Look up the New Testament verses below. Write in the key words from each verse that express man's alienation, separation, exile, banishment or disqualification from the presence of God and/or life with God.
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Luke 15:32 |
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Luke 19:10 |
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John 3:3,5 |
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Romans 1:24,26,28 |
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Romans 5:10 |
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Romans 5:17 |
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Ephesians 2:1 & 5 |
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Ephesians 2:13 |
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Ephesians 4:18 |
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Colossians 1:21 |
Discuss the different ideas that men have thought up as ways to find reunion with 'god' and acceptance with 'god'. Write them below as a reminder that these are the kind of things we humans automatically do in our own efforts to get right with God, and as a warning that these supposed 'ways' are utterly inappropriate for those who know the One who is The Way.
Discover the images of forgiveness that God has imbedded in his Word for our comfort and encouragement, and discuss how each of these images in its own way teaches us how the death of Jesus Christ removes the sin-barrier and takes us into the presence of God.
Reference |
Image |
How it portrays the removal of the sin-barrier by Christ's death |
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Isaiah 38:17 |
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Matt 18:21-35 |
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Coloss. 2:14b |
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Psalm 103:12 |
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Micah 7:19c |
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Micah 7:19b |
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Col 2:14a;1John 1:9; Psalm 51:1 |
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Psalm 32:1; 85:2 |
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Psalm 51:9 |
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Is 61:1,2; Lev 25 Luke 4:16,19 |
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Coloss. 2:13b = 'graced over' |
Concept |
Reference |
Text |
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Ransom/ Redemption This concept is rich with OT examples which are symbolic of the ultimate redemption which is in Christ. Time does not allow a study of these images. |
Job 19:25 |
'I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.' |
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Isaiah 44:22 |
'I have swept away your offences like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.' |
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Isaiah 51:11 |
'The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.' |
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Matthew 20:28 |
'The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.' |
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John 1:29 |
'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' |
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Galatians 3:13,14 |
'Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us so that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus ... ' |
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Galatians 4:4,5 |
'God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons ... ' |
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1 Tim. 2:6 |
' ... who gave himself as a ransom for all men ... ' |
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Titus 2:14 |
'Jesus Christ ... gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own ... ' |
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1 Peter 1:18,19 |
'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, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.' |
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Revelation 5:9 |
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation ... " |
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Sacrifice Also anticipated in OT symbols, and intimately connected with the concept of ransom/ redemption |
Ephesians 5:2 |
' ... just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.' |
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Hebrews 7:27 |
'He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.' |
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Hebrews 9:14 |
'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 ... ' |
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Hebrews 9:26,28 |
' ... Christ ... has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself ... so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people ' |
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Hebrews 10:10,12,14 |
' ... we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all ... when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God . ... by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy ... ' |
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Substitution In each of these references the word translated 'for' is huper, which means in place of, instead of, on behalf of. The concept of substitution is imbedded in the OT sacrifices in which the sacri-ficial animal was killed in place of the offerer. |
Romans 5:6 |
' ... just at the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.' |
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Romans 5:8 |
'God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. |
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Romans 8:32 |
'He ... did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all ... |
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1 Cor 5:7 KJV |
'Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.' |
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2 Cor 5:14 |
' ... we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. |
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2 Cor 5:21 |
'God made him who had no sin to be sin for us ... '' |
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Galatians 3:13 |
'Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us ... ' |
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Ephesians 5:2 |
' ... Christ ... gave himself up for us ... ' |
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1 Thess 5:10 |
'He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.' |
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Titus 2:14 |
'Jesus Christ ... gave himself for us ... ' |
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1 Peter 2:21 |
' ... Christ ... suffered for you ... ' |
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1 Peter 3:18 |
'Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. ' |
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1 Peter 4:1 KJV |
' ... Christ has suffered for us in the flesh ... ' |
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1 John 3:16 |
' ... Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.' |
Break into 3 groups, each with one of the concepts above. Look at the verses in their context and discuss what they teach in their context about [1] the implication for our reconnection with God, and [2] how this should impact the way we relate to God and to others. Come back together and record the results of this discussion below.