12: Covenant Faith – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: In the covenants, blood was shed for sin. Jesus paid the debt owed to the law, so we can stand righteous in the sight of God.
June 19, 2021
1. Have a volunteer read I Peter 1:18,19.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
- What does it mean to be ransomed?
- Personal Application: Are you saved? How do you know you are saved? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your relatives states, “If we are saved only by a credited righteousness, not something that exists within us, then it doesn’t matter what we do or how we act.” How would you respond to your friend?
2. Have a volunteer read Genesis 15:6.
- Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
- Was Abraham’s righteousness in the sense of God’s righteousness?
- Personal Application: What did Abraham do that helps us understand why this righteousness was credited to him, opposed to what he actually was? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your friends states, “So if God credits everyone with righteousness because of Christ’s life and death; then the Universalists are correct that everyone will eventually be saved.” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Leviticus 7:18, 17:1-4.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
- How is the idea of reckoning, counted, or regarded used when referred to sacrifices?
- Personal Application: Despite our faults, sins, and shortcomings, Jesus accounts us as righteous in God’s sight. How does that fact affect your response to Jesus in your life? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your relatives states: “The Bible says is we confess, God will forgive us. But I don’t feel forgiven, nor do I feel like I am righteous. I still have the same flaws and make the same mistakes.“ How would you respond to your relative?
4. Have a volunteer read Galatians 3:11..
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
- Why is no man justified by the law in the sight of God?
- Personal Application: What is the difference between a living faith and a dead faith? What does faith involve? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

When Paul wrote in Gal 5:4 as "fallen away from grace" he is describing the difference between our human error of believing what we did (sin)somehow is more powerful than His love. Which means, we often put emphasis on what God said (commandments/law) over what Jesus did (the cross). Or, when we (believers) put more emphasis on being good and the importance of obedience, over Christ's ability to save, we have fallen from grace. A necessary distinction: the keeping of His commandments is an identity of our belief, trust, & obedience, as a point of reference aligned with His character for the world! Falling in sin, is like falling Forward - as we strive to be more like Jesus, we may stumble and fall, but when we ask for earnest forgiveness, Christ's grace is sufficient to count us as righteous in the sight of God. We need not start all over, but consider Falling Forward as we grow. Of course, as we continue to strive we become more like Him the more we behold Him (by beholding...recall the saying). Self-righteousness becomes a sin-problem when we commit acts against the character of God, because of our pride and selfishness to do as we so chose, despite knowing the difference. We can fall, and still not fall from grace - but know that His love is greater than what we did; then live according to His love as a believer! Greater still, do so in humility and live according to His character. Righteousness is then accredited to us.