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1 Corinthians Lesson 4
Copyright 1999. John Creamer. All rights reserved.
Questions: Have you ever known someone who sometimes ‘embellished’ the
truth? Without a show of hands or public confession…Have you ever felt
the desire or need to enhance the facts? What are men guilty of exaggerating? (Allow the group to answer first,
but if guilt seems to be stifling the responses—try to jump-start
with these; …golfing abilities …the size of things—fish,
etc. …the size of the ‘one-that got-away’ …how far
they had to walk to school when they were kids …past accomplishments
…career potential …ability to ‘horse trade’ ) What are women tempted to aggrandize? (…how much their husband exaggerates
…anything good about their children …how other husbands listen
to their wives …how little their husband listens to them …juicy
tidbits about other women) Why do we sometimes think it is necessary to add to or alter the truth?
If one of your friends said to you, “I don’t really know anything
about God, but I think I should be doing something about the spiritual
part of my life. What should I do?” How would you respond? Would
you tell your friend the simple truth as stated in Scripture or give a
‘more enlightened’ answer that you think he/she would find more
appealing? Scripture: (1 Corinthians 1:17-25 NIV) For Christ did not send me to baptize,
but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross
of Christ be emptied of its power. {18} For the message of the cross is
foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved
it is the power of God. {19} For it is written: "I will destroy the
wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
{20} Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher
of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? {21} For
since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him,
God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those
who believe. {22} Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
{23} but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness
to Gentiles, {24} but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. {25} For the foolishness
of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger
than man's strength. What were the people quarreling about in the previous 6 verses? What did Paul say Christ did not send him to do in v.17? …to do? Why do you think Paul made a statement like this—is there something
wrong with baptism? (No. It’s just not as important as the gospel
of Jesus Christ.) How have people through the years placed more emphasis on baptism than
the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God and salvation? v.17—Why did Paul not use ‘words of human wisdom’ in presenting
the gospel? (He didn’t want to minimize what Jesus Christ did on
the cross by trying to embellish the gospel to make it ‘more appealing’.) v.18—What were the 2 opinions about the gospel? Why do you think
there are only 2? v.19—Why did God ‘plan’ it this way? v.21—How did God ‘feel’ about this plan? (Pleased.) v.22—What were people looking for instead? Do people today still
look for miracles and/or an intellectual approach to God? v.23—What is the ‘crux’ of the gospel? (Christ crucified.)
How did Paul say the people who are looking instead for miracles and/or
an intellectual approach to God view the cross? Do you think people today who are seeking God through the ‘miracles
and/or an intellectual’ approach view the cross any differently than
those in Paul’s day? Why do you think God chose this ‘weak’ plan (v.25) to bring
salvation to the world? How we are supposed to feel about this ‘weak’ plan of salvation… (Romans 1:14-19 NIV) I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks,
both to the wise and the foolish. {15} That is why I am so eager to preach
the gospel also to you who are at Rome. {16} I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:
first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. {17} For in the gospel a righteousness
from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,
just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." {18}
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness
and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, {19}
since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made
it plain to them. How did Paul describe himself in verse 14? (Obligated.) …15? (Eager.) How did Paul feel about the gospel in v.16? v.17—What ‘activates’ this gospel? (Faith.) v.18—What is the antithesis of the gospel? On the other hand, what happens when we mix ‘words of human wisdom’
with ‘being ashamed’ of the gospel and then try to present it
to the world… What did Paul call this ‘new’ approach to salvation? (Different
gospel…really no gospel at all.) {8} But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel
other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
{9} As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching
to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
{10} Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying
to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a
servant of Christ. {11} I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel
I preached is not something that man made up. How did Paul feel about those who presented this ‘different gospel’? (Galatians 2:20-21 NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no
longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live
by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. {21}
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained
through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Our equivalent for ‘gained through the law’ today would be
‘just trying to be a good person’…achieving righteousness
through good works and a good lifestyle. This ‘different gospel’
is still ‘preached’ today. Rather than righteousness that comes
from belief and faith in Christ’s death for their sins, many profess
the ‘I’m just trying to be the best person I can be’ gospel.
If we believe that being a good person is the way to righteousness, what
does v.21 say we believe about Christ death on the cross? (His death was
a wasted effort.) (Galatians 5:2-5 NIV) Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you
let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
{3} Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that
he is obligated to obey the whole law. {4} You who are trying to be justified
by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
{5} But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness
for which we hope. v.4—How did Paul describe the people who ‘bought in’ to
this ‘different’ gospel? (…fallen away from grace.) When most Christians today talk about someone who has ‘fallen from
grace’ they are referring to TV evangelists caught in sin, but what
do these verses say the person ‘fallen away from grace’ has
done? (They have become self-righteous legalists more concerned about
lists of do’ and don’t’s than salvation through faith alone.)
Paul said in Galatians 1:11 that this gospel is ‘not something
that man made up’. To validate his claim, consider these ‘predictions’
about the gospel…first from Isaiah 700 years before it came to be
and next from Jesus Christ before the events of the gospel about Him unfolded. (Isaiah 53:2-12 NIV) He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and
like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract
us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. {3} He
was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with
suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and
we esteemed him not. {4} Surely he took up our infirmities and carried
our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and
afflicted. {5} But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed
for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed. How was Jesus to be ‘pierced for our transgressions…crushed
for our iniquities’? {6} 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. What is it called when we, like sheep, all go astray? (Sin.) Who did God lay the penalty of that sin on? {7} He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is silent, so he did not open his mouth. {8} By oppression and judgment
he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut
off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he
was stricken. Did Jesus Christ try to get out of this death penalty for our sin? {9} He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in
his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Where was Jesus buried? (In a rich man’s tomb) (Matthew 27:57-60 NIV) As evening approached, there came a rich
man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of
Jesus. {58} Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered
that it be given to him. {59} Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean
linen cloth, {60} and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out
of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb
and went away. {10} Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring
and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
{11} After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and
be satisfied ; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities. What will be the result of ‘by his knowledge’—people knowing
him? {12} Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will
divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto
death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of
many, and made intercession for the transgressors. What would his purpose be? (Bear the sins of many.) Predictions of the gospel events from Jesus before his crucifixion… Jesus predicted the events of the cross… (Mark 8:31-38 NIV) He then began to teach them that the Son of Man
must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and
teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise
again. {32} He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and
began to rebuke him. {33} But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples,
he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!"
he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things
of men." {34} Then he called the crowd to him along
with his disciples and said: "If anyone
would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow
me. {35} For whoever wants to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will
save it. {36} What good is it for a man to
gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? {37}
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? {38}
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful
generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his
Father's glory with the holy angels." What was Jesus describing in v.31? (The crux of the gospel.) Do you suppose Peter was thinking, “I think I can come up with a
‘stronger plan’ for the gospel than this!”? v.33—How did Jesus respond to Peter’s rebuke? v.34—The cross was an ignominious item in Jesus’ life, yet
He said if we are to follow Him, we too, need to take up the cross. Could
our ‘cross’ be to accept…on faith from first to last…the
gospel and then present it to others without changing it in any way? What is the gospel? (1 Corinthians 15:1-6 NIV) Now, brothers, I want to remind you of
the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have
taken your stand. {2} By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly
to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. {3}
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ
died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, {5} and
that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. {6} After that, he
appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most
of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. v.3—Why did Jesus die? v.4—What happened after his death? vs.5-6—Why is it significant that, in addition to His twelve disciples,
Jesus appeared to more than 500 people, most of whom were still alive
at the time of the writing? (It only takes 2 to corroborate a story in
a court of law as true. 500 witnesses is what you might call a ‘slam-dunk’
verification of truth.) Why do people resist the gospel? (1 John 1:5-10 NIV) This is the message we have heard from him and
declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. {6}
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie
and do not live by the truth. {7} But if we walk in the light, as he is
in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus,
his Son, purifies us from all sin. {8} If we claim to be without sin,
we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. {9} If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify
us from all unrighteousness. {10} If we claim we have not sinned, we make
him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. How do verses 8 and 10 say that some people relate to the concept of
sin in their life? 1 Corinthians 15:3 states Jesus died for our sins; however, if a person
says he/she has no sin, then they have no need for someone to pay for
a debt they don’t think they owe. Why do people resist the gospel? They don’t acknowledge sin in
their life and therefore don’t believe they need a savior from sin.
(John 3:16-21 NIV)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
{17} For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through him. {18}
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe
stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's
one and only Son. {19} This is the verdict:
Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light
because their deeds were evil. {20} Everyone
who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear
that his deeds will be exposed. {21} But
whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen
plainly that what he has done has been done through God." According to verses 19 and 20, why do people resist the gospel? The gospel as first presented… (Acts 2:22-24, 32-33, 36--42 NIV) "Men of Israel, listen to this:
Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders
and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
{23} This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge;
and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him
to the cross. {24} But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from
the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold
on him. How did the people respond to the gospel? (Acts 5:28-39 NIV) "We gave you strict orders not to teach in
this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your
teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."
What did the high priest in the Sanhedrin want to do to Peter and the
apostles for preaching this gospel of Jesus Christ? What position did Peter and the apostles on their threat? What advice did Gamaliel give to the members of the Sanhedrin? Since
the time of Gamaliel’s speech to the Sanhedrin, has anyone ever been
able to stop this gospel? How are we to respond to the gospel??? (Romans 10:9-10 NIV) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus
is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the
dead, you will be saved. {10} For it is with your heart that you believe
and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are
saved. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for
us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. What happens when we receive the gospel? The Bottom Line: The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for our salvation,
More passages on the gospel to use in the lesson or give to the people
in your group to use in their personal Bible study… (Colossians 1:13-23 NIV) For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, {14} in whom we have
redemption, the forgiveness of sins. {15} He is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn over all creation. {16} For by him all things were
created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by
him and for him. {17} He is before all things, and in him all things hold
together. {18} And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning
and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might
have the supremacy. {19} For God was pleased to have all his fullness
dwell in him, {20} and through him to reconcile to himself all things,
whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his
blood, shed on the cross. {21} Once you were alienated from God and were
enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. {22} But now he has
reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you
holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- {23} if
you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope
held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has
been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul,
have become a servant. (Romans 5:6-10 NIV) You see, at just the right time, when we were still
powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. {7} Very rarely will anyone die
for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare
to die. {8} But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for us. {9} Since we have now been justified
by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through
him! {10} For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him
through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall
we be saved through his life! (Hebrews 1:1-3 NIV) In the past God spoke to our forefathers through
the prophets at many times and in various ways, {2} but in these last
days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things,
and through whom he made the universe. {3} The Son is the radiance of
God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all
things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,
he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 9:1-12 NIV) Now the first covenant had regulations for worship
and also an earthly sanctuary. {2} A tabernacle was set up. In its first
room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was
called the Holy Place. {3} Behind the second curtain was a room called
the Most Holy Place, {4} which had the golden altar of incense and the
gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna,
Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
{5} Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement
cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. {6} When everything
had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer
room to carry on their ministry. {7} But only the high priest entered
the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which
he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.
{8} The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy
Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still
standing. {9} This is an illustration for the present time, indicating
that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the
conscience of the worshiper. {10} They are only a matter of food and drink
and various ceremonial washings--external regulations applying until the
time of the new order. {11} When Christ came as high priest of the good
things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect
tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.
{12} He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he
entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained
eternal redemption. (Mark 15:33-38 NIV) At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land
until the ninth hour. {34} And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a
loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which
means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?" {35} When some of those standing near heard this,
they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah." {36} One man ran,
filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to
Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to
take him down," he said. {37} With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his
last. {38} The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Hebrews 9:14-15 NIV) How much more, then, will the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse
our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the
living God! {15} For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant,
that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now
that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed
under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:22-26 NIV) In fact, the law requires that nearly everything
be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no
forgiveness. {23} It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly
things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves
with better sacrifices than these. {24} For Christ did not enter a man-made
sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself,
now to appear for us in God's presence. {25} Nor did he enter heaven to
offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most
Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. {26} Then Christ
would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But
now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with
sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 10:1-10 NIV) The law is only a shadow of the good things that
are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never,
by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect
those who draw near to worship. {2} If it could, would they not have stopped
being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all,
and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. {3} But those sacrifices
are an annual reminder of sins, {4} because it is impossible for the blood
of bulls and goats to take away sins. {5} Therefore, when Christ came
into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me; {6} with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased. {7} Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about
me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, O God.'" {8} First
he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the
law required them to be made). {9} Then he said, "Here I am, I have
come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.
{10} And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of
the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great
cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin
that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked
out for us. {2} Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter
of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning
its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV) For you know that it was not with perishable things
such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life
handed down to you from your forefathers, {19} but with the precious blood
of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (Revelation 1:5 NIV) and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, (Luke 9:22-26 NIV) And he said, "The Son
of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests
and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be
raised to life." {23} Then he said to
them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross daily and follow me. {24}
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for me will save it. {25} What good
is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very
self? {26} If anyone is ashamed of me and
my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory
and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Luke 24:1-8 NIV) On the first day of the week, very early in the morning,
the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. {2}
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, {3} but when they entered,
they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. {4} While they were wondering
about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood
beside them. {5} In their fright the women bowed down with their faces
to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the
living among the dead? {6} He is not here; he has risen! Remember how
he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: {7} 'The Son of Man
must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the
third day be raised again.'" {8} Then they remembered his words. (Luke 24:25-26 NIV) He said to them, "How
foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets
have spoken! {26} Did not the Christ have
to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" (Luke 24:36-48 NIV) While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself
stood among them and said to them, "Peace
be with you." {37} They were startled and frightened,
thinking they saw a ghost. {38} He said to them, "Why
are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? {39}
Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost
does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." {40}
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. {41} And while
they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them,
"Do you have anything here to eat?" {42} They gave
him a piece of broiled fish, {43} and he took it and ate it in their presence.
{44} He said to them, "This is what I told
you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written
about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
{45} Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
{46} He told them, "This is what is written:
The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, {47}
and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. {48}
You are witnesses of these things. (Romans 8:1-3 NIV) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus, {2} because through Christ Jesus the law of the
Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. {3} For what
the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,
God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin
offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, (Luke 22:37 NIV) It is written: 'And he was
numbered with the transgressors' ; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled
in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment." (Matthew 26:26-28 NIV) While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave
thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take
and eat; this is my body." {27} Then he took the cup,
gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink
from it, all of you. {28} This is my blood
of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:26-28 NIV) Then Christ would have had to suffer many times
since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all
at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.
{27} Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
{28} so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people;
and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation
to those who are waiting for him. (Philippians 2:5-13 NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality
with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking
the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. {8} And being
found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to
death-- even death on a cross! {9} Therefore God exalted him to the highest
place and gave him the name that is above every name, {10} that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth, {11} and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father. {12} Therefore, my dear friends, as you have
always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue
to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, {13} for it is God
who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (1 Peter 2:21-25 NIV) To this you were called, because Christ suffered
for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
{22} "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
{23} When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when
he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him
who judges justly. {24} He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds
you have been healed. {25} For you were like sheep going astray, but now
you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 John 3:16 NIV) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid
down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (1 Corinthians 15:12-20 NIV) But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? {13} If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. {14} And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. {15} More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. {16} For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. {17} And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. {18} Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. {19} If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. {20} But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. |