SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON ( NBC ) FOR Sunday, April 13, 2025, : TOPIC - CHRIST THE ATONING SACRIFICE

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON ( NBC ) FOR Sunday, April 13, 2025, : TOPIC - CHRIST THE ATONING SACRIFICE

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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON ( NBC ) 

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Devotional Reading: Isaiah 59:1-8

Background Scripture: 1 John 2:1-6;4:7-21 

Lesson Scripture: 1 John 2:1-6;4:9-17

CHRIST THE ATONING SACRIFICE

GOLDEN TEXT

This is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:

I. Explain the relationship between Christ's atoning sacrifice and God's love.

II. Describe the connection between knowledge of God and obedience. III. Share practical ways to show Christ's love to others.

INTRODUCTION

A well-known Christian teacher says, "In Christianity, faith in the Mediator is not something optional, not something about which, in the last resort, it is possible to hold different opinions; but, faith in the Mediator is the utmost. The event that took place once and for all in the Christian religion is the 'main point'; it is not something alongside the centre; it is the substance and kernel, not the husk.

This is so true that we may even say that, in distinction from all other forms of religion, the Christian religion is faith in one Mediator. There is no other possibility of being a Christian than through faith in the atoning sacrifice which took place once and for all. Love is the foundation for what Christ did for us and the evidence that we have received what He did is that we show His love to others.

*THE LESSON EXPLAINED*

*A. Christ, Our Advocate and Model 1 John 2:1-6*

Apostle John stated clearly that the purpose of his letter to the believers was that they might not sin. This suggests that God's mind for the believer is to live a life free from sin. John then went on to say that in case sin happens, we have an Advocate in the person of Jesus Christ who will plead our case with the Father. Our flesh makes us prone to sin, but we can overcome sin as we continually rely on Jesus. Christ continues to play the role of restoring each believer as He restored Peter (Luke 22:31-32).

John states that the evidence of knowing God and having fellowship with Him is that we keep His commandments. Anyone who claims to know God, yet finds it difficult to keep His commands is a liar. When we keep God's Word, His love is perfected is us, and the proof that we are in God is that we live as Jesus lived. How did Jesus live? Jesus did the will of the Father even when it was difficult (Luke 22:42.) His priority was to please God and do His bidding (John 4:34). A life marked by obedience is the fruit and proof of fellowship with the Father. Obedience to God's command proves that we are indeed His. When we rely on God's instructions for our lives, we will be able to live a life that is void of sin. Believers can trust the Holy Spirit for the grace to be obedient to the end just like Christ was obedient till death. Our obedience as believers will help others to see Christ in us.

*DISCUSSION TIME*

1. How can Christians live a sinless life as God desires?

2. Analyse who a liar is in the context of this passage.

*B. Christ's Atoning Sacrifice-Proof of God's Love. 1 John 4:9-17*

A popular saying goes: "The proof of love is in the actions." God demonstrated that He loves humankind by sending His one and only Son that we might live through Him. All humanity was condemned to eternal death by the sin of Adam, but God brought life through His Son Jesus. God was the One who initiated this love and extended it to us through His only begotten Son, whom He gave as a sacrifice for all. Those who have received the love of God produce the fruit of love by showing love to one another. In other words, living out God's love is proof that God's love is in us.

God loves us and He constantly desires to relate with us. One essential sign of God's love for humankind is that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as an atoning sacrifice for those who willingly accept His love. Christians are to respond to His love by loving one another, receiving the leadership of His Spirit and proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God. Loving unconditionally is a Christian virtue. Jesus told His disciples to pray for those who curse them and love those who hate them (Matthew 5:44-45). We know certainly that we have received the love of God in the atoning sacrifice of His Son, if we love one another (John 13:35). God expects every believer to love unconditionally just as He has loved us. Nothing should hinder us from expressing God's love to those around us. This means that we must become more intentional in loving other people and by doing so we will be able to affect them positively.

*DISCUSSION TIME*

1. Is it possible to love difficult people? Discuss. 

2. Explain the meaning of the expression, "Love keeps no record of wrongs".

*Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity:*

Lead class member to explain 1 John 4:11

*Prayer*

︎ Pray for grace to love the unlovable.

︎ Pray for sinners to get a revelation of the love of God.

︎ Pray for believers to love God the more.

*Take Home:* Write down three lessons you learnt from today's lesson.

*Commitment:* Based on today's lesson, lead class members to make a personal commitment to walk in love.