BIBLE LESSONS FOR FOURTH QUARTER, 2016

THEME FOR FOURTH QUARTER

THE LAW AND GRACE

On July 18, 2016, the Lord called my father, Bro. Leslie Busbee, to his heavenly home after a long illness, thus ending a long and useful life of consecrated service. One of the many facets of his ministry included the Bible Lessons, which he began writing in the 1980’s. As a memorial to him, I delved into the archives and felt it would be good to use this set of his lessons for the fourth quarter. Bro. Leslie wrote:

“We feel greatly inspired to set forth a study of the difference between the Law and Grace. There is a lot of this dealt with in the Scriptures. It is needful for everyone to come to a clear understanding on this subject, which must be revealed by the Holy Spirit. This we trust will be to all who consider the truths in these lessons.”

“There is a danger of being unbalanced in our understanding of the basis of our acceptance and favor with God. There is a ‘law spirit’ that can take hold of a person which will not allow one to bear with his fellow man. This law spirit can blossom into spiritual pride— the attitude that Jesus confronted in His earthly ministry. This attitude is not dead—it is prevalent today and is easy to fall into.”

Amen! I must add, there is also a great danger of becoming unbalanced far to the other side. There is a “loose spirit” prevalent in the world today which promotes a cheap “grace” and opposes the biblical doctrine of holiness. Bro. Leslie goes on:

“May God help us to see the truth on what the grace of God is. May we seek to be as the apostle Paul said: ‘Found in him [Christ], not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith (Philippians 3:9).’”

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

OCTOBER 2, 2016

THE COVENANT OF FAITH TO ABRAHAM

Gen. 12:1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Gal. 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

Heb. 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

MEMORY VERSE: Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. —Galatians 3:6

CENTRAL THOUGHT: God established His relationship with mankind on the terms of faith and exemplified it in the covenant He made with Abraham.

WORD DEFINITIONS

Genesis 17:2 “Covenant”: a compact; a contract; an agreement between two or more parties.

Galatians 3:15 “Confirmed”: ratified or made authoritative. Galatians 3:17 “Disannul”: invalidate or make of none effect.

LESSON BACKGROUND

The first in our series of lessons on the subject of the law and grace will be that of the covenant of faith to Abraham. Now Abraham is a very important character to the Christian. He is important because God laid the basis of His work with the souls of men in His dealings with Abraham. He showed in His dealing with this man that all of His goodness and mercy will be granted to mankind in accord with their belief and trust in Him. Abraham obeyed God, but it was because of his faith that he obeyed. Faith comes before obedience, for it is the work that God does in the heart of man to persuade him; divinely-wrought conviction.

God’s dealings with Abraham shows the goodness, longsuffering, forbearance, and patience of the Lord. Had He laid down a rigid law first, there would have been no room for tolerance and pity. But we see God laying aside, for the present, the high- demanding standard of His law and stooping in love to establish an accord with mankind on the terms of love and faith.

One would have to read the entire story of Abraham to get the overall picture, but we make mention of Abraham’s call from God at the first and then the revealing of His wonderful covenant (which came about 24 years later). All this time, God was working and dealing with Abraham, bringing him to the place of utter trust and dependence on Him.

The law was placed to one side to make room for the establishment of faith. This is a very important thought. The law was not given until 430 years after this. Faith had the priority over the law. It was necessary for Abraham to draw near to the heart of God in confidence, love and assurance. This was accomplished in the covenant of faith that God made with him.

—Bro. Leslie Busbee

QUESTIONS:

1. What did God promise to do with Abraham and his seed?
2. What was God’s purpose in making a covenant with Abraham?
3. How old was Abraham when the covenant was made?
4. Who was the “seed of Abraham” to whom the promises were made?
5. What did it take on Abraham’s part to see the covenant confirmed and brought to pass?

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

God singled out Abraham from the ancient world in the midst of idolatry and darkness.

It seems that Abraham was the only man in his area that clung to the knowledge of the true God that had come down from the forefathers. In response to this integrity, God revealed Himself to Abraham and gave him the command to leave his native country and journey to a place which would afterward be shown to him.

Thus began the life of faith for which Abraham is so noted. Worshiping, seeking and pleasing God became the sole occupation of this dear man. Dwelling in the land of Canaan as a stranger and enduring the long wait for a son who was to be his heir, Abraham rode out the years of his earthly pilgrimage devoted to the covenant that God had made with him. The promise of God’s inheritance was his constant companion and guide. Triumphing in the final test put on him by the Lord in the offering up of Isaac, this man emerged upon the pages of history as the “Father of the faithful” whose posterity reaches into the realm of the Christian age. We that are saved and redeemed through the blood and righteousness of Christ are blessed with faithful Abraham.

The faith that he had was not just for his own benefit. It was for us, also, because it substantiated the great communion of man with God. It showed that God wanted man to trust in Him and not in his own abilities. God purposed to establish this truth to man. Thus He dealt with Abraham upon the principles of faith alone.

And still today, God designs to establish every soul in a faith and a confidence in Christ that nothing will move. We are to have for the basis of our hope and fellowship with God, His righteousness revealed in what Christ did for us in the New Testament plan of salvation. God knew there would be an inclination in the soul of man to try to trust in his own righteousness and good works; thus, He seeks to offset this temptation by working on the principles of faith first. If every soul could but grasp this truth and seek to come to God according to faith as He planned, there would be success and victory every time. It would heal a man’s backsliding and forever hold him fast in the grace of God.

—Bro. Leslie Busbee

REFLECTIONS

Recently, a couple of our children took an airplane trip that encompassed the local area over our house. While we took pictures of them up in the air, they were also taking pictures of us from their vantage point. When we compared the pictures later it was interesting to see the vast differences. Our viewpoint was very limited as we were only able to see the small plane and unable to see much else. Their viewpoint took in not only our neighborhood, but also the horizon, the sky and the beautiful beyond.

This makes me think of Abraham standing in the middle of the countryside in his conversation with the Lord. No doubt Abraham strained his eyes and maybe even tiptoed to see as much land as he could: north, south, east and west. His vision was hindered by the limitations of his surroundings. But God was looking from heaven with an eternal point of view. He was looking into the future as well as the past when He made this covenant with Abraham. And yet, Abraham’s faith was able to accept his part in the magnificent scheme of things. “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went” (Hebrews 11:8).

We too are surrounded by our own earthly circumstances, dimensions and perceptions. But to imagine from a heavenly point of view takes the same kind of faith that Abraham had. “For he (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Every decision and action here on earth becomes small and insignificant when compared to that eternal perspective.

—Sis. LaDawna Adams