In this lesson, Mark Twombly begins overviewing the work of Jesus Christ. Specifically, Mark first looks at how Christ’s person corresponds to Christ’s work and then Mark considers man’s need for Christ’s work, the cost of Christ’s work, and the provision of Christ’s work.
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morning and welcome to Calvary Community Church Sunday School May 21st right already week after Mother’s Day and we’re going to continue in the fundamentals of the faith today we’re going to dive into the work of Christ and so the key verse that I’ve chosen for us today is in Colossians 2 verses 9 and 10.
for in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily and in him you have been filled who is the head over all rule and Authority let me pray for us father God we are in awe of you having journeyed through your attributes in the last few weeks and in the person of Christ last week I pray that these realities these Supernatural realities would land in our hearts that our hearts would be truly captivated by Christ and that our desire to know him and to be like him would surpass all other Desires in our life father that you know as the Apostle Paul said he has suffered the loss of all things in order that he may be might gain Christ than to be found in him father give us that heart we think of how the Apostle Paul said that his life was of no account or a valuable to himself but that he might complete the course that you’ve given him and so as we think about the circumstances that we’re in the struggles we have with difficult circumstances and difficult people maybe we are maybe we are one of those one of those difficult people father but we pray that you would help us to look to you to be transformed and to live in light of Eternity in light of your presence in Jesus name amen well we’ve got a lot to cover today but fortunately unlike Khalif who had to do the quick uh version last week I’ve got two weeks so um we’ll see if we can even make it with that because we’re talking about the work of Christ and um my prayer is that this just wets our appetites to be thinking about this all the time we never get past the gospel we never get past the work of Christ and so um you could let me go ahead and get the next slide here our memory verse I don’t know if you guys are doing the memory verse but um there we go um in in your book there’s a couple things that I just want to emphasize it’s a memory verse for each lesson and there’s also I think if you look at the beginning of the book there’s recommended audios that you can get online from John McArthur sermons for each lesson and some of it’s kind of older um John McArthur like when he’s quoting from the King James and such which is kind of fun but they’re excellent so if you haven’t taken advantage of those please do that I think they’ll really help fuel this study for you so the verse is First Corinthians 15 3-4 for I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and then he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures so important I think as a gospel verse um to emphasize the full work of Christ right his Humanity his death his burial and his resurrection I find that unless we’re intentional we miss something about that we want to present we want to understand ourselves and present the full work of Christ all right and this is our key verse as well as I mentioned and I want us to think about this because there’s a real connection between the person of Christ and his work they’re not separate in the same way it is for us right we can only work out of our identity right and Christ is a savior Christ saves because he is a savior right his his PR his person indicates his work and then that’s how he Transit how he uh transforms us as well he transa transforms us from the inside out we’re going to explore that a little bit more but he wants to just think a little bit pause on this verse for a little bit in him all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form Christ is completely God Hebrews 1 says that he is the exact representation of his nature there’s nothing lacking in Christ in him you have been made complete amazing you think about it particularly if you read the Pauline Epistles all the time it says in him it’s really worth reflecting what it means for us to be in Christ and the implications in our lives right in him we have been made complete that’s a spiritual reality I don’t know about you but I struggle to believe that every day do you feel complete each and every day as you wake up I don’t but I want you to walk in that spiritual reality and he is the head overall Rule and Authority a couple things to think about there one is he is ruling over all circumstances and all people the question for us is am I submitting in my heart to his Rule and Authority right the extent to which I’m anxious for example that’s my big struggle I recognize is the extent to which I am not subjecting myself resting in his Rule and authority and so this is very real and very practical for us so I pray that we would really understand our need and we’ll cover this in our lesson um our past and ongoing need for a savior right we didn’t just need him for salvation we need him continually for sanctification that we would understand the cost of God’s work in Christ and we’re going to get into the provision that we would understand the provision of Christ’s work and that we would really demonstrate the presence of the Risen Christ to others we’re going to get into that a little bit and we would live lives of repentance and Faith one of the verses that I come back to a lot is in Colossians 2 just a couple verses before what we just read therefore as you have received Christ Jesus says Lord so walk in him how I’ll ask you this how have we received Christ as Lord in what way by faith okay there’s another word that I’m thinking of as well begins with R righteousness righteousness is good that’s I’m talking about our response to him yeah and the word I’m looking for is repentance we come to him in Repentance and Faith repentance I hope you understand is not a one-time thing we continue to live that cycle of repentance and faith in our lives all right and so this is this is what I’m thinking of in terms of its implications in our lives and I really commend this passage to you from memory it’ll it’ll inform and Empower you each and every day for God who said light shall shine out of darkness is the one who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ but we have this treasure in Earthen vessels that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves in every way Afflicted but not crushed perplexed but not despairing persecuted but not forsaken struck down but not destroyed always caring about in the body the dying of Jesus so that the life of Jesus Also may be manifested in our body this is very humbling this is very hard this is very beautiful right anyone feel Afflicted this week perplexed I’m going to say yes to all those the sparing yeah yeah but we always care about in the body the dying of Jesus we’re dying to self and living to him that’s a constant battle with sin and so this is a sense and there’s a sense in which the work of Christ is very personal very practical in our lives we live this out every day and as I challenged us earlier how much do you and I want to be like Christ what is the extent of that desire I’ll look real briefly at Philippians 3 that I quoted earlier we look at the example the Apostle Paul Philippians 3 starting at verse 9 and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own which is from the law but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness which is from God upon faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship like so I like that that I may know him and the power of his resurrection great keep going and the fellowship of his sufferings being conformed to his death in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead so when we look at a passage like this I challenge us how much do we want to be like Christ how much do we want to be like Christ is it and is it worth it it is so I’ll I’ll leave the Holy Spirit to work on our hearts in that um in Colossians as well well there’s so many places I can go here um Paul said I fill up what is lacking right in Christ’s afflictions in my flesh on behalf of his body which is the church does that mean that that there was anything lacking in the work of Christ regarding our salvation no but God calls us to suffer so that we might be like him so much better to suffer and to be like Christ than to be comfortable and far from him do you feel that I need to be reminded of this constantly the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be real to us right Romans 8 there’s so many places we can go here right um actually I’m gonna I’m gonna we’ve got some time so I’m gonna look at it Romans 8 um when it talks about what does it mean for us to be children of God Romans 8 I believe it’s starting at verse 15.
actually start in verse 14 for as many as being are being led by the spirit of God these are sons of God for you have not received the spirit of slavery leading to fear again but you have received the spirit of adoption as Sons by whom we cry out Abba Father the spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God and if children airs also Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ great keep reading if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him and so when we think of the work of Christ think about that because that’s how it lands in US day by day so our outline today we’re going to talk about how Christ’s person we’ve already begun to talk about that how his person relates to his work what our need is the cost of Christ’s work and the provision of Christ’s work so person to work just want to make a couple different connections from last week to this week some of the things that Khalif opened up for us right the person of Christ we saw Glory grace truth power he’s our savior he’s our Lord and King what does that mean how does that land right the things that he does as a result of that he became flesh he dwelt Among Us he humbled himself he died and was buried he was risen again he rules in heaven and he rules on Earth there’s a sense in which he rules on Earth today in the sense in which he will rule very obviously in the future so ask this question hey by the way I noticed some of you guys are taking pictures of the slides I’m going to send out the slides for you so don’t feel the need to do that I’ll do that later today in what way is Christ ruling well let’s let’s take the two things in what way is he ruling in heaven right now what’s he doing interceding that’s the main thing right yeah he’s interceding for us isn’t that wonderful we have an advocate yeah yeah he’s ruling his remain he’s reigning in heaven he’s interceding for us what’s he doing on Earth in what way is he ruling through the Holy Spirit yeah unpack that a little bit Glenda how does he do that so the spirit rules in the hearts of his people yeah a couple thoughts on that um I think it’s Galatians 5 24 and 25 if we live by the spirit let us walk by the spirit in other words if the spirit has made you alive let him rule your life that’s that’s the Walk of the Christian yeah um in Ephesians I think there’s a couple passages that talk about how he rules through the church and as you mentioned that Glenda that came to mind Ephesians 1 and Ephesians 3 as I recall it’s amazing to think about this [Music] um wow the prayers in Ephesians 1 and Ephesians 3 are powerful I’m just going to read the end of the one um Ephesians 1 starting at verse 22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church which is his body the fullness of him who fills all in all do we think of ourselves as his body like that it’s amazing he’s feeling as imperfect as struggling as we are he’s filling us individually and corporally corporately as his church I think later on in Ephesians 3 it says something yeah to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever Ephesians 3 21 even earlier in the chapter yeah talking about God’s Eternal purposes I’ll just pick it up in verse 9 Ephesians 3 9.
um and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be known through the church through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the Heavenly places God demonstrated his power through the church I want us to think about how amazing that is think about how weak how flawed how much in need we are it’s through us that God has chosen to demonstrate his power and to the rulers and the authorities to the the to the Heavenly Realms even to the satanic Powers they’ve got to look at this and say I can’t believe God is using these people right I think we have to just shouldn’t be amazed by that so you kind of got me on a tangent they’re going to but thank you so in a very real way in the spiritual Realms he is on Earth through us amazing all right let’s talk about our need if we’re turning your Bible is to Romans 3 I want to suspend just a little bit of time here our need can scarcely be overstated and so we’re gonna we’re gonna chew a little bit on Romans 3 a little bit more than what you have in your book I’m going to go versus 10. through 18.
quoting from the Old Testament as it is written there is none righteous not even one there is none who understands there is none who seeks for God all have turned aside together they have become worthless there is none who does good there is not even one their throat is an open Tomb with their tongues they keep deceiving the poison of asps is under their lips whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness their feet are Swift to shed blood destruction and misery are in their paths and the path of peace they have not known there is no fear of God before their eyes this has always been true of mankind I think in different ages it becomes more obvious I think we live in an age where I think it’s a lot more obvious I don’t know about you I generally do not expect people to be truthful is that too negative is that too pessimistic I’m actually surprised if people tell me the truth and follow through on what they say they’re going to do now you all I love you a little bit differently right I think I have we have valid expectations of one another in Christ but in the world just don’t see that so her guilt is pretty clear right and I think this is in in your in your book right on page 40 41-42 we have no righteousness we have no understanding we have the seeking of God we’ve all turned aside we become worthless we do no good I think this is emphatic for us right it’s almost like well surely there must be something we can do to please God and I think if we understand this passage we recognize how ridiculous that is it’s not possible it’s not yeah it’s just not possible and so this is quoting primarily from Psalm 14 . and it’s interesting for us to think about it we don’t we don’t become Sinners by sinning we sin because we are sinners you understand that right and even as Believers we see this remains with us we have the power of the Holy Spirit but we still see what a struggle it is I think of verses like Genesis 6 5 every intention of the thought was only evil continually right that’s our condition Luke 6 45 out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks wow and hence the verse in Proverbs 4 23 watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the Springs of Life and our very words you know as I think about aging as I see people ahead of me experiencing lack of memory dementia those types of things I think to myself wow I better be putting some good things in there so that good things come out when I don’t have my faculties I’m very concerned about that yeah because there’s there’s things out in there right now that I do not want to come out well what is sin right there’s a number of ways that the scriptures describe it and one of the most helpful ways that I found as a kid is it as I was uh we see like Romans 3 23 for all its sin then fall short of the glory of God and so you may have heard the analogy of God’s righteousness or his standard is like a Target and we shoot the arrow at the Target think of testimony of the scriptures if we look at verses like Isaiah 53 6 all of us like sheep have gone astray each of us has turned to his own way the Lord is laid on him the iniquity of us all I’m going to summarize real quick here but the scriptures say that we not only fall short like if we’re shooting at the arrow we’re not we’re not going to make it we don’t have the distance not only if we turn aside but if we read Romans 3 properly we’re not even aiming in the right direction we’re aiming in the opposite direction we are not even close right it’s not like we need a we need some adjustments to please God right it’s it’s we’re just this is our condition right um so important for us to recognize this all of our righteous Deeds it says in Isaiah 64 6 are as filthy rags think about that for a minute the very best that you can do is absolute filth before God wow I hate to break it to you if you hadn’t really realized that right that’s so important for us to recognize and you know and even having been in Christ I can’t believe it some 50 years now there must be something that I can do to make up for the sins that I’ve done even as a Believer you know I just finished listening to the audiobook of um Grace abounding to the chief of Sinners by John Bunyan who I wrote Pilgrim’s Progress and he said you know he just he was not only overcome by his sins prior to being in Christ but even the things that he did when he was in Christ I hope I’m not the only one who feels that burden sometimes and there’s nothing you and I can do to make up for that nothing it’s all been done you know in Christ and so this is the work of Christ that we talk about we’ll get we’ll get to the more the good news here so let’s dive a little bit more into Romans 3. so that’s our guilt and then here’s the part that didn’t the book really didn’t get into but where does it lead right where does where does our guilt lead to it leads to destruction and death our lives are characterized by deceit cursing violence misery conflict no fear of God I was talking to my brother-in-law yesterday and uh just reflecting on everything that’s going on in our world it’s getting pretty bad and it seems to be accelerating but you know in some ways when you look at this it’s a wonder it’s not so much worse right if we really understand our condition the preserving power the restraining power of over evil that God has generally in this world and his rule in the hearts of his people where salt and light in this world prevent it from being so much worse so isn’t how I like to explain the gospel to unbelievers um it’s well it’s a lot worse than you think but it’s a lot better than you think in terms of the work of Christ so we always need to be reminded of that the next thing that relates to our need is slavery and I love this passage from um John 8. I find it amazing so Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed him if you abide in my word or in The New American Standard if you continue in my word then you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free they answered him we are Abraham’s seed and have never yet been enslaved to anyone anyone else find that phrase ridiculous having known even a little bit about the Old Testament you were slaves for about I don’t know 400 years something maybe not that whole time but you were in slavery right how is it that you say you will become free Jesus answered them truly true I say to you everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin Romans 6 really unfolds this in a marvelous way we’ll get into that in a little bit too um I think it’s in one of the Petron Epistles where it says by what a man is overcome by this he is enslaved right anyone here have bit be setting sins in their lives things that you think well I’m never gonna forget full victory over that I’m not the only one right hopefully better over time but sometimes it just seems impossible and you know after many years of walking with the Lord I think about I have these moments where I sit and I think wow this this sin that I thought I would never get any kind of victory over it just doesn’t have a hold on me like it did it’s not totally gone right we’re not in glory yet but I think wow I I I’m I’m largely free from that what’s interesting is I know that I didn’t do that yes and no right I know that I I walked with the Lord over time I I sought him I I was in his word but I know that my effort didn’t accomplish that he he he transformed and he weakened sin’s grip on me and so I hope you feel that I hope that that when we choose to sin let’s look at it Romans 6 right um this is our our daily decision had a long conversation with uh my brother-in-law yesterday about this uh look at um yeah look at Romans 6 starting at verse 8.
and this is where the the work of Christ really lands in us as Believers now if we have died with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him knowing that Christ having been raised from the dead is never to die again death no longer is Master over him for the death that he died he died of sin once for all but the life that he lives he lives to God even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you obey its lusts and do not go on presenting your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness to God for sin shall not be Master over you for you are not under law but under grace as Believers we have a true Choice each and every day each and every moment right to present ourselves to God as his slaves or to sin but we don’t have to be slaves to sin anymore right Galatians 6 7 and 8 is helpful as well do not be deceived God is Not mocked for whatever a man sows this he will also reap for the one who sows to his own flesh Will from The Flesh reap destruction but the one who sows to the spirit will from the spirit reap eternal life every thought word and action we can sow in One Direction or another praise God we don’t have to be slaves to sin anymore the other part of our need is death Ephesians 2 1-5 amazing to think about this and you were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you formally walk the corner of the course of this world according to the ruler of the power of the air the spirit that is now working in the sons of Disobedience among whom we all also formally conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh doing the desires of the Flesh and of the mind and were by Nature children of Wrath even as the rest but God being rich in Mercy because of his great love with which he loved us even when we were dead in our transgressions made us alive together with Christ by Grace you have been saved it could it can scarcely be overstated people have talked about salvation as being Shipwrecked and adrift in the ocean and somebody throws you a life preserver I’m sorry that is not it at all you’re dead at the bottom of the sea he Scoops you up and brings you brings you to life that’s the picture and so that that’s the that’s the extent of our need yeah and as we said before um are the best that we can do our dead works and do not please God and then this results in Wrath and so uh emphasized a little bit of what we just read among whom we all also formally conducted ourselves in the lust of the flesh doing the desires of the Flesh and of the mind and were by Nature children of Wrath even as the rest Ephesians 5 6 let no one deceive you with empty words for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience and finally Romans 2 5 which I don’t know if that was in your lesson but it’s worthy of consideration but because of your stubbornness an unrepentant heart you are storing up a wrath for yourself in the day of Wrath and revelation of the righteous Judgment of God amazing to think about a lot of people seemingly comfortable seemingly happy oblivious to this but storing up Wrath I find it frustrating sometimes that the consequences of sin aren’t immediate people seem to go about their lives even we do sometimes with a desensitized or no conscience people sin with apparent impunity no at least no short-term consequences you know you see something and you say you know bolt of lightning would be really helpful right now right God has God has chosen not to do it that way wrath is being stored up and God is restraining himself to give opportunity to repent but that need is nonetheless there so let’s turn to Philippians 2 we’re going to spend a little bit of time here about the cost of Christ’s work just several aspects of it if you’re following along in your book I think we are right on page 42 the under the cost of Christ’s work I’m just going to go ahead and read Philippians 2 1-11 let’s hear God’s word together therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ that there is any consolation of love if there is any Fellowship of the spirit if any affection and compassion fulfill my joy that you think the same way by maintaining the same love being united in spirit thinking on one purpose doing nothing from selfish ambition or vainglory but with humility of mine regarding one another as more important than yourselves not really looking out for your own personal interests but also for the interests of others have his way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus who although existing in the form of God did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself taking the form of a slave but being made in the likeness of man being found that appearance as a man he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross therefore God also highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow of those who are in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father amen amen so what did Jesus do when he came to Earth he emptied himself right he emptied himself doesn’t mean he ceased to become God but he became what he was not as someone said without ceasing to be who he was he took on human clothing we see that next he took the form of a slave right he gave up his uh the prerogatives of heavenly Glory he took on the form of a Slave he was made in human likeness and then what was the extent of his humility we see this in verse 8.
became obedient to the point of death could Jesus have condescended any more than he did no it’s a rhetorical question it’s okay yeah could he have humbled himself anymore than he did no the highest of the high became the lowest of the law just hit me look at look at John 13 with me you see this quite amazingly In this passage it’s stunning really when you think about it just look I’m going to read just the first couple verses of John 13.
now before the Feast of the Passover Jesus knowing that his hour had come that he would depart out of this world to the father having loved his own who were in the world he loved them to the end if you’re coming to Iron Man on Tuesday we’re going to talk about this what does that mean in him loving us to the end during supper the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon to betray him Jesus knowing that the father had given all things into his hands and that he had come forth from God and was going back to God how would you fill in what’s coming next right these are this is majestic lordship language came from God he was going back to God what’s coming next you’d expect a glorious display of his power you do get that but it’s different than you expect he got up from supper latest sinus garments taking a towel he tied her around himself it goes on and began to wash the disciples feet this was the lowest position possible amazing how did he choose to reveal himself this way wow if he is our savior he’s our example I’ll go back to um Philippians 2 the extent of his obedience was unto death and Hebrews 12 makes a connection for us about this he says you have not yet it’s driven to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin has anybody here done that Jesus did not my will but yours be done that’s how complete his striving was and so until you and I have striven to that point in fighting sin we haven’t striven enough right it’s amazing to think about that yeah what how how am I again how much do we want to be like Christ in this way are we willing to go that far to obey our heavenly father amazing to think about the Lord convict us of that and move in our hearts that we would we would obey you that way this quote from John McArthur in some way and by some means in the secrets of divine and Sovereign omnipotence the God man was separated from God for a brief time that Calvary as the Furious Wrath of the father was poured out on the sinless Sun who in Maxwell’s Grace became sin for those who believe in him amazing it’s a reference to Second Corinthians 5 21 you knew no sin became sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God what some have called The Great Exchange and I don’t know about you but I’m not over this yet I’m I’m still amazed by it and I know you know I was I’ve been thinking about this in these times and in which we live sometimes we can become desensitized to this so it’s good for us to be reminded um I think it’s in one of the gospels where it says because lawlessness is increased most people’s love will grow cold I don’t know about you but I feel that I feel that and so basking and bathing in the love of Christ is just so helpful for us let’s go further the cost of Christ’s work death according to the law one might may almost say as all things are cleansed with blood and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the Heavens to be cleansed with these but the Heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these that these are referring to the um the sacrificial system of the Jewish people right for Christ did not enter holy places made with hands mere copies of the true ones but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us right this is what you were talking about a lot of him interceding for us nor was it that he would offer himself often as the high priest enters the holy places year by year with blood that is not his own otherwise he would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world but now once at the consummation of the ages he has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself wow Only God Can fulfill his own requirements you get that put away sin by the sacrifice of self we think of um Abraham and Isaac right God will himself provide and he’s done it so I love this verse here um one of the things we talk about with regard to evangelism is you know and then Paul’s really taught me a lot here is you want to be prepared for maybe a short presentation or if you have time a longer presentation and so if you just have five seconds ten seconds this is what I recommend this is one of those that really just sums up the gospel for us for Christ it’s also suffer for sins once for all the righteous for the unrighteous so that he might bring you to God having been put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit also I think of for I think it’s first Peter 2 24 I didn’t put it in the notes here um he himself bore his our sins and his body on the tree that we might live die to sin and live to righteousness and this has real implications for us as well right it’s not just to bring us to heaven but the that we might live A righteous life a lot we can say there okay bear with me here while I catch up with my notes so a few other things here we’re going to go a little bit quickly about the provision of Christ’s work 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 so reconcile to God and saved second Corinthians 5 21 we mentioned that right um and I’m drawing a blank he made him a new no sin to be said on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God imputed righteousness you do get that you and I cannot generate righteousness it has to be imputed To Us by Christ actually I’m going to say a little bit more about that look at Romans 8.
I know I’m a little bit all over the place here but uh the the scriptures are just overflowing with these truths and I think this might be helpful I love this in Romans 8 verses 1-4 begins in a way that is very familiar to us right there’s therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus for the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death for what the law could not do weak as it was God did sending his own son and the light as a sinful flesh and as an offer for sin he condemns sin in the flesh in order that the requirement of Allah might be fulfilled in US who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit notice carefully what it says in verse 4.
does it say The Righteous requirement of Allah is fulfilled by us no it’s fulfilled in Us by him this is through justification the finished work of Christ this is through sanctification the ongoing work of the spirit right who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit again an ongoing way in which God fulfills his own requirements I remember um talking with my son Seth one time we were having um kind of 101 discipleship time and we’re talking about some area of obedience I forget what it was some scripture and I said Son how do you how do you think that you’ll you’ll be able to do that he said by working real hard by trying real hard explain them that’s the effort is there for sure in the spirit but it’s by the spirit the strength is not strength that we have on our own if by the spirit it says later on here verse 13 you are putting to death the Deeds of the body you will live always relying on his strength Galatians 1 4.
this is I use in my electronic Bible a lot so this is testing me who 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 right so we’re rescued from the present evil age anyone here feel oppressed by what’s going on around us you feel like you’re just losing it right I feel like you’re going insane he has rescued us from that Ephesians 1 7 in him we have forgive us the Redemption of through his blood the Forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace this is interesting I think about the things that you ever have things that God has promised that you need to be reminded of that you doubt right do you realize that according to this verse forgiveness you have forgiveness do you realize some people will disagree with me on this and and I know some people have as a Believer I firmly believe that we don’t have to ask for forgiveness why that’s based on this verse in him we have forgiveness well what about first John 1 9 if we confess our sins he’s faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness if forgiveness were dependent upon our confession I better I better be caught up before I die or else I’m not going to heaven you get what I’m saying if if I die would someone confessed sin if this isn’t true then I’m not going to heaven right but we have forgiveness and so the way I pray when I when I confess sin is I acknowledge it before him and I thank you that I have forgiveness in Christ and and so I think the promise there is more of the experiential forgiveness and the cleansing that we have I’ll let you think about that but we’re reassured in him we have Redemption we have forgiveness encourage us to think about this um I’m often convicted how I’m asking for things that he has already promised rather than thanking him for them right I’m not sure that asking God for things that he’s already promised honors him but thanking him does okay there’s a lot I can say about that Romans 6 67 knowing this that our old man was crucified with him in order that our body of sin might be done away with that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died has been Justified or freed from sin so we’re free from the power of sin for sure for sure all right so um if you would if you have your books look at um at least in my book it’s page 44.
it’s uh it’s got a table there the top the the title on top says Jesus Christ the answer to all man’s problems concerning salvation and uh it’s amazing I’m just going to give kind of the brief um the brief overview here so what do we bring to the table man brings guilt slavery death and is subject to Wrath Jesus brings perfect obedience he brings us freedom he brings us eternal life brings us salvation so that I won’t go through this whole table but it just kind of walks through in some detail all the way that Christ meets our need as I look at this slide I’m drawn to John 5 24.
where Jesus says truly truly I say to you he who here’s my word and beliefs him who sent me has eternal life and does not commend the Judgment but has passed out of death into life is anyone here struggled with Assurance of your salvation somewhat of a rhetorical question I I I’m going to assume that we all have Assurance is one thing believing that you can possibly lose it is something else I talked about the precious brother not not long ago who actually believes that you can lose your salvation and I unpack this verse for him and think about what Jesus said he does not come into judgment but has passed depth out of death into life that’s a past reality if you’ve if you’ve passed into eternal life this is very basic but I think worthy of our thinking it’s eternal life you don’t lose eternal life it’s not possible it’s eternal and so this is a wonderful reminder reminder for us the finished work of Christ means that we have passed out of death into life I think our question is will we live in it will we walk in it here’s another helpful quote from John McArthur to put it as simply as I can put it if Christ is not my substitute then I still occupy the place of a condemned sinner if my sins and my guilt are not transferred to him and he does not take them then they remain with me if he did not deal with my sins then I must deal with them if he did not bear my penalty then I must bear it there is no other possibility it is either him or me you know as I read that I’m reminded of Psalm 32. I’ll take a quick look at that I uh I I was reading in my Through the Bible reading this morning um the sequence of David and Bathsheba and David having to Grapple with forgiveness of Grievous sin all sin is Grievous this one is maybe more obviously so and he wrote this and I think God would have us feel the weight of this how blessed is he whose transgression Is Forgiven whose sin is covered how blessed is the man whose iniquity Yahweh will not take into account the scriptures say that he is casted into the bottom of the sea to be remembered no more I think we want to feel the weight of what we deserve and what it means that he does not take our sin into account Jesus said to a woman in the gospels He Who is forgiven much loves much but he was forgiven little loves little we’ve been forgiven much and we need to be reminded of that I’m reminded also Psalm 103 . thanks for bearing with me as I take a little detour to the scriptures I think it’s of the Lord psalm 103. starting in verse wow um so much here let me let me start in verse 10. he has not dealt with us according to our sins and he’s not rewarded us according to our iniquities what is the reward for iniquity right death and Wrath or as high as the heavens are above the Earth so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear Him as far as the East is from the West so far as he removed our transgressions from us as a father has compassion on his children so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear Him for he himself knows our form he remembers that we are but dust so much here so much here the greatness of our forgiveness can scarcely be described that’s the best description I know of right there so let’s uh let’s reflect a little bit I think we may have a couple um a few minutes for some interaction for some questions why why did christ have to die this is basic but I think worthy of consideration someone doesn’t know the gospel some of you’re talking to ask this question why did christ have to die what do you say because we needed to substitute great answer we did yeah yeah what else would you say there’s a lot in that thank you well the shedding of love there’s no remission for sins yeah This was um this was my biggest struggle as a young person we had moved back to my parents Hometown after my dad got out of the Navy and my mom’s best friend from high school had come to Christ and invited us to their church now we were Church going folk but we didn’t go to churches that preached the gospel we went to more Mainline churches that preach more of a social gospel so I heard the stories about Jesus but I never really heard the gospel that I can remember and as I was hearing it maybe for the first time I just could not understand if Jesus did all these good things kill him it was just glorious to have that unpacked for me to be our substitute Only God Can fulfill his own requirements there’s nothing we can do how do I know that all of my sins past presence and future were paid for on the cross how do I know that how can I be assured of that it is finished yeah it is finished he completed the work that God gave him to do we see it gloriously spelled out in Hebrews all those once for all once for all once for all and I enjoy talking with my Roman Catholic friends about that like do you understand why that’s repeated right as I understand in the Roman Catholic communion Christ has sacrificed over and over again we just read how that was unnecessary right perfect sacrifice what are we saying even as Evangelical Believers right I don’t know what Evangelical means anymore Bible believing Christians um what are we saying if we don’t believe that Christ that Christ died for our sins once for all right we’re saying that there’s maybe something that we could can do or should do to atone I really struggle with you know it is true that in Christ we saw this in Romans 6 we are free from the power of sin we have a genuine choice and we’re totally accountable um there’s no excuse for us sinning in yet we sin what do we make of that how do we how do we deal with that in our minds I’ll take you to First John 5 but I’ll leave out anything you guys want to say about that just as you go through your life so encouraged by this so first John 5 maybe a little earlier first John 1.
so encouraging first John 1 starting at verse six if we say that we have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness we lie and do not do the truth but if we walk in the light as he himself it’s in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin if we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in US if we confess our sins he’s faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness if we say that we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in US and then this is an unfortunate chapter break I’m gonna keep reading here my little children I’m writing these things to you so that you may not sin if anyone sins we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous this goes back to what you mentioned earlier Glenda he is our Advocate right and this is why the work of Christ when we talk about it today it’s very important we understand the past work of Christ in accomplishing our salvation but it’s also very important that we understand his ongoing work his active ruling and reigning interceding we draw near right to the throne of grace that we might find Grace to help us in time of need which is all the time right all the time so um a couple minutes here how else have you found the work of Christ impacts or should impact your daily living did you have something let me you’ll get that stuff obedience experience his stuff and we really feel like the Christ is living through US yeah yeah yeah when we say notice sin against the righteousness when we obey him when we obey him when we don’t want to right that that struggle for of sin in our hearts is very real I love to think about that every time we choose to obey we become more like Christ but we have to rely on his power to do it Romans 8 13 I keep going back to if you were living according to the flesh you must die but if by the spirit you were put into death the Deeds of the body you will live It’s Always by his Spirit Glenda yeah yeah yeah I’m going to end with that that’s great look at the uh right at the end of Romans 7. this is another very unfortunate uh chapter break in the Bible I don’t know who put it there but uh it uh it doesn’t work uh it just we need to continue the thought so let me just read this and then I’ll close this out in prayer Romans 7 starting in verse 21.
I find in the principle that he in me evil is present in me who wants to do good for I joyfully concur with the law of God and the Inner Man and by the way we wouldn’t joyfully concur if we weren’t saved right but I see a different law in my members Waging War against the law of my mind and making me a captive to the law of sin which is in my members Wretched Man that I am who will deliver me from the body of this death thanks be to God through Jesus Christ Our Lord so then on the one hand I myself with my mind I’m serving the law of God but on the other with my flesh the law of sin therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus let’s pray father we are simply in awe of your work and even as we hear these truths I think we struggle in our flesh to fully embrace them to fully submit to them I thank you for how humbling they are I praise you for your humiliation for us and may you increase our desire in every way to be like you to lay aside all the things which distract and fully press on to know you to become like you in even in your death as we die to sin so we might reign with you in your Resurrection in Jesus name amen so next week we’re going to talk a little bit more on the same chapter on the motive for Christ’s work and the resolution resolution and continuation of Christ’s work so if you haven’t done your work your homework please do that’ll that’ll enhance our time together next week thanks