The Jesus Way

Session 2 –

Accept Jesus’ Forgiveness

Why did Jesus die?

• There is no doubting:– Jesus truly died– He could have escaped if he’d wanted– He deliberately

• went to Jerusalem• provoked the Temple authorities• waited in Gethsemane to be arrested

• Why?

Jesus teaches about his deathafter the event

• On the road to Emmaus Jesus shows the disciples that his death:– fulfilled Old Testament prophecy– was not a mistake– achieved something important

Jesus taught about his death before the event

• Mark 2: Jesus declares sins forgiven on behalf of God himself

• Mark 8: his death is a necessity

• Mark 10: and a ‘ransom for many’

What the apostles taught after Jesus’ death

• Jesus’ death was ‘for our sins’

• Not an accident but part of God’s plan

• He had no sin of his own for which to die

• He died because of our sin

Four pictures of Jesus’ death:1. Family Relationships

• Sin causes a barrier before God

• Jesus’ death removes that barrier

• We can enter God’s holy presence

• We can return to our heavenly Father

• Language: ‘reconciliation’, ‘peace’, ‘friendship’

Four pictures of Jesus’ death:2. Slave Market

• Jesus describes humans as slaves

• Jesus paid a great price

• So we can be free

• Language: ‘ransom’, ‘redemption’ (‘buying back’)

Four pictures of Jesus’ death: 3. Law Courts

• God declares us guilty

• Jesus bears our sentence so we are declared ‘righteous’

• Language: ‘justification’ (‘being put right with’) and ‘righteousness’.

Four pictures of Jesus’ death:4. Jerusalem Temple

• Place appointed for sin sacrifices

• Jesus’ one, true sacrifice, turning aside God’s wrath

• We are counted holy and can enter God’s presence

• Language: ‘propitiation’, ‘atonement’, ‘sacrifice’

The apostles’ teaching about the cross

• Jesus carried our sins in his body

• It was effective – an act of salvation and rescue

• We are unable to save ourselves

• Jesus is our substitute (doing something for us that we could not do ourselves)

The apostles’ teaching about the cross

• ‘God shows his own love for us . . .’ (Romans 5:8)

• God himself at work

• Christ acting for and as God

• An act of divine self-sacrifice

• In what other religion does God love us so much as to die for us?

The cross in the Old Testament

• Servant Songs in Isaiah– 500 years before Jesus’ death

• ‘We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.’ (Isaiah 53.6)

What about us?

• ‘All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory’

• At the cross, sin is dealt with once and for all

• Jesus bore our sins

• The barrier has been removed

• Relationship with God now possible

• The cross is a bridge from earth to heaven

The Cross is a Bridge (1)

• Sin places a vast gap between us and God

The Cross is a Bridge (2)

• We cannot cross this chasm ourselves• People have tried everything!

The Cross is a Bridge (3)

• Jesus’ cross removes the sin and spans the gulf

Where are our sins?

• In God’s sight, sins are located . . . – Either on the person who has committed them– Or on Jesus who offers to carry them

Accepting Jesus’ offer

• We need to ask Jesus to carry our sins for us • and repent, asking God for his forgiveness.• What happens when we do this? We are . . .

– forgiven – reckoned as righteous (justified)– at peace with God– adopted as God’s children– full members of God’s people – able to call God ‘our Father’ and enjoy knowing him

Living under the cross

• The Christian life begins at the cross

• We can never leave the cross behind us

• Jesus died for all sin

• Jesus loves us totally

• Every day we need God’s forgiveness

Building-block 2in following Jesus his way:

Accept his Forgiveness –

Jesus Died for You!