2 Corinthians 5:21 "Jesus Our Savior"

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. ~2 Corinthians 5:21

As we discussed last week, we are fallen beings who are in need of a Savior. Without someone to pay the price for our sins, we cannot be in relationship with God because He cannot condone sin. Someone must pay the price. That someone was Jesus Christ. The Almighty chose to come down from His throne humbling Himself into the human body of His creation.

And as the sacrificial Lamb, He paid a dear price. His body was severely beaten then placed on a cross. His torturers drove iron nails through His hands and feet; pierced His side with a spear. Christ’s death was horrific, but the Lamb went suffered willingly for you and me. His grace-filled gift is our life renewed.

Within the arms of Jesus, we not only have salvation, but protection and guidance. He has given us life and shown us how to live. As our Lord, we are safe in His arms.

Further Thoughts:

1. Why did the chief priests arrest Jesus? How did God use their sin to His own purpose?
2. Read an account of Jesus’ crucifixion in John 19:16-30. Write your thoughts on His sacrifice.
3. Compare and contrast the death of Christ compared to the sacrifices of the Old Testament.
4. What completes Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and separates Him from all the other gods that man worships? (HINT: See John 20:1-9)

Lord, You endured such horrors for me. Thank You for Your grace and sacrifice which passes all understanding. Amen.

John 1:14 "Jesus, 100% Man"

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~John 1:14

God determined that someone needed to pay the final price for man’s sins, so He became that man. By sending His Son, He fulfilled the penal punishment and became the final sacrifice ever needed for our sins. He desired that no more blood be shed for sins, so He became just like us. Born as a baby, Christ learned to walk and talk and grew into a man like all men. He battled temptation as we all do. We see evidence of that when He went into the desert and Satan tempted Him with all the very same temptations he throws at us today. Christ walked as a man and endured the elements like we do. He needed food to live and suffered when His body was abused. He bled like we do and cried out to the Father for mercy in the same way we cry out in our own pain. And when His body could take no more, he died like all men die.

In every way, Jesus walked this earth as a man. Living, loving, laughing, eating, sleeping, suffering, and then dying. Yet…. He walked it as 100% God and did it perfectly. Christ, in His perfect humanity, showed us how to live our lives pleasing to the Father.

Further Thoughts:

1. Find examples from Scripture that demonstrated Christ’s humanity.
2. In the above examples, can we live in our humanity as He did, or does our lack of divinity make us weaker and less able? Explain.
3. Why does Christ’s humanity offer comfort to us today?

Father, thank You for humbling Yourself for my sake and demonstrating how to live. Continue to guide me on that path. Amen.

1 John 10:30 "Jesus, 100% God"

I and the Father are one. ~John 10:30

The divinity of Jesus is questioned by many, but has many points of proof as to its veracity. God, the Father, sets the stage from the very beginning of creation with His use of the word, “us” to describe Himself amid the Trinity. Then the prophets predict Christ’s virgin birth showing forethought and divine intervention. How else would a baby be born without intercourse unless God intervened.

Christ’s life continues to demonstrate His divine nature. He possessed a knowledge of people beyond given information. His ability to heal the sick and raise the dead showed a power beyond a mere human being. His wisdom and authority over the spiritual realm by calling out demons displayed for all present an authority beyond humanity.

But even with all the evidence, there is still an element of faith that must be practiced to believe that Jesus was God incarnate. And that is a step we all must take to walk as His devoted followers.

Further Thoughts:

1. What Scripture other than John 10:30 speaks of Christ’s divinity?
2. What is the definition of “Immanuel?”
3. Why is it important that we believe He is 100% God?
4. How does Christ’s divinity separate Christianity from other religions?

Father, thank You for sending Yourself to atone for my sins. You humbled Yourself; now teach me how to humble myself before You and others. Amen.

2 Timothy 1:9 "A Way to Make Us Worthy"

…who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time…. ~2 Timothy 1:9

We are all sinners. Romans 3:23 says, “For we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” We can choose to be good people, but that will not pay the price for our sins nor will it make us worthy to be in the presence of God. We are only made worthy through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Matthew 10:38 says, “…and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Our worth is not by anything we do but by who we choose to be. Just as he called the disciples to follow Him, in the same way Christ is calling us to follow Him with our life.

Surrender of the heart is a very difficult action. We want to guard ourselves from submitting to anyone. Our natural tendency is for self-preservation and self-control. In other words, we want to be our own God. But if we surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and accept the unearned gift He is offering, then and only then will we be worthy to enter into a relationship with the Father. It’s the grace of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice that makes us worthy.

Further Thoughts:

1. Why did God choose to be in relationship with me?
2. Am I made worthy to be in His presence? Why or why not?
3. Am I choosing daily to take up my cross and follow Him? If yes, in what ways? If no, why not?
4. Relationships take work. Am I willing to become all God wants me to be? If not, what is hindering me?

Father, You did all You needed to do to make me worthy to be in a relationship with You. Now I choose to be the person I need to be. Amen.

Romans 6:23 "Consequences of Sin"

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 6:23

One thing mankind in general has trouble coming to grips with is that there is a hell. The last things we want to think about as we pursue our own agenda are the consequences. We already deal with temporary consequences for sin here in our lifetime, we don’t want to consider something terrible that lasts for eternity. Yet God has definitely established a permanent consequence for sin and it is hell – an eternal separation from God.

Many people want to argue that if God is a God of love, He would never send anyone to hell. But remember the points we’ve already covered. 1) God is perfect love and perfectly just and 2) God and sin cannot live together. Someone has to pay for our sins and since He is a loving God, He already provided the sacrifice. We just have to provide the repentant heart. God doesn’t send people to hell, we make choices. If we follow the Father, we follow what His heart’s desire is – that no one should enter eternal separation from Him.

Further Thoughts:

1. What temporary consequences of sin do we suffer now?
2. What Scripture supports the fact that there is a hell?
3. In your own words, describe what you believe hell would be like.
4. In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus says that not all people who call themselves Christians will enter heaven. Who does He say will enter? Explain why.

Father, forgive me my sins and I choose to stay on a path toward righteousness. My desire it for eternity with You. Amen.

Romans 8:5 "Sinful Nature or Human Choice?"

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ~Romans 8:5

All people are born with a sinful nature. They have an innate desire to go against God’s laws because sin and rebellion were allowed to come into the human existence. God provided free will, but man chose to act on that will and chose poorly. The sinful nature focuses not on God’s ways and direction, but on selfish desires and self-promotion all coming back to the first sinner – Lucifer—and his desire to be God. In the same way, our sins are an acting out of a personal desire to be our own god and in control of all we are and do.

God’s laws, however, are in sharp contrast to the sinful nature. A complete turn-around in fact. We exist for a relationship with Him and to live in that relationship, we must live in holiness as He is holy. The only way for that to happen is to choose to live by His Spirit and not by our selfish desires.

So the answer to the question is “both.” We must constantly fight with our sinful nature which will want to draw us back to all ways contrary to God. But we also have a choice – to choose our own way, or to choose the ways of the Spirit.

Further Thoughts:

1. In what areas do you fight your sinful nature?
2. What Scripture can you memorize to speak against the sinful nature when it wants to take over?
3. What choices can you make today to overcome your sinful nature?
4. What assurances do we have that the sinful nature can be overcome? Support with Scripture.

Father, I know my nature is to sin, but by Your power and cleansing, I claim holiness. Help me Holy Spirit. Amen.

Genesis 3:6-8 "Adam and Eve"

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ~Genesis 3:6-8

The first human beings under the gift of free will chose to sin against God’s laws. And at the time, He only had one law to follow – ‘Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’ They were given freedom on every other account. They could have lived amazing lives among all the animals while dining in the most beautiful garden ever to exist. But human selfishness took over. The oldest of desire of having more began with Adam and Eve. They were capable of resisting the enemy’s temptations, but they choose to yield to their base desire – to be like God. And thus, they chose to become their own god. They placed themselves above the Almighty and were banished from the garden. They wanted power, but all their sin brought them was knowing evil and cursing every generation to follow.

Further Thoughts:

1. What were the gifts that God had given Adam and Eve?
2. Why was the one thing out of their reach so enticing?
3. How does the enemy use this same tactic on us today? List specific examples.
4. What are we to do to resist sinful temptations? Support with Scripture.

Father, Adam and Eve chose to disobey. Forgive me for making the same choices. Cleanse me of my sin and Holy Spirit, help me to resist the enemy’s temptations. Amen.