Story of Christ

The Sinful State of Mankind

Although God created man to live with Him in paradise it was not to last for long due to temptation and the succumbing to sin.  James phrased it this way "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." James 1:13-15  Eve, and ultimately Adam, fell pray to this in the Garden of Eden, Gen 3.  It was there that God gave the first promise of a Savior, Gen 3:15.

Another promise of a coming Savior was prophesied by Isaiah.  He wrote in 53:5-6 "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.  All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." 

From the time of the Garden there has been no one to live a sinless life (except for Christ Heb 4:15) thus we find ourselves under the condemnation of Romans 3:23, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  What are we to do?   I have three "R"'s to help us remember what it is we need to do, recognition, repentance and restoration.

RECOGNITION    
A person must recognize some things about themselves, about scripture and about Christ.  (Not necessarily in that order though!)  A person must recognize the only source we have for knowing anything about Christ is the Bible.  The Bible can be trusted as being the infallible, inerrant word of God.  Note the following:

• 2 Peter 1:20-21  But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
• 2 Tim 3:16  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;"
• 1 John 5:13  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."
• John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."  If God requires our worship of Him through Spirit and truth doesn't it make sense that God would give us "everything pertaining to life and godliness"? 2 Peter 1:3

What we then need to recognize is that we are sinners in need of God's forgiveness.  Paul tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God",  Rom 3:23.  And the writer of Ecclesiastes writes, "Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins."  That God is truthful in this (Rom3:4) all of mankind is found under sins condemnation, however, there is hope!   "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Rom 6:23 

The third thing we need to recognize is that Jesus, the Son of God, is the Savior of mankind to everyone who believes, Acts 10:43.  Mary and Joseph were told to " call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Matt 1:21  When Jesus was on the cross He said something right before He died that is noteworthy at this point.  He said, "It is finished." (John 19:30)  He was referring to the work that He came to earth to do.  The Hebrew writer tells us in 9:11-12 " when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle... through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

REPENTANCE    
Repentance is, to put it simply, a desire to change.  This is not easy for many for a variety of reasons.  Some say that they are in general good people not needing forgiveness but John says, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36  Some say that they have tried yet failed but God is able "to save forever those who draw near to God". Heb 7:25  There is also a fear of persecution in some yet Jesus says this is a blessing!  Matt 5:11-12.  There are those who also say that they will wait for another day.  Joshua did not say this but rather just the opposite (24:15).  Consider also Matt 24:44 that says no one knows when Christ will return.

Another thought to repentance is the idea that it should lead us toward Christ and not away from Him.  Too many attempt to seek Christ on their own terms, "For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God." Rom 10:3  Paul was talking about the Israelites who at the time thought they were in the good graces of God because of their idea of righteousness.  Jesus also knew of some like this and you can read about them in Matt 7:15-23.  We need to repent and seek God on His terms.

This is why it is important for all of us to recognize that we are in need of a Savior.  Jesus said that the poor in spirit would receive the kingdom,  Matt 5:3.

RESTORATION

Jesus Arose Again for Us.
When Mary came to the tomb finding it empty one has to ask the question, "Who took his body?"  There was a Roman guard placed by the tomb preventing His disciples from getting to Him so they couldn't.  Certainly His enemies would not take the body to support a teaching they didn't want.  They only answer is that He was resurrected according to scripture, "Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."  The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"  But He was speaking of the temple of His body.  John 2:19-21  The power that Jesus has over Satan is fully revealed in the resurrection.  Jesus was restored to the right hand of God, Acts 2:25.

Jesus Calls Us.
Prior to Jesus ascending to heaven He gave the disciples a command, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:18-19

Belief leads to repentance and repentance leads to forgiveness of sins.  It was the day of Pentecost in the 33 AD (or, depending upon the calendar used 29 AD) that this command was first put into effect when Peter said, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."  Acts 2:38  Peter continued to teach the people then with many other words as God directed (2 Pet 1:20f) saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" Acts 2:40  "So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls."  Acts 2:41  It is by this method that Jesus adds ('calls' Acts 2:21, 22:16) people to the kingdom, "And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."  Acts 2:47

It is by this same method that Jesus continues to add souls to His Church.  Let me know if you would like to know more in greater detail, just "E" me your questions!   

Scripture	Whom/When	Hear	Believe	Repent	Confess	Baptized	Result
2:37-41	Day of Pentecost	X	X	X		X	Added to Church
8:4-13	Samaritans	X	X			X
8:35-39	Ethiopian Eunuch	X	X		X	X	Rejoicing
9:10-18,  22:14-16	Saul (Paul)	X				X
10:34-48	Cornelius	X	X			X
16:13-15	Lydia	X				X
16:25-34	Jailor	X				X
18:8	Crispus	X	X			X
18:24-19:5	Ephesians	X	X			X *

Graph Notes:
* The people of Ephesus were baptized twice.  Their first baptism was John's baptism.  Their second baptism was Christ's.  Questions for thought:  If baptism is not important, why then were these people, literally, re-baptized?  What is the difference between the two baptisms making one more important than the other?  What is given in one that is not found the other?  The following is a brief description of each.  The lists are by no means all inclusive but descriptive enough to show their purposes.

John's Baptism	Jesus' Baptism
For repentance, Matt 3:11, Mark 1:4, Acts 13:24.	For repentance and the giving of the Holy Spirit, Mark 1:7-8, Matt 28:19, Acts 2:38.

That the Holy Spirit is given with Christ's baptism and not John's we must ask the question, "Can one live in a saved relationship with Christ without the gift of the Holy Spirit?"  This baptism of Jesus is so important that the people of Ephesus, who had been baptized with John's baptism, were 're-baptized' with the baptism of Jesus.  See Acts 18:24-19:5.

God gives the Holy Spirit to live within each believer, "...your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God..." 1 Cor 6:19.

God calls the Holy Spirit a 'seal' (endorsement) that a believer is given "as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession".  Eph 1:13-14  This means that God knows those who belong to Him based upon the seal (Holy Spirit) given.  Let me know if you would like to have a more in depth study of the Holy Spirit, His life and work. For other course/topic information please contact me! 

Still interested in learning more? Click here for another study!(All Scripture references are from the NASU unless otherwise noted)