MEMORY VERSE: ‘To them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life’ Romans 2:7.
LESSON AIM: To show that God is the One who is immortal and that God is the only source of life. To further show how God plans to make repentant sinners immortal.
‘Immortality, promised to man on condition of obedience, had been forfeited by transgression. Adam could not transmit to his posterity that which he did not possess; and there could have been no hope for the fallen race had not God, by the sacrifice of His Son, brought immortality within their reach. While “death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned,” Christ “hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” Romans 5:12; 2 Timothy 1:10. And only through Christ can immortality be obtained. Said Jesus: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” John 3:36. Every man may come into possession of this priceless blessing if he will comply with the conditions. All “who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality,” will receive “eternal life.” Romans 2:7.’ Great Controversy, page 533.
1. Who is the only One who is immortal by nature? 1 Timothy 6:15-16.
NOTE: ‘Immortality is an attribute of God alone. 1 Timothy 6:16. “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”’ Spiritual Gifts, volume 4b, page 104.
2. How are we shown that Jesus Christ is the source of all life? John 1:1-4.
NOTE: ‘“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). It is not physical life that is here specified, but immortality, the life which is exclusively the property of God. The Word, who was with God, and who was God, had this life. Physical life is something which each individual receives. It is not eternal or immortal; for God, the Life-giver, takes it again. Man has no control over his life. But the life of Christ was unborrowed. No one can take this life from Him. “I lay it down of Myself” (John 10:18), He said. In Him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man.’ Selected Messages, book 1, page 296.