Finished Work Of The Cross

THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE

9. The Finished Work of the Cross This week’s Bible Reading Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat.

Psalms 97-98 2 Corinthians 12 2 Corinthians 13 Hebrews 1 Hebrews 2 Hebrews 3 Psalm 99-101

Memorise John 19:30 “When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, ‘It is finished’; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Hebrews 10:14 “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

The finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary is one of the central truths of the Christian faith. What did Jesus say to his disciples when he started his public ministry? Read John 4:34 _________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ And as he hung on the cross at the end of his earthly life? Read John 19:30 ______________ __________________________________________________________________________ What did Jesus mean? What had he finished? ______________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Read Hebrews 1:3. Does this give a deeper meaning to the thoughts of what Jesus had completed at the Cross? What dos this verse mean to you? __________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 1. The Temple Sacrifices To understand what Jesus was saying – and how the disciples understood it – we need to go back to the whole way in which God had instructed His people in the Old Testament. What was the greatest desire on God’s heart for His people since time began? What do you think? Write your thoughts here: What does the Bible say? Read Genesis 3:8-9. This is a picture of the days of man’s innocence, when God walked with Adam in the garden. What was the relationship between man and God in those days? ________________________________________________

Then sin came in and destroyed the close friendship. See Genesis 3:24. God’s response was to make a way to repair the damage and restore the relationship. Read Exodus 25:8-9 What did God do and why?

Under the leadership of Moses, God instructed the people to build a tent (called a Tabernacle). Detailed instructions for the building of the Tabernacle are given in Exodus 25 – 27 and 35 – 40. Essentially it was an enclosed space, at the centre of which was a tent. Inside the tent was an enclosed space, called the most Holy Place. In this enclosed and dark room was kept the Ark of the Covenant – a box containing the two stones with the Ten Commandments. This was the place where God told His people He would dwell. The Tabernacle at the heart of the Israelite camp stated several things: • God wanted to live with His people. His presence was there in the Holy of Holies. • God is holy. Only the priests could come close to Him. • Only the High Priest could come into the Holy of Holies and then only once a year. • He could only come after sacrificing a bull on the altar. • Blood must be shed constantly and regularly to atone for the sins of the people. You can read a summary of this in Hebrews 9:1-10. Verses 1-5

List the items in the tent (at least 10): _____________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________

Verses 6-7

Who had access to God? _______________________________________ How often could he meet God? _________ How? ___________________

Verses 8-10

The writer gives several reasons why this Tabernacle was temporary and failed to provide a way for the people to come to God. What 2 main points does he make? 1. __________________________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________________________

The main point the write to the Hebrews is making is that the Old Testament approach to God through the priests, the sacrifices and the Tabernacle were • Temporary – a permanent solution was needed • Inadequate – a better way was coming

2. The Superior Priesthood of Jesus Christ Why have we studied about the Old Testament Tabernacle, priests and sacrifices? It has been a much-too-brief introduction. It is important, because Jesus Christ came to replace all this with his own sacrifice for sins. In the Old Testament, God showed how people could come to Him. Because of His holiness it was not simple or easy. It required ... • Special people (priests) • A special place (the Tabernacle and later the Temple) • Special sacrifices (to deal with sin) Jesus Christ died on the Cross to replace all this. The Book of Hebrews was written for Jewish people who were struggling with this truth and needed to understand more. Turn to Hebrews. Most of our teaching on this subject comes from this book. 1. Christ our perfect High Priest Read Hebrews 9:11-15 • Think of Jesus as the High Priest (as described here in verse 11). The Old Testament High priest went into the Holy of Holies every year. How often did Jesus, the High Priest, enter the Holy Place? (verse 12) __________________________________________________. •

Was the offering of Jesus Christ as High Priest effective? What has his offering done for our consciences? (Verse 14) _______________________________________________.

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The Old Jewish Covenant (of tabernacle, priests, and law) did not solve the sin and guilt problem. What has Jesus done to resolve the problem? (Verse 15) __________________ _______________________________________________________________________.

Read Hebrews 10:11-15 •

Did the old sacrifices take away sin? ___________________

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How many sacrifices did Jesus Christ make? _______________

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Will Jesus ever need to make another sacrifice for sin? ________________

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What did Jesus do after his sacrifice on the cross was finished? __________________

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What has Christ’s one sacrifice accomplished? _______________________________

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Do we need to add anything to this sacrifice? ________________________

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Could God do any more to complete our eternal salvation? ____________________

Read also Hebrews 7:23-28 This may sound like complex theology, but for those who have difficulty knowing how to enter the presence of God it is Good News! It says that Jesus Christ has achieved for all time

what no one else could – or needs – to do to provide a full, complete and final sacrifice for sin for all time.

2. Christ the complete sacrifice for sin Jesus was not only the perfect High Priest. He was also the perfect sacrifice. Read again Hebrews 9:12-14 •

Whose blood did Jesus offer for sin? ___________________________________

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What did the blood of goats and bulls achieve? (verse 13) ___________________ _________________________________________________________________

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What did the blood of Christ’s sacrifice achieve? (verse 14) _________________ _________________________________________________________________

Read Hebrews 25-28 •

Whose blood did the old High Priest offer every year? ______________________

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Whose blood did Jesus Christ offer as a sacrifice for sin? ____________________

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Does his sacrifice ever need to be repeated? How many times does Jesus need to die? __________________________________________________________________

Good news! The problem of sin and guilt has been dealt with once for all! We can do nothing more to ensure a total and perfect forgiveness of all sin forever. 3. Christ has entered the perfect Tabernacle We have no further need of a Temple or a Tabernacle. We do not need to go to Jerusalem to ensure that our sins are forgiven. We no longer need to go to special places where we can meet God. Read Hebrews 9:24 •

Where is the true temple now? ___________________________________________

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What is Jesus doing now? ______________________________________________ Read also Hebrews 7:25 and 1 John 2:1

3. A complete and perfect salvation Human pride always wants to make a contribution to salvation. So people still try to win God’s favour by keeping the Law, following rituals and rules of religion, trying to please God and win His approval and mercy. Some go on pilgrimage, keep lengthy fasts, beat themselves in belief that pain will earn salvation.

But the reality is that Jesus Christ has completed a total and absolute work of forgiveness, to which no one can add anything further. Read 1 John 1:7 • What does the blood of Jesus do? ________________________________________ • How much sin does His blood cleanse? ___________________________________ • Is anything further necessary? (see I John 1:9) ______________________________ What else was accomplished by the blood of Christ? • • • •

Hebrews 2:14-15 __________________________________________________ Luke 22:20 _______________________________________________________ Hebrews 13:12 ____________________________________________________ Ephesians 2:13 ____________________________________________________

It is important to note that, in the Bible, blood speaks of a sacrifice. It tells us that one has died as our substitute to pay the full, final, absolute and total price for salvation. It was the death of Christ on the Cross that obtained our salvation, defeated Satan, took away the fear of death, and opened the doors of heaven to all believers. ♦ Apply this lesson to your life 1. Have you ever felt the need to earn your salvation in some way? Have you tried to please God by good works, personal sacrifices, extra hard work or other means that you feel will make you worthy of His mercy? This is very common in other world religions, but not for the followers of Christ. 2. Take some time to thank God for the full and finished work of Jesus 2000 years ago at Calvary. “It is finished,” he cried. IT is accomplished, completed, perfected. Thank God that nothing more is needed. 3. How can you follow up on what Christ has done? By offering your body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), offering up a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15) and offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). A Prayer while you study this lesson: Lord, we praise you for the full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for sin, made once for all time when Jesus died on the cross at Calvary. We thank you that we can add nothing to the perfect work that He has done for us. Our salvation is assured for ever and all the glory goes to him and to Him alone. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen ♦ Team group study questions: 1. This may have been a difficult lesson for some. Look back at the section on the Old Testament tabernacle. Discuss the importance of understanding the place of animal

sacrifices. Ask each group member to explain hwy they think animal sacrifices were necessary and what they achieved. 2. Discuss the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. How can they be reconciled? Look at 2 Corinthians 5:21. What does it mean that God made Christ to be sin? What does it mean that we become the righteousness of God? 3. What are the implications of the perfect sacrifice of Christ? If He has done everything necessary for our salvation, what is there for us to do? Can we sit back and enjoy what He has done? Or is there an important part for us to play in obtaining our salvation?