Lesson 401 - Junior

Memory Verse

"We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved" (Acts 15:11).

Notes

In the Garden

Long ago Adam and Eve lived in the beautiful Garden of Eden. God put them there to care for the garden. For their food, they could eat the fruit from the trees. There was only one rule or law -" "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it" [GEN:2:17]). God told them the punishment for disobeying that law, too. He said, "For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" [GEN:2:17]).

Satan

But Adam and Eve had an enemy, Satan, just as we have today. One day, Satan, in the form of a serpent, or snake, talked to Eve and deceived her. Satan said she would not surely die if she ate the fruit that God had forbidden. Satan did not tell the truth. We are warned that he is a liar and the father of lies [JHN:8:44]). Yet some people will not only listen but will also believe what he says.

Tempted

Eve listened to the serpent and was tempted to disobey God. First, she looked at the tree. Perhaps that was the first time she had really taken a close look at the tree. It was a pretty tree -- the shape and the colour of the leaves would no doubt have made a pretty picture. When Satan causes one to look at something forbidden, he makes it look good. Even the fruit looked good to eat, and perhaps it was close to the ground and easy to pick. Then Eve remembered what the serpent had said, "Ye shall be as gods" when they would eat the fruit [GEN:3:5]). She seemed to forget that God had said that she would die, but she wanted to try the fruit and be as a god. No doubt, Satan urged her a little more, and she ate the fruit. Then she gave some to her husband and he ate it too. They yielded to the temptation and sinned by disobeying God.

Christ Tempted

Jesus Christ was also tempted by Satan but He did not do what Satan wanted Him to do. Instead, Jesus quoted the Bible and what God had said. Jesus did not yield to the temptation but He said, "Get thee hence, Satan" [MAT:4:10]), and Satan had to leave.

When Satan comes to tempt you, remember how Jesus overcame him. In [JAM:4:7] we read, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." We are told to watch and pray [1PE:4:7]), and to "put on the whole armour of God" that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil [EPH:6:11]). It is no sin to be tempted, but it is sin when one yields to Satan.

Sin

After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, things were different. They did not drop dead but they had a guilty conscience and were dead spiritually, as God had said. They tried to hide from God. They did not go to meet Him when the Lord came to walk with them in the cool of the day [GEN:3:8]). When they learned that God knew, they tried to put the blame on someone else.

Because of their disobedience God sent Adam and Eve from the Garden and they had to work heard for their food. No longer did they have that sweet fellowship with God -" they were dead spiritually and were separated from Him. There were many curses that came with that one disobedience. God said that they would return to dust -" they would die and be buried. Not only did Adam and Eve suffer for that one disobedience but also all their children have suffered. Those curses were placed upon every person. Eve was called the "mother of all living" [GEN:3:20]), so she was an ancestor of us all. Do we suffer because of that one sin? Yes. In [ROM:5:12] we read: "As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." All are born in sin and by nature are sinners. The Bible tells us, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" [ROM:3:23]). Until one is born again, he is dead spiritually.

God's Plan

Sin, death, judgment, would be a sad picture without God's plan of redemption. One disobedience in the Garden of Eden separated all people from God who had created them and loved them. But God had a plan that would redeem men. He slew animals, shedding blood, and used the skins for a covering for Adam and Eve. The Bible teaches that sins are not forgiven unless there is blood shed [HEB:9:22]). The blood of animals typified the Blood of Jesus, which was to be shed for the salvation of man.

The Children of Israel were given the Law, which required them to kill animals and apply the blood, in order to have their sins forgiven and in order to worship God. But God had a better way for them to live and to serve Him -" a "better covenant" with better promises [HEB:8:6]).

Jesus was the Son of God. God loved Him very much but God also loved the people. God's plan was to send His Son to give His life that the people might have their sins forgiven. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" [JHN:3:16]). God showed His love for us, "in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" [ROM:5:8]).

Salvation

You have read that Jesus was crucified and gave His life for us. Jesus said that His blood "is shed for many for the remission of sins" [MAT:26:28]). Jesus suffered much and denied Himself many things that we might be saved. He was willing to carry out God's plan to redeem men from their sins.

God's part of the plan was completed, but each person must do his part, and that is "believe" [ACT:16:31]). Every person must repent, ask forgiveness, and believe God in order to be saved. The Bible teaches that God will have mercy on those who confess and forsake their sins [PRO:28:13]). Are you saved? Have you repented of your sins? If so, you are no longer dead spiritually but eternal life has begun in your heart, and you will live forever with the Lord if you continue to walk with Him here.

Life

When Jesus died and shed His Blood He made the way for us to escape hell. Instead of being spiritually dead, people can be spiritually alive. Instead of death and darkness, there is now life and light. Jesus taught the people: "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" [JHN:5:24]). Jesus said, "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die" [JHN:11:26]). In I [JHN:5:12] we read: "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

The Apostle Paul wrote to the people of the city of Ephesus. He reminded them of what the Lord had done for them when they asked forgiveness and were saved. One who is not saved is "dead" spiritually because of his trespasses and sins. When that person repents of his sins and knows that the Lord forgives him, he is given life eternal. He is "quickened" to life, and is no longer a child of disobedience. When one is born again and has Jesus in his heart, he does not sin any more ([1JN:3:9]). He is delivered from the power of Satan ([1JN:5:18]). Jesus came to destroy the work of Satan, and to help people -" "to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith" [ACT:26:18]).

Grace

How can one be saved? "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." One cannot work his way into eternal life nor can he pay a certain sum of money to be saved. One is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Grace is favour that we do not deserve. The Lord is gracious and merciful to those who seek Him. Jonah said, "For I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness" [JON:4:2]). Nehemiah said, "Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness" [NEH:9:17]).

Changed

What a change the Lord makes! When one is saved his sins are forgiven and he does them no more. He is a new creature, and is saved to do good works. He has peace with God and fellowship with Christ. He receives many blessings, for Jesus has lifted him to sit in "heavenly places" with other Christians and with Jesus Christ Himself. He is no longer separated from God, no longer a stranger but a fellow citizen.

All those who are saved, regardless of their nationalities, whether Jew or Gentile, are all fitted together to be the Church. Each one has his place, like each stone, each brick, and each board in a building. They are all framed together to be the temple of the Lord. Each one must walk close to God and be careful what he says and does so that the Spirit of God will dwell in that temple. What a privilege we have, and how much the Lord has planned for us who are obedient to Him!

Questions

1. What is an epistle?

2. Who wrote the letter to the Ephesians?

3. What does "quickened" mean?

4. How did sin come by one man?

5. Name some of the curses that came with the first disobedience.

6. Who suffered because of the first sin?

7. What was God's plan to redeem men?

8. What is grace?

9. What part did Jesus have in God's plan?

10. Memorise [JHN:3:16].