Discussions t5

CWV-101-301-L-T5Overview.pdf

CWV-101-301 Topic 5 Overview

Jesus, Redemption, and Renewal (God-Centered Salvation; Christ

Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone)

Introduction

The fourth act of the Bible is restoration. Restoration is also the final element of the essential beliefs of Christianity. These gospel essentials cover the topics of the nature of God, the nature of humanity, the nature of Christ, and restoration. The fourth act of the Bible, restoration, deeply impacts core beliefs of the Christian worldview. Importantly, we see God's purpose for humanity—to be reconciled to God through redemption and renewal.

God, in his unlimited wisdom and power, has taken upon himself to restore rebellious people into a right relationship with him. One of the most powerful passages in Scripture lays out in simple terms the essence of this gospel message. Here is the Apostle Paul addressing the Corinthian church and all who read his letter:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, 2 Cor. 5:17–20)

The phrase "in Christ" is very common in the New Testament and crucial to understanding the gospel. To be "in Christ" means to place one's "hope in Christ" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, Eph. 1:12), or in other words, making Christ the object of trust and faith. Paul expresses the gospel message most succinctly in Galatians 2:16 where he says, "a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ."

In this respect, Christianity is unlike virtually every other religion in the world. Other religions stress earning salvation (eternal life in heaven) by doing certain works and engaging in religious customs. Christianity teaches that people are not capable of being good enough, which is precisely why God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. Christ offers good news, the gospel—which is that by trusting in what he has already done, our restoration occurs.

Other religions offer possible salvation through trusting in one's own good works, while Christianity offers certain salvation through trusting in Christ's good works. Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 2:8–9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may

boast." (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016). In this context, grace is unmerited favor. One might think of working hard to get into someone's "good graces," but that is really the opposite of what is meant here. When we least deserved it, God sent Jesus to die for our sins. Romans 5:8 says, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." There is no way we can earn that, but we can respond to it (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016).

Repentance

God rescued people from torment and eternal separation from God by sending his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We receive this gift of God by repentance (Acts 3:19–21). Repentance is turning from sin in sorrow and turning toward God in Christ. True repentance is not casual. Planning to sin and then asking for forgiveness later is not true repentance. Instead, this is a twisting of the gospel in a way that denies Christ (Jude 1:4). All humans have sinned and fallen short (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8–10). The gift of repentance allows us to turn from sin and be redeemed in Christ.

Redemption

Redemption, the granting of salvation, occurs when one accepts Christ as Savior, the Lord of one's personal life, by faith (John 1:12). This redemption cannot be earned, no matter how good one may be, and is received through faith rather than through merit (Eph. 2:8–9). Another important word that defines what happens at the point when one turns to God and accept Christ is justification. This is a legal term that means Christ's payment for sins is credited to one's account, resulting in being justified in God's sight. Salvation, then, is all a work of God's free grace received by faith. This act of faith—that is, trust, is receiving Christ spiritually as both Savior and Lord. "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled we shall be saved by his life" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, Rom. 5:10).

Renewal

Renewal is the work of the Holy Spirit who comes into the lives of those who have accepted Christ. A transformation begins from the inside with the renewal of the mind (Rom. 12:2), is called being born again (John 3:3), and is likened to being a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Jesus colorfully described this process of renewal as streams of living water flowing from the heart (John 7:37–39). Eternal life with God begins with this indwelling of the Spirit. God's plan is to restore people to himself, that they might be fully reconciled to a right relationship that was severed due to sin. This renewal that begins with the Spirit of God working inside to transform the human heart continues with a transformation back to human purpose. Ephesians 2:8–10 makes it clear that one cannot be saved by good works, but that we are each saved to do good works. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, Eph. 2:10).

Conclusion

In the unfolding biblical story that began with the Creation and was quickly interrupted with the fall of humanity, God brought redemption into human history culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ. This ongoing redemption of humanity, which is essentially the building of God's kingdom (the ministry of Christ's church), will one day come to completion at the second coming of Christ (Matt. 24). Then the final act in the biblical story—restoration—will commence after the judgment (Matt. 25:31–46) with the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21).

The bottom line is that Christianity is really much more about what God has done rather than what we do, more about what God gives than what can be earned, and more about a relationship than a religion. Christianity is about knowing and loving God, while enjoying amazing fellowship in his eternal family.

References

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2016). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/#copy (Original work published 2001)

CWV-101-301-L-T5Overview.pdf

CWV-101-301 Topic 5 Overview

Jesus, Redemption, and Renewal (God-Centered Salvation; Christ

Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone)

Introduction

The fourth act of the Bible is restoration. Restoration is also the final element of the essential beliefs of Christianity. These gospel essentials cover the topics of the nature of God, the nature of humanity, the nature of Christ, and restoration. The fourth act of the Bible, restoration, deeply impacts core beliefs of the Christian worldview. Importantly, we see God's purpose for humanity—to be reconciled to God through redemption and renewal.

God, in his unlimited wisdom and power, has taken upon himself to restore rebellious people into a right relationship with him. One of the most powerful passages in Scripture lays out in simple terms the essence of this gospel message. Here is the Apostle Paul addressing the Corinthian church and all who read his letter:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, 2 Cor. 5:17–20)

The phrase "in Christ" is very common in the New Testament and crucial to understanding the gospel. To be "in Christ" means to place one's "hope in Christ" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, Eph. 1:12), or in other words, making Christ the object of trust and faith. Paul expresses the gospel message most succinctly in Galatians 2:16 where he says, "a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ."

In this respect, Christianity is unlike virtually every other religion in the world. Other religions stress earning salvation (eternal life in heaven) by doing certain works and engaging in religious customs. Christianity teaches that people are not capable of being good enough, which is precisely why God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. Christ offers good news, the gospel—which is that by trusting in what he has already done, our restoration occurs.

Other religions offer possible salvation through trusting in one's own good works, while Christianity offers certain salvation through trusting in Christ's good works. Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 2:8–9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may

boast." (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016). In this context, grace is unmerited favor. One might think of working hard to get into someone's "good graces," but that is really the opposite of what is meant here. When we least deserved it, God sent Jesus to die for our sins. Romans 5:8 says, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." There is no way we can earn that, but we can respond to it (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016).

Repentance

God rescued people from torment and eternal separation from God by sending his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We receive this gift of God by repentance (Acts 3:19–21). Repentance is turning from sin in sorrow and turning toward God in Christ. True repentance is not casual. Planning to sin and then asking for forgiveness later is not true repentance. Instead, this is a twisting of the gospel in a way that denies Christ (Jude 1:4). All humans have sinned and fallen short (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8–10). The gift of repentance allows us to turn from sin and be redeemed in Christ.

Redemption

Redemption, the granting of salvation, occurs when one accepts Christ as Savior, the Lord of one's personal life, by faith (John 1:12). This redemption cannot be earned, no matter how good one may be, and is received through faith rather than through merit (Eph. 2:8–9). Another important word that defines what happens at the point when one turns to God and accept Christ is justification. This is a legal term that means Christ's payment for sins is credited to one's account, resulting in being justified in God's sight. Salvation, then, is all a work of God's free grace received by faith. This act of faith—that is, trust, is receiving Christ spiritually as both Savior and Lord. "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled we shall be saved by his life" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, Rom. 5:10).

Renewal

Renewal is the work of the Holy Spirit who comes into the lives of those who have accepted Christ. A transformation begins from the inside with the renewal of the mind (Rom. 12:2), is called being born again (John 3:3), and is likened to being a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Jesus colorfully described this process of renewal as streams of living water flowing from the heart (John 7:37–39). Eternal life with God begins with this indwelling of the Spirit. God's plan is to restore people to himself, that they might be fully reconciled to a right relationship that was severed due to sin. This renewal that begins with the Spirit of God working inside to transform the human heart continues with a transformation back to human purpose. Ephesians 2:8–10 makes it clear that one cannot be saved by good works, but that we are each saved to do good works. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, Eph. 2:10).

Conclusion

In the unfolding biblical story that began with the Creation and was quickly interrupted with the fall of humanity, God brought redemption into human history culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ. This ongoing redemption of humanity, which is essentially the building of God's kingdom (the ministry of Christ's church), will one day come to completion at the second coming of Christ (Matt. 24). Then the final act in the biblical story—restoration—will commence after the judgment (Matt. 25:31–46) with the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21).

The bottom line is that Christianity is really much more about what God has done rather than what we do, more about what God gives than what can be earned, and more about a relationship than a religion. Christianity is about knowing and loving God, while enjoying amazing fellowship in his eternal family.

References

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2016). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/#copy (Original work published 2001)

CWV-101-301-L-T5Overview.pdf

CWV-101-301-L-T5Overview.pdf

CWV-101-301-L-T5Overview.pdf

CWV-101-301-L-T5Overview.pdf

T5 Assessment