Article 5: Jesus for Us - The Beauty of Salvation
Objective:
We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.
Objective:
To know more about Jesus and to be influenced to live differently as a result.
[In each section start with the green question and do the others as time permits.]
Open in Prayer
Watch the Video [5–10 minutes]
Video Reflections [10 minutes]
- Why is it so hard to admit that we need God and his salvation? Why are we more likely to rely upon ourselves or others instead of upon Jesus?
- What are some of the ways that the New Testament describes salvation? What do you think about the richness and variety of metaphors used in the Bible to talk about what Jesus did for us?
- Why would a daily reminder of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus be beneficial to us as we go about living our lives? How might our lives be different if we lived them in light of what Jesus has done for us?
Read
"We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation."
(Lake Avenue Church Statement of Faith: Article Five – Salvation)
Questions from the Statement of Faith [20 minutes]
"Up" Questions (Worship)
- If Jesus’ sacrifice for us is “all-sufficient,” why then do we go through periods where we doubt it? Why do we sometimes implicitly try to earn our place with God by reading the Bible, praying, etc.? What role should these disciplines play in our lives in light of Jesus’ “all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins”?
- Read over the text from the Statement of Faith and underline all the words in it that reveal that Jesus is worthy of worship. Which words did you underline? Which of them is most meaningful to you and why?
- Why does our Statement of Faith need to include the fact that Jesus’ death and resurrection provide “the only ground for salvation”? What other things are we tempted to rest our salvation upon instead?
"In" Questions (Community)
- How should the forgiveness we experience through the work of Jesus help us reconcile and restore relationships within our faith communities? Why is it easy to accept the forgiveness of God but difficult to offer forgiveness to others?
- What kind of changes in our thinking and behavior might result from our truly believing that Jesus sacrificed himself for us as a community and not just for us as individuals?
- How can we help one another rely on the work of Jesus more and more? How can we continually point one another toward the cross as our source and inspiration?
"Out" Questions (Service)
- What prevents us from sharing and embodying the good news of Jesus and his kingdom to those who have yet to become part of God’s family? How can we, as communities, support one another and spur one another in this regard?
- As we think about the salvation that Jesus has made available to us all, how should this change the way that we view our friends and family who do not yet know Jesus?
- CHALLENGE: Call to mind one friend, family member, co-worker, etc. who you are sure has not met Jesus. What is one way that you can be a blessing to her or him this week? It doesn’t have to be something huge and you don’t have talk about Jesus during this first time. Instead, this act of blessing can serve as the beginning of a relationship where you may eventually have the chance verbally to share the love of Christ!
Questions from Scripture [10 minutes]
- Read 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11. “Jesus died for us…so that we might live for him.” How do these two things fit together? What can we do as members of a faith community to help one another ensure that Jesus’ death influences the way that we live?
- Read 1 Corinthians 15:19-20. Why does Paul say that if our hope is only in this life we are to be pitied? How does this change the way that you think of Jesus’ resurrection and our salvation?
Prayer
Father, we are amazed by your grace. We are in awe of your mercy. Your forgiveness is like nourishing water in a desert land. Your salvation makes us want to praise you! And the way you mended our relationship with you causes us to have gratitude beyond measure. All that we can say is "thanks." And all we can do is live for you. By the power of your Spirit help us do both! In Jesus' holy name. Amen.