Gods grand story -lesson 6

Jesus the High Priest

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

simply, Jesus is always interceding for us in heaven.

What do you think He says about you to the Father and how does this encourage you?

The Bible says that Jesus’ role is in interceding on our Behalf, Think of that in light of the role of Satan?

What does Satan Before the Father?

accusing us. (Zechariah 3:1-5 is a good picture of this.)

Jesus may pray a lot of things for us in heaven, but one clear aspect of His advocacy is in declaring us clean when the enemy accuses us of sin.

Read Hebrews 10:19-24

Hebrews 10:19–24 (ESV)

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

In light of the fact that only the high priest could enter the holiest place in the Temple }one day a year, what is the writer of Hebrews saying to Christians about our access to God?

This passage recalls the tearing of the curtain in the Temple when Jesus was crucified. It also speaks volumes about those who have been cleansed by Jesus by faith.

How did Jesus enable our entrance into heaven’s “holy of holies”? In what ways do we benefit from this privilege?

Through the finished work of Christ, we are clean enough to stand in God’s presence, and we are qualified to serve as priests— those who represent humanity to God and God to humanity.

Works of Faith

Romans 6:1-2

Romans 6:1–2 (ESV)

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Paul understood that some might distort the message of salvation by grace through faith alone.

How does James address those same concerns?

James hammered away at so-called faith that consists only of orthodox thoughts and religious talk.

James 2:26 (ESV)

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

His point was that true faith results in works.

A vibrant, living, God-honoring faith amounts to more than warm thoughts about Jesus—it is living like Jesus.

Saving faith isn’t an idea, it is a way of life.

It manifests itself in acts of love and service.

Salvation sets us free—not from living as God intended, but in order to live as God intended.

So How does our obedience as a Christian play into our salvation?

Obedience is a result of our internal transformation, not the cause of it.

We obey because we’ve been saved, not in order to be saved. The message of the New Testament is that gospel change is essential and fundamental...as well as profound enough to produce within us the right attitudes and actions.

In meeting Christ we become new creatures; in walking with Christ, we live out our new identity. Biblical commands can help indicate how well we are doing that; they can’t produce the change themselves.

Real Trials, False Teachers

Read 1 Peter 2:9-10

1 Peter 2:9–10 (ESV)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

What do these verses say about our true identity?

How might these words be comforting in a difficult time?

When life isn’t going well, we hear voices (external and internal) that try to name us, and shame us: “loser...sinner...idiot...screw-up...failure...knucklehead...hypocrite.”

Those voices go on to also interpret our situations in ways that simply aren’t true: “See...God has forgotten you...rejected you...abandoned you.”

It’s crucial that regardless of how we feel, and no matter what seems to be the case, we remind ourselves often of who we are in Christ.

Peter says here we’ve been picked by God, that we’re kingly and holy, that we’re recipients of God’s favor and blessing.

What are other Scriptures that speak to our identity in Christ?

Many people recklessly charge “heresy” when they simply disagree with someone else’s teaching.

Yet we do have to be on guard for destructive false teachings. According to 2 Peter 2:1-3

2 Peter 2:1–3 (ESV)

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

what are the characteristics of the false teachers Peter is writing about?

False teachers are found in the church (“among the people...among you”).

They deny Jesus (which includes denying some of His hard teachings).

They quietly and subversively advocate destructive ideas.

They embrace (and engage in) sensuality and thus become objects of ridicule.

They are greedy and prey on those who they can exploit.

Children of God

1 John 5:12 (ESV)

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

What do you think it means to “have the Son”?

John actually explains what it means “to have the Son” in his very next phrase/verse 13, when he says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

John uses various synonyms in his writings to refer to belief. Here, to believe in the name of someone is the same thing as believing in the person (because one’s name represents or stands for the person—his/her person, character, reputation, etc.).

This means that “believing in the name of” Jesus (1 John 5:13) is the same thing as “believing” in Jesus (John 3:16).

It’s also the same thing as “receiving” Him (John 1:12), or “having” Him (1 John 5:12).

How can we know if we have the Son?

By the fruit that our life produces.

Far better (and safer) to rest our assurance of salvation on the promises and trustworthiness of God and not on how holy we are living. Read 1 John 4:17-21

1 John 4:17–21 (ESV)

17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Why does John say that perfect love drives out fear?

In what ways does understanding and receiving God’s love make us unafraid?

The gospel of Jesus says simultaneously that (a) our sinful condition is far worse than we can ever imagine, and that (b) God’s love for us is deeper than we can ever fathom. Because of Christ, we don’t have to defend ourselves, prove ourselves, struggle to earn God’s acceptance, wonder about our destiny, or fret over our future. We’re loved and kept. We have significance and security. If we know these things, then what is there, really, to be scared of? If Christ is for us, who can be against us? If Christ, in love, meets all our needs, suddenly we’re freed up to move toward others in love. We can say with the psalmist: “What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:4, 11; 118:6).

Completion

Many Christians are both frightened and comforted by the book of Revelation. What emotions do you feel as you consider its message?

In what ways is it ultimately encouraging?

Questions like these are both fun and dangerous. You can quickly find yourself far down some interesting bunny trails! Watch your time, and pay particular attention to people’s responses. Are they fearful, agitated, angry, or tearful as they discuss? If so, this group discussion might lead to some even deeper one-on-one conversations later this week. Read

Revelation 5:6–10 (ESV)

6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

In what ways do you think the people of God will reign on earth with Him?

Only God knows what the new heavens and new earth will be like. But as fully redeemed people in a fully restored universe (perhaps like Eden before the fall), it’s an awesome thing to consider what ruling with Christ will be like. Imagine all your creative abilities working to perfection in an environment that is unmarred by sin and its effects.

What do you think it means to be a kingdom of priests?

Priests represent God to people and people to God.

This is our calling for now. We can intercede on behalf of friends, loved ones, neighbors, and coworkers. And we can plead on behalf of heaven, “Be reconciled to God.”

General

At several points in this overview of the New Testament, you’ve likely had the opportunity to discuss what it really means to be a Christian and how faith in Jesus leads not only to forgiven sins but a radically new experience of life.

But before this study ends, make sure the invitation is expressed clearly.

Has each participant had a chance to recommit to Jesus or accept Him for the first time?

Invite group members to share any decision and/or commitment they have made during the course of the study.