October 1, 2017 – Bible Doctrine # 5 – Jesus Christ

Survey of Bible Doctrine, Week 5 – The Person and Work of Jesus Christ

OUTLINE OF THE LESSON:

1. The Humanity of Jesus Christ – Hebrews 4:14-15 (1 Tim. 3:16)
2. The Deity of Jesus Christ – Matthew 1:23; Hebrews 1:1-14
3. The Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ – Luke 19:10; Romans 3:23-25; 5:8-9; 8:34
4. Salvation is Available Only through Jesus Christ – John 14:6; Acts 4:12

Lesson Date: October 1, 2017

Focal Scripture Passage: Matthew 1:23; Luke 19:10; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:23-25; 5:8-9; 8:34; Hebrews 1:1-14; Hebrews 4:14-15

AIM: To lead students to discover the truth about Jesus Christ’s deity and redemptive work, and to give any who are not saved an opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as Savior.

Before class: Get enough copies of the lesson outline handout and the true/false quiz for your anticipated attendance. Be sure to have some pens or pencils on hand for any who might need one.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Give each student a copy of the true/false quiz (and a pen or pencil if needed). Ask them to mark each statement either true or false. Allow students a few moments to mark their answers. Read each statement and ask for their answers. Note the fact that every statement on the quiz is false.

Tell the class that while the answers to these questions may seem obvious and elementary to us, all of those false statements have been in the past or are currently popular beliefs. Many people believe things about Jesus that are not true and many others reject the biblical truth about Jesus.

Tell the class that through this lesson you hope to expose the truth about each of those issues. Today’s lesson will focus on Jesus Christ’s person (who He is) and work (what He does).

HEART OF THE LESSON (Central Truth):

1. Review.
   • Remind the students that this quarter we are studying a “Survey of Bible Doctrine.”
   • Briefly review the first four lessons of the study.
   • Remind the class that we spent two weeks learning that the Bible is God’s inspired, inerrant Word to mankind.
   • Next we spent two weeks learning about God, during which we learned that God is triune (there are three members of the one God).
   • Tell the class today we focus on the second person of the triune Godhead, Jesus Christ.
   • Give each student a copy of the lesson outline handout for today’s lesson.
2. Jesus Christ – Our Great High Priest.
   • Read Hebrews 4:14-15.
   • Ask: “What does verse 14 call Jesus Christ?” (our great high priest).
   • Remind the class that in Old Testament times the priests were the ones who enabled man to relate to God, through the various sacrificial offerings. Of all the many priests, the high priest was the only one who could enter into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the people. Jesus Christ is our great high priest.
   • Ask: “What does verse 15 tell us about Jesus?” (He was tempted in all the same areas that we are).
   • Explain that the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ was a real human being, who felt fatigue, hunger, sorrow, and joy – just like we do. He also experienced temptations, but in all of His human experiences Jesus Christ never committed a single sin.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Hebrews 1:1-3.
   • Ask: “How does the Bible describe Jesus Christ?” (heir of all things, creator of all there is, brightness of the Father’s glory, and exact image of His person).
   • Ask: “What does verse 3 say Jesus Christ did?” (upheld all things the Father intended Him to, purged our sins, and then sat down at the Father’s right hand).
   • These three verses sum up both the person and the work of Jesus Christ.
   • Summarize: Jesus Christ is our great High Priest, who paid the price for our sin with His own blood. He completed that redemptive work and then took His rightful place at the right hand of His Father.
3. Jesus Christ – the God-Man.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 1:23.
   • Ask: “What does this verse reveal about Jesus Christ?” (He was born of a virgin mother).
   • Explain that Jesus had no earthly father – His father is God the Father. This fact makes Jesus Christ was unique. He was all man and He was all God.
   • Tell the class that just as in the doctrine of the trinity we must accept the fact that 1+1+1=1, in considering Jesus Christ the God-Man we must acknowledge that 1+1=1. Jesus was God and He was man, but He was one.
   • Tell the class the remainder of Hebrews 1 deals with the deity (God-hood) of Jesus Christ.
   • Read Hebrews 1:4-14.
   • Explain that some false teachers in the early days of Christianity taught that Jesus was only an angel. These verses prove that Jesus was far above the angels. This is proved by the following:
     • The Father called Jesus His Son – verse 5 (quoting from Psalm 2:7)
     • The angels worshiped Jesus at His birth – verse 6
     • The Father called Jesus “God” – verse 8 (quoting from Psalm 45:6-7)
     • Jesus created the earth – verse 10
     • The earth will pass away, but Jesus is eternal – verses 11-12
     • The Father placed Jesus at His right hand – verse 13 (quoting Psalm 110:1)
   • Summarize: Jesus Christ was and is God. He did not begin in the manger in Bethlehem: He is eternal. He was virgin-born, with an earthly mother and a heavenly Father (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38). Jesus Christ never committed a single sin (Isa. 53:9; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15).
4. Jesus Christ – Why did He Come into the World?
   • Tell the class that most of the verses we have read so far dealt with who Jesus Christ is. The rest of the lesson will focus on His work – what He does.
   • Read Luke 19:10.
   • Ask: “What did Jesus Christ come into the world to do?” (He came to seek and to save the lost: His work was to redeem sinners).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 3:23-25.
   • Ask: “According to verse 23, what is man’s problem?” (every person on earth has sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect standards).
   • Tell the class that Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection, has a solution for man’s sin problem.
   • Explain the following:
     • He can justify us by His grace. The word justify means to make right, as if we had never had a sin problem.
     • Jesus Christ can redeem The word redemption means to buy back, as you might redeem an item you had pawned.
     • Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins. The word propitiation is a payment for sin, similar to a ransom or paying a debt.
     • Jesus Christ saves us from our sins. The word remission means passing over previously committed sins.
   • Ask: “According to verse 25, what price did Jesus pay to do those things for us?” (He shed His blood and died on the cross).
   • Summarize: Jesus Christ came into the world to deal with man’s greatest problem – sin.
5. Jesus Christ – What does He do for Us?
   • Read Romans 5:8-9.
   • Ask: “What did Jesus do for us while we were still sinners?” (He died for us).
   • Ask: “According to verse 8, what does Jesus Christ’s death reveal?” (how much He loves us).
   • Tell the class that Jesus Christ died to pay the price for our sins and make possible our salvation from God’s wrath and the penalty of our sin.
   • Read Romans 8:34.
   • This verse tells us that Jesus died for us and then rose again from the dead.
   • Ask: “Where is He right now?” (at the right hand of the Father).
   • Ask: “What is Jesus Christ doing for us right now?” (interceding on our behalf to His Father).
   • Explain that to intercede means to go between two parties who are separated from each another. Our sin separated us from God, but the Lord Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to be reconciled to God.
   • Ask: “Have you ever asked someone to pray for you?”
   • That person may or may not remember to pray for you, but right now Jesus Christ is at God the Father’s right hand, bringing our needs and requests to the Father.
   • Summarize: Jesus Christ died to pay the price for our sins and save us from eternal death and hell. Right now He is interceding for us before His Heavenly Father.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Tell the class that Jesus Christ is and always has been God. He was virgin-born into human flesh, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross to pay for our sins. He arose from the dead and ascended back to heaven. At this very moment He is at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for His children.

Ask: “Is there any other way to be saved, other than through Jesus Christ?” (no). Ask: “Can a person follow any religion they choose and get to God?” (no). Ask: “Can a person live a good life and expect to go to Heaven?” (no).

The answers to these questions expose the fact that salvation is available only through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The Bible further says: “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). That means you can’t be saved by believing in Mohammed, Buddha, Krishna, Zen, yoga, the teachings of Joseph Smith or by doing good works. Salvation is only available through faith in Jesus Christ. People who follow other religions may be sincere in their beliefs, but they are sincerely wrong. Jesus is the only way to have eternal life and go to heaven.

Ask: “What about you? Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?” It is very possible that someone sitting in your class is lost. He or she may have been in church for years, but their salvation is counterfeit (trying to be saved based on good works or anything other than Jesus Christ). Encourage any in the class who are not saved to accept Jesus today. Lead a closing prayer, in which you give opportunity for any who might need salvation to admit their need, confess and repent of their sin, and place their trust in Christ. After you close the prayer, encourage any who have received Christ today to make that public during the invitation at the close of this morning’s service.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize John 14:6. Tell the students next week we will learn about the third person of the godhead, the Holy Spirit. Encourage them to do the Daily Bible Readings and read and answer all the questions in their Sunday School Member Quarterly. Urge them to attend Sunday School every Sunday. One way we show our gratitude to Jesus Christ for saving us is by coming to Sunday School and worship regularly.