Understanding Salvation Through Christ and the Scriptures

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we must ask ourselves if we truly know and believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who came into this world to save us. Salvation is not just about acknowledging His life but understanding the profound sacrifice He made on the cross for our sins. This belief is foundational, and it is through the scriptures that we come to this understanding. When Jesus spoke of searching the scriptures, He referred to the Old Testament, which was the only scripture available at the time. The New Testament had not yet been written, and yet, the Old Testament alone is sufficient to testify of Christ and lead us to salvation.

The Old Testament is not just a historical record; it is a testament to God's majesty, holiness, and the need for salvation. It reveals God's hatred of sin and His desire for holiness and obedience from His people. The prophets warned against relying solely on rituals and sacrifices, emphasizing the need for true repentance and a return to God. The Old Testament also contains promises and prophecies about the coming of Christ, from the promise in the Garden of Eden to the prophecies given to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David. These scriptures testify of Christ and His redemptive work.

However, the scriptures can be misused. The Jews of Jesus' time, despite their familiarity with the scriptures, failed to recognize Him because they imposed their interpretations and traditions onto the scriptures. They focused on the letter rather than the spirit, missing the true message. Today, we must be careful not to repeat these mistakes. We must approach the scriptures with humility, seeking to understand God's message rather than imposing our ideas onto it. By truly searching the scriptures, we can find the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The Foundation of Salvation: Salvation is rooted in the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to save us through His life and sacrifice on the cross. This belief is essential for reconciliation with God. [09:36]

- The Old Testament's Testimony: The Old Testament is a powerful testament to Christ, containing prophecies and promises that point to His coming and redemptive work. It is sufficient to lead us to salvation. [11:33]

- Misuse of Scriptures: Scriptures can be misused when we impose our interpretations and traditions onto them, focusing on the letter rather than the spirit. This can lead to missing the true message of God. [22:08]

- The Need for Humility: We must approach the scriptures with humility, seeking to understand God's message rather than imposing our ideas onto it. This requires a spirit of openness and a willingness to be taught. [30:32]

- The Promise of Salvation: The Old Testament not only reveals our need for salvation but also God's promise to provide a way through Christ. This promise is woven throughout the scriptures, offering hope and assurance. [37:27]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [09:21] - What It Means to Be Saved
- [10:13] - Belief in Jesus Christ
- [10:48] - The Old Testament's Role
- [11:52] - New Testament Affirmations
- [13:34] - Apostle Paul's Preaching
- [15:02] - Timothy and the Scriptures
- [16:02] - Peter's Testimony
- [17:50] - The Jews' Misunderstanding
- [19:49] - Misuse of Scriptures
- [21:02] - General Acquaintance with Scriptures
- [22:46] - Imposing Prejudices on Scriptures
- [24:58] - The Letter vs. The Spirit
- [25:43] - Searching the Scriptures
- [32:20] - The Old Testament's Revelation
- [37:27] - The Promise of Salvation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 5:39 - "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me."
2. Luke 24:27 - "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself."
3. 2 Timothy 3:15 - "And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the Old Testament in understanding the life and mission of Jesus Christ? [11:33]

2. How did the Jews of Jesus' time misuse the Scriptures, and what was the consequence of their actions? [18:55]

3. What examples from the Old Testament were mentioned in the sermon that point to the coming of Christ? [37:27]

4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between the letter and the spirit of the Scriptures? [24:58]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why does the sermon emphasize the need for humility when approaching the Scriptures, and how does this relate to the Jews' misunderstanding of Jesus? [30:32]

2. In what ways does the Old Testament reveal the need for salvation, according to the sermon? [32:20]

3. How does the sermon suggest that personal biases can affect one's understanding of the Scriptures? [22:08]

4. What does the sermon imply about the role of prophecy in the Old Testament and its fulfillment in the New Testament? [17:05]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own approach to reading the Bible. Do you find yourself imposing your own ideas onto the Scriptures? How can you cultivate a more humble and open attitude? [30:32]

2. Consider the ways in which you might be focusing on the "letter" rather than the "spirit" of the Scriptures. How can you shift your focus to better understand God's message? [24:58]

3. Identify a specific prophecy or promise from the Old Testament that points to Christ. How does this deepen your understanding of Jesus' mission and your faith? [37:27]

4. Have you ever experienced a moment where your interpretation of the Bible was challenged? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [22:08]

5. Think about a time when you relied on rituals or traditions rather than true repentance and faith. How can you ensure that your faith is genuine and not just a routine? [36:21]

6. How can you actively search the Scriptures in a way that leads to a deeper understanding of salvation through faith in Christ? What practical steps can you take this week? [25:43]

7. Reflect on the promise of salvation as presented in the Old Testament. How does this promise offer you hope and assurance in your daily life? [37:27]

Devotional

Day 1: The Foundation of Salvation
Salvation is rooted in the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to save us through His life and sacrifice on the cross. This belief is essential for reconciliation with God. Understanding the profound sacrifice Jesus made is not just about acknowledging His life but embracing the depth of His love and the cost of our redemption. This foundational belief is what connects us to God and opens the door to eternal life. [09:36]

"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, 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." (Romans 8:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Consider the sacrifice Jesus made for you. How does this understanding of His sacrifice change the way you live your life today?


Day 2: The Old Testament's Testimony
The Old Testament is a powerful testament to Christ, containing prophecies and promises that point to His coming and redemptive work. It is sufficient to lead us to salvation. The Old Testament reveals God's majesty, holiness, and the need for salvation, showing us the promises and prophecies about the coming of Christ. From the promise in the Garden of Eden to the prophecies given to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David, these scriptures testify of Christ and His redemptive work. [11:33]

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a promise or prophecy from the Old Testament that points to Christ. How does this deepen your understanding of God's plan for salvation?


Day 3: Misuse of Scriptures
Scriptures can be misused when we impose our interpretations and traditions onto them, focusing on the letter rather than the spirit. This can lead to missing the true message of God. The Jews of Jesus' time, despite their familiarity with the scriptures, failed to recognize Him because they imposed their interpretations and traditions onto the scriptures. Today, we must be careful not to repeat these mistakes and instead approach the scriptures with humility. [22:08]

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." (John 5:39-40, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you might be imposing your own interpretations on Scripture? How can you seek to understand God's true message today?


Day 4: The Need for Humility
We must approach the scriptures with humility, seeking to understand God's message rather than imposing our ideas onto it. This requires a spirit of openness and a willingness to be taught. By truly searching the scriptures, we can find the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ. Humility allows us to be open to God's teaching and to receive His wisdom. [30:32]

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility in your study of the Bible this week? How can this openness transform your understanding of God's word?


Day 5: The Promise of Salvation
The Old Testament not only reveals our need for salvation but also God's promise to provide a way through Christ. This promise is woven throughout the scriptures, offering hope and assurance. The scriptures testify of Christ and His redemptive work, providing a foundation of hope and assurance for believers. This promise of salvation is a testament to God's faithfulness and love for His people. [37:27]

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land." (Jeremiah 33:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: How does the promise of salvation through Christ give you hope today? In what ways can you share this hope with others?

Quotes

"Well you see the only way whereby those things can happen is that we know and believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the only begotten Son of God and that he came into this world to save us not only by living the life he lived but supremely by going voluntarily to that death on the cross and taking our sins upon him and bearing their punishment in order that we might be reconciled to God." [00:09:31]

"When our Lord says here search the scriptures what is he referring to well of course he's referring only to the Old Testament scriptures there wasn't a single book of the New Testament in existence when the Lord uttered these words he is referring solely and exclusively to the Old Testament and no more the New Testament didn't come into being until several years later." [00:10:48]

"Now when Paul there talks about the Holy scriptures he means nothing but the Old Testament and he says that these Old Testament scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus but this isn't confined to Paul Peter says the same thing he says that the prophets spoke of old about these things." [00:15:02]

"You see the case of these Jews is a case of self-deception they thought they knew they thought they were experts on their scriptures and yet our Lord is proving that they're utterly ignorant of them that they've missed their whole point that they can't see the wood because of the trees and that the very purpose of the scriptures is entirely lost as far as they are concerned." [00:19:49]

"These Jews also thought that their General acquaintance with the scriptures somehow or another saved them and there are many who think that because they have a certain familiarity with the scriptures that somehow or another that does Duty for righteousness and somehow or another that makes them Christians and puts them right in the sight of God." [00:21:02]

"The real trouble with these Jews was that instead of listening to the scriptures they feed their ideas onto the scriptures that's the thing that our Lord keeps on saying about them you see the Pharisees had Arisen and they had their interpretations of the scriptures and then there were interpretations of their interpretations." [00:22:46]

"They concentrated so much upon the letter that they missed the spirit now now they were very expert on the letter that's what our Lord again keeps on saying in The Sermon on the Mount you see they came and they looked at the letter now take the familiar instances that he gives take this question of murder." [00:24:58]

"You can read them without searching them but the only way to arrive at the truth says our Lord is to search them and oh how this needs to be emphasized at this present time so often people argue and then you see in the arguments they quote a scripture and they reveal at once that they've never really searched the scriptures." [00:25:43]

"The Old Testament scriptures show the need of Salvation they make us wise into salvation in the first place by showing us our dread and our terrible need of Salvation how do they do that I'm only giving you headings this evening here's the first they reveal God In His Majesty his greatness his Holiness in the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth." [00:32:20]

"The Old Testament not only shows men that he's a desperate and a vile and a hopeless sinner they showed him how God himself is going to provide a way to save him and to deliver him thank God it's always there God doesn't merely condemn he condemns in order to save he condemns and then he gives his promise." [00:37:27]

"Running right through the Old Testament from beginning to end is this amazing promise concerning himself he says search them for they are they which testify of me is this true have you found Jesus Christ in the Old Testament as you've read your Old Testament remember he says Moses prophets and Psalms do you see him everywhere he says I am there everywhere." [00:37:47]

"The first you know was actually given in the Garden of Eden when God came down to men and women in sin he certainly pronounced judgment upon them he said because of what you've done you've got to learn you're living henceforth by the sweat of your brow you got to go out of this garden and you got to work and labor he pronounced his judgment upon them but he gave the promise." [00:38:47]

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Transcript
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