NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum.
Bible Passage: Luke 17:11-19
Discussion Questions:
— Why should a heightened sense of our own unworthiness lead to a grateful attitude and worship of God for our salvation in Jesus?
— How does salvation by faith set Christianity apart from all other religions and worldviews?
Food for Thought:
Read Luke 17:11-19. The one former leper to return to Jesus was a Samaritan, a “foreigner,” as Jesus called him. That a Samaritan was the one to return is shocking and provided Jesus with a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate the reason He came. Presumably, the other lepers were Jewish men with a lineage that enjoyed the benefits of a relationship with God firsthand. The Samaritan, on the other hand, was not part of the people of God. Yet the Samaritan was the one to express worship to God and thankfulness to Jesus.
As the Samaritan fell before Jesus to thank Him and give glory to God, he received a word from Jesus weightier than any healing of any disease. He found the assurance of eternal salvation because He came to Jesus in faith. We find the same when we come to Him in faith. Jesus came to save sinners from their sin, and by faith we receive the salvation Jesus purchased through His death and resurrection.
What is saving faith? It is comprised of three things, at least.
First, we must believe the right things about the true God. The leper believed that Jesus was worthy of worship. So he not only cried out for mercy at the beginning but also returned in worship at the end of his healing. He knew that God was present in Jesus to grant salvation.
Second, saving faith is an assurance that what we believe is true. The leper not only acknowledged who Jesus was; he also truly believed in Him. His knowledge didn’t stay at the surface level. It affected His worship.
Third, the leper acknowledged the personal implications of faith in Jesus. He returned in worship to Jesus not only because he knew the right things and accepted the truth of those ideas, but also because he trusted Jesus and relied upon Him. The leper trusted that only Jesus could make him well, because only Jesus had made him well.
Saving faith is just that. Saving faith is looking to the whole Christ for your whole need and knowing He alone can save.
The Gospel Project
The Gospel Project is a chronological, Christ-centered study for kids, students and adults. The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is one story of God’s plan to rescue His people from sin and death. It is the story of redemption, the gospel message of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at LifeWay.com/gospelproject .
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool or ordered at LifeWay Christian Stores.