What Christ Did for Us

Introduction
   I.  After the sins of Eve and Adam, God spoke to the serpent.  Gen. 3:14, 15.
        A.  In my judgment, verse 15 is the first evidence of a coming Savior.
        B.  Paul wrote of a time when Satan would be crushed under the feet of the
	  faithful.  Rom. 16:19, 20.
  II.  God promised Abraham that He would bless all the families of the earth 
        through his seed or descendent.  Gen. 12:3.
        A.  Paul applied this to Christ in Gal. 3:19, 16.
III.   It is clear from these passages that the Christ was to come into the world to
         bring blessings to mankind.
 IV.  In this lesson, let us consider some of the things that Christ has done for us.

Body

  I.   Jesus, the Christ, died for our sins.
       A.  He left heaven, taking the form of a servant, and went to the cross for our
	 sins.  Phil. 2:5-8.
             1.  God loved us enough to send Him.  John 3:16; Rom. 5:8.
	 2.  Jesus loved us enough to die for us.  John 10:11-18.
	 3.  Jesus was approved of God while living upon the earth, was delivered
	      up by the Father and was crucified unlawfully.  Acts 2:22, 23.
	 4.  This harmonizes with the prophecy of Isaiah.  Isa. 53:1-12.
       B.  As Jesus gave a memorial to His death, He declared that His blood was
	 to be shed for the remission of sins.  Matt. 26:28.
       C.  What did Jesus Christ do for You?  He died for your sins.
       
 II.  Jesus Christ came to earth to establish His church so that we would have a
       spiritual family.
       A.  The church was  part of the eternal plan which God had for Christ.
	 Eph. 3:8-12.
       B.  Jesus promised to build His church.  Matt. 16:18.
	 1.  The church is composed of those called out of sin.
	 2.  The church was in existence soon after Jesus' death.  Acts 5:11; 8:1.  
       C.  The church is God's spiritual family.  I Tim. 3:14, 15.   	  
	 1.  God is our Father.  Rom. 8:15; II Cor. 1:2; 6:14-18; Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:2;
	      Phil. 1:2; Col. 1:2.
	 2.  Jesus Christ is God's Son over His house.  Heb. 3:5, 6.
	 3.  Jesus is our elder brother.  Rom. 8:16, 17.
       D.  Regardless of how you may be treated by your biological family, you have
	 a spiritual family that should care deeply for you.  Gal. 6:2.
       E.  What did Christ do for you?  He provided you with a spiritual family.

What Christ Did For Us,  page 2.

III.  Jesus has made it possible for us to be in heaven when this life is over.
       A.  Jesus has made a way for us into the holy place.  Heb. 10:19-25.
       B.  We must choose the rest God provides through Jesus.  Heb. 4:1-16.
       C.  Our citizenship is in heaven.  Phil. 3:20, 21; Heb. 12:22-29.
       D.  We must live in Christ and die in him to receive this rest.  Rev. 14:13.
   	 1.  Like the Thessalonians, we wait for Jesus to come from heaven.
	      I Thess. 1:9, 10; 4:16, 17.
	 2.  The time of punishment for the wicked will be a time of rest for God's 	 	      faithful.  II Thess. 1:7-9.
       E.  Our inheritance is reserved in heaven for us.  I Pet. 1:3-5; Rev. 21:1-7.
       F.  What did Jesus do for you?  He prepared a means by which you can go to
	 heaven.

Conclusion
   I.  God and Christ have done much for us.
  II.  Are we willing to respond as we should?
III.  Believing in Christ, are you willing to repent, confess Jesus as God's Son and be
        baptized into Christ?  Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26, 27.

Prepared by:
  David Arnold
  June 10, 1995