Session 1: Salvation
Part 1: Read
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Mt 26:27–29.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph 2:8–10
Part 2: Watch Video 1—What is Salvation?
Part 3: Discussion
There are numerous models and views of the atonement, my aim is not to debate them all here, perhaps in a future video. For now, I will say this: Unlimited atonement should not lead us away from the doctrines of sin, grace and sovereignty. Limited atonement should not lead us away from evangelizing the lost (Rom 14.15, 1 Corinthians 8.11, Matthew 28.19, Acts 1.8, Titus 2.11). Christ’s death was of inestimable value and could have saved any number of worlds, the death of Christ is sufficient for all, efficient for those who trust in Christ (scripture’s limited language: Mat 1.21, John 15.13, John 10.11, 15, Ephesians 5.22f, scripture’s unlimited language: John 1.29; 3.16; 2 Corinthians 5.14-15; 1 Tim 4.10; Heb 2.9; 1 John 2.2). Saving faith is offered to all but granted only to the elect. God is the savior of all persons, especially of the faithful. Christ died not a potentially but an actually sacrificial death on the cross, becoming sin and curse as a substitute for others (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).
Part 4: Think Deeply
What is it that Jesus has saved us FROM?
What is it that Jesus has saved us for? What purpose do we serve?
How did Jesus accomplish this?
Session 2: JUSTIFICATION
Part 1: Read
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph 2:8–10
What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. Ro 4:1–4
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Ro 3:21–26
Part 2: Watch Video 2—What is Justification?
Part 3: Discussion
Ephesians 2:8-9 “by grace your have been saved through faith…” Ephesians 2:10 shows us the purpose of this justification is that we would walk in the good works that God has prepared for us. Romans 4:1-4 points out that even from the time of Abraham justification has always been by faith. Not meaning that before Abraham justification was by works but that at Abraham is the beginning of God’s covenant family and intentional work of redemption through an elect person or group, therefore Paul cites Abraham as by grace through faith to demonstrate that this has always been God’s means of justification and salvation.
Inspecting Romans 3, this “court scene” presentation of the declaration of the sinner is not made at the moment of salvation but at the future judgment seat of Christ: in this case both the declaration made by God of “righteous” which includes the imputing of the righteousness of Christ and the actual righteousness of the individual due to God’s grace through sanctification and glorification come together in one moment at the judgment seat of Christ. God’s statement “righteous” then is true of the believer at the moment of salvation when Christ’s righteousness is imputed but also in the future, eschatological judgment of the individual when he is actually righteous. God is just therefore in his declaration. This does not mean that our justification is dependent on our sanctification in that we must work to earn our declaration, because sanctification progresses by the grace of God also. Justification, sanctification and glorification are all integral parts of salvation each one dependent on the other and each one accomplished by the grace of God.
Part 4: Think Deeply
Why is it so important that salvation comes only by God’s gift and not our own works?
God’s plan of salvation has always been by grace through faith, even since the days of Abraham. Could we trust God if previously salvation was by works? Why or why not?
How does God solve the problem of needing to destroy sin but also desiring to forgive sinners?
Session 3: Sanctification
Part 1: Read
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. Romans 6:22
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 1 Corinthians 1:30
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
Part 2: Watch Video 3—What is Sanctification?
Part 3: Discussion
If justification is the beginning of salvation then sanctification is the “middle” or the “journey” of salvation. The word “Sanctify” means to set apart for a specific purpose. Christians who are experiencing God’s salvation should be progressively setting themselves apart for God’s work and purpose, we do this by growing to be more selfless like him. Many Christians view this part of salvation as MY WORK—Jesus saved me now I need to try really hard to be like him. But this is false. Sanctification is part of salvation, all of which happens by God’s grace. I cannot be good enough to outweigh my sin, neither can I will myself to be more like God. Sanctification is the progressive work of God’s grace in the believer’s life which is only completed when this life ends.
Part 4: Think Deeply
Why must our growth in Christ also be by the grace of God?
Who is more invested in your growth in Christ, you or God? Why is that significant?
Why do you think that God chose for us to grow in Christ rather than making us instantly perfect the moment that we believe?
Session 4: Glorification
PART 1: Read
Read the entirety of Romans 8, it’s worth it!
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8
Part 2: Watch Video 4–What is Glorification
Part 3: Discussion
If justification is the beginning of salvation and sanctification the middle then glorification is the end point of salvation. Glorification is the moment in which we pass into God’s glory, whether through death or through Christ’s return. In that moment, his initial declared status, remember the YOU’RE AWESOME STICKER? Becomes actualized, it is real because you are now completely without sin and are righteous. We are overflowing with Christ’s credited righteousness and we enter into God’s glory and stand before him unto eternal life where we will worship him in abundant life for eternity. That means: when we die, we are not just called “GOOD” we actually are “GOOD” and are able to stand in God’s presence. We will spend eternity with God, how and where will be the discussion of a later video.
Part 4: Think Deeply
When we think about our rewards as Christians we often think about heaven and being in God’s presence, but why do we not think about being made perfect like Christ among our rewards?
What do you think happens to a Christian who has lived their life for themselves when they arrive in heaven?
Why is it so difficult to keep our goals fixed on the future and to live now in light of the knowledge that we will spend eternity with God?