No.23 - Free from guilt

Free in Christ, transformed by his word, made for his glory.

Verse of the Week

'These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken'

John ch19:36

We found this verse incredible as it helps give us confidence that Jesus has taken the punishment for our sins, we are no longer guilty! John tells us that, because Jesus had already died, his legs were not broken. John then points us back to Exodus 12:46 and Num. 9:12 where the bible says that the Passover lamb was not to have any of its bones broken. In Exodus, a lamb was to be killed to save God's people from his judgment. Here John shows Jesus to be the better sacrificial Lamb, taking God's judgment for our sins on himself so we may be free. Oh, how great is our God that he would send his own son to die that we may have confidence our sins are forgiven and we are no longer guilty!

Encouragements

I found it such an encouragement to talk through our Sunday sermon on John 19:28-42 with my Life group and Mid-day bible study. It was such a delight to reflect on how we don’t need to hold onto our guilt, we don’t need to fear coming to God with our sins, we don’t need to despair or feel like we need to earn our way back into God’s good books, for Christ has died for our sins. God has poured out all of his anger at our rebellion on Christ at the cross. Therefore, when we sin God doesn't look at us with anger but as his beloved children. When we sin we do not need to be afraid, we can come to our Father, confess our sins and know that we are his precious children.

I had the joy of reading a great book on applying the bible. It was wonderful to spend time learning about how to understand God’s word and how it is designed to transform our hearts. It was such a great reminder to look to the bible to see how God wants our hearts to be changed rather than making up ways we want a passage to change us.

I was also extremely encouraged by a sermon that pointed out how God has designed our minds to focus on his Glory, not on our own problems. It was a great reminder that satisfaction is found in delighting in God's incredible glory.

A Little Update

Here are a few of the things we've been up to and some of what we've got coming up.

The Past Week

The Next Few Weeks

Prayer Requests

We would love prayer that:

God would help us to fix our minds on him, to focus our hearts on enjoying God and so be motivated to honour him as we seek to love people, prepare talks and studies and support each other.

We really are so grateful for your love, prayers and support. You are such an encouragement! God bless :)

Joshua & Luci.

P.S. - If you want to hear more about how I've been delighted by Christ over the last week feel free to listen to the video below. I found it really encouraging to think back over the week and delight in all the different things I've learned about God. I hope you may find it encouraging to :)

TEAM Bible Course Notes

Bible overview - The life of Jesus

The OT shows our problem and the solution we need

• One man from whom God’s people will come

• One man who will rescue God’s people

• One man who will rule God’s people

• One man who will speak God’s word to the people

• One man who will make a sacrifice and intercede for the people

• God himself is coming

• So that God has a holy people to live with him forever

Jesus the anointed King

• Jesus was Baptised as God’s King

• Jesus was a faithful King

• Jesus proclaimed and called people into the kingdom

• Jesus taught the way of the kingdom

• Jesus fulfilled the OT

• Jesus provided the true place and rest for God’s people

• Jesus sent out workers

Jesus’ surprise Kingdom

• Jesus is the messiah but he will have to suffer

• His disciples must suffer as well

• We see Jesus transformed and God showing he is pleased with the Son’s plan to suffer - die and then be raised

Jesus’ coming coronation

• Jesus approaches Jerusalem

• On a donkey, as predicted in Zechariah

How will the people respond?

He said he’ll die and be raised, how will that work?

The person of Christ

Jesus is fully God and fully man

From the Old Testament expectation

• Ezekiel 34:11-16 - God will be the Shepherd

• Isreal’s leaders bad

• God will provide better shepherd

• God will come and be the shepherd

• Ezekiel 34:23-24 - God will provide a better shepherd (David)

From the New Testament testimony

• John 1:1-3, 14, 18 - The word was with God and the word was God and the word was Christ

• Philippians 2:5-11 - Jesus had the very nature of God and took on human nature

• 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 44-49 - Jesus continued being human forever

• Mark 4:35-41 - Jesus acts as a human and God - tired + calms a storm

Truths

• Jesus is fully God - Only God can save us

• Jesus is fully human - to fully save humanity

• Jesus is one person - can’t be separated

• Jesus has 2 separate natures - his natures can’t mix

Things to understand

• Persons act according to their natures

• This gives then possibilities and limitations

• Persons act by willing (within the possibilities of their nature - humans can will themselves to fly)

• Christ has divine and human wills and natures

• The diving person came before the human existence of Christ

• Christ, in his humanity couldn't just tap into his divine nature - he really experienced life as a human

• Christ did miracles through the power of the spirit

• It's not part of human nature to have the capacity to sin

Analogy

• Maybe helpful to think of Jesus as one person

• operating on two different levels

• at the same time

E.g

• Divine level - being everywhere

• Human level - dying on a cross

Application

• Christ can really sympathise with us

• Christ is an example for us

• Christ really saved us

• Chris is our King