The objective of this lesson is to focus on the awareness of our need for a Savior. The only persons who will respond to a "Savior" are those who realize that they need rescue.
In an overwhelming number of human dilemmas, it is impossible for one person to "save" another person if he or she (a) does not feel the danger or (b) does not want to be rescued. Multitudes of people are sacrificially dedicated to "saving" loved ones when the loved ones feel no danger and actually resist rescue.
Emphasize the truth that people (a) who feel no danger or (b) do no wish to be rescued will resist efforts to rescue them.
Each of us could illustrate this truth in many ways: tobacco addiction, drug addition, alcohol addiction, sexual addictions, abuse victimization, radically dysfunctional life styles, destructive values. All of us know people in need of rescue from dangers who also defiantly resist rescue. Many parents wish to "save" a child who does not wish to be rescued. Many spouses wish to "save" a marriage when the other spouse does not. Many people want friends to stop using drugs when the friends have no desire to stop.
Ask the class for personal verification of this truth. If there is time, let them share illustrations of this truth. [If there is such sharing, remind your class to share only in general terms about an anonymous situation. No [zero!] risk should be taken that might reveal confidences or might embarrass someone.
The first two realities of any rescue: (1) the person must realize he or she is in danger, and (2) the person must want to escape the danger. No matter how urgently escape is needed, if the person does not perceive the danger, he or she has no desire to be "rescued." In fact, he or she believes the danger exists only in the mind of the rescuer! Consequently, there is nothing to escape because there is no danger!
If an adult is to participate in his or her rescue, he or she must realize the danger and must want to escape the danger. That is certainly true in escaping spiritual dangers!
Years ago a number of my friends and family members were on a long hike in a primitive area. My middle son almost stepped on a copperhead, leaped, and shouted, "Snake!" A dear friend following immediately behind him thought my son was pulling a prank. It took all our persuasiveness to keep this friend from stepping on the poisonous snake. He could not see the snake. He never saw the snake. I suspect he still thinks we were teasing him. Because he saw no danger, he sensed no danger. Because he sensed no danger, he rejected our warnings. He did not step on the snake, but he regarded our warnings to be ridiculous.
Because my friend could not see the snake, he perceived no danger. Since he perceived no danger, he immediately thought in terms of other motivations he could understand--he thought it was a prank.
The holy God sees dangers and consequences we unholy people never see. We are so accustomed to unholiness that we frequently declare deadly evil to be "harmless," "innocent," even "good." People who are supposed to be God's people commonly fail to recognize evil or its destructiveness. Isaiah noted that problem among Israelites when he wrote Isaiah 5:20,21. "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!
Too often human eyes, human emotions, human motivations, and human minds are not equipped to understand the consequences of evil. We easily fall to temptation because evil has the advantage. The "contest" between humanity and evil is not an "equal contest." Were it not for the fact that the God of mercy and grace loves us, it would be no contest--we would be eternal losers to evil. Only because our God is greater than evil (see 1 John 4:4) can humans survive evil's deceptions. Satan's power is found in his ability to lie to us (see John 8:34-47 and especially note verse 44).
How did all our conflict with slavery to evil begin? Eve thought possessing the knowledge of good and evil was a good, desirable situation! God denied them something good! How could the "knowledge of evil" possible harm them? The result would be good--they would be like God. Read Genesis 3:1-7. She had no idea that the consequences of the knowledge of evil included fear, shame, and guilt! These were "unknowns" to them!
Eve was deceived. She believed she was moving toward something in her best interest. In her selfishness [self centered reasoning], she rebelled against the love and kindness of God. She rebelled because what she saw (1) appealed to her understanding of a practical need [food, though she was not in need], (2) appealed to her sense of pleasure [a delight to the eye, though it was not the only beauty in her environment], and (3) was the means to obtaining what she wanted [wisdom in knowing good from evil, though she was extremely blessed not to know evil].
In Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, he provided insight into the work of and the need for a Savior who could rescue from evil (John 3:16-21). Note Jesus' emphases.
Allow Jesus to provide insights into our need for rescue from the consequences of evil.
(1) Jesus was God's rescuer sent by God's love. Jesus did not come to destroy. Jesus came to rescue. Faith in him eliminates destruction [a current reality in human existence] by substituting eternal life for the consequences of evil. For rescue to occur, we must trust God's rescuer.
There must be an understanding of the fact that the primary objective of Jesus' mission was to rescue people from evil. [It is understood that the primary over-all objective of Jesus was and is to restore God's sovereignty. An essential step in restoring God's sovereignty is reuniting God with rebellious humans through elimination of rebellion. For additional information, examine the series on The Rule of God.] Jesus did not come to debate humanity, to confront humanity, or to condemn humanity. Jesus came to create for humanity the opportunity for rescue from evil's consequences. There is much more to existence than here and now.
If a person sees Jesus' mission as condemnation rather than rescue, there will be basic distortions in his or her concept of salvation.
(2) God did not send our rescuer [our Savior, Jesus] to pass judgment on us. That was totally unnecessary. We were judged and condemned by our own failures. Jesus came to rescue us. He came to provide us our only escape from judgment's condemnation. Instead of being judged, we can be forgiven. Instead of receiving justice, we can receive mercy.
There must be an understanding of the fact that Jesus did not need to come to condemn us. We were [are] already self condemned by our own failures. All of us are guilty of rebelling against God. Whether through ignorance or knowledge, we all became Satan's slaves by indulging ourselves in practices, pursuits, or goals that were evil.
(3) The difference between being a person who cannot escape the condemnation of judgment and a person who is rescued by love's forgiveness is this: a willingness to trust the rescuer. God's love sent us a rescuer. Trust him!
The fundamental distinction between those who benefit from Jesus' coming and those who do not benefit from his coming is this: the willingness to trust Jesus with our rescue. Since God's love sent him, since he himself loves us, trust his promises and act on his directions.
(4) Some love the conditions that guarantee their destruction! They love the darkness that evil produces! God's Light is the enemy, not Satan's darkness! They do not want to see evil for what it is. Why? They enjoy evil deeds too much to give them up--even if the consequences are destructive! Have you known someone who refused to give up something destroying them because they enjoyed it "too much"? They rather be destroyed than give up what they like!
Evil offers and provides pleasures. See Hebrews 11:13-16. However, there is a major distinction between evil's pleasures and God's pleasures. Evil's pleasures are temporary and are confined to this physical existence. God's pleasures are eternal and bless the person both now and in eternity. The pleasures God provides exceed human imagination (see I John 3:1-3).
(5) A fundamental difference between those who accept rescue and those who reject rescue is this: those who desire rescue want to see themselves for who they are; those who reject rescue do NOT want to see themselves for who they are. One group wants to understand all they can about God and move toward His character and nature. The other group wishes to be left alone because "we like our lives as they are."
The desire for spiritual rescue requires a willingness in the one rescued by Jesus to see himself or herself in God's light. He or she will see himself or herself for what he or she actually is. The purpose is not to intensify guilt and shame, but to increase awareness of God's blessings. The sense of need matures into gratitude and appreciation. The rescued person always realizes, "I do not deserve this," but rejoices in his or her rescue.
Those who reject rescue do not wish to see themselves in God's light. They enjoy the darkness because they do not have to examine themselves. In fact, they often resent challenges that call them toward self examination. They enjoy right now and do not wish to consider consequences.
We have created a serious problem. Because we want people to understand the importance of and need for baptism, we too often stress immersion for the forgiveness of sins so much that we create a wrong impression. The wrong impression: spiritual rescue is more about baptism than about trusting God's rescuer and repenting. Intellectually, we say that baptism cannot remove sin unless a person trusts God's accomplishments in Jesus' cross and resurrection enough to turn from sin. Emotionally, we want those we love to be "rescued" from evil so much that our concern focuses on baptism with minimal concern about believing or repenting. Thus, if "he has been baptized," we feel good [even confident] even when there is little indication of faith and no evidence of a desire to repent. Think! Would you say this? "She does not want to be rescued from her sins, but that is okay--she has been baptized."
Remember: rescue from evil is for those (a) who see the need and (b) want rescue. Adults cannot be rescued because "I [someone else] want you to be rescued." They must see the need and want rescue.
We need to beware of considering individuals to be rescued from sin who have no desire to be rescued. This is not a challenge to pass judgment on others' motives. It is not a challenge to limit God's grace. It is a challenge to deepen our understanding of how desperately we need a Savior. It is a challenge to learn to trust God's rescuer and redirect our lives.
Remember our judgments are ineffective. God's salvation and condemnation in no way depend on human conclusions or recommendations. It is not in our power to limit God's mercy and grace. God does not and will not seek our approval/ confirmation when He dispenses mercy and grace. This is not an encouragement to be judges of others' hearts and motives. It is a challenge to realize that faith in Jesus and repentance [a redirection of one's life] is as important for rescue from evil as is baptism. Without trust and redirection, baptism is ineffective. Those who accept salvation must grow in their understanding of how desperately they stand in the need of salvation.
Discussion Questions:
How can we help people understand their need for a Savior so much that they will redirect their life?
Responses to this question will reflect individual insights and experiences. There is no "approved" answer. Answering this question provides a wonderful opportunity for sharing and interacting. The beginning point is helping someone understand how urgently he or she needs to be rescued from evil.
How can we, ourselves, understand our need for a Savior so much that we continually redirect life?
See the above response to the first question. The same insight and attitude applies to this question.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 4