Download GIVING LIFE

Lesson 4 for July 26, 2014
“For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Love is God’s attribute par excellence. In
addition, He doesn’t simply love; He IS
love. (1 John 4:8).
God loves every human being He created.
That love motivated Him to give himself
away–in the person of the Son– to save
the world.
How can we get God’s salvation?
We just need to follow the publican’s
example: “God, be merciful to me a
sinner!” (Luke 18:13).
No one deserves salvation. We cannot buy
it, just receive it. That’s grace.
Thank You for Your love, Father. Thank You
for giving Your Son.
“But I know Him, for I am from
Him, and He sent Me.” (John 7:29)
Jesus explained that He was sent by the Father. He had
to seek those who the Father would draw: “No one can
come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”
(John 6:44)
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are trying to draw all men
and women. They are willing to do any effort necessary
to save everyone.
Jesus told two parables to teach that. They may be
found in Luke 15:3-10.
Like a shepherd who looks for
his lost sheep, God looks for
us and tenderly carries us back
to the sheepfold.
Like a woman who
desperately looks for his lost
drachma, God is unceasingly
trying to draw us to Him.
“It was taught by the Jews that before God’s love is
extended to the sinner, he must first repent. In their
view, repentance is a work by which men earn the
favor of Heaven. And it was this thought that led the
Pharisees to exclaim in astonishment and anger. ‘This
man receiveth sinners.’ According to their ideas He
should permit none to approach Him but those who
had repented. But in the parable of the lost sheep,
Christ teaches that salvation does not come through
our seeking after God but through God’s seeking after
us. There is none that understandeth, there is none
that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the
way.’ Romans 3:11, 12. We do not repent in order that
God may love us, but He reveals to us His love in order
that we may repent.”
E.G.W. (Christ’s Object Lessons, cp. 15, pg. 189)
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd
gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
John the Baptist said, “Behold! The
Lamb of God who takes away the sin
of the world!” (John 1:29). He was
referring to the way we would be
saved.
Every sacrificed animal was a lesson
for the offerer. Sin can be forgiven
only if an innocent dies.
Human beings can also be forgiven
only if a sinless human being dies in
their place (that is, Jesus the Son of
God).
No one forced Him to die for us. He
volunteered because He loves us.
“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and
I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
(John 10:17-18)
“Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say
to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.…
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall
be free indeed.’” (John 8:34, 36)
Sin enslaves the sinner.
Jesus is the only true Deliverer. He
never was a slave of sin. Jesus enjoys
forgiving us and freeing us from
condemnation.
“The words falling from the lips of Jesus, ‘Thy
sins be forgiven thee’ (Matthew 9:2), are
worth everything to us. He saith, I have borne
your sins in My own body on Calvary’s cross.
He sees your sorrows. His hand is laid upon
the head of every contrite soul, and Jesus
becomes our Advocate before the Father, and
our Saviour. The lowly, contrite heart will
make very much of forgiveness and pardon.”
E.G.W. (That I may know Him, August 17)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to
kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may
have life, and that they may have it more
abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Because of our sins, we deserve to die. But Christ
took our place on the cross and paid the death
penalty that, otherwise, rested on us. Jesus, being
innocent, took on our guilt and received our
punishment so that we, being sinful, could be
declared innocent. Through Him, instead of
perishing we receive eternal life.
When Jesus becomes our Savior, our life acquires a
whole new meaning, and we can enjoy a richer and
a fuller existence.
Bread and water support the
life that Jesus gives us:
• “I am the living bread which came down from
heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live
forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh,
which I shall give for the life of the world.”
(John 6:51)
• “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give
him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give
him will become in him a fountain of water springing
up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)
“Those who are partakers of Christ’s meekness, purity, and love, will
be joyful in God, and will shed light and gladness upon all around
them. The thought that Christ died to obtain for us the gift of
everlasting life, is enough to call forth from our hearts the most
sincere and fervent gratitude, and from our lips the most
enthusiastic praise. God’s promises are rich, and full, and free.”
E.G.W. (Sons and Daughters of God, November 16)