GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS |
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3 Circles.
It begins with God’s design. God created us and personally designed us to have meaning and purpose in life. Scripture Reference: John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Even though God had this wonderful design for my life, I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. I rebelled against His plan for me. |
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Arrow The Bible’s word for that departure from God’s design is called sin. The Bible says we all have this sin problem.
Scripture Reference: Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God The sad thing is sin takes us to a place of brokenness. Circle #2 Brokenness can look like a lot of things. |
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Emptiness, addiction, broken relationships, loneliness, despair, guilt and shame.
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 57:20-21 - But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked." Now this feels like a bad thing but in many ways it’s a good thing because God uses that broken and messed up thing we feel inside to spur us on to change. |
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Arrow. The Bible’s word for change is repent and believe.
We repent when we go from trying to change things our way to changing things God’s way. By repenting and believing the Gospel way to change. Scripture Reference: Acts 3:19 - Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out Circle #3 The change we need comes from Jesus. |
1. God sent Jesus to live a perfect life – What this means is that Jesus never sinned like other humans.
He was tempted just like we were, but He never gave in.
Scripture Reference: Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has
been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
This perfection is what qualifies Him to help us with our brokenness and sin.
God fashioned a miraculous exchange.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says that “…Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us.”
When Jesus died on the cross He took all of our sin and shame and guilt and put it on Jesus.
Then He took all of Jesus’ perfection and put it on those who repent and believe.
2. To die the death we deserve because of our sin – cross Jesus died on the cross the death of a sinner so
that believers can live as righteous people.
When Jesus died on the cross as a sinless man, His blood was counted as the once for all sacrifice for sin. That’s why we don’t sacrifice animals anymore
as in the OT.
Scripture Reference: Hebrews 10:10 - And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
3. He was buried - This is important to note because Jesus didn’t just faint, He was really dead. He died in our place.
Scripture Reference Romans 6:23 ”the wages of sin is death.” Jesus really did die and take on Himself the death penalty we deserved for our sin.
But what happened next is the greatest part of the story. Jesus didn’t stay dead.
4. And to be raised to life again – Jesus rose from the dead to prove He is who He said He is and could do what He said He could do.
Jesus died but didn’t stay dead. He conquered death and now lives to give us the same resurrection life He received from His Father.
If we want to receive this life we must come to Jesus by faith in His death burial and resurrection life.
Scripture Reference: 1 John 5:12-13 - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you
who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
He was tempted just like we were, but He never gave in.
Scripture Reference: Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has
been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
This perfection is what qualifies Him to help us with our brokenness and sin.
God fashioned a miraculous exchange.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says that “…Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us.”
When Jesus died on the cross He took all of our sin and shame and guilt and put it on Jesus.
Then He took all of Jesus’ perfection and put it on those who repent and believe.
2. To die the death we deserve because of our sin – cross Jesus died on the cross the death of a sinner so
that believers can live as righteous people.
When Jesus died on the cross as a sinless man, His blood was counted as the once for all sacrifice for sin. That’s why we don’t sacrifice animals anymore
as in the OT.
Scripture Reference: Hebrews 10:10 - And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
3. He was buried - This is important to note because Jesus didn’t just faint, He was really dead. He died in our place.
Scripture Reference Romans 6:23 ”the wages of sin is death.” Jesus really did die and take on Himself the death penalty we deserved for our sin.
But what happened next is the greatest part of the story. Jesus didn’t stay dead.
4. And to be raised to life again – Jesus rose from the dead to prove He is who He said He is and could do what He said He could do.
Jesus died but didn’t stay dead. He conquered death and now lives to give us the same resurrection life He received from His Father.
If we want to receive this life we must come to Jesus by faith in His death burial and resurrection life.
Scripture Reference: 1 John 5:12-13 - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you
who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
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Arrow to first circle.This new resurrection life enables us to get back on the track of pursuing God’s original design for us.
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