Grace for Beginners
The True Plan of Salvation
Teaching Strategy
The focus of this lesson is to clarify the relationship between grace and faith and their impact on our salvation.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Know: Understand the role of grace and faith in our salvation.
- Feel: Defend the importance of grace in our salvation.
- Do: Teach others the role of grace in salvation.
Body of the Lesson
Discussion Questions
Below are suggested questions to use during the guided discussion portion of the lesson. There are also suggested responses to questions to help students grasp the various concepts. These are provided to assist the discussion and are not considered as “right or wrong” responses.
1. Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and answer the following questions.
What does Paul mean in the first three verses?
Paul is addressing the Christians at Ephesus that once lived sinful lives but were now free from the eternal consequence of separation from God. If we continue in life away from a relationship with God, then there is no hope of eternal life. If we are not in that relationship with God, then we are in a relationship with Satan.
How does God make us alive? (Verses 4-7)
We are made alive through the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is done by God's grace. He did not have to make a way available but did so by offering Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. As Jesus was raised from the dead, so are we.
What is your reaction to verse 7?
Answers will vary but look for responses that indicate that the more we realize what God has done for us, the more we should feel compelled to respond as He desires and to remain faithful.
2. Why is it sometimes difficult to accept the gift of love and mercy from God?
Perhaps we don't truly believe or understand how God would offer such a gift. We know our guilt and feel that there should be a price we pay for such a wonderful gift.
3. What can we possibly give in exchange for our salvation that God would consider worthy?
There is nothing we can give. The common misconception is that we obey some sort of plan or steps and at the conclusion we have now earned God's forgiveness.
4. Why is the "Plan of Salvation" (Hear, believe, confess, repent, baptize) not a valid formula to achieve salvation?
There is no formula that brings about salvation. That is a misunderstanding of the plan of salvation revealed by God. Although these elements of our relationship with God are important, it does not represent a formula. These elements are our biblical response to God's plan (which is that God selected vicarious atonement as the method, and Jesus as the One who would carry it out with His own life offered). The danger is that one might believe that since he or she has done these steps then salvation is owed. The true plan is that God saves man through His Son Jesus (John 14:6). He did not have to, but He chose to because of his deep love. The actions of believing, repenting, confessing and baptism are expressions of faith in response to God's free gift of salvation.
5. What is the ultimate choice we make regarding God's grace and what our actions represent?
We must either believe or not. If we choose disbelief, then we reject God's grace. By rejecting, we choose to remain in our lost condition. If we choose to believe, then we will seek to obey God's will. This is at the heart of the response of the crowd when Peter preached his first sermon in Acts 2 (Acts 2:37-38). Our belief is our confession of who Jesus is, our need for him, our dedication to following His teaching and our obedience (i.e. repentance and baptism).
6. What is meant by the phrase "faith in faith"?
It means that if I have a strong enough faith then I can be saved. Although Ephesians 2:8 does state that we are saved by grace, through faith, it is not the faith that saves us. God's grace saves us. It is our faith in Jesus Christ, and it is He who has saved us. Jesus is the object of our faith. We believe He will save us.
7. Comment on the following statements:
God's grace is His love, compassion, kindness, and mercy. These character traits compelled him to do something. That something was to make a way for us to come back to Him. That way involved sending Jesus to teach us about the true nature of God and to die for our sins. He also established the Church as a way for us to continue to serve Him and remain faithful.
We meet God's grace by accepting the gift. This is done through our faith. It is not through actions our part to earn it. This type of faith goes beyond simply believing. It is alive and seen by how we respond to God's grace (with obedience) – James 2:17-18.
8. What is the danger of trying to earn God's grace?
A wise person once said, "We do not work to earn our salvation. We work because of our salvation." If we try to earn God's grace then it keeps the power with us. Our power is never enough to save us, or even keep us faithful as God would require. It is only through grace. Throughout history men have tried to establish a relationship with God by striving to be good enough. Although we do try to live pure lives as God would have us to do, we fail. Therefore God's grace is needed and ever present.
9. How is God's grace demonstrated in Luke 7:36-50 – Simon the Pharisee?
Simon thought that if he associated with Jesus then he would be a part of Jesus. Yet the one who truly had a part with Jesus was the woman that showed her belief, humility and submission to Him by washing and kissing His Feet. Jesus demonstrated grace by forgiving her. He stated in verse 50 "your faith has saved you; go in peace." She acted upon her faith. Jesus acted through His grace.
10. How can you use this lesson to grow spiritually and help others come into a relationship with Jesus?
We must realize that grace is everything in our relationship with God. When we fully understand the role of grace in our salvation it should cause us to move towards God and make the effort to remain faithful. It should also move us to extend God's grace to others by helping them understand the gift that is available to all.