Our Response/Building on the Foundation

Review

GOD, THE GOOD RULER AND CREATOR

Revelation 4:11 “11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.””

Summary

God is the ruler of the world.

He made the world.

He made us to rule his good world, giving thanks and honor to him.

OUR REBELLION AGAINST GOD

Isaiah 53:6a “6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;

Summary

We all reject God as our ruler by running our own lives our own way.

By rebelling against God’s way, we damage ourselves, each other, and the world.

GOD'S JUSTICE

Hebrews 9:27 “27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,”

Summary

God won’t let us rebel against him forever.

God’s punishment for rebellion is death and judgment.

GOD SENT JESUS TO DIE FOR US

Isaiah 53:6 “6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Summary

Because of his love, God sent his Son into the world: the man Jesus Christ.

Jesus always lived under God’s rule.

But Jesus took our punishment by dying in our place.

JESUS, THE RISEN RULER AND SAVIOR

1 Peter 1:3 “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

Summary

God raised Jesus to life again as the ruler and judge of the world.

Jesus has conquered death, now brings forgiveness and new life, and will return in glory.

New Material

TWO WAYS TO LIVE

John 3:36 “36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”

Summary

There are only two ways to live.

Our way

reject God as ruler

live our own way

damaged by our rebellion

facing death and judgment

God’s new way

submit to Jesus as our ruler

rely on Jesus’ death and resurrection

forgiven by God

receive a new life that lasts forever

Biblical Responses

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Mark 1:14–15 (NIV)

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

John 3:16 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:36 (NIV)

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

John 7:37 “37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.”

Acts 2:36–38 (NIV)

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:14–21 (NIV)

14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. 17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

Acts 16:29–34 (NIV)

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

Acts 20:18–21 (NIV)

18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

2 Corinthians 7:9–10 (NIV)

9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

1 Thessalonians 1:8–10 (NIV)

8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Read John 3:36. What alternative to belief is presented? Where do you see these alternatives present throughout our Two Ways to Live outline?

Key Concepts

Repentance

In our outline we use a more culturally understandable term – submit.

Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action.

2 Corinthians 7:10 “10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

1 Thessalonians 1:9–10 “9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”

Isaiah 55:6–7 “6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

Faith

Faith is not, an experience, a feeling, a blind leap in the dark

Faith is trust

Faith is signifiant because of its object – Christ’s work.

Faith and repentance cannot exist apart from one another.

Christ

Repentant faith does not merit our salvation, Jesus does.

Repentant faith enters us into union with Christ where we rest in him instead of rely on ourselves.

Alternatives

The middle road – Sometimes we do what god wants; sometime we go our own way

Meeting God halfway – Good works help atone for my sin

Jesus is my friend – Jesus is my friend, but he is not my Lord

Why is the gospel difficult to accept for religious or moral people?