Digging Deeper: Salvation - Wollongong Baptist Church · Digging Deeper: Salvation Scripture alone,...

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Transcript of Digging Deeper: Salvation - Wollongong Baptist Church · Digging Deeper: Salvation Scripture alone,...

Page 1: Digging Deeper: Salvation - Wollongong Baptist Church · Digging Deeper: Salvation Scripture alone, Christ alone, Grace alone, Faith alone ‘Why study the reformation slogans on
Page 2: Digging Deeper: Salvation - Wollongong Baptist Church · Digging Deeper: Salvation Scripture alone, Christ alone, Grace alone, Faith alone ‘Why study the reformation slogans on

Digging Deeper: Salvation Scripture alone, Christ alone, Grace alone, Faith alone ‘Why study the reformation slogans on the doctrine of salvation?’ I hear you say. ‘After all,’ one might argue, ‘that was back then, and this is now. Even if it was an important stage in the spread of the gospel, I’m not really into dry, church history.’ Well, we’re not going to study church history but the bible, as we seek to ‘rediscover’ some key biblical truths which shaped the reformation. The reformers were reacting against the Roman Catholic Church which had departed from the bible’s teaching at a number of points, and so leaders like Martin Luther and John Calvin sought reforms. As we approach the 500th anniversary of the Reformation on October 31, it will be helpful to remind ourselves of some of the foundational biblical truths which have shaped Protestant churches. It is just as important today to be clear on the crucial doctrines of salvation, or soteriology, as it was when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg in 1517. Theological problems and pastoral questions remain the same across the centuries. How can I find out about God? By reading God’s revelation to us in the bible, the Holy Scriptures alone (Sola Scriptura). How can I be in a right relationship with God? The truth remains that it is by coming to know Jesus Christ alone, the one mediator between God and man (Sola Christi). But how can I be accepted by a Holy God – surely I must offer some good works? No, God has done all that is needed for me to be friends with him – salvation is by grace alone (Sola gratia). What must I do to make this real for me? Receive Christ by faith alone (Sola fide). Let’s dig deeper in our understanding of God’s salvation.

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1 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Psalm 19:1-11 _________________________________________________________________________________

Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura) Purpose: To understand that the only authoritative word is the bible 1. Apart from the Bible what other kind of authorities (things, books, people, etc) claim to teach us who God is and what He wants? What happens when people use differing sources of authority to tell us what God is like or what He wants? Two ways God speaks to us Read Psalm 19:1-11 2. What is one source of knowledge of God, and why is it limited in its ability to teach us about God (v1-4)? 3. How is God’s Word described and what is it useful for (v7-11)? Think about it 4. How might this encourage you to delight in studying God’s word?

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The final revelation Read Hebrews 1:1-3 5. What is the difference between how God spoke in the past and now (in these last days)? 6. Why is God’s Son the supreme source of knowledge of God? Bible alone Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17 7. What does it mean that “all scripture is God-breathed”? (see 2 Peter 1:20-21 & 1 Thessalonians 2:13) 8. In 1 Timothy 5:18 Paul quotes from both the Old & New Testaments (Deut. 25:4 & Luke 10:7) calling it collectively Scripture. What does this mean for the authority of New Testament writers?

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Think about it 9. What is the goal of Scripture and how can it help us? 10. Is the bible all we need to know God and live His way, or do we also need to consult church traditions? Why or why not? 11. What problems (how to read, motivation etc) have you had in reading the bible? What things could help us read the bible more fruitfully?

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2 Colossians 1:15-23, Hebrews 9:1-28

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Christ alone (Sola Christi)

Purpose: To understand that Christ is the only mediator between God & people

1. If a person does not have complete faith in the finished work of Christ, how might this be evident in their attitudes and actions?

The need for a new high priest

Read Hebrews 9:1-28.

2. What were the problems with the Old Testament system of sacrifice (v1-10)?

3. What is the significance of the blood shed by the sacrifice (v11-23)? 4. How does the sacrifice of Christ supersede the old covenant sacrifices (v24-28)?

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Think about it 5. How does the Roman Catholic theory of transubstantiation, whereby the prayer of the priest physically changes the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, go against what Hebrews 9:25-28 declares (see also 10:11-18)? The supremacy of Christ Read Colossians 1:15-23 6. What phrases in this section express Christ’s divinity and his supremacy over our world (v15-19)? 7. How is Christ’s supremacy in our salvation expressed? 8. What is the means by which Christ can reconcile us (v20, 22), and why does this section work against the idea that we need anything additional?

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Read 1 Timothy 2:5-6 9. What does Christ being the one mediator between God and mankind mean? Think about it 10. Is there any place for praying to Mary or saints or ancestors? Can a human priest act as our mediator? Why or why not? 11. How might complete faith in Jesus as our only mediator express itself in our Christian walk?

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3 Ephesians 2:1-10

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Grace alone (Sola gratia)

Purpose: To understand that God has done all that is needed for our salvation

1. How does our society teach us that we must ‘earn our way’, that we must contribute to receive anything?

Our natural state before God

Read Ephesians 2:1-3.

2. Summarise our standing before God before we trusted in Jesus?

3. Does our dire position preclude the idea that we might fix the problem ourselves? Why or why not?

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What God has done Read Ephesians 2:4-7 4. How has God acted to save us? 5. Why has God acted to save us? Think about it 6. How do verses 6 and 7 reassure us that God has done everything necessary to save us through Christ? Do we do anything? Read Ephesians 2:8-10 7. How does the apostle Paul emphasise that we cannot save ourselves, or even partly contribute (v8-9)?

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8. Why does this remove any boasting, and how is this humility expressed? Think about it 9. If God has done all that is necessary, and we are in no position to do anything, why do people often still feel they need to contribute somehow? Why is God’s grace (His undeserved kindness) often so hard to accept? 10. Is Paul contradicting himself in verse 10? If our good works do not secure our salvation, then how are we to understand the works we are to do? 11. Roman Catholics are encouraged to trust in Jesus, and to do certain things to be assured of their salvation (including attending mass, making penance for sin, etc). How can the need for our deeds actually rob us of our assurance?

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4 Romans 3:21-31; James 2:14-26 _________________________________________________________________________________

Faith alone (Sola fide) Purpose: To understand how a person receives God’s grace

1. Faith is often viewed as a ‘leap in the dark’ in our secular society. How would you define faith for a non-Christian friend?

A righteousness from God Read Romans 3:21-31. 2. Why don’t we have a right standing with God, and how does a person receive this righteousness from God (v22-23)? 3. It is said that faith is only as strong as its object. How was this righteousness secured by Christ? (v24-25a)

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4. How is God’s justice satisfied through Christ’s work (v25b-26)? Think about it 5. Why does faith (like grace in Eph.2:8-9) rule out boasting (v27-28)? 6. Does God treat Jews and Gentiles differently (v29-30)? Why do these verses reject law-keeping as a means of merit before God? 7. How does the example of Abraham back up Paul’s argument (Genesis 15:1-6; Rom.4:1-3)?

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Genuine faith responds with works Read James 2:14-26 8. Is the doctrine of ‘faith alone’ contradicted by James? If not, why not? 9. What wrong understanding of faith is James correcting? Think about it 10. If a person says that genuine faith in Jesus is not sufficient to secure a right standing before God, what are they saying about Christ’s death and resurrection? 11. ‘The righteous will live by faith’ (Rom.1:17). What will this look like in day to day life?