Love as a Way of Life



Study Series: What a Savior!By: W. A. CriswellLesson Title: How the Death of Christ Saves Us (pp. 41-49)March 26, 2017Session 04 The main point of this lesson is: Despite the death caused by sin, God devised a means by the death of Jesus for individuals to be made right with Him.Focus on this goal: To help adults marvel at the mystery of God’s forgiving grace and seek it if they have not already done so.Key Bible Passage: John 3:14-15To the LeaderRead Romans 5 in your Bible, circling and pondering every “much more” statement. Spend unhurried time marveling at what Christ has done for you. You might not have time to cover every single concept and Scripture passage covered in this teaching guide, but that’s O.K. Your strongest teaching tool is your own awe and gratitude at God’s amazing grace demonstrated in the death of His Son.During the SessionStep 1. Lead-in Ask: What is your favorite genre of books or movies: action, sci-fi, comedy, mystery? Who would you say are some of the greatest mystery writers? (Examples: Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Edgar Allen Poe, Ken Follett.) Declare the author of the greatest mystery of all time is God. As opposed to the common definition of mystery as a puzzle that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain, the definition of God’s mystery is a secret once hidden but now revealed.Step 2. Day 1 – The Mystery of AtonementDiscuss Day One, activity 1 (p. 42). State God’s revealed mystery is that He “has reconciled sinners to Himself through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ.” Explain this is the doctrine of atonement, simply defined by Criswell as “how the death of Christ saves us” (p. 41). State that, at first glance, John 3:14-15 might make the concept of atonement even more of a mystery. Invite a volunteer to read those verses. Set these verses in context by reading Numbers 21:4-9. Evaluate what point Jesus was making by referring to this event. Emphasize the bronze serpent was not an idol but a symbol of God’s mercy. There was no magic in the statue; rather people were spared God’s wrath when they exercised faith in His provision by obediently looking up at the snake. In a far greater way, when people place their faith in Jesus’ crucifixion, God removes His judgment against their sin and gives them eternal, abundant life. But there is still a mystery as we seek to understand how Jesus’ death can bring us life.Step 3. Day 2 – There is Death in SinAsk: Why did any provision need to be made so we could have eternal life? Draw attention to the Day Two quote in the margin of page 43. Ask a volunteer to read the second paragraph beginning, “But the same Lord God who pronounced…” (p. 43). Explain that the concept of someone paying for another’s sin is termed substitutionary atonement. Invite responses to Day Two, activity 1 (p. 43). Explain redemption is another theological term for what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Use the remarks in Day Two to explore the concepts of redemption and ransom. State the illustration we might understand best is of someone giving all he has to pay off our enormous debt. But the question still remains, how could Jesus’ death on the cross save us from death and pay our sin debt? Remind adults they were asked in Session 1 (Day Five, activity 1, p. 14) to determine from Leviticus?17:11 and Hebrews?9:22 why blood is essential for forgiveness of sin. Invite them to share once again their understanding of the necessity of blood for forgiveness. State the Old Testament sacrificial system was intended to emphasize the huge severity of sin; something had to die and blood be spilled to cover sin. Explain the significance of the Passover Lamb and scapegoat. Complete Day Two, activity 2 (p. 44).Step 4. Day 3 – The Lamb of God, Jesus, Pays Our Debt of Sin, Part 1Ask: Even if we begin to understand the necessity of blood, the mystery still remains: why did it take the blood of Jesus to avert God’s judgment against our sin? Draw attention to the Day Three quotes in the margin of pages 44 and 45. Discuss Day Three, activity 1 (p. 45). Invite a volunteer to read Hebrews 9:24-26. Evaluate how that passage further illuminates the concept of “once for all” that appears in verse 12. Encourage adults to underline in their Bibles the phrase “much more” or its equivalent in verse 14. Ask: What does that phrase say to you about Jesus’ atoning sacrifice? Continue looking at “much more” statements by discussing Day Three, activity 2 (p. 45).Step 5. Day 4 – The Lamb of God, Jesus, Pays Our Debt of Sin, Part 2Discuss Day Four, activity 1 (p. 47). To further examine how the Spirit reveals the mystery of the atonement, request adults follow along in their Bibles as you read John 16:7-15. Discuss: What functions does the Holy Spirit perform that reveals God’s “hidden wisdom in a mystery” (1?Cor. 2:7, CSB)? (Examples: convicts people of sin; impresses that they are dead and lost without Christ; points to Jesus’ work on the cross as the only way to be right with God; convinces that Satan was judged on the cross and that all who do not trust in Christ will be judged as well.) Step 6. Day 5 – Saved by the Intercessory Life of Our LordExplore the three benefits of belonging to Christ discussed in Day Five (pp. 48-49). Invite responses to Day Five, activity 1 (p. 48).Step 7. Make It PracticalState: Perhaps even a greater mystery than how the death of Jesus saves us is why He would die for us. Invite a volunteer to read John 3:14-16. Ask: Why did Jesus die for you? What is the only logical response to this mystery of His great love for us? (Refer to Day Five, activity 2, p. 49.) Close in prayer. ................
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