Grace & Calling – Lesson 1 Notes: Understanding God’s Eternal Purpose and Our Role

Introduction

• Semester‐long theme: Grace (Karunia) & Calling (Panggilan) for Grade 10 students.
• Today’s focus question: “What is God’s calling, and why did Jesus really die on the cross?”
– Common answers (redemption, eternal life, restored relationship) are correct but incomplete.
• Aim of lesson: move beyond personal salvation to understand God’s eternal purpose and our role in it.

God’s Original Plan – Genesis 1:26–281{:26\text{–}28}

Key text: “Let Us make humanity in Our image … so that they may rule …”

  1. Humankind created imago Dei (image & likeness).

  2. Mandate: “Berkuasa” – rule, subdue, steward the earth:
    – Over fish, birds, livestock, the whole earth, every creeping thing.

  3. Blessing & Multiplication: Be fruitful, increase, fill, subdue.

  4. Significance: Humanity is God’s co‐regent on earth, an administrative extension of His Kingdom.

Adam’s Failure & the Unbroken Eternal Purpose

• Adam & Eve disobey (Tree of Knowledge) ⇒ Fall ⇒ apparent derailment.
• Question raised: “Did God’s plan fail?” Answer: No.
• God’s eternal purpose ("maksud abadi Allah") remains: establish His Kingdom on earth.

Jesus the Last/Second Adam – Re-entrusting the Mandate

• Because Adam failed, the mandate passes to Jesus (Adam terakhir).
• Jesus’ prayer (Matthew 6:106{:10}): “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.”
• Through the cross:

  1. Redeems humanity (forgiveness, reconciliation).

  2. Reconstitutes a new humanity capable of fulfilling the mandate.
    • Jesus does not rebuild Eden; He builds the Church as the instrument of Kingdom expansion.

The Church = Us

• "Gereja" is people, not building; every believer is part of Christ’s Body.
• Therefore I am the Church → I am part of God’s strategy to rule the earth.

Identity of Believers – 1 Peter 2:91\,\text{Peter }2{:9}

We are:

  1. Bangsa pilihan – chosen race.

  2. Imamat rajani – royal priesthood (priests who serve a King).

  3. Bangsa kudus – holy nation (set apart, cleansed by Christ).

  4. Umat kepunyaan Allah – God’s own possession.
    Purpose clause: “…so that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Practical Mandate for Today’s Youth

• Earth is still riddled with evil; Kingdom rule is incomplete.
• After salvation we must ask: “What now?”
• Answer: Continue the eternal purpose by
– Multiplying disciples (evangelism, mentorship).
– Exercising godly dominion in every sphere (family, arts, science, business, politics, etc.).

Good Works Prepared in Advance – Ephesians 2:102{:10}

• “We are God’s workmanship (\textit{poiēma}) created in Christ Jesus for good works prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them.”
Implications:

  1. Every believer has pre‐assigned Kingdom tasks (“pekerjaan baik”).

  2. Vocation choices (doctor, engineer, entrepreneur, soldier, artist) should align with those tasks.

  3. Life ≠ occasional volunteering; we must live inside these works continually ("hidup di dalamnya").

Role of the Holy Spirit

• Jesus ascended; the Holy Spirit now empowers the Church.
• Spirit is omnipresent companion in classroom, home, workplace, guiding and anointing for Kingdom mission.

Ethical & Philosophical Dimensions

  1. Stewardship: Dominion ≠ exploitation; it is responsible care for creation and society.

  2. Missional Existence: Salvation is missional, not merely therapeutic.

  3. Collective Responsibility: Kingdom advance is communal – “we” not merely “I.”

  4. Sacred–Secular Unity: All legitimate work can be holy when aligned with God’s purpose.

Real-World Examples & Analogies

• Doctor healing bodies → signpost of coming wholeness.
• Teacher shaping minds → cultivating image‐bearers.
• Entrepreneur creating jobs → exercising creative dominion & justice.
• Multiplication Analogy: Ripple effect – one disciple makes another until waves cover the shore (earth).

Connection to Previous / Foundational Principles

• Builds on doctrine of Creation (imago Dei), Fall (sin & need of redemption), Christology (Jesus the Redeemer and King), Pneumatology (Holy Spirit empowerment).
• Sets stage for upcoming lessons on specific gifts (“karunia”) enabling the calling.

Power Statement

“Jesus died so we could live; we live to fulfill the Divine Calling.”

Key Takeaways / Summary Bullets

• God’s eternal purpose: Kingdom rule on earth.
• Original mandate given to Adam, failed → passed to Jesus → handed to the Church (us).
• Believers are chosen, royal, holy, owned – identity fuels mission.
• Each person contains pre-designed good works; career decisions must reflect them.
• Holy Spirit empowers; we do not labor alone.
• Measuring life success: extent to which we advance God’s Kingdom, not merely personal gain.

Reflection / Action Questions

  1. What specific sphere (education, arts, science, politics, etc.) stirs my passion, and how might that correlate with a “good work” prepared for me?

  2. How can I integrate Kingdom values into today’s routine (study habits, friendships, social media)?

  3. Who in my circle can I disciple this semester as part of multiplying believers?

  4. In what ways can I invite the Holy Spirit’s guidance in career planning this year?

Closing Encouragement

• Do not postpone obedience; start aligning studies, relationships, and ambitions with God’s eternal purpose now.
• Remember: We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to walk in the works He already prepared.
• Tuhan Yesus memberkati – may you become active doers of the Word and agents of His Kingdom on earth.