THE LIFE OF GRACE!

A. Luke 1:31-35

B. Luke 2:1-7

C. Luke 2:40-51

D. Luke 3:21-23

E. Mark 8:31

F. Matthew 26:47-56

G. John 19:1-6

H. John 19:28-30

1. I Peter 3:18-20

J. Matthew 28:1-6

K. Acts 1:6-11

THE BLESSING OF CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION!

A. I John 3:4-5

B. I Corinthians 15:17-22

C. I John 3:8

D. I Peter 1:3-4

WE ARE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD THROUGH FAITH!

A. Ephesians 2:8-9

B. John 3:16

C. John 14:6

D. James 2:19

E. Proverbs 3:5-6

I. What did Jesus do with sin?

Sin was totally destroyed through Jesus's death and resurrection! (I John 3:8)

II. What was man's role in winning the forgiveness?

Man had no part in winning the forgiveness of sins, Jesus alone did it on the cross!

III. What is the role of the works man does? Do they help to save man?

No, the work of salvation was done by Jesus on the cross. The works accomplished by people in no way contribute to their salvation.

IV. What then is the role of good works?

God desires for His people to do good works, not for salvation but out of love for Him and to the good of our neighbor. [God does not need or want our good works, so we are free to give them away]

V. What happens to a person when they die?

When a person dies their spirit (soul) goes immediately to heaven. (I Peter 1:4)

VI. What about "Purgatory"?

Purgatory is was a development of the theology of the middle ages. It is nowhere mentioned in the Bible. Purgatory is taught to be a place where the souls of people go to suffer and be purified so they can enter into heaven.

VII. Is there suffering after death?

There is suffering after death only for the unbeliever! A person who is not a Christians goes to hell when he dies. Hell is an eternal place of suffering and torment.

A believer (Christian) goes to heaven immediately when they die. (I Thess. 4:13-18)

VIII. How do we know a person goes straight to heaven when he dies?

God promises it! John 3:16, II Cor. 5:1, Heb. 11:16, Rom 6:23

THE LIFE OF GRACE!

A. Luke 1:31-35

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. {32} "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; {33} and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." {34} Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" {35} The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 7:14) was fulfilled when Jesus was conceived in the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit (not Joseph).

B. Luke 2:1-7

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. {2} This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. {3} And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. {4} Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, {5} in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. {6} While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. {7} And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

As prophesied by Micah (5:2), Jesus was born in Bethlehem. God utilized Caesar, a pagan, to order a census and move Joseph, Mary and the Babe to the right birthplace.

C. Luke 2:40-51

The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. {41} Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. {42} And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; {43} and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, {44} but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. {45} When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. {46} Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. {47} And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. {48} When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You." {49} And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?" {50} But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. {51} And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Jesus was well aware of who His true father was at an early age and spent much time in His Father's house.

D. Luke 3:21-23

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, {22} and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." {23} When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli,

At the age of thirty, Jesus was baptized (anointed with water and the Spirit---the term Messiah means "anointed one") and began His ministry.

E. Mark 8:31

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Jesus knew before it happened that He would be crucified and rise from the dead. This was a "MUST".

F. Matthew 26:47-56

While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. {48} Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him." {49} Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. {50} And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. {51} And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. {52} Then Jesus said^ to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.

Jesus was betrayed by one of His disciples (Judas) as the Old Testament Scriptures foretold (cf. Psalm 41:9 & Zechariah 11:12-13).

G. John 19:1-6

Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. {2} And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; {3} and they began to come up to Him and say, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and to give Him slaps in the face. {4} Pilate came out again and said^ to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him." {5} Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said^ to them, "Behold, the Man!" {6} So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, "Crucify, crucify!" Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him."

Although Jesus was declared innocent of all charges by the Roman government, after much abuse, He was handed over to be crucified to appease the crowds.

H. John 19:28-30

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty." {29} A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. {30} Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

After fulfilling Scriptures by receiving some sour wine for His thirst (cf. Psalm 69:21), and having suffered excruciating pain, Jesus died a very real death.

I. I Peter 3:18-20

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; {19} in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, {20} who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.

Prior to His appearance on Easter morning, after Jesus rose from the dead, He descended into hell to proclaim His victory..

J. Matthew 28:1-6

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. {2} And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. {3} And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. {4} The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. {5} The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. {6} "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

On the third day Jesus rose from the dead.

K. Acts 1:6-11

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" {7} He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; {8} but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." {9} And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. {10} And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. {11} They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

Forty days after His resurrection, having appeared to as many as five hundred people at one time (I Corinthians 15:6), Jesus ascended into Heaven.

THE BLESSINGS OF CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION

A. I John 3:4-5

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. {5} You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

Jesus entered this world to deal with man's greatest problem, sin. Jesus has taken away the sins of those who believe in Him through the forgiveness of sins bought with His blood.

B. I Corinthians 15:17-22

. . . and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. {18} Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. {19} If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. {20} But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. {21} For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. {22} For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Had Jesus not risen from the dead, we would have a dead Savior and still be in our sins. The resurrection was a victory over sin and it's effect, death, and secures our resurrection from the dead.

C. I John 3:8

. . .the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus, through His death and resurrection, destroyed the works of the devil.

D. I Peter 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

Every Christian has the inheritance of eternal life waiting for him in heaven, and anticipates the time when he can leave this corrupt world and receive his inheritance.

WE ARE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD THROUGH FAITH!

A. Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; {9} not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Grace is undeserved love. God's grace is bestowed upon man in many forms (rain, health, prosperity, etc.), however, we are saved (from our sins) when we receive through faith, God's greatest act of grace.

B. John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

The greatest act of grace God has bestowed upon man was the sacrificing of His only begotten Son to redeem us from our sins.

C. John 14:6

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

This act of grace is so important that the only way a person can be saved from his sins and become acceptable to God the Father is through faith in Jesus.

D. James 2:19

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

Saving faith is more than just knowing about Jesus and accepting that the knowledge is true. The demons know about Jesus and accept that He is the victorious Savior, but they truly aren't going to heaven.

E. Proverbs 3:5-6

Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol. {6} She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.

Besides knowledge and the acceptance of knowledge, saving faith includes trust. The person who has true saving faith trusts in God with all his heart, does not lean on his own understanding, acknowledges God in everything. The person with saving faith can be confident that God will direct his paths.