The death & resurrection of Christ

LifeWay Study Guide "Life Question" for October 25th, 2009

"Why Do I Have Victory In Christ?" 

PROMISE - PROPITIATION - PROVISION

SUNDAY MORNING SERMON OUTLINE

Understanding our need for Jesus the Christ requires us to travel all of the way back to the Genesis telling of the events in the Garden of Eden shortly after the Creation narrative (as Dr. Johnson mentioned last Sunday).

Just as a little yeast in a huge vat of dough may alter everything made using that dough, a few drops of poison in a water reservoir may render millions of gallons of water toxic, a few lies in a political campaign or while in office may destroy the capacity of a leader to be trusted, and a few wrong notions about the Word of God lead to a religious cult instead of an Biblically obedient fellowship - so was the result of the rebellion of Adam & Eve in the Garden - everything that followed has been harmed.

Genesis 3:23 "So the Lord God expelled him [them] from the orchard in Eden ..."

We have no hope of rescue from an eternity without God apart from the gift of salvation which comes only from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Romans Chapter 1 the Apostle Paul describes the condemnation of the unrighteous/unsaved:

    * All people are under the wrath of God
    * Because they have sufficient evidence all around them that He exists
    * Because there has been sufficient disclosure of His expectations
    * Because they deliberately do that which they know will offend God
    * Obvious, but not inclusive, sins are the worship of animal images, sexual depravity,
    covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility, gossip, slander, haters of God,
    insolence, arrogance, boastfulness, connivers-of-evil, disobedience to parents, senselessness,
    covenant-breakers, heartlessness, and ruthlessness.
    * Therefore God has allowed people to reap the consequences of sin's slavery
    * Death is the penalty for knowing "God's righteous decree", ignoring it, and to "approve of
    those who practice them"

OUCH!

PROMISE

A Savior, Jesus the Christ.

Our loving God provided a way for us to return to Him, at the same moment He also pronounced the curse upon the serpent who had deceived Eve:

Genesis 3:15"An I will put hostility between you and the woman and your offspring and her offspring, and her offspring will attack your head, and you will attack her offspring's heal."

God promised that He would provide a redeemer Who would take a deadly attack from the Enemy but Who would then destroy the Enemy, and his power to drag us away from God.

How?

PROPITIATION

From the NetBible site: "... the act of appeasing the wrath of God by offering an appropriate sacrifice, a primarily relational and personal term; the use of the word "propitiation" is sometimes criticized by those who consider Old Testament ideas of appeasing God through animal sacrifice as archaic and unworthy of God (however Rom 3:24-25 seems to reflect this very idea in relation to the death of Christ)."

Romans 3:23-26  "... for those who believe ... are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  God publicly displayed Him at His death as the mercy seat accessible through faith ... God in His forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed ... the justifier of the one who lives [the saved believer] because of Jesus' [the man] faithfulness."

PROVISION

From: Matthew 27:32-44, Mark 15:21-32, Luke 23:26-43, John 19:17-27

Jesus begins His journey to the hill at Golgotha, as was general practice, carrying the cross-beam to be attached to the vertical post already on the hill. Somewhere along the way Simon of Cyrene was conscripted to carry it the rest of the way – because Jesus was physically weakened from physical abuse. 

Jesus prophesies to wailing women to not cry for Him but for themselves as the violence poured out upon Him for His ministry was only the beginning of suffering for believers.

Jesus is crucified, nailed to the cross, with a sign ordered by Pilate “Jesus the Nazarene, king of the Jews” posted above His head in multiple local languages. The religious authorities objected but Pilate insisted, perhaps another effort to assign complete responsibility to them.

Crucified on either side of Jesus were two thieves, one joining the religious authorities, soldiers, and other passers-by in mocking Jesus, one recognizing Him as the Christ and asking His blessing. Jesus not only forgives the respectful thief but also promises Him salvation for his faith. 

Immediately following the resurrection of Christ the women were greeted by two angels of God: 

READ:  LUKE 24:5-7

In the Book of Romans Paul describes the power of the Gospel

    * to save
    * everyone who believes
    * offered first to the Jews
    * then offered to everyone else
    
    How?

    * the righteousness of God is revealed
    * as one hears the Gospel
    * from faith (one's initial child-like trusting faith)
    * to faith (results in a saving faith-relationship)

Returning to the Question of this Sunday ...

"Why Do I Have Victory In Christ?"

Perhaps we might rephrase this "Over what enemy or enemies do I have victory in Christ?"

Here are 7 possibilities:

1.  A meaningless existence.

2.  The inability to perceive right from wrong.

3.  A powerlessness to choose right over wrong.

4.  The inability to access the physical and spiritual healing power of God.

5.  The inability to understand fully what God has written for me in His Bible.

6.  The inability to love and to be loved the way God designed and His Holy Spirit equips.

7.  Eternal death - to never be restored to the perfect & loving relationship with God He desires.

PRAYER

INVITATION to come forward during the DISMISSAL SONG "He is Lord."

SUNDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

*Discussion & Reflection - Keeping it Real* 

Do we also challenge Jesus when His Word says something with which we do not want to 
agree? (Perhaps wanting to soften the teaching on righteousness or doubt hell is real?) 

Have you heard people say “He cannot mean that ... because a 'good person' doesn't 
become a Christian (accept Christ as Lord) therefore they will go to hell.”? (Are they not 
committing the same error for which Jesus so harshly chastised Peter?) 

Reflect upon the warning of Jesus as to the cost of following Him in a world that hates 
Him – then contemplate the sacrifices of the apostles, and so many others since them, for 
Christ (not for man-made denominations or religious tradition but for Christ). 

In what ways might we behave as if we are “ashamed” of Jesus when we avoid the 
mention of His name or the giving of credit to Him for all good things? 

*Truth in Action* 

Today I will identify a place where I try to change the intention of the Bible because I am 
uncomfortable with the consequence to my life, or that of someone else, and repent of that. 

I will also consider a time or a place or a person that triggers an “ashamed” reaction to my 
identity as a Christian – so "ashamed" that I avoid the mention of His name. I will ask a fellow 
Christian to pray in agreement for courage and discernment as to when and how to witness 
for Christ – first in deed and then word. 

Be Specific _____________________________________ 

*Discussion & Reflection - Keeping it Real* 

Consider the thoughts that may have raced through the mind of Simon of Cyrene; Why 
me?, What if they decide to crucify me instead of Jesus?, Who is this guy anyhow? 

Consider the thoughts of those watching who had been following His ministry, especially 
those believed Him to be the Christ, how could their liberator be so quickly subdued and 
sent to die like a common criminal? What was to happen to them now without Him? 

Consider Jesus, knowing that His severe suffering was needed to create the emotional 
energy necessary to grab and hold attention across generations and His death to meet the 
judicial requirements of God's perfect justice, yet profoundly aware of the evil hatred and 
confusion swirling about the crowds. Yet on He walked – voluntarily. 

Consider Jesus, horribly nailed to the cross, forgiving the soldiers for being clueless, then 
blessing the thief who recognized and surrendered to Him there on the cross. Such love, 
such presence of mind. 

Consider the disciples and others closest to Jesus, cowering in the shadows or standing 
heartbroken and powerless nearby. Souls emptied, hearts aching, utterly humbled. 

Consider the presence of mind of Jesus to provide for His mother, and for John – perhaps 
without family – an amazing woman of faith like Mary now would share his home. 

*Truth in Action* 

Today I will make the time to prayerfully ponder the Cross and ask the Holy Spirit to 
show me something there to give me new perspective and strength to endure and to 
serve this amazingly sacrificial God of love. 

I will also pray for someone who is dealing with terrible loss, perhaps the death of a loved 
one, the loss of life-savings or a business they built, a divorce, a sudden life-changing 
or illness or injury, the discovery of something that had been secret which challenges 
the integrity of a relationship, the loss of a job or a home or both. I will ask the Lord if 
there is some way that in addition to prayer that I might serve them. 

Be Specific ______________________________________________________ 

    *Discussion & Reflection - Keeping it Real*

    Discuss how Paul's description of himself is also that of every truly saved believer -  he had
    given up everything in this world, surrendered his free will, and surrendered everything
    to the Lordship of Christ through the Holy Spirit

    Reflect on the meaning of "... we are more than gifted with salvation we are to live
    "ultrafidian" [beyond faith] lives."

    Reflect upon Paul's description of "the power of the Gospel", does it describe your
    salvation experience?

    Discuss the list of elements in Paul's presentation of God's condemnation of the
    unrighteous.  Do any of these elements describe you today or only prior to your salvation?

    *Truth in Action*

    Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for discernment - then
    to assist me with a careful review of all of the elements of God's "condemnation of the
    unrighteous" for any that may be part of my life.  If I identify one I will ask my prayer-
    partner to pray with me that I may quickly remove it from my life.  Permanently.

    *Be Specific* _______________________________________________________