God created man and woman. He gave them one commandment, and they broke it; they sinned. It broke the relationship between God and us. God promised to send One who would be the bridge. For thousands of years, the people of Israel offered sacrifices striving to repair their connection with God. Finally, Jesus (the Messiah and God’s Son) came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again offering us life. This “salvation” is by His grace and is called a gift.
1. What are some of the best gifts you have given or received?
Ephesians 2:8-9 is one of the clearest passages on this topic, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
2. What are some things people do trying to please God or get saved?
3. According to this passage, how can one be saved?
“Grace means undeserved kindness. It is the gift of God to man the moment he sees he is unworthy of God's favor.” Dwight L. Moody
Romans 3:20-24 adds to the conversation, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” I remember the definition of justification as just-as-if-I-never-sinned.
4. What is the purpose of the law?
5. According to this passage, what percentage of people have sinned?
“I'm not perfect. And who knows how many times I've fallen short. We all fall short. That's the amazing thing about the grace of God.” Tim Tebow
People have never been able to work their way to Heaven. Salvation has always been by the grace of God through faith.
Romans 4:6-8 says, “Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.’”
6. Was David saved by works?
James 2:23 adds, “And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’—and he was called a friend of God.”
7. How was Abraham considered righteous?
8. What does it mean to be called “a friend of God”?
“Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone, for justification, sanctification, and eternal life by virtue of God’s grace.” Charles Spurgeon
Salvation is by God’s grace and through faith alone. This faith is also described as one who believes Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5 says, “Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
9. What does “overcomes the world” mean?
1 John 5:11-13 adds, “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”
10. Can someone know they are saved?
John 1:12 continues, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
11. What are believers called?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
12. What are the two final destinations?
13. What does one need to do to have eternal life?
“What gives me the most hope every day is God’s grace; knowing that his grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God.” Rick Warren