Course: The Foundation of the Church
The Cross
Lesson One
Lesson Title: Only by death. The Greatest Enemy; The Greatest Blessing.
Text: Hebrews 2:14-15 'Forasmuch then as the
children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part
of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of
death, that is, the devil; And deliver
them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.'
Introduction: The means that God used to win salvation
was death.
Death entered into
the world through the sin of Adam and Eve.
Death is mankind's greatest enemy. Yet if there was no death then there could be no salvation.
The way of salvation is through the death of the Son of God on the cross.
God used the
greatest enemy of mankind to become the greatest blessing of mankind.
God is able to
make all things work together for good, Romans 8:28.
Introductory Story: There is a
spiritual principle that something must die in order for it to bring the fruit
of new life.
Look at Christian
missionary pioneers.
William Carey and
his mission at Serampore arose out of the ashes of a disastrous
fire
The ministry of John
and Charles Wesley began after they found true salvation in Christ having returned
to
Christians
especially young Christians enjoy excitement and things successful. Everyone likes being in the company of those
who appear successful. Preachers who
speak at big conventions are often those who are highly respected for their
successful ministries. But real success
comes out of apparent failure.
What appears
destructive may be the greatest blessing – fire destroys houses and lives, but
it also removes dross from gold, and clears the land for new growth.
Main Points:
1. Death
- crucified with Christ; the old is destroyed.
How did God bring
salvation? Romans 6:6-7 'Knowing this, that our old
man is crucified with him, that the
body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.'
The old man
inherited from Adam cannot be redeemed.
It is irreversibly united with sin.
That old man
cannot be redeemed - only through the cross can we be freed from its power over
us.
Salvation is
through identification with the death of Christ.
The
believer in Christ is not that sinful old man patched up
He or
she is a new creation, 2 Corinthians
New Life in
Christ
We are
born sinful.
The
old life is wrapped up in sin.
The
Lord Jesus identified Himself with us.
When
Jesus died on the cross He represented us.
Our
life in sin was crucified and buried in Christ.
When
Jesus arose we therefore arose in Him. No longer united with sin but united
with Christ.
Romans 6:8-10 'Now if
we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the
dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once:
but in that he lives, he lives unto God.'
2. Dead
unto sin, alive unto God. What relationship does a Christian have
with sin?
Romans 6:11 'Likewise reckon also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,
but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.'
·
The
life of the Christian is united with Christ (Colossians 3:1-3).
He or
she is no longer united with sin.
Sin is
like a coat - the believer must put it off.
Ephesians 4:22-24 'That you put off concerning the former
conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful
lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of
your mind; And that you put on the new
man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.'
Around
this new life in Jesus is a carnal nature but now I have the power to overcome
it.
I am
dead to sin.
Sin
will be in me till Jesus comes but I am now united in Him not in sin.
A
Christian is different from an unbeliever because the unbeliever sins
habitually.
1 John 5:18 'We know that whosoever is born
of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked
one touches him not.'
·
The New Covenant is the law written upon the heart and mind. Hebrews
10:15-18.
It is
not legalism it is a new life.
Trying
to keep the law by legalism will produce sin, Romans 7.
Legalism
results in sin and death.
Holiness
produces righteousness and life.
Legalism
will turn people away from Christ.
Holiness
will attract people to Christ.
Holiness
is the life of Christ in the believer.
It is
His love expressed through us, Galatians 5:14.
3. Dead - buried with Christ, risen with Him
in newness of life.
Being
a Christian is not something I do it is what I am, Colossians 3:1-4.
It is
identification with Christ
My sin
- is buried with Christ
God
declares that I am righteous because of Christ (justification).
We are
being made righteous because I am risen with Christ and His life is in me
(sanctification).
We are
able to live victoriously because I am seated in heavenly places far above all
principalities and powers.
We
will be changed into His likeness - 'When Christ,
who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.'
Colossians 3:4.
His
life in us.
Multitude
of decisions but no life.
It is
not those who made a decision for Christ who are saved. It is those who have the life of Christ in
them who are saved.
2 Corinthians 13:5 'Examine yourselves, whether you be in the
faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus
Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?'
The word reprobate
(Greek 'adokimos') means 'not standing up to the
test'. We must have the life of Christ
in us.
Paul sums up the
Christian gospel in these words; Colossians 1:27
'To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.'
Summary:
Salvation was only
possible because of death: the death of the Son of God.
1)
The
old man is destroyed - crucified with Christ.
2)
We can
reckon ourselves dead unto sin, alive unto God.
3)
Buried with Christ, and risen with Him in newness of life.
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