SESSION 5 ONE GREAT COMMITMENT THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE What must I do to be saved? We make decisions constantly. Many decisions require little thought, and most decisions require little long-term commitment. But the greatest decision centers on what we will do with Jesus Christ. Knowledge about Jesus is not enough. Our need for salvation is answered in Jesus, but we must each decide whether we will commit to that truth and trust Jesus. THE POINT I must trust in Christ alone for salvation. THE PASSAGE Romans 10:1-3,8b-13 WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Romans 10:1-3 1 Brothers, my heart s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God s righteousness. Romans 10:8B-13 8b (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. 1 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. THE SETTING The Jewish people had a great passion for God, so why didn t they already have salvation? Their enthusiasm wasn t according to knowledge. The Jews passion was tied to God blessing them as His chosen people and giving them His law. But neither of these things brought them into a right relationship with God. In fact, Paul wrote that the law both revealed God s standard for righteousness and our inability to live up to it. 5 SESSION 5 For free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/ web/biblestudiesforlife For free Midweek Options for your group, visit lifeway.com/bsflfal16fresh
PREPARE LEADER LIVE IT OUT Reaching Out Romans 10:1-3,8b-13 How can you take the gospel to those in your life who need it? You could help launch a new Bible study group to reach those not in a group or in your church, lead a Bible study at work during the week, or even find ways to serve your boss or co-workers by praying for and with them. These are all opportunities to get people into God s Word, discussing their questions about faith, and discovering the truth of Jesus Christ. Y Listen to what God is teaching you as you complete the Culture section at the end of Session 5. How can you connect those around you with the gospel as you lead students to do the same? 1 Prepare: While you prepare for this session, it is critical to allow the truth of Scripture to challenge your heart. God works in our hearts as we teach others His Word. ONE CONVERSATION Scripture: Romans 10:1-3,8b-13 Topic: One Great Commitment THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: What must I do to be saved? We make decisions constantly. Many decisions require little thought, and most decisions require little long-term commitment. But the greatest decision centers on what we will do with Jesus Christ. Knowledge about Jesus is not enough. Our need for salvation is answered in Jesus, but we must each decide whether we will commit to that truth and trust Jesus. THE POINT: I must trust in Christ alone for salvation. Where do you usually see people that are passionate but without knowledge? What is one problem with trying to earn your salvation? Why is salvation both easy and difficult for those who give their lives to Christ? Discuss the following quote: Without a heart transformed by the grace of Christ, we just continue to manage external and internal darkness. 1 Matt Chandler 1. Matt Chandler, The Explicit Gospel (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 014), 199. LIVE IT OUT: Your student has been encouraged to take practical steps to take his or her faith and Live It Out in the Personal Study Guide. Here are some ways you can encourage your students to live out their faith with Christ personally, in community, and in their culture: CHRIST: Talk with your student about salvation through the confession of sins and surrendering of your life to Christ. If your student has not done this, talk with him or her about making a decision to do so. COMMUNITY: Invite friends of your student over who do not know Christ. Use the opportunity to reflect Christ s love in your home and invite them to know Christ better. CULTURE: Discuss opportunities with your student to take the gospel to those who need it. Don t let fear discourage him or her from big ideas and taking large leaps to further the kingdom. Follow Up: Don t forget to text a picture of the One Conversation section to parents or post it on Facebook and tag them after the session. This will equip them for further family discussion. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 53
ENGAGE (15 MINUTES) THE POINT I MUST TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE FOR MY SALVATION. 1 Engage: Begin the session with one or more of the Engage Options on the next page (optional). Discuss: Ask students, What decisions do you enjoy making on your own? 3 Guide: Call attention to The Point. Keep coming back to it throughout the session. 4 Read: Summarize the Bible Meets Life for your group. 5 Pray: Transition into the session by praying that students would see that we can trust in nothing for our salvation other than Christ. 54 SESSION 5
ENGAGE OPTIONS LEAD WITH ACTION Ask some multiple choice trivia questions to various people in the room. When they give their answer, press them to commit to it ( Is that your final answer? Are you locked in? Are you sure you don t want to change your mind? ). After playing a few rounds say, After I asked each question, I needed to hear that you were committed. Commitment is tough, even in a simple game. Following Christ is the most important commitment that you can make. LEAD WITH ATMOSPHERE Post pictures of things that require commitment around the room (wedding rings, sports teams, workout clothes, degrees, etc.). Ask students to explain what type of commitment is involved with each picture. Allow students to discuss the different commitments they have made in their lives. After your group is done discussing say, Each of these things requires a great deal of commitment. Following Christ is the most important commitment that you can make. LEAD WITH MEDIA Search the Internet for, The Jesus Memo video by the Skit Guys. After playing the video say, There is no greater commitment than to live for Jesus. Commit today to live the life that God has created you to live. NOTE: Always make sure you preview any video clip you show students and ensure that it is appropriate for your church and ministry. FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS Search how to play Let s Make A Deal with students. Before they decide to make a trade ask students how sure they are of their decision on a scale of 1 to 10. After playing a few rounds say, After each deal we made, I needed to hear that you were committed. Commitment is tough, even in a simple game. Following Christ is the most important commitment that you can make. SECOND OPTION Consider decorating the room for a wedding. Begin by telling students that when you think of marriage, you think of commitment. Explain the significance of commitment in a marriage relationship. Say, There is no greater commitment than to live for Jesus. Commit today to live the life that God has created you to live. LEADER PACK ELEMENTS If you have the optional Leader Pack, consider one of the following: DVD: Play the Unit 1 Session 5 DVD opener to connect everyone to the main point of the session. ITEM 6: Consider using the Top 5 Things I Trust poster as a fun discussion tool. Have students fill out each square and then discuss your answers as a group. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 55
1 IMPART (10 MINUTES) THE POINT I MUST TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE FOR MY SALVATION. Read: Invite a student to read the passage aloud. 3 Read: Summarize this section for your group. Summarize: Guide students through the section explaining the importance of being religious versus the power of Christ. 4 5 Engage: Encourage students to use Instagram as a tool to invite friends to group. Discuss: Help guide your students to understand how important it is to ground your passion of the gospel in the truth of God s Word. 56 SESSION 5
COMMENTARY ROMANS 10:1-3 Brothers, my heart s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God s righteousness. ROMANS 10:1-3 Verse 1. Christ is the only way to salvation. We cannot earn our salvation. Paul knew his readers typically were believers. He addressed them as brothers and sisters. As Christians they could understand his personal anxiety about the failure of many Jews to receive the gospel message. We can feel Paul s anguish. His heart s desire and prayer to God was that fellow Jews would receive the gospel. If they continued to reject Jesus, they would miss out on salvation. If you have close friends or family members who have not received the good news about Jesus, you can understand Paul s deep concern. Tip: Teaching students how to examine their motives is a powerful discipleship step. Help them see how Christ alone is their means for salvation. Verse. Paul made two brief comments to evaluate the spiritual condition of the Jews. First, they are zealous for God. Second, Paul noted the Jews zeal or enthusiasm for their faith was not based on knowledge. When they rejected the message about Jesus they were misguided or misinformed; they were void of enlightenment. Paul might have been reflecting his own experience. Before he met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was a zealous persecutor of Christians. As a Christian missionary, preacher, and church planter, he understood Jesus truly is the Son of God and the Messiah. Verse 3. At the heart of the Jews rejection of Jesus was their misunderstanding of righteousness. Paul distinguished two understandings of righteousness in this part of his letter. The correct understanding is the righteousness from God. This phrase could point to righteousness as a characteristic of God, but here Paul probably intended God as the source of righteousness. We can experience the righteousness God offers us through faith. Paul had mentioned that the Gentiles who trusted Jesus had gained righteousness namely the righteousness that comes from faith (9:30). Unfortunately, the Jews focused on a second view of righteousness. They tried to establish their own righteousness rather than submitting themselves to God s righteousness. The Jews mistakenly thought they could be rightly related to God through their works (vv. 31-3). God s righteousness involves a faith relation to Him (1:16-17). Jews and Gentiles would be saved the same way. God had not invented two different plans of salvation. Although Paul was primarily an apostle to the Gentiles (11:13), his concern for his fellow Jews prompted his clarification of what the Jews misunderstood about God s plan of salvation. Today people who are not Jews still think they can somehow earn their way into God s good favor. They do not grasp that salvation is based on Jesus death for our sins. Tip: Encourage students to look up answers to their questions in group and help share what they find. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 57
1 3 4 5 IMPART (10 MINUTES) THE POINT I MUST TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE FOR MY SALVATION. Discuss: Transition into the passage by asking students this question. Read: Enlist volunteers to read the passage. Guide: Help emphasize the importance of understanding the difference between confessing and believing. Read: Lead a volunteer to read the following section for the group. Do: Guide students to read the quote and answer the question. Discuss your answers as group. WHY IS SALVATION BOTH EASY AND DIFFICULT FOR THOSE WHO GIVE THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST? ROMANS 10:8B-10 Simply knowing about Christ is not enough, we are called to confess and believe in Jesus. Confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord. Confess literally means to speak the same thing. The word Lord in Greek signifies God s sovereign power and authority. So this means agreeing with God that Jesus is the sovereign Lord with authority over everything including my life. Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. Believing in Jesus death doesn t go far enough. I know Jesus is Lord because even death cannot hold Him. Without the resurrection, Jesus would have been just a really good man who died a very tragic death. The fact that separates Jesus from all other religious leaders is that Jesus died, rose from the dead, and is alive today. This is where the power of our salvation comes from. Confess and believe. These are two sides of the same coin. One is an inward belief and the other is an outward confession. When you fully believe in your heart, you can t help but confess that belief. We cannot accept Jesus as our Savior without accepting Him as Lord. When we confess Christ as Lord, we are saying, Jesus, you alone are supreme and have all power. You alone are my Master. Therefore, I surrender my life to you. My life is no longer mine it s yours. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Why are confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart both necessary to salvation?? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 49 58 SESSION 5
COMMENTARY ROMANS 10:8B-10 (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ROMANS 10:8B-10 Verse 8b. We are saved when we confess and believe Jesus is Lord. Paul was preaching to Jews and Gentiles the good news about salvation in Jesus. His message was the message of faith. Paul quoted the Old Testament several times in verses 4-8a to reinforce the distinction between relating to God through Jewish law and having faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Any non-believers who read this letter or heard Paul s preaching about Jesus knew they had to make a choice. For the Jews especially in this context the choice was between doing works of the law (9:3) or receiving Jesus by faith. Gentile non-believers in the first century would have had many more religious options, including polytheism, emperor worship, or the mystery religions. No matter their background, Paul presented Christ to them. Verse 9. Paul gave his readers a concise overview of the proper response to the gospel message. Paul mentioned two interrelated aspects to one unified response. First, you should confess that Jesus is Lord. We often use the word confess today to mean our confession and repentance for our sins. Another meaning of confession, however, is a confession or profession of faith. Becoming a Christian is not primarily an act of our minds, but we need to affirm the theological truth that Jesus is Lord. In the context of the first century, especially with Jews in the audience, to call Jesus Lord was to call Him God. Second, Paul said becoming a Christian means to believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. The combination of believing and the heart might surprise some readers today. The Greek verb rendered believe includes an intellectual component, but Paul knew it included the aspects of trust and commitment as well. To Jews especially the heart was not merely a muscle that pumps blood. The heart was the center of a person s identity and decision-making. Belief in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was central to early Christian preaching. Many Jews believed in the doctrine of a general resurrection of the dead at the end of time. The Pharisees accepted this teaching, but the Sadducees rejected bodily resurrection (Acts 3:8). Many Jews and Gentiles, however, rejected Christian preaching about the resurrection of Jesus. Paul focused on the crucial nature of belief in Jesus resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:17. Verse 10. In this verse Paul repeated the two aspects of becoming a Christian, but he reversed the sequence. Here he mentioned believing first, followed by confession. This pattern partly reinforces the mutual relation of the inward conviction, believing with the heart, and the outward expression, confessing with the mouth. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 59
IMPART (10 MINUTES) 1 3 4 5 6 THE POINT I MUST TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE FOR MY SALVATION. Do: Allow students time to finish the optional Action Point (p. 50) in the PSG. Read: Ask a student to read the passage for the group. Summarize: Explain this section for your students. Discuss: Review this question with your students. Read: Guide students to read each section aloud. Do: Direct students to complete the Action Point. Discuss your answers as a group. ROMANS 10:11-13 So far we ve seen two important truths: Knowing about Jesus doesn t mean that we know Him. Salvation is about what Christ has done for you, not what you do for Him. Truly knowing Christ means that we: a. Confess: Outwardly agree that Jesus is sovereign over our lives. b. Believe: Inwardly trust that Christ died for our sins and rose again. HOW HAS THE GOSPEL CHANGED YOUR LIFE? The critical question is, Who can confess and believe in Jesus? EVERYONE. The word everyone shows the incredible love of God and the total scope of salvation. God doesn t distinguish between people. In the same way that all have sinned (Rom. 3:3), Jesus came so that all could experience grace and forgiveness (Rom. 10:10). This should totally change our understanding of the gospel. If salvation is available to everyone regardless of their family, background, race, or sins, that means everyone we see around us is loved and pursued by God. There is no magic prayer or secret password. He doesn t only extend favor to people who are good enough or especially religious. His grace extends to everyone who calls on His name, from across the world to across the lunchroom. ACTION POINT Sometimes it can be difficult to keep your commitments. Our world is increasingly moving toward being less and less committed, while at same time being overcommitted. We are constantly trying to make everyone happy or trying to capture every possible opportunity so that happiness doesn t pass us by. As a result, most of us just feel overwhelmed, stressed, and frustrated because we cannot fulfill our commitments. How is our view of commitment different than the commitment God s Word calls us to? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 51 60 SESSION 5
COMMENTARY ROMANS 10:11-13 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. ROMANS 10:11-13 Verse 11. Salvation is available to all who call on Jesus. Paul here quoted Isaiah 8:16, which he had already quoted more fully in 9:33. Paul, perhaps using the Greek translation of Isaiah, said the believer will never be put to shame. Paul likely meant a believer totally dedicated to following Christ will not face condemnation at a time of judgment. Verse 1. Paul returned to his emphasis that God had only one plan of salvation for all people, not one plan for Jews and another for Greeks (Gentiles). Racial bias was prominent in biblical times, just as it surfaces regularly today. Paul often noted that followers of Christ shared a unity that transcended traditional ethnic distinctions (Gal. 3:8; see also Col. 3:11). God bestows his riches on all who call on Him. God s richness is directed to all kinds of people. Paul s emphasis on God s graciousness or generosity in His dealings with sinful humanity might startle some people today. Unfortunately some people seem to think God is stingy or tight-fisted with people. They have a legalistic understanding of God, thinking God only rewards those who obey Him. While it is true God blesses believers in many ways, God is a God of grace who wants everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. :4). Although God loves the world (John 3:16) and did not develop distinct salvation plans for Jews and Gentiles, He does expect humans to respond to His offer of salvation. What does it mean to call on Him? God is not pleased with mere curiosity about who He is; God wants a full commitment to Him. Tip: Make lessons applicable to students lives. Know what is going on in their lives and emphasize the things that you feel are most important to help them grow and be challenged. Verse 13. Paul then quoted Joel :3. Peter had quoted the same verse on the day of Pentecost (Acts :1). In the context of Joel s prophecy the Lord would have referred to God the Father. Paul, however, meant a sinner should call on the name of Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9). Paul clearly was thinking of Jesus as divine here. To call on the name of Jesus means to make a total commitment to Him as Lord and Savior. Accepting Jesus is not, to use an old phrase, fire insurance. Jesus wants committed disciples, not mere admirers or fans in the popular sense. The biblical concept of faith involves the total person. Faith in Jesus is certainly more than mere intellectual assent to some facts about Jesus, though we need to acknowledge key theological truths. Paul regularly highlighted the resurrection of Jesus as crucial to Christian faith. Faith also includes our emotions and will. To believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior means to trust Jesus. Any deep, long-term commitment includes an element of trust. Ideally we will grow and mature as Christians over a lifetime as we trust Jesus to guide us in making other key decisions. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 61
IMPACT (10 MINUTES) THE POINT I MUST TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE FOR MY SALVATION. 1 3 Discuss: Read and discuss the quote with students. Guide: The Christ portion of the Live It Out section encourages students to examine the truth of their relationship with Christ. This a great opportunity as a leader to walk your students through the gospel. The Bible Reading Plan helps provide students with a plan to stay in God s Word and follows along with each session. Guide: As you guide your students through the Community section, this is a great chance to help focus your students toward expanding the kingdom of God. BIBLE READING PLAN LIVE IT OUT WITHOUT A HEART TRANSFORMED BY THE GRACE OF CHRIST, WE JUST CONTINUE TO MANAGE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL DARKNESS. 3 DAY 1 ACTS 3:3-4:9 DAY AC TS 4:10-5:1 DAY 3 AC TS 5:13-6:11 DAY 4 ACTS 6:1-3 DAY 5 AC TS 7:1-6 DAY 6 ACTS 7:7-8:10 DAY 7 ACTS 8:11-31 MATT CHANDLER CHRIST Begin by looking at your life. Has there ever been a time when you confessed your sin, believed in your heart, and surrendered your life to Christ as your Lord and savior? If you have not yet believed in and confessed Christ, do so. Trust Him for forgiveness and turn to Him for a new life. Take this moment to talk with your leader or another group member about giving your life to Christ. You can quickly read what God s Word says about salvation by turning to the inside of the cover of this book. COMMUNITY You know others who have not yet trusted in Christ. They will see Christ in the Scriptures and in the lives of those who trust Him. Take time in your group to discuss who you will invite to come to your next group session. The gospel is simple and so is inviting your friends to come and be a part of the community God provided for you to reach others. After you discuss who you are planning to invite, take the time to invite each person by texting or calling them. 5 SESSION 5 THE POINT I MUST TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE FOR MY SALVATION. 6 SESSION 5
IMPACT List three places you can share the gospel. CULTURE As you think about your daily life, how can you take the gospel to those in your life who need it? You could help launch a new Bible study group to reach those not in a group or in your church, lead a group of teammates to pray before events, or even volunteer your time to serve your teachers or friends at school. These are all opportunities to get people into God s Word, discuss their questions about faith, and discover the truth of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully consider the following: 4 Guide: The Culture section equips students to apply this session to their lives every week. Help your students identify everyday places where they can share the gospel with others. How can you reach those areas with the gospel? 5 Pray: Close in prayer asking God to open the eyes of each one of your students to the opportunities He has given them to share the gospel. Thank God for each of them by name. Who can help you share the gospel? 6 Follow Up: This week connect with your students by writing them a handwritten note to let them know you are praying for them. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 53 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 63