Lesson 357 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good"  (Romans 12:9).

Notes

 

Holy

Jesus prayed for His disciples and for all those who would follow Him. He prayed that they would be as one, united with one another and with God. He prayed that they might be sanctified. To be sanctified, means to be holy, to be purified from sin. Sanctification has been likened to the removal of the roots of a tree. Salvation is like the tree being cut down but the stump could sprout and grow again. At sanctification the roots are taken out.

Jesus prayed that His disciples would be faithful, that they would be kept true to God, even in this world of temptation and trial. (Read [JHN:17:15-21].)

Sanctification makes a Christian stronger in overcoming sin. It is "the will of God, even your sanctification" [1TS:4:3]). Christians want to live according to God's will, so they consecrate their lives and pray until God sanctifies them. There are other things that a Christian can do in order to keep true to God, to do His will, and to be of service to Him. A Christian works at his religion, always trying to become more like the Master.

A Pattern

In writing to the church at Rome, Paul mentioned some things that would help them to be better Christians. These things may be called Christian duties. They are a pattern for Christian living. When one has the love of God in his heart he feels that to live a clean, holy life is a privilege. He wants to live pleasing to God, and by so doing he knows that he will be ready for Heaven.

Some children have learned that to take part in certain games, or to go to certain places, or to play with certain children, always causes them to get into trouble. Would it not be better to keep away from those things and those people who bring trouble? So it is with a Christian: by avoiding sin, and by praying and living for God, he is helped to keep out of trouble.

A Living Sacrifice

Paul pleaded with Christians to consecrate their lives to God, and to present their bodies a "living sacrifice" to God. In olden times people worshiped God by killing animals for sacrifices, but today God wants us to glorify and praise Him by living for Him. The Prophet Isaiah said: "For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: . . . The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day" [ISA:38:18-19]).

A sacrifice is that which is offered, yielded, and surrendered to God. To give one's body and life as a "living sacrifice" unto God is to yield and to surrender his life to God and God's will. God wants not only a living sacrifice but also a holy one, freed from sin.

Strength

How can you remain free from sin? "By the renewing of your mind." Paul spoke similar words in his prayer for the church at Ephesus: "To be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; . . . that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God" [EPH:3:16-19]). By praying each morning before school, play, and work, and by reading the Bible or listening to it's being read, children can have the Lord with them, so He will show them how to do good and to live for Him. To study the Sunday School lessons and to learn the memory verses help us to be renewed in mind and to be strong in the Lord.

Treatment of Others

A follower of the Lord is humble, thinking of others first, and of himself last. This will be shown by one's daily life. You may be given the choice of two apples, one larger than the other. Satan will probably whisper in your ear that you ought to take the big one because you are hungry. But you will remember that Jesus wants us to be unselfish and to think of others first, so you will, of course, leave the larger apple for the other child. That is one way of showing love and "in honour preferring one another," not thinking more of ourselves than we ought.

Evil or Good

"Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." A Christian dislikes and shuns the things which are bad. He loves and clings to the things, which are good. Even in play, a child who loves the Lord will keep away from sinful things. He should not pretend to rob and kill, even though it is only with a play gun. He should not imitate those who smoke or who use make-up, even though it is only a candy cigarette or play lipstick. A Christian child does not admire the evil in the lives of those who stead and cheat. Satan has a way of enticing people to think that evil is "not so bad," and gradually trying to tempt them to do on the sly those things which are not good. Paul said, "Provide things honest in the sight of all men." The fact that some others do not live pleasing to God, does not give us permission to do one thing, which would displease God.

Good for Evil

Instead of doing evil for evil, a Christian overcomes evil with good. He is kind to those who are unkind to him. He does not have a "get-even" spirit. He watches for a chance to do a good deed for those who have mistreated him. In the Proverbs we read of a promise, which is to those who are generous and kind to others who have done evil to them. "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee" [PRO:25:21-22]). Does that mean that we should treat those well who may make fun of us? Yes, it means that. "Bless them which persecute you."

Growth

It is only reasonable service to God that we should live for Him. God does not expect more of His people than they can do. God has not only requirements for His people but He also has helps for them. In the help that He gives His people are included the love of God, grace, faith, hope, power, and patience. They are for us and are obtained through prayer and through God's Word, the Bible. One cannot measure up to God's requirements without God's help.

When one is first saved he has these Christian graces in a greater or smaller measure. God expects us to grow in these things. In [2PE:1:5-11] we are encouraged to increase and to add to the amount that we have, so we might not fail God. Peter also wrote that we should "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" lest we fall from being steadfast and faithful [2PE:3:18]).

When a child does not grow taller and does not put on weight, we know that something is wrong: he is not healthy and normal; he will die unless he gets some help. So it is with a Christian. Something is wrong if he does not grow. He is not spiritually healthy and normal. This condition will lead to death unless he calls on God for help.

A Christian lives for the Lord every day. It is not enough to follow the Lord just on Sunday or to do good only occasionally. In this lesson from the writings of Paul and Peter, we have studied a number of good things, which a Christian does. A person does not do these things in order to be a Christian. He does them because he is a Christian. Constantly before him is the purpose to please God and to do His will. Then the Lord and all the world will know, by his life, that he is a Christian. 

Questions

 

1. Who wrote the Book of Romans?

2. To whom was it written?

3. How can one be a living sacrifice to God?

4. What causes one to be true and faithful to God?

5. What can a person do each day in order to be strengthened spiritually?

6. How can one tell if a person is a Christian?

7. How does a Christian feel about things that are evil?

8. How does a Christian treat those who are unkind to him?

9. What does sanctification do for a person?

10. What does it mean to grow in grace?