C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR AUGUST 13, 2023 : LESSON 5: TOPIC – JESUS’ VIRGIL BIRTH, SINLESS LIFE, ATONING DEATH AND TRIUMPHANT RESURRECTION

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

THEME: UNDERSTANDING OUR APOSTOLIC FOUNDATION

JULY – DECEMBER 2023

UNIT ONE: THE TRIUNE GOD COMES TO REDEEM US

13TH AUGUST 2023

LESSON 5

TOPIC: JESUS’ VIRGIL BIRTH, SINLESS LIFE, ATONING DEATH AND TRIUMPHANT RESURRECTION

MEMORY SCRIPTURE

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin

(Hebrews 4:15).

The virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death and triumphant resurrection of Jesus constitute the Godhead’s perfect solution to take care of man’s depravity. Don’t joke with this Truth!

BRIEF COMMENT:

Despite His superior status (Heb. 4:14), Jesus Christ still sympathises with our weaknesses. He understands the temptations we face because He has been tempted in every way, although, unlike us, He did not yield to temptation and sin. Whereas ordinary people could never have approached a Jewish high priest for help, we can approach Jesus. Hence, we should confidently look up to Him for help to overcome temptation and sin; because He came for this purpose.

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS

Mon. 7: Jesus: Born Of A Virgin (Lk. 1:26-33)

Tue. 8: Jesus: Born Of the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1:34-37)

Wed. 9: Jesus: The Just For The Unjust (Isa. 53:9; Acts 3:13-15)

Thur. 10: Jesus Bears Our Grief (Isa. 53:4-5)

Fri. 11: Jesus: The Lamb For Sacrifice (Isa. 53:6-12)

Sat. 12: Jesus Truly Resurrects (1 Cor. 15:1-19)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS:

1. In line with the Scripture, we believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, had a sinless life, and atoningly died for our sins.

2. He is the sinless Lamb of God that took away the sins of the whole world.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Genesis 3:21

4. AIM AND OBJECTIVES:

AIM: To establish from the Scripture, the truth about the sinlessness of Jesus, from birth to His atoning death.

OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, it is expected that the learners should:

i. have understood and be able to explain, scripturally, the life of Jesus Christ from birth to death;

ii. be able to explain how and why Jesus went through the terrible experiences of pain and death; and

iii. be showing signs of being resolute to accept and follow Jesus till the end.

INTRODUCTION

TEXTUAL SOURCE: MATTHEW 1:18-25; JOHN 1:14; 19:1-19; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-19;1 PETER 3:18

Glory be to God as we continue with the series of the Sunday school that borders on the tenets of our Church. The previous lesson bordered on the second tenet: The utter depravity of human nature, the necessity for repentance and regeneration, and the eternal doom of the finally impenitent.

INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION:

This one-week lesson has two major divisions. Division I has the topic, JESUS T VIRGIN BIRTH AND SINLESS LIFE, and it highlights the sinless conception, birth and life of Jesus Christ, as seen in the Scripture. The second division is titled; JESUS ATONING DEATH AND TRIUMPHANT RESURRECTION. This division explains the sacrificial death and unstoppable victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ as the basis of our victory over Satan, sin, self, death and hell.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. JESUS VIRGIN BIRTH AND SINLESS LIFE

II. JESUS’ ATONING DEATH AND TRIUMPHANT RESURRECTION

LESSON EXPOSITION

I. JESUS’ VIRGIN BIRTH AND SINLESS LIFE (Matt. 1:18-25; Jn. 1:14; 1 Pet. 3:18)

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, “which is translated, “God with us” (Matt. 1:23).

a) Matt. 1:18-25: God, in His infinite grace, sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to save the depraved man from sin. The manner of His birth: He came through a virgin as predicted (v. 23; Lk. 1:27; cf. Isa. 7:14).

b) vv. 19-21: Before the betrothed Mary and Joseph would come together, Mary was found with the child of the Holy Spirit. She wasn’t impregnated by Joseph. This was so incredible and unbelievable that Joseph almost tactically did away with her but for divine intervention.

c) Jn. 1:14: Through Jesus’ virgin birth, God incarnated and lived among men–the Immanuel (Matt. 1:23), to atone for humanity (Matt. 1:21).

d) Heb.4:15: He was tempted as we are (Matt. 4:1ff; Lk. 10:1ff) though without sin (2 Cor. 5:21; cf. Matt. 27:2ff). We believe strongly in Christ’s sinless life as our Advocate that makes His blood the only appropriate and sufficient propitiation for our sins (1 Pet. 1:18ff; 3:18).

e) Through Jesus’ righteousness, the depraved man is washed and restored to God, and by this, man becomes righteous (Acts 3:14). Hallelujah!

f) To liberate the sinful man from sin, there must be a Saviour whose birth and existence would be devoid of sin. Jesus Christ perfectly fits into this frame. God does not assign the ministry of redeeming humanity to someone else than His only begotten Son (cf. Isa. 7:14; Jn. 3:16)

II. JESUS’ ATONING DEATH AND TRIUMPHANT RESURRECTION (Jn. 19:1-19; 1 Cor. 15:1-19) God…glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go (Acts 3:13).

a) Jn. 19:1-19: Contrary to the claim that Jesus was not crucified, being too powerful to be killed, we believe that God made Jesus to experience an agonising death in the Romans’ cruel hands.

b) Yes, nobody could have killed Jesus, if He didn’t surrender Himself. He had to, to offer to God a pleasing and perfect sacrifice of His own blood (Heb. 9:16-28) by the Cross-ransom!

c) vv.5-17: He bore His Cross after a summary trial by Pilate. He died a shameful death for man’s redemption, crucified among 2 thieves at Golgotha (the place of a Skull), in obedience to God, not because He was defenceless (Php. 2:7-9). d) Then came the glorious unstoppable resurrection (Matt. 28:1ff; cf. 1 Cor. 15:1ff). If you believe Jesus died, then you must believe He gloriously rose (1 Cor. 15:20)!

e) We believe God raised Jesus from the dead on the 3rd day with proofs (Matt. 28:1ff; Rev. 1:17-18; cf. 1 Cor. 15:5ff). This confirms His lordship over death and

Hades (Rev. 1:18b) and our hope of resurrection (Rom. 8:11; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

f) Man had wilfully sinned against God. To free him from that sin requires that someone else (a sinless soul) atone for him, hence, the atoning death of Jesus Christ. There is therefore no excuse for anyone not to believe and accept Jesus Christ today. Are you ready?

LESSONS DERIVED

1. God came in human form to ransom man from the power of sin, through His virgin birth and sinless life.

2. By His atoning death and triumphant resurrection, Jesus perfects redemption for all. Have you accepted His lordship?

QUESTIONS:

1. Explain the virgin birth of Jesus, and state the implication on your faith.

2. The only way to realise man’s redemption is the Cross. Discuss.

SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:

ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:

* Conceived through the Holy Spirit, no human involvement (Lk. 1:35).

* He came through a virgin according to the Scripture (Matt. 1:23; Lk 1:27).

* Born sinless to atone for humanity’s sin (Matt. 1:21, 23; Jn. 1:14).

* This sinless, virgin birth of Jesus makes way for us, giving us unfettered access into God’s presence and inheritance. We now have the hope of eternity with God in His inexplicably blissful heaven as long as we stay in His divine provision in Christ Jesus.

ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:

• The cross is the destined place for redemption.

* The cross is the altar on which Jesus’ bodily sacrifice was laid.

* The cross cancels humanity’s sin, guilt and judgement.

* The cross is the advert billboard of our shame, guilt and ridicule.

* At the cross, a sinless life was given humanity’s sinful life.

* The ransom for man’s redemption was paid once and for all on the cross.

* New life occurs at the cross.

LIFE APPLICATION:

It is indeed true that Jesus was born of a virgin. It is equally true that He lived a sinless life. It is also true that He died sacrificially for the sin of man. It is a profound truth that death was not His end; He rose triumphantly from death. All these happened so that humanity can be redeemed from sin and delivered from the destruction to come. It requires us to decide for Jesus so that we can enjoy the all-round blessings of His life, which He lived for us.

CONCLUSION:

Here we come to the end of lesson five which scripturally discussed the sinlessness of Jesus’ life for the sake of humanity. It is expected that every learner will fully come to faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.

NOTE