Lesson Four & Five
Summary Statement:
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, incarnated for our redemption, born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully man, one person in two natures. As our substitute, he lived a sinless life and willingly gave himself as a propitiatory and reconciling sacrifice for our sins on the cross. He died, was buried, rose bodily on the third day, ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father as the only mediator between God and humanity. One day he will return again to judge the living and the dead.
We believe the gospel is the good news that God became man in Jesus Christ to reconcile lost people to himself. He lived a perfect, sinless life on our behalf and died on the cross for our sins. He was buried, and on the third day rose from the dead, securing our redemption forever. Having triumphed over Satan and the forces of darkness, he ascended into heaven as Lord of all. Everyone who repents and believes in him receives forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Journal Questions
Reflect on the following questions through a physical or digital notepad.
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Which of the five implications of Christ's divinity are the most applicable to you currently? Why?
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How does Christ's victory free us from bondage, and how do we practically apply it to our lives?
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How can we apply Christ's gift of righteousness and his victorious example to our battle against sin?
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The first of Martin Luther's Ninety-five Theses was, "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, 'Repent,' he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance." What do you think Luther meant by that statement? How does it apply to your life?
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Why is mental assent such a danger to believers? How can we be aware of it so we can eliminate it from our lives?
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Why is it hard for humans to accept forgiveness? What challenges have you faced in receiving forgiveness, and how have you overcome them?