Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
The title of this quarter’s study is “God’s Law Is Love.”
The Fall quarter considers the role of God’s law as it relates to faith in Christ. The lessons focus on New Testament texts that radically reinterpret the significance of the Mosaic Law for those who love Christ and respond in faith. As one who fulfilled the whole law, Jesus was able to show us how showing compassion is more important that adhering to a rigid interpretation of the Law. Later New Testament writings reinforce the Gospel teaching that faith in Christ brings justification—while the Law, which we are unable to observe satisfactorily, does not. As followers of Christ, we are still bound to fulfill the Law by keeping the command to love and to acknowledge that freedom from the Law does not equate to a permissive attitude towards sin.
Unit 1, “Love Completes, Law Falls Short,” draws on the gospels of Ludke and John In lesson 1, Jesus contrasts the practice of empty acts of piety with performing the justice and love of God. Lessons 2 asks the question of what sort of activities truly honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. Turning to the gospel of John, lesson 3 examines Jesus’ teaching that the Sabbath ought to be a day of healing. And lesson 4 raises the question of who is qualified to pas judgment on those who stumble in their attempts to keep the commandments.
Unit II, “Faith Triumphs, Law Fails,” draws from Paul’s epistles to both the Romans and the Galatians to contrast the inability of the Law to provide justification with the promise of justification by faith. Lesson 5 shows that just having the Law is not enough; keeping it is what is important—and even those who do not have it but keep it are as blessed as those who have it and keep it. Lesson 7 reveals the difficult struggles of the one who has the Law and wants to keep it but finds the weakness of the flesh continually thwarting those efforts. Lesson 8 looks at Paul’s plea for the Galatian believers to hold fast to faith in Christ, and not to revert to law keeping for justification. Finally, lesson 9 explores the them of how the Law actually shows humankind’s need for something—someone—more than a written code for salvation.
Unit III, “Christ Frees, Law Enslaves,” has four lessons which highlight the ways in which Jewish and Gentile Christians wrestled with Mosaic Law considering Christ’s teaching. Lesson 10 draws on the Jerusalem Conference in Acts 15 to show how Gentiles need not submit to the Law because of salvation, even for Jews, does not come through the Law but by faith in Christ. Lesson 11 draws upon the book of 1 Corinthians and Romans 10 to examine the ways in which the Law finds its fulfillment in the commandment to love. Lesson 12 looks at Paul’s letter to the Colossians, in which he contrasts the hollowness of uman traditions with the fullness of God found in Christ. The unit concludes with Paul’s warning to the Corinthians that Christian liberty not become a license for us to sin.
Unit 1: Love Complets, Law Falls Short
September 3, 2023
Attitudes and Actions
Luke :37-44
September 10, 2023
Doing Good Deeds at the Wrong Time
Luke 14:1-6
September 17, 2023
Who is Trustworthy?
John 7:14-24
September 24, 2023
Judge Not
John 8:1-11, 56-59
Unit II: Faith Triumphs, Law Fails
October 1, 2023
A Matter of the Hearts
Romans 2:12-24, 28-29
October 8, 2023
Finding Life and Freedom
Romans 7:1-12
October 15, 2023
One’s Faith Is the Key
Galatians 2:11-21
October 22, 2023
All or Nothing at All
Galatians 3:1-14
October 29, 2023
Free to Live a Mature Life
Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-7
Unit III: Christ Frees, Law Enslaves
Novemberr 9, 2023
Enlarging Our Vision
Acts 15:1-11
November 12, 2023
The Greatest Gift
1 Corinthians 13:8-13; Romans 13:8-10
November 19 2023
Live as You Were Taught
Colossians 2:16-23
November 26, 2023
Do What Is Helpful
1 Corinthians 10:23-33; 11:1
