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Object Lesson on Righteousness

This is a fun object lesson to help us understand how righteous living doesn't save us, but God can use it for our protection. We receive the righteousness of Christ the moment we receive him as our savior, but God also calls us to a practical righteousness in our daily living.  We're not alone though!

Any type of wrapped candy can be used: suckers, hard candies, chocolates, bubblegum, etc.  


wrapped-candy

Object Lesson

Bible Object Lesson: We should choose to live righteous (like Jesus) every day.

Lesson Title:  Bear It!

Objects:  Wrapped Candy 

Primary Scriptures:  Romans 13:14, Philippians 1:11

Main Point:   As a child of God, we not only have received Jesus' righteousness, but we can also live righteous by His Holy Spirit.


candy object lesson

Photo Credit:  Terrance Barksdale @ Pixels.com

Imputed Righteousness of Christ

We never lose Jesus’ righteousness once we have received it; we’ll always be a part of God’s team, and His Holy Spirit lives within us.  But in everyday life, it’s our choice to wear and “bear” His righteousness so others see the difference in our life.  We still have a choice of living daily for Jesus and following the prompting of His Holy Spirit, or not.  When we don't, it can lead us into dangerous places such as temptation and sin.

Think about what would happen if the quarterback of the football team ran out on the field to play in the game without his jersey!  He would be clobbered by all because he wouldn’t be showing whose team he is on! 

Putting on the breastplate of righteousness is a choice we must make daily in the way we live.  

If we back up to Ephesians 2:8-10, it clarifies we are NOT saved by good works or our own righteousness, but God did create us to do good works that reflect what Jesus has done for us through salvation.


"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."


Practical Righteousness - "Right Living"

When we choose to follow Jesus daily by walking close to Him and following the way the Bible points us to live, we walk in God's good works which lead us away from dangerous places and away from sin.  

This is what we mean by "practical righteousness."  Our good works could never save us, but after we receive Christ's righteousness at salvation, His Holy Spirit helps us walk in living daily more like Jesus; this helps protect us from Satan's schemes and temptations that lead to sin.


Demonstrate Object Lesson:

Hold up a sucker or piece of wrapped candy and ask what the purpose is of a sucker/candy. (to be enjoyed)

What purpose does the wrapper on the sucker/candy have?  (protect it so it can fulfill its purpose)

Take the wrapper off your sucker and roll on the floor or in dirt, etc.  Ask if anyone wants to enjoy the sucker now!   (hopefully they say no)

Take another sucker with the wrapper still on and do the same.  Ask if they’d like to enjoy this sucker.  Then ask what was the difference. (the wrapper protected the sucker from getting dirty & nasty)

In the same way that the wrapper protects the sucker from picking up dirt and yuck, righteousness can protect our hearts from sin.


God's Word Tells Us:

Proverbs 4:23  “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” 

Romans 13:14 – “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires”

 Galatians 5:22-23   “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” 

Philippians 1:11  “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”


Facts about Practical Righteousness or "Right Living"

  • Righteousness is doing what is right in God's sight. 
  • Righteousness is in part reflected by our attitude. 
  • We need to be upright in character as well as actions. 
  • Righteousness comes from the heart. 


“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” – 2 Timothy 2:22

• Flee evil – go away from anything evil so the enemy doesn’t knock you down!

• Pursue righteousness…, run towards God’s goal & purpose!

• Along with…your own team! (Who you hang with matters!)

If we choose each day to try to live like Jesus, we won’t go to places or do those things we shouldn’t where Satan can trip us up and cause us to fall into sin.  

Also, others will see by our actions and attitudes that truly we are a part of God’s team & His breastplate of righteousness will protect our heart and be seen as we identify with His team.

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  - Galatians 5:22-23


candy object lesson - righteousness

Photo Credit:  William Warby @ Pexels.com

Think About It:

Have students discuss the following situations and how the right decision (righteousness) can protect their heart.

1. Jenny has been invited to stay over at a friend’s  house, but their parents won’t be home part of the night. What should she do?

2. John offers Mike a cheat sheet to help him on a History test.  What should Mike do?

3. Beth & Avery are talking bad about the new girl in their class.  Rachel walks up.  When she hears what they are talking about,  what should she do?

4. Ben and James were best friends until James really hurt Ben’s feelings.  Ben got so angry at James.  What should Ben do?

5. Betsy has been asked to go to a movie with the popular group of kids from school, but knows her parents wouldn’t approve of the movie.  What should she do?


Prayer Time:

Take time to pray Paul’s prayer he prayed over the Philippians in Philippians 1:9-11:

 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,  so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.”


© Copyright 2016 Susan Smart



candy object lessons

Photo Credit:  Terrance Barksdale @Pexels.com

More Candy Object Lessons:

Skittles Experiment - Unity of Believers

M&Ms Object Lesson - Christians are a lot like M&Ms

Candy Cane - Pointing to Jesus


Special note: We do preview the websites to which we link, but are unable to peruse them completely. We try to check others' faith statements and make sure they do profess Jesus Christ as God's Son and salvation is found only in Him. It must, however, be your responsibility to personally dig into God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to be your first and final teacher on all subjects.

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