Jesus’ Power to Forgive Sins for Primary 4

Jesus’ Power to Forgive Sins

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the meaning of sin and forgiveness;
2. discuss examples of persons in the Bible who received forgiveness;
3. explain the conditions necessary for the forgiveness of sin;
4. mention the importance of seeking forgiveness from God and forgiving others.

Memory Verse

The memory verse for this lesson is:

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.” (Mark 2:10)

Bible Reading

The following Bible passages support this lesson:

1. Mark 2:1-12
2. Luke 15:11-32
3. John 8:1-11
4. Matthew 18:21-35
5. Matthew 6:12

Meaning of Sin

Sin is any thought, word or action that goes against God’s laws and His will. It is doing what is wrong in God’s sight.

When people disobey God, they commit sin. Sin separates people from God and makes them feel guilty.

Meaning of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the act of pardoning someone for a wrong they have done. When God forgives, He chooses not to hold a person’s sins against them anymore.

When people forgive others, they let go of anger or bitterness towards those who have wronged them. Forgiveness brings peace and allows for a fresh start.

Jesus Forgives Sins: Stories from the Bible

The Bible tells us many stories where Jesus showed His power to forgive sins. These stories teach us that Jesus came to save people from their sins and bring them closer to God.

The Paralytic Man

One day, Jesus was teaching in a house in Capernaum. So many people gathered that there was no room left, not even at the door. Four men brought a paralytic man, who could not walk, to Jesus.

Because they could not get through the crowd, they climbed onto the roof, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic man on his mat right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Some teachers of the law who were there thought to themselves, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking. He asked them, “Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?”

Then Jesus said to them, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic—”I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately, the man stood up, took his mat, and walked out in front of everyone. The people were amazed and praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

The Prodigal Son

Jesus told a story about a man who had two sons. The younger son asked his father for his share of the inheritance early. The father gave it to him, and the son left home to travel to a faraway country.

There, he wasted all his money on wild living. When he had nothing left, a severe famine hit the country, and he became very poor. He took a job feeding pigs, and he was so hungry that he wished he could eat the food the pigs ate.

He finally came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.'”

So he got up and went to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. The son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

But the father told his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

The Woman Caught in Adultery

One morning, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery to Jesus. They made her stand in front of everyone and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now, what do you say?” They were trying to trap Jesus so they could accuse Him.

Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. When they kept questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then He bent down again and continued writing on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one by one, starting with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, Lord,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Jesus showed His power to forgive and His mercy, giving her a chance to change her life.

Conditions for Receiving Forgiveness

From the story of the prodigal son and other teachings of Jesus, we learn that there are certain conditions for receiving God’s forgiveness. These conditions help people to truly turn away from sin and come back to God.

The conditions necessary for the forgiveness of sin include:

1. Acknowledgement of Sin: This means admitting that you have done something wrong. It is about being honest with God and yourself about your mistakes. The prodigal son acknowledged his sin when he said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.”

2. Repentance of Sin: Repentance means feeling truly sorry for your sins and deciding to turn away from them. It is a change of heart and mind that leads to a change in direction. The prodigal son repented when he decided to leave the pigsty and go back to his father.

3. Change in Behaviour: This means showing through your actions that you have truly turned away from sin. It is about making an effort to live a life that pleases God. The woman caught in adultery was told by Jesus, “Go now and leave your life of sin,” which meant she needed to change her behaviour.

Importance of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is very important in the Christian faith. It is important both to receive forgiveness from God and to forgive others who have wronged us.

Receiving Forgiveness from God

Receiving forgiveness from God is important for several reasons:

1. Peace with God: When sins are forgiven, people can have a peaceful relationship with God. The guilt and shame of sin are removed.

2. A Fresh Start: Forgiveness allows people to start anew, leaving their past mistakes behind and living a life guided by God.

3. Eternal Life: Jesus’ forgiveness opens the way to eternal life with God.

Matthew 6:12 teaches us to pray, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” This shows that receiving forgiveness from God is a daily need.

Forgiving Others

Forgiving others is also very important:

1. Peace in Relationships: When people forgive each other, it helps to heal broken relationships and bring peace to families, schools, and communities.

2. Freedom from Bitterness: Holding onto anger and bitterness can hurt a person more than the person who caused the wrong. Forgiving others sets one free from these negative feelings.

3. Following Jesus’ Example: Jesus taught His followers to forgive. In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant, showing that God expects us to forgive others just as He forgives us.