Part 8: What Does The Bible Say About Jesus Christ

Transcription

1 Part 8: What Does The Bible Say About Jesus Christ Small Catechism: Questions (pages ) The entire Old Testament points to Jesus Christ as the One who would come to save us from our sins by keeping God s Law for us and by dying on the cross for our sins. The Names of Jesus Jesus: Christ: The Two Natures of Jesus Christ True Man (Why was it necessary for Jesus to be true Man?) True God (Why was it necessary for Jesus to be true God?) Christ s State of Humiliation Conceived by the Holy Spirit Born of the virgin Mary Suffered under Pontius Pilate Crucified Died Buried Christ s State of Exaltation Judge the living and dead Sits at the right hand Ascended into heaven Rose again from the dead Descended into hell What is the purpose of Christ s entire work of redemption?

2 Part 9: What Does The Bible Say About The Holy Spirit? Small Catechism: Questions (pages ) The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVERSION The Holy Spirit works through the Gospel (read or heard) to create faith. John 3:5-6; Rom. 10:17; 1 Pet. 1:23 Faith is God's work. Believing is what we do. FAITH (a gift from God) always preceeds BELIEVING (what we do). 1 Cor. 12:3 The Holy Spirit continues to work through the Gospel (read or heard) to sustain faith. Life of Unbelief Blind 2 Cor. 4:1-4 Faith Created 1. Faith Given 2. "I Believe" ILLUMINATION (Blind to Seeing) 2 Cor. 4:6 Life of Faith SANCTIFICATION Death John 3:16 H e a v e n Dead Eph. 2:1-5 REGENERATION (Dead to Living) John 3:7 Kept in the faith Phil. 1:6 Produce Good Works Gal. 5:22-23 Enemies Rom. 5:6-10 CONVERSION (Enemies to Friends) Matthew 18:3

3 Part 10: What Does The Bible Say About The Church? Small Catechism: Questions (pages ) Characteristics of Christ s Church: 1. One 2. All believers, but only believers 3. Invisible 4. Holy 5. Christian 6. Imperishable 7. Only saving Church 8. Found where the Gospel is taught in truth and purity Visible churches (congregations and denominations) Is This Church Christian? 1 2 What does it teach? Where is it taught? How are you saved? What is the source of what it teaches? By works or human effort By grace through faith alone The Bible alone The Bible and/or other books or teachings Christian Church Non-Christian Church

4 Why are there so many Christian denominations? The baggage you carry in determines the doctrines you carry out: 1. Reason or rationalism 2. Tradition 3. New revelation Our responsibilities to Christ s Church: 1. Remain in the faith and thus remain in Christ s Church. 2. Join an orthodox church and ensure that it stays orthodox. 3. Maintain and promote the church (prayer, evangelism, service, financial support). 4. Avoid heterodox churches and organizations harmful to the true faith.

5 Part 11: What Does The Bible Say About The Forgiveness of Sins (Justification)? Small Catechism: Questions (pages ) Do we need the forgiveness of sins? Does God forgive sins? How does God forgive sins? How can God, who is just and holy, and therefore must punish sin, forgive sin? Where are we told that God forgives sins? How do we receive this forgiveness of sins? Can you be sure that all your sins are completely forgiven? Why must we never give up this truth that we are saved by God s grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone which is found in the Bible alone? 1. It is the most important doctrine 2. It separates Christianity from all other religions 3. It gives comfort to sinners 4. It gives all glory to God

6 Part 12: What Does The Bible Say About The Means Of Grace And Baptism? Small Catechism: Questions (pages ) What are the Means of Grace? G The Means of Grace: God R 1. A 2. C 3. Us E BAPTISM Who instituted Baptism? What does the word baptize literally mean? What two essential ingredients are needed for a valid baptism? Who should do the baptizing? Who is to be baptized? Infant Baptism The Baptist Objections: 1. How can a child be sinful? 2. How can a child believe? Objections answered. The distinction between baptizing infants and baptizing adults.

7 Sponsors or Godparents. Baptism is not a divine insurance policy. Baptism For Our Daily Life Baptism Loss of faith Enter God's Family The Family of God Return to the Kingdom The door is always open The world of unbelief and lostness The Law Repentance The Gospel Can anyone be saved without being baptized? What does baptism do for our daily life?

8 Part 13: What Does The Bible Say About The Office Of The Keys? Small Catechism: Questions (pages ) The Office of the Keys is the command of God to 1. Preach/Teach/Proclaim God s Word. (Mark 16:15) 2. Administer the Sacraments (Baptism & Holy Communion). (Matthew 28:18-20) 3. Tell penitent sinners that they are forgiven and tell impenitent sinners that they are not forgiven. (Matthew 16:19 and John 20:22-23) The authority to exercise the Keys has been given 1. By God. 2. To the Church (you). 3. Pastors are called to publicly exercise the keys on the congregation s behalf. The role of the pastor within the Church. Forgiving the sins of the penitent: 1. The need to hear the words of absolution (forgiveness). 2. General Confession & Absolution. 3. Private Confession & Absolution (and the issue of confidentiality). Retaining (not forgiving) the sins of the impenitent: 1. The need to hear these hard words of warning. 2. The motivation is love, not self-righteousness. 3. The purpose is to bring repentance and to reclaim, not to remove. Possible outcomes of retaining sins: 1. Restoration of faith and discipleship. 2. Self-exclusion. 3. Excommunication.

9 Part 14: What Does The Bible Say About Holy Communion? Small Catechism: Questions (pages ) Other names for Holy Communion. Who instituted Holy Communion? Different understandings about Holy Communion: Roman Catholic Lutheran Reformed Key Word Key Word Key Word Why we should go to Holy Communion frequently (benefits). Preparing to receive Holy Communion (examining oneself): Does everyone who communes receive Christ s body and blood? To whom must Holy Communion be denied? Closed Communion

10 Part 15: What Does The Bible Say About Prayer? Small Catechism: Questions (pages ) What is prayer? God Us Qualities of prayer. Does God answer prayers? Our THE LORD S PRAYER Father Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us Lead us not into temptation Deliver us from evil For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever Amen

11 Part 16: What Does The Bible Say About Death, Judgment, And Heaven? Small Catechism: Questions (pages ) Birth Death Resurrection What takes place when someone dies? What will we be like after we are raised from the dead? What will Judgment Day be like? On what basis will everyone be judged? What will heaven be like? What is our purpose on earth (vocation)?