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 Sermon > Cell Bible Study |
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Title |
Lesson 4-[2013 Cell Group Service] Why Is Jesus Our Only Savior? |
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Speaker |
Rev. Jaerock Lee |
Bible |
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Date |
2013-02-04 |
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Reading Scripture: Leviticus 25:23-25
Scripture to Memorize: Acts 4:12
Reference: 1 Corinthians 15:21
Goal: To let readers understand that Jesus is the only One who is qualified for the Savior and enjoy the true joy of salvation by believing in Jesus Christ
Today, some people think that every religion has its way of salvation under the influence of religious pluralism. They say its goal is the same though the way reaching the goal is different. But such thought will never be right. As said in Acts 4:12, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved," we can receive salvation only through Jesus Christ. It has a clear reason. This is because nobody else but Jesus is qualified for the Savior. Then, why is only Jesus qualified for our Savior?
1. There is Spiritual Law to Solve the Problem of Sins
Just as there is law in the world, there is law in the spiritual realm as well. Whether a person receives the punishment of death or the forgiveness and salvation, it is all done according to the spiritual law. The reason why mankind was destined to death after Adam's sin of disobedience, eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, is also because the law of the spiritual realm states, "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Likewise, being saved from the punishment of death and receiving salvation also can be accomplished according to the spiritual law.
Spiritual law includes both the law of punishment on sinners and the law of redemption from sins. For the redemption of men from sins, someone must pay the price of the sins on their behalf. But not just anyone can pay the price of this sin. To be eligible as the Savior, requirements in accordance with the spiritual law must be met. The law related to the salvation of mankind is included in the law of 'the Redemption of the Land'.
'The Law of the Redemption of the Land' is a law that God gave to the Israelites concerning the land. Leviticus 25:23-25 reads, "The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me. Thus for every piece of your property, you are to provide for the redemption of the land. If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold."
Since every piece of land originally belongs to God, the people of Israel couldn't sell it as they wanted. If somebody sold his land because of poverty, God allowed him or his nearest kinsman to buy back the land anytime. This is performed by the law of the redemption of the land. How does the law of the redemption of the land have a connection with the salvation of mankind?
2. The Qualifications for the Savior who Is Able to Redeem Men from Sins
The law of the redemption of the law has a direct connection with the salvation of mankind, who was formed of dust from the ground (Genesis 3:19, 3:23). Just as the law says that all lands are God's and must not be sold permanently, all men made from the dust of the land belong to God and cannot be sold permanently. It also indicates that the authorities and power that Adam had received from God could not be sold permanently because they belonged to God. Even though Adam's authority was handed over to the enemy devil, he who is proper for redeeming Adam's lost authority could take it back from the enemy devil. Likewise, the God of justice destined a perfect Redeemer according to the law of the redemption of the land. Then, let me explain why Jesus is our only Savior according to the law of the redemption of the land.
1) The Redeemer Must Be a Man.
If a man becomes poor and sells his property, his closest kinsman can redeem what he sells as written in Leviticus 25:25. The one who redeems mankind who was turned over to the enemy devil should be Adam's kinsman. Adam's kinsman indicates a man who has spirit, soul, and body like Adam. Therefore, neither the angles nor animals are able to redeem men from their sins.
1 Corinthians 15:21 reads, "since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead." As recorded, sin came into existence as a result of the first man Adam's disobedience. So, the redeemer of man's sin must be a man like Adam. That's why Jesus became flesh and He came to the earth as a man.
John 1:14 says this about Jesus, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us? John 1:1 reads "The Word was God." It means that God, who was the Word, came to the earth in a human likeness that has flesh and bones. Jesus was born and grew up in a human likeness, and experienced hunger, thirst, joy, and sorrow. He also shed blood and felt pain when being scourged and crucified. All these show that Jesus came to the earth in the flesh.
2) The Redeemer Must Not Be Adam's Descendant
Man inherits not only appearance and personality but also the sinful nature from his parents. We can see this fact by seeing a new-born baby. If his mother breast-feeds another baby, he will try to shove the other baby away. If the mother doesn't stop nursing the baby, he bursts out crying. Nobody has taught him jealousy and enviousness but he inherited such sinful natures. Such sinful natures are called 'original sins'.
If Jesus had come to the earth as Adam's descendant, He would have been born with sinful nature that was inherited from parents. How can a sinner redeem other sinners from sins? All men who were born through the unification of a sperm of man and an egg of woman can't help but inherit original sins from their parents. That's why Jesus was conceived by the Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary.
3) The Redeemer Must Have Spiritual Power
If you want to save a fellow soldier who was taken captive, you need power. In the same manner, to redeem men from sins the Redeemer needs power to overcome the enemy devil to save men. In the spiritual realm, such power is given to the one who is 'sinless'. In other words, to overcome and win against the enemy devil, the Redeemer must not have either original sin or self-committed sin. 'Original sin' is sinful nature inherited from Adam and parents and 'self-committed sins' are ones that men themselves have committed from birth and as they grow up.
All men have original sin and self-committed sin, so they have no power to save mankind. But Jesus has no original sin because He was conceived by the Spirit and He didn't have self-committed sin because He lived only by the Word of God. By this, Jesus met all the three qualifications for the Redeemer of mankind.
Different from Jesus, people commit sins, no matter whether they be great or trivial, while living their lives. Even if they don't commit sins outwardly, they hate others or feel jealous of others on the inside. God says that such things are also sins as written in Matthew 5:28 and 1 John 3:15. So, there is no one who can be said 'sinless'.
4) The Redeemer Must Have Love with which He Risks His own Life
Let's say a younger brother was suffering from great debt and an older brother is able to pay off that debt and relieve the suffering. However, if the older brother has no love in his heart for his brother, he won't help his brother.
In the same manner, Jesus could not have become the Redeemer without a spiritual and sacrificing love. This is because becoming the Redeemer means He had to be treated as the most serious and dangerous criminal and be hung on the cross. He had to be insulted and mocked. He had to make a great sacrifice. Nevertheless, Jesus who is the Son of God was crucified for mankind who had become sinners. How amazing His love is!
Jesus didn't spare even His own life to redeem mankind from sin. 1 John 2:2 reads, "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." If other ordinary persons had been in His situation, they might have complained and said, "Why do I have to be crucified though I have no sin at all?" But Jesus willingly took the cross and died on the cross to fulfill the will of God.
As explained above, the Redeemer must meet the four qualifications to redeem mankind from sins. Do you think there is another being but Jesus who meets all the qualifications? In all of human history there is only Jesus who is qualified as the Savior. Therefore, I hope you will realize that Jesus is our only Savior, accept Jesus Christ, and enjoy the blessing of salvation.
* Evaluation and Application
1. What spiritual law can be applied to the salvation of mankind who became sinners?
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2. Without looking it up try to write down Acts 4:12.
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3. Write down the qualifications Jesus met to be our only Savior.
First,
Second,
Third,
Forth,
* Weekly Assignment
Read pages 40-43 of Fundamentals of Christianity and high-light important sentences.
Let's learn about it!
Men, Formed of Dust from the Ground
Genesis 3:19 reads, "By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, And to dust you shall return." And Genesis 3:23 also says, "Therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken." As indicated, 'dust' spiritually symbolizes men. That's why the law of redemption of the land includes the way of salvation for mankind. |
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