BITES to CHOMPs 250820 BITES: Q18 Did God abandon humanity in their sin?

Q18 Did God abandon humanity in their sin? A18 No. In His mercy, God chose some for eternal life, offering salvation through Christ by a covenant of grace (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Attention grabbing introduction - READ SAUL’S CONVERSION NARRATIVE

Acts 9:1–19 | 1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 And as he was traveling, it happened that when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but rise up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” 7 And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. Leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem. 14 “And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And he laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—that is Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming—so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he rose up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,

Question/Answer #1

Q18 Did God abandon humanity in their sin? A18 No. In His mercy, God chose some for eternal life, offering salvation through Christ by a covenant of grace Ephesians 2:4–5 “But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”

Breakdown of Terms: ASK BUT WAIT FOR THEM TO EXPLAIN, ASK FOR EXAMPLES

What is mercy and compassion? These include care, concern, and empathy for another

What does it mean when it says that God chose some? It means God’s election of a person or people group for a specific purpose, mission, or salvation

What is Eternal Life? Eternal life is perfect unending existence in communion with God after death in Paradise

What is Salvation? Deliverance from the power, effects and penalty of sin by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross

What is God’s Covenant of Grace? The covenant entered into and kept by God that ensures salvation for God’s elect through Christ. This is different than the covenant of works established at Sinai via the 10 commandments

Question/Answer #2

Let’s do tonight’s question again: Q18 Did God abandon humanity in their sin? A18 No. In His mercy, God chose some for eternal life, offering salvation through Christ by a covenant of grace Ephesians 2:4–5 “But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”

God’s Character:

What does Ephesians 2:4-5 tell us about God’s character? LET THEM READ FROM THEIR MANUALS AND ANSWER FROM THE VERSES

Rich in mercy, having great love for those whom He has chosen. He is the One that makes alive. He united us with Christ. It is only His grace that saves

What does Ephesians 2:4-5 tell us about people’s status before salvation (GOAL IS TO GET THE CHOMPs TO UNDERSTAND THAT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE SAVED ARE MADE ALIVE)

We are dead in our transgressions - pushing the point. Nobody is good except God alone

Ephesians 2:1–3“And you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all also formerly conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”

Question/Answer #3

Last time for tonight’s question: Q18 Did God abandon humanity in their sin? A18 No, in His mercy, God chose some for eternal life, offering salvation through Christ by a covenant of grace

Ephesians 2:4–5“But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”

Questions:

So why does this matter at all?

Our Need: If we think we are good we won’t understand our need to be saved

Romans 3:10 “as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;”

God’s Goodness: If we think God is mean to judge instead of who He really is, merciful, the Giver of great love we will not come to Him

Q4/A4 What is God? Ask the kids question 4

Election: If the Christian does not understand that God has chosen him even before he was born he will lose his assurance in God’s salvation because he will think salvation is dependent upon him and not God

Ephesians 1:4“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love,”

Works Salvation: If the Christian thinks it is his good conduct, keeping rules, that saves he will become either arrogant or disheartened (perhaps both) - it is only God’s grace that saves through faith as a gift for the purpose of good works.

Ephesians 2:8–10“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”