C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR JANUARY 30, 2022 UNIT ONE, DIVISION II : TOPIC – GRACE: THE BASIS OF HIS ACTONS

By | January 30, 2022

C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR JANUARY 30, 2022 UNIT ONE, DIVISION II : TOPIC – GRACE: THE BASIS OF HIS ACTONS

 

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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH WORLDWIDE

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
(KINGDOM OF GOD FAMILY
THEME: GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD
JANUARY – JUNE, 2022
UNIT ONE: THE GRACE OF OUR LORD
JANUARY 30, 2022
LESSON ONE
THE GOD OF ALL GRACE
DIVISION II.
GRACE: THE BASIS OF HIS ACTONS (Psalms 145:8,9; Romans 1:19,20; 5:1-2; 2 Corinthians 12:9).
Actons speaks louder than voice, and has more meaning than works. His grace has been in action as He showers it on all creatures, even from Genesis. The same gracious God who feeds the birds of the air also feeds the fishes, animals, and mankind (Psa. 8:3). Whatever He does is premised on His graciousness. How?
A. HIS COMMON GRACE (Psa. 145:8,9; Rom. 1:19,20)
The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works (Psa. 145:9).
i. Psa. 145:8,9: The graciousness of God (line 😎 is manifested in that He is good to all (line 9): All, here, means all creatures, man inclusive. God is never partial in His dealings (Rom. 2:11). His common grace reaches all, barriers notwithstanding.
ii. This same idea put forth by the Psalmist above is what our Lord Jesus set forth in Matt. 5:45. God isn’t selective in the release of the natural blessings, such as sunshine, rainfall, harvest, etc. He gives these in equal measure to both the just and the unjust in the same areas.
iii. This same grace did He manifest in the redemption of man. His grace made Him come and die to ransom even His enemies, the entire humanity, while we were still helpless and undeserving (Gen. 3:15; 15; Rom. 5:6-8).
iv. Rom. 1:19,20: God is neither miserly nor partial with the revelation of Himself. God has manifested what may be known of Him in everything around us, so that everyone would be without excuse.
v. Of course, though God has …allowed all nations to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16), He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness (v. 17). Why? He wants everyone to have equal right to respond to His calls.
vi. What have you been doing with His common grace lavished on humanity? God’s grace is constant and inexhaustible: the problem has always been MAN’S REALIZATION and RESPONSE.
vii. The grace of God is readily available to all. Are you making the best use of it? Think on this and make amends where necessary.
B. HIS SPECIAL GRACE (Rom. 5:1-2; 2 Cor. 12:9)
Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Rom. 5:2).
i. Rom. 5:1-2: God’s grace in our Lord Jesus justifies those who believe in Him, giving us access into indescribable position of favour with God (cf. Mal. 1:2,3; Rom. 9:13).
ii. This is God’s special grace that makes us joint heirs with Christ, and sits us together with Him in glory (Rom. 8:17; Eph. 1:3,20; 2:6).
iii. This is very evident in God’s dealing wit Israel, despite her stiff-neckedness (cf. Exod. 34:8-9). In fact, she would be saved in the end (Rom. 11:26). Why? Grace that makes the Holy Father patient with His naughty child who walks slowly to meet up with His will, for His covenant’s sake.
iv. Titus 2:11-15: The grace has APPEARED to all men. The grace is teaching us about sins and is empowering us for heaven. Have you accepted it?
vi. This special grace, which is as water covers the sea will soon dry off, the moment the rapture happens. This is a wakeup call for those who are yet to accept it when they are still alive. What will be your fate when the end comes?
LESSONS DERIVED
1. God’s common grace is for all, regardless of our relationship with Him. The purpose is to draw all men to Him. Have you come to Him?
2. God’s special grace is for His people alone. It gives strength to His people to continue in Him, till we finally reign with Him eternally.
QUESTIONS
1. Grace is God’s character. Discuss.
2. Explain the difference between common grace and special grace.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:
i. Refer to division I A.
ii. God’s graciousness cannot be separated from Him because, that is His nature, His person.
iii. He is truly a gracious God. He proclaims that by Himself.
iv. That He revealed Himself to people like Abraham and Moses (men formed out of dust), is that height of His graciousness.
v. His composition as shown by Him as merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth are definite attributes of His grace.
vi. Men like Moses, the Levites, Joshua, David, Asaph and others were able to acknowledge the grace of God that they had enjoyed. They voiced this in their praises worship to Him.
vii. This grace is not limited to the ancient time. It is still available to us, even as many as would come to Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:
Common grace is as follows:
i. Refers to division II A
ii. This grace is for all creatures, without blockades. It is enjoyed by all fishes, animals and humans.
iii. This particular grace is equally granted to both good and evil people righteous and wicked ones, rich and poor alike.
iv. This is the grace that was extended to all humanity in Romans 5:6-8, for when we are yet unworthy, He came for the redemption of humanity.
v. Humans are self-willed and some choose not to acknowledge Him, He still lavishes His rain and sunshine, air and other natural elements on all. We still have night and day, seasons of planting and harvest, for all humanity, because of His graciousness.
vi. He gives equal right to respond to His constant and inexhaustible grace. On the other hand, the special grace of God consists in the following:
i. It is for all, but only accessible through faith in Christ Jesus by those who accept Him as their personal Lord and Saviour.
ii. We are being justified through this grace.
iii. This grace makes us joint heirs with Christ, and with Him in His glory.
iv. The sustainability of believers to the end is encoded in this grace.
v. By this grace, believers have His mighty power at work in us, far above all principalities, power, might, dominion, and names, in heaven, on earth, underneath the earth, and elsewhere (Eph. 1:17-23).
vi. In this grace, believers are delivered from the devices of the devil and his cohorts.
vii. It warns us against sin, and helps/empowers us to live above (overcome) it.
viii. It prepares and empowers us to make heaven with Christ Jesus.
LIFE APPLICATION
God, in His graciousness, created the heavens and the earth, and everything was good, by His perfect standard. God’s grace is available to both the just and the unjust, alike. He showed the people of old His graciousness, and those who encountered Him, spoke of Him as being indescribably gracious. It is evident to mankind how God graciously deals with us equally. Greater grace than that of old is shown to us in the person of Jesus Christ, for the redemption of mankind. What has been your response so far to God’s graciousness? Don’t waste this grace. It would be too dangerous, and irreparably damaging in the end.
CONCLUSION
God has offered His grace to all creatures. This grace is also available to all humanity because God is the absolute embodiment of grace, He is grace, and cannot be detached from grace. The door is still open to all who are yet to accept the Lordship of Jesus, because it is only in Him that we have true access to the saving grace that makes one joint heir with Christ Jesus, immediately and ultimately. Retrace your steps back to Him, now, before it is too late. His gracious arms await your repentant retune. May the grace of God not be in vain over our lives. Amen.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO
Mon. 24: God: Inexplicably Gracious To The Undeserving (Psa. 115:1-18)
Tue. 25: God’s Grace Doesn’t Tolerate Syncretism (Exod. 20:3,4)
Wed. 26: God’s Common Grace Covers All (Matt. 5:44,45)
Thur. 27: God Leaves No Generation without Witness (Acts 14:5-17)
Fri. 28: God says, Continue In My Grace (Acts 13:43)
Sat. 29: God’s Grace Calls For Positive Change (2 Cor. 5:16-21)

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