Author: WALTER BRUNELLI

* Pastor of the Bereana Assembly of God, based in Vila Mariana, São Paulo;

* Graduated in Theology from the Faculty of Free Methodist Theology of São Paulo;

* Master in Science of Religion from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie of São Paulo;

* Author of several books, such as Theology for Pentecostals: An Expanded Systematic Theology, by Central Gospel.

Dear teacher,

our feelings are of happiness and exultation in the Lord for being able to offer you the 65th booklet in the series lessons from the Word of God, whose theme is: The laws of relationship.

After announcing the great gift of salvation, Paul presents, with his extraordinary power of synthesis, the pedagogical role of divine favor: grace educates (Titus 2.11-15).

The grace that saves us (v.11), which teaches us to renounce impiety and worldly lusts (v.12), which gives us the blessed hope (v.13), who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (v.14), it is the same that educates us in a relationship in three dimensions: with oneself, with others and with God (v.12).

Yes, Christian relationship, by God's grace, enables us to:

(1) to get along well with ourselves - this appears in the term sober (from the Greek sophronéu = balance, mental health);

(2) live well with others - this appears in the term just (from the Greek dikaiós); and

(3) live well with God - this appears in the term pious (from the Greek eusebeia).

This is the triad of perfect relationship, and it is this three-dimensional relationship that we will address throughout this quarter.

God bless us!

(...) and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
while we wait for the blessed hope —the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Titus 2. 12b,13

Elba Alencar

Executive Director of Central Gospel