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Part B: The Gospel Message

Study 4: Our Saviour Jesus

John 1:1, 14	God became man in Jesus (the incarnation). Jesus is God in the flesh.
John 14:6	Jesus is the only way to the Father.
Hebrews 4:15	Jesus was also human, tempted as we are - he can relate to us.

Rationale: This study will focus on the divinity of Christ (the Incarnation - John 1:1, 14), the message of Christ (love for God and people) and the fact that Christ is our Saviour (John 14:6).

John 1:1, 14 - Without any doubt, Jesus is God in the flesh. This is called the Incarnation - that God became man in order to relate to us. Illustration: What would be the best way to communicate something to the ants in an ant farm? There’s only way you could possibly get through to them: Become an ant!
Matthew 22:34-40 - Jesus made very clear what his greatest hope for all men was: To love God wholeheartedly. In order to fall in love with God, we need to pursue our walk with Him before anything else. His second greatest command is to love others as we love ourselves. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus makes clear that our neighbour is potentially anyone who comes across our path!
Mark 1:40-42 - Jesus is filled with compassion toward the poor and sick. He has the power to heal us.
John 3:1-16 - Jesus taught the teachers! You may just want to look at v16, because it contains a key statement of Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth.
John 6:35 - Jesus himself is our spiritual nourishment. He didn’t point out the way of truth; he said that he himself was the path to life. Who else has made such claims?
John 8:12 - Jesus is the light - he brings into focus what is right and wrong, the things that God loves and the things that cause him grief. In the world, everyone has their own personal moral standard - Jesus takes us out of the darkness!
John 14:6 - Jesus is exclusive - the only way to God is through God, through Jesus. We do not have the power to "work our way" back into a relationship with God - we need divine support! Not all paths lead to God - why would God confuse us by giving us hundreds of contradictory paths? (No founder of a major world religion ever made such a claim.)
Luke 4:1-13 - Jesus was tempted; he didn’t glide through life with ease - he was a man of sorrows. Here, he was tempted with:
1. Desires of the flesh (4:3-4)
2. Materialism (4:5-7)
3. Pride (4:8-12)
And this was not a one-time temptation (v13). He lived a life very similar to ours in the sense that he was constantly tempted to go against what he knew to be right.
Hebrews 4:15-16 - Following on from Luke 4, we know that Jesus is a sympathetic saviour. He has faced and overcome all of our problems and more. He can guide and strengthen us in any situation.
Hebrews 1:3 - This is a great summary: Jesus is the exact representation of God!

For discussion:

What is meant by the Incarnation? The teaching that God entered history and became a man in Jesus. In many ways, it is the wildest thing that the Bible teaches!
Why did God need to become a man in Jesus? So that we could profoundly understand his nature.
What would Jesus think of the view that "all paths lead to God"?
What were some of the things Jesus was tempted with? What does this mean for us today?

Study 5: The Cross of Christ

1 Corinthians 15:3	The cross is central to the Christian message.
Romans 3:23-25a	The cross atones, redeems & justifies man.
1 Peter 2:24	We are healed by Jesus’ wounds.

Rationale: The Cross is at the centre of the Christian message and lies at the heart of the gospel. God loved us so much that he sent his very own Son to be a sacrifice for our sins, taking our place. No other study captures the heart of God like the cross. This is what compels us to fall deeply in love with God. As an introduction, read the passion account: Matthew 26:36 - 27:56 (or encourage people to read it before the study.)

a) Centrality of the Cross: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

We are saved by the gospel, which is of "first importance".
The Cross and the resurrection were in according with Old Testament scriptures.
The cross is the enduring Christian symbol. Jesus’ death is remembered every week by the church at the communion meal.

b) The Solution of the Cross: Satisfaction and Substitution

1. Satisfaction: Ephesians 2:1-5

All of us were dead because of our sin.
Due to our sin, we deserve wrath. The demand for justice must be “satisfied”.
We are objects of God’s wrath, but due to His love and mercy, He saved us by His grace.

2. Substitution: John 3:16

Because God so loved us, God paid the ultimate price himself through Jesus.
Faith is the key to access this salvation.
God’s holiness in judgement and love is satisfied by this wonderful act of self-substitution.

c) The Achievement of the Cross

Four things have been achieved by Christ’s death. The significance of Christ’s death is only complete when we consider all four of them.

1. The Ultimate Sacrifice (Our Sacrifice of Atonement): 1 John 2:2

Propitiation means “a sacrifice of atonement”. Some translations use it.
It means that Jesus by his death on the cross turned away God’s wrath on mankind.
Sacrifice is a theme throughout the Bible. Jesus was the final sacrifice.
Illustration: In the Old Testament, the temple was the place of sacrifice. Animals were ritually slaughtered to atone for people’s sins.

2. Paying the Price for our Salvation (Redemption): Mark 10:45

Redemption means to “to buy back,” and often refers to buying back property or slaves. The price being paid is called a "ransom".
We were in captivity due to our sin. Jesus by his blood paid the price for our freedom.
Illustration: In the Bible and in modern times, the market place is the focus of buying and selling. At times property, animals, people, and even nations could be bought back (redeemed).

3. Declaring our Innocence (Justification): Romans 5:6-11

Justification means "to be made in a right standing with God".
We have not just been let out of jail, we have been declared not guilty of sin because of Jesus’ blood.
Illustration: Justification is a legal term. The image of the law courts comes to mind with all the key players present: prosecutor, defence lawyer and judge. Do you guilty plead guilty or not-guilty?

4. Uniting us with God (Reconciliation): 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Reconciliation means “to restore a relationship.”
It was God who initiated this reconciliation. It is through Christ that our sins are not counted against us.
Illustration: It is primarily at home, among family or friends, that reconciliation is very meaningful. It feels terrible when we are not at peace with our family.

d) Conclusion: 1 Peter 2:21-24

"By his wounds we are healed" – it hurt God to save us.
It is a deeply personal message of love to mankind.

For Discussion:

What does the cross mean to you? Why is it significant for us today?
How does the cross lead to our justification?
How will you respond to its message?

Study 6: The Resurrection

John 11:25	Jesus is the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4a	The death and resurrection is of first importance.
1 Peter 1:3	It is an incredible message of hope.

Rationale: The resurrection is the completion of the gospel message. This study will focus on our new life in Christ, and Christ’s ability to rescue us and give us victory through His glorious resurrection (Romans 7:24-25), which points us to our heavenly exaltation (Philippians 3:20-21).

a) The Empty Tomb: Luke 24:1-12

No account is given of Jesus raising to life – it is beyond the ability of any words to describe death transforming into life (see Acts 2:24).
Jesus had staked his entire integrity and message on his promise to rise from the dead (e.g. Matthew 16:21).
The empty tomb proves Jesus’ identity as our Lord and God (John 20:28).
John 11:24-26: Jesus had already declared that he is the resurrection and life.

b) A Transforming Message: Acts 2:22-36

The Apostles were transformed into powerful and effective followers of Christ once they saw that Jesus rose from the dead.
The death and resurrection of Christ was the focus of all of their preaching.
v23: The Cross was a part of God’s purpose in delivering mankind.
v24: Jesus overcame death by the divine power within Him.
v25-28: The Resurrection was prophesied in the Old Testament.
v29-32: Everyone who has ever lived, even King David, has died and decayed. Only Jesus Christ has triumphed over death, and this proves that He is God in the flesh, with the power to save us from death.
v33: Jesus ascended to heaven and has now promised us the Holy Spirit.

c) The Achievement of the Resurrection: 2 Corinthians 5:17

1. New Life: Because Christ rose to life, we too are able to have new life when he delivers us (Romans 7:24-25a).

2. Resurrection Power: Ephesians 1:17-21: It is the resurrection power of Jesus that God makes available for His followers (it is “the power for us who believe”). Praise God! Sin so pervasive that we need nothing less than the transforming power of God, which is able to turn death into new life.

3. Heavenly Assurance: Philippians 3:20-21: Jesus rose to life in a glorious new body, a living prophecy of our heavenly exaltation. The resurrection is our assurance that heaven awaits us.

d) Conclusion: 1 Peter 1:3

The resurrection is an incredible message of "living hope."
The resurrection is the power behind our salvation (1 Peter 3:21-22).

For Discussion:

What makes the resurrection of Christ unique?
What hope does the resurrection of Christ give you?
How is the resurrection a guarantee of the eternal life awaiting God’s people?
Note: For a faith building and interesting evidences study of the Resurrection, please refer to True and Reasonable, chapter 9.

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