C.A.C Sunday School Manual For November 29, 2020 The Unity Of Brethren. Lesson Ten : Topic – WHAT DIFFERENCES EXIST AMONGST MEN?
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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH WORLWIDE
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THEME: THE UNITY OF BRETHREN
UNIT THREE / LESSON TEN.
DIVISION II
November 29th, 2020.
II. WHAT DIFFERENCES EXIST AMONGST MEN? (Jeremiah 17:9; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17).
It is normal things to classify things, or people into various categories. That is the idea of taxonomy – the principle of classification, or science of grouping animals, or organisms. So, God is seeing man through these two categories: the wicked and regenerated. The wicked are sinners, natural man who need repentance and regenerated are the righteous, those who have accepted Christ – the offer of salvation.
A. THE WICKED ONES (Jer. 17:9)
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (v. 9)
i. v. 9: Since Satan corrupted the heart of man, wickedness has been deeply entrenched amongst men. No matter… the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Gen. 6:6).
ii. From the heart of wickedness proceeds acts of wickedness. Only Jesus can purify us. Only He can cure us of this desperate wickedness deeply seated in the centre of man’s nature (cf. Deut. 30:6).
iii How else do we explain those men who took oath not to eat ans drink anything until they killed Paul in Acts 9:23; 23:11-22, than that it shows the gravity of wickedness in man’s heart? Is it not happening in households, churches, workplaces, and communities, today?
iv. The acts of Ananias ans Sapphira (Acts 5) — hypocrisy, selfishness, and seeking vain glory, is another example of a venture of deliberate wickedness towards man and God
Their death serves as warning to such people in the Church today.
v. Wickedness in the heart of man brings war from man to man, nation to nation, and churches against churches. The wicked ones have been on the increase by the day in every facet of life. Of course, that is a sign of the end-time (2 Tim. 3:1ff).
vi. Let us do away with wickedness, and let God take control. God can never be happy with wickedness of any kind, though He loves the sinner (Psa. 11:5). He calls for repentance.
vii. The heart is the engine room of our lives that controls all of man’s affairs. As your heart is, so you are. The wicked ones are denoted by wicked, or sinful heart. However, God is asking that you give your heart to Him; the wicked heart He will take from you and give you a new heart instead.
B. THE REGENERATED ONES (2 Cor. 5:14-17)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (v. 17).
i. 2 Cor. 5:17: Another word for regenerated is rebirth, related to the phrase “being born again.” Our rebirth is distinguished from our birth, when we were conceived ans inherited our sin nature.
ii. Carnality cannot withstand God’s presence, no matter how it tries. Jesus told Nicodemus twice (symbolising emphasis due to the significance and indispensability), that a man must be born again in order to see and enter the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:3, 7).
iii. 2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 17: To be born again is to, having been convinced by the compelling message of the Cross, accept the finished work of Christ, confessing His Lordship, confessing one’s sin, accepting His forgiveness as one makes a U-turn, never to return to the devil (Rom. 10:10).
iv. Are you born again? The genuinely regenerated bear signs, mostly consisting in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-26; cf. Matt. 7:16,20).
v. There is no alternative to being born again. Regeneration through Christ is indispensable is Christianity, in order to be divinely adjusted as saint, and overshadow the activities of the wicked ones.
vi. Jesus is the only escape route from the wickedness of this sinful or sin-infiltrated world. Accept Him into your life and share the new and glorious experience of spiritual rebirth.
LESSONS DERIVED
1. Anyone who causes chaos in the church or anywhere else is wicked. Such is guilty of hell because he has surrendered to be an instrument in the hands of Satan. Beware!
2. Before salvation, we were degenerated; after salvation, we are regenerated. The result of regeneration is peace with God.
QUESTIONS
1. Christian have been set free from the power of sin, though we still live in the world (Rom. 6:5,18). Does that mean it is not possible to live godly, here?
2. How do you ensure that you are not deceiving yourself (hypocrisy) as touching your true status in terms of spiritual rebirth?
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:
i. Yes, of course, we have been made free from the power of sin and death.
ii. Sin shall not have dominion over us again.
iii. In fact, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Why? The law of the spirit has destroyed the law of the flesh in them.
vi. We live in the world, but we are not of the world any longer. We have been purchased of incorruptible blood of Jesus Christ.
v. It is possible to live godly, even as we are in this body of corruption. Why? Because, we now walk in the spirit and we no longer fulfill the lust of the flesh.
vi. When you put on Christ, you would not make provision for the flesh to do His will.
vii.Holy Spirit is on ground as our Seal, Helper, Comfort, etc., for safe landing ultimately.
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:
i. Anyone can deceive anybody, but it is not possible for one to deceive himself.
ii. Therefore, everyone knows his or her true spiritual state or status.
iii. No one can be born again, except the Holy Spirit assists Him or her to confess Christ.
iv. No one can come to God except Jesus brings him or her to God.
v. By the fruit you are bearing, you can sat categorically that you are a child of God, or not.
vi. Anyone who is in Christ is spiritually born of God; no controversy.
vii.Claiming you know, or worship God, when you do not have any relationship with Christ is an aberration.
LIFE APPLICATION
Matthew 25:31-46 paints the picture of two categories of people: the sheep and the goat. There is a prepared place for these categories of people; no partiality. People who would be on the right hand (Kingdom of God) would go there by the choice they make. Also, the People whose final destination is the left hand (hell) make it by choice, not chance. Since you are going to get what you choose, why not make the right choice now. Jesus is the right choice. The way of sin ans wickedness will only lead you into damnation. Follow not multitude to do evil and do not be a partner in wickedness. May God help you. Amen.
CONCLUSION
Here, we shall draw the curtain on this lesson, the tenth lesson in this series. Holy Spirit has assisted us to know who man is, and the two classifications of man. The godly or regenerated man is the one who has been born again and washed in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. He shall soon be like Him. Conversely, the wicked and finally impenitent shall miss the bliss of true fellowship and relationship with God, now ans eventually. Endeavour to change your ungodly status, now, by personally accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO
Mon. 23: The Hypocrites Are Always Afraid (Isa. 33:14, 18)
Tue. 24: The Lord Would Mock The Wicked (Prov. 1:26)
Wed. 25: The Devil Must Be Resisted (Jas. 4:7).
Thur. 26: The Devil Can’t Withstand The Holy Spirit (1 Jn. 4:4)
Fri. 27: Treasures Of Wickedness Profit Nothing (Prov. 10:2)
Sat. 38: The Love Of Money Is Evil (1 Tim. 6:10).