What Has He Done For Me?
Notes
Transcript
Love
Love
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
A tour group in Jerusalem listened to the guide. "This church, St. Peter in Gallicantu, was built the site of the home of Caiaphas, the high priest at the time of Jesus' execution. The ancient stone stairway outside the church comes up from the Kidron Valley to the old city of Jerusalem— probably the same steps where the mob led Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane."
He paused for emphasis; "Recent excavations have revealed a dungeon or prison below the high priest's home where prisoners were kept before trial. Before you descend down into this deep stone pit, I will share two Scriptures." He opened his Bible to Isaiah 53:8 and read, "He was taken from prison and from judgment: ...for the transgression of my people was he stricken."
Without comment he turned to Psalm 88:4, 6: "l am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps."
As the tourists followed the guide down to the dungeon, one lady spoke, "l am confused. My mind is wrestling with new concepts. Could each stone step be leading me nearer to the place where my Lord was cruelly thrust that dark Thursday night?"
Reaching the depths of the stone pit, the guide pointed up to the ceiling to a hole cut out in solid stone just wide enough for the body of a man. Could this have been where the soldiers thrust their prisoners who awaited trial?
What were the thoughts going through the mind of Jesus, if He was thrust into this dark hole, left alone, awaiting His trials? Psalm tells us what might have been on His mind
7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah
In utter reject He might have cried out
8 You have put away my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an abomination to them; I am shut up, and I cannot get out;
Was this awful separation from His Father, this suffering in the place of all sinners, part of the plan of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world? (Revelation 13:8). We can try and contemplate what was going through Jesus’ mind during this time and when do, we look at it from our human point of view. Jesus was human but He had transcended and broke the barrier between us and God. In His sinless state He was one with God, a connection that we will never have in this sinful life. The weight of the sins upon Him closed that connection.
If you had stood on the rough stones of that pit, would your heart have overflowed with gratitude to a God so filled with everlasting love that He would offer His on our behalf for our salvation?
Preview
Preview
How Can We understand the character of God when Satan has successfully spent 6,000 years defaming Him? How can we plumb the mystery of an all-powerful God who has given to every created being the power Of choice in which He will never interfere? Our minds cannot fathom this unique blend of grace and justice—of a willingness to forgive and an unwillingness to clear the guilty. He will never force, but He stands at our heart's door with the plea, "If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him" (Revelation 3:20). When Adam and Eve sinned didn't God abandon the guilty couple to their choice, instead of persistently calling, "Where are you?" The answer is found only in the gift of grace seen in the person of Jesus. Isaiah says:
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
Points to Ponder
Points to Ponder
1. Consider the contrast between God's plea for sinners to accept His forgiveness and His wrath against rebellion and sin.
1. Consider the contrast between God's plea for sinners to accept His forgiveness and His wrath against rebellion and sin.
When God persistently calls, "Where are you?" what is it that draws us to Him? His love for us. When Christ reveals His love to us, we begin to see that the heavenly reward is of far more value than all our worldly possessions. If you’ve never truly experienced an earthly fathers love that grew from God’s love, it’s hard to understand what His love means to us. As we experience that love it changes our character, it changes how we look at life and the people around us. People see the difference. Some push away, but others become attracted as a moth to a flame.
The promise is sure:
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
2. Can we understand what exactly happened on the cross?
2. Can we understand what exactly happened on the cross?
Was it the torture and the suffering that caused the death of Jesus? Was it the spear that killed Him? No, Christ died of a broken heart. He died in despair because He sensed the removal of His Fathers presence. He felt totally alone while bearing God's wrath for all of humanity's sins. He feared that sin was so offensive to His Father that He could never hope to be reconciled to Him. In that dark hour, Jesus could not see beyond the tomb. Christ felt the anguish which the sinner will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race. Jesus did not die in defeat. He was fully conscious of the triumph that was His and was confident of His own resurrection.
3. Have you noticed that Christ spoke of the first death as sleep
3. Have you noticed that Christ spoke of the first death as sleep
11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”
Jesus had no fear of physical pain or the first death. He explained what we are to fear in Matthew 10:28:
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Yes, Christ felt the black despair that sinners will feel when God's wrath is poured out upon them. He spoke of this in the Garden of Gethsemane,
38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
4. Why did the Father permit the Son to suffer for the guilt of sins He hadn't committed?
4. Why did the Father permit the Son to suffer for the guilt of sins He hadn't committed?
In ages past the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit formulated a plan to grant pardon to repentant sinners while still upholding the justice of God's law. This hope of eternal life was promised "before the world began" (Titus 1:2). The plan and the promise involved Christ offering Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
In other words, Christ's sacrifice took away the barrier between God and sinful human beings. Jesus fully bore God's wrath over sin. He turned away God's wrath against sin and bore our punishment in His own body.
Nuts and Bolts
Nuts and Bolts
1. God's character reveals a blend of grace and justice.
1. God's character reveals a blend of grace and justice.
a. How does God show He still loves His backsliding children?
a. How does God show He still loves His backsliding children?
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not remain angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the Lord your God, And have scattered your charms To alien deities under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord. 14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
He tells us to return to Him. It’s a simple concept, not a hard one. “I’m married to you and I will take you” He prefers to have us with Him. What do we need to do? Acknowledge our sins. Ask for and claim His mercy.
b. How mercifully does God plead with sinners?
b. How mercifully does God plead with sinners?
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
Abundantly pardon is another way of saying that God will excessively forgive errors that have arisen if we but ask and mean it.
2. What is God's reaction to continued rejection of His revealed will?
2. What is God's reaction to continued rejection of His revealed will?
16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.
There will be no one to bail us out. No one to go to bat for us. Satan definitely isn’t going to do it. Jesus, on the other hand, has set Himself up to be our advocate if we acknowledge Him and ask for His assistance.
3. What precious gifts has God given us because of Christ?
3. What precious gifts has God given us because of Christ?
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
What did He give us: wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.
4. Even when we were God's enemies, what did He do through the death of His Son?
4. Even when we were God's enemies, what did He do through the death of His Son?
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
What does it mean to be reconciled? It means to “exchange”, to change our relationship. Eventually He will take us home since we are covered by His blood, the requirement for for our sinful nature.
5. What does the Bible call God's plan to restore us to Him?
5. What does the Bible call God's plan to restore us to Him?
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Reconciliation or an exchange, a change from enmity or animosity to friendship.
6. We can choose to accept Christ's sacrifice and receive forgiveness or reject it and experience God's wrath.
6. We can choose to accept Christ's sacrifice and receive forgiveness or reject it and experience God's wrath.
36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
7. Because Christ's sacrifice took away the barrier between God and sinner, how does God feel about that sacrifice?
7. Because Christ's sacrifice took away the barrier between God and sinner, how does God feel about that sacrifice?
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Christ showed His love by giving Himself, and we cannot do any less if we love Him. The strength of Christ’s love was so great that He voluntarily offered Himself in sacrifice.
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
8. How do the Scriptures show that the sins we’ve committed have been transferred to our sin-bearer, Jesus
8. How do the Scriptures show that the sins we’ve committed have been transferred to our sin-bearer, Jesus
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
9. What did Christ's death or ransom accomplish?
9. What did Christ's death or ransom accomplish?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Jesus bought us with His own life. In doing this He gave us the ability to leave Satan and this world behind. We are His. If we claim Jesus, then our lives and our characters will reflect His.
10. Adam's rebellion brought sin and death. How did Christ reverse the trend?
10. Adam's rebellion brought sin and death. How did Christ reverse the trend?
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
11. Christ's life and death bridged the gap between us and God. What can His perfect life do for us?
11. Christ's life and death bridged the gap between us and God. What can His perfect life do for us?
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
When we submit to Jesus, our heart is united with His heart, our will is merged in His will, our mind and thoughts become one with His. Through His power, we live His life! When God looks at us, He sees Jesus' perfect righteousness, not our sin.
12. How does Christ's resurrection give meaning to His life and death?
12. How does Christ's resurrection give meaning to His life and death?
14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
But since Christ is risen, our faith has a solid basis. It is rooted in eternity.
Words to Remember
Words to Remember
Atonement: Reconciliation between God and sinners accomplished through the sacrifice of Christ.
Reconciliation: Restoration of relationship between God and humans on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross.
Propitiation: Expiation or purging of sin through Christ's sacrifice.
Substitution: Christ dying on behalf of the sinner.
Vicarious: Sinless Christ taking the place of the sinner and dying for the latter. Ransom: Price paid for the redemption of sinners.
The Difference Between
The Difference Between
The first death: An unconscious sleep from which all will awake when Jesus resurrects them— the saved at the first resurrection; the wicked at the second. Jesus referred to this as sleep.
The second death: The final punishment and destruction of unrepentant sinners.
I Truly Believe
I Truly Believe
Place a check in the box preceding the statements that express your response to this study topic.
I thank God for Christ who suffered and died for me.
I'm so happy Jesus rose from the grave and is now in heaven as my Friend and Mediator.
By God's grace I claim Christ's victory over sin.
I long to be in heaven with Jesus, along with the redeemed, to worship Him as my Lord and King.