Butch Ewing
Butch Ewing is a Full Stack Developer, Bass Player, Entrepreneur, Public Figure, Cancer Survivor, Ordained Minister, Comedian, and Dork.
What are some examples of one’s theology directly affecting attitudes and actions? What happens when our knowledge remains only in the head and fails to affect the heart or hands?
Atonement-Driven Life
Life in Light of Christ’s Sacrifice
The atonement of Christ has practical significance for the Christian’s daily life. In this session, we look at life in light of Christ’s sacrifice. The author of Hebrews builds on the truth of the atonement by challenging us to draw near to God with confidence, hold unwaveringly to God’s promises, and encourage one another in love and good deeds.
Memory Verse
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23
The Atonement Thread
Garden Coverings
Abraham and Isaac
Passover
Sacrificial Offerings
Water from the Rock
Bronze Snake
Sign of Jonah
Suffering Servant
Lamb of God
Bread of Life
Perfect Sacrifice
Washed Robe
1. Draw near to God with confidence.
Hebrews 10:19-22
In what way does the removal of the curtain communicate the availability of a relationship with God? How does the restoration of this relationship impact the way we pray?
How can the privilege of approaching God with boldness lead us to pray more? When you sin, do you run to God for forgiveness or away from Him in fear?
If you are filled with shame and guilt, you do not merely need to believe in the abstract concept of God’s mercy. You must sense, on the palate of the heart, as it were, the sweetness of his mercy. Then you will know you are accepted.–Tim Keller
Christians approach God confidently, completely at home in the situation created by Christ’s saving work. They enter ‘the Most Holy Place,’ which, of course, is no physical sanctuary but is, in truth, the presence of God. And they entered it by ‘the blood of Jesus,’ i.e., on the basis of his saving death.–Leon Morris (1914-2006)
2. Hold unwaveringly to God’s promises.
Hebrews 10:23
What are the elements of our confession of faith that give us hope? How important should hope be to the daily life of a Christian?
Why is it important to focus on God’s faithfulness instead of our own? In what ways does hope in God’s faithfulness have a practical impact on our choices?
Hope…means…a continual looking forward to the eternal world…It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.–C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)
Hope in the Christian’s life is not wishful thinking. It is confident expectation.–Henry Blackaby
3. Encourage one another in love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24-25
Metaphors for the Church
- The church is the bride of Christ joined to Jesus in a personal way. This metaphor signifies the intimacy of our relationship with the Savior.
- The church is the family of God made up of brothers and sisters who are adopted as children of God through the work of Jesus.
- The church is the body of Christ united together by God to serve one another and to experience joys and sorrows as one.
- Even comparisons of the church to a building—the temple of God—mention interlocked stones that rely upon one another to stand firm.
How does Hebrews 10:24-25 counter the idea that gathering with the church is not important for a Christian? What does the author communicate about the purpose of our gatherings?
What are the responsibilities we have to the brothers and sisters who make up our church? What does failure to gather in community say about our view of the church?
What do love and good deeds look like in your community? How do they provide a platform for sharing the gospel?
The New Testament lends no support to the idea of lone Christians. Close and regular fellowship with other believers is not just a nice idea, but an absolute necessity for the encouragement of Christian values.–Donald Guthrie
It is not separation but assiduous effort at unity that is the work of love.–Theodoret of Cyr (circa 390-457)
The faithfulness of God extends to the special community of people called the church. When we submit to each other within the context of our church, we find that we are not alone in our journey. Sometimes the greatest blessing of Christian community is realizing that we are part of something greater than our own individuality, something that transcends our personal problems and shows us the glory of King Jesus. In these moments we are aware of the grace that binds us to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. In response to God’s grace, we serve out of a common commitment to the Savior whose atonement compels us to love and good deeds.
Conclusion
Washed Robes
In the City of the Lamb
In Revelation, we see a glimpse of the glorious future God has promised us. Jesus is presented as the Lamb of God who is worthy of all worship, whose blood washes white the robes of those who believe in Him, and whose city gates are open for all those who would receive Him. Our mission today is impacted by our vision of the future kingdom.
Next Week
Atonement-Driven Life: Life in Light of Christ’s Sacrifice
By Butch Ewing
Atonement-Driven Life: Life in Light of Christ’s Sacrifice
The atonement of Christ has practical significance for the Christian’s daily life. The author of Hebrews builds on the truth of the atonement by challenging us to draw near to God with confidence, hold unwaveringly to God’s promises, and encourage one another in love and good deeds.
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