THE APOSTLES’ CREED – 2 ND ARTICLE THE PURPOSE OF OUR REDEMPTION

1. THE APOSTLES’ CREED – 2NDARTICLETHE PURPOSE OF OUR REDEMPTION Lesson 39 Faith Foundations Course One

2. WHY DID CHRIST REDEEM US?

3. HE TREASURES US • Read Romans 8:7 and Hebrews 2:14,15. Why do we say that our sinful nature is a slave to Satan? The sinful nature is under the power of Satan, unable to stop sinning, and is under the curse of death.

4. HE TREASURES US • Read 1 Corinthians 6:19,20. What price did Jesus pay in order to own us? His life. He shed his blood and died.

5. HE TREASURES US • Imagine that someone comes to you and tries to get you to steal something from a local store. “Come on. We do it all the time. No one ever gets caught.” How might you look to this passage to resist temptation? Christ purchased me as his own. My body is his temple, and I represent Christ. I don’t want to sin against him.

6. HE TREASURES US • Kendra started crying. “I never seem to be able to do anything right.” You could talk to Kendra about the price Jesus paid for her. Why would that encourage her? Though she may feel worthless, Jesus loves her. She is so special to Jesus that he paid the ultimate price so she could be his own.

7. KEY POINT #1 Christ redeemed us so that we would be his own.

8. HE WANTS TO KEEP US AS HIS OWN • Read 2 Timothy 4:18. The apostle Paul wrote these words close to the end of his life, after he had been beaten many times and imprisoned. What was God’s goal for Paul and for us? To take us to his heavenly kingdom.

9. HE WANTS TO KEEP US AS HIS OWN • If making it safely into God’s heavenly kingdom depended on my faith being strong enough, I would have reason to be afraid. What words in this verse show me that I can look forward to heaven with confidence? “The Lord will rescue me…and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.”

10. HE WANTS TO KEEP US AS HIS OWN • We learned earlier that we are part of Christ’s kingdom of grace here on earth. Read Colossians 1:13. How did we become part of this kingdom? Christ “rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into” his kingdom.

11. HE WANTS TO KEEP US AS HIS OWN • How would life be different for us if Jesus hadn’t rescued us from Satan’s kingdom and made us part of his own? We’d have an awful life and even worse afterlife.

12. HE WANTS TO KEEP US AS HIS OWN • Read 1 Peter 2:9-11. We are a holy nation. Holy means we have been “set apart for God.” This passage also says that we are strangers and aliens in this world. We are residents of another kingdom. So how can you tell who are members of this world and who belong to Christ’s kingdom? Unbelievers are more self-centered and focus on money. Believers often reflect Christ’s love by being kind and generous to others.

13. KEY POINT #2 Christ redeemed us so that we would live under him in his kingdom.

14. HE LEADS US • Recall Luke 19:1-10. How did Zacchaeus’ life change when he became a follower of Jesus? He gave half of what he had to the poor. He stopped cheating. Those he had cheated he paid back fourfold.

15. HE LEADS US • According to 1 Peter 2:24, what was one of Christ’s goals for taking our sins in himself to the cross? So that we would die to sin and live for righteousness.

16. HE LEADS US • What does that mean? Christ’s goal is that our sinful nature dies to sin, that we stop sinning, and that we live to do what is right.

17. HE LEADS US • A couple was living together without being married. When the church elder pointed out that this was sinful, the man admitted his sin and promised that they would move apart until they got married. Titus 2:14 explains what motivates such a change in attitude and behavior. What is the reason for the change? When we realize that Christ has redeemed us from wickedness, we are eager to do what is right.

18. HE LEADS US • “I just heard that Mr. Smith died today. He must have been the richest man around. But has always so grumpy, so angry about something.” In Christ’s redemption, we have been freed from such a meaningless and worrisome life. According to 2 Corinthians 5:15, how are our lives different? We no longer live for ourselves, but we are freed to live for Christ and gladly obey his commandments.

19. KEY POINT #3 Christ redeemed us so that we would gladly serve him by obeying his commandments.

20. WHY HAS CHRIST REDEEMED US? • Christ redeemed us so that we would be his own. • Christ redeemed us so that we would live under him in his kingdom. • Christ redeemed us so that we would gladly serve him by obeying his commandments. SUMMARY Christ redeemed us so that we would be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and gladly serve him by obeying his commandments.

21. 1 John 14:19 “Because I live, you also will live.”

22. The 2nd Article of the Apostles’ Creed I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried…

23. The 2nd Article of the Apostles’ Creed He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

24. The 2nd Article of the Apostles’ Creed What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord…

25. The 2nd Article of the Apostles’ Creed He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death.

26. The 2nd Article of the Apostles’ Creed All this he did that I should be his own, and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he has risen from death and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.