Foundations for Christian Leadership Building Foundations for Life

Teacher’s Notes Session 10

OUR GREAT SALVATION

The central message of the Gospel of Christ is that He has come to bring salvation to all
men everywhere. If that is the message, we should know it well. In this session, we will
look at how God has broken the barrier down between Himself and man. We will see
what God has done so that we can enjoy a wonderful new relationship with Him.

Three Problems:

Problem 1: Our sinfulness and God’s Holiness: Wrath

 Our sinfulness - Romans 3:10-12; Isaiah 64:6

 God's holiness - He is perfect goodness

Psalms 145:17 - “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and Holy in all His
works.”

How does a Holy and Just God react toward man's sin?

 God's reaction - Wrath

Perfect holiness is outraged at sin

Perfect justice demands death (Ez. 18:4, 20; Rom. 6:23).

These two put together make up God's wrath against sin.

There are two words for wrath used in New Testament:

Thumos - Hot anger, sudden outburst of anger. This is not the word used
of God’s wrath. God does not suddenly get mad at us when we do
something wrong. His wrath is of a different kind.

Orge - Abiding, constant attitude of outrage. This is the word used of God
toward sin. This word indicates that God’s wrath is constantly directed at
our sin. It is not an emotional outburst, but a deeply rooted hatred of sin.
God cannot tolerate sin.

John 3:36 - Wrath abides on unbelievers

Rom. 1:18 - Wrath against ungodliness
Eph. 2:3 - Children of wrath by nature

This wrath does not come from a sudden burst of emotion, but from the holy and just
character of God. Something needed to be done to turn away this wrath. God's
holiness and justice needed to be satisfied or propitiated.

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The Solution -- Propitiation

Definition:

Act of God by which His Holy wrath is appeased by the satisfying of His
own just demands for judgment of sin.

Propitiation is pictured throughout the Old Testament by the sacrificial system -- there
was an animal offered as a sacrifice to turn away God's wrath against sin. It was used
in the Old Testament meaning, “To turn away God's wrath against sin by offering of a
sacrifice.” The clearest picture is seen in the judgment seat which is described in Heb.
9.

What was needed was a substitute that could permanently satisfy. In Jesus' death the
justice of a Holy God was satisfied. Jesus willingly and permanently satisfied God's
holy and just character by taking God's wrath against sin upon Himself. This is the
greatest demonstration of God's love (I John 4:10).

When did Jesus take the wrath of God for us?

Look at Matt. 27:45-46. Notice the situation: at midday, it suddenly became dark.
Darkness in the Bible usually symbolizes sin or evil. Something was happening which
involved sin.
Notice also that Jesus cried out. This is not what one would expect. During all of the
events before this moment, Jesus had not cried out once. He was silent, as a sheep
before its shearers. He had endured beating, whipping and a gruelling walk carrying a
heavy cross. He remained silent as the nails pierced his hands and as he was hoisted
up onto the cross. In crucifixion, a person dies of suffocation. It is very difficult to
breath, much less shout.
Notice also what He said. Quoting from Ps. 22, he cried out: “My God, my God, why
have you forsaken me?” In no other place in the Bible does Jesus use the term God to
refer to His heavenly Father. Only here, as He cries out in agony. Jesus was not
speaking as God the Son to God the Father, but as man to God - as our representative.
This is what He was in torment about in the Garden of Gethsemane when He said “let
this cup pass from me.” The “cup” is the wrath (orge) of God toward sin. It was not the
physical suffering that made Jesus cry out, although He suffered greatly. It was facing
the infinite wrath of God poured out on Himself on the cross that caused Him to cry out.
You and I would have been consumed by that wrath He bore. Only the infinite Son of
God could have taken God's wrath.

What is the extent of the solution?

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Teacher’s Notes Session 10

It has been said, “The shadow of the cross spans from eternity to eternity.” Jesus made
propitiation for sin for all time. Not only for the past but also for the future. Note the
following diagram:

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Teacher’s Notes Session 10

God’s Holy and Just Wrath Toward Sin

Eternity Past Eternity Future

Rom. 3:25-26 I John 2:1, 2

Jesus propitiatory sacrifice removes the barrier of God's Holiness and Justice.

Propitiation has been made for all men, but that does not mean all men are forgiven. It
does mean that anyone can be forgiven who will put their trust in Jesus Christ.
Propitiation is not placating a vengeful God, but satisfying the justice of a Holy God,
thereby making it possible for Him to show mercy righteously.

This is the basis of forgiveness for the Christian, God has so completely dealt with sin
that He can show mercy to any one who believes by forgiving his sins and removing his
guilt. God is satisfied and therefore completely free to forgive sinful men and women
without violating his Holy and Just character.

Result -- Forgiveness

Since God is completely free to forgive and show mercy, the moment a person will trust
in Christ’s propitiatory sacrifice they are instantly, completely and eternally forgiven.
Hebrews 10:11-19 points out two important characteristics of God's forgiveness:

 It is eternal - v. 11,12,14

Jesus made a sacrifice for sins which satisfied God completely. That
sacrifice provides an eternal forgiveness for “all time” to every believer.
God's forgiveness is eternal.

 It is complete - v. 17

God had so completely forgiven your sins that He no longer even

remembers them. v. 18 - So complete is His forgiveness that there is no
more offering for sin. There is absolutely nothing more that needs to be
added to Christ's sacrifice. Man often tries to compensate for his sin by
doing something that he thinks will gain God's approval, like inflicting some
punishment on himself either physically or mentally or by promising God he
won't do it again or by doing a good deed.

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Teacher’s Notes Session 10

Colossians 2:13 emphasizes that God's forgiveness is for all sin, big and
small - past, present, and even future; and it is ours instantly upon accepting
Christ. This forgiveness is an unchangeable fact. Psalms 103:12 says, “As
far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions
from us.”

Application of Propitiation
Propitiation shows us why and how God can forgive us. If we don't have a firm
understanding of the basis of God's forgiveness when sin or failure came we will tend to
do one of two things.
1st - rationalize our sin - We should never rationalize sin saying it didn't really hurt
anybody or it wasn't that bad. Sin is serious - it cost Jesus the terrible suffering of the
cross.
2nd - we will try compensate for our sin & guilt and think. “Oh, God just couldn't have
forgiven that sin, I must try to compensate somehow to gain his forgiveness.” Satan will
bring doubts into your mind about God's forgiveness, but if you see the basis of your
forgiveness you will not start to believe those doubts.
Have you been feeling God is angry at you? Have you tried to rationalize or
compensate for your sin? Stop! Accept his complete forgiveness right now.

Problem II: Slavery to Sin and Satan

The second problem we experience as a result of our fallen state is that we are slaves.
The Bible tells us that we are slaves in two ways:

We are slaves to sin (John 8:34; Rom. 7:14)

All men because they committed sin became slaves of sin. All men are sold
under bondage to sin.

We are slaves to Satan

Man is sold into the slave market of sin and Satan is the one who rules that
market.

 I John 5:19 Whole world is in Satan's power.

 Ephesians 2:1-2 We are slave of the ruler of this world.
 Col. 1:13 We formerly lived in Satan’s kingdom -- the domain of
darkness

Solution -- Redemption

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Man sold under slavery to Satan and sin needs redemption. In order to redeem
there must be a redeemer.

Definition: To deliver by paying a price.

Examples: Ransom to a kidnapper; or claiming your property at a pawnshop.

Biblical definition:

Act of God by which He delivers mankind by paying the price of sin.

Redemption involves two things: Buying and delivering. Divine redemption likewise
involves two things:

Blood - to pay the price - Buying

Power - need to bring deliverance

Who is qualified to be our Redeemer?

The Bible gives several examples of redemption in addition to the work of Christ.
Perhaps the most beautiful is the story of Ruth and Boaz in the Old Testament (Ruth 3,
4).

Must be a relative.

A redeemer has to be a relative of the one in slavery. Boaz in the book of Ruth is an
O.T. picture of the kinsman-redeemer. This is why Jesus had to be a human. If he had
not become a man, he could not redeem men.

Galatians 4:4-5 tells us that because He was born of a woman He was related to the
rest of humanity. Had Jesus not become a man, He could not have redeemed us.

Must be free.

A slave can't free another slave because he is in the slave market himself. Someone
from outside the market must free him. We read a moment ago the unusual statement,
“Jesus, born of a woman.” This is highly unusual in Jewish culture. The Jews spoke of
the father not the mother. Because Jesus was born of woman he escaped the legal
curse of sin passed down from father. Because He was conceived of the Holy Spirit
He also escaped from having a sin nature. Jesus was not born in the slave market of
sin, nor did he commit sin and so become enslaved. He is uniquely qualified to
redeem.

Must be willing to redeem.

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The “barefoot” redeemer in the book of Ruth was a closer relative than Boaz. He was
the one who should have redeemed Ruth had he wanted to. But he was unwilling to
redeem.

According to John 10:18, Jesus willingly gave his life. He not only was qualified, He was
willing.

Must be able to pay the price.

The price of divine redemption is blood. Why blood? The life of man is in the blood.
Blood is the symbol of a forfeited life. Since the penalty of sin is death, to redeem from
that penalty a life must be forfeited - blood is the symbol of the forfeited life. That is why
the Bible says in Hebrews 9:22 without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of
sin.

The big problem was to find someone satisfactory to God. The blood of man wouldn't
do, it had to be divine blood. Jesus was able to redeem because He was God in human
flesh, the blood flowing through His veins was royal blood.

Must pay the price.

It is not enough to be willing, qualified or able. A redeemer must do it -- pay the price. In
I Peter 1:18-19, we see that Jesus paid the price required, and redeemed us with His
own precious blood.

Application: Psalms 49:6-9

In this Psalm, written a thousand years before Christ, the psalmist tells us the very
problem we face as people in slavery: Man can't in anyway redeem another.

1. No amount of money a man might give can buy a relative or anyone else, either
living or dead. It is too costly for any man no matter how much money he has. Those
that think they can be generous enough, giving enough money to the church or to good
causes, to be acceptable to God, are wrong.

2. This also shows there is no purgatory or place where a man can pay for his own
sins. The blood of sinful man can never satisfy God. Man should cease trying to do
something to earn his salvation and trust the one who has redeemed him.

Results of Redemption

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There are 3 Greek words that explain more about the meaning of redemption and its
results.

 Agorazo - This is the root of “Agora,” meaning market. This word means to buy in
the market. The emphasis is on the terrible place, the slave market, from which we
were redeemed from slavery to sin and Satan. Several verses which use this term
are:

1. The Ransom has been paid.

Mark 10:45 - The ransom price was paid. When? On the cross.
I Corinthians 6:20 - We are bought with a price.

2. The Ransom has been paid for all

II Peter 2:1 - Both believers and unbelievers are said to be redeemed in

the market. This removes the barrier of slavery to sin and Satan.

 Exagorazo - This is the same word as Agorazo, with “EX” added. Here the
emphasis is on being bought “out of” the slave market - out of Agorazo. This means,
To buy out of the market and remove from further sale. Unlike “Agorazo,” this word
is used only of the believer. The believer has been redeemed from the penalty of sin
and the power of Satan and is in no danger of ever going on the slave block again.
An example of this is found in Galatians 3:13. We are redeemed from the curse of
the law never to be put under it again.

 Lutroo - To loose and set free. Again, this is always used of believer. Not only have
been removed from further sale but we have been removed from the position of a
slave to the position of a Son. This is what Jesus meant when He said in John 8:36,
“If the Son shall make you free you shall be free indeed.” Some examples of the use
of this term are:

1. Freed from lawless deeds. - Titus 2:14

2. Freed from futile way of life. - I Peter 1:18
3. Freed forever (eternal redemption). - Hebrews 9:12

Because of this, we can see that redemption has:

 Set us free from sin's penalty. Ephesians 1:7

 Set us free from sin's power. Romans 6:14
 Set us free from Satan's authority. Colossians 1:13

The legal right of Satan has been broken - legally we can't be put into slavery
again.

Problem 3 -- Spiritual Death

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The final barrier between us and God is Spiritual Death. What does the Bible mean
when it says that we are dead?

 Death is universal. All humanity shares in the death of Adam (Rom. 5:15, 17-18, 20).
When Adam sinned he experienced spiritual death and the process of physical
death began. All men are under death from Adam onwards. According to Rom.
5:12, all men today as descendants of Adam are born into a state of spiritual death.

 Death is a condition. We were dead in transgressions--under death's influence and

domain (Eph 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13).

 Death is separation. Death cuts off man from God and assembly of His people (Ruth
1:17 Rom. 6:23).

The Solution -- A Substitute

Why was a substitute necessary, and how could a substitute pay for sin? As was
discussed during an earlier session, this is the meaning of atonement. It is a legal
transaction to meet God’s just demands for payment of the penalty for sin. It is Christ’s
blood in exchange for our own.

 Blood equals life (Lev. 17:11; Gen. 9:4; Deut. 12:23).

 Blood equals life given up in death (Jonah 1:14; II Sam. 14:7). Vast majority
of OT and NT uses of blood (dam, haima) are “violent death”
 Blood is necessary for forgiveness (Heb. 9:22).
 Jesus substituted His blood for ours (Hebrews 2:9). Christ tasted death for us.
He tasted as our substitute both spiritual death and physical death. Jesus
Christ became our substitute or vicar. Vicar means substitute. Like a proxy.
Sometimes this is called “vicarious death,” meaning “in place of.” Jesus took
the death we rightfully deserved (Rom. 5:8; I Pet. 3:18; Is. 53:12).

Results of Jesus’ Substitutionary Death

 Removed barrier of spiritual death.

 Makes it possible for us to have spiritual life. Spiritual life is imparted at
the new birth.
 Makes it possible to have resurrection life. Resurrection life to our
physical bodies is imparted at Christ's return.

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Application: Hebrews 9:27

According to scripture, we all will die, and after that comes judgment. There is no
re-incarnation or second chance for men. Once a person dies, his destiny is sealed.
Prayers for the dead have absolutely no effect on the dead person's destiny. A person's
only hope for heaven is before he dies -- to believe on the substitute for death, Jesus
Christ. He is the one and only substitute.

The barrier which has kept us separated from God is now broken down. There is no
longer a need for man to remain God’s enemy. Yet one more step is needed to
experience the salvation that God has now made possible through the cross --
Reconciliation.

Reconciliation

Definition - To change completely from enmity to friendship. Reconciliation is doing

away with enmity or bridging over a quarrel by overcoming or taking away the cause of
the quarrel.
Everyone has had an argument with someone, or has had a broken relationship. What
is necessary to heal the relationship? Sometimes we pretend that everything is alright
when it is not. Then later the same issue comes up again, and it is clear that the
relationship was never restored. It is only when the root cause of the broken relationship
is corrected that real reconciliation can take place.

The relationship between us and God was broken by the fall. The root problems --
Wrath, Slavery and Death -- have all been taken out of the way. Now we must be
brought back together.

The Bible uses two main words in relation to reconciliation. Both mean reconciliation,
but are slightly different.

 1st - daillassomai. In this word, both people are at enmity with each other.
This is the usual meaning in human relations. We are angry at each other, not
just one angry at the other. Matt. 5:24 tells us how we should be reconciled if
there is enmity between the two. To bring about reconciliation the barrier must
first be removed. Then second step is to get the two back together.

 2nd - apokatollasso, katollasso. This pictures only one person at enmity. This
is the picture of God. The first word is never used of God, only of man. God
is never said to be reconciled to us, it is us that needs to be reconciled to
Him. This is the picture of the relationship of God and man. Gomer and
Hosea.

Romans 5:10 says men are enemies of God.

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Colossians 1:21 says man is alienated and hostile in his mind. Man is at
odds with God; he has turned his back on God.

Biblical Definition of Reconciliation:

The removal of all barriers that separate man from God by Jesus Christ's death so that
man may have fellowship with God (Col. 1:20-22).

Two Parts of Reconciliation -- II Cor. 5:19-20; Rom. 5:10, 11

1st - Reconciliation that took place at Calvary. (When Jesus died.) v. 19

It says God was reconciling the world to Himself. What does that mean? We said that
“to reconcile” means to change completely. What was changed? God has certainly not
changed - He is the same loving, righteous God. The world had not changed it is still as
sinful as ever. What then has changed? The relationship between the world and God.
By Christ's death the barrier between the two has been removed. This part of
reconciliation is totally the work of God alone for the world, i.e. for all men. The first part
of reconciliation is the reconciliation of the world accomplished by Christ's death on the
cross.

2nd - Reconciliation at conversion v. 20

This is when a sinner makes a complete change in his rebellious attitude toward God by
believing in Christ. He is persuaded to receive the reconciliation already accomplished.
As man realizes the barrier between himself and God has been removed, he opens up
toward God and wants to be reconciled to Him. The first part of reconciliation was done
by God alone for all people at Christ's death. The second is accomplished in the
individual at the moment he believes. The first is for the world as a whole. The second
is in the individual believers.

Our ministry as Christians is to help carry our this second part of reconciliation. II Cor.
5:18-20. We are to say to men and women God has made the way to salvation open.
Jesus Christ removed all the cause of your enmity toward God. Come now to Him.

The Finished Work of Christ

Reconciliation completes what is sometimes called the finished work of Christ at the
cross.

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John 19:30 tells us what Jesus said on the cross just before He bowed His head and
gave His spirit into the hands of the Father. He gave a cry of victory, calling out “It is
finished.”

In Col. 2:14 we read that Jesus nailed a certificate of debt to the cross when He died.
Whenever a person was convicted in a Roman court a document would be prepared
with every crime the person had committed and the prescribed payment for the crimes.
That document was called the certificate of debt and it was nailed to the door of his cell.
It would remain there until the sentence was carried out. When the sentence was
completed, they would write across the same phrase Christ cried out from the cross
translated in English,“It is finished!” Jesus cancelled our certificate of debt by his death
on the cross. He removed the barrier.

Application

Understanding what Christ has accomplished through His death shows us what we are
to say and what we are to do as witnesses of Christ.

What we are to say -- “God has made reconciliation.”

We are to tell people, “it is finished.” Christ has removed every barrier which separated
you from God. Now that the barriers are removed you can come to God. People may
think God is angry with them (God's character); or they won't be able to live the
Christian life (slavery); or they feel they are just too far from God, or even that He
doesn’t exist (spiritual death).

What we are to do -- Urge them to be reconciled (II Cor. 5:20 )

We are to urge people to accept the reconciliation Christ had made. Not to force them,
but also not to keep quiet, not to tell them the good news without expression. But to
encourage and urge on behalf of Christ as though God were entreating through us, for
indeed He is. Too often we forget how urgent it is for people to repent and be reconciled
to God. Paul reminds us that the gospel should be presented as if it is the most
important thing in the world. Because it is!

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