| Author | Message | ||
| Gatororeo7 (Gatororeo7) |
In my opinion, the subject of Christ's work on the Cross is most critical to the message of the gospel. Christ's death and resurrection are the center of the gospel message. Unfortunately, many churches around the world today do not teach that what Christ did on the Cross was complete and final, although the Bible clearly tells us otherwise. As a result of exposure to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, many of us have been taught that Christ's work at the Cross could not possibly have been completed at the Cross event. We have been taught that He had to start another "ministry" in 1844, and that there is no telling when He will complete this. In the meantime, we are left with nothing more than doubt and fear - of our salvation, of our forgiveness, of our acceptance with God. Under traditional Adventist teaching, none of these are a surety. In the end, it was us who had to work for our salvation, for our forgiveness, and for our acceptance. As many of us have become keenly aware, this all is contrary to Scripture. This study by People to People Ministries' Bob George is one I believe is very relevant to this Discussion Forum and to all those seeking answers to their burning questions. The text and questions are not my own, but I provide my own answers to serve the benefit of everyone. This study will discuss why Christ went to the Cross, and what He accomplished there. We will discuss our reconciliation to God and what that means to us as believers. We will discuss Christ's once-for-all sacrifice for sins, and see that our forgiveness is indeed complete and final. We will take a look at the issue of fellowship with God and whether we can be in and out of fellowship at different times during our Christian walk. Finally, we will look at the role of feelings and faith in out lives. Again, I pray that this study serves as a blessing to all who read it. Read, study with your own Bible, and please, PLEASE ask questions. Grace and peace, Joel London jlondon81@yahoo.com | ||
| Gatororeo7 (Gatororeo7) |
I will post Part 1 as soon as I have some time. #1 - The Cross: The Dividing Line of Human History | ||
| Gatororeo7 (Gatororeo7) |
The French Philosopher, Pascal, stated, "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ." Man, however, has sought to fill this vacuum through various ways: financial success, social status, education, sexual encounters, friends, marriage and children, and occupation. regardless of man's success in these endeavors, he still finds himself empty. H.G. Wells, famous historian and philosopher, at the age of 61 said, "I have no peace. All life is at the end of the tether." The poet Byron said, " My days are in the yellow leaf, the flowers and fruits of life are gone, the worm and the canker and the grief are mine alone." Man has even turned to religion and social reform to fill the void. The great Hindu leader, Mahatma Gandhi, with his undying and sacrifical devotion to his religion, stated in his autobiography: "It is a constant torture to me that I am still so far from Him whom I know to be my very life and being. I know it is my own wretchedness and wickedness that keeps me from Him." Even religion is not enough. The vacuum Pascal decribes is a basic need in the heart of every man to know God, to experience His forgiveness, to be freed from the bondage of guilt, and to know that he has been totally accepted by God. only God can meet this need, and he does so through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through His death on the cross, Jesus Christ demonstrated the love of God for you and me and ushered in a brand new covenant whereby we can experience forgiveness and have new life. it is because of this that we take a closer look at the finality of the cross. Hebrews 9:16, 17 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. Q1. In the case of a will, what is necessary to prove for it to be in effect? A1. "... it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,..." Q2. When does a will take force? A2. "... a will is in force only when somebody has died;..." Q3. Is a will in effect if the one who made it is still living? A3. "... [a will] never takes effect while the one who made it is living." Q4. Why did Jesus have to die? A4. According to this passage, because a new will, or covenant, had been written and could not go into effect until He, the One who made it, had died. Hebrews 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Q5. According to Hebrews 9:15, what is Christ the mediator of? A5. "... Christ is the mediator of a new covenant,..." Q6. When did this new covenant go into effect? A6. When Christ died on the Cross. Q7. What will those who are called under this new covenant receive? A7. "... that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance..." Q8. Not only did Christ's death usher in a new covenant, what else did Christ's death accomplish for you and me? A8. "... he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." Q9. What does Romans 10:4 say concerning the law or the old covenant? A9. Romans 10:4 - "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." The whole world, secular and religious alike, acknowledges that jesus Christ is the centerpiece of human history. Even our calendars divide history at the birth of Christ; BC, before Christ and AD, "anno Domini," in the year of our Lord. From God's vantage point however, history is divided at the cross. Christ's death on the cross fulfilled the old covenant and ushered in a brand new covenant. In this new covenant God meets the basic needs of the human heart by providing new life and the final forgiveness of sins. Since Christ's death and resurrection, all believers have lived in the age of the new covenant. Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Q10. In Hebrews 9:22, what does the law require everything to be cleansed with? A10. "... the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood..." Q11. What is necessary for forgiveness? A11. "... without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Q12. According to this verse, why did Christ have to die? A12. Christ had to die to provide forgiveness of sins. Q13. According to Matthew 26:28, why did Jesus pour out His blood? A13. Matthew 26:28 - "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Hebrews 10:16-18 "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Q14. Under this new covenant, ushered in at the death of Christ, what does God do for you and me? A14. (1) He puts His laws on our hearts. (2) He writes His laws on our minds. (3) Our sins and lawless acts are remembered no more. Q15. How does God remember our sins and lawless acts? A15. "... their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." Q16. Under the new covenant, have our sins and lawless acts been forgiven? A16. "And where these have been forgiven,..." Q17. What brought about this forgiveness for you and me? A17. Christ's death on the cross. Q18. Because our sins have been forgiven through the death of Christ, is any other sacrifice for our sins necessary? A18. "And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Q19. If we needed more forgiveness, what would have to happen according to Hebrews 9:22? A19. Blood would have to be shed. Q20. Based on Hebrews 9:26-28, is Christ going to die again? A20. Hebrews 9:26-28 - "Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Q21. According to Hebrews 10:10, what have we been made through the sacrifice of jesus Christ under this new covenant? A21. Hebrews 10:10 - "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Q22. In Hebrews 10:14, what else have we been made? A22. Hebrews 10:14 - "... because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Q23. Under this new covenant, ushered in through the death of Christ, how acceptable are we to God? A23. We are completely acceptable before God. Q24. Why then is it important for us to see the cross as the dividing line of human history? A24. To see that Christ has indeed purchased our forgiveness and we are acceptable before God by His sacrifice. | ||
| Clay (Clay) |
Thank you Gatororeo for posting Part 1. I found it very meaningful. I'll look forward to the next part. | ||
| Richardtinker (Richardtinker) |
Joel, The study from Bob George is wonderful. But... copyrighted materials should not be copied and posted here without the author's permission. Short quotes and excerpts with your commentary are fine. And don't forget to post the web address so that forum readers can read the complete work, if it's available. Thanks. Richard | ||
| Gatororeo7 (Gatororeo7) |
My apologies, Richard. I did forget to note on here that this is being posted with permission. | ||
| Colleentinker (Colleentinker) |
I'm glad, Joel, because Bob George is terrific! Looking forward to the rest of the installments! Colleen | ||
| Gatororeo7 (Gatororeo7) |
Popular in the world's philosophy today is the idea that man is basically good and, if given enough time, he will improve. One adherent to this philosophy was Dr. Cyril E.M. Joad, head of the philosophy department at the University of London. Dr. Joad believed that Jesus was only a man, and that God was simply part of the universe. He believed that there is no such thing as sin, and that, given a little time, man would have heaven on earth. In his later life, however, after having been antagonistic toward Christianity, Dr. Joad came to believe that sin was a reality. Two world wars and the ever present threat of another had demonstrated conclusively to him that man was sinful. Before his death, Dr. Joad became a zealous follower of the Savior, believing that the only explanation for sin was found in the Word of God, and the only solution was found in the cross of Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23 ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,... Q1. According to this verse, how many have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God? A1. "...for all have sinned..." Q2. Are you included in the word all? A2. Yes. Q3. Does the Bible agree with the popular philosophy that man is basically good? A3. No. Q4. Knowing your own heart, what do you conclude about the basic nature of man; that he is basically good or that he is sinful? A4. That man's basic nature is sinful. Q5. What does 1 John 1:8 say about those who claim to be without sin? A5. 1 John 1:8 - "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." Q6. Is the truth in those who claim to be without sin? A6. "...we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." Q7. According to 1 John 1:10, what are those who claim to be without sin calling God, or making Him out to be? A7. "If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." Q8. What place does God's Word have in the lives of those who claim to be without sin? A8. "...and his word has no place in our lives." Q9. Would whose who claim to be without sin ever have a need for a Savior? A9. No, because then they would be sinless. Romans 3:10-12 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Q10. According to this verse, what does God say about man? A10. "There is no one righteous,..." Q11. Do any of us seek after God? A11. "...no one seeks after God." Q12. Is there anyone in this world who does good? A12. "...there is no one who does good, not even one." Q13. What does Scripture declare about the whole world in Galatians 3:22? A13. Galatians 3:22 - But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Natural Man is Lost Q14. How does 1 Corinthians 2:14 describe sinful man? A14. 1 Corinthians 2:14 - "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." Q15. What does the man without the Spirit, or natural man, think of the things that come from the Spirit of God? A15. "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God,..." Q16. Can natural man understand the things that come from the Spirit of God? A16. "...for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them,..." Q17. Because the things of God are foolosh to natural man, what has he turned to for answers according to Isaiah 53:6? A17. Isaiah 53:6 - "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Q18. How does this verse describe natural man? A18. "We all, like sheep, have gone astray,..." Q19. What is the definition of sin in Romans 14:23? A19. Romans 14:23 - "But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." Q20. What is the state of natural man according to Luke 19:10? A20. Luke 19:10 - "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Q21. What did Christ come to do for the lost? A21. "...to seek and save..." The attutude of natural man can be best described as one of either active rebellion or passive indifference toward God. Christ is outside man's life and his own ego of self is in control of his life. Natural man is often plagued with one or more of the followingcharacteristics resulting in a life of frustration and discord: guilt, anger, fear, worry, anxiety, lack of purpose, loneliness, emptiness. Natural Man is Already Judged Q22. According to John 3:17, 18, 36, how does natural man stand before God? A22. John 3:17, 18, 36 - "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.... Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." Natural Man is Alienated From God Q23. What is the situation of natural man according to Colossians 1:21? A23. Colossians 1:21 - "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior." Q24. What is his attitude toward God? A24. "...and were enemies in your minds..." Q25. How does the apostle Paul refer to natural man in Romans 8:6-8? A25. Romans 8:6-8 - "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." Q26. What is the attitude of the "flesh" toward God? A26. "The mind of the sinful man is death,..." Q27. Is the flesh able to submit to God's law? A27. "It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." Q28. Can natural man ever please God? A28. "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." Q29. According to 1 Corinthians 15:50, will flesh and blood ever inherit the kingdom of God? A29. 1 Corinthians 15:50 - "I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Q30. According to Romans 6:23, what are the wages of sin? A30. Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Q31. How did Jesus define sin in John 16:9? A31. "John 16:9 - "...in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;..." Q32. What do we deserve from God as a result of our sin? A32. Death. Q33. What does Jesus say will happen to those who do not believe that He is who He claimed to be? A33. Judgement will come. Q34. Summarize in your own words man's need for the cross. A34. Man is evil because of his sinful nature. Only through Christ's sacrifice can righteousness and forgiveness be found. Q35. What did Christ do on the cross for you and me? A35. He provided righteousness and forgiveness of sin. Q36. Whose sins did He die for according to 2 Corinthians 5:21? A36. 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." Q37. Because of the cross, how can God now look at us according to Colossians 1:22? A37. Colossians 1:22 - "But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--..." Man is not basically good like many would have us think. As the Bible declares, we are all sinful. If we were not sinful, we would have no need for a savior. If Jesus Christ is not a savior, then His death is meaningless. In the next chapter we will look at why Christ went to the cross on our behalf. | ||
| Colleentinker (Colleentinker) |
Such a good study, Joel. Thanks for sharing it! The issue of whether or not man is basically good or basically evil affects so many reactions to life! If one believes people are basically good, then sin becomes a relative issue, and discipline, as in schools, homes, etc., becomes more relative. If there is not absolute sin, then misbehavior can be rationalized as that person's unique quirk without being overtly sinful. It's amazing how different a person's world view is when one believes the natural state of man is sinful! Colleen |
