RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL LESSON FORTY-FIVE SUNDAY 8TH JULY 2018: DEATH
*SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN*
*1.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
*2.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
*3.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
*4.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
*5.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
*6.* O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
MEMORY VERSE: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” – John 5:24
BIBLE PASSAGE: John 5:17-27
John:5.17
But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
John:5.18
Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
John:5.19
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
John:5.20
“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
John:5.21
“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to [them,] even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
John:5.22
“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
John:5.23
“that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
John:5.24
” Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
John:5.25
“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
John:5.26
“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
John:5.27
“and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
INTRODUCTION:
What is death? Death is the opposite of life, the departure of life and the cessation of life. To humans, death is the separation of body, soul and spirit. The body goes to the grave and disintegrates; the spirit goes back to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7), and the soul goes to one of two places: The soul of the wicked to hell (Luke 16:23) and the soul of the righteous to paradise (Abraham’s bosom)(Luke 16:22).
LESSON OUTLINES
1. What is the origin and cause of death?
2. How can we describe death? What is the remedy for death?
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF LIFE?
There are principally two kinds of death and both of them come from the Garden of Eden.
1. Spiritual death, which means separation from God (Genesis 2:17). In Eden, Adam and Eve did not die physically immediately they ate the forbidden fruit. However, they were separated from God and driven out of Eden. They died spiritually.
2. Physical death, which is cessation of life also originated in Eden when God killed some animals to get skins to cover Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). The first human to die was Abel, the son of Adam (Genesis 4:8).
Spiritual death was caused by disobedience to God (James 1:15). Death is the direct result of sin (Ezekiel 18:4). In the case of physical death, the doctor may write any one of many things on the death certificate, but the real answer is SIN (Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 6:23). Sin is the basic cause and disease is the immediate agent that God uses to execute the sentence that was pronounced on mankind in the Garden of Eden. Open Heaven 9 July 2018
HOW CAN WE DESCRIBE DEATH? WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR DEATH?
Physical death is described in various ways in the Bible. For example, it is described as: sleep (John 11:11); the requiring of the soul (Luke 12:20); putting off this earthly house (2Corinthians 5:1); going to a place of no return (Job 16:22); going down in silence (Psalm 115:17); yielding up the ghost (Acts 5:10).
Spiritual death is known as banishment from God, as everlasting destruction from the presence of God (2Thessalonians 1:9). It is also called alienation from God, that is, becoming a stranger to God (Ephesians 4:18).
Regardless of what modern science and doctors may achieve, we are ‘’appointed to die’’ (Hebrews 9:27). We are born with an appointment to meet physical death. We must keep that appointment unless the Lord returns soon. However, we can avoid spiritual death simply by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and accepting Him as our Lord and Saviour (John 5:24). Physical death can be avoided by the rapture of the Church but if we meet our appointment with death before the Lord returns, there is still hope. Christ has promised to walk with us (Christians) through the experience of death (John 14:1-3). If you can truthfully say, ‘’The Lord is my shepherd,’’ then, you do not have to fear death (Psalm 23:4).
CONCLUSION
Why did Jesus die on the cross? Was it an accident? Certainly not. God’s word said that someone must die for sin. Jesus volunteered to be One to die. He died that you and I may live (Hebrews 2:9). He tasted the bitter dregs for you and me. Do not let His death be in vain over you. Reconsider your stand today.
QUESTIONS:
1. What happens to the body, soul and spirit of man at death?
2. What is the basic cause of death?
