Confirmation 7 & 8 done

Key Christian Concepts:

WORKS

7

INTRODUCTION

People in our country and in various foreign countries have a lot of different ideas on

how to please God in their lives. We could easily list some: helping the needy,

charitable giving, offering sacrifices and prayers to idols, fighting for a cause etc…

Now look at each one of these and tell whether they are God pleasing or not.

Some are and some are definitely not at all. It all depends. That is what our lesson will

help us with today.

STUDYING GOD’S WORD

What part do good works play in Salvation?

Romans 3:28For we maintain that a man is justified by

faith apart from observing the law.

THE BELIEVER IS SET FREE APART FROM OBSERIVING THE LAW - You have maybe heard of a “whipping boy.” A prince could not be publicly whipped but when he

broke the law someone had to be punished. Therefore a boy was chosen to be

punished so that the prince could go free - a whipping boy. Jesus took our place under the law so that we could be justified. He

was our whipping boy.

Ephesians 2:8-98 For it is by grace you have been saved,

through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by

works, so that no one can boast.

WE ARE SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE, NOT BY WORKS - If you have to

work for something it is not a gift. If you are given an incredible gift from your parents on your birthday, but

then go and boast that you deserve it because you have been such a good kid, you rob your parents of the joy of

giving you a free gift.

Romans 9:30-3230 What then shall we say? That the

Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a

righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of

righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled

over the “stumbling stone.”

WE LOSE OUR SALVATION IF WE PURSUE IT BY WORKS - Again, imagine that your mom gave you a $1000 check for your birthday. She gave it to you because she loved you and wants you to have it. If you told her that you deserved that money

because you are such an awesome kid and it’s about time she coughed up some

money for all the things that you have done for her, she will take the check back.

In the same way, we lose God’s gift by works.

On the basis of these passages, if you were to fill in the percentages of how much our

salvation is dependant on God’s grace and how much is dependant on our good works,

what would the percentages be?

Our salvation is ______________% God’s Grace and ________% our good works.

1000

What change in attitude did the Holy Spirit work in us when he

brought us to faith?

Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

WE ARE LED TO HATE THE SINFUL NATURE - In 2 Peter 2:2, Peter speaks of a dog returning and eating his own vomit and about a pig who is washed will go back and

wallow in the mud. When the Holy Spirit brings us to faith, we are not like a dog or a

pig, rather we hate our sins like vomit or mud.

Titus 2:14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people

that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

WE ARE NOW EAGER TO DO WHAT GOD DESIRES - You have heard how

some children react to their parent’s requests. Some moan and say “Aw, mom,

do I have to?!” Others say, “OK, Dad, I’ll do it right away!” The latter is the attitude that

the Holy Spirit has worked in our hearts when he brings us to faith.

When the Holy Spirit brought us to faith, he changed our attitude so

that we now hate sin and are eager to do God’s will.

God’s Word in My Life

1. Agree or disagree and why? A Christian does good works to show God that he is worthy of God’s love.

2. Agree or disagree and why? The work of Jesus Christ gives us a chance to win eternal life by following his example.


How do I do good works?

Galatians 2:2020 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the

Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

John 15:4-54 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the

vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do

nothing.

THE POWER COMES FROM JESUS IN OUR HEARTS BY FAITH Jesus uses the example of a grape

vine to picture how we get the power from him to do good works.

If a branch is broken off a vine it dies and on the vine it produces

fruit. As long as we are connected to Jesus we will be able to do good

works.

Ephesians 2:10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God

prepared in advance for us to do.

GOD HAS CREATED US IN JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS - When you are

training a child to do things on their own, you lay out their clothes in front of them

and help them put them on and then praise them for doing such a great job. God lays

before us good works and helps us do them to give him honor.

CHRISTIAN VOCABULARYCHRISTIAN VOCABULARY

Good Works - a deed that flows from faith in Jesus and gives God glory

Justify - (review word) to be declared “not guilty”

Understanding Good Works

Think about apple trees. Why is it that they produce apples? Is it because they’ll feel guilty if they don’t? Is it because they will

be in some sort of trouble if they don’t produce enough fruit? That’s foolish! Apple

trees produce apples because that’s just what apple trees do. It’s natural.

Christians produce good works, not because they’ll feel guilty if they don’t, and not because they’re afraid that otherwise they’ll get in trouble with God. Christians produce good works because Christ gave

them the power to do so. It’s what Christians do naturally now!


1. Agree or Disagree and why? People without faith can still do good works.

2. Which of these three illustrations best pictures the works in your life? Why?

a. A small branch on an apple tree loaded with perfect fruit.

b. A branch on a dying apple tree that has some withering fruit.

c. A branch on an apple tree that has some good fruit and some fruit with worms in it.

Hymnology # 461 - From Eternity, O God


What motivates us to gladly do good works?

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 14 For Christ’s love compels us,

because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for

themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

THE LOVE CHRIST SHOWED TO US Two people who love each other don’t have to be forced to do things for each other. They naturally do them. If one needs the other, they go. Love shows

itself in actions. Neither does God have to force us to do good works.

We are compelled to live for him rather than ourselves.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father

through him.

WE DO GOOD WORKS TO THANK GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS - If you were drowning and someone pulled

you to safety, you would feel that you should thank them somehow.

You might pull out some soggy money from your pocket. You are

not paying him back for saving you - he already did that. You are

thanking him. We do good works not to pay God back for saving us, that’s already done. We do it to thank him.

We are motivated to do good works out of love for Jesus and out of

thanks to God.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a

light for my path.

WE CAN USE GOD’S WORD AS A TEST TO SEE WHETHER A WORK IS GOOD OR NOT- In a factory, there are usually some tests that a product must

pass before it can go out on the market. Ropes have to be a certain strength.

Automobiles have crash & breaking tests. Baby cribs have safety tests. God’s word

is the test we use for everything—no popularity polls, not our friends opinions,

or what we want. God’s Word determines whether it is good or not.


1. Agree or Disagree and why? Because we are saved by grace, through faith, God doesn’t care whether a Christian does good works or not. He cares whether or not we have faith.

2. What do you think? If I am saved entirely by God’s grace and my good works have nothing to do with it, why can’t I go out and commit whatever sins I want and then ask God for forgiveness later?

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT TIME

REVIEWING THE LESSON 1. Review your notes; be sure you understand them. Be prepared for a written or oral

quiz. Don’t forget about the vocabulary words! 2. Make a flashcard for and memorize Colossians 3:17 and Ephesians 2:8-9. Be

able to put the passages into your own words. PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LESSON Ask your parents to help you with the following activity: 1. Read Matthew 19:16 - 26 2. Complete the Bible History Worksheet. BOOKS OF THE BIBLE Memorize the books of the New Testament: Matthew - Revelation

The Only True God

Who is He?

8

INTRODUCTION

How many of you have been to Africa? How many of you have a relative who lives in Africa? Then how do you know there is a

place called Africa? (maps, globes, pictures, TV, books, etc.) None of you has ever been to Africa, but you know it is there. You have

found out about it from other sources. Today we’re going to learn how we find out about God. None of us have ever seen him,

yet we know he’s there.


What is one way that I learn about God?

Psalm 19:1For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

I LEARN SOME THINGS ABOUT GOD FROM NATURE. The pyramids in Egypt

(show picture on overhead) didn’t just drop out of the sky. Someone had to build them. The same can be said about your house. The same can be said about the created universe. Someone had to build it. That

someone is God. You can’t look directly at the sun, but you can look at it’s reflection in a pond. We can’t look directly at God, but

you can see his reflection in nature.

Acts 14:17Yet he has not left himself without

testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in

their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

FROM NATURE I LEARN ABOUT GOD’S KINDNESS. Perhaps you have a friend whose room is filled with nice things: a TV/VCR, computer, nice clothes, sports

equipment, etc. Those things tell you he has generous parents (I’ll bet the same can be said for your parents!). All of the blessings of nature—rain, sun, crops, etc.—show us

how kind our God is.

Romans 1:20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been

made, so that men are without excuse.

FROM NATURE I ALSO LEARN THAT GOD IS ETERNAL, POWERFUL, AND DIVINE. God is eternal. That means he

has no beginning or end (like an unbroken circle). To create everything he has is to

be powerful. Imagine the power of Niagara Falls. That’s nothing compared to

the One who created those falls. Obviously, nature was created by

someone divine, not human we human’s don’t even really know what light is—a

particle or a wave!

Psalm 104:24How many are your works, O LORD! In

wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

FROM NATURE WE ALSO LEARN THAT GOD IS WISE. In fact he is the wisest of all. Take a look at your family car. You can tell a lot about the inventor of that car. You can

see that he is logical, orderly, smart and wise. Look at the orderliness, design and beauty of nature (like the human hand). A

wise God created it!

One way I learn about God is from nature. Nature shows me that God is

kind, eternal, powerful, wise and divine.

What is a second way that I can learn about God?

Romans 2:14,1514 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not

have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even

defending them.)

I LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT GOD FROM MY CONSCIENCE. The gauges on an airplane let the pilot know when something is wrong. Our conscience is

like those gauges. It tells us when something has gone wrong with our

conduct. It’s that little voice inside that condemns us for our sinful actions. It’s the accusing finger that points our sins.

Romans 1:32Although they know God’s righteous decree

that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who

practice them.

MY CONSCIENCE TELLS ME THAT I DESERVE DEATH. Because all people

have a conscience, all religions in the world—except Christianity—try to avoid God’s anger over sin by DOING something that

will make God happy. Because of conscience, everyone knows that he is

responsible to God for his sins.

A second way that I learn about God A second way that I learn about God is is through my conscience, which through my conscience, which

tells me that I tells me that I am responsible to am responsible to God for my sins and deserve his God for my sins and deserve his

punishment.punishment.

GOD’S WORD IN MY LIFE

What do the following tell you about God?

A spring garden in bloom.

Our bodies’ ability to heal and develop immunity to disease.

The various cycles of the earth—water cycle, cycle of the seasons, etc.


What is the third way I learn about God?

Acts 16:25-3025 About midnight Paul and Silas were

praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26

Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the

prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he

drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had

escaped.

Acts 16:25-3028 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be

saved?”

I CANNOT LEARN FROM NATURE HOW I AM SAVED. The “Service

Engine Soon” light on your car’s dash can tell you something is wrong, but it’s not specific. Your conscience tells you something is wrong between you and

God, but not how it is fixed.

2 Timothy 3:15and how from infancy you have

known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation

through faith in Christ Jesus.

ONLY THE BIBLE CAN TELL ME HOW I AM SAVED. The riding lawn mower won’t

start. Bad wiring? Out of gas? Dead battery? Only when you look in the manual

do you realize the problem. You need to depress the clutch when starting. People have lots of suggestions about getting to

heaven: be nice, do good works, don’t hurt anybody. But only in the Bible do we see

that Jesus is the only Savior.

The third way I learn about God is from the Bible. Only God’s Word tells me that God saved me from my sins.

CHRISTIAN VOCABULARYEternal: Without beginning or end.

Divine: Not human, but God. Able to do what only God can do.

Conscience: The little voice inside us that tells us when we are sinning.

Natural Knowledge of God: What I can know about God from nature and conscience.

Revealed Knowledge of God: What I can know about God only from the Bible (that Jesus is my Savior, that he’s triune).

GOD’S WORD IN MY LIFE

1. Agree or Disagree and why? People could come to saving faith if they would only look closely at nature and listen to their conscience.

2. Agree or disagree and why? There really is no such thing as an atheist.


What are two different ways that God’s nature is different than mine?

Matthew 28:19Therefore go and make disciples of all

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit,

God is Three persons in One - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - A tricycle has

three wheels. In the term tri-une, the first part of the word “tri” reminds us that

God is three persons.

Deuteronomy 6:4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the

LORD is one.

God is also one God - A unicycle has one wheel. In the term tri-une, the

second part of the word “une” reminds us that although God is three persons, he is

one God. This is one basic way that God’s nature is different than ours.

John 4:24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship

in spirit and in truth.”

God is Spirit - Children sometimes have an imaginary friend. They talk to that friend, make believe he is eating something they give him, etc. Their friend doesn’t have a body and can’t be seen. As a spirit, God

doesn’t have a body and can’t be seen. But he is not just imaginary. He is living and

real.

The two basic ways that God’s nature is different than ours are that He is triune

and spirit.

Diagram of our Triune God

God’s Math

1 + 1 +1 = 1

Our Tri-une God!

Object Lesson - Light a candle

What comes first when the match touched the wick - Light or Heat?

(Father, Son, & Holy Spirit)

Our triune God is three-in-one simultaneously throughout all eternity.

God’s Word in My Life1. Agree or Disagree and why?

We have one God, but sometimes he acts like the Father, sometimes he acts like the Son, and other times he acts like the Holy Spirit.

2. The New Age Movement teaches that all things are god. Mormons believe that some day they will become gods and inherit their own planet. In what ways do these ideas not square with what the Bible says?

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT TIME

REVIEWING THE LESSON 1. Review your notes; be sure you understand them. Be prepared for a written or oral

quiz. Don’t forget about the vocabulary words! 2. Make a flashcard for and memorize 2 Timothy 3:15. Be able to put the passage

into your own words or answer questions concerning it. PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LESSON Ask your parents to help you with the following activity: 1. Complete the Bible History Worksheet. 2. Help you learn the whole Apostles’ Creed by heart. Learn the Confession of our Faith Memorize: The Apostles’ Creed

Spiritual

Confirmation 7 & 8 done