Good News Series # 5:

The Provision (Part 3)

Christ finished the WORK of salvation, thus, He is qualified to be the Savior

Jesus Christ is the only “way, the truth, and the life;” no one can come to God the Father except through Him (John 14:6). He is the only Savior. He alone can perfectly represent God to man and represent man to God for He alone is God-man. The Bible emphatically says, “there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1Timothy 2:5). Thus, there is no salvation in any other, “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Sinful man cannot come directly into the presence of a Holy God, this is so because He is a “just judge and is angry with the wicked everyday” (Psalm 7:11). God’s standard is holiness and “without holiness no one can see God” (Hebrews 12:14). This means only those who have never sinned and have perfectly followed all of God’s commands can be accepted before the presence of God and into His king- dom. This is bad news for no one is holy. “As it is written: ‘There is none right- eous, no, not one’” (Romans 3:11). However, the good news is, Christ’s righteous- ness can be credited to man.

Having Christ’s righteousness is the only way man can be accepted by God. There were three things Christ did to bring sinful man back to God by His righteousness.

I. Jesus Lived A Perfect Life For Our Perfection

A. Jesus is Perfect because He Never Sinned

1. What did Christ experience that is common to all men (Hebrews 4:15)?

Hebrews 4:15 - 'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. '

✔ Tempted

2. What did Christ experience that is not common to all men (Hebrews 4:15)?

Hebrews 4:15 - 'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. '

✔ Never sinned

B. Jesus is Perfect because He Obeyed All the Laws Perfectly

1. Why did Jesus Christ undergo water baptism (Matthew 3:13-15)?

Matthew 3:13-15 - ' Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. '

✔ To fulfill all righteousness

2. How did Christ glorify God the Father (John 17:4)?

John 17:4 - 'I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. '

✔ He finished all the work given to Him

C. The Importance of Christ’s Perfect Human Life

1. Christ’s perfect obedience serves as an e________ for the believers (1 Peter 2:21-22).

1 Peter 2:22-23 - 'He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. '

✔ Example

2. Christ’s perfect obedience is necessary for man’s salvation.

“The sinlessness of Christ does not merely serve as an example to us. It is fundamental and necessary for our salvation. Had Christ not been the “lamb without blemish” He not only could not have secured anyone’s salvation, but would have needed a savior Him- self. The multiple sins Christ bore on the cross required a perfect sacrifice. The sacrifice had to be made by one who was sinless.”

“It was by His sinlessness that Jesus qualified Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. However, our salvation requires two aspects of redemption. It was not only necessary for Jesus to be our substitute and receive the punishment due our sins; He also had to fulfill the law of God perfectly to secure the merit necessary for us to receive the blessings of God’s covenant. Jesus not only died as the perfect for the imperfect, the sinless for the sinful, but He lived the life of perfect obedience required for our salva- tion” (R.C. Sproul, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, p. 83).

3. What is the effect of Adam’s disobedience (Romans 5:19)?

Romans 5:19 - 'For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. '

✔ many were made sinners

4. What is the effect of Christ’s obedience (Romans 5:19)?

Romans 5:19 - 'For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. '

✔ many were made righteous

II. Jesus Died A Painful Death For Our Punishment

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3 NKJV).

A. At the Cross, Jesus Bore Man’s Sins

Man’s sins (past, present, and future) were counted as sins of Christ for He “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:4). Christ became as if He had been filled with sin His whole life and had never obeyed any law for the glory of God. He became a curse and condemnation for man (Galatians 3:13).

B. At the Cross, Jesus Absorbed the Infinite Wrath of God

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [wrath absorber] for our sins” (1 John 4:10 NKJV).

God treated Jesus as if He was a sinner and an enemy (Romans 5:8, 10); as if Christ was “you and me.” God abandoned Jesus and mercilessly poured out all His wrath on Him. He poured out His anger on Christ – up to the last drop. And Christ absorbed them all. “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4).

C. At the Cross, Jesus Fully Paid Man’s Penalty

1. What did Christ say at the cross, indicating He fully paid man’s sins (John 19:30)?

John 19:30 - 'When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. '

✔ It is finished

In saying “It is finished,” Jesus was referring to the completion of the provision for man’s salvation. He said this in triumph that His payment for our debts was handed over. And our records duly marked as “paid in full.” At the cross, He paid for every debt we owe. He even also bought every blessing here on earth and eternity for God’s glory and man’s gladness as implied in Galatians 6:14.

2. How many times Christ has to sacrifice Himself for man’s sin according to Hebrews 9:28?

'Hebrews 9:28 - so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.'

✔ once and for all

D. The Importance of Christ’s Substitutionary Death

1. Christ’s death is important for God’s glorification

a. The death of Christ on the cross demonstrated the l___ of God (Romans 5:8).

Romans 5:8 -'but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. '

✔ love

b. The death of Christ on the cross demonstrated the r________ of God (Romans 3:25-26).

Romans 3:25-26 - 'whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. '

✔ righteousness

God’s love is a righteous love; it is a love that cannot tolerate sin and go unpunished. Forgiveness and reconciliation to God is not without justice for sin was dully punished. Thus, the cross glorified both God’s love and righteousness and all His other attributes.

2. Christ’s death is important for man’s salvation

a. What would happen if Christ did not shed His blood at the cross based on Hebrews 9:22?

Hebrews 9:22 - 'Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. '

✔ there is no remission of sins

b. What is the result for counting Christ as sinful according to 2 Corinthians 5:21?

2 Corinthians 5:21 'For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.'

✔ Christ’s became the righteousness of those who believe in Him

c. Because Christ was condemned, what is the promise for those who believe in Christ according to Romans 8:1?

Romans 8:1 - 'There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. '

✔ There is no more condemnation to those who believe in Him

III. Jesus Resurrected From The Dead For Our Salvation

A. Christ died for our sins, buried and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He was seen by Cephas, the twelve, five hundred brethren, James and by the Apostles (1 Corinthians 15:5-7).

B. The Importance of Christ’s Triumphant Resurrection

1. Christ’s resurrection has ensured ___ for man (1 Peter 1:3).

1 Peter 1:3 - ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, '

✔ new birth

2. Christ’s resurrection has ensured man’s j___________ (Romans 4:25).

Romans 4:25 - 'who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.'

✔ justification

3. Christ’s resurrection has ensured the believers future resurrection (1 Corinthians 6:14; 4:14)

What would happen if Christ did not resurrect from the dead according to 1 Corinthians 15:13-19?

1 Corinthians 15:13-19 - ''But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. '

✔ preaching empty, faith empty, we are false witnesses, we are still in our sins, we are most pitiable

Christ rose again! He is victorious for our victory! He is God for only an infinite Being can survive the infinite wrath of God! Hallelujah! Worthy is the Lamb who was slain! Perfect Provision!

Gospel Reflection

What truth from this lesson struck you most?

2. Which idea magnifies the worth of God?

A) Christ died because God needs man or,

B) Christ died because man needs God?

3. If Jesus already fully paid all our sins, is there anything left for us to pay? Why?

4. Do you think baptism, church membership, sacraments, and good works are requirements for you to be saved from sin?

5. At least 70% of world’s present population do not believe on what Christ did for man—living perfectly, dying sacrificially and resurrecting triumphantly. If they die unrepentant, they will all be thrown to Hell. Do you care for them?

Personal Response

If you are not saved yet, there is no better time to repent and put your whole trust in Christ than today. If you are already saved, strive by the grace of God to live like

Christ and proclaim the glory of the cross to others. Live life for Christ, always abounding in His work, for He is forever alive (1 Corinthians15:58).

Suggested Readings: The Gospel of John, at least 1 chapter a day

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