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

Questions 2, 3, and

Question 5

Questions 6, 7, and 8

Questions 4, 5, and 6

Questions 7 and 8

Questions 4, 5, 6, and 7

Questions 8, 9, 10, and 11

Questions 3 and 4

Questions 4 and 5

Questions 6 and 7

Question 6

Questions 3, 4, and 5

Question 4

Questions 5, 6, 7, and 8

Question 9

Questions 3, 4, 5, and 6

Questions 5, 6, and 7

Question 8

Looking and Listening

Questions 2, 3, and 4

Questions 5 and 6

Question 12

Question 6 and 7

Question 10

Question 11

It is appropriate to see the tree of life as a picture of the cross of Jesus Christ because both give life and are for the healing of the nations. Multitudes of those dead in sins and trespasses have been born again at the cross of Jesus Christ. Millions of sin-sick souls, under the burden of guilt and languishing in sin, have found true healing for their souls at the foot of the cross.

One of the clearest presentations of the gospel of Jesus Christ is in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter 53. Isaiah describes the cross as God laying on Jesus "the iniquity of us all" (verse 6) and Jesus as the lamb led to the slaughter cut off from the land of the living "for the transgression of my people" (verse 8). And in the middle of this vivid description of the death of Jesus Christ, this is said about the effects of His death:

“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

In context, Isaiah 53:5 is referring to spiritual healing, healing from sin, and 1 Peter 2:24 clarifies and reiterates that spiritual healing is the purpose of the cross:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

Questions 7, 8, 9, and 10

Questions 6, 7, 8, and 9

Lesson 22: The Cross Provides Healing for the Soul

Questions 4, 5, 6, and 7

Question 4. According to Isaiah 53:5, what brings us peace?

Question 5. According to Isaiah 53:5, with what are we healed?

Question 6. According to 1 Peter 2:24, why did Jesus bear our sins in His own body on the tree?

Question 7. According to 1 Peter 2:24, of what have we been healed?