Faust[1]

Lesson Plan for Faust

 

1 Corinthians 6
¹⁹   What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
²⁰   For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

Goethe’s Faust is the story of a man who sold his soul to the Devil.  This could serve as a classic example of one who lives only for self with no concern for others.  One may appear to be successful but the end result spreads unhappiness. We may appear to sell our soul for a lot of things that are Satanically inspired.  We may worship at the altar of wealth, success, or even education at the expense of a healthy relationship with God and family.

 

Faust made a deal and everyone around Faust was corrupted as a result.  The Devil created an illusion that he owned Faust and those corrupted by him were beyond redemption.  All of this is an illusion and a lie.  In the end Faust and others were saved.

 

We were brought with a price. You cannot sell what you never owned.  Body and soul we belong to our Creator.  Regardless of our merits our inheritance is secure in Jesus Christ. Those who accept that Jesus arose from the dead and confess him with their mouth will be saved.[2]  When we repent God is faithful to forgive our sins.[3] The Devil strives to spread an illusion of fear and hopeless.    The Devil would have us believe that we are too bad or have slipped to far.  This is a lie.  However Jesus said, “He is the way the truth and the life.”[4]  And “though our sins are a scarlet, he will wash them white as snow.”[5]

 

The only way the Devil can own our souls is if we die without claiming the inheritance paid for by Jesus.  It is ours for the taking.  God loves you more than you can ever imagine and his Grace and forgiveness is infinite. No matter what your present statement if you ask Jesus into your heart, as the prodigal son was welcomed home you will likewise be welcome.  God has promised to caste our sins as far as the east is form the west.[6]

 

Father we are grateful that we are saved by your Grace provided through the blood of Jesus Christ.  We are saved not by or effort but by his righteousness.  We accept our inheritance in his name Amen.