God's Love and Justice
Sabbath School Lesson 4
God Is Passionate and Compassionate
You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson.
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> Download the notes for Lesson 4 video here.
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> Download 1st Quarter 2025 Lessons: God's Love and Justice
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Romans 8:1 (NIV):
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
This verse assures believers that through faith in Christ, they are free from condemnation. It highlights the security and freedom that come from being united with Jesus. Those who are "in Christ" are no longer judged guilty because Christ has paid the penalty for sin on their behalf.
Romans 5:8 (NIV):
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
This verse emphasizes God's immense love for humanity. Even when we were in a state of sin and rebellion, God initiated reconciliation through the sacrifice of Christ. It underscores that our right standing before God is not based on our efforts but on His love and grace.
Together, these verses reveal the foundational truth of the gospel:
We are justified and secure in our relationship with God because of Christ's sacrifice.
God's love is unconditional, and His grace reaches us even when we are undeserving.
Our standing before God is not based on our own righteousness but on the righteousness of Christ, who bore our sins and removed condemnation.
This teaches that believers can live in confidence and gratitude, knowing they are deeply loved and fully accepted by God through Jesus.
More: Lesson 3 - To Be Pleasing to God
When the younger son returns home after squandering his inheritance, the father welcomes him with open arms and throws a grand celebration. However, the older son refuses to join the feast. His reaction is telling: he is angry and resentful, expressing frustration that despite his years of faithful service, he never received such a celebration. He says, "Look, all these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends" (Luke 15:29).
This response reveals several things about the older son’s heart. The older son believes his obedience makes him more deserving of the father's love and blessings. He fails to see that his father’s love isn’t earned—it’s freely given. This reflects the attitudes of the Pharisees, to whom Jesus addressed this parable.
Instead of rejoicing in his brother's return and restoration, the older son focuses on fairness. He views his brother’s redemption as unjust, forgetting that grace is not about fairness but unmerited favor.
Despite his proximity and obedience, the older son is distant from his father’s heart. He misunderstands the nature of their relationship, seeing himself as a servant rather than a beloved child. His complaint shows he serves out of duty rather than love.
The father’s response to the older son is both tender and profound. He reminds him, "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found" (Luke 15:31-32).
This gentle rebuke invites the older son to shift his perspective: to recognize his privileged position as always being in the father's presence and to embrace the joy of restoration.
The older son challenges us to examine our hearts. Do we ever fall into the trap of thinking our good deeds make us more deserving of God’s blessings? Do we resent His grace when it’s extended to others? The parable calls us to rejoice in God’s mercy and adopt the father’s heart—a heart that celebrates the redemption of the lost.
The older son's actions remind us that it’s not enough to simply stay near the Father; we must share in His love and joy for others.
More: Lesson 3 - To Be Pleasing to God
God's Love and Justice
Sabbath School Lesson 3
To be Pleasing to God
You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson.
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> Download the notes for Lesson 3 video here.
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> Download 1st Quarter 2025 Lessons: God's Love and Justice
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1 John 4:7–20 is a profound passage that reveals the centrality of God’s love in the life of a believer. This text explores the origin, nature, and implications of divine love, presenting it as the foundation for human relationships and a defining attribute of God Himself. Verses 7 and 19, in particular, highlight the priority of God’s love and provide a theological framework for understanding how His love shapes our lives.
Verse 7 states, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” This verse establishes that love originates from God. Love is not merely a human emotion or a cultural ideal but a divine attribute intrinsically tied to God’s nature. God is the source and definition of love, and this truth has profound implications for those who belong to Him.
The exhortation to “love one another” is not a suggestion but a command rooted in the believer’s relationship with God. Those who are “born of God”—those who have experienced spiritual rebirth through faith in Christ—exhibit love as evidence of their connection to the divine source. To love is to reflect the character of God and to demonstrate that one “knows” Him in a personal and transformative way. Thus, love is not optional for Christians; it is a central mark of their identity in Christ.
Verse 19 declares, “We love because he first loved us.” This verse emphasizes the priority and initiating nature of God’s love. Human love is always a response to the love that God has already shown. Without His love, we would neither understand what love truly is nor have the capacity to love others genuinely.
God’s love is unconditional, self-giving, and sacrificial. This is most clearly demonstrated in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As verse 10 explains, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” God’s love is proactive, reaching out to humanity even when we were undeserving. The order is crucial: God loves first. His love is the foundation and the motivation for all Christian love.
The broader context of 1 John 4:7–20 expands on the significance of God’s love:
God’s Love Defines His Nature (Verses 8 and 16): Twice in this passage, John declares that “God is love.” This means that love is not just one of God’s attributes but central to His essence. Everything He does flows from His love. To know God is to encounter His love.
God’s Love Precedes Human Response (Verses 10 and 19): Our ability to love—both God and others—depends entirely on God’s prior action. He took the initiative by loving us first, demonstrating what true love looks like and enabling us to respond in kind.
God’s Love Is Perfected in Us (Verses 12 and 17): As believers love one another, God’s love is “perfected” or brought to its intended goal. This does not imply that God’s love is incomplete but that it reaches its full expression in the mutual love of His people. In this way, believers become vessels of God’s love, demonstrating His presence in the world.
God’s Love Drives Out Fear (Verse 18): God’s perfect love provides security, freeing believers from the fear of judgment. This assurance allows them to love freely and boldly, knowing that they are deeply and unconditionally loved by God.
The priority of God’s love has several practical applications for believers:
Motivation for Loving Others: Believers are called to love others not out of duty or self-interest but as a response to God’s overwhelming love. This love transforms hearts, enabling believers to love unconditionally and sacrificially.
Reflection of God’s Nature: By loving one another, Christians reflect God’s nature to the world. This love is a practical demonstration of the gospel and a witness to God’s character.
Humility and Gratitude: Recognizing that God loved us first fosters humility. We cannot boast in our love for God or others; instead, we give thanks for His initiating grace. Our love is always a reflection of His love.
1 John 4:7–20 underscores the foundational truth that God’s love is the source, the starting point, and the sustaining power of all genuine love. Verses 7 and 19, in particular, highlight the priority of God’s love by showing that He loves first and enables His people to love in response. For believers, this truth calls for a life marked by love—love for God, love for one another, and love for the world. As we embrace and reflect God’s love, we participate in His redemptive work and bear witness to the reality of His presence in our lives.
More: Lesson 2 Covenantal Love
Hosea 9:15 states:
"All their wickedness is in Gilgal, for there I hated them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds, I will drive them out of my house; I will love them no more; all their princes are rebels." (ESV)
God's Love and Human Rejection
This verse highlights that God's love, though steadfast, is not unconditional in its benefits when faced with persistent rebellion. The people of Israel had turned to wickedness and idolatry, particularly in places like Gilgal, a site associated with false worship. This rejection of God's covenant leads to God declaring, "I will love them no more," indicating that the active benefits of His love—protection, blessing, and presence—can be forfeited through sin.
The Conditional Aspect of Relationship
While God's nature is love (1 John 4:8), His relationship with humanity often involves conditions under the covenant. When Israel continually rejected God and embraced sin, they chose to separate themselves from His blessings. The passage reflects the seriousness of turning away from God's will and the consequences of breaking the covenant.
Forfeiting God's Favor
The verse doesn't mean that God's nature or ultimate desire for His people changes, but it shows that unrepentant rebellion can lead to the forfeiture of the benefits of His love. His discipline in this context is a call to repentance, not a complete revocation of His overarching redemptive plan.
Hosea 9:15 teaches that while God's love is freely given, its blessings and benefits require a faithful response. Persistent rebellion or rejection of God can result in the forfeiture of those blessings, illustrating the importance of repentance, obedience, and maintaining a covenantal relationship with Him.
More: Lesson 2 Covenantal Love
Ingredients:
- 1 block (14 oz/400g) firm tofu
- 1 tbsp olive oil (or any preferred cooking oil)
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder (for color)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika (optional, for flavor)
- 1/4 tsp black salt (kala namak, for eggy flavor) or regular salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional, for a cheesy flavor)
- 2 tbsp plant-based milk (optional, for creaminess)
- 1/4 cup chopped vegetables (e.g., bell peppers, onions, or spinach – optional)
- Fresh herbs like parsley or chives, for garnish
Instructions
1. Prepare the tofu: Drain the tofu and pat it dry with a paper towel. Use your hands or a fork to crumble it into small, bite-sized pieces.
2. Heat the pan: Heat the olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
3. Sauté vegetables (optional): If you're adding vegetables, sauté them for 2-3 minutes until slightly softened.
4. Add tofu: Add the crumbled tofu to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Season: Sprinkle the turmeric, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika (if using), and black salt over the tofu. Mix well to coat evenly. Add the nutritional yeast and plant-based milk if using, and stir to combine.
6. Cook and taste: Continue to cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the tofu is heated through and slightly golden. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
7. Garnish and serve: Garnish with fresh herbs and serve warm. Pair it with toast, avocado, or roasted potatoes for a complete meal.
Enjoy your flavorful, protein-packed tofu scramble!
