This lesson will include the questions, answers, and commentary for thirty-one through forty of this Discipleship. This fourth lesson answers questions about Christ, redemption, justification, and sanctification, as per the Holy Bible.
Christian Discipleship Lesson Four
QUESTION 31: WHAT DO WE MEAN BY CHRIST’S HUMILIATION?
Answer: By Christ’s humiliation, we mean that he was born as a humble man; that he was made following God’s law, and underwent the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death on the cross; that he was buried, and continued under the power of death for three days. Scripture: Luke 2:7; Galatians 4:4; Isaiah 53:3; Luke 22:44; Matthew 12:40; 27:46; Philippians 2:8; Mark 15:45-46.
Christ was and is God. As God, He became a humble human and yet fully God and fully human. Christ lived as we do today with the same temptations, but He never sinned. His humiliation included being persecuted, beaten to the point of being almost unrecognizable, and then nailed to a cross to die a horrible slow death of suffocation and heart failure. Death by crucifixion is described as the most lingering, cruel, brutal way to execute a person that has ever been devised by mankind.
QUESTION 32: WHAT DO WE MEAN BY CHRIST’S EXALTATION?
Answer: By Christ’s exaltation, we mean his rising again from the dead on the third day, ascending into heaven, sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and coming to judge the world on the last day. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:4; Acts 1:11; Mark 16:19; Acts 17:31.
Death could not stop Christ from returning, demonstrating His Lordship over life and death. He rose on the third day and was seen by several witnesses. Continuing His ministry for 40 days, He spoke to, had meals with, and was seen by over 500 eyewitnesses. Then, in the presence of several eyewitnesses, he ascended into heaven. Jesus is alive and well, sitting at the right hand of God today.
QUESTION 33: HOW ARE WE MADE PARTAKERS OF THE REDEMPTION PURCHASED BY CHRIST?
Answer: We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effective application of redemption to us, by his Holy Spirit. Scripture: John 3:5; Titus 3:5-6.
Christ’s sacrifice was the only payment capable of purchasing our freedom from our sin. Our sinful nature necessitated Christ paying the debt for us, and that debt is now paid in full. We now have the right to enter heaven, not because of our righteousness but because of Christ’s righteousness.
QUESTION 34: HOW DOES THE SPIRIT APPLY THE REDEMPTION PURCHASED BY CHRIST TO US?
Answer: The Spirit applies the redemption purchased by Christ to us, by developing faith in us, thus uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. Scripture: 1 John 5:1; Philippians 1:29; Ephesians 2:8; Acts 16:14; 18:27; John 3:8; 6:64.
With our salvation, we receive the Holy Spirit of God, which applies to us the righteousness of Christ. From that point on, the Holy Spirit within us develops our faith.
QUESTION 35: WHAT IS EFFECTUAL CALLING?
Answer: Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit. To convince us of our sin and misery, to enlighten our minds in the knowledge of Christ, to renew our wills, and thus persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:9; John 6:44-45; 16:8-11; Acts 2:37; 26:18; Ezekiel 36:26; Romans 8:30; 1 Corinthians 1:24; 12:3.
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we understand right from wrong and strive for righteousness. We read and study God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit guides us in understanding and applying God’s will. The renewal of our will is becoming born-again. In other words, we reject our will, repent, and choose to follow God’s will under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
QUESTION 36: WHAT BENEFITS DO THOSE WHO ARE EFFECTUALLY CALLED RECEIVE IN THIS LIFE?
Answer: Those who are effectually called receive in this life justification, adoption, sanctification, and the benefits that this life provides. Scripture: Romans 8:30-32; Galatians 3:26; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; Ephesians 1:5.
The gifts of salvation are justification, adoption, sanctification, and our mortal life. Those who reject this effectual calling receive only one gift from God – their short mortal existence.
QUESTION 37: WHAT IS JUSTIFICATION?
Answer: Justification is an act of God’s free grace, by which he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only because of the righteousness of Christ credited to us and received by faith alone. Scripture: Romans 3:24; 5:19; Ephesians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 2:16.
We are justified by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Christ is the source of our redemption by providing our justification, so God pardons all our sins. We accept this free gift of grace from God by faith, and Christ’s righteousness provides our justification.
QUESTION 38: WHAT IS ADOPTION?
Answer: An adoption is an act of God’s free grace, by which we are received into the company of God’s children and have a right to all the privileges of his sons. Scripture: 1 John 3:1; John 1:12; Romans 8:16-17.
When God’s grace saves us, we become the children of God and inherit all the privileges as his children. These privileges include an eternal relationship with God, a permanent home in heaven, and the freedom of communing with our loved ones, angels, and new brothers and sisters in Christ that entered heaven before or with us. Many of the additional privileges are beyond our expectations and imaginations.
QUESTION 39: WHAT IS SANCTIFICATION?
Answer: Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace by which we are renewed in the whole person after the image of God and are enabled more and more to reject sin and live righteous lives. Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 4:23-24; Romans 6:11.
Sanctification is separating yourself out of this world and dedicating yourself to the service of God. You do this through God’s grace, Christ’s redemption and justification, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you become more and more able to reject sin. This sanctification is accomplished by reading and studying the Holy Bible so that you fully understand God’s will, understand what sin is, and how to avoid sin.
QUESTION 40: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS WHICH IN THIS LIFE DO ACCOMPANY OR FLOW FROM JUSTIFICATION, ADOPTION, AND SANCTIFICATION?
Answer: The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, fellowship with Christ, joy in the Holy Spirit, increase of grace, the privilege of prayer, and perseverance therein to the end. Scripture: Romans 5:1-5; 14:17; Proverbs 4:18: 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 5:13; 1 Corinthians 1:9; John 15:7.
The list above fully describes what you receive through salvation. You don’t receive a perfect life free from poverty, pain, pestilence, and problems. But you do receive all the tools necessary to get you through all the trials and tribulations of this life. God provides!
Christian Discipleship
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