Unit C

God and the World: Jesus Christ

Sections

Jesus Christ is at the center of God’s relationship with the world. This is largely due to what he accomplished when he came into the world, which has great significance for each person’s relationship with God.

Jesus Christ’s Mission

I.Jesus Christ’s Mission

God sent Jesus Christ to take away sins

You know that Christ came to take away sins.   1 John 3:5a CEV

The Jewish leaders compelled the Romans to kill Jesus

Pilate [the Roman governor] wanted to set Jesus free, so he spoke again to the crowds [led by the Jewish authorities]. 21But they kept shouting, “Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!”   Luke 23:20-21 CEV

But God raised Jesus from the dead

But God raised him from death …   Acts 2:24a GNT

Salvation through Jesus Christ

II.Salvation through Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ died for us

But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.  Romans 5:8 CEV

Jesus died for us. He gave his life in place of our lives to pay the penalty for our sin. He did this so that we would not have to pay it ourselves with eternal death. Instead we can have eternal life. This is spiritual life which extends beyond physical death.

By Jesus’ death our sins can be forgiven

For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.   Ephesians 1:7b GNT

The “blood of Christ” is a reference to his death for us.

We can only be saved through Jesus Christ

Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.   Acts 4:12 GNT

The New Order

III.The New Order

We are not made right by the law – but by faith in Christ

For no one is put right in God’s sight by doing what the Law requires; what the Law does is to make people know that they have sinned. … 22God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ.   Romans 3:20, 22a GNT

We are unable to be made right with God through obeying his law, as we are not capable of obeying it all the time. But now because of what Jesus Christ has accomplished, we can be made right with God by faith in Christ and what he has done.

God has made Jesus Christ Lord of all

Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others. … 11And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”   Philippians 2:9, 11 CEV

The kingdom of God has come, through Christ’s mission

He [Jesus] said, “The right time has come. The kingdom of God is near.   Mark 1:15a NCV™

In Jesus’ mission a more far-reaching, spiritual dimension of God’s reign was established. It exists primarily in the hearts and minds of God’s people. At the end of the age God’s kingdom and authority will be imposed over all things.

 ‘The Last Things’

IV.‘The Last Things’

Jesus Christ will return and judge all people

For the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.   Matthew 16:27 NET

Those who believe in Jesus Christ will have eternal life

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.   John 3:36 NET