RCCG Sunday School Student Manual For July 24, 2022 – Lesson 47 : Topic – The Spotless Bride
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TOPIC: The Spotless Bride
MEMORY VERSE: “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” – Ephesians 5:27 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Ephesians 5:17-30 (KJV)
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: The Church, that is the congregation of all born again believers, is referred to as the Bride of Jesus Christ in Ephesians 5:25-27. Almost invariably, when a man chooses a bride, he chooses someone who is closest to him in manners, attributes, aspirations, ways of doing things, and the like, because only birds of the same feathers flock together (Amos 3:3). The Lord Jesus Christ is holy, spotless and without blemish; hence His Bride must be without spot or wrinkle too.
LESSON OUTLINES:
- THE ESSENCE AND PROCESS OF BEING SPOTLESS
- AREAS OF SPOTLESSNESS
1. THE ESSENCE AND PROCESS OF BEING SPOTLESS
It is a reasonable question if a Christian asks, ‘Why must I be spotless?’ Or why must I be pure in all things that there cannot be found in me a single spot, fault or blemish? Here are just a few of the reasons. First, a Christian is a child of God (John 1:12), and the child must be like his father. In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ said that every child of God must be as perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect (Matt. 5:48). Secondly, the Christian is part of the Bride of Christ. From which it follows that the Christian is part and parcel of the holy, spotless, Christ (Eph.5:29-30). Since Christ is spotlessly holy, it follows that no part of Him can be any less holy than Himself. Thirdly, the wedding between Christ and His bride is going to take place in Heaven. And nothing unholy shall be allowed into Heaven (Isa. 35:8). Therefore, if you wish to be part of the bride at the wedding of the lamb, you must be without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27).
The steps toward a life of spotless holiness begin with the new birth in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17). This is then followed by purging yourself of all sinful habits and excesses (Job 11:14-15; 2 Tim. 2:21). After which you must steer clear of all worldly situations that can stain you or get you thinking along wrong tracks (James 1:27; 1 John 2:15-17). Then, of course, you must live daily for God, taking one day at a time and living it as if it will be the last (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 13:5). Since all determinations are useless without the help of God, you must constantly call on Jesus for help (John.15:5; Phil. 4:13).
2. AREAS OF SPOTLESSNESS
The next reasonable question is ‘In what areas should the bride of Christ be spotless?’ The answer, of course, is ‘in all things’. However, we will specifically look at three areas: In words, in thoughts and in deeds.
1. Spotless in words: Christians are expected to ‘bridle their tongues’ by putting a check or carefully selecting their words in order to avoid offences (James 3:2; Col.4:6). In order to be spotless in word, a Christian must abstain from gossiping, backbiting, lying, rumour-mongering and any other speech that defiles (1 Pet. 4:15; Rev. 21:27; Mark 7:20).
2. Spotless in thoughts: Before someone can be spotless in words, he has to be spotless in thoughts (Ps.19:14). This is because whatever comes out of your mouth is an overflow of what is in your heart (Matt.12:34-35; Prov. 23:7). Consequently, we are advised to watch very closely what we think about and meditate upon. In fact, there is a list of things that must occupy the thoughts of a Christian. These are the things that are true, just; honest, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8).
3. Spotless in deeds: We must not only be spotless in words and thoughts but also in deeds. In fact, our deeds are to be as pure as light. We are to shine at home, in the office, marketplace and everywhere so that the world will know who is really our Father (Matt. 5:14-16). True holiness cannot be hidden; it will always shine forth.
CONCLUSION: It is not enough for the Christians to be holy. They must be spotlessly so. Anyone who hopes to be part of the bride of Christ must stay spotless.
QUESTIONS:
Why should a Christian be spotless?
In what areas should a Christian be spotless?
FURTHER READING:
Monday: Galatians 2:10 (KJV)
10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
Tuesday: Joshua 1:8 (KJV)
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Wednesday: 1 Corinthians 6:13 (KJV)
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
Thursday: 1 John 2:14-15 (KJV)
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Friday: 1 Peter 1:14 (KJV)
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
Saturday: 1 Peter 5 (KJV)
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. 13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. 14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Sunday: 1 John 3:8-10 (KJV)
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
ASSIGNMENT:
Identify five (5) ways through which polluted society can become spotless.
RCCG Sunday School HYMN
- O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?