Justification By Faith Alone – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: God cannot declare anyone righteous based on their behavior, for no one is perfect. Only by accepting what God has done for us in Christ can we be justified..
1. Have a volunteer read Galatians 2:15,16.
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a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. What does Paul mean by the word “justified” in this passage?
c. Personal Application : Why is it so easy to believe God will justify us if we are doing the right things and hard to believe God will justify us if we are not? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “If we are not justified by works, then why does the Bible tell us to do good works? Most of the saints in our church were canonized because of their good works like Mother Teresa.” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Galatians 2:17,18.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. What does it mean that we are not justified by the works of the law?
c. Personal Application : In your life, how well have you done in keeping the law? Is it good enough for God to justify you? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “I don’t understand this? Does justification by faith and not by works result in lazy and undisciplined living?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Galatians 2:19-21.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Does the doctrine of justification by faith encourage sinful behavior?
c. Personal Application: How do we frustrate the grace of Christ? What does it mean to be dead to the law? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “What does Paul mean when he says he is crucified with Christ? What does this have to do with Christ being in Paul?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Galatians 5:6.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why was such a big focus made on circumcising new believers by the Jewish Christians?
c. Personal Application : How does faith work by love? Can faith without love avail anything? Share your thoughts.
d. 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).
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