Note: The Bible by Jesus will be used throughout this lesson unless otherwise noted after each Bible reference.
A. INTRODUCTION: WHY A SAVIOR?
1. People were cut off from God – in darkness. “I am the life of God, who is the light to all” (John 1:4).
2. People love sin more than goodness and God. “People love darkness more than light” (John 3:14).
3. People were condemned to judgment and suffering. “The verdict of death was handed down” (John 3:18). “The punishment of the Father rests on them already” (John 3:36).
4. God the Father is love. “God is love” (1 John 4.8).
a. His love is sacrificial. He gave His most precious thing, “The Father loved . . . so much He gave Me” (John 3:16).
b. His love is eternal.
B. FIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SALVATION
1. I was the substitute who took your punishment.
a. The substitute Lamb. “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). My first identification.
b. As a Lamb, I became your sin. “The Lamb shall bear all the iniquities of the people” (Lev. 16:22).
c. I died at Passover. “It was the sixth hour when Passover was prepared, and they cried, ‘away with Him’” (John 19:14). “I personally carried your sins in My body on the cross” (1 Peter 2:24).
d. Sufficient for all. “I was the sacrifice who atoned for your sins, not yours only, but for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
e. Efficient for those who believe in Me. “You who are the Father’s children are forgiven” (1 John 2:12).
2. I redeemed you.
a. There is a price to be paid for every law broken, i.e., penalty, fine, jail time, execution. “The ransom paid was not silver or gold . . . but My precious blood” (1 Peter 1:19).
b. A life for a life. “The blood of bulls and lambs could never take away sin” (Heb. 2:12).
c. Three uses of redeemed.
(1) To pay the price in the market for a slave – but sold again, agarazo. “I redeemed you to God” (Rev. 5:9).
(2) To pay the price and take home for service, ekagorazo. “I have redeemed you from the curse of the law” (Gal. 3:13).
(3) To pay the price and give freedom, ?utroo. “That I might redeem you from all” (Titus 2:14).
3. I satisfied God’s wrath against you. Propitiation
a. God the Father cannot look on sin. “My God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29).
b. I satisfied your debt. “I Myself am the propitiation for your sins” (1 John 2:2).
c. The word propitiation hilasmos means mercy seat. This is the place of judgement, where the blood was applied for forgiveness.
4. I fulfilled the demands of the law.
a. The law condemns. “If you keep all the law but break just one law, you have broken all” (James 2:10).
b. I did not abolish or destroy the law. “I did not come to abolish the law . . . I came to fulfill it, meaning I completely obeyed it” (Matt. 5:17).
c. I cancelled all charges again you. “I cancelled all records against you by nailing the law to the cross” (Col. 2:14).
d. Two continued abuses of the law.
(1) Some want to be saved by keeping the law. “I saved you by My grace, you can’t take credit by keeping the law” (Eph. 2:8).
(2) Sanctified by keeping the law. “I did what the law could not do, I declared the end of sin’s control over you . . . now you are no longer dominated by your sinful nature and the law, let the Holy Spirit control all you think or do” (Rom. 8:3-5).
5. I reconciled you to the Father
a. The word reconciled means to restore fellowship. “You were alienated and an enemy of the Father, but I have reconciled you to Him” (Col. 1:21).
b. All are reconciled, but not all are saved. “I reconciled the world to the Father.” All are savable, but each must choose salvation.
c. The challenge. “I plead, ‘come back to the Father’ but I who never sinned was made sin for you, so come to Him” (2 Cor. 3:21).
d. Now your obligation. “Be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:18).
C. FOUR RESULTS
1. If you recognize I am God, you must acknowledge Me. “The women, falling down before Me, grabbed My feet and worshiped Me” (Matt. 28:9).
2. If you believe I can save you, you must receive Me. “As many as recognized Me and received Me, I will make them children of God” (John 1:12).
3. If I am your Lord, then you must obey Me. “If anyone wants to be My followers, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:26).
4. If I am who I claim to be, you must put Me first in your life. “Seek first My kingdom and righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com.
