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Welcome To The Learner II
Week Six, Part One: Salvation; What God has done
So far we have addressed primarily what man has done or not done to live right with God. We
Chapter Six, Part One: Salvation; What God has done So far we have addressed primarily what man has done or not done to live right with God. We’ve addressed the need for messengers to tell the world about the world’s condition of sin, but what has God done to help man? Salvation is the most important thing that man needs to learn about. Man needs to know that God has taken all necessary action to bring back man to himself. See man has strayed all we like sheep have gone astray from God, has denied him and broke away from the fold that protects him from the wolves. God being the True Shepherd has called out to man to come back to the fold. He has made a way for man to be reunited with him and his plan is called Salvation. He desires to save man! In this chapter we will take a look into his plan to save man by his grace. Read Romans 4:3-25 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. David Celebrates the Same Truth 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.” Abraham Justified Before Circumcision 9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 124 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. The Promise Granted Through Faith 13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. What questions do you have after reading this? _________________________________________________________________________________ Answer the following questions: Can man work for his salvation or earn his salvation? __________________________________________________________________________________ Is God able to do what he has promised? __________________________________________________________________________________ What has God done to save man? __________________________________________________________________________________ What has happened because of man’s sin or why do we need to be saved? __________________________________________________________________________________ Is man a sinner by what he does or by what he is? __________________________________________________________________________________ How is man justified? __________________________________________________________________________________ Read Galatians 3 Justification by Faith 1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. The Law Brings a Curse 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. The Changeless Promise 15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Purpose of the Law 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Sons and Heirs 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. What questions do you have after reading this? _________________________________________________________________________________ Answer the following questions: Can man be justified by the keeping of the law? __________________________________________________________________________________ How shall the just live? __________________________________________________________________________________ Is the believer in Christ free from the law? __________________________________________________________________________________ "For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17 Religious condemnation. It seems like those two words shouldn't be found in the same sentence, especially when Romans 8:1,2 tells us, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." however, it would also seem that to sentence or censure others based upon personal or corporate judgment, belongs to God and not to the "religious churchy higher than thou art crowd." Jesus is love, he came to saved the world and not to bring a sentence. All have fallen short of the glory of God, as it is written, “For there is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:10, so how difficult is it then to determine who shall be condemned? All should be condemned, yet Jesus offers salvation to all. Those who stand at the door and write names down with faults behind them are not rocket scientist so to speak, but rather a species of a lower understanding. They somehow have missed the whole point of what Jesus came for, and that is to save! David prayed to God about this type in Psalm 140:1 saying, "Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;" It is not for nothing that we find the greatest advocates to the supposed demise of Jesus' ministry were religious leaders. Even though as we know, God used their wrong to accomplish his right. It was still those that we could never imagine to be against God that came against Jesus and crucified him. It was a time of religious condemnation and that time still exists today! Read Mathew 20:28 and Romans 6:23 Matthew 10:28 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord What questions do you have after reading these? ____________________________________________________________________________ Answer the following questions: Why did Jesus give his life? __________________________________________________________________________________ What are the wages of man’s sin? __________________________________________________________________________________ What does redemption mean? __________________________________________________________________________________ Do we deserve to be saved? __________________________________________________________________________________ What is God’s gift to man? __________________________________________________________________________________ Read Titus 3 Graces of the Heirs of Grace 1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. Avoid Dissension 9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. Final Messages 12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. Farewell 15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. What questions do you have after reading this? _________________________________________________________________________________ Answer the following questions: How are we made heirs to eternal life? __________________________________________________________________________________ What does grace mean to you? __________________________________________________________________________________ Should we remember who we were before God’s grace? Why? __________________________________________________________________________________ Does the Holy spirit have the ability to unite us to the Father? __________________________________________________________________________________ Jesus’ suffering on the cross was a sacrifice whereby salvation from sin was purchased at a great price for all who believe. Do you believe this? “Surely he has borne our grief’s and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken and smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 His plan of salvation for you was to become a substitute for your sins and the debt that you owed because of them. Can you think of any sins that you have committed that God has taken? ____________ God has taken all of our sins! What does Jesus do with our sins after he takes them? Read Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9 Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 5:8 "But God commanded His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, (in hell); but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."