OCTOBER 8, 2017 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON. TOPIC: EARLIEST MESSIANIC PROPHECIES

OCTOBER 8, 2017 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

Topic:  Earliest Messianic Prophecies.

Memory Verse: Galatians 3:8  The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed (KJV).

Lesson Text: Genesis 3:13-15;12:1-3; 49:8-10; Mathew 1:18-21;Luke 1:30-33; John 12 :30-33, Galatian 3:8-14.

CENTRAL TRUTH: God reveled the coming of Jesus the Messiah by Spirit-inspired prophecies in ancient times.

FOCUS: To examine ancient prophecies about the Messiah and truth in Jesus as the One who fulfilled those prophecies.

                 Outline:

1.    The Son of the Woman

A.    Promised Seed

B.    Born to Die

2.    The Blessing of Abraham

A.    Faithful Patriarch

B.    Heirs of Blessing

3.    The Promise of the Ruler

A.    Royal House of Judah

B.    Son of the Most High

                        

                    LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1.    Recognise that while God judges sin, He desires to save the sinner.

2.    Embrace their responsibility to serve God in the light of the Great Commission.

3.    Determine to live by faith in anticipation of Christ’s eternal reign.

                    INTRODUCING THE LESSON

QUESTION: Where in the Bible would you first expect to read about Jesus?

      Discuss with the class the common perception that only the New testament deals with Jesus Christ. In reality, the entire word of God tells the story of God’s plan to offer salvation to the lost. God first spoke of His plan as far back as the Garden of Eden. This lesson explores how the redemption story is rooted in the book of Genesis.

                 COMMENTARY AND APPLICATION

1.    The Son of the Woman

A.    Promised Seed. Genesis 3:13-15

        QUESTION: Why is Genesis 3:13-15 best understood in the light of the whole of Scripture’s teachings?

        Without a broad understanding of the Bible, readers can miss the meaning of short but critically important passages. This principle is not unique to the Bible. Many areas of life use short symbols to convey or highlight broader truths.

        Genesis 3 should be read in light of the first three chapters of Genesis. Immeasurable changes took place throughout the earth when sin marred God’s perfect creation. While Genesis 1 records God’s repeated endorsement of His creation as “good” ( see vs 4,10,12,18,21,25,31) and Genesis 2 describes a life of bounty and blessing that God provided for Adam ( verse 8-24), Genesis 3:1-14 records the first couple’s decision to disobey God despite a clear warning of the consequences.

     God’s judgment on Adam and Eve’s sin was not of irreversible condemnation ( 3:15-17). Even with God’s pronouncement of judgment against sin, He promised a future Redeemer. These three verses connects with the larger content of the Bible to confirm the prophecy’s meaning.

      The serpent and its seed in the Genesis prophecy represent Satan  and his demonic forces, including unredeemed humanity that acts against the purposes of God ( verses 14-15). Besides influencing Adam and Eve to sin, Satan would continue to work to keep people from turning to God.

       God also spoke of a seed, or Descendant, of Even who would one day crush the serpent’s head ( verse 15). The Gospels make clear this human Descendant of Eve is the eternal and divine Son of God, Jesus Christ.

B.    Born to Die. Matthew 1:18-21; John 12:30-33

      We can observe the fulfillment of the Genesis promise within the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Joseph regarding the birth of Jesus. Clearly, this was a child about to be born to an earthly mother, Mary. He was a “seed’’ of Eve(Matthew 1:20), but no ordinary child. He was conceived in Mary through the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s glorious purpose. The name Jesus means “ Jehovah is salvation”. As Gabriel clearly stated, Jesus would save people from their sins ( Matthew 1:21).

      Jesus is the Redeemer and final Victor over evil promised in Genesis 3:15). But this would be fulfilled within the context of a struggle, and there would be a terrible cost to the Redeemer in carrying out God’s mission. Such is evident in the prophecy that the serpent would  wound Jesus’ heel.

      Jesus repeatedly told his disciples He will give his live for humanity. One of the most dramatic proclamations of Jesus’ sacrifice came during the final week before His crucifixion.

      Jesus was teaching in Jerusalem in the days following His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, at which time He knew He would soon face the cross. As He spoke to the crowds, a voice from heaven announced God’s name would be glorified through Jesus 9 John 12:27-29). People reacted in different ways to the voice, and not all understood it.

QUESTION: What other audible proclamations from God during Jesus’ life identified Him as God’s chosen?

   The heavenly announcement, Jesus explained, pointed to the judgment of sin and the defeat of ‘’the prince of this world”, or Satan ( John 12:30-31).

QUESTION: What do you think Jesus meant in saying that the time for judgment on this world had come?

     Jesus referred to the judgment that would take place through his death on the cross. Through that cross, the defeat of Satan and His evil powers began. Christ’s victory over Satan will be complete when he is cast into lake of fire ( see Revelation 20:10).

     Jesus then spoke of being lifted up to draw humanity to himself ( verse 32). John explained that Jesus was referring to how He would die, being lifted up on a cross ( verse 33). Some scholars also see in this statement a connection with Jesus’ resurrection. He triumphed over the grave, in a sense being lifted up from the earth. Through both Jesus’ death and resurrection, eternal life provided for all who embrace Him as savior.

2. The Blessing of Abraham

A.    Faithful Patriarch. Genesis 12:1-3

  

QUESTION: What is the most life changing thing God had asked you to do?

       For Abraham, God’s command meant leaving behind the land of Ur, the idolatrous culture in which he was raised, and the people in his family who did not share his calling ( Genesis 12:1). In the same way, our devotion to nation, culture and even family, must take its place behind our commitment to God.

        When Abraham acted in faith, God set into motion a series of events that resulted in the establishment of Israel, His chosen “grate nation” ( verse 2). Israel’s greatness came through their covenant relationship with God, who provide His laws to His people and promised to bless them if they would obey Him. Though Israel failed God repeatedly, God remained true to His covenant and to the promised He had made to Abraham.

      The greatest blessing God brought about through Abraham through which “all families of the earth” (KJV) or “all people on earth” (NIV) would be impacted-was the arrival of the Messiah. While Genesis 12:1-3 does not mention the Messiah, Christ’s redeeming mission is indeed the fulfillment of God’s promise. Jesus demonstrated perfect obedience to the Father, died as the perfect sacrifice for humanity’s sin, and rose from the grave to offer salvation to all who trust Him as saviour.

B.    Hairs of Blessing. Galatians 3:8-9,13-14.

          The Old Testament’s record of Israel’s failure to keep God’s laws powerfully reinforces the New Testament’s teaching that no one is able to perfectly obey God ( see Roman 3:10-20). No matter how hard we try to please God, our fallen nature makes it impossible.

       Early Christians in Galatia were familiar with the Old Testament laws. They had also heard the apostle Paul preach the gospel and explain that Jesus Christ had died for the sin of the world. Paul needed to remind the Galatians that God’s Old Testament laws, while describing a life that is holy, could not equip the Galatians to live truly holy lives. Only a relationship with Jesus Christ could enable a person to live holy.

       Paul’s explanation of faith in Galatians 3 provides the deeper meaning behind God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12. Faith, Paul explained, is what justifies the believer before God (Galatians 3:8). We must believe salvation has everything to do with God’s work in us and nothing to do with our own works of righteousness. Paul connected the Christian’s faith in Jesus Christ with Abraham’s faith in God’s promise ( verse 9)

QUESTION: How is faith repeatedly identified in Paul’s writings as necessary for salvation?

      Whereas Abraham looked ahead in faith to God’s fulfillment of His promise to bless all nations, we can look back and see how God accomplished His plan. Paul explained to the Galatians that Jesus Christ saved us from “the curse of the law” by becoming a curse for us ( verse 13). The statement that Jesus became a curse may convey a truth similar to that found in 2 Corinthians 5:21, which describes Christ as “ becoming sin” for us. In similar way, Deuteronomy 21:23 notes that one who “hangs on the tree” is accursed-referring to one who is deemed guilty and is the object of judgment. So while Jesus is entirely pure,sinless,and without guilt, He became the object of the Father’s wrath on our behalf.

      But Christ’s sacrifies doesn’t tell the entire story of what happens in our lives through salvation. Paul reminded the Galatians that the work of salvation included the promise of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring (Galatians 3: 14). This event, following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, ushered in the Church Age. Followers of Christ are now living in the final days of time, anticipating Christ’s return and eternal rule.

3.    The Promise of the Ruler

A.    Royal House of Judah. Genesis 49:8-10

         Genesis offers a progressive more detailed picture of Jesus saving mission as it relates to God’s plan for humanity. The final Chapter of Genesis include prophecies concerning the tribes of Israel. These chapters also identify the tribe from which the Messiah would come.

        Abraham’s grandson Jacob later renamed Israel, had twelve sons. Jacob’s son Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt but was faithful to God and rose to great power to lead that nation during a time of famine. Joseph brought Jacob and all the families of his brothers to Egypt. Genesis 49 records Jacob’s prophecy of God’s plan for Jacob’s descendants.

QUESTION: How does Jacob’s Prophecy make it clear the Messiah’s kingdom is not earthly origin?

      The first part of Jacob’s prophecy concerning his son Judah describes events fulfilled in the life of King David and his descendants. But Jacob looked beyond David’s descendants to a ruler who will exercise authority over all nations and rule forever (verse 8-10). This prophecy is clarified in the New Testament announcement of Christ birth.

B.    Son of the Most High. Luke 1:30-33 

     Gabriel’s announcement to Mary of Christ Birth included a promise of Jesus’ saving mission as contained in the meaning of His name (Luke 1:30-31; see Matthew 1:21). Jesus came to save humanity from their hopelessly lost and sinful condition. But a full description of who Jesus is must include His divine existence as God’s son and His absolute authority as eternal King.

      Jesus Christ is “ Son of the Highest” (KJV) or “the Son of the most High” ( verse 32,NIV). There is nothing ambiguous about this statement. The only One that can be called ”the most High” is God himself. Jesus’ identify as God with us undeniable truth that lies at the corn of the Christian faith. Jesus, the man, lived among us and completely identified with our temptations and other challenges in life. Jesus, the divine Son of God, is the only One empowered to take on himself the penalty for our sins and triumph over sin.

           DISCIPLESHIP IN ACTION

  Gabriel’s announcement to Mary captured the key themes of Jesus’ earthly life. Yet it also accomplished far more, looking forward to a time when Jesus will have absolute, unending authority over all nations.

     The promise of the Messiah has shaped God’s interaction with humanity throughout history. Since humankind fall into sin, God has been at work to bring about the way of redemption. He has made the way for us to become His Children, disciples of Christ.

     Scripture is rich with examples of human experience that can help shape your walk with Christ: God’s faithful servant Abraham, the failure and successes of God’s chosen people, the life of king David. All of these stories offer insight concerning a life that pleases God.

     True discipleship-the ongoing act and process of being a follower of Christ – should lead you to prayerfully discern the saviour’s leading each day in decisions both large and small. This is not an experience limited to select Christians; It is the promise of Jesus Himself. The Holy Spirit has also been sent to guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

                  MINISTRY IN ACTION

          In many practical ways, Jesus demonstrated God’s love to people in need. Christians who genuinely reflect the Saviou’s life should identify and meet the needs around them and try to help. Develop with the class a group project that supports a ministry in the church or worthy outreach in the community.