C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON For March 24th, 2019 : Topic – Eternal Plan of God for Man.
C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Eternal Plan of God for Man.
March 24th, 2019.
II. GOD’S KINGDOM HAS ETHICS (Matthew 5-7; James 1:21-27)
Ethics, in this context, is a code of morality, i.e. a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for a person or group. The domain of God’s rule, i.e. over those who have accepted His offer in Christ, has a peculiar system of moral principles, governing the appropriate conduct for His people (Christians). Every nation has its own constitution containing laws guiding the conducts of both the leadership and the fellowship. What are these ethics?
A. ETHICS OF ETERNITY FURTHER IDENTIFIED (Matt. 5-7)
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matt. 6:33).
i. 5:17-20: Readiness to keep, obey and teach the Word of God. Christ is not interested in the superficial religionists, but those whose hearts are touched, thus voluntarily and faithfully keeping the Word, and teaching it to others (Matt. 5:20). What is the level of your righteousness?
ii. 5:21-49: Possessing and maintaining deep heart and true spiritual relationships that focuses on God’s ideas. The most important thing is the right condition of heart which encourages reconciliation and gives right perception to forgiveness (vv. 26-27), discipline in the body of Christ (vv. 38-42), and loving the neighbour (vv. 43-48). Without the true relationship with God, these may be a mirage (cf. Rom. 8:11).
iii. 6:1-18: Maintaining a devotional communion pattern that ensures the Kingdom’s will. If one is not careful, one may be drawn into the Pharisees’ attitude of giving self-recognition than to God in one’s devotion. Christ’s call for a godly pattern of devotion that ensures God’s will should be uttermost, while exercising our benevolence (vv. 1-4), prayer pattern (vv. 5-15), and attitude in prayer (vv. 16-18).
iv. 6:19-34: Maintaining a foces for heaven. A spiritual heart disposition and desire will determine, to a great extent, one’s possessive ability. Our contemporary world is exposed to amassing earthly possessions. Hence, we need the Lord’s heart disposition to be focused in pursuing heavenly treasures.
v. 7:1-14: Living for things that count to God. More often than not, in Christendom, we are much concerned with how others live their lives, or do service rather than ourselves, which in most cases, make us hypocritical with our own lives. Therefore, watch your attitude to others, lest you be unnecessarily judgmental (cf. 7:21).
vi. Jesus wants His disciples to strive, first for the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and other needs will be taken care of. When we are obedient to, and trust in Him, everything also will fall in place.
B. ETHICS OF ETERNITY: ADMONITIONS (James 1:21-27)
You are My friend of you do whatever I command you (Jn. 15:14).
i. Jas. 1:21ff: James admonished that we should put the Kingdom ethics to practice.
ii. Our Lord Jesus Christ admonished us to listen, accept, take to heart and practise all Kingdom ethics to remain citizens of His eternal Kingdom (Jn. 15:14). This calls for a wise decision.
iii. Mk. 7:24-27: Take it and it shall be a blessing to your soul in the Christian race, as you are being prepared through it, for the desired ethics of eternity.
iv. The Kingdom of heaven is not a geographical location but the spiritual realm in which God rules, where we share in His eternal life. We join the Kingdom when we accept Jesus’ Lordship.
v. 2 Cor. 5:18-19: Are you sure of Christ being your Saviour and Lord before talking of living our the ethics of the Kingdom? Your citizenship prepares you for a living out the ethics of the Kingdom. Reconciled with Christ today (cf. Eph. 4:1).
vi. Heavenly ethics demands that we keep God’s commandments to the letter. If you are going to be God’s friend and reign with Him in eternity, you must adhere fully to God’s instructions.
LESSONS DERIVED
1. You can’t live for God the way you want. His holy ways must count in you.
2. The need for consistent listening to, and doing God’s Word calls for regular dissemination of the Word at every given opportunity.
QUESTIONS
1. What is eternity ethics? Mention three essential principles of God’s Kingdom.
2. Briefly discuss the ethics of God’s Kingdom.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:
i. Eternal ethics comprises the principles and rules, guiding Christian to be worthy of eternal life.
ii. Refer to division I B for further points.
iii. As to the essential principles of God’s Kingdom, refers to division I A. They include:
a. Doing the will of our Father in heaven, that we know by seeking the Law of the Lord (the Word of God), meditating on it, and not allowing it to depart from our mouths;
b. Seeking first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness; and
c. Enduring the test of persecution.
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:
i. Refer to division II.
LIFE APPLICATION
In the time of Jesus’ ministry while on earth, a young man came to Him to ask a very important question: What good thing must I do to get eternal life? That is a very good question. Jesus replied, There is only one who is good. If you want to have eternal life, obey the commandments. The man was so inquisitive, wanting to know the very one that will quickly earn him eternal life. He asked further, which ones. Jesus quickly listed some of the commandments which the young man quickly responded to, as a work over. Then Jesus told him that, if he wanted to be perfect, he should go and sell his possessions, and give the proceeds to the poor. Then, he could come and follow Him. The young man went away sorrowful. Are you perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect? For anyone to enter into eternal rest, he must abide by the rules and principles guarding Christ’s Kingdom (Matt. 5:48). Does anyone receive the crown, unless he runs according to the rules?
CONCLUSION
Perfectly keeping to the ethics of eternal life is the hallmark of anyone desiring to enter eternal life. In the just concluded lesson, we have seen that God’s Kingdom has ethics, the ethics that makes it different. The implications is that, we can’t live our lives the way we want it, if we are to enter His eternal rest in the end. Only observing the ethics would make us perfect according to His standard. May the understanding and grace this lesson is divinely intended to imbibe in us, be totally and permanently part of us. Amen.
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DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING FOR THE WEEK TWO
Mon. 18: The Kingdom in Picture (Lk. 1:49-53)
Tue. 19: It Shall not be so Among You (Matt. 20:26)
Wed. 20: It is a Principle of Unity (Matt. 12:25-28)
Thur. 21: It is a Principle of Penetration (Matt. 7:7-8)
Fri. 22: It is a Principle of Worship (Matt. 6:1-18)
Sat. 23: It is a Principle of Singleness of heart (Lk. 12:22-34)