Principles of Salvation Present Work of Christ To

Principles of Salvation Present Work of Christ To Change Us, Not God Gave His Life Faith and Forgiveness Savior Judge

Present Work of Christ

Declarations of Jesus John 16 v 26 -27: direct to the Father Luke 5 v 23 -25: authority (Matt 28 v 18) John 14 v 9 -10: manifest the father

Concepts Mediator Priest Intercede Parakletos

Mediator 1 Tim 2 v 5: For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus God Mankind

Mediator, of a covenant Heb 8 v 6: . . . the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. Heb 9 v 15: For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. . . Heb 12 v 24: to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel

Priests 1 Sam 15 v 22: sacrifices? Mal 2 v 7: messenger! Heb 4 v 14 -16: sympathize

Rom 8 v 31 -34 If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Principle God is on our side

Rom. 8: 34 Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Heb. 7: 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Principle Christ intercedes (intervenes) in our lives

Practical Intercession against sin

The Work of Jesus 1 John 2 v 1: Jesus the counselor, comforter John 14 v 16 -18: I will come to you John 17 v 11: Father protect them

Rom 8 v 26 -27 We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit itself intercedes [intervenes] for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the he intercedes [intervenes] for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

To Change us, not God

Why Did Jesus Have To Die?

Why Did Jesus Die?

The Substitution Theory Crimes requiring death have been committed Someone has to pay for them Jesus volunteered to be that person

Problems with Substitution Unjust Wrong penalty Precludes forgiveness Wrong focus

Change Meter God must change We must change

Change Meter God must change We must change

Change Us John 14 v 31: the world must learn Col 1 v 22 -23: present us holy Rom 12 v 1 -2: Offer yourselves 1 Pet 2 v 21: follow his example

Two questions: Was it God’s will that Jesus should submit to death? Were the people who killed Jesus doing God’s will?

Murder Acts 7 v 51 -52: You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him.

Principle Jesus was murdered by sinners like us

Bore our Sins Rom 4 v 25 Our sins killed him Raw sin. Murderous intent. Isa 53 v 6 The LORD made him face the iniquity of us all (lit. )

We cannot doubt how sinful sin is

He died in order. . . To witness to us to show what complete obedience to God looks like — to inspire us to show the complete and utter sinfulness of sin — we can be in no doubt. . .

Principle The death of Jesus was to change us, not God

Have we been changed by his death ? ?

Resurrection and Salvation Rom 4 v 25 I Cor 15 v 17 Rom 10 v 9 -10 1 Pet 3 v 21 Phil 3 v 10 John 14 v 19 !! What role does his resurrection play? Why is it so important?

He died in order. . . To witness to us to show what complete obedience to God looks like — to inspire us to show the complete and utter sinfulness of sin — we can be in no doubt To complete his own spiritual development to learn total submission — be perfected

Gave His Life

Lay Down His Life John 10 v 11 A battle to the death Heb 2 v 14 Another battle

A Grain Dies John 12 v 24 The seed puts its whole life-force into creating the plant

Gave the Whole of His Life Mark 5 v 21 -43: Giving strength Matt 8 v 20: Nowhere to lay his head Mark 10 v 29: Left everything. . .

Principle Jesus gave the whole of his life to save us

Propitiation? Some translators use the English word “Propitiation” It means: To appease or placate Original uses a family of Greek words Hilas-komai, hilas-mos, hilas-terion What do they mean?

Propitiation? No! Mercy! Luke 18 v 13: smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner Jesus does not placate God !! He is our mercy, our route to forgiveness

Mercy Rom 3 v 25: whom God set forth as a mercy-seat, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness. . . Heb 2 v 17: that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to be merciful for the sins of the people.

Mercy Heb 9 v 5: and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; 1 John 2 v 2: and he is the means of mercy for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. 1 John 4 v 10: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the means of mercy for our sins.

What about Blood? Heb 9 v 22 ? ? Doesn’t God demand blood sacrifice ? ? In the Law. . . Apply the principle in Christ Deut 12 v 23: Blood = Life Rev 12 v 11: Overcame

Covering “Jesus is a covering for sin” “God cannot look on sin” Gen 3 v 21 Why were the fig leaves not enough

Confronted by God Fear We feel ashamed Hide

Confidence Isa 6 v 6 : lips cleansed Heb 4 v 16, 10 v 19 -22: enter with confidence Heb 9 v 14: cleanse our conscience

Principle God works to reassure us

Summary so far It wasn’t God who needed the death of Christ The death of Christ is intended to change us, to help us give up our lives too God knows we are fearful, so he does things to reassure us, to give us confidence Jesus devoted his whole life for our salvation His work is not yet finished, so he had to rise from the dead

Faith and Forgiveness

Glory of God Ex 34 v 6 -7 Forgiving wickedness Punishing the guilty

Constraint Triangles Example. . . Cost Pick any two Quality Time

God’s Constraints Human freewill Pick any two Loving community Everybody accepted

God Doesn’t Want Robots Human freewill Pick any two Loving community Everybody accepted

Today Human freewill Pick any two Loving community Everybody accepted

Kingdom Human freewill Pick any two Loving community Everybody accepted

Righteousness What is sin? Love God = Love neighbor as yourself Matt 22 v 37 -40 1 John 4 v 20 -21

Has the mechanism of salvation changed with the death of Christ?

How are we saved?

Sacrifice? Micah 6 v 6 -8 What shall I offer for my rebellious acts? Ps 51 v 16 -17 No pleasure in burnt offerings Ps 40 v 6 -8 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire

Law and Christ Law Christ

Principle Faith (trust) has always been the basis of salvation

Faith and Righteousness Gen 15 v 6: Faith credited as righteousness Quoted four times Rom 4 v 3, 4 v 22 Gal 3 v 6 Jas 2 v 23

Active Faith Greek: pistis (noun), pisteuo (verb) Faith, believe, i. e. trust What does faith/belief enable? Heb 11 v 6: confidence Rom 10 v 9 -11: active trust Ezek 18, Jas 2 v 18: actions!

Principle Truly desire to be righteous, and God will bring it about

Stages in Salvation God declares our sin (and his love) We agree, and want to be different He forgives, and liberates us from our guilt We trust, and participate in his work of making us different He completes the work in resurrection and judgment

Stages in Salvation God declares our sin (and his love) Heb 1 v 1: they will listen to my son We agree, and want to be different Job 40 v 8, Ps 51 v 3 -4 He forgives, and liberates us from our guilt Rom 5 v 1 -2, Heb 10 v 22, Eph 2 v 4 -6

Stages in Salvation We trust, and participate in his work of making us different Rom 5 v 3 -5, Rom 6 v 1 -4, Gal 4 v 19 (Ezek 2 v 1 -2: Stand! God stood him up) Eph 2 v 10, Phil 2 v 12 -13, Rom 12 v 2 He completes the work in resurrection and judgment Phil 1 v 6, 1 John 4 v 17

Salvation Happens When We Trust (Faith), God Forgives, and we are transformed

Principle Sin is forgiven, not paid for

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Savior Judge

Principle God is the savior

Saving and Judging are two sides of the same coin He wants us to be there Salvation has intrinsic requirements

Prophet Leaders Dt 18 v 16 -18: Intermediary to lead the people Raise up a prophet like you Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Hezekiah, Zerubbabel, Peter, Paul

Why Appoint Someone? God’s limitations? or, our weakness? Heb 4 v 15: able to sympathize EITHER: God cannot sympathize, OR: We might sometimes fear that God cannot sympathize

God seeks one to lead us Ezek 22 v 30 : in the breech Luke 13 v 6 -9 : nurture the fig tree Isa 59 v 16 : own arm worked salvation

Savior Judge What should the Savior Judge be like? Sin distorts message, leadership, correct judgment John 14 v 9 -10: manifest the Father Acts 5 v 31: exalted to provide repentance and forgiveness Matt 9 v 6: forgiveness of sins

Perfecting of Christ Heb 5 v 8 -9: freewill, obedience John 17 v 19: devoted himself to God Phil 2 v 10: submitted, and elevated Rev 5 v 5, 9: triumphed and worthy

We agree, and want to be different He forgives, and liberates us from our guilt We trust, and participate in his work of making us different He completes the work in resurrection and judgment in God declares our sin (and his love) ea Je ch su of s is th in es vo e lv st ed ep s The Salvation Process

Principle Christ is able to save and judge on God’s behalf

Principle The Book of Life is being written now

Judgment and Salvation Dan 7 v 10, 26: heavenly court Rev 20 v 12, 15: books, and book of life I John 4 v 17: confidence Rev 3 v 5 -6: reassurance

Our savior is a living active Lord Who has been perfected Who shows us the way to go Who forgives our failure Who brings us to his Father And who stands beside us to help us May God be praised!