Approach today's lesson with an awareness. What is considered as "normal" in the church among us today and what was considered to be "normal" among Christians in the first century is different. In their context, they experienced miracles, tongue speaking, interpretation of tongue speaking, special gifts, and Spirit possession in ways that do not exist among us. If those things suddenly existed among us as they did in the first century, that situation would make us anxious and nervous. These forms of God's activity among them were "normal" among Christians then. Such circumstances existed among Christians from the beginning of Christianity. For example, those Christians never envisioned a time when "unusual [to us] manifestations of God's Spirit" would not exist in the fellowship of Christians. Those things were just a "normal" part of being in the first century Christian community. It was common for those Christians to assume their situation always would continue unchanged.
Rather than debating or probing into the Spirit on a "today" versus "the first century" consideration, focus on two considerations. (1) The first consideration: God always is active in our world. God is not a passive God. God always had been and continues to be an involved, active God. Never should the discussion be about the fact that God continues to be active. The discussion [when conducted] should have as its focus, "In what ways is God active today?" (2) The second consideration: even in the first century, the evidence of God's activity among Christians was changed human behavior. The admonition, "... Do not grieve the Holy Spirit ..." appears as part of a paragraph emphasizing the essential importance of changed human behavior in being "the new self" created by God "in righteousness and holiness of the truth."
For the sake of today's emphasis, summarize "do not grieve the Holy Spirit" into this emphasis: "do not resist God's influence as He seeks to make you a holy person." From the moment of faith in Christ, God wants you to be all you can be in Jesus Christ. One reason that a person who believes in Christ repents and is baptized is this: he or she wishes to become all he or she can become in Jesus Christ. Repentance is a conscious redirection of one's life. Among other things, baptism is a visible commitment to holiness in Christ. The person wants all to know he or she is no longer committed to evil or sinfulness. God's forgiveness is joyfully accepted by the person because he or she wishes to become all he or she can be in Jesus Christ.
God has an active interest in you living your life as a person who has faith in Jesus Christ! God did not send His son to die for us because God is disinterested (John 3:16-21). Jesus did not come as an act of divine condemnation, but as God's commitment to our salvation.
Paul's affirmation in Romans 8:1 is mind boggling! Jesus Christ is God's perfect solution for our problem with evil! It is literally impossible for one belonging to Christ to "out sin" God's forgiveness! What God does for us in Christ is incredible! In the same Romans 8, Paul declared nothing external of ourselves, not even evil spiritual forces, could separate Christians from Gods love (Romans 8:31-39). Only a knowing, deliberate rejection of God removes a person from His love--the Christian [not God] initiates the first act of deliberate rejection.
John would loudly AMEN Paul's assurance! Read 1 John 1:7, 9. Note the "alls" in the cleansing from "all sin." Note the "cleanses," present tense, a continuing process. Baptism based on faith and repentance begins God's forgiveness that lasts a lifetime if the person chooses to remain in Christ.
In Hebrews 6, those Christians experienced every kindness God could extend (Hebrews 6:4-6) before they rejected God. The problem was in the fact that their rejection of God destroyed their ability to repent, not that God no longer cared about them. The Christians to whom this writing was written were dangerously flirting with a conscious decision to reject Christ.
The Christians who were written previously suffered for faith in Christ, endured ridicule, were not ashamed to help imprisoned Christians, and endured the confiscation of property--and still clung to Christ (Hebrews 10:32-34). Afterward, they considered abandoning their commitment to Christ (Hebrews 10:23), and some distanced themselves from the Christian community (Hebrews 10:25).
If such "weak" Christians among us were considering that course of action, many of us would think it was past time to leave them and destroy their influence among us. That was not the suggestion of the writer! He urged them not to discard their confidence! Their reward was still available to them! He was confident they were not shrinkers, and challenged them not to be a part of those who shrank back to destruction. God's desire is our salvation, not our destruction! Salvation in Christ is not some fragile state easily destroyed by some thoughtless, ignorant human act! God is committed to our salvation--Jesus' death and resurrection are evidences of His commitment!
Paul knew the depth of God's commitment! Read 1 Timothy 1:12-16. If God could save Paul, God can save anyone!
Paul's encouragement in Ephesians 4:30 could be accurately paraphrased in this manner: "God is on your side! His influence in your life is seeking to make you all you are capable of being spiritually. Do not work against His influence! Do not make His commitment to you harder! Wear the mark of your devotion to him gladly! He is not ashamed of you. Do not be ashamed of Him! Willingly, cooperatively become who He seeks to make you!"
For Thought and Discussion:
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 10