C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR JANUARY 23 & 30, 2022 UNIT ONE : TOPIC – THE GOD OF ALL GRACE

And the Lord passed before him and roclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6).

The common grace of God is for all, without discrimination, just like the rains on all without discrimination. But His special grace is for as many as accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour.

God’s grace is free and undeserved favour; a virtue coming from God towards the moral man. It is not what you attain by works. It is God’s character to be gracious

God had created all things before He made man in His own image, which in itself, is an act of His graciousness. The Bible doesn’t reveal that angels were made in God’s image. After man fell, God in His graciousness, clothed his his nakedness with tunics of skill (Gen. 3:21). He continued to show this virtue of His, as revealed in the book of Exodus. He brought the Israelites out of Egypt and made them a nation. It isn’t the right of Israel to have been chosen by God, but by the awesomeness of the gracious God, He chose them as His firstborn, out of all other nations of the world (Exod. 4:22). The Israelites saw and enjoyed the graciousness of God but quickly turned away from Him by making a golden calf. This made Moses cast the tablets that he received from God out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. However, God’s character of being gracious was extended towards them again, and He instructed Moses to craft another set of tablets of stone like the first ones, upon which the 10 commandments were engraved (v. 1). As Moses returned to the gracious God with the two tablets of stone, He was gracious unto him, and fulfilled what He earlier told him (Exod. 33:19), and the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (v. 6). This is entirely God’s prerogative. He is the Owner of grace, and gives it as He wishes. That further establishes the fact of His sovereignty (Psa. 115:3). He graciously chose to reveal Himself in a very spectacular way to Moses. Not that Moses deserved it, but God’s mercy and grace (His compassion) sovereignly visited Moses in furtherance of His unfolding eternal redemptive programme

In the same way, the God of all grace extends His graciousness to the whole world through Jesus Christ, irrespective of races, colours, countries, backgrounds, or any other barrier. Just that man must personally and positively respond to this loving-kindness to enjoy its benefits.

Mon. 17: Moses Prays God God’s Gracious Presence (Exod. 33:12-13)

Tue. 18: Moses’ People To Enjoy God’s Presence (Exod

33:14)

Wed. 19: Moses Seeks God’s Grace Upon Israel (Exod. 33:14-16)

Thur. 20: Moses finds God’s Favour (Exod. 33:17)

Fri. 21: Moses Gets Answer By God’s Grace (Exod. 33:18-19)

Sat. 22: Moses Cannot See God Physically (Exod. 33:20-23)

1. Grace is a very important attribute of God, and He extends it to whoever He wills, but shouldn’t be abused.

2. God always longs to show His grace to all. Do not allow the devil deceive you that you are not qualified for it because of your past. None is qualified for it, but He extends it to all mankind, mercifully and graciously, without discrimination.

3. It doesn’t require qualification; it requires acknowledgement and acceptance by faith.

AIM: To show God as Grace personified, being one of His features and practices.

OBJECTIVES: At the close this lesson, learners should be able to:

i. identify God as the gracious God, and that grace ultimately characterises His personality;

ii. give examples of those who had experienced His graciousness;

iii. show that the grace of God is for all, without discrimination; and

iv. defend that despite God’s grace being available for all, it is only accessible by those who accept or personally and wholeheartedly in Christ Jesus.

TEXTUAL SOURCE: EXODUS 34:5-7; NEHEMIAH 9:16FF; PSALMS 78:34-39; PSALM 145:1FF; JONAH 4:1-2; ROMANS 1:19,20; 5:1-2; 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9

We bless the Lord God Almighty, our righteous and gracious heavenly Father, for His faithfulness, mercy and grace towards us, His Church (Christ Apostolic Church), and the entire Christendom. In His usual infinite grace, He took us through wonderful and life-transforming lessons last year, 2021, in two different Sunday school series.

The first half of the year 2021 saw us through the concluding part of GOD IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF MAN, one of the themes in 2020, while the second party of the year came wit the theme, IN TIME LIKE THIS. Both of these themes, in their different divisions into units, plus the different lessons under them, have providentially established the watchword of our great mission for the year, 2021 (May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers

May He not leave us nor forsake us – 1 Kgs. 8:57 NKJV) to the situation of the world in the year. May the Holy Spirit grant us the grace to retain all He invested in us through the lessons for the growth of all partakers and the entire Church. Amen.

Glory be to God who has graciously brought us into another year 2022. This is the beginning of the year, as well as the first lesson of the Sunday school. Being led by the Spirit of God, our Church leadership has approved another wonderful, soul-lifting and life-transforming theme, GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD (2 Peter 3:18). By the grace of God, the series promises to bring us to a level where we would all thank God for His grace to rapidly grow towards Christly maturity. It is a discipleship-oriented series. This underscores the serious need for Christians to grow in faith, hope, love, grace and knowledge of God, as those who aren’t growing would continue to groan, even spiritually

May the God of our fathers help us in achieving this. Amen.

This is the first lesson in the series, and it aims at unveiling the personality, principles and practices of God as THE GOD OS ALL GRACE. The character of God portrays Him as being gracious. We believe this because He personally declared it, and has allowed the confirmation through people who have encountered Him. The fact of His graciousness has also been the basis of His actions, reactions and inactions.

May the Holy Spirit open our inner eyes, mind, and ears to see, absorb, and hear, respectively, exactly what He is ready to reveal to us about Himself, in relation to ourselves and the world around us. And, may this unveiled launch us all into a more cordial, growth-oriented and, eternal relationship with Him. Amen!

This lesson is divided into two major divisions (I and II), and each is further divided into A and B, respectively.

DIVISION I: GRACE: PART OF HIS CHARACTER

This division unveils the personality of God as a gracious God. It is evident as He proclaims Himself as gracious, showing His unique qualities. This division further reveals those that had personal experience of the graciousness, mercifulness, and loving-kindness of the gracious God. The grace of God bestowed on them were expressed in their worship, praise, attitudes and lifestyles.

DIVISION II: GRACE: THE BASIS OF HIS ACTIONS

This division reveals that the graciousness of God is for all creatures, including man, animals, birds, trees and others. This grace is for all, both deserving and undeserving, rich and poor, tall and short, as clearly seen in all His works/activities in the world and towards humanity. Nature clearly reveals this. This is the common grace. However, there is a kind of grace of God that can only be accessed by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ for as many that believe. It is inseparably knitted with the finished work of Christ for man’s redemption. This grace makes those who believe to be in favour with God, and positions them to share of His glory.

LESSON EXPOSITION

I. GRACE: PART OF HIS CHARACTER (Exodus 34:5-7; Nehemiah 9:16ff; Psalms 78:34-39; 145:1ff; Jonah 4:1-2)

Since time immemorial, God has been revealing Himself by showing His tremendous grace towards man and other creatures. He worked through Noah to preserve mankind and other creatures, by His graciousness. In Gen. 15:1 and 7, God told Abram that I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward, I bought you out of Ur of Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it. What a gracious God we have! His graciousness cannot be separated from Him because it is one of His main identities.

A. DECLARATION BY GOD HIMSELF (Exod. 34:5-7)

And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exod. 34:6).

i. v. 5: GOD doesn’t do much of definition. That the Almighty, awesome Lord could descend and stay with Moses (a mere mortal) there, is the height of demonstration of grace, just like He chose to tabernacle with us in the flesh (Jn. 1:14; Phil. 2:1ff).

ii. v. 5a: Announcing His covenant name (Yahweh) to Moses is a form of introduction. Moses should know he was encountering the awesome God, though undeserving — grace in action (cf. 33:17ff).

iii. v. 6a: In fulfillment of Exodus 33:17-19, God passed before Moses. God never lies; He keeps His Word (Num. 23:19). This is part of His graciousness. If He chooses to do otherwise, who can query Him (Psa.115:3)? So, His graciousness manifests in His consistency in words and actions.

iv. v. 6b: It is God Himself proclaiming (declaring, announcing) His personality. He wants us to know Him, first, Who He is, then, what He does, so that we can relate well with Him. The more of His graciousness you know the more gracious you become.

v. vv. 6,7: The qualities God Himself reveals here (mercifulness graciousness, longsuffering, goodness, truth, forgiveness, and justice) (cf. Psa. 78:38ff) all define the quality of His grace, i.e. the favour He lavishes on the undeserving man.

vi. How have you been encountering this divine grace? How well do you proclaim it?

vii. God doesn’t joke when He says anything. That God specifically and unequivocally declares GRACE as His eternal character puts an end to any doubt about His graciousness. What an incredible privilege humanity has to be able to enjoy this divine grace. This grace that was given freely must not be taken for granted.

B. CONFIRMATION BY SOME WHO ENCOUNTERED HIM (Neh. 9:16ff; Psa. 78:34-39; 145:1ff; Jon. 4:1-2)

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy (Psa. 145:8).

i. Neh. 9:16ff: The Levites, Joshua and co, remembering God’s dealings with Israel (vv. 18ff), despite their unfaithfulness (vv. 17, 17a), confirmed that the God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness. What does that mean to you?

ii. Psa. 78:34-39: Asaph, while contemplating God’s goodness to the ever-rebellious Israel, confirmed that despite Israel’s misdemeanour, God has continually remembered man’s frailty to deal graciously with them. He could have done otherwise.

iii. 145:1ff: The ever-grateful king David delved into the treasure of his encounters with gracious God, and in the mood of worship expressed his praise for God’s goodness that man doesn’t deserve.

iv. Lines 8-9: David premised these wonderful dealings of God with His people on the fact of His being gracious and full of compassion, slow in anger and great in mercy (line 8).

v. Jon. 4:1-2: The sadist, unloving Jonah, was visibly displayed with the way God graciously handled the situation of the gantile Ninevites. Even at that, though out of bitterness and ignorance, he still confirmed God’s attribute of grace and mercy. How do you feel about God’s gracious dealings with others?

vi. Many people have seen and enjoy God’s graciousness, even when He is angry. Inasmuch as one can come to Him with a repentant heart, just as Habakkuk said (Hab. 3:2b), He would show mercy because of His graciousness

Hope you are not joking with the graciousness that God bestows on man?

1. The veracity of God’s character of grace is established in that He Himself declared it unequivocally

Do you believe it?

2. Those who encounter God’s grace cannot stop telling the world of His greatness and goodness. Have you had an encounter with God?

WORK TO DO

What are some ways you have experienced God’s graciousness in your life, home and endeavours?

i. God has always shown His grace towards humanity, and we ought to proclaim this to the ends of the earth.

ii. Specifically mention some of such areas in your life that you have experienced the graciousness of God, and look unto Him with a grateful heart this moment.

iii. Merely looking at nature, it is evident that He made everything by His grace for the comfort of humanity.

iv. God is gracious unto us, despite our unfaithfulness. In fact, it is by His mercies that we are not consumed (Lam. 3:22).

v. His blessings from the beginning of the age, on humanity, to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it still stands (Gen. 1:28), instead of wasting man away and replacing him with another creature after man messed up in Gen. 3. What a gracious God!

vi. He lavishes on you plenty of good things, including rain on earth for the ground to yield its increase for your benefits (Deut. 28:11, Isa. 30:23; Jas. 1:17). In the same vein, He blesses the works of your hands (Deut. 28:12).

vii. The graciousness of God that mankind enjoys is uncountable, beyond human reasoning. The human faculty can only fathom and express few. Of course, only the deep thinkers can deeply appreciate how gracious our God is in all ways. Are you that appreciative?