The Gospel Of Christ And The Problem Of Sin
The Gospel's Answer To The "Result" Of Sin - Part One
(The Gift Of Eternal Life)
The purpose in this series of lessons has been to help us understand and appreciate how the
gospel of Christ is indeed God's power to save us - Ro 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith." (ASV) We have examined various aspects of the problem of sin, and then how the gospel of Christ with its commands and promises effectively addresses the problem of sin. To summarize thus far...
When the command to believe is obeyed, the love of sin is addressed. When the command to repent is obeyed, the practice of sin is dealt with. When the command to be baptized is submitted to, the state of sin is changed. When we have obeyed these commands, we receive wonderful promises...
Remission of sins , which removes the guilt of sin. The gift of the Holy Spirit, which enables us to deal with the power of sin. In this final lesson, we shall examine another promise which deals with the result of sin: the promise of eternal life - Ro 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (ASV)
In the first lesson, we touched briefly on the result of sin; we shall now examine it more carefully by looking at the "result" of sin. One result of sin is "spiritual death". The death referred to by God when He warned Adam & Eve - Gen 2:15-17 "The LORD God put the man in the Garden of Eden to take care of it and to look after it. But the LORD told him, "You may eat fruit from any tree in the garden, except the one that has the power to let you know the difference between right and wrong. If you eat any fruit from that tree, you will die before the day is over!"’ Note: "...for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (KJV) They did not die "physically" in the day they ate of the forbidden fruit, but they did die "spiritually" in that day. "Spiritual" death is "separation from God". Death of any sort involves the idea of "separation". Just as physical death is the separation of body and spirit - Ja 2:26 "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead." (ASV) "Spiritual" death is what occurs when all sin - Ro 5:12 "Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die." It occurs when we reach that "age of accountability" where we know the difference between right and wrong, and then violate God's law - Ro 7:9 "Before I knew about the Law, I was alive. But as soon as I heard that command, sin came to life," This is the "death" referred to in Ep 2:1-3 "In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else." All who are outside of Christ are "dead in sin" Those who are "dead in sin" are separated from God and all the blessings that would otherwise come from a union with Him - Isa 59:1-2 "The LORD hasn't lost his powerful strength; he can still hear and answer prayers. Your sins are the roadblock between you and your God. That's why he doesn't answer your prayers or let you see his face."
Another result of sin is "physical death." Because of their sin, Adam and Even lost access to the "tree of life" - Gen 3:22-24 "The LORD said, "These people now know the difference between right and wrong, just as we do. But they must not be allowed to eat fruit from the tree that lets them live forever." So the LORD God sent them out of the Garden of Eden, where they would have to work the ground from which the man had been made. Then God put winged creatures at the entrance to the garden and a flaming, flashing sword to guard the way to the life-giving tree." Because access to the "tree of life" was lost, all mankind is subject to "physical" death
- "in Adam all die" (1 Co 15:22a)
The final result of sin is the "second death". This death is referred to in Re 21:8 "But I will tell you what will happen to cowards and to everyone who is unfaithful or dirty-minded or who murders or is sexually immoral or uses witchcraft or worships idols or tells lies. They will be thrown into that lake of fire and burning sulfur. This is the second death." This "death" involves eternal separation from God! This "death" Jesus often spoke of and warned about - Mt 10:28 "Don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but they cannot harm your soul. Instead, you should fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul in hell."; 25:41-46 "Then the king will say to those on his left, "Get away from me! You are under God's curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels! I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink. I was a stranger, but you did not welcome me, and I was naked, but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I was sick and in jail, but you did not take care of me." Then the people will ask, "Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in jail?" The king will say to them, "Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me." Then Jesus said, "Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life."’ Truly, in more than one sense, "the wages of sin is death" (Ro 6:23); but the same can be said about "the gift of eternal life"!
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "Power" Of Sin - Part Three
Having looked at the power of sin and the wonderful promise the gospel gives us through the Holy Spirit in our last lesson, let’s now look at how the Christian has real "power" to deal with sin! Paul wanted the Ephesians to appreciate this "power" - Ep 1:19-20 "I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven." Notice: it is according to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. By what power was Jesus' resurrection accomplished? "...declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." - Ro 1:4 "...if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." - Ro 8:11. By the power of the Spirit of God! Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be strengthened inwardly through this "power" or "might" (i.e., the Spirit of God) - Ep 3:16 "God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers" How great is this "might" or "power" in us? Note carefully Ep 3:20, where it is stated that God is:
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, " "able to do" "exceedingly" "abundantly" "above all that we ask or think" "according to the power that works in us"! This should make us appreciate more the statement of Paul later in his letter to the Ephesians: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." - Ep 6:10 (KJV) The source of that strength and mighty power the Lord provides is the indwelling Spirit in the lives of Christians!
Consider, therefore the implications of the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the Christian this wonderful promise should serve as motivation not to sin. For you are a "temple" of the Holy Spirit - 1 Co 6:18-20 "You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God." When you sin, you deeply offend the Spirit! - Ep 4:30 "Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins."; He 10:26-29 "No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth. They are God's enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire. If two or more witnesses accused someone of breaking the Law of Moses, that person could be put to death. But it is much worse to dishonor God's Son and to disgrace the blood of the promise that made us holy. And it is just as bad to insult the Holy Spirit, who shows us mercy." This wonderful promise should provide encouragement in your fight against sin. You are not alone in your efforts! - Ph 2:12-13 "My dear friends, you always obeyed when I was with you. Now that I am away, you should obey even more. So work with fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved. God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him." You have whatever power you need to overcome the sins you face! - Ph 4:13 "Christ gives me the strength to face anything."; 1 Jn 4:4 "Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God's Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world."; 1 Co 10:13 "You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations." This does not mean that we can become "sinless" - 1 Jn 1:8 "If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts." For we do not have perfect knowledge of God's will, and can therefore be guilty of "sins of ignorance". But it does mean we can overcome those sins of which we are aware! This wonderful promise means we have no excuse for our sins. We cannot say, "I can't help myself". We cannot say, "The devil made me do it". If we sin, it is because we have chosen to refuse the aid God has given us!
What are the implications for the non-Christian? Don't put off obeying the gospel until you have "reformed yourself". Many people mistakenly think that they cannot become a Christian until they overcome all their bad "habits". Yet Romans 7 demonstrates the futility of trying to do this without Christ! God will take you "as you are"... Provided you will:
Believe (trust) in His Son Jesus (that he died for your sins) - 1 Co 15:1-3
Repent of your sins (i.e., have a change of mind in which you decide to turn from your sins and start living for God) - Ac 17:30-31
Be baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins (an immersion in water as commanded by Christ and His apostles) - Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16;Ac 2:38; 10:48
Then God by His grace will:
Forgive you of your sins (release you from the guilt of sin).
Give you the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who through His indwelling will help you "reform" as you heed the Word of God (free you from the power of sin).
Don't you desire these wonderful promises? Freedom from the guilt of sin? Freedom from the power of sin? By the grace of God, when you obey the gospel you receive...
Not only "the remission of sins" to deal with your past
But "the gift of the Holy Spirit" to help with your future!
To those who desire to accept these gracious provisions of God, I can only tell you to do the same thing the apostle Peter told the people of his day:
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." -- Ac 2:38-39
To receive the promises of the gospel, you must obey the commands of the gospel! Are you ready to do that. If so please contact me.
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, " "able to do" "exceedingly" "abundantly" "above all that we ask or think" "according to the power that works in us"! This should make us appreciate more the statement of Paul later in his letter to the Ephesians: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." - Ep 6:10 (KJV) The source of that strength and mighty power the Lord provides is the indwelling Spirit in the lives of Christians!
Consider, therefore the implications of the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the Christian this wonderful promise should serve as motivation not to sin. For you are a "temple" of the Holy Spirit - 1 Co 6:18-20 "You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God." When you sin, you deeply offend the Spirit! - Ep 4:30 "Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins."; He 10:26-29 "No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth. They are God's enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire. If two or more witnesses accused someone of breaking the Law of Moses, that person could be put to death. But it is much worse to dishonor God's Son and to disgrace the blood of the promise that made us holy. And it is just as bad to insult the Holy Spirit, who shows us mercy." This wonderful promise should provide encouragement in your fight against sin. You are not alone in your efforts! - Ph 2:12-13 "My dear friends, you always obeyed when I was with you. Now that I am away, you should obey even more. So work with fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved. God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him." You have whatever power you need to overcome the sins you face! - Ph 4:13 "Christ gives me the strength to face anything."; 1 Jn 4:4 "Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God's Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world."; 1 Co 10:13 "You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations." This does not mean that we can become "sinless" - 1 Jn 1:8 "If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts." For we do not have perfect knowledge of God's will, and can therefore be guilty of "sins of ignorance". But it does mean we can overcome those sins of which we are aware! This wonderful promise means we have no excuse for our sins. We cannot say, "I can't help myself". We cannot say, "The devil made me do it". If we sin, it is because we have chosen to refuse the aid God has given us!
What are the implications for the non-Christian? Don't put off obeying the gospel until you have "reformed yourself". Many people mistakenly think that they cannot become a Christian until they overcome all their bad "habits". Yet Romans 7 demonstrates the futility of trying to do this without Christ! God will take you "as you are"... Provided you will:
Believe (trust) in His Son Jesus (that he died for your sins) - 1 Co 15:1-3
Repent of your sins (i.e., have a change of mind in which you decide to turn from your sins and start living for God) - Ac 17:30-31
Be baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins (an immersion in water as commanded by Christ and His apostles) - Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16;Ac 2:38; 10:48
Then God by His grace will:
Forgive you of your sins (release you from the guilt of sin).
Give you the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who through His indwelling will help you "reform" as you heed the Word of God (free you from the power of sin).
Don't you desire these wonderful promises? Freedom from the guilt of sin? Freedom from the power of sin? By the grace of God, when you obey the gospel you receive...
Not only "the remission of sins" to deal with your past
But "the gift of the Holy Spirit" to help with your future!
To those who desire to accept these gracious provisions of God, I can only tell you to do the same thing the apostle Peter told the people of his day:
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." -- Ac 2:38-39
To receive the promises of the gospel, you must obey the commands of the gospel! Are you ready to do that. If so please contact me.
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
Sunday, March 19, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "Power" Of Sin - Part Two
The Gospel Of Christ And The Problem Of Sin
The Gospel's Answer To The "Power" Of Sin - Part Two
(The Gift Of The Holy Spirit)
Having looked at the power of sin in our last lesson we will now look at what the gospel of Christ offers to all who obey its commands, a wonderful promise to deal with the power of sin in our lives; the gift of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit was promised to those who believe in Jesus - Jn 7:38-39 "Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say." Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone that had faith in him. The Spirit had not yet been given to anyone, since Jesus had not yet been given his full glory." The gift of the Holy Spirit was promised to those who repent and are baptized - Ac 2:38-39 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live."’ The gift of the Holy Spirit was promised to those who obey God - Ac 5:32 "We are here to tell you about all this, and so is the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to everyone who obeys God."
Those who receive this promise are "the temple of God" (collectively, as the church) - 1 Co 3:16-17 "All of you surely know that you are God's temple and that his Spirit lives in you. Together you are God's holy temple, and God will destroy anyone who destroys his temple." Those who receive this promise are"the temple of the Holy Spirit" (individually, in our bodies) - 1 Co 6:19 "You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own." Those who receive this promise have the "Spirit of God (who) dwells in you" - Ro 8:9-11 "If we follow our desires, we cannot please God. You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God's Spirit, who lives in you. People who don't have the Spirit of Christ in them don't belong to him. But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. Yet God raised Jesus to life! God's Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit."
We can now deal with the power of sin. With the Spirit's aid, Christians no longer need to be dominated by the power of sin! Christians are to "put to death the deeds of the body" - Ro 8:12-13 "My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires."; Co 3:5-11 "You died, which means that your life is hidden with Christ, who sits beside God. Christ gives meaning to your life, and when he appears, you will also appear with him in glory. Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols. God is angry with people who disobey him by doing these things. And that is exactly what you did, when you lived among people who behaved in this way. But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits. Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better. It doesn't matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."
The Holy Spirit helps us through His indwelling! "The Holy Spirit by its indwelling strengthens the human spirit to enable it to control the flesh." (David Lipscomb)
"The Christian's being successfully under the control of his own spirit is conditional, the condition being that the Holy Spirit shall dwell in him and help him." (Moses Lard)
"To them (i.e., Christians) the Spirit is given as a helper of their weakness...and by its aid they overcome the flesh." (B.W. Johnson)
"Internally, the Spirit aids by ministering strength and comfort to the disciple in his effort to conform to the revealed truth and will of God." (J.W. McGarvey)
Compare this with the condition we saw described in Romans 7. In chapter 7, the man was described as in "captivity" to the law of sin which is in his members - Ro 7:23 "But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do." But according to chapter 8, in Christ, one is "set free" from this law of sin and death - Ro 8:2 "The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you free from sin and death." By the help of the Spirit, one is no longer a "debtor" - Ro 8:12-13 "My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires."
Now that we know where Christians obtain the power to overcome sin through the gospel we will look at how the Christian has real "power" to deal with sin in the next portion of this lesson.
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Gospel's Answer To The "Power" Of Sin - Part Two
(The Gift Of The Holy Spirit)
Having looked at the power of sin in our last lesson we will now look at what the gospel of Christ offers to all who obey its commands, a wonderful promise to deal with the power of sin in our lives; the gift of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit was promised to those who believe in Jesus - Jn 7:38-39 "Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say." Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone that had faith in him. The Spirit had not yet been given to anyone, since Jesus had not yet been given his full glory." The gift of the Holy Spirit was promised to those who repent and are baptized - Ac 2:38-39 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live."’ The gift of the Holy Spirit was promised to those who obey God - Ac 5:32 "We are here to tell you about all this, and so is the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to everyone who obeys God."
Those who receive this promise are "the temple of God" (collectively, as the church) - 1 Co 3:16-17 "All of you surely know that you are God's temple and that his Spirit lives in you. Together you are God's holy temple, and God will destroy anyone who destroys his temple." Those who receive this promise are"the temple of the Holy Spirit" (individually, in our bodies) - 1 Co 6:19 "You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own." Those who receive this promise have the "Spirit of God (who) dwells in you" - Ro 8:9-11 "If we follow our desires, we cannot please God. You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God's Spirit, who lives in you. People who don't have the Spirit of Christ in them don't belong to him. But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. Yet God raised Jesus to life! God's Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit."
We can now deal with the power of sin. With the Spirit's aid, Christians no longer need to be dominated by the power of sin! Christians are to "put to death the deeds of the body" - Ro 8:12-13 "My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires."; Co 3:5-11 "You died, which means that your life is hidden with Christ, who sits beside God. Christ gives meaning to your life, and when he appears, you will also appear with him in glory. Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols. God is angry with people who disobey him by doing these things. And that is exactly what you did, when you lived among people who behaved in this way. But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits. Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better. It doesn't matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."
The Holy Spirit helps us through His indwelling! "The Holy Spirit by its indwelling strengthens the human spirit to enable it to control the flesh." (David Lipscomb)
"The Christian's being successfully under the control of his own spirit is conditional, the condition being that the Holy Spirit shall dwell in him and help him." (Moses Lard)
"To them (i.e., Christians) the Spirit is given as a helper of their weakness...and by its aid they overcome the flesh." (B.W. Johnson)
"Internally, the Spirit aids by ministering strength and comfort to the disciple in his effort to conform to the revealed truth and will of God." (J.W. McGarvey)
Compare this with the condition we saw described in Romans 7. In chapter 7, the man was described as in "captivity" to the law of sin which is in his members - Ro 7:23 "But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do." But according to chapter 8, in Christ, one is "set free" from this law of sin and death - Ro 8:2 "The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you free from sin and death." By the help of the Spirit, one is no longer a "debtor" - Ro 8:12-13 "My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires."
Now that we know where Christians obtain the power to overcome sin through the gospel we will look at how the Christian has real "power" to deal with sin in the next portion of this lesson.
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, March 12, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "Power" Of Sin - Part One
The Gospel Of Christ And The Problem Of Sin
The Gospel's Answer To The "Power" Of Sin
(The Gift Of The Holy Spirit)
We are continuing to examine how the gospel saves us from the problem of sin. We have seen that the commands of the gospel effectively deal with various aspects of sin:
The command to believe when obeyed solves the problem of the love of sin
The command to repent when obeyed solves the problem of the practice of sin
The command to be baptized when obeyed solves the problem of the state of sin
And we have also begun to notice that the promises in the gospel relate to different aspects of sin's problem; e.g., the promise of the remission of sins takes care of the guilt of sin. In this lesson, we shall examine another promise given to those who obey the gospel of Christ: the gift of the Holy Spirit!
Before we can really appreciate the part the Holy Spirit plays in the life of the Christian, we need to understand the power of sin. Sin’s power is vividly described by Paul. Paul describes the condition of one under the power of sin - Ro 7:14-25. I understand Paul to be describing the dilemma of one outside of Christ even though he speaks in the first person. From the context I believe he is demonstrating how the Law of Moses was inadequate to deal with the sin problem - compare Ro 7:7-14 with Ro 8:1-4. Others feel that he is describing the inner warfare that goes on inside of everyone, including Christians (which is certainly taught in Ga 5:16-17). But the reason I take the view that I do is seen as we continue on. Notice that the person in this text is described as:
"sold under sin" (14) "We know that the Law is spiritual. But I am merely a human, and I have been sold as a slave to sin."; having "sin that dwells in me" (17,20) "So I am not the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them." "And so, if I don't do what I know is right, I am no longer the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them."; in "captivity to the law of sin which is in my members" (23) "But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do."; "wretched man that I am" (24) "What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die?"; in a "body of death" (24). Is this the condition of one in Christ? Not in light of what Paul goes on to say in chapter 8.
This is the power of sin and the condition of all who do not have the help of God! Sin’s power affects everyone, for "All" have sinned - Ro 3:23 "All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.". Even Christians must confess they often sin - 1 Jn 1:8 "If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts.", 10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts." For it continues to play a strong role in our lives. It prompts the flesh to wage war against the soul - 1 Pe 2:11 "Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth. So I beg you not to surrender to those desires that fight against you." Sin’s power tries to take advantage of our desires, and if it does, can lead to spiritual death - Ja 1:13-15 "Don't blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn't use evil to tempt others. We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead." If not controlled, sin will continue to enslave us! - cf. Jn 8:34 "Jesus replied: I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin!"
Now that we have looked at the power of sin we will next look at the gospel’s answer to overcoming this power. We will look at the wonderful promise the gospel gives us to deal with the power of sin in our lives; the gift of the Holy Spirit, in our next portion of this lesson.
The Gospel's Answer To The "Power" Of Sin
(The Gift Of The Holy Spirit)
We are continuing to examine how the gospel saves us from the problem of sin. We have seen that the commands of the gospel effectively deal with various aspects of sin:
The command to believe when obeyed solves the problem of the love of sin
The command to repent when obeyed solves the problem of the practice of sin
The command to be baptized when obeyed solves the problem of the state of sin
And we have also begun to notice that the promises in the gospel relate to different aspects of sin's problem; e.g., the promise of the remission of sins takes care of the guilt of sin. In this lesson, we shall examine another promise given to those who obey the gospel of Christ: the gift of the Holy Spirit!
Before we can really appreciate the part the Holy Spirit plays in the life of the Christian, we need to understand the power of sin. Sin’s power is vividly described by Paul. Paul describes the condition of one under the power of sin - Ro 7:14-25. I understand Paul to be describing the dilemma of one outside of Christ even though he speaks in the first person. From the context I believe he is demonstrating how the Law of Moses was inadequate to deal with the sin problem - compare Ro 7:7-14 with Ro 8:1-4. Others feel that he is describing the inner warfare that goes on inside of everyone, including Christians (which is certainly taught in Ga 5:16-17). But the reason I take the view that I do is seen as we continue on. Notice that the person in this text is described as:
"sold under sin" (14) "We know that the Law is spiritual. But I am merely a human, and I have been sold as a slave to sin."; having "sin that dwells in me" (17,20) "So I am not the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them." "And so, if I don't do what I know is right, I am no longer the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them."; in "captivity to the law of sin which is in my members" (23) "But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do."; "wretched man that I am" (24) "What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die?"; in a "body of death" (24). Is this the condition of one in Christ? Not in light of what Paul goes on to say in chapter 8.
This is the power of sin and the condition of all who do not have the help of God! Sin’s power affects everyone, for "All" have sinned - Ro 3:23 "All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.". Even Christians must confess they often sin - 1 Jn 1:8 "If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts.", 10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts." For it continues to play a strong role in our lives. It prompts the flesh to wage war against the soul - 1 Pe 2:11 "Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth. So I beg you not to surrender to those desires that fight against you." Sin’s power tries to take advantage of our desires, and if it does, can lead to spiritual death - Ja 1:13-15 "Don't blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn't use evil to tempt others. We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead." If not controlled, sin will continue to enslave us! - cf. Jn 8:34 "Jesus replied: I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin!"
Now that we have looked at the power of sin we will next look at the gospel’s answer to overcoming this power. We will look at the wonderful promise the gospel gives us to deal with the power of sin in our lives; the gift of the Holy Spirit, in our next portion of this lesson.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "Guilt" Of Sin - Part Two
The Gospel's Answer To The "Guilt" Of Sin - Part Two
(The Remission Of Sins)
In our last lesson we looked primarily at "legal" guilt. But, for many there is also the emotional guilt. But this is really only a side effect of the "legal" guilt of sin. Though it does include some terrible consequences: anxiety, depression, fear, and doubt. "There is no peace, saith the LORD, for the wicked." - Isa 48:22. Some may not experience the emotional consequence of "legal" guilt because they have rejected their conscience to the point of it being "seared" - 1 Ti 1:19-20 "You will be faithful and have a clear conscience. Some people have made a mess of their faith because they didn't listen to their consciences. Two of them are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I have given these men over to the power of Satan, so they will learn not to oppose God."; 4:1-2 "God's Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons. They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling." Such people have "legal guilt", nonetheless!
Yet the gospel of Christ declares that when we obey its commands, then one of the promises we receive is the remission of sins , which effectively deals with the guilt of sin. The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of our sins - Mt 26:28 "This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven." Remission of sins is to be preached to all nations - Lk 24:45-48 "Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened." Peter told people they could receive remission of sins in the name of Jesus, by believing in Jesus - Ac 10:42-43 "God told us to announce clearly to the people that Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the dead. Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name." By repenting and being baptized in His name - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."
What does this "remission of sins" involve...? The word remission means "to remit", and involves a dismissal, release. A key synonym often used in some translations is the word "forgiveness". Other terms and metaphors found in the Bible to describe the "remission" of sins:
"taken away" - Jn 1:29; Ro 11:27
"blotted out" - Ac 3:19
"washed away" - Ac 22:16
"covered" - Ro 4:7
"not imputed" - Ro 4:8
"set free" - Ro 6:17-18
"purged" - He 1:3; 2 Pe 1:9
"remembered no more" - He 8:12
All of these signifying the removal of the guilt of sin from the sinner! A legal term used to describe a sinner whose sins have been so forgiven is the word "justified". Which means "not guilty" - 1 Co 6:11 "Some of you used to be like that. But now the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of God's Spirit have washed you and made you holy and acceptable to God."
Not just the removal of "legal guilt", but the removal of "emotional guilt." We can now have a perfect conscience. Something the Old Law could not do! - cf. He 9:8-10 "All of this is the Holy Spirit's way of saying that no one could enter the most holy place while the tent was still the place of worship. This also has a meaning for today. It shows that we cannot make our consciences clear by offering gifts and sacrifices. These rules are merely about such things as eating and drinking and ceremonies for washing ourselves. And rules about physical things will last only until the time comes to change them for something better."; 10:1-4 "The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year. If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next." But by the blood of Christ, it is possible to have this "perfect" conscience - He 9:14 "But Christ was sinless, and he offered himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God. That's why his blood is much more powerful and makes our consciences clear. Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death."; 10:22 "So let's come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let's keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water." A perfect conscience in the sense that we have real reasons not to feel guilty for our sins: they are totally forgiven by the blood of Christ! Therefore, there is no need to have fear, doubt, anxiety, or depression over our spiritual condition. Instead, we can have peace and joy through the justification that comes by grace - Ro 5:1-2 "By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. Christ has also introduced us to God's undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God." This is the promise given to those who obey the gospel that effectively deals with the problem of the guilt of sin.Your sins are remitted! You are released from the guilt of your sins! From your legal guilt for breaking God's law. From your emotional guilt burdening your sensitive conscience. Again, how does one receive this promise of "remission of sins"? By obeying the commands of the gospel. Believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, who died for your sins!
Repent of your sins, deciding in your mind to turn from sin and turn to God. Be baptized into Jesus Christ by the simple act of immersion in water in which by God's grace you are raised to walk in newness of life! Note how the last command (baptism) in particular answers the problem of guilt. First, the legal guilt - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."; 22:16
"What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord."’ Also, the emotional guilt - 1 Pe 3:20-21 "They had disobeyed God while Noah was building the boat, but God had been patient with them. Eight people went into that boat and were brought safely through the flood. Those flood waters were like baptism that now saves you.
But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death." (The "answer of a good conscience", or as the NASV puts it, "an appeal to God for a good conscience") Have you accepted the gospel's promise of remission of sins to deal with the guilt of your sins, by submitting to the commands of the gospel...? If you wish to do so please contact me at jnlnewsted@nts-online.net
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(The Remission Of Sins)
In our last lesson we looked primarily at "legal" guilt. But, for many there is also the emotional guilt. But this is really only a side effect of the "legal" guilt of sin. Though it does include some terrible consequences: anxiety, depression, fear, and doubt. "There is no peace, saith the LORD, for the wicked." - Isa 48:22. Some may not experience the emotional consequence of "legal" guilt because they have rejected their conscience to the point of it being "seared" - 1 Ti 1:19-20 "You will be faithful and have a clear conscience. Some people have made a mess of their faith because they didn't listen to their consciences. Two of them are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I have given these men over to the power of Satan, so they will learn not to oppose God."; 4:1-2 "God's Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons. They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling." Such people have "legal guilt", nonetheless!
Yet the gospel of Christ declares that when we obey its commands, then one of the promises we receive is the remission of sins , which effectively deals with the guilt of sin. The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of our sins - Mt 26:28 "This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven." Remission of sins is to be preached to all nations - Lk 24:45-48 "Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened." Peter told people they could receive remission of sins in the name of Jesus, by believing in Jesus - Ac 10:42-43 "God told us to announce clearly to the people that Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the dead. Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name." By repenting and being baptized in His name - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."
What does this "remission of sins" involve...? The word remission means "to remit", and involves a dismissal, release. A key synonym often used in some translations is the word "forgiveness". Other terms and metaphors found in the Bible to describe the "remission" of sins:
"taken away" - Jn 1:29; Ro 11:27
"blotted out" - Ac 3:19
"washed away" - Ac 22:16
"covered" - Ro 4:7
"not imputed" - Ro 4:8
"set free" - Ro 6:17-18
"purged" - He 1:3; 2 Pe 1:9
"remembered no more" - He 8:12
All of these signifying the removal of the guilt of sin from the sinner! A legal term used to describe a sinner whose sins have been so forgiven is the word "justified". Which means "not guilty" - 1 Co 6:11 "Some of you used to be like that. But now the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of God's Spirit have washed you and made you holy and acceptable to God."
Not just the removal of "legal guilt", but the removal of "emotional guilt." We can now have a perfect conscience. Something the Old Law could not do! - cf. He 9:8-10 "All of this is the Holy Spirit's way of saying that no one could enter the most holy place while the tent was still the place of worship. This also has a meaning for today. It shows that we cannot make our consciences clear by offering gifts and sacrifices. These rules are merely about such things as eating and drinking and ceremonies for washing ourselves. And rules about physical things will last only until the time comes to change them for something better."; 10:1-4 "The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year. If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next." But by the blood of Christ, it is possible to have this "perfect" conscience - He 9:14 "But Christ was sinless, and he offered himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God. That's why his blood is much more powerful and makes our consciences clear. Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death."; 10:22 "So let's come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let's keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water." A perfect conscience in the sense that we have real reasons not to feel guilty for our sins: they are totally forgiven by the blood of Christ! Therefore, there is no need to have fear, doubt, anxiety, or depression over our spiritual condition. Instead, we can have peace and joy through the justification that comes by grace - Ro 5:1-2 "By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. Christ has also introduced us to God's undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God." This is the promise given to those who obey the gospel that effectively deals with the problem of the guilt of sin.Your sins are remitted! You are released from the guilt of your sins! From your legal guilt for breaking God's law. From your emotional guilt burdening your sensitive conscience. Again, how does one receive this promise of "remission of sins"? By obeying the commands of the gospel. Believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, who died for your sins!
Repent of your sins, deciding in your mind to turn from sin and turn to God. Be baptized into Jesus Christ by the simple act of immersion in water in which by God's grace you are raised to walk in newness of life! Note how the last command (baptism) in particular answers the problem of guilt. First, the legal guilt - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."; 22:16
"What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord."’ Also, the emotional guilt - 1 Pe 3:20-21 "They had disobeyed God while Noah was building the boat, but God had been patient with them. Eight people went into that boat and were brought safely through the flood. Those flood waters were like baptism that now saves you.
But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death." (The "answer of a good conscience", or as the NASV puts it, "an appeal to God for a good conscience") Have you accepted the gospel's promise of remission of sins to deal with the guilt of your sins, by submitting to the commands of the gospel...? If you wish to do so please contact me at jnlnewsted@nts-online.net
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Gospel's Answer To The "Guilt" Of Sin - Part Two
The Gospel's Answer To The "Guilt" Of Sin - Part Two
(The Remission Of Sins)
In our last lesson we looked primarily at "legal" guilt. But, for many there is also the emotional guilt. But this is really only a side effect of the "legal" guilt of sin. Though it does include some terrible consequences: anxiety, depression, fear, and doubt. "There is no peace, saith the LORD, for the wicked." - Isa 48:22. Some may not experience the emotional consequence of "legal" guilt because they have rejected their conscience to the point of it being "seared" - 1 Ti 1:19-20 "You will be faithful and have a clear conscience. Some people have made a mess of their faith because they didn't listen to their consciences. Two of them are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I have given these men over to the power of Satan, so they will learn not to oppose God."; 4:1-2 "God's Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons. They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling." Such people have "legal guilt", nonetheless!
Yet the gospel of Christ declares that when we obey its commands, then one of the promises we receive is the remission of sins , which effectively deals with the guilt of sin. The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of our sins - Mt 26:28 "This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven." Remission of sins is to be preached to all nations - Lk 24:45-48 "Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened." Peter told people they could receive remission of sins in the name of Jesus, by believing in Jesus - Ac 10:42-43 "God told us to announce clearly to the people that Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the dead. Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name." By repenting and being baptized in His name - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."
What does this "remission of sins" involve...? The word remission means "to remit", and involves a dismissal, release. A key synonym often used in some translations is the word "forgiveness". Other terms and metaphors found in the Bible to describe the "remission" of sins:
"taken away" - Jn 1:29; Ro 11:27
"blotted out" - Ac 3:19
"washed away" - Ac 22:16
"covered" - Ro 4:7
"not imputed" - Ro 4:8
"set free" - Ro 6:17-18
"purged" - He 1:3; 2 Pe 1:9
"remembered no more" - He 8:12
All of these signifying the removal of the guilt of sin from the sinner! A legal term used to describe a sinner whose sins have been so forgiven is the word "justified". Which means "not guilty" - 1 Co 6:11 "Some of you used to be like that. But now the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of God's Spirit have washed you and made you holy and acceptable to God."
Not just the removal of "legal guilt", but the removal of "emotional guilt." We can now have a perfect conscience. Something the Old Law could not do! - cf. He 9:8-10 "All of this is the Holy Spirit's way of saying that no one could enter the most holy place while the tent was still the place of worship. This also has a meaning for today. It shows that we cannot make our consciences clear by offering gifts and sacrifices. These rules are merely about such things as eating and drinking and ceremonies for washing ourselves. And rules about physical things will last only until the time comes to change them for something better."; 10:1-4 "The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year. If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next." But by the blood of Christ, it is possible to have this "perfect" conscience - He 9:14 "But Christ was sinless, and he offered himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God. That's why his blood is much more powerful and makes our consciences clear. Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death."; 10:22 "So let's come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let's keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water." A perfect conscience in the sense that we have real reasons not to feel guilty for our sins: they are totally forgiven by the blood of Christ! Therefore, there is no need to have fear, doubt, anxiety, or depression over our spiritual condition. Instead, we can have peace and joy through the justification that comes by grace - Ro 5:1-2 "By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. Christ has also introduced us to God's undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God." This is the promise given to those who obey the gospel that effectively deals with the problem of the guilt of sin.Your sins are remitted! You are released from the guilt of your sins! From your legal guilt for breaking God's law. From your emotional guilt burdening your sensitive conscience. Again, how does one receive this promise of "remission of sins"? By obeying the commands of the gospel. Believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, who died for your sins!
Repent of your sins, deciding in your mind to turn from sin and turn to God. Be baptized into Jesus Christ by the simple act of immersion in water in which by God's grace you are raised to walk in newness of life! Note how the last command (baptism) in particular answers the problem of guilt. First, the legal guilt - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."; 22:16
"What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord."’ Also, the emotional guilt - 1 Pe 3:20-21 "They had disobeyed God while Noah was building the boat, but God had been patient with them. Eight people went into that boat and were brought safely through the flood. Those flood waters were like baptism that now saves you.
But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death." (The "answer of a good conscience", or as the NASV puts it, "an appeal to God for a good conscience") Have you accepted the gospel's promise of remission of sins to deal with the guilt of your sins, by submitting to the commands of the gospel...? If you wish to do so please contact me at jnlnewsted@nts-online.net
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(The Remission Of Sins)
In our last lesson we looked primarily at "legal" guilt. But, for many there is also the emotional guilt. But this is really only a side effect of the "legal" guilt of sin. Though it does include some terrible consequences: anxiety, depression, fear, and doubt. "There is no peace, saith the LORD, for the wicked." - Isa 48:22. Some may not experience the emotional consequence of "legal" guilt because they have rejected their conscience to the point of it being "seared" - 1 Ti 1:19-20 "You will be faithful and have a clear conscience. Some people have made a mess of their faith because they didn't listen to their consciences. Two of them are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I have given these men over to the power of Satan, so they will learn not to oppose God."; 4:1-2 "God's Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons. They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling." Such people have "legal guilt", nonetheless!
Yet the gospel of Christ declares that when we obey its commands, then one of the promises we receive is the remission of sins , which effectively deals with the guilt of sin. The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of our sins - Mt 26:28 "This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven." Remission of sins is to be preached to all nations - Lk 24:45-48 "Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened." Peter told people they could receive remission of sins in the name of Jesus, by believing in Jesus - Ac 10:42-43 "God told us to announce clearly to the people that Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the dead. Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name." By repenting and being baptized in His name - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."
What does this "remission of sins" involve...? The word remission means "to remit", and involves a dismissal, release. A key synonym often used in some translations is the word "forgiveness". Other terms and metaphors found in the Bible to describe the "remission" of sins:
"taken away" - Jn 1:29; Ro 11:27
"blotted out" - Ac 3:19
"washed away" - Ac 22:16
"covered" - Ro 4:7
"not imputed" - Ro 4:8
"set free" - Ro 6:17-18
"purged" - He 1:3; 2 Pe 1:9
"remembered no more" - He 8:12
All of these signifying the removal of the guilt of sin from the sinner! A legal term used to describe a sinner whose sins have been so forgiven is the word "justified". Which means "not guilty" - 1 Co 6:11 "Some of you used to be like that. But now the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of God's Spirit have washed you and made you holy and acceptable to God."
Not just the removal of "legal guilt", but the removal of "emotional guilt." We can now have a perfect conscience. Something the Old Law could not do! - cf. He 9:8-10 "All of this is the Holy Spirit's way of saying that no one could enter the most holy place while the tent was still the place of worship. This also has a meaning for today. It shows that we cannot make our consciences clear by offering gifts and sacrifices. These rules are merely about such things as eating and drinking and ceremonies for washing ourselves. And rules about physical things will last only until the time comes to change them for something better."; 10:1-4 "The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year. If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next." But by the blood of Christ, it is possible to have this "perfect" conscience - He 9:14 "But Christ was sinless, and he offered himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God. That's why his blood is much more powerful and makes our consciences clear. Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death."; 10:22 "So let's come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let's keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water." A perfect conscience in the sense that we have real reasons not to feel guilty for our sins: they are totally forgiven by the blood of Christ! Therefore, there is no need to have fear, doubt, anxiety, or depression over our spiritual condition. Instead, we can have peace and joy through the justification that comes by grace - Ro 5:1-2 "By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. Christ has also introduced us to God's undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God." This is the promise given to those who obey the gospel that effectively deals with the problem of the guilt of sin.Your sins are remitted! You are released from the guilt of your sins! From your legal guilt for breaking God's law. From your emotional guilt burdening your sensitive conscience. Again, how does one receive this promise of "remission of sins"? By obeying the commands of the gospel. Believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, who died for your sins!
Repent of your sins, deciding in your mind to turn from sin and turn to God. Be baptized into Jesus Christ by the simple act of immersion in water in which by God's grace you are raised to walk in newness of life! Note how the last command (baptism) in particular answers the problem of guilt. First, the legal guilt - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."; 22:16
"What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord."’ Also, the emotional guilt - 1 Pe 3:20-21 "They had disobeyed God while Noah was building the boat, but God had been patient with them. Eight people went into that boat and were brought safely through the flood. Those flood waters were like baptism that now saves you.
But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death." (The "answer of a good conscience", or as the NASV puts it, "an appeal to God for a good conscience") Have you accepted the gospel's promise of remission of sins to deal with the guilt of your sins, by submitting to the commands of the gospel...? If you wish to do so please contact me at jnlnewsted@nts-online.net
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, February 25, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "Guilt" Of Sin - Part One
The Gospel Of Christ And The Problem Of Sin
The Gospel's Answer To The "Guilt" Of Sin
(The Remission Of Sins)
We have been examining how the gospel saves us from the problem of sin in this series. Our last three lessons dealt with commands found in the gospel which, when obeyed, effectively answer several specific problems of sin. The command to believe, when obeyed, solves the problem of the love of sin. The command to repent, when obeyed, solves the problem of the practice of sin. The command to be baptized, when obeyed, solves the problem of the state of sin. In this lesson and those to follow, we shall turn our attention to the promises of the gospel.
Again, bear in mind that the gospel of Jesus Christ contains:
Facts to be believed
Commands to be obeyed
Promises to be received
We have seen how keeping the commands of the gospel deal with the problem of sin. Now we want to be sure to appreciate how the promises we receive upon obeying the gospel are also effective in dealing with sin.
In the first lesson of this series, we touched briefly upon the guilt of sin. Let us first elaborate on this point, the "guilt" of sin. The Bible declares all are guilty regarding sin. This was Paul's first main point in writing the epistle to the Romans - Ro 3:7-11 "Since your lies bring great honor to God by showing how truthful he is, you may ask why God still says you are a sinner. You might as well say, "Let's do something evil, so that something good will come of it!" Some people even claim that we are saying this. But God is fair and will judge them as well. What does all this mean? Does it mean that we Jews are better off than the Gentiles? No, it doesn't! Jews, as well as Gentiles, are ruled by sin, just as I have said. The Scriptures tell us, "No one is acceptable to God! Not one of them understands or even searches for God." Even if a person breaks only one commandment! - Ja 2:10-11 "If you obey every law except one, you are still guilty of breaking them all. The same God who told us to be faithful in marriage also told us not to murder. So even if you are faithful in marriage, but murder someone, you still have broken God's Law."
This guilt refers primarily to "legal" guilt in the sense of having violated the law of God. In this way, everyone has sinned - Ro 3:23 "All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory." This makes them "transgressors" of the law - 1 Jn 3:4 "Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law." Other synonyms are used to describe those who have violated God's law:
"lawless"
"disobedient"
"workers of iniquity"
"ungodly"
This "legal guilt" is real, whether or not a person is aware of their actual guilt (ignorance does not excuse one of guilt before God) feels any sense of emotional guilt (more on this shortly). They are still held accountable before God as "guilty" of sin - 2 Co 5:10 "After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies."
This lesson will continue with looking at another facet of guilt. For many there is also the emotional guilt. But this is really only a side effect of the "legal" guilt of sin.
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.comor http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Gospel's Answer To The "Guilt" Of Sin
(The Remission Of Sins)
We have been examining how the gospel saves us from the problem of sin in this series. Our last three lessons dealt with commands found in the gospel which, when obeyed, effectively answer several specific problems of sin. The command to believe, when obeyed, solves the problem of the love of sin. The command to repent, when obeyed, solves the problem of the practice of sin. The command to be baptized, when obeyed, solves the problem of the state of sin. In this lesson and those to follow, we shall turn our attention to the promises of the gospel.
Again, bear in mind that the gospel of Jesus Christ contains:
Facts to be believed
Commands to be obeyed
Promises to be received
We have seen how keeping the commands of the gospel deal with the problem of sin. Now we want to be sure to appreciate how the promises we receive upon obeying the gospel are also effective in dealing with sin.
In the first lesson of this series, we touched briefly upon the guilt of sin. Let us first elaborate on this point, the "guilt" of sin. The Bible declares all are guilty regarding sin. This was Paul's first main point in writing the epistle to the Romans - Ro 3:7-11 "Since your lies bring great honor to God by showing how truthful he is, you may ask why God still says you are a sinner. You might as well say, "Let's do something evil, so that something good will come of it!" Some people even claim that we are saying this. But God is fair and will judge them as well. What does all this mean? Does it mean that we Jews are better off than the Gentiles? No, it doesn't! Jews, as well as Gentiles, are ruled by sin, just as I have said. The Scriptures tell us, "No one is acceptable to God! Not one of them understands or even searches for God." Even if a person breaks only one commandment! - Ja 2:10-11 "If you obey every law except one, you are still guilty of breaking them all. The same God who told us to be faithful in marriage also told us not to murder. So even if you are faithful in marriage, but murder someone, you still have broken God's Law."
This guilt refers primarily to "legal" guilt in the sense of having violated the law of God. In this way, everyone has sinned - Ro 3:23 "All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory." This makes them "transgressors" of the law - 1 Jn 3:4 "Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law." Other synonyms are used to describe those who have violated God's law:
"lawless"
"disobedient"
"workers of iniquity"
"ungodly"
This "legal guilt" is real, whether or not a person is aware of their actual guilt (ignorance does not excuse one of guilt before God) feels any sense of emotional guilt (more on this shortly). They are still held accountable before God as "guilty" of sin - 2 Co 5:10 "After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies."
This lesson will continue with looking at another facet of guilt. For many there is also the emotional guilt. But this is really only a side effect of the "legal" guilt of sin.
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.comor http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, February 19, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "State" Of Sin - Part Two
The Gospel's Answer To The "State" Of Sin - Part Two
(Baptism Into Jesus Christ)
In our previous lesson we left off with Paul’s explanation to the Romans in Romans chapter 6. We continue our lesson with the following illustration which might be helpful as a review:
HOW BAPTISM CHANGES THE "STATE" OF SIN
BEFORE BAPTISM
We are...DEAD "IN" SIN - DEAD TO GOD Eph 2:1 "In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God."
IN BAPTISM
We are...BURIED WITH CHRIST BY BAPTISM INTO HIS DEATH Rom 6:3-4 "Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father."
When we are lowered into the water, immersed we join Christ in Death. United in a likeness of His death, we are... CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, thus, we...DIE TO SIN, and we are...FREED FROM SIN, Rom 6:5-7 "If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. We know that sin doesn't have power over dead people."
As we are raised up out of the water we are...RAISED WITH CHRIST, Col. 2:12 "And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death." TO NEWNESS OF LIFE Rom 6:4-5 "When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father. If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him."
AFTER BAPTISM
We are...DEAD "TO" SIN, ALIVE "TO" GOD
Rom 6:11 "In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God."
Gal. 3:26-27 "All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes."
Notice that our state in regards to sin has changed (and also our state in regards to God, as well!) - Ro 6:11 "In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God." Before baptism into Christ, we were dead in sin, and dead to God! But after baptism into Christ, we are dead to sin, and alive to God!
How can such a simple act of immersion in water bring out about such a significant change? From Co 2:11-13 "Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body. And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins.", we learn that this change takes place through faith in the working of God.
Baptism is a spiritual "circumcision." Note when and how our sins are "cut away." It is when we were buried with Christ in baptism! - Co 2:11-13 (see above). Though "dead in trespasses" we were made alive! Note verse 11, "Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body." Remember Ep 2:4-9, that it involved God's grace and mercy? How were our sins cut away? Note that we were raised through faith (this is man's part, expressed by submitting to baptism). In the working of God (this is God's part, who through grace cleanses us by the blood of Christ and by His Spirit causes us to be born again - Jn 3:5 "Jesus answered: I tell you for certain that before you can get into God's kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit."; Ti 3:5 "He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning.") It takes immersion in water (baptism) and the Holy Spirit for us to be buried and risen alive to a new birth in Christ.Yes, baptism is a "working of God", by which He imparts wonderful blessings to those who submit to it, not a "work of man" by which one tries to earn or merit salvation!
Note what happens when a penitent believer is baptized. God performs a "spiritual operation" (the "circumcision of Christ")! He who was dead in sins has his sins removed (by Jesus' blood shed in His death) and thus he who was dead in sin is made alive! Coming forth from the watery grave, he is raised together with Christ (Co 2:12 ). Having "put on" Christ in baptism.. Note: "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have PUT ON Christ." - Ga 3:27. This is how one truly receives Jesus Christ into their life! Not by saying "the sinner's prayer" (which is no where taught in the Scriptures). But by submitting to the command of Christ to be baptized into His death for the remission of sins! - Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38; Ga 3:27
No longer dead "in" sin, but dead "to" sin, God's work on us in baptism truly changes the state of sin! This explains why in the preaching of the gospel of Christ, the command to be baptized naturally follows the commands to believe and repent - cf. Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:36-38.
Are YOU really "dead to sin" and "alive to God"? Only if you have been scripturally baptized (immersed in water by the authority of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins - Mt 28:18-19; Ac 2:38) can you be CERTAIN that through the "working of God" your sins are forgiven and you have been raised together with Christ! If you have not been baptized, then...
"...why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Ac 22:16
For a more detailed study on the subject of baptism, please contact me or after studying this lesson and you feel the need to repent and be baptized, turning to God, please contact me at:
jnlnewsted@nts-online.net
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Baptism Into Jesus Christ)
In our previous lesson we left off with Paul’s explanation to the Romans in Romans chapter 6. We continue our lesson with the following illustration which might be helpful as a review:
HOW BAPTISM CHANGES THE "STATE" OF SIN
BEFORE BAPTISM
We are...DEAD "IN" SIN - DEAD TO GOD Eph 2:1 "In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God."
IN BAPTISM
We are...BURIED WITH CHRIST BY BAPTISM INTO HIS DEATH Rom 6:3-4 "Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father."
When we are lowered into the water, immersed we join Christ in Death. United in a likeness of His death, we are... CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, thus, we...DIE TO SIN, and we are...FREED FROM SIN, Rom 6:5-7 "If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. We know that sin doesn't have power over dead people."
As we are raised up out of the water we are...RAISED WITH CHRIST, Col. 2:12 "And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death." TO NEWNESS OF LIFE Rom 6:4-5 "When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father. If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him."
AFTER BAPTISM
We are...DEAD "TO" SIN, ALIVE "TO" GOD
Rom 6:11 "In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God."
Gal. 3:26-27 "All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes."
Notice that our state in regards to sin has changed (and also our state in regards to God, as well!) - Ro 6:11 "In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God." Before baptism into Christ, we were dead in sin, and dead to God! But after baptism into Christ, we are dead to sin, and alive to God!
How can such a simple act of immersion in water bring out about such a significant change? From Co 2:11-13 "Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body. And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins.", we learn that this change takes place through faith in the working of God.
Baptism is a spiritual "circumcision." Note when and how our sins are "cut away." It is when we were buried with Christ in baptism! - Co 2:11-13 (see above). Though "dead in trespasses" we were made alive! Note verse 11, "Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body." Remember Ep 2:4-9, that it involved God's grace and mercy? How were our sins cut away? Note that we were raised through faith (this is man's part, expressed by submitting to baptism). In the working of God (this is God's part, who through grace cleanses us by the blood of Christ and by His Spirit causes us to be born again - Jn 3:5 "Jesus answered: I tell you for certain that before you can get into God's kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit."; Ti 3:5 "He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning.") It takes immersion in water (baptism) and the Holy Spirit for us to be buried and risen alive to a new birth in Christ.Yes, baptism is a "working of God", by which He imparts wonderful blessings to those who submit to it, not a "work of man" by which one tries to earn or merit salvation!
Note what happens when a penitent believer is baptized. God performs a "spiritual operation" (the "circumcision of Christ")! He who was dead in sins has his sins removed (by Jesus' blood shed in His death) and thus he who was dead in sin is made alive! Coming forth from the watery grave, he is raised together with Christ (Co 2:12 ). Having "put on" Christ in baptism.. Note: "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have PUT ON Christ." - Ga 3:27. This is how one truly receives Jesus Christ into their life! Not by saying "the sinner's prayer" (which is no where taught in the Scriptures). But by submitting to the command of Christ to be baptized into His death for the remission of sins! - Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38; Ga 3:27
No longer dead "in" sin, but dead "to" sin, God's work on us in baptism truly changes the state of sin! This explains why in the preaching of the gospel of Christ, the command to be baptized naturally follows the commands to believe and repent - cf. Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:36-38.
Are YOU really "dead to sin" and "alive to God"? Only if you have been scripturally baptized (immersed in water by the authority of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins - Mt 28:18-19; Ac 2:38) can you be CERTAIN that through the "working of God" your sins are forgiven and you have been raised together with Christ! If you have not been baptized, then...
"...why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Ac 22:16
For a more detailed study on the subject of baptism, please contact me or after studying this lesson and you feel the need to repent and be baptized, turning to God, please contact me at:
jnlnewsted@nts-online.net
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, February 12, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "State" Of Sin - Part One
The Gospel Of Christ And The Problem Of Sin
The Gospel's Answer To The "State" Of Sin
(Baptism Into Jesus Christ)
We have been examining how the gospel addresses the problem of sin in this series of lessons. Our first lesson dealt with this subject in general terms. Then we looked more closely at:
The command to believe as the gospel's answer to the love of sin.
The command to repent as the gospel's answer to the practice of sin.
In this lesson, we shall examine how the command to be baptized is the gospel's answer to
the state of sin.
Beginning with the "Great Commission", an important part of preaching the gospel was
including the command to be baptized - cf. Mk 16:15-16 "Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned." As the apostle and others went out preaching Christ, they taught the necessity of baptism:
Peter on the day of Pentecost - Ac 2:36-38 "Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross. When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Friends, what shall we do?" Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."
Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch - Ac 8:35-39 "So Philip began at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to a place where there was some water. The official said, "Look! Here is some water. Why can't I be baptized?" He ordered the chariot to stop. Then they both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. After they had come out of the water, the Lord's Spirit took Philip away. The official never saw him again, but he was very happy as he went on his way."
Peter and the household of Cornelius - Ac 10:48 "Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and they asked him to stay on for a few days."
Paul in recounting his own conversion - Ac 22:16 "What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord."’
Why this emphasis on baptism? It helps us to appreciate its importance when we see how baptism changes the "state" of sin. Before baptism one is dead "in" sin, one’s condition outside of Christ. Read carefully Ep 2:1-3 "In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else." Note the state or condition one finds themselves in regarding sin. They are dead spiritually "in" sin, and as a result are "dead to God". As for having a relationship with GOD, there is none!
Now note what God’s grace makes possible by reading carefully Ep 2:4-9 "But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you. God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about." By God's mercy, love and grace (and not any meritorious works of our own). Those "dead in trespasses" (dead in sin) were made alive together with Christ! Those who were dead in sin were raised together with Him! Outside of Christ, one is dead in sin; yet by God's grace we can be made alive! This raises an important question: "When" and "how" does a persons who is "dead in sin" become "alive with Christ" and "raised together with him"???
Here's the Biblical answer, in baptism one dies "to" sin. Notice carefully what Paul teaches in Ro 6:1-8 "What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God's wonderful kindness will show up even better? No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father. If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. We know that sin doesn't have power over dead people. As surely as we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with him." , 11 "In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God." Please note what Paul is not saying, that baptism is a symbolic demonstration of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ engaged in by those who have already died to sin (as taught by many churches, though baptism is never described in these words in the Bible). Please note that baptism is a public profession of one's faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (likewise taught by many, despite several examples of baptism in private - (Ac 8:35-38; Ac 16:30-34). Nor that one "dies to sin" in repentance and then is buried with Christ in baptism
(as many of my own brethren teach).
Paul explains when and how one dies to sin. It happens when they are baptized into Christ, which is a baptism into His death - Ro 6:3-4 "Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father." It is in baptism that one is "crucified with Him (Christ)" - Ro 6:6 "We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin." It is in baptism that we die to sin, and then are "freed from sin" (from it's guilt, consequence, and power) - Ro 6:7 "We know that sin doesn't have power over dead people."
We will conclude this portion of our lesson here and resume next week with and illustration of what Paul is explaining to the Romans.
The Gospel's Answer To The "State" Of Sin
(Baptism Into Jesus Christ)
We have been examining how the gospel addresses the problem of sin in this series of lessons. Our first lesson dealt with this subject in general terms. Then we looked more closely at:
The command to believe as the gospel's answer to the love of sin.
The command to repent as the gospel's answer to the practice of sin.
In this lesson, we shall examine how the command to be baptized is the gospel's answer to
the state of sin.
Beginning with the "Great Commission", an important part of preaching the gospel was
including the command to be baptized - cf. Mk 16:15-16 "Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned." As the apostle and others went out preaching Christ, they taught the necessity of baptism:
Peter on the day of Pentecost - Ac 2:36-38 "Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross. When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Friends, what shall we do?" Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."
Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch - Ac 8:35-39 "So Philip began at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to a place where there was some water. The official said, "Look! Here is some water. Why can't I be baptized?" He ordered the chariot to stop. Then they both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. After they had come out of the water, the Lord's Spirit took Philip away. The official never saw him again, but he was very happy as he went on his way."
Peter and the household of Cornelius - Ac 10:48 "Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and they asked him to stay on for a few days."
Paul in recounting his own conversion - Ac 22:16 "What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord."’
Why this emphasis on baptism? It helps us to appreciate its importance when we see how baptism changes the "state" of sin. Before baptism one is dead "in" sin, one’s condition outside of Christ. Read carefully Ep 2:1-3 "In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else." Note the state or condition one finds themselves in regarding sin. They are dead spiritually "in" sin, and as a result are "dead to God". As for having a relationship with GOD, there is none!
Now note what God’s grace makes possible by reading carefully Ep 2:4-9 "But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you. God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about." By God's mercy, love and grace (and not any meritorious works of our own). Those "dead in trespasses" (dead in sin) were made alive together with Christ! Those who were dead in sin were raised together with Him! Outside of Christ, one is dead in sin; yet by God's grace we can be made alive! This raises an important question: "When" and "how" does a persons who is "dead in sin" become "alive with Christ" and "raised together with him"???
Here's the Biblical answer, in baptism one dies "to" sin. Notice carefully what Paul teaches in Ro 6:1-8 "What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God's wonderful kindness will show up even better? No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father. If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. We know that sin doesn't have power over dead people. As surely as we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with him." , 11 "In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God." Please note what Paul is not saying, that baptism is a symbolic demonstration of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ engaged in by those who have already died to sin (as taught by many churches, though baptism is never described in these words in the Bible). Please note that baptism is a public profession of one's faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (likewise taught by many, despite several examples of baptism in private - (Ac 8:35-38; Ac 16:30-34). Nor that one "dies to sin" in repentance and then is buried with Christ in baptism
(as many of my own brethren teach).
Paul explains when and how one dies to sin. It happens when they are baptized into Christ, which is a baptism into His death - Ro 6:3-4 "Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father." It is in baptism that one is "crucified with Him (Christ)" - Ro 6:6 "We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin." It is in baptism that we die to sin, and then are "freed from sin" (from it's guilt, consequence, and power) - Ro 6:7 "We know that sin doesn't have power over dead people."
We will conclude this portion of our lesson here and resume next week with and illustration of what Paul is explaining to the Romans.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "Practice" Of Sin - Part Two
The Gospel's Answer To The "Practice" Of Sin Part Two
Now that we may have a better idea as to what repentance is and what indications are that it has occurred, let's continue our study by considering what is involved in the production of repentance. In other words, what produces true repentance. A Godly sorrow produces repentance. Note carefully Paul's words in 2 Co 7:9-10 "Now I am happy, but not because I hurt your feelings. It is because God used your hurt feelings to make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us. When God makes you feel sorry enough to turn to him and be saved, you don't have anything to feel bad about. But when this world makes you feel sorry, it can cause your death." Not simply "sorrow", but one that is "godly". For there is such a thing as "sorrow of the world". The difference between "godly" sorrow and "worldly" sorrow. "Worldly" sorrow is a selfish kind of sorrow, e.g., when one is sorry because he got caught or when one is sorry because what one did made himself look bad. In "worldly sorrow", one is concerned about one's self! "Godly" sorrow is sorrow directed toward GOD ("godly" is literally "according to God"). I.e., one is sorry because their actions are sins against a Holy God - fr example, the attitude of David in Ps 51:4 "You are really the one I have sinned against; I have disobeyed you and have done wrong. So it is right and fair for you to correct and punish me." Also, one is sorry because of the price God must pay to have our sins removed. Some more differences, "worldly" sorrow produces regret, "godly" sorrow suffers loss in nothing; "worldly" produces death, "godly" sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation.
Desiring such repentance in ourselves and others, how can we produce the "godly sorrow" that leads to repentance? Nathan's rebuke to David provides some insight - 2 Sam 12:7-12. Make an appeal to God's love - 7-8 "Then Nathan told David: You are that rich man! Now listen to what the LORD God of Israel says to you: "I chose you to be the king of Israel. I kept you safe from Saul and even gave you his house and his wives. I let you rule Israel and Judah, and if that had not been enough, I would have given you much more." Reveal the sin - 9 "Why did you disobey me and do such a horrible thing? You murdered Uriah the Hittite by having the Ammonites kill him, so you could take his wife." Warn of the consequences - 10-12 ‘"Because you wouldn't obey me and took Uriah's wife for yourself, your family will never live in peace. Someone from your own family will cause you a lot of trouble, and I will take your wives and give them to another man before your very eyes. He will go to bed with them while everyone looks on. What you did was in secret, but I will do this in the open for everyone in Israel to see."’
The gospel of Christ, when properly taught, is designed to produce "godly sorrow" in the same way, and in turn, repentance. It appeals to God's love as a basis for repentance - Ro 2:4 "You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?" It reveals our sin - Ro 3:23 "All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory." It warns of the consequences - Ro 2:5-11 "But you are stubborn and refuse to turn to God. So you are making things even worse for yourselves on that day when he will show how angry he is and will judge the world with fairness. God will reward each of us for what we have done. He will give eternal life to everyone who has patiently done what is good in the hope of receiving glory, honor, and life that lasts forever. But he will show how angry and furious he can be with every selfish person who rejects the truth and wants to do evil. All who are wicked will be punished with trouble and suffering. It doesn't matter if they are Jews or Gentiles. But all who do right will be rewarded with glory, honor, and peace, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. God doesn't have any favorites!"
The gospel of Jesus Christ, properly presented and understood, can help produce the kind of
repentance that will effectively deal with the practice of sin! Have you truly repented of your sins? Can you look at your life and see indications that you have really had a "change of mind"?
That you made "a decision to turn from sin and turn to God"? Make no mistake about it. If you have not yet obeyed the gospel...you have not repented! If you have become slack in your service to God...you are in need of repentance! If such is the case, then you are in need of a healthy dose of "godly sorrow", brought about only by realizing...God's love for you. The fact you are still in your sins and the consequences if you do not repent. If you believe the good news of God's love for you, and godly sorrow has prompted you to have a "change of mind", why not do those "works befitting repentance"...? Confess your faith in Christ and be baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins (if that is your need). Confess your sins and ask for the prayers of the brethren (if such is your need). Let the gospel of Christ address the practice of sin in your life through its call to repentance!
After studying this lesson and you fell the need to repent and turn to God, please contact me at:
jnlnewsted@nts-online.net
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
Now that we may have a better idea as to what repentance is and what indications are that it has occurred, let's continue our study by considering what is involved in the production of repentance. In other words, what produces true repentance. A Godly sorrow produces repentance. Note carefully Paul's words in 2 Co 7:9-10 "Now I am happy, but not because I hurt your feelings. It is because God used your hurt feelings to make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us. When God makes you feel sorry enough to turn to him and be saved, you don't have anything to feel bad about. But when this world makes you feel sorry, it can cause your death." Not simply "sorrow", but one that is "godly". For there is such a thing as "sorrow of the world". The difference between "godly" sorrow and "worldly" sorrow. "Worldly" sorrow is a selfish kind of sorrow, e.g., when one is sorry because he got caught or when one is sorry because what one did made himself look bad. In "worldly sorrow", one is concerned about one's self! "Godly" sorrow is sorrow directed toward GOD ("godly" is literally "according to God"). I.e., one is sorry because their actions are sins against a Holy God - fr example, the attitude of David in Ps 51:4 "You are really the one I have sinned against; I have disobeyed you and have done wrong. So it is right and fair for you to correct and punish me." Also, one is sorry because of the price God must pay to have our sins removed. Some more differences, "worldly" sorrow produces regret, "godly" sorrow suffers loss in nothing; "worldly" produces death, "godly" sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation.
Desiring such repentance in ourselves and others, how can we produce the "godly sorrow" that leads to repentance? Nathan's rebuke to David provides some insight - 2 Sam 12:7-12. Make an appeal to God's love - 7-8 "Then Nathan told David: You are that rich man! Now listen to what the LORD God of Israel says to you: "I chose you to be the king of Israel. I kept you safe from Saul and even gave you his house and his wives. I let you rule Israel and Judah, and if that had not been enough, I would have given you much more." Reveal the sin - 9 "Why did you disobey me and do such a horrible thing? You murdered Uriah the Hittite by having the Ammonites kill him, so you could take his wife." Warn of the consequences - 10-12 ‘"Because you wouldn't obey me and took Uriah's wife for yourself, your family will never live in peace. Someone from your own family will cause you a lot of trouble, and I will take your wives and give them to another man before your very eyes. He will go to bed with them while everyone looks on. What you did was in secret, but I will do this in the open for everyone in Israel to see."’
The gospel of Christ, when properly taught, is designed to produce "godly sorrow" in the same way, and in turn, repentance. It appeals to God's love as a basis for repentance - Ro 2:4 "You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?" It reveals our sin - Ro 3:23 "All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory." It warns of the consequences - Ro 2:5-11 "But you are stubborn and refuse to turn to God. So you are making things even worse for yourselves on that day when he will show how angry he is and will judge the world with fairness. God will reward each of us for what we have done. He will give eternal life to everyone who has patiently done what is good in the hope of receiving glory, honor, and life that lasts forever. But he will show how angry and furious he can be with every selfish person who rejects the truth and wants to do evil. All who are wicked will be punished with trouble and suffering. It doesn't matter if they are Jews or Gentiles. But all who do right will be rewarded with glory, honor, and peace, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. God doesn't have any favorites!"
The gospel of Jesus Christ, properly presented and understood, can help produce the kind of
repentance that will effectively deal with the practice of sin! Have you truly repented of your sins? Can you look at your life and see indications that you have really had a "change of mind"?
That you made "a decision to turn from sin and turn to God"? Make no mistake about it. If you have not yet obeyed the gospel...you have not repented! If you have become slack in your service to God...you are in need of repentance! If such is the case, then you are in need of a healthy dose of "godly sorrow", brought about only by realizing...God's love for you. The fact you are still in your sins and the consequences if you do not repent. If you believe the good news of God's love for you, and godly sorrow has prompted you to have a "change of mind", why not do those "works befitting repentance"...? Confess your faith in Christ and be baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins (if that is your need). Confess your sins and ask for the prayers of the brethren (if such is your need). Let the gospel of Christ address the practice of sin in your life through its call to repentance!
After studying this lesson and you fell the need to repent and turn to God, please contact me at:
jnlnewsted@nts-online.net
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
Saturday, January 28, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "Practice" Of Sin - Part One
The Gospel's Answer To The "Practice" Of Sin Part One
(Repentance Of Sin)
Paul declared that he was not ashamed of the gospel because it was God's power to save those who believe - Ro 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith." (ASV) We saw in general terms how the gospel saves us from the problem of sin (first lesson). Our previous lesson dealt more closely with faith as the gospel's answer to the love of sin. This lesson shall focus on repentance as the gospel's answer to the practice of sin.
That the practice of sin is a serious problem as seen in that All have sinned - Ro 3:23 "for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;" And even Christians continue to sin at times - 1 Jn 1:8-10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts." The gospel of Jesus Christ answers the problem of the practice of sin by commanding us to "repent"... notice Lk 24:45-47 "Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened."; Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."; 3:19 \pard plain "So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven."; 17:30-31 "In the past, God forgave all this because people did not know what they were doing. But now he says that everyone everywhere must turn to him. He has set a day when he will judge the world's people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death."; 26:19-20 "King Agrippa, I obeyed this vision from heaven. First I preached to the people in Damascus, and then I went to Jerusalem and all over Judea. Finally, I went to the Gentiles and said, "Stop sinning and turn to God! Then prove what you have done by the way you live."’ When a person truly repents, they will cease the practice of sin! Unfortunately, the call to repent is often neglected in preaching the gospel today by those who preach "faith only" and by some who react to "faith only" by emphasizing "baptism". As the passages listed above clearly reveal, one cannot truly preach the gospel of Christ without the call to repentance.
But what is repentance? What are indications that repentance has occurred? What leads one to true repentance? In 2 Co 7:9-11 we find the most elaborate discussion on repentance found in the Scriptures, and it will serve as the basis for much of our study. Based upon this passage, let's begin with the definition and misconceptions about repentance.
That repentance is "sorrow". 2 Co 7:9-10 shows that repentance is an outcome of sorrow not the sorrow itself. "Now I am happy, but not because I hurt your feelings. It is because God used your hurt feelings to make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us. When God makes you feel sorry enough to turn to him and be saved, you don't have anything to feel bad about. But when this world makes you feel sorry, it can cause your death."
That repentance is "a changed life" or a converted life. Ac 3:19 shows that repentance and conversion are two separate things. "So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven." Peter says to "repent" and "be converted". Peter is not being redundant; rather, the one leads to the other. As we shall see, the order is actually this:
First, there is sorrow
Then, repentance
And finally, a changed life (conversion)
Note the proper definition of repentance. The Greek word is metanoeo (meta=change, noeo=thought or mind) W. E. Vine's definition; "a change of mind" "signifies to change one's mind or purpose" "this change of mind involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God". So we can think of repentance as "a change of mind" in which we decide to "turn from sin and turn to God"; a decision. Preceded by sorrow. Followed by a changed life.
Having therefore defined repentance, how do we know when repentance has occurred? Let's take a look at the signs of repentance. Several signs are mentioned in 2 Cor 7:11 - "For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter." (KJV) "diligence" (KJV, carefulness), this can be defined as "earnestness, zeal, sometimes with haste accompanying it", i.e., being quick to do what is right! The examples of conversion in the book of Acts demonstrate this diligence by the fact every conversion described in detail shows people obeying the gospel after one lesson! "clearing of yourselves", to clear one's self of blame e.g., to quickly stop doing what is wrong, if such is the case; or to quickly respond to the offer of forgiveness if one realizes they are guilty of sin. "indignation", this involves a sort of anger, hatred i.e., toward the SIN which required the repentance. "fear", lest the sin be repeated. Lest the sin should not be quickly removed. "vehement desire" i.e., a "fervent wish", especially to be right in God's eyes. "zeal", "eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something", in this case, to turn from sin and turn to God. "vindication" (KJV, revenge) as the NIV puts it "what readiness to see justice done", to do the right thing! Such are the signs of true repentance. Not apathy. Not half-hearted service. But a desire to do "works befitting repentance" - Ac 26:20 "First I preached to the people in Damascus, and then I went to Jerusalem and all over Judea. Finally, I went to the Gentiles and said, "Stop sinning and turn to God! Then prove what you have done by the way you live."’
Now that we may have a better idea as to what repentance is and what indications are that it has occurred, in our continuing lesson we will consider what is involved in the production of repentance.
(Repentance Of Sin)
Paul declared that he was not ashamed of the gospel because it was God's power to save those who believe - Ro 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith." (ASV) We saw in general terms how the gospel saves us from the problem of sin (first lesson). Our previous lesson dealt more closely with faith as the gospel's answer to the love of sin. This lesson shall focus on repentance as the gospel's answer to the practice of sin.
That the practice of sin is a serious problem as seen in that All have sinned - Ro 3:23 "for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;" And even Christians continue to sin at times - 1 Jn 1:8-10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts." The gospel of Jesus Christ answers the problem of the practice of sin by commanding us to "repent"... notice Lk 24:45-47 "Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened."; Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."; 3:19 \pard plain "So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven."; 17:30-31 "In the past, God forgave all this because people did not know what they were doing. But now he says that everyone everywhere must turn to him. He has set a day when he will judge the world's people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death."; 26:19-20 "King Agrippa, I obeyed this vision from heaven. First I preached to the people in Damascus, and then I went to Jerusalem and all over Judea. Finally, I went to the Gentiles and said, "Stop sinning and turn to God! Then prove what you have done by the way you live."’ When a person truly repents, they will cease the practice of sin! Unfortunately, the call to repent is often neglected in preaching the gospel today by those who preach "faith only" and by some who react to "faith only" by emphasizing "baptism". As the passages listed above clearly reveal, one cannot truly preach the gospel of Christ without the call to repentance.
But what is repentance? What are indications that repentance has occurred? What leads one to true repentance? In 2 Co 7:9-11 we find the most elaborate discussion on repentance found in the Scriptures, and it will serve as the basis for much of our study. Based upon this passage, let's begin with the definition and misconceptions about repentance.
That repentance is "sorrow". 2 Co 7:9-10 shows that repentance is an outcome of sorrow not the sorrow itself. "Now I am happy, but not because I hurt your feelings. It is because God used your hurt feelings to make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us. When God makes you feel sorry enough to turn to him and be saved, you don't have anything to feel bad about. But when this world makes you feel sorry, it can cause your death."
That repentance is "a changed life" or a converted life. Ac 3:19 shows that repentance and conversion are two separate things. "So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven." Peter says to "repent" and "be converted". Peter is not being redundant; rather, the one leads to the other. As we shall see, the order is actually this:
First, there is sorrow
Then, repentance
And finally, a changed life (conversion)
Note the proper definition of repentance. The Greek word is metanoeo (meta=change, noeo=thought or mind) W. E. Vine's definition; "a change of mind" "signifies to change one's mind or purpose" "this change of mind involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God". So we can think of repentance as "a change of mind" in which we decide to "turn from sin and turn to God"; a decision. Preceded by sorrow. Followed by a changed life.
Having therefore defined repentance, how do we know when repentance has occurred? Let's take a look at the signs of repentance. Several signs are mentioned in 2 Cor 7:11 - "For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter." (KJV) "diligence" (KJV, carefulness), this can be defined as "earnestness, zeal, sometimes with haste accompanying it", i.e., being quick to do what is right! The examples of conversion in the book of Acts demonstrate this diligence by the fact every conversion described in detail shows people obeying the gospel after one lesson! "clearing of yourselves", to clear one's self of blame e.g., to quickly stop doing what is wrong, if such is the case; or to quickly respond to the offer of forgiveness if one realizes they are guilty of sin. "indignation", this involves a sort of anger, hatred i.e., toward the SIN which required the repentance. "fear", lest the sin be repeated. Lest the sin should not be quickly removed. "vehement desire" i.e., a "fervent wish", especially to be right in God's eyes. "zeal", "eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something", in this case, to turn from sin and turn to God. "vindication" (KJV, revenge) as the NIV puts it "what readiness to see justice done", to do the right thing! Such are the signs of true repentance. Not apathy. Not half-hearted service. But a desire to do "works befitting repentance" - Ac 26:20 "First I preached to the people in Damascus, and then I went to Jerusalem and all over Judea. Finally, I went to the Gentiles and said, "Stop sinning and turn to God! Then prove what you have done by the way you live."’
Now that we may have a better idea as to what repentance is and what indications are that it has occurred, in our continuing lesson we will consider what is involved in the production of repentance.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "Love" Of Sin - Part Three
The Gospel's Answer To The "Love" Of Sin (Faith In Jesus) - Part Three
Having examined the character of these witnesses in our last lesson we need to look at the nature of their testimony. Hard, empirical evidence - Jn 20:25 "Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!"’; Ac 10:40-41 "But three days later, God raised him to life and let him be seen. Not everyone saw him. He was seen only by us, who ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. We were the ones God chose to tell others about him."; 1 Jn 1:1 "The Word that gives life was from the beginning, and this is the one our message is about. Our ears have heard, our own eyes have seen, and our hands touched this Word." Objective, not subjective evidence, testimony that cannot be attributed to hallucinations, dreams, etc.
Note the transformation which took place. Prior to the resurrection, they were cowards who had lost hope! They fled at His arrest - Mk 14:50 "All of Jesus' disciples ran off and left him." Peter denied Him. They hid for fear of the Jews - Jn 20:19 "The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group." Yet, after the resurrection, they were praising God and proclaiming Christ boldly as having been raised from the dead! Praising God in the temple - Lk 24:52-53 "After his disciples had worshiped him, they returned to Jerusalem and were very happy. They spent their time in the temple, praising God." Proclaiming Christ, despite persecution - Ac 5:28-32"We told you plainly not to teach in the name of Jesus. But look what you have done! You have been teaching all over Jerusalem, and you are trying to blame us for his death." Peter and the apostles replied: We don't obey people. We obey God. You killed Jesus by nailing him to a cross. But the God our ancestors worshiped raised him to life and made him our Leader and Savior. Then God gave him a place at his right side, so that the people of Israel would turn back to him and be forgiven. We are here to tell you about all this, and so is the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to everyone who obeys God.", 41-42 "The apostles left the council and were happy, because God had considered them worthy to suffer for the sake of Jesus. Every day they spent time in the temple and in one home after another. They never stopped teaching and telling the good news that Jesus is the Messiah." Even an honest Orthodox Jew admits that the transformation in their lives is strong evidence for their testimony:
"If the disciples were totally disappointed and on the verge of desperate flight because of the very real reason of the crucifixion, it took another very real reason in order to transform them from a band of disheartened and dejected Jews into the most self-confident
missionary society in world history." (PINCHAS LAPIDE, former chairman of the Applied Linguistics Department at Israel's Bar-Iland University). Lapide concluded that a bodily resurrection could have possibly been that reason! (TIME, May 7, 1979). The change in the apostles gives strength to their testimony.
Consider the high moral standard they taught and lived. They exhorted disciples to live holy lives - 1 Th 4:1-7 "Finally, my dear friends, since you belong to the Lord Jesus, we beg and urge you to live as we taught you. Then you will please God. You are already living that way, but try even harder. Remember the instructions we gave you as followers of the Lord Jesus. God wants you to be holy, so don't be immoral in matters of sex. Respect and honor your wife. Don't be a slave of your desires or live like people who don't know God. You must not cheat any of the Lord's followers in matters of sex. Remember, we warned you that he punishes everyone who does such things. God didn't choose you to be filthy, but to be pure." They lived their own lives in an unimpeachable way - 1 Th 2:10-12 "Both you and God are witnesses that we were pure and honest and innocent in our dealings with you followers of the Lord. You also know we did everything for you that parents would do for their own children. We begged, encouraged, and urged each of you to live in a way that would honor God. He is the one who chose you to share in his own kingdom and glory." Does this sound like people who would propagate a lie if they knew better?
Consider the sacrifices they paid in life and death. They endured much hardship because of their testimony - 1 Co 4:9-13 "It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us. Because of Christ we are thought of as fools, but Christ has made you wise. We are weak and hated, but you are powerful and respected. Even today we go hungry and thirsty and don't have anything to wear except rags. We are mistreated and don't have a place to live. We work hard with our own hands, and when people abuse us, we wish them well. When we suffer, we are patient. When someone curses us, we answer with kind words. Until now we are thought of as nothing more than the trash and garbage of this world." All but one of the apostles died violent deaths because of their testimony of the resurrection. Even James, Jesus' brother, was thrown off the temple and clubbed to death for his refusal to recant his eyewitness testimony of the resurrection of Jesus! Deny the resurrection of Jesus, and you impugn the honesty and integrity of these witnesses! They would have had to been rank liars and frauds, out to deceive the world! Yet, these are the very ones who tell us what we know of Jesus, whose life and teachings has transformed the history of the world and the lives of millions! These are the ones who gave us the New Testament, containing the highest standard of morality the world has ever known! Does it make sense to call such men liars and frauds? To accept their testimony and the fact of the resurrection is not only rational, it is the beginning of the kind of faith which will come to hate sin!
But there is even more evidence which creates this kind of faith, fulfilled messianic prophecy. This was also an important foundation upon which faith in Christ was based. Jesus used this to strengthen the faith of His disciples. Note the two disciples on the road to Emmaus - Lk 24:25-27 "Then Jesus asked the two disciples, "Why can't you understand? How can you be so slow to believe all that the prophets said? Didn't you know that the Messiah would have to suffer before he was given his glory?" Jesus then explained everything written about himself in the Scriptures, beginning with the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets." Also note the teachings of Jesus to the apostles - Lk 24:44-48 "Jesus said to them, "While I was still with you, I told you that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Books of the Prophets, and in the Psalms had to happen." Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened." In their own teaching and preaching, the apostles appealed to fulfilled prophecy; Peter - Ac 2:29-31 "My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king. David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay."; 3:18 "But God had his prophets tell that his Messiah would suffer, and now he has kept that promise.", 24 "Samuel and all the other prophets who came later also spoke about what is now happening." Philip - Ac 8:35 "So Philip began at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus." Paul - Ac 17:2,3 "So as usual, Paul went there to worship, and on three Sabbaths he spoke to the people. He used the Scriptures to show them that the Messiah had to suffer, but that he would rise from death. Paul also told them that Jesus is the Messiah he was preaching about."
How strong is this evidence? Consider there are at least 330 prophecies in the OT fulfilled in Jesus Christ! Twenty-nine (29) were fulfilled in one day! Such prophecies were spoken at various times by many different people during the ten centuries from 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C. The science of probabilities demonstrates that it is nigh to impossible Jesus fulfilled these prophecies out of coincidence. In one study (by Peter Stoner), eight (8) prophecies were considered:
The likelihood of anyone fulfilling just these eight by chance was calculated to be 1 in 10 to the 17th power. This would be like finding on the first try, while blindfolded, a marked silver dollar in a pile of silver dollars two-feet high covering the entire state of Texas!
In another study (also by Peter Stoner), forty-eight (48) prophecies were considered:
The likelihood of a coincidence was 1 in 10 to the 157th power! How big a number is 10 to the 157th power? Counting at the rate of 250 a minute it would take you 19 million times 19 million times 19 million years to count such a number! Remember, that is just calculating the chance of any one man coincidentally fulfilling 48 prophecies - Jesus fulfilled 330!
Look at it another way. Your chances of surviving a fall from 10,000 feet without a parachute is 1 in 10 million - would you "willingly" jump and take such a chance? Yet to reject Jesus because one thinks fulfilling 330 prophecies was coincidental is infinitely more risky than jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet without a parachute! We would say that anyone who jumped out of an airplane with such odds against survival is either stupid, crazy or ignorant of the risks. What about someone who takes the chance of rejecting Christ in view of the overwhelming odds he is wrong about Christ???
This is the kind of evidence in the Word of God to create faith in Jesus as the Son of God:
Eyewitness testimony of the resurrection of Jesus by numerous, reliable witnesses.
Fulfilled messianic prophecy that overwhelmingly convinces any informed, rational and
objective person! Yes, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." - Ro 10:17
What kind of faith? A faith that hates sin, for what it did (separated us from God). For what it cost (the death of God's only begotten Son). For what it can do when engaged in by the unrepentant Christian (crucify again the Son afresh - He 6:4-6).
A faith that loves God for what He has done, for what He is doing and for what He will do.
A faith that will do whatever God desires me to do, to rid my life of the guilt of sin (e.g., faith, repentance, and baptism).
A faith that will utilize whatever blessing God offers to overcome the problem of sin (e.g., remission of sins, gift of the Holy Spirit, the promise of eternal life). Do you have that kind of faith which the gospel both gives and requires...a loving and obedient faith?
"If you love Me, keep My commandments." (Jn 14:15)
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
Having examined the character of these witnesses in our last lesson we need to look at the nature of their testimony. Hard, empirical evidence - Jn 20:25 "Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!"’; Ac 10:40-41 "But three days later, God raised him to life and let him be seen. Not everyone saw him. He was seen only by us, who ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. We were the ones God chose to tell others about him."; 1 Jn 1:1 "The Word that gives life was from the beginning, and this is the one our message is about. Our ears have heard, our own eyes have seen, and our hands touched this Word." Objective, not subjective evidence, testimony that cannot be attributed to hallucinations, dreams, etc.
Note the transformation which took place. Prior to the resurrection, they were cowards who had lost hope! They fled at His arrest - Mk 14:50 "All of Jesus' disciples ran off and left him." Peter denied Him. They hid for fear of the Jews - Jn 20:19 "The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group." Yet, after the resurrection, they were praising God and proclaiming Christ boldly as having been raised from the dead! Praising God in the temple - Lk 24:52-53 "After his disciples had worshiped him, they returned to Jerusalem and were very happy. They spent their time in the temple, praising God." Proclaiming Christ, despite persecution - Ac 5:28-32"We told you plainly not to teach in the name of Jesus. But look what you have done! You have been teaching all over Jerusalem, and you are trying to blame us for his death." Peter and the apostles replied: We don't obey people. We obey God. You killed Jesus by nailing him to a cross. But the God our ancestors worshiped raised him to life and made him our Leader and Savior. Then God gave him a place at his right side, so that the people of Israel would turn back to him and be forgiven. We are here to tell you about all this, and so is the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to everyone who obeys God.", 41-42 "The apostles left the council and were happy, because God had considered them worthy to suffer for the sake of Jesus. Every day they spent time in the temple and in one home after another. They never stopped teaching and telling the good news that Jesus is the Messiah." Even an honest Orthodox Jew admits that the transformation in their lives is strong evidence for their testimony:
"If the disciples were totally disappointed and on the verge of desperate flight because of the very real reason of the crucifixion, it took another very real reason in order to transform them from a band of disheartened and dejected Jews into the most self-confident
missionary society in world history." (PINCHAS LAPIDE, former chairman of the Applied Linguistics Department at Israel's Bar-Iland University). Lapide concluded that a bodily resurrection could have possibly been that reason! (TIME, May 7, 1979). The change in the apostles gives strength to their testimony.
Consider the high moral standard they taught and lived. They exhorted disciples to live holy lives - 1 Th 4:1-7 "Finally, my dear friends, since you belong to the Lord Jesus, we beg and urge you to live as we taught you. Then you will please God. You are already living that way, but try even harder. Remember the instructions we gave you as followers of the Lord Jesus. God wants you to be holy, so don't be immoral in matters of sex. Respect and honor your wife. Don't be a slave of your desires or live like people who don't know God. You must not cheat any of the Lord's followers in matters of sex. Remember, we warned you that he punishes everyone who does such things. God didn't choose you to be filthy, but to be pure." They lived their own lives in an unimpeachable way - 1 Th 2:10-12 "Both you and God are witnesses that we were pure and honest and innocent in our dealings with you followers of the Lord. You also know we did everything for you that parents would do for their own children. We begged, encouraged, and urged each of you to live in a way that would honor God. He is the one who chose you to share in his own kingdom and glory." Does this sound like people who would propagate a lie if they knew better?
Consider the sacrifices they paid in life and death. They endured much hardship because of their testimony - 1 Co 4:9-13 "It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us. Because of Christ we are thought of as fools, but Christ has made you wise. We are weak and hated, but you are powerful and respected. Even today we go hungry and thirsty and don't have anything to wear except rags. We are mistreated and don't have a place to live. We work hard with our own hands, and when people abuse us, we wish them well. When we suffer, we are patient. When someone curses us, we answer with kind words. Until now we are thought of as nothing more than the trash and garbage of this world." All but one of the apostles died violent deaths because of their testimony of the resurrection. Even James, Jesus' brother, was thrown off the temple and clubbed to death for his refusal to recant his eyewitness testimony of the resurrection of Jesus! Deny the resurrection of Jesus, and you impugn the honesty and integrity of these witnesses! They would have had to been rank liars and frauds, out to deceive the world! Yet, these are the very ones who tell us what we know of Jesus, whose life and teachings has transformed the history of the world and the lives of millions! These are the ones who gave us the New Testament, containing the highest standard of morality the world has ever known! Does it make sense to call such men liars and frauds? To accept their testimony and the fact of the resurrection is not only rational, it is the beginning of the kind of faith which will come to hate sin!
But there is even more evidence which creates this kind of faith, fulfilled messianic prophecy. This was also an important foundation upon which faith in Christ was based. Jesus used this to strengthen the faith of His disciples. Note the two disciples on the road to Emmaus - Lk 24:25-27 "Then Jesus asked the two disciples, "Why can't you understand? How can you be so slow to believe all that the prophets said? Didn't you know that the Messiah would have to suffer before he was given his glory?" Jesus then explained everything written about himself in the Scriptures, beginning with the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets." Also note the teachings of Jesus to the apostles - Lk 24:44-48 "Jesus said to them, "While I was still with you, I told you that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Books of the Prophets, and in the Psalms had to happen." Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened." In their own teaching and preaching, the apostles appealed to fulfilled prophecy; Peter - Ac 2:29-31 "My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king. David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay."; 3:18 "But God had his prophets tell that his Messiah would suffer, and now he has kept that promise.", 24 "Samuel and all the other prophets who came later also spoke about what is now happening." Philip - Ac 8:35 "So Philip began at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus." Paul - Ac 17:2,3 "So as usual, Paul went there to worship, and on three Sabbaths he spoke to the people. He used the Scriptures to show them that the Messiah had to suffer, but that he would rise from death. Paul also told them that Jesus is the Messiah he was preaching about."
How strong is this evidence? Consider there are at least 330 prophecies in the OT fulfilled in Jesus Christ! Twenty-nine (29) were fulfilled in one day! Such prophecies were spoken at various times by many different people during the ten centuries from 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C. The science of probabilities demonstrates that it is nigh to impossible Jesus fulfilled these prophecies out of coincidence. In one study (by Peter Stoner), eight (8) prophecies were considered:
The likelihood of anyone fulfilling just these eight by chance was calculated to be 1 in 10 to the 17th power. This would be like finding on the first try, while blindfolded, a marked silver dollar in a pile of silver dollars two-feet high covering the entire state of Texas!
In another study (also by Peter Stoner), forty-eight (48) prophecies were considered:
The likelihood of a coincidence was 1 in 10 to the 157th power! How big a number is 10 to the 157th power? Counting at the rate of 250 a minute it would take you 19 million times 19 million times 19 million years to count such a number! Remember, that is just calculating the chance of any one man coincidentally fulfilling 48 prophecies - Jesus fulfilled 330!
Look at it another way. Your chances of surviving a fall from 10,000 feet without a parachute is 1 in 10 million - would you "willingly" jump and take such a chance? Yet to reject Jesus because one thinks fulfilling 330 prophecies was coincidental is infinitely more risky than jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet without a parachute! We would say that anyone who jumped out of an airplane with such odds against survival is either stupid, crazy or ignorant of the risks. What about someone who takes the chance of rejecting Christ in view of the overwhelming odds he is wrong about Christ???
This is the kind of evidence in the Word of God to create faith in Jesus as the Son of God:
Eyewitness testimony of the resurrection of Jesus by numerous, reliable witnesses.
Fulfilled messianic prophecy that overwhelmingly convinces any informed, rational and
objective person! Yes, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." - Ro 10:17
What kind of faith? A faith that hates sin, for what it did (separated us from God). For what it cost (the death of God's only begotten Son). For what it can do when engaged in by the unrepentant Christian (crucify again the Son afresh - He 6:4-6).
A faith that loves God for what He has done, for what He is doing and for what He will do.
A faith that will do whatever God desires me to do, to rid my life of the guilt of sin (e.g., faith, repentance, and baptism).
A faith that will utilize whatever blessing God offers to overcome the problem of sin (e.g., remission of sins, gift of the Holy Spirit, the promise of eternal life). Do you have that kind of faith which the gospel both gives and requires...a loving and obedient faith?
"If you love Me, keep My commandments." (Jn 14:15)
This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
Sunday, January 15, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "Love" Of Sin - Part Two
The Gospel's Answer To The "Love" Of Sin (Faith In Jesus) - Part Two
Faith comes from the Word of God (Ro 10:17). Indeed, as the apostles of Christ proclaimed the gospel, they presented evidence designed to create faith in the hearts of their listeners. We continue this lesson looking at the evidence of the Gospel creating a faith that answers the problem of "the love of sin" The evidence that creates such faith is found in eyewitness testimony concerning Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. This evidence is an important foundation upon which faith in Christ is based! Jesus knew this was how people would come to believe on Him - Jn 17:20 "I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me." Therefore, in their preaching and teaching, the apostles appealed to this line of evidence.
Peter - Ac 2:32 "All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!"; 3:14-15 "You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free, and you killed the one who leads people to life. But God raised him from death, and all of us can tell you what he has done."; 4:33 "In a powerful way the apostles told everyone that the Lord Jesus was now alive. God greatly blessed his followers,"; 10:39-41 "We all saw what Jesus did both in Israel and in the city of Jerusalem. Jesus was put to death on a cross. But three days later, God raised him to life and let him be seen. Not everyone saw him. He was seen only by us, who ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. We were the ones God chose to tell others about him."
John - Jn 20:30-31 "Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have true life."; 1 Jn 1:1-3 "The Word that gives life was from the beginning, and this is the one our message is about. Our ears have heard, our own eyes have seen, and our hands touched this Word. The one who gives life appeared! We saw it happen, and we are witnesses to what we have seen. Now we are telling you about this eternal life that was with the Father and appeared to us. We are telling you what we have seen and heard, so that you may share in this life with us. And we share in it with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."
Paul - 1 Co 15:3-8 "I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say. Christ appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After this, he appeared to more than five hundred other followers. Most of them are still alive, but some have died. He also appeared to James, and then to all of the apostles. Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time."
How strong is this evidence? Consider the number of witnesses. This affects the strength or weakness of any testimony. For example, the OT required at least two or three - Deu 17:5-6 "But you will need two or three witnesses--one witness isn't enough to prove a person guilty. Get rid of those who are guilty of such evil. Take them outside your town gates and have everyone stone them to death. But the witnesses must be the first to throw stones." In this regard, the strength is very strong - 1 Co 15:5-8 "Christ appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After this, he appeared to more than five hundred other followers. Most of them are still alive, but some have died. He also appeared to James, and then to all of the apostles. Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time." (over 500 people!)
One needs to also consider the character of these witnesses. Some had not believed in Christ prior to His resurrection, like His brothers in the flesh - Jn 7:3-5 "and Jesus' brothers said to him, "Why don't you go to Judea? Then your disciples can see what you are doing. No one does anything in secret, if they want others to know about them. So let the world know what you are doing!" Even Jesus' own brothers had not yet become his followers."; Mk 3:21 "When Jesus' family heard what he was doing, they thought he was crazy and went to get him under control."
But after the resurrection, they too became disciples! - Ac 1:14 "The apostles often met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind. The women and Mary the mother of Jesus would meet with them, and so would his brothers." Some were disciples who had been skeptical after His death e.g., Thomas - Jn 20:24-25 "Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!"’ Only after hard, empirical evidence did he believe - Jn 20:26-28 "A week later the disciples were together again. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples and said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!" Thomas replied, "You are my Lord and my God!"’ Some were former enemies who had violently opposed Christ (e.g., Paul). They were not gullible people willing to believe anything!
Having examined the character of these witnesses we need to look at the nature of their testimony. We will make this examination as we continue our lesson in Part Three.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Faith comes from the Word of God (Ro 10:17). Indeed, as the apostles of Christ proclaimed the gospel, they presented evidence designed to create faith in the hearts of their listeners. We continue this lesson looking at the evidence of the Gospel creating a faith that answers the problem of "the love of sin" The evidence that creates such faith is found in eyewitness testimony concerning Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. This evidence is an important foundation upon which faith in Christ is based! Jesus knew this was how people would come to believe on Him - Jn 17:20 "I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me." Therefore, in their preaching and teaching, the apostles appealed to this line of evidence.
Peter - Ac 2:32 "All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!"; 3:14-15 "You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free, and you killed the one who leads people to life. But God raised him from death, and all of us can tell you what he has done."; 4:33 "In a powerful way the apostles told everyone that the Lord Jesus was now alive. God greatly blessed his followers,"; 10:39-41 "We all saw what Jesus did both in Israel and in the city of Jerusalem. Jesus was put to death on a cross. But three days later, God raised him to life and let him be seen. Not everyone saw him. He was seen only by us, who ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. We were the ones God chose to tell others about him."
John - Jn 20:30-31 "Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have true life."; 1 Jn 1:1-3 "The Word that gives life was from the beginning, and this is the one our message is about. Our ears have heard, our own eyes have seen, and our hands touched this Word. The one who gives life appeared! We saw it happen, and we are witnesses to what we have seen. Now we are telling you about this eternal life that was with the Father and appeared to us. We are telling you what we have seen and heard, so that you may share in this life with us. And we share in it with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."
Paul - 1 Co 15:3-8 "I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say. Christ appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After this, he appeared to more than five hundred other followers. Most of them are still alive, but some have died. He also appeared to James, and then to all of the apostles. Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time."
How strong is this evidence? Consider the number of witnesses. This affects the strength or weakness of any testimony. For example, the OT required at least two or three - Deu 17:5-6 "But you will need two or three witnesses--one witness isn't enough to prove a person guilty. Get rid of those who are guilty of such evil. Take them outside your town gates and have everyone stone them to death. But the witnesses must be the first to throw stones." In this regard, the strength is very strong - 1 Co 15:5-8 "Christ appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After this, he appeared to more than five hundred other followers. Most of them are still alive, but some have died. He also appeared to James, and then to all of the apostles. Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time." (over 500 people!)
One needs to also consider the character of these witnesses. Some had not believed in Christ prior to His resurrection, like His brothers in the flesh - Jn 7:3-5 "and Jesus' brothers said to him, "Why don't you go to Judea? Then your disciples can see what you are doing. No one does anything in secret, if they want others to know about them. So let the world know what you are doing!" Even Jesus' own brothers had not yet become his followers."; Mk 3:21 "When Jesus' family heard what he was doing, they thought he was crazy and went to get him under control."
But after the resurrection, they too became disciples! - Ac 1:14 "The apostles often met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind. The women and Mary the mother of Jesus would meet with them, and so would his brothers." Some were disciples who had been skeptical after His death e.g., Thomas - Jn 20:24-25 "Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!"’ Only after hard, empirical evidence did he believe - Jn 20:26-28 "A week later the disciples were together again. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples and said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!" Thomas replied, "You are my Lord and my God!"’ Some were former enemies who had violently opposed Christ (e.g., Paul). They were not gullible people willing to believe anything!
Having examined the character of these witnesses we need to look at the nature of their testimony. We will make this examination as we continue our lesson in Part Three.
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Saturday, January 07, 2006
The Gospel's Answer To The "Love" Of Sin - Part One
The Gospel Of Christ And The Problem Of Sin
The Gospel's Answer To The "Love" Of Sin (Faith In Jesus) - Part One
In the previous lesson, we introduced "How The Gospel Addresses The Problem Of Sin" In this lesson we focus our attention to that part of the problem which is the "love" of sin. We saw that sin does have its pleasurable side - He 11:24-25 "Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called Pharaoh's grandson. He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of having the good time that sin could bring for a little while." This pleasure makes it easy for men to love sin. Such love often blinds men to the truth - Jn 3:19 "The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light." Such love definitely alienates one from the love of the Father - 1 Jn 2:15 "Don't love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you cannot love the Father."
The gospel of Jesus Christ answers the problem of the "love" of sin by commanding us to have "faith," in particular, to "believe in Christ", notice Mk 16:15-16 "Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned." Faith can be defined as "a strong conviction, assurance". When we come to have the right kind of faith, we will come to no longer love sin, but even to hate it! As the Psalmist expressed in Psa 119:104 "Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way." (ASV) In this study, I want to do two things:
1.) Define the kind of faith the gospel requires to really hate sin.
2.) Briefly consider the evidence the gospel presents to create that kind of faith.
A faith necessary to hate sin starts with faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. That the gospel requires such faith is clear - Jn 20:30-31 "Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have true life."; 1 Jn 5:13 "All of you have faith in the Son of God, and I have written to let you know that you have eternal life." A strong conviction that Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary, was indeed the Messiah foretold by the Jewish prophets - Ac 2:36 "Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross." A strong faith that He is more than just a good man, but the only begotten Son of God - Jn 1:14 "The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us."
A strong faith that Jesus died for our sins because God loves us. Believing that Jesus died for our sins is a necessary part of the gospel - 1 Co 15:1-3 "My friends, I want you to remember the message that I preached and that you believed and trusted. You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing. I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say." Understand...Jesus died for OUR sins! Just as the Scriptures foretold He would - Isa 53:4-6 "He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well. All of us were like sheep that had wandered off. We had each gone our own way, but the LORD gave him the punishment we deserved." Why, because God loves us! - Jn 3:16 "God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die."; Ro 5:8 "But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful."
A Faith that God raised Jesus from the dead. This fact is also an important part of the gospel
Consider 1 Co 15:3-4 "I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say."; Ro 10:9 "So you will be saved, if you honestly say, "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death."
How does such a faith cause us to hate sin? If we are strongly convicted that Jesus was truly the beloved Son of God, He was really the Christ, the promised Messiah, that God loved us so much (and hated sin so much) that He sent His Son to die for us, and that God raised Him from the dead to prove to us that His death was an acceptable sacrifice for sin... then how can we not hate sin? With such a faith, we now hold sin responsible for making the death of Christ necessary in the first place! The anguish God must have felt when He saw the separation between Him and us! Deemed it necessary to have His Son die for us! The pain and agony suffered by Jesus! In the garden of Gethsemane - Mt 26:39 "Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want."’ On the cross of Calvary - Mt 27:46 "Then about that time Jesus shouted, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?"’ When we understand and really believe these things, then we will say with the Psalmist: "Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I HATE every false way." - Psa 119:104
This is the kind of faith called for in obedience to the gospel, and the kind of faith which effectively deals with the love of sin! But how does one gain this kind of faith? Faith comes from the Word of God (Ro 10:17). Indeed, as the apostles of Christ proclaimed the gospel, they presented evidence designed to create faith in the hearts of their listeners. In the continuation of this we will look at the evidence that creates such a faith that answers the "love" of sin, in part two.
The Gospel's Answer To The "Love" Of Sin (Faith In Jesus) - Part One
In the previous lesson, we introduced "How The Gospel Addresses The Problem Of Sin" In this lesson we focus our attention to that part of the problem which is the "love" of sin. We saw that sin does have its pleasurable side - He 11:24-25 "Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called Pharaoh's grandson. He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of having the good time that sin could bring for a little while." This pleasure makes it easy for men to love sin. Such love often blinds men to the truth - Jn 3:19 "The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light." Such love definitely alienates one from the love of the Father - 1 Jn 2:15 "Don't love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you cannot love the Father."
The gospel of Jesus Christ answers the problem of the "love" of sin by commanding us to have "faith," in particular, to "believe in Christ", notice Mk 16:15-16 "Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned." Faith can be defined as "a strong conviction, assurance". When we come to have the right kind of faith, we will come to no longer love sin, but even to hate it! As the Psalmist expressed in Psa 119:104 "Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way." (ASV) In this study, I want to do two things:
1.) Define the kind of faith the gospel requires to really hate sin.
2.) Briefly consider the evidence the gospel presents to create that kind of faith.
A faith necessary to hate sin starts with faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. That the gospel requires such faith is clear - Jn 20:30-31 "Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have true life."; 1 Jn 5:13 "All of you have faith in the Son of God, and I have written to let you know that you have eternal life." A strong conviction that Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary, was indeed the Messiah foretold by the Jewish prophets - Ac 2:36 "Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross." A strong faith that He is more than just a good man, but the only begotten Son of God - Jn 1:14 "The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us."
A strong faith that Jesus died for our sins because God loves us. Believing that Jesus died for our sins is a necessary part of the gospel - 1 Co 15:1-3 "My friends, I want you to remember the message that I preached and that you believed and trusted. You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing. I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say." Understand...Jesus died for OUR sins! Just as the Scriptures foretold He would - Isa 53:4-6 "He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well. All of us were like sheep that had wandered off. We had each gone our own way, but the LORD gave him the punishment we deserved." Why, because God loves us! - Jn 3:16 "God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die."; Ro 5:8 "But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful."
A Faith that God raised Jesus from the dead. This fact is also an important part of the gospel
Consider 1 Co 15:3-4 "I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say."; Ro 10:9 "So you will be saved, if you honestly say, "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death."
How does such a faith cause us to hate sin? If we are strongly convicted that Jesus was truly the beloved Son of God, He was really the Christ, the promised Messiah, that God loved us so much (and hated sin so much) that He sent His Son to die for us, and that God raised Him from the dead to prove to us that His death was an acceptable sacrifice for sin... then how can we not hate sin? With such a faith, we now hold sin responsible for making the death of Christ necessary in the first place! The anguish God must have felt when He saw the separation between Him and us! Deemed it necessary to have His Son die for us! The pain and agony suffered by Jesus! In the garden of Gethsemane - Mt 26:39 "Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want."’ On the cross of Calvary - Mt 27:46 "Then about that time Jesus shouted, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?"’ When we understand and really believe these things, then we will say with the Psalmist: "Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I HATE every false way." - Psa 119:104
This is the kind of faith called for in obedience to the gospel, and the kind of faith which effectively deals with the love of sin! But how does one gain this kind of faith? Faith comes from the Word of God (Ro 10:17). Indeed, as the apostles of Christ proclaimed the gospel, they presented evidence designed to create faith in the hearts of their listeners. In the continuation of this we will look at the evidence that creates such a faith that answers the "love" of sin, in part two.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
How The Gospel Addresses The Problem Of Sin
The Gospel Of Christ And The Problem Of Sin
How The Gospel Addresses The Problem Of Sin
A number of years ago a book came out with the title: "Whatever Happened To Sin?" This is a relevant question, for today "sin" is often taken too lightly by the world, even by the church. Exactly what is sin? The Bible speaks definitively, describing sin as:
A transgression of the law of God - 1 Jn 3:4 "Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law." A failure to do what you know to be right - Ja 4:17 "If you don't do what you know is right, you have sinned." Doing that which violates your conscience, even if the act is right within itself - Ro 14:23 "But if you do have doubts about what you eat, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin." The Bible also reveals the seriousness of sin, which is seen...
In its universality - "all have sinned..." (Ro 3:23)
In its consequences - "The wages of sin is death..." (Ro 6:23)
Even so, I am not sure that many people, even some Christians, truly appreciate the problem of sin or how the gospel of Christ effectively addresses this problem! The goal of this lesson is to introduce thoughts that should increase our understanding and appreciation of "How The Gospel Of Christ Addresses The Problem Of Sin".
We begin by first noticing the problem of sin. There is the "love" or pleasure of sin. Sin does have a pleasurable nature - He 11:24-25 "Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called Pharaoh's grandson. He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of having the good time that sin could bring for a little while." It is this pleasurable side that makes it easy for men to love sin, which in turn can then blind them to the truth - Jn 3:19 "The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light." Then there is the practice of sin. The seriousness of this aspect of sin is seen in that ALL have sinned! - Ro 3:23 "All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory." Even Christians continue to practice sin at times - 1 Jn 1:8-10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts."
Those who both love and practice sin are said to be dead "in" sin - Ep 2:1 "In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God." This pertains to our relationship to God; as far as He is concerned, our practice of sin places us in a state in which we are dead "to" Him! In the Scriptures, this refers primarily to "legal" guilt, but it often includes as well
"emotional" guilt. We may try to deny or suppress this truth, but a Holy God still recognizes our guilt before Him - Ro 3:19 "We know that everything in the Law was written for those who are under its power. The Law says these things to stop anyone from making excuses and to let God show that the whole world is guilty."
Jesus spoke of the enslaving power of sin - Jn 8:34 "Jesus replied: I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin!" Sin is so powerful, that even when a person wants to do good, outside of Christ they are unable to do so consistently - cf. Ro 7:14-21. The end result of sin is death, an eternal separation from God. "The wages of sin is death" (Ro 6:23). In the Scriptures, death includes the idea of separation (e.g., physical death is the separation of body and spirit - Ja 2:26). The result of sin is "spiritual death," or separation from God. Such separation exists in this life, but even more so in the life to come! - Re 21:8 "But I will tell you what will happen to cowards and to everyone who is unfaithful or dirty-minded or who murders or is sexually immoral or uses witchcraft or worships idols or tells lies. They will be thrown into that lake of fire and burning sulfur. This is the second death."
Such is the problem of sin. Do we appreciate what a serious problem it really is? How does the
Gospel Of Christ address this problem? Bear in mind that the gospel consists of:
ü Facts to believe
ü Commands to obey
ü Promises to receive
The facts to believe are concisely stated in 1 Co 15:1-4 "My friends, I want you to remember the message that I preached and that you believed and trusted. You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing. I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.", which reveal things that God has done in Christ. These things which God has done make it possible for the commands and promises of the gospel to really address the problem of sin!
Now let’s consider how the Gospel addresses the problem of sin. First, the "Commands" of the gospel; the command to "believe in Christ" addresses the "love" of sin. That it is necessary to believe is evident from Mk 16:15-16 "Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned." When a person really believes in Christ and the facts the gospel tells about Him they will come to hate sin for what it cost God and Christ. They will have the attitude expressed by the Psalmist in Psa 119:104 "They give me understanding and make me hate all lies." The point is, true faith helps to eliminate our love for sin.
"Reprnt of sins" addresses the "practice" of sin.The gospel clearly calls mankind to repent - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God!(Repent, JMN) Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."; 17:30-31 "In the past, God forgave all this because people did not know what they were doing. But now he says that everyone everywhere must turn to him. He has set a day when he will judge the world's people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death." When a person truly repents (a decision of the mind that leads to a change of action), they will cease living a life devoted to the practice of sin.
"Be baptized into Christ" addresses the "state" of sin. Remember, outside of Christ our state is "dead in sin". The gospel includes the command to be baptized - Mk 16:15-16 "Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned."; Mt 28:18-20 "Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," When we are baptized, our "state" changes. For baptism puts us in Christ - Ga 3:27 "And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes." In Christ, we are now "dead TO sin", no longer "dead IN sin" - Ro 6:1-7 "What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God's wonderful kindness will show up even better? No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father. If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. We know that sin doesn't have power over dead people."
And now for the "Promises" of the gospel; the promise of "remission of sins" addresses the guilt of sin. Remission of sins is promised to those who repent and are baptized - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God!(Repent, JMN) Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit." When sin has been remitted, there is no longer any guilt!
"The gift of the Holy Spirit" addresses the "power" of sin. The gift of the Holy Spirit is likewise promised to those who repent and are baptized - Ac 2:38 "....., Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit." With the help of God's Spirit, we are no longer under the power of sin - Ro 8:12,13 "My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires."; Ep 3:16 "God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers", 20 " I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen."
"Eternal Life" addresses the "result" of sin. Instead of spiritual death and eternal separation from God, we can have spiritual life and eternal communion with Him! As Paul put it so succinctly: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ro 6:23)
In succeeding lessons we will examine these commands and promises more carefully. But I trust that we see "How The Gospel Of Christ Addresses The Problem Of Sin" in a wonderful and powerful way! Have you let the gospel address your problem of sin? By...
ü Believing the facts of the gospel?
ü Obeying the commands of the gospel?
ü Receiving the promises of the gospel?
Do so, and through Jesus Christ you can overcome the problem of sin!
This study is from a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
How The Gospel Addresses The Problem Of Sin
A number of years ago a book came out with the title: "Whatever Happened To Sin?" This is a relevant question, for today "sin" is often taken too lightly by the world, even by the church. Exactly what is sin? The Bible speaks definitively, describing sin as:
A transgression of the law of God - 1 Jn 3:4 "Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law." A failure to do what you know to be right - Ja 4:17 "If you don't do what you know is right, you have sinned." Doing that which violates your conscience, even if the act is right within itself - Ro 14:23 "But if you do have doubts about what you eat, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin." The Bible also reveals the seriousness of sin, which is seen...
In its universality - "all have sinned..." (Ro 3:23)
In its consequences - "The wages of sin is death..." (Ro 6:23)
Even so, I am not sure that many people, even some Christians, truly appreciate the problem of sin or how the gospel of Christ effectively addresses this problem! The goal of this lesson is to introduce thoughts that should increase our understanding and appreciation of "How The Gospel Of Christ Addresses The Problem Of Sin".
We begin by first noticing the problem of sin. There is the "love" or pleasure of sin. Sin does have a pleasurable nature - He 11:24-25 "Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called Pharaoh's grandson. He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of having the good time that sin could bring for a little while." It is this pleasurable side that makes it easy for men to love sin, which in turn can then blind them to the truth - Jn 3:19 "The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light." Then there is the practice of sin. The seriousness of this aspect of sin is seen in that ALL have sinned! - Ro 3:23 "All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory." Even Christians continue to practice sin at times - 1 Jn 1:8-10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts."
Those who both love and practice sin are said to be dead "in" sin - Ep 2:1 "In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God." This pertains to our relationship to God; as far as He is concerned, our practice of sin places us in a state in which we are dead "to" Him! In the Scriptures, this refers primarily to "legal" guilt, but it often includes as well
"emotional" guilt. We may try to deny or suppress this truth, but a Holy God still recognizes our guilt before Him - Ro 3:19 "We know that everything in the Law was written for those who are under its power. The Law says these things to stop anyone from making excuses and to let God show that the whole world is guilty."
Jesus spoke of the enslaving power of sin - Jn 8:34 "Jesus replied: I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin!" Sin is so powerful, that even when a person wants to do good, outside of Christ they are unable to do so consistently - cf. Ro 7:14-21. The end result of sin is death, an eternal separation from God. "The wages of sin is death" (Ro 6:23). In the Scriptures, death includes the idea of separation (e.g., physical death is the separation of body and spirit - Ja 2:26). The result of sin is "spiritual death," or separation from God. Such separation exists in this life, but even more so in the life to come! - Re 21:8 "But I will tell you what will happen to cowards and to everyone who is unfaithful or dirty-minded or who murders or is sexually immoral or uses witchcraft or worships idols or tells lies. They will be thrown into that lake of fire and burning sulfur. This is the second death."
Such is the problem of sin. Do we appreciate what a serious problem it really is? How does the
Gospel Of Christ address this problem? Bear in mind that the gospel consists of:
ü Facts to believe
ü Commands to obey
ü Promises to receive
The facts to believe are concisely stated in 1 Co 15:1-4 "My friends, I want you to remember the message that I preached and that you believed and trusted. You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing. I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.", which reveal things that God has done in Christ. These things which God has done make it possible for the commands and promises of the gospel to really address the problem of sin!
Now let’s consider how the Gospel addresses the problem of sin. First, the "Commands" of the gospel; the command to "believe in Christ" addresses the "love" of sin. That it is necessary to believe is evident from Mk 16:15-16 "Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned." When a person really believes in Christ and the facts the gospel tells about Him they will come to hate sin for what it cost God and Christ. They will have the attitude expressed by the Psalmist in Psa 119:104 "They give me understanding and make me hate all lies." The point is, true faith helps to eliminate our love for sin.
"Reprnt of sins" addresses the "practice" of sin.The gospel clearly calls mankind to repent - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God!(Repent, JMN) Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."; 17:30-31 "In the past, God forgave all this because people did not know what they were doing. But now he says that everyone everywhere must turn to him. He has set a day when he will judge the world's people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death." When a person truly repents (a decision of the mind that leads to a change of action), they will cease living a life devoted to the practice of sin.
"Be baptized into Christ" addresses the "state" of sin. Remember, outside of Christ our state is "dead in sin". The gospel includes the command to be baptized - Mk 16:15-16 "Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned."; Mt 28:18-20 "Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," When we are baptized, our "state" changes. For baptism puts us in Christ - Ga 3:27 "And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes." In Christ, we are now "dead TO sin", no longer "dead IN sin" - Ro 6:1-7 "What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God's wonderful kindness will show up even better? No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father. If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. We know that sin doesn't have power over dead people."
And now for the "Promises" of the gospel; the promise of "remission of sins" addresses the guilt of sin. Remission of sins is promised to those who repent and are baptized - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God!(Repent, JMN) Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit." When sin has been remitted, there is no longer any guilt!
"The gift of the Holy Spirit" addresses the "power" of sin. The gift of the Holy Spirit is likewise promised to those who repent and are baptized - Ac 2:38 "....., Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit." With the help of God's Spirit, we are no longer under the power of sin - Ro 8:12,13 "My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires."; Ep 3:16 "God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers", 20 " I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen."
"Eternal Life" addresses the "result" of sin. Instead of spiritual death and eternal separation from God, we can have spiritual life and eternal communion with Him! As Paul put it so succinctly: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ro 6:23)
In succeeding lessons we will examine these commands and promises more carefully. But I trust that we see "How The Gospel Of Christ Addresses The Problem Of Sin" in a wonderful and powerful way! Have you let the gospel address your problem of sin? By...
ü Believing the facts of the gospel?
ü Obeying the commands of the gospel?
ü Receiving the promises of the gospel?
Do so, and through Jesus Christ you can overcome the problem of sin!
This study is from a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001
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