061205

GOD’S GREAT SALVATION
NOT GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION

Romans 3:19-20
First of all, we need to realize that “God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8.”) With this truth in mind, let’s dive into this week’s lesson.
1) God has placed the entire world is under judgment. So, what are we being judged for (Psalms 14:2-3 and John 3:19?)
a) Exodus 34:7 lists 3 threes that are in opposition to God. What are they?
i) Wickedness is those things we do as the result of our own sinful lusts, or natures. Jesus says they are the outward expression of our hearts! (Galatians 5:19-21 and Matthew 15:19.)
ii) Rebellion has its root from the beginning of time. (Genesis 2:16-17). What lie did satan use to deceive Eve and lead her to disobey God?
(1) Where did pride start? (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:12-19 and Luke 10:18)
(2) Is it any wonder that 1 Samuel 15:23 says rebellion is the spirit of witchcraft?
iii) Sin is falling short—short of God’s glory, holiness, commandments and/or requirements (Romans 3:23.)
(1) To understand sin (if anyone fully can), we have to look at some of the characteristics of our God:
(a) God is merciful and forgiving (Deuteronomy 4:31 and Daniel 9:9!)
(b) God is gracious and compassionate (2 Chronicles 30:9!)
(c) God is a righteous Judge (Psalms 7:11!)
(d) God is holy (Psalms 99:9!)
(e) God is righteous (Psalms 116:5) in that:
(i) He fights for what is right (Genesis 18:1 and Leviticus 20:22-24)
(ii) He executes wrath against all immorality (Leviticus 20:22-24)
(iii) He alone gives righteousness—He saves (Isaiah 42:6 and Isaiah 63:1!)
(f) God is faithful (1 Corinthians 10:13!)
(g) God is peace (1 Corinthians 14:33!)
(h) God is just (2 Thessalonians 1:6!)
(i) God is love (1 John 4:8!)
(i) See Exodus 34:6-7 to hear God proclaim Himself before Moses!
We all love to hear about God’s love, mercy and forgiveness—the characteristics of God that greatly benefit us, but too quickly we forget that He is also holy and just. Therein lays the dilemma! God is so holy and so pure that He cannot look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13!) God is so just that he must address and punish sin (Deuteronomy 32:4; Romans 6:23.) Therefore, it behooved God to devise a way to offer salvation to the world in a manner that would be true to every aspect of His character—a way that He and He alone would be exalted and glorified. Remember, He is a jealous God and He will not share His glory! Stay tuned!
2) So, considering what we have learned about God, what was the motivation of His heart in bringing judgment upon the entire world?
a) Was it to condemn everyone to damnation? Explain.
b) Was it to show mercy to everyone? Explain (John 3:17 and Romans 11:32)
3) If judgment has already come, and it has, when, where and how did this judgment take place? (Revelation 13:8; Genesis 2:16-17; Isaiah 53; Matthew 27:27-37; John 19:28-30; and 1 Peter 2:24!)
a) The cross is where believers are judged (all sins—past, present and future!) Oh, sisters, you have to hold on to this truth. Think about it, where were you when Jesus became sin? Had you sinned yet? No, but He gladly bore every one of your sins because He looked forward to the joy set before Him—bringing you to the Father (Hebrews 12:2!) You are His joy (1 Thessalonians 2:20) and He is our salvation! Hallelujah!
i) Yes, Christians will be judged before a righteous and holy God, but be sure a believer’s judgment is not to determine your eternal destination, and not whether or not you have measured up (1 Corinthians 3:11-15!) I hope you took careful note that you are building upon a foundation that has already been established, i.e., Christ! We don’t work for our salvation, we work because of our salvation—big difference. A life altering difference!
ii) What judgment awaits those who reject Christ (Revelation 20:11-15?) Oh, praise be to our God and Savior who has delivered us from this second death and has brought us into eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!
(1) We have learned that our sin has already been tried, sentenced and judged by God and we were all declared guilty! Never forget for one moment that our God-given gift of salvation came at a great price to Jesus Christ—the Sinless One (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 3:18!) Read Genesis 3:14, 23—sin brought curse and banishment from God’s presence! A curse was pronounced upon man, animal kind and the earth itself! Who became this curse (Deuteronomy 21:22-23 and Galatians 3:13!)
(2) Not only did Jesus bear our sins and become our curse, He experienced what should have been our banishment from God, the Father (Matthew 27:45-46!) On the cross, Jesus, who was God, and was with God from the beginning—the Ancient of Days, for the first time, ever, was no longer in God’s presence. God actually turned His back on Him because Jesus really did become our sin (Re-read Habakkuk 1:13!) Yes, what Jesus endured to bring us to the Father was unbelievably horrifying—so, much so His sweat became drops of blood as He agonized over doing the will of the Father (Luke 22:39-46!) While Jesus was agonizing in the garden, what do you think he dreaded undergoing the most—death or separation? Thank God, we never have to experience the loss of God’s presence—that is truly the second death and true hell (Revelation 20:13-15!)
Romans 3:21-26
1) What was the purpose of God giving the law to His people (Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7?)
2) Why is it impossible for the law to save (Romans 4:15; Galatians 3:10?) You see, the law was outside the body, written on stone tablets and was only meant to show us our sin and our need for a Savior! Jesus is the end of the Law (Romans 10:4!) Now, as He promised, God has written His commandments in our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Corinthians 3:3 and Hebrews 10:15-16!) This is great news—God has changed our “Oh, do I have to?” to “Yeah! I get to (Philippians 2:13!)
3) Romans 3:25 speaks of God’s anger. Can you think of any instances when God’s anger was aroused? Was God’s anger always righteous and just? Why or why not? (Some notable examples are: Genesis 6:5-13; Genesis 18:17-21; 19:14-15; Exodus 11:4-6; Exodus 32:7-10; Matthew 21:11-13)
a) God’s anger and wrath has been satisfied toward those who have accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:9) but there is a coming wrath (John 3:36; Romans 2:5; Colossians 3:5-7; and Revelation 6:16-17!) Thank God, Jesus rescues us from the Father’s coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9!)
4) Why didn’t God punish sinners before Christ (Hebrews 11:1; Hebrews 11:9-10?) God declared those ancients righteous because by the same faith that saves us! We look back at Calvary. They were looking forward to the promised Savior, though they did not fully comprehend how God’s salvation would be accomplished. Yet, they were already considering themselves citizens of His heavenly city! This is how God is completely fair—righteousness is by faith and faith alone (Romans 1:17!) Praise be to our God!
Romans 4:13-17
1) Verse 13 says it all! The law failed because it didn’t, it couldn’t, bring relationship! God wants family! He is our Abba, Father and we are His sons and daughters (Romans 8:15!)
2) Romans 4:17 has become one of my most beloved verses in the Bible! “God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” Our God is a faith God—no wonder faith is the only way to please Him! Sisters, He has given us life and He sees us as the finished product—stop worrying!
Romans 4:18-25
1) Verse 25 of the above passage includes the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead to make us right with God. What does it mean to us that Jesus has indeed risen?
a) God has credited righteousness to our accounts (Romans 4:24-25!)
b) We are able to live new lives (Romans 6:3-4!)
c) We are now dead to sin, but alive to righteousness (Romans 8:10-11!)
d) Our faith is validated (1 Corinthians 15:13-14!)
e) Jesus was the firstborn of those resurrected—we, too, shall be raised (1 Corinthians 6:14, 15:20-22!)
f) Yes, even now, we are seated in the heavenly realms with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6!)
g) We have the fullness of God in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:10-15!)
h) We are rescued from God’s coming wrath upon the world (1 Thessalonians 1:10!)
4) What would it mean to our faith if Christ had not risen (1 Corinthians 15:14-19?)
Romans 5:1-2
1) Right standing with God brings God’s peace. What does God’s peace mean to you?
a) Spiritual peace speaks of well-being and wholeness, in that we have been redeemed, restored and reconciled to God through Jesus Christ (John 14:27.) The gift of true inner peace, regardless of outward circumstances, comes only by God and cannot be understood by the world (Philippians 4:7.)
2) What would you say is the opposite of peace? (Luke 24:36-38; John 20:26-28; Romans 8:15; Hebrews 2:14-15; James 1:6 and 1 John 4:18-19.)
3) Are you looking forward to sharing God’s glory—we already share in it (John 17:20-23; Romans 2:9-10; Romans 8:17-18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 4:14?)