Sabbath School Lesson for June 12-18, 2021
Overview for Lesson 12
How faith impacts our covenant with God is our study this week. We will look at…
- our thoughts about Calvary (Sunday)
- what Christ’s sacrifice accomplished for us (Monday)
- what part faith played in the story of Abraham (Tuesday and Wednesday)
- why we can trust God with everything He has promised in the covenant (Thursday)
It’s just human for us to try and earn things. Children are taught from an early age to work for what they desire in life. At the same time, however, we must learn how to trust and have faith in others to supply our needs. God designed us to be interdependent on each other and dependent on Him.
Especially is faith needed when it comes to accepting gifts from God. His gifts are so enormously important to us that it seems natural to want to do all we can to deserve them. But what does God’s covenant teach us about this faith?
Memory Text: “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: The just shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11
Our thoughts fly immediately to Martin Luther, when we hear the words of our memory text. He and the other Protestant Reformers tried to shift the church from works to a more faith-based religion. The Catholic Church at that time, which held power in both church and state affairs, had lost touch with God primarily for its lack of faith.
“The just shall live by faith” is actually a quotation from Habakkuk 2:4. The idea of basing our relationship with God on faith is evident all through the Bible. It has been rediscovered at times like during the Protestant Reformation, but there is always the possibility that we will forget it at some point in our lifetime too, if we are not careful. Faith is precious and must never be taken for granted.
Sunday: Reflections of Calvary
It’s important for us to reflect on the sacrifice made for us at the cross of Calvary. When we understand the great accomplishment His death meant for us, it’s easier to see that there’s nothing we can do to earn that kind of forgiving love. That enormous love was stronger than death.
What He endured for us even included separation from His Father. His cry “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?” was to be our experience, when our final judgment is declared and eternal death is our fate as sinners. He became our Substitute, releasing us from the grips of everlasting separation from God.
This purchase of our redemption should call forth our deepest, heartfelt emotion. There is no way our works could match this supreme loving act. Ellen G. White says so eloquently:
“The contemplation of the matchless depths of a Saviour’s love should fill the mind, touch and melt the soul, refine and elevate the affections, and completely transform the whole character.” ~Testimonies for the Church,“, vol. 2, p. 213.
Bible Verses to Read and Discuss:
Romans 12:3
- How does faith in what was accomplished at Calvary divert our attention to God and away from self?
- Why is everyone given a measure of faith, and why is this important?
Monday: The Covenant and the Sacrifice
The sacrifice of Jesus is the foundation of the covenant, just as it is the foundation of our salvation. God cannot have a meaningful relationship with creatures who have been infected with sin. Something must be done to save us from the bondage of Satan before we can bond with our Creator.
The price of our freedom had to come from the Creator Himself. Only He who made the Law could save us from the penalty of breaking it. The Law represents the character of God so fully that to redeem us could not have been accomplished by anyone other than God. Otherwise, the Law’s validity would be in question.
What should not be in question is the seriousness of our sin. For it to demand the shedding of Christ’s innocent blood tells us how serious the breach of sin is for the whole universe. We must have faith in the ransom paid, in order for the covenant to be effective. The Lamb of God, prefigured by animal sacrifices, is our key to eternal life that was lost after sin entered our planet.
Bible Verses to Read and Discuss:
1 Peter 1:18, 19
- What significance is there that our redemption (or ransom) was paid by the blood of Christ, who was not perishable (or corruptible)?
Romans 6:23 and 1 John 5:11, 13
- Why is eternal life important to God?
- How is it part of the covenant?
Tuesday: The Faith of Abraham, Part 1
Abram had done little to show his faithfulness to God when God declared him righteous (Genesis 15:6). As a matter of fact, he soon took Hagar, in a misguided effort to provide himself with an heir.
But, it was for his belief that God commended him in this verse. We can find no statement in the Bible that tells us more clearly what kind of righteousness God is looking for. He values our trust in Him so much that He can overlook our faults and mistakes, and still see us as righteous.
After we see the matchless love and sacrifice of God’s Son, our helplessness and sinful condition must also be recognized. When, with humility, our belief is accompanied by faith in God, our relationship begins to grow and God can transform us more and more into His likeness.
In the meantime, we are declared righteous, despite our faults. His perfect righteousness is imputed, or credited, to us. We can all come to God in “the faith of Abraham” (Romans 4:16).
Bible Verses to Read and Discuss:
Genesis 15:6 and 16:2
- What did Abram do that made him righteous before God?
- What kind of righteousness was Abram doing when he took Hagar, in order to have an heir?
Romans 4:16 and 3:24
- Although we need Abraham’s faith, whose grace do we need?
- How do grace and faith work together in our covenant relationship?
Wednesday: The Faith of Abraham, Part 2
It’s natural to assume that our faith makes us righteous, but even faith isn’t responsible for our righteousness with God. Faith is merely the vehicle that allows us to be covered by Christ’s perfect righteousness. And thankfully, each of us is given a measure of this faith (Romans 12:3). It is our part simply to keep inviting Christ into our heart so He can make that faith grow.
When faith in God grows, so does our love, obedience, and character. Love motivates us to obey, and obedience leads to a more positive character overall. Through the faith journey, we grow closer and closer to God. And that is the whole purpose of the covenant–to take His divine character and make it our own, so we can commune with Him as closely as Abraham did.
This is the only way God can count us righteous, even though we are still unrighteous. Our relationship with God must be growing as much as possible by daily seeking to connect with our Creator.
Bible Verses to Read and Discuss:
Hebrews 11:7-9, 13
- What did Abraham especially have faith in?
Hebrews 11:17-19
- What other event showed Abraham’s faith in God?
- What promise had Abraham witnessed, and how did this give him the faith and strength needed to offer Isaac to God?
Thursday: Resting on the Promises
Many do not recognize the blessings of God until later in life, but there are innumerable promises of God we can rely on–from the past, in the present, and for the future. These promises make our life bearable and even better, no matter what age we become aware of them.
- there’s forgiveness for our past disobedience, and understanding of why things may have happened the way they did
- there’s peace, joy, and love, filling our hearts now and affecting all those around us when they are shared
- there’s a future inheritance to look forward to–a home in heaven with our Maker and Friend
We can rest assured that God is on our side when we choose to follow Him. Everything that happens to us has a holier purpose than we could ever imagine. Hardship and trials may still come, but we are given the grace and strength to withstand any of Satan’s assaults. Trusting in God upholds us, uplifts us, and sustains us, no matter the present, bitter circumstances in our life.
Bible Verses to Read and Discuss:
Psalm 34:8
- Why and how are we to “taste and see” that God is good?
Matthew 11:30
- What makes Jesus’ burdens so light?
- How has He lightened your burdens?
Romans 5:1
- How does being justified give us peace with God?
- How does having the peace of God in our heart affect us and those around us?
Philippians 2:7, 8
- Why did Jesus need humility to die on the cross and become our Sacrifice?
- What part does humility have in our ability to trust God?
Friday: Final Thoughts
The humility, grace, and yes, even faith of God, must be transferred to us, in order for the covenant to effectively heal our broken relationships. As these vital traits become our own, we will get along better with our neighbors and family members. We will also feel more connected with God, as we become more like Him.
It’s easy to see the humility and grace of God. We have only to contemplate the Savior’s sacrifice on Calvary. His crucifixion dramatically illustrated the humility and grace of our Lord. In addition, God has exhibited unexplainable faith in mankind to respond to His invitation of love.
The faith of Abraham is mentioned throughout Scripture. However, Abraham’s faith was not constant. He frequently disappointed God and turned to his own ability to get things done. Whenever we stray from God’s word, our faith, too, becomes dead (James 2:5). Faith without obedience is not the kind of saving, life-giving faith God has in mind for us.
We are credited as righteous and declared free from the penalty of sin, when we accept God’s power to save us. But our salvation doesn’t end there, just as the ministry in the earthly sanctuary didn’t end in the courtyard and what happened on the altar of sacrifice. The Holy Place was designed to educate us in how to grow our faith.
As we are guided by the Holy Spirit to become more like Him, our faith will grow and result in a much better world, in addition to the wonderful, new world that is one of God’s covenant promises.
Next Week: Sabbath: The New Covenant Life
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