• Recap of previous lessons
• More on the better righteousness
  • Review of Point 5: Getting even (Matthew 5:38-42; Exodus 21:23-25; Deuteronomy 19:18-21)
    • Don’t
    • Difference levels of perceived offense.
      • People who do you actual harm
      • Evil person who insults you
      • One opposing you at law
      • Government mandate
      • People in need
    • Justice is not a rendering of evil (v17)
    • Resisting evil
      • Would be a never-ending task for us
      • Not ours to do. I Thessalonians 5:15; Proverbs 20:22; Romans 12:17-19
      • Overcome rather than resist. Romans 12:21
      • Results? Romans 2:4
    • Don’t avenge insults (John 18:20-23)
    • Be compliant to a fault when “they” come after you
      • By litigation
      • By government coercion (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26)
  • Point 6: Love (Matthew 5:43-48)
    • Not just your neighbor – Remember Leviticus 19:18?
    • Also your enemies
      • No pat on the back for loving your own – who doesn’t?
      • Why your enemies?
      • To what end? I Peter 3:8-9; Ephesians 5:1; Romans 2:3-4
      • How does this make us perfect? Romans 5:8
    • Compare v45 to v9.
    • Jesus the example.
  • Don’t put on a show (I Corinthians 12:14,21,26-27)

• Hebrews 11:1 – a description of what faith does
• Faith is a choice
  • Faith requires a choice that goes beyond observable facts.
    • John 20:29
    • II Corinthians 5:7
    • I Peter 1:8-9
  • The evidence only takes us so far.
  • Moral or spiritual choice must take us the rest of the way.
  • Faith is reasonable but not provable.
  • God has intentionally made it this way.
    • Hebrews 11:6
• What faith? - Hebrews 11
  • It gains God’s approval. Hebrews 11:2,39
  • It pleases God. Hebrews 11:5-6
  • It shows true reverence. Hebrews 11:7
  • It shows true obedience. Hebrews 11:8
  • It shows trust. Hebrews 11:11
  • A commitment to the spiritual. Hebrews 11:13-16
  • A rejection of the physical. Hebrews 11:25-27
• Conclusion
  • Faith is based in part on observable evidence and reason.
  • But faith will always require a choice that goes beyond what can be seen.

• Romans 10:17
• A message that produces faith
  • The life of Christ
    • John 1:14,18 – Jesus is a way of explaining God.
    • If you had the power of God…
      • Would you make yourself wealthy?
      • Would you pursue fun and pleasure?
      • Would you show off your power?
      • Would you always get your own way?
      • Would you make everyone adore you?
      • Would you punish your enemies?
      • Philippians 2:6-8; Acts 10:38 – The humble ways Jesus used His power.
    • Completely devoid of human vanity
    • No concern for the petty or trivial
    • Focused on the eternal and spiritual
    • Yet with compassion on the suffering
    • Selfless, humble, obedient
      • Matthew 8:1-3 – Jesus touches and heals a leprous man.
      • Luke 19:9
      • John 3:4-5 – Jesus washes the disciples’ feet
  • The teaching of Christ
    • John 7:17-18
    • Matthew 5:44-45 – Love your enemies.
    • Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31
    • Matthew 7:3
    • Matthew 15:11-20 – The contents of the heart are what matter.
    • Luke 10:36
    • Luke 12:15 – Beware of greed. Jesus’ focus was on the soul. There are more important things than material goods!
  • The death of Christ
    • John 3:16
    • Romans 5:6-8 – Christ died for the ungodly.
    • Matthew 26:39
    • Luke 23:33-34
    • Matthew 27:42-43 – He was openly mocked.
    • I Corinthians 1:18 – If you can read the story of Jesus and understand it and not see the power of God, you will perish.
  • The resurrection of Christ
    • John 20:6-8 – The disciples discover the empty tomb.
    • John 20:18 – Mary Magdalene announces the resurrection of Jesus.
    • I John 1:1-2
  • The hope of redemption in Christ
    • II Corinthians 5:18-19
    • Acts 13:48
• Conclusion
  • The gospel message of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation.
  • It is a message that discerns the hearer and moves us to choose.

• The lead up to the leap of faith.
  • A persuasive message that speaks to something inside us. Romans 10:17
• The message of salvation in Christ runs through the Bible. It produces faith in those who see it.
• John 5:39
• Luke 24:26-27,44-45
• Threads that tie together in Christ
  • The sacrifices of atonement
  • A law giver like Moses
  • …
• Colossians 2:17
  • Physical family → spiritual family
  • Earthly family → heavenly nation
  • Physical deliverance → spiritual deliverance
  • …
• Redemption is realized in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:7
• The end of the story of redemption
  • Revelation 20-22
  • A story with a beginning, middle, and end.
    • Revelation 20:10 – Satan deceived Eve; Christ defeated Satan; Satan will be judged.
    • Revelation 20:11 – The world was cursed; Christ came into the world to save man; the world is destroyed.
    • Revelation 20:12-12 – Adam brought death; Christ overcame death; all will be raised.
    • Revelation 21:1-2 – Physical Jerusalem; spiritual Jerusalem; heavenly Jerusalem
    • Revelation 21:3 – Tabernacle, God dwells with Israel; the church, the temple of God; God’s people dwell with Him fully in Heaven
    • Revelation 21:4 – A curse inflicted; a curse borne; a curse removed.
    • Revelation 21:4-5,9-14 – 12 tribes; 12 apostles; the glorified people of God.
    • Revelation 21:15-16,21-22,24 – Nations divided; nations invited; nations redeemed.
    • Revelation 22:1 – Rivers of Eden; …
    • Revelation 22:2 – Tree of life; the tree that gives back life; the tree of life.
    • Revelation 22:3 – Sacrificial lamb; the lamb of God; the lamb who reigns.
    • Revelation 22:4,14 – Cleansing of the priests; washing of regenerating; washed in the blood of the Lamb.
    • Revelation 22:16,20-21
• Conclusion
  • The story of redemption began in Eden and will end in Heaven.
  • In Jesus, God provided deliverance from the curse of sin and death.
  • When we see the story woven and tied together it produces faith in us.
  • How will the story end for you?

[Sorry, no notes available for this lesson.]