Prince Rupert Church of Christ

Because the Bible is God's inspired word, we allow it alone to define our faith and practice rather than ascribe to any man-made statements of faith. The apostle Paul expressed it this way... "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (II Timothy 3:16-17). The apostle Peter expressed the idea that the scripture was all sufficient in this way... "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3).

As a result of our belief that the Bible is all sufficient, it serves to answer such questions as:

What Is Your Plan?
     When I was a teenager no one ever suggested I should have some kind of plan for anything. When I talked with my father-in-law, he thought it was funny in the 6o’s and 70’s when all the young people needed some time to find themselves. He said, “The only thing I remember trying to find when I was that age was a job.”
     Plan or no plan, searching, or not searching, one thing remains the same and that is only God knows the future. Moreover, it is sure that He knows each of us fully. From the number of our days to the number of hairs on our head, He knows it all.
     The real secret of life is for each of us to admit that He knows, and that He knows what is best for us in every area of our life.
     Now because He does know we need to plan to include Him in all areas of our life. There should be no area where we deliberately exclude God from our decision making process.
     These are the words of Jesus,” "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24       Dick
Do your plans include the Lord?


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JESUS THE WAY A SEVEN WEEK STUDY

June 26, 2005 LESSON THREE

                            "JESUS, THE WAY"

                     Jesus, The Way To Forgiveness

INTRODUCTION

1. We have seen that Jesus is The Way to a better life, even here on earth

2. But much more importantly, Jesus is the way to forgiveness for oursins!

[To understand why we need forgiveness and how Jesus provides the way to forgiveness is the purpose of this lesson. It is important, then, that
we begin by properly defining sin...]

I. THE DEFINITION OF SIN

   A. SOME MISCONCEPTIONS OF SIN...
      1. That it is nothing more than a violation of human relationships
      2. That an action is sinful only if:
         a. It is frowned upon by society
         b. It violates their own conscience
         c. It is harmful to someone else
      3. This leads many to misunderstanding how the problem of sin can be corrected
         a. E.g., some believe that correcting sin involves nothing more than making things right with other people
         b. With this misconception, they think they are forgiven of all past actions if they simply change their behavior

   B. THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF SIN...
      1. The Bible defines at least three different types of sin
         a. The direct violation of God's Law (sin of commission) - 1 Jn 3:4
         b. Failure to do what is right (sin of omission) - Ja 4:17
         c. Violating one's own conscience - Ro 14:23
      2. Sin is more than simply a violation of human relationships
         a. Though it often involves that
         b. It is a serious matter that involves God and His Will for us
      3. How serious is sin? Consider the consequences of sin...
         a. The wages of sin is death - Ro 6:23
         b. This death is one involving everlasting torment - Re 21:8;cf. 20:10

[Why is sin considered so bad that unforgiven sinners must experience such torment? To understand why, we must appreciate...]

II. THE NATURE OF GOD AND THE PROBLEM OF SIN

   A. GOD'S NATURE...
      1. God is supremely holy
         a. His holiness makes any truce with sin impossible
         b. Note what is written - Psa 5:4-6; Isa 59:1-2
      2. God is supremely just
         a. His justice demands sin be punished properly
         b. This helps to explain God's actions
            1) In the case of Nadab and Abihu - Lev 10:1-3
            2) In the case of Moses and Aaron - Num 20:12
      3. Since we saw that ultimate penalty for sin is eternal torment, this emphasizes:
         a. How holy God must be
         b. How terrible sin must be

   B. SIN'S PROBLEM...
      1. Sin places man in a terrible predicament
         a. For all have sinned - Ro 3:23
         b. And the very nature of God (both holy and just) demands:
            1) Separation of sinners from God
            2) Punishment for our sins
      2. Man is unable by himself to do anything
         a. There are no "works" that one can do to make himself innocent of the guilt of sin
            1) E.g., a man who commits murder is not made innocent of that crime by living the rest of his life by the law
            2) Yet many people think that they save themselves by balancing their good deeds against their sins
         b. Sin of any kind is so repulsive to God's holiness that His justice requires punishment
            1) Look again at the sins referred to earlier in Re 21:8
            2. Whether the sin is fear, lack of faith, lying, or murder, the "second death" is reserved for those who are guilty
            3) Even is you commit just one sin, the nature of sin in the sight of a holy God is such that you are as guilty as one who broke every law - Ja 2:10

[Since we all sin (Ro 3:23), it appears we are all doomed to sufferGod's justice! Is there any way that He can be both holy and just and
yet allow sinful man to be "reconciled" to Him? Yes...]

III. JESUS, THE WAY TO FORGIVENESS OF SINS

   A. HE IS THE PROPITIATION FOR SIN...
      1. God has provided Jesus as a "propitiation" for our sins - 1 Jn 4:10
         a. The word "propitiation" originally referred to an act or sacrifice that a man offered designed to appease a god
         b. As used in the Bible, it refers to that which God has done (not man)
         c. I.e., what man cannot do for himself, God has done!
      2. He has offered His Son Jesus on the cross as a means to appease His justice
         a. Such was foretold by Isaiah nearly 700 years earlier - Isa 53:5-6,10-11
         b. Note that by the act of Christ's suffering the punishment due us for our own sins, we are forgiven of them - Isa 53:11; cf. also Ep 1:7
         c. Through Christ's death on the cross, we can come back to God, having been forgiven of our sins!
      3. In this way, God is able to:
         a. Preserve His holiness when we are in His presence (for our sins have been forgiven by the blood of Christ)
         b. Maintain His justice (for our sins have been properly punished by the death of Christ)
         c. All the while demonstrating His love, grace and mercy!
      4. And so, Jesus is The Way to forgiveness of sins, for He has been made a "propitiation" for our sins!

   [But how does one receive the wonderful blessing of having Jesus as the propitiation for our sins...?]

   B. RECEIVING JESUS AS THE WAY TO FORGIVENESS...
      1. After His death for our sins, and following His glorious resurrection from the dead, Jesus charged His apostles with the
commission to spread the good news - Mk 16:15-16
      2. We read in Acts how this Great Commission was carried out
         a. In chapter two, we find Peter proclaiming the gospel for the first time
            1) After presenting evidence that Jesus has truly risen from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God, Peter comes to climax of his sermon - Ac 2:36
            2) Evidently many people believed what Peter said - Ac 2:37
               a) "What shall we do?", they cried
               b) What can anyone do, who has realized that they are in need of salvation?
            3) What Peter told them is what we should tell anyone today - Ac 2:38
            4) Peter told those believed that they needed to repent and be baptized
         b. Likewise, in the case of the conversion of Saul (Paul)
            1) Who had seen Jesus on the road to Damascus
            2) Yet after praying and fasting for three days was told to be baptized - Ac 22:16
      3. Just as Jesus commanded in Mark 16:16...
         a. When someone wanted to be saved through the blood of Jesus Christ
         b. They were told to be baptized for the remission (forgiveness) of their sins upon their believing in Jesus and repenting of their sins
         c. Faith (which includes confessing Jesus as Lord, Ro 10:9-10), repentance
and baptism were the conditions by which one could receive Jesus and enjoy the forgiveness of sins!
      4. Receive Jesus in baptism?
         a. Yes, note carefully what Paul wrote to the Galatians - Ga 3:27
            1) "as many of you" (no more and no less)
            2) "as have been baptized into Christ" (as Jesus, Peter, etc., commanded)
            3) "have put on Christ" (have received Jesus and all the blessings He offers).
         b. Thus, in obedience to the Lord in faith, repentance and baptism, we can receive the wonderful grace of God, who offered Jesus for our sins! - cf. He 5:9

CONCLUSION

1. I leave with you the fact that Jesus is The Way to forgiveness...
   a. Indeed, He is the only way
   b. For God has offered no other way whereby we can be reconciled to Him
   c. As Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - Jn 14:6
   d. No other way solves the dilemma between man's sin and the holiness and justice of God!

2. Have you accepted Jesus in the way He commanded and His apostles taught...?
   a. Have you trusted in Him for salvation (faith)?
   b. Have you made the decision to turn from your sins (repentance)?
   c. Have you been immersed for the forgiveness of your sins (baptism)?

If not, why not? Let Jesus be your way to forgiveness today!

I. The Church of Christ, prophesied (Isaiah 2:2), is revealed and described in the Bible (Romans 16:16; Revelation 1:11)

II. The Church of Christ exalts Christ as the ONLY head of the church. Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18

III. The Church of Christ has no rulebook but the Bible. It strives to speak where the Bible speaks and to be silent where it is silent. I Corinthians 4:6; II Timothy 3:16, 17; I Peter 4:11; II John 9)

IV. The Church of Christ is organized according to the teaching of the New Testament. It has no earthly organization above the local congregation and each congregation is independent. Each congregation is overseen by elders (also referred to in the Bible as bishops, pastors, presbyters, shepherds) with deacons and evangelists serving under their oversight. Acts 14:23; 20:16, 28; Ephesians 4:11; Philippians 1:1; I Timothy 3:1-13; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 5:1-4.

V. The Church of Christ preaches the same gospel and teaches the same plan of salvation based upon the grace of God as taught by the apostles. Romans 1:16.

Baptism. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Galations 3:27; I Peter 3:32 (This baptism is a burial in water of a penitent believer to wash away his sins. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:38, 39; 22:16; Romans 6:3, 4; Colossians 2:12; Ephesians 4:5)

VI. The Church of Christ worships according to the New Testament pattern. John 4:23, 24.

Singing without the use of man-made instruments of music. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16.

Observing the Lord's Supper each first day of the week. Acts 2:42; 20:7; I Corinthians 9:7.

VII. The Church of Christ pleads for unity of all believers in Christ and believes unity can be attained. John 17:20, 21; I Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 4:3-6.

VIII. The Church of Christ is not a denomination but simply the body of Christ to which the Lord adds the baptized believers who have been saved from their past sins. Acts 2:47; Colossians 1:18.

Prince Rupert Church of Christ

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Consider this your personal invitation to come worship with us as we make every effort to follow the first century pattern in the twenty-first century.

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