Sabbath School Lesson for February 21-27, 2026
Introduction of Lesson 9, Reconciliation and Hope
Memory Text: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Our sinless Savior, taking the sins of the whole world upon Himself and dying the death we deserve, is something we can only partly fathom and appreciate. The wonder and mystery of such a sacrifice could only be accomplished by a God of deep, matchless love. Only God could initiate and accomplish the level of reconciliation for His created beings as the cross made possible.
We are so alienated from His perfection since the first sin in the Garden of Eden that we can’t be in His actual presence without being instantly destroyed. And yet, His miraculous reconciliation and transformation make it possible for His faithful ones to someday have access to His throne room and worship Him face to face. What a hope and joy we have as we wait for these awe-inspiring promises to be fulfilled in heaven and the earth made new.
Outline of Lesson 9:
- Sunday: Reconciled From Wicked Works
- Monday: If You Continue in the Faith
- Tuesday: God’s Eternal Plan
- Wednesday: Mystery of God Revealed
- Thursday: Power of the Gospel
Sunday: Reconciled From Wicked Works
When we think of our worst enemies, those friends who betray us, lie about us, and do everything they can to harm us, we are describing our lost relationship with God.
The course of sin and betrayal that began in the Garden of Eden has continued to alienate us from our Creator. Our lives, at their best, are totally unworthy of His love and attention. And yet, He has sacrificed Himself so we can have our relationship with Him restored. That’s how much He loves us.
This reconciliation effort on His part isn’t just a simple “patch-up” of a lost friendship like we might have with our neighbors. It involves centuries of hurtful actions on the part of men and women. Our wickedness and unkind acts have hurt Him over and over; and yet, He never ceases to invite us back to His loving, waiting arms. The blood of the cross brings peace to even the most wicked among us who accept His invitation to be reconciled.
Verses and questions:
Colossians 1:21, 22 and Ephesians 5:27
- What has the death of Christ made possible for us and all believers?
Romans 5:6-11
- When we have faith and repent, what does justification bring to our experience?
- How does the feeling of being justified affect you personally?
Monday: If You Continue in the Faith
Colossians 1:23 deserves attention. First of all, the Greek word “if” has several nuances. The “if” found in Colossians 1:23 seems to imply that their faith WILL continue. This makes sense when we read in Colossians 2:5 that Paul had seen the steadfastness of their faith. Although their faith was still conditional, it must have been encouraging to hear that their faith had such a strong chance for success, that it would likely continue.
Then, the word “continue” brings with it the idea of persisting. This Greek word is the same one used when the scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery. John 8:7 says, “They continued asking Him” about the situation. Another example was when Peter “continued” knocking on the door after Rhoda left him standing there to go inside and announce his presence (Acts 12:16). This idea of our persistence is important if we are to remain faithful to God.
And finally, the phrase “grounded and steadfast” is used in describing the kind of faith we need. To be grounded in our faith means for it to have a sure foundation. That foundation would be the Rock, meaning Christ Himself (1 Corinthians 10:4). Since this Rock is also known as the Word of God (John 1:14), then knowing God’s word, the Bible, is essential to the survival and grounding of our faith and love.
The word “steadfast” is better understood by seeing in 1 Corinthians 15:58 that we are to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Living out the faith by our words and actions will surely keep us loving and steadfast.
Verses and questions:
Colossians 1:23, John 8:7, and 1 Corinthians 15:58
- What are the ingredients for having a strong, lasting faith in God?
- What kind of encouragement must the Colossians have felt from these words in Paul’s epistle to them?
Tuesday: God’s Eternal Plan
As Paul languished so often in jails and later under house arrest, his pain and longing to be in the actual presence of the churches he cared so deeply for was evident. He severely missed that part of his ministry. Yet, he was willing to suffer affliction, knowing that God’s eternal plan for their salvation would continue, with or without him actually there.
Indeed, God did have a plan for Paul’s life, including his times in prison. A large portion of the New Testament would be missing without his years of imprisonment. Countless generations of Christians have thus been blessed by Paul’s willingness to follow God’s plan, not his own.
Colossians 1:24, 25 shows us that Paul rejoiced in knowing that he was doing everything for the sake of Christ’s body, the church. Every discouraging detail of his life had the potential to glorify God in reaching lost souls. That simple fact made him content to be where he was.
Verses and questions:
Colossians 1:24, 25
- How, why, and for whom was Paul suffering as he wrote his epistles to the churches?
- How can we learn to be more content when discouraging things that happen to us?
Wednesday: Mystery of God Revealed
Many things about God were a mystery before Jesus came and dwelt among us. For generations, it was hard to identify with such a distant, powerful God. But, Jesus, coming in the flesh, showed us things about God that we would not have known otherwise.
The Messiah demonstrated perfectly the unconditional nature of God’s love through His public ministry and later by His sacrificial death on the cross. It brought renewed meaning to the symbolic lambs they had offered to God all those years.
It also broadened their mission field. They needed to reach out to, rather than shun, Gentiles they had long neglected and even grew to despise. The riches of God’s glory were meant for anyone in the world who would love and trust their Creator. How to love their enemies must have seemed a great mystery until God came and showed us how important it was to the plan of salvation.
Verses and questions:
Colossians 1:26, 27, 1 Corinthians 2:7, and 2 Corinthians 3:14
- Why was Jesus able to reveal mysteries about God differently and more effectively than former prophets and preachers?
Ephesians 1:7-19 and 3:3-6
- What do you find personally to be the biggest mystery about God?
- How does knowing Jesus clear up these mysteries we have about our Creator?
Thursday: Power of the Gospel
If anything could be used as a mission statement for the apostle Paul it would be Colossians 1:28, 29, the last two verses of the first chapter. We know his focus was preaching about the crucified Christ (1 Corinthians 1:23). So, having mentioned the “hope of glory” in the previous verse in Colossians, we know Christ was the center of his preaching.
The purpose then was to teach “every man” the gospel. He mentioned “every man” three times to emphasize the importance of preaching to all the world, Jew and Gentile alike. His goal was to use the same message that had so touched his heart to bring others to a more robust understanding of the God we serve.
The gospel Paul preached had the power to work mightily in all of our lives, just as it had in his. All of us have the same opportunity to grow our faith and be blessed as much as Paul had, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Verses and questions:
Colossians 1:28, 29
- What was the focus and goal of Paul’s preaching?
- Why was “every man” mentioned three times, and how can we include more people in our service to God?
Friday: Final Thoughts
Ellen G. White expressed in Steps to Christ, published in 1892, how our justification and sanctification work together to bring us reconciliation with God and hope for the future. She explained on pages 62 and 63:
“If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ’s character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned. More than this, Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure.”
It’s comforting to know that our reconciliation with God is possible when we follow God’s plan of salvation. We can take steps to Christ that allow us to be justified and sanctified, through the grace and working of the Holy Spirit. Through this hope-filled sanctification process (the work of a lifetime), we will grow in faith, knowledge of God, and in our love for others.
Next Week: Complete in Christ
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