiness, but that our human attempts at godliness will fail if not for Christ. Our trust in Him and His righteousness places us on a path that is unreachable on our own. He enables us to live holy lives through His Spirit.

B. Provides an Eternal Inheritance

Hebrews 9:11-15

Not only does the redemption accomplished by Christ provide justification to those who put their faith in Him, it also provides them an eternal inheritance. This truth is found in Hebrews 9:11-15.

The writer of Hebrews often used the term “better” to describe Christ’s work in relationship to Old Testament parallels.

Questions for Application

What made Christ’s sacrifice so much better than the Old Testament sacrifices?

In reference to Christ’s sacrifice, the writer of Hebrews compared Christ to the high priest who entered the Holy of Holies once every year. But Christ needed to enter only once for He entered the “greater and more perfect tabernacle” in heaven, not the one made by human hands (Hebrews 9:11).

Also, when Christ entered the holy place of God, it was not with animal blood, but with His own precious blood (verse 12). This provided eternal redemption, for His offering Himself to God provided a cleansing for sin once and for all. No annual repetition of the event is necessary.

Question for Application

If the Old Testament sacrificial system was inadequate, why did God ordain it for Israel?

The sacrifice of animals reminded the people of their sinfulness, but it could not give them power over their sin or take away guilt. It could provide ceremonial cleansing only (verse 13). Christ’s blood purges the conscience cleanses the minds and hearts of those who believe in Him – from sinful things that lead to death (verse 14).

His blood brings lasting peace to our conscience so we may be free from sin’s burden and spend our life serving God in gratitude.

The writer further stated that Christ has provided a new testament or covenant that provides believers with an eternal inheritance (verse 15). His death provided the ransom needed to set people free from sin. Nothing else could have provided what we needed to be saved. Nothing else can accomplish what was necessary to redeem us from sin.

Call to Discipleship

Redemption by Christ had been prophesied for centuries. Jesus Christ declared He came to give His life as a ransom for many in fulfilment of those prophecies.

He accomplished redemption by His sacrificial death on the cross, providing justification and an eternal inheritance.

We now stand in a place of decision. We can accept His finished work by faith and be redeemed, restored to a right relationship with God. Or we can choose to try to redeem ourselves – to try to earn our right standing with God through our own goodness and good works.

The second choice will result in disappointment and eternal loss. But by taking the first choice, we will find that God Himself will place us on the right road and will walk alongside us on the way.

Ministry in Action

The message of gospel is clear in the story of redemption. All people stand at a crossroad, lost without God. Christ came to bring people back to God through His death.

Christians are to testify to the unsaved about the saving power of Christ.

WHAT IS REDEMPTION?

Memory Verse 1 Peter 1:18-19

Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold. But with the precious blood of Christ(KJV).

Central Truth

Redemption from sin is the salvation theme of the Bible.

Learning Objectives

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

1. Understand the biblical background for doctrine of redemption.

2. Appreciate the fact that a price was paid to redeem humanity from slavery of sin.

3. Understand that redemption sets people of God apart as His own.

The Lesson Outline

1. Redemption from Bondage

A. Redemption Price for Slavery

Leviticus 25:47-49

B. Redemption Price for Sin

1 Peter 1:17-19

2. Redemption of the Firstborn

A. Firstborn Belong to God

Exodus 13:1, 2, 14, 15

B. Christians Belong to God

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20

3. Redemption of God’s People

A. God Will Redeem

*Exodus 6:5-8*

B. Set Apart for God

*Deuteronomy 7:6-9 1 Peter 2:9, 10

Introducing the Lesson

Slavery was practised during the time periods covered in the Bible. Some people were enslaved because of wars. Others were forced into slavery because they could not pay their debts. Some Old Testament laws kept slavery from completely dehumanising its victims. In some circumstances, slaves could be redeemed, that is, a price could be paid to free them.

Many passages in the New Testament speak of or to slave. Slavery is neither condemned nor condoned in the New Testament but dealt with as a reality of life. Serving God faithfully whether one was a slave or a free man is what the New Testament focuses on.

The New Testament declares that all people are slaves to sin. But it also shows how God made a way for us, as slaves of sin, to be redeemed. This lesson will help us come n understand the biblical background for the doctrine of redemption.

The Holy Scriptures

*Leviticus 25:47.* “`And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family:

48. After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:

1 Peter 1:18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Exodus 13:15. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeti the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.

1 Corinthians 6:19. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Deuteronomy 7:7. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

8. But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.“`

Commentary and Application

1. Redemption from Bondage

A. Redemption Price for Slavery

Leviticus 25:47-49

The Book of Leviticus was written as instruction for the priests to guide the people of Israel in holiness. This included principles that affected everyday life, guiding the behaviour of both rich and poor people in the land. The practice of slavery could easily reduce a person’s standing in society. Some people could have been tempted to look at slaves solely as property, leaving them open to being mistreated.

The people of Israel had come out of brutal slavery in Egypt. So God established laws to protect the rights of the slaves. He did not want the Israelites to inflict what they had endured in Egypt on those who were less fortunate.

In ancient Israel, a poor person could sell himself to pay for a debt. Leviticus 25:47-53 provides an example of and instructions about this practice. If a non-Jewish settler had become rich and bought a Jewish slave, the law stated that the slave could be redeemed his freedom – could be purchased for a set price. The redemption price could either bo paid by the man himself or by one of his relatives, a kinsman-redeemer. No human was to be considered mere property, but always retained certain rights.

The background for this practice is found in Israel’s redemption from bondage in Egypt. God had freed His people. He did not want them to be slaves again. However, knowing the reality of the world in which His people lived. He provided ways to be redeemed for those who had to turn to slavery because of their poverty.

Question for Application

How might we be able to apply the instruction found in Leviticus 25:47-49?

Perhaps the best way to apply these verses today is to gain an understanding of the nature of God. God does not desire people to be in bondage to sin. He cares about people who are in sin’s bondage so much that He provided the way for them to be redeemed through the blood of Christ. We can also deduce that God cares about those who have sold themselves again to be slaves to sin and desires for them to be set free once again (see James 5:19, 20).

B. Redemption Price for Sin

1 Peter 1:17-19

The world in New Testament times did provide a similar redemption from slavery as God had done for ancient Israel. There was a price to pay so one could buy his or her freedom. However, redemption began to mean much more to the Early Church. It came to mean the spiritual freedom a sinner finds through the power of Christ’s blood to cleans sin. The apostle Peter used slavery as an example when writing to believers in Northern Asia Minor (that is, modern Turkey).

In 1 Peter 1:17, Peter challenged Christians to live lives of holiness in an unholy world (see verse 16). He gave two reasons for this. First, as God’s children they were to have reverent fear of God because He is the impartial Judge. This knowledge would affect their lifestyles.

Secondly, they were to live in holiness and reverent fear because of how God had redeemed them (verses 18, 19). It was not merely gold or silver that paid the price for their freedom. These seem valuable, but they will perish. The believer’s redemption and freedom from sin came through the blood of Christ, the perfect sacrifice, This also would affect the way these Christians (and Christians today) lived.

When we consider the price that was paid so we might have redemption, it is at times over- whelming. God is so good and truly does not desire that anyone die in slavery to sin. So Jesus Christ, God’s Son, was sent to pay the price to redeem us from slavery to sin with His blood.

It would have seemed enough to a slave to have a relative pay a sum of money to grant his freedom. This freedom would have been like receiving a new life. What would any of us give to receive a new life, to be free from sin and bondage to old habits? Yet no amount of money can buy that freedom. It is offered through Christ alone. Only His blood can grant us the freedom from sin that we need.

2. Redemption of the Firstborn

A. Firstborn Belong to God

Exodus 13:1, 2, 14, 15

The death of Pharaoh’s firstborn was the final blow to his stubborn heart. Calling Moses and Aaron into his presence, he sent them away telling them to take their people and go and worship their God. It was this event and its significance that led the people of Israel to dedicate each of their firstborn to the Lord.

God spoke to Moses and gave him instructions for the Israelites regarding the firstborn (Exodus 13:1, 2). They were to sanctify or set apart their firstborn males as sacred to the Lord, both humans and animals. Fathers were to pay a redemption price to free firstborn sons. (Numbers 3:47 set the price at 5 shekels).

The sanctifying of the firstborn was tied to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was during this celebration that the reason for sanctifying the firstborn was explained to the children.

Question for Application

How did the Israelites use questions to teach their children?

Questions were often a means of instruction in Bible times. Questions would be posed during sacred events at various times of the year, and the answers would reinforce the learning process. When the question arose concerning this practice of setting aside the firstborn, a father was to respond by recounting God’s mighty deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 13:14). They were to remember that Pharaoh had refused to release them, and the Lord had killed the firstborn of the Egyptians. This had helped secure the freedom of the Israelites. So they dedicated their firstborn and redeemed them to remember God’s gracious actions on behalf of the Israelites (verse 15).

The firstborn son of each Israelite was to be redeemed. In this way God’s deliverance was remembered with each firstborn son. For us, God’s one and only Son became our redemption, freeing us from sin. Every time a person believes and is freed from sin, we are reminded of the price that was paid for our freedom.

B. Christians Belong to God

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20

Questions for Application

What comes to mind when you think of a temple?

Temples are thought of as being places that are sacred and revered. Often, only select people can enter temples, such as priests or special initiates. Sometimes secret rituals are practised within their walls, sacred words and acts kept private from all but a select few. These practices suggest. that the purpose of a temple is not common use but for holy service.

In Paul’s time, pagan temples could be found in almost all major cities. In Corinth, temples existed for many Greek gods, including Apollo and Aphrodite. But the place the one true God dwells is not in buildings, but in His people whom He has redeemed. Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth to consider their bodies as sacred temples because the Holy Spirit dwelt in them (1 Corinthians 6:19). Those who “are bought with a price” are to glorify and honour God by living as people who are set apart as His. They are God’s! He bought them with the blood of Christ.

This is like the firstborn males of Israel being set apart. The Israelites had been delivered from the bondage of Egypt. Christians have been delivered from the bondage of sin. They are called to glorify and honour God with their bodies in order to live lives that reflect a sense of thankfulness and praise to Him for His redemption. As a temple is kept sacred, so Christians are to live lives. not polluted by the world. They are not meant for common use, but for God’s holy purposes.

Question for Application

How can Christians honour God in their daily living?

Some people view holiness as religious arrogance, but holiness should be expressed in humility and a spirit yielded to God. What should stand out most about a Christian walking in holiness is godly character and spiritual fruit that matures with time. Simply doing good deeds is not enough. Holiness will be evidenced by love displayed through words, actions and attitudes.

3. Redemption of God’s People

A. God Will Redeem

Exodus 6:5-8

Questions for Application

_What might it be like to be freed from the oppression of slavery after your family had been enslaved for 400 years?_

None of the Israelites alive at the time of Moses knew the taste of freedom. They had been born, lived and died as slaves for some 400 years. It was the only life they had known. Yet many held to the promise that one day they would leave the chains behind.

Those years in slavery had been spent in anguish and tears, with groans and cries for help that God did not ignore (Exodus 6:5). He never forgot His covenant to bring them into the Promised Land.

In His perfect time, God raised up Moses in the household of Pharaoh to help redeem His people. God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites that He had heard them and was going to release them by His power and devastate Egypt by His judgement (verse 6). His oath to Abraham was to be fulfilled when God brought His beloved people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land (verses 7,8).

God had made a promise to Abraham to redeem his descendants from their slavery after 400 years. Through Moses, God let the Israelites know He was working to honour His promise to redeem them. Through this deliverance, Abraham’s descendants would come to know that God had taken them to himself as His people.

Question for Application

How does someone become one of God’s people today?

When a person puts his faith in Jesus Christ and receives Him as Saviour, that person becomes a child of God (John 1:12). This is a promise from God that He will honour just as surely as He did His promise to Abraham.

The redemption God provided for the Israelites released them from slavery to a life of freedom. In the same. way, Christ brings freedom from captivity to sin. God’s plan has always been to redeem people from sin and the pain it inflicts. Redemption brings freedom for those who call on Christ; They become the people of God.

B. Set Apart for God

Deuteronomy 7:6-9; 1 Peter 2:9, 10

Holiness is an attribute associated with God and godly things. For something to be considered holy, it must be separated from common use for use specifically for God’s honour. God told the Israelites they were to be a holy people, set apart from all other people on the Earth as His own (Deuteronomy 7:6). It is important to note that the Lord did not chose the Israelites because they were greater in number or power than other nations (verse 7). Rather, the Lord chose them because of His love and because of His promise to bring them out of slavery by His mighty acts (verses 7, 8). God is faithful and can be trusted to keep His promises for generations of those who love Him (verse 9).

The Israelites were God’s chosen people. They were called to live holy lives that would show forth as a light to the Gentiles. The apostle Peter wrote that the Church reflects these same characteristics in her calling (1 Peter 2:9, 10). God calls Christians because of His grace. Some of the Israelites were set apart as priests in service to God.

But all Christians are set apart as priests to serve Him in His glory. They belong to God as His people, for they were called out of the darkness of sin and brought into the light of His life. As the Israelites became God’s people by His merciful intervention, so Christians become God’s people because they have obtained mercy. Those who accept Christ as Saviour are redeemed from sin and are strengthened by the indwelling Spirit to live for God.

If we are saved, now as part of those God has redeemed, we are to “show forth the praises of him who hath called (us) out of darkness into His marvellous light” (verse 9). By His mercy, we have been set free from bondage and have become the people of God. Let us rejoice in our salvation.

Call to Discipleship

Throughout Scripture, the story of redemption unfolds. In the Old Testament, it is seen in the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. In the New Testament, it is observed in the accounts of lives bound by sin finding freedom in Christ through His shed blood. Redemption is freedom brought by God alone.

Many people are bound by sin today. Sometimes, even those who serve Christ struggle to find freedom from sin that entangles them. God is still listening for the anguished cries of people who are bound. He will answer those who cry out to Him and set them free.

As Christians, we need to proclaim the message of redemption to others. Then, they can be set free by the mercy and power of God. Then, they will come to know God and be empowered to live for Him.

Ministry in Action

The message of redemption needs to be heard by those who are without Christ. Some in your class may not know the Lord. Use these last moments to extend to them the message of God’s grace through the work of Christ on the cross.

Daily Bible Readings

Mon: Redemption from Evil. Genesis 48:8-16

Tue: Redemption of Vowed Persons. Leviticus 27:1-8

Wed: Redeemed out of Ruin. 1 Kings 1:28-34

Thur: Blessing God for Redemption. Luke 1:67-75

Fri: Redemption Drawing Near. Luke 21:25-33

Sat: Song of Redemption. Revelation 5:9-14

Action Point
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