Choices in Life!

Destructive teaching has come into the church in the past century, teaching that essentially says, "'the gospel is the ‘salvation message.’ It is for unbelievers to 'get saved, and then we move on to deeper teachings.'" The implication is that the gospel is a spiritual kindergarten through which we pass, tipping our hats to the cross, on our way to the deeper teachings of the Bible. This teaching is destructive because it insinuates that once we believe the gospel, we are good to go, we can move beyond it to more significant things.

But this teaching of ‘receive the gospel and then move on’ is a half-truth. The gospel is indeed the salvation message; it is "the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). But it is also a sanctification message, in other words, that which sets believers apart from our sins. 

In Galatians 3, Paul wrote to believers who were trying to set themselves apart from sin by their efforts at keeping the Law, and what he says to them in verse 1 is startling. He says, "you foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified." In other words, Paul preached the cross of Christ as the message that not only saves from sin but also separates from sin. The cross is not merely a salvation message; it is also a sanctification message. 

The message of the cross is the power of God for believers, as stated here:

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 (NLT)

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 

But it is not only a salvation message, it is not only a sanctification message; it is also a stabilization message. 

“Now to him who is able to establish you (strengthen, confirm, stabilize you) by my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,” Romans 16:25

Do you want to know how to become stabilized in life, how to have a firm foundation, how to become rooted and grounded, how to be constant and steady and firmly planted, unshakeable? Paul says it is "by my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ."

This study was written for anyone who wishes to look at the many aspects of the cross of Jesus Christ as it applies not only to salvation but also to our daily walk. It seeks to not be a shallow portrayal of the unfathomable riches of Christ, but rather to dig deep into the meaning, and reveal the divine power of the cross of Jesus Christ.

It was also written for those who do not believe, or for any who wish to understand the distinctive difference between Christianity and every religion. Say to any Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist, "Fear God, hate sin, repent" and he will agree with you. Only the Christian message tells of a Substitute who died in our place to save us from our sins. Only the Christian faith declares that we gain heaven not by our works but by the life and death of another, Jesus Christ, Who purchased our eternal life when He died in our place and rose from the dead. 

Finally, this study is written to show the many places that the Old Testament reveals the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel tells us that Christ died for our sins, “according to the Scriptures,” that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day “according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5), and so our purpose in this book is to see the gospel in the Old Testament Scriptures. This kind of study can produce unexpected joy and delight as we are surprised, time and time again, at places where we may have not seen the gospel previously.

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To experience God's power, we must apply and find life in the message of the cross. In this 30 lesson study, you will learn how to apply the cross of Christ by faith to be strong and established in the Lord.

Finding Life in Jesus' Death

The Cross Applied

Lesson 2 - The Foundation Of Our Study

Lesson 1: The Reason for our Study

Lesson 3 - The Historical and Prophetic Evidence of the Cross

Lesson 4: The Glorious Display of God’s Righteousness

Lesson 5: The Glorious Display of God’s Mercy, Love, and Grace

Lesson 6: The Display of God’s Compassion, Kindness, and Mercy

Lesson 7: Redemption by Blood

Lesson 8: Redeemed to a New Beginning

Lesson 9: Jesus is Sufficient for Redemption

Lesson 10: Jesus Has Saved Us by His Death on the Cross

Lesson 11: Jesus is Saving Us

Lesson 12: We will Be Saved by the Cross of Christ

Lesson 13: The Cross Puts Us To Death

Lesson 14: The Cross Gives Us Life

Lesson 16: The Cross Gives Us Abundant Life

Lesson 17: The Way of Abundant Life

Lesson 18: The Cross Gives Us Eternal Life

Lesson 15: The Cross Removes the Curse

Lesson 19: The Cross Provides Victory Over Sin

Lesson 20: The Cross Provides Victory and Freedom

Lesson 21: Victory through Faith in the Cross

Lesson 22: The Cross Provides Healing for the Soul

Lesson 23: The Cross Provides Fullness

Lesson 24: Final Words from the Cross

Lesson 25: Words of Life and Hope from the Cross

Lesson 26: Words of Love and Care from the Cross

Lesson 27: Words of Distress that Bring Us Peace

Lesson 28: Words of Suffering that Satisfy

Lesson 29: Words of Triumph

Lesson 30: Confident Words of Peace

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Salvation

Questions 1, 2, and 3

Questions 1 and 2

Question 1

1 Peter 1:10-12 is a key passage because it tells us that the Spirit of Christ was in the Old Testament prophets, predicting the suffering, death, resurrection, and subsequent glories of Jesus Christ. And when the prophets inquired as to the timing of the suffering Messiah, they were informed that it was to be in the future, that is, in the time when Jesus would be born, die on the cross, rise from the dead, and ascend into heaven.

Let’s keep this in mind as we now review some of the passages that the Old Testament prophets wrote, in which we can see the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Messiah Who was to come:

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet-17 I can count all my bones- they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” Psalm 22:14-18

“By oppression and judgment he was taken away and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 53:8-9

Lesson 3 - The Historical and Prophetic Evidence of the Cross

Questions 2, 3, and

Question 2. Please consider Psalm 22:14-18, and then list the ways in which this passage describes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Question 3. Please consider Isaiah 53:8-9, and then list the ways in which this passage describes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Question 4. Isaiah 53:8 tells us why Jesus Christ was "stricken"; in other words, why Jesus died on the cross. In verse 8, what specific words tell us plainly why Jesus died?