Tag / death in a sinful world

by In Light Of The Cross

2: Death in a Sinful World-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class Sabbath, October 8, 2022.

Main Theme: Adam’s fall made us all sinful. Jesus’ perfect life and death brought salvation to all.

Read in Class: Romans 5:12, Romans 5:19 and Romans 6:23. Discuss the common thread of these passages.

Study: What are the consequences of sin? How did Jesus solve the sin problem?

Apply: What have we personally learned about the consequences of sin from our own sinful acts?

Share: Your friend says it is not fair that we were born into a sinful world by no choice of our own. How do you answer your friend? How did Jesus make it fair? How did Jesus undo all the damage Adam caused? See We are Saved by His Life.

Read in Class: Genesis 3:1-7. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: In what ways was “You will not surely die” a lie?

Apply: the serpent had absolutely now power other than the power of persuasion. How can we defend ourselves against these lies and persuasions when we are tempted?

Share: Your friend says that the Bible contradicts the norms of society in so many ways, its hard to believe that the Bible is even relevant in today’s society. What are some ways the Bible contradicts our current society and how do we know we can trust the Bible to be right?

Read in Class: Genesis 3:8-15. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What are the consequences of sin found in this passage? What was God’s solution? Where do we find a Savior in this passage?

Apply: What can we learn from the consequences of our sins and the results of our actions? Why do some not seem to receive consequences for their sins?

Share: Your friend states that if people do horrible things and God just forgives them then no justice is served. It doesn’t seem fair for them to get away with these horrible sins. What do you tell your friend? See Forgiveness is not Saying it is Okay.

Read in Class: Genesis 3:16-21. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What hope do we find in this passage for all of us?

Apply: What did the animal skins do for Adam and Eve that gave them hope and encouragement in their lives? 

Share: Can you think of someone who needs to hear about God’s plan of salvation? Can you share it with them this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

We are Saved by His Life

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10 NKJV

What if I told you that just as assuredly as you already sinned in Adam, you have also already lived a perfect life in Christ?

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19 NKJV

Paul is not merely saying Adam’s sin caused us all to sin. He is saying we all sinned in Adam when Adam sinned. It’s the same idea Paul was using in Hebrews 7:5 when he said Levi paid tithes in Abraham since he was in Abraham’s loins when Abraham paid tithe. Likewise, we were all in Adam when Adam sinned, causing us all to sin in Abraham. Romans 5:19 goes on to say that we are all made righteous by one man’s obedience.

How so? After we all sinned in Adam, Jesus became one with our flesh,

Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh…Romans 1:3 NKJV

Since the wages of sin is death, (Romans 6:23) Jesus took our sinful flesh to the cross, where we all died the death we deserve in Christ.

by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh…Romans 8:3 NKJV

What has happened so far? We all sinned in Adam, and deserved death. Jesus took our sinful flesh and went to the cross. Therefore our sinful flesh was crucified with Christ. The wages of sin is death, and I died that death with Christ.

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him…Romans 6:6 NKJV

So I have died the death I deserve in Christ. I still need a perfect life but fall short of God’s glory. See Romans 3:23. Here is the good news! Just assuredly as I died in Christ I have also lived a perfect life in Christ. Jesus did not only die for me, He died as me. Jesus also did not only live a perfect life for me, He lived a perfect life as me! I am not only saved by His death. I am saved by His life!

much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10 NKJV

I don’t have a perfect life to offer, but Jesus’ perfect life counts as my perfect life! Jesus is not cheating when He credits His perfect life as my perfect life, because He took my flesh and lived a perfect life with my flesh, just as Abraham paid tithes with Levi’s flesh.

The good news is, when I accept Jesus I am accepting way more than just forgiveness. When I accept the life of Jesus the power of His life becomes the power of my life! In John 12:32 Jesus says if He is lifted up He will draw all men to Him. Still Jesus does not turn us into robots and force us to accept Him as our Savior. He gives us the choice of accepting or rejecting the plan of salvation. 

The sinner may resist this love, may refuse to be drawn to Christ; but if he does not resist he will be drawn to Jesus; a knowledge of the plan of salvation will lead him to the foot of the cross in repentance for his sins, which have caused the sufferings of God’s dear Son. –Ellen White, Steps to Christ, Page 27.

As we allow Jesus’ love to draw us closer to Him, He works in us helping us to love the good things we once hated, and to hate the bad things we once loved. 

…reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. Romans 6:11-12 NKJV.

Thus Jesus’ life is my justification and sanctification! I am saved by His life!

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.