Fundamentals of the Faith Lesson # 7 The Work of Christ

Some people think that Jesus died as a martyr.

They think that Jesus is just a great example of someone who died for a cause.

How ever a martyr cannot take away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

The Scriptures tell us that “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” 1 Peter 2:24.

Mans Need for Christs Work

A.) According to Romans 3:10-12, every man is guilty of six things.

1.) none righteous

2.) none who understands

3.) none who seeks for God

4.) all have turned aside

5.) they have become useless

6.) no one does good

Romans 3:23 sums up the problem. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

B.) To what is man a slave?

John 8:34 ESV

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

We are all a slave to sin:

Theres nothing we can do to get out of it.

Theres nothing we can do to change it.

C.) What is the result of Sin?

James 1:15 ESV

15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Death is the result of sin.

God is pure and Holy and can not be in the presence of sin.

D.) Because of our sin who did we follow?

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

We followed the things of the world.

We followed the wrong things.

We must also continue to be careful of the things that we follow.

E.) Whose wrath will the “sons of disobedience” experience?

Ephesians 5:6 ESV

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Gods wrath will be on all those who do not repent from their sinful ways.

God will not tolerate sin!

Galatians 3:10 ESV

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

As we saw in lesson 3 God asserts His holiness and demands conformity to that holiness. Man is faced with:

Sin: Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Having God as his enemy: James 4:4

James 4:4 ESV

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Subjection: to the power of Satan: 1 John 5:19

1 John 5:19 ESV

19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

Being helpless to save himself: Romans 5:6

Romans 5:6 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Death: Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Condemnation and eternal separation from God: 2 Thessalonians 1:9

2 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV

9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

The Cost of Christ’s Work

A.) Philippians 2:7-8

Philippians 2:7–8 ESV

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

1.) What are 3 things Christ did when He came to earth?

a.) emptied Himself

b.) took the form of a bond-servant

c.) found in appearance as a man

2.) What happened to Jesus on earth, according to Isaiah 53:3?

Isaiah 53:3 ESV

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

3.) Forgiveness of sins requires what?

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

4.) What price did Christ pay to redeem us?

1 Peter 1:18–19 ESV

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

5.) What did Jesus cry out on the cross?

Matthew 27:46 ESV

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

6.) What did God do to Jesus while He was on the cross?

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

THE PROVISIONS OF CHRIST’S WORK

Jesus Christ came to earth to pay the price for sin.

That price was His own life, which He gave voluntarily (John 10:11, 17–18).

His sacrifice was the only way to take away sin for all time (Hebrews 9:12).

What Jesus’ death accomplished.

A. 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.”

B. Romans 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

C. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

D. Galatians 1:4 “[Jesus] gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”

E. Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

F. Romans 6:6–7 “Our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.”

Jesus Christ: The Answer to All Man’s Problems Concerning Salvation

Christ’s work on the cross and His resurrection are the only solution to man’s problems.

That is why Peter could proclaim of Jesus Christ:“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”—Acts 4:12

Refer to your answers in the first section of this lesson, and note how Christ is the answer to each of man’s problems.Man’s ProblemThe Solution in ChristScripture

A. Guilt before God

1. Not righteous “Through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19

2. Not understanding “The Son of God has come, and has given us understanding.”1 John 5:20

3. Not seeking God“The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”Luke 19:10

4. Turned away from God“You were … straying … but now you have returned to the Shepherd.”1 Peter 2:25

5. All have become useless“These qualities … render you neither useless nor unfruitful in … Christ.”2 Peter 1:8

6. No good works“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”Ephesians 2:10

B. Slavery to sin “Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”Romans 8:2

C. Facing death “He who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life.”John 5:24

D. Facing the wrath of God“Justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”Romans 5:9

THE MOTIVE FOR CHRIST’S WORK

A. Why did God save men

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 ESV

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

Because He loves us. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.… God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

B. What attribute of God is demonstrated in His salvation of men

1 Peter 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Mercy. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

C. Why does the author call God’s mercy great

Romans 5:6, 8

Romans 5:6 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Because He died for the unworthy

THE RESOLUTION AND CONTINUATION OF CHRIST’S WORK

Christ’s death on Calvary finished His redemptive work for man (John 19:30).

But salvation’s story does not end there.

The grave could not hold Christ; He lives and continues the work He began for us.

A.) How was Christ declared to be the Son of God

Romans 1:4

“… with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

B.) After Christ made purification of sins, how was He exalted

Hebrews 1:3 “… He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

C.) We experience spiritual death through Adam’s sin. What benefit do we gain through Christ’s resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:21–22

“in Christ all will be made alive.”

The Bible refers to Christ’s resurrection as “the firstfruits.”

This is an Old Testament term that speaks of the firstfruits of the harvest; these fruits were set apart for the Lord.

When used in the New Testament, “firstfruits” implies a pledge of more harvest to follow.

Therefore, Christ’s resurrection holds the promise of resurrection for others also.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:20–22; 1 PETER 1:3

D.) Now that we have been drawn to God through Christ, what is Jesus able to do

Hebrews 7:25“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since Healways lives to make intercession for them.”

E.) What role does Christ hold exclusively

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

F.) When Jesus was going to leave, what did He promise He would do

(John 14:3)? “If I goand prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there youmay be also.”

APPLICATION

When some people are confronted with the reality of who Christ is, they realize they have made a terrible error in what they have believed or how they have lived.

They are deeply convicted in their hearts. Consider the example of the men in Jerusalem, whose eyes were opened to the truth.

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ ”—ACTS 2:37

What can you do?

▶ Acknowledge that you have sinned and are not acceptable to God.

▶ Repent and call upon the name of Jesus to save you.

▶ Seek forgiveness through His blood shed for you.

▶ Acknowledge that He is the rightful ruler in your life.

▶ Thank God for His love and grace.

○ I have repented of my sins and called upon the name of Jesus Christ, believing in Him as Lord and Savior.

○ I have not received Christ, but I am still earnestly seeking.