Welcome back to our lessons, and of course if this is your first time welcome and may I suggest you start at lesson 1. This lesson is a bit of a continuation from lesson 4. Last time we studied how God, the Father promised to save a sinful mankind because of how sin entered the world and how sin lingers in our daily lives. This lesson we'll look at how God accomplishes removal of our sins by sending His son into the world.
We looked a lot at how sin exists in the world last time and how it affects not only our lives but our souls as well. Matthew 5:48 says “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” and the fist part of Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death”. This means that we have to live perfect lives without sin which we know is impossible. Psalms 51:5 says, “5Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” If we don't live perfectly stumbling just once, then our wages, or what we earned, is death, meaning separation from God, an eternity in Hell. We need a savior.
So what kind of savior do we need? We need one who removes the punishment of sin. One who can pay those wages. Our savior needs to supply the holiness God requires. This can only be accomplished by living perfectly. Therefore the savior we needed had to be a man. A man who was able to live obediently under the law in our place and to die in our place. Galatians chapter 4 refers to us as heirs to God's kingdom, like a son's birthright. “4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” Hebrews 2:14 talks about God taking on full flesh and why this is important. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil” God took on full flesh so that he could live perfectly as man, setting aside His godliness. This also allows him to be a sacrifice without blemish, as mandated of lambs by the Old Testament. That said, our savior also had to be God for His perfect life and sacrificial death to count for everyone. We can't save somebody else from damnation. We don't live perfect lives and even so have inherited sin. Psalm 49 explains, “7No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him-- 8the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough”
Because of this, God sent his son, Jesus Christ to be the savior we described above. Who is Jesus Christ though? In chapter 1, we discuss the Holy Trinity, that God is one god, but three different persons. Jesus has always been around, he was not born that first Christmas some 2000 years ago. In John 1, John describes Jesus before his human birth, “1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.” We see here that the Bible calls him God. 1 John 5:20 declares Jesus as God, “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
The Bible also tells us that he has the characteristics of God. One example of this is in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Much in the same way God tells Moses that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Jesus says to Simon Peter in John 21:17, “Feed my sheep.” He is our shepherd. He does the works of God also. In John chapter 2, At the wedding at Cana, Jesus changes water into wine. At verse 11 John tells us, “11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” Certainly miracles are one of the many ways God blesses us but it's not the only thing he does. John chapter 5 talks about how God the Father, has left the responsibility of judgement to Jesus. Also and most importantly in this discussion, that if we don't honor Jesus, we do not honor God, the Father. “22Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” Therefore, we can conclude from these verses that Jesus Christ is God.
The Bible tells us Jesus Christ is God, and that's certainly true, but much like the mystery of the Trinity, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is also true man. Hebrews chapter 2 tells us about how the Son of the Godhead took on flesh. “14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil -- 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” This also reflects what we talked about above. Jesus shows the full characteristics of man. This means He set aside full use of His powers, which allowed Him to be tempted and overcome it. To feel things like hunger, fatigue, pain, all these things that are not found in Heaven. Therefore we can conclude, Jesus Christ is also Man. 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Jesus Christ is the Savior we all need; He is both God and Man.
In Acts 10:38, we see our Savior's Office and how it was confirmed. “37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” As the Christ, or Messiah, both of these words meaning "anointed one," Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus now serves as our High Priest, Profit and King.
As our High Priest Jesus sacrificed Himself once and for all for our sins. Remember we discussed the likeness of Jesus' holiness to a blemish less lamb for sacrifice. The Hebrews would need a High Priest to intercede on their behalf and perform a sacrifice for them as they had no other means as a forgiveness of their sins. Hebrews chapter 7 tells us how He fulfills this role. “25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” Back in those days they would need a High Priest to perform sacrifices to wash away their sins as they looked toward their savior. Jesus, not only the sacrifice, but also the High Priest who gave up this offering for all generations, as discussed above. Also, as our High Priest, Jesus intercedes for us as our Mediator, that is, a go-between for God and us. Hebrews opens with the following statement, “1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” Another High Priest role was that they could only enter the temple to pray on the behalf of the Jews in those days. Also we no longer need prophets to speak God's word which we'll look at next.
As our Prophet, Jesus spoke God's Word while on Earth; this is also stated in Hebrews chapter 1 which was the last verse we looked at. We no longer need Moses or Prophets to tell us what God needs us to do. Jesus has given us law for our lives and gospel as our promise. These words will last through all generations. As our Prophet, Jesus speaks God's Word through Christians today. Luke, chapter 10 says, “"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."” When we share God's Word with people, how they treat you reflects how they treat Jesus. As our King, Jesus rules our hearts and lives through his Word. Jesus as our King puts our leaders in place, he provides for us as we've seen in previous chapters, and everything in this world is His and we are his greatful servants. Romans chapter 14 states, “8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.” Jesus also rules over everything for our eternal good. Ephesians 1, serves as a great explanation for Jesus' office. “19bThat power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” He has set up a kingdom in our hearts, He rules in Heaven, and He considers us all citizens of Heaven, Jesus is truly a King, even if he never set up a government in His time on the planet.
This concludes our fifth lesson. In the next few chapters, we will continue studying Jesus, from His time on Earth, to now and all the way through to His return and our final life with Him in Heaven. Specifically next lesson, we'll discuss how Jesus humbled himself to redeem us. I look forward to it and as always, I pray these words reach you and strengthen your faith, as well as teach you something you may not have known.
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