Jesus and the Cross - Week 1 Summary

Each week, out speakers are going to give us three questions specific to their topics to answer. These questions are designed to get us actively thinking about the material. This week we looked at Jesus and the Cross.

Question 1: What is the power of the gospel?
Starting with Romans 1:16 is helpful: " For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes,". Paul is saying that the gospel is complete, there is nothing we can add to it. This means that we don't have to anything more for the gospel, since Christ took care of it all. Everything in the Old Testament has been fulfilled by Christ's death on the cross. The power of the gospel comes from this completeness. It is finished.

Question 2: What does it mean to live from the inside out?
To truly live from the inside out is difficult, but can be done. Our speaker used the analogy of a sponge. A sponge can soak up a liquid and it still looks like a regular sponge, but when you squeeze it, all the liquid comes out. In the same way we need to soak up Christ and his gospel, so that Christ flows out of us in all situations. How can we be filled up completely with Christ? By not tying ourselves down to the law. "For apart from the law, sin was dead." (Romans 7:8). Paul tells us how sin thrives on the law, since none of us can keep it perfectly and therefore fall into sin. This is a heavy burden that we are not meant to bear. Christ kept the law perfectly and with his death on the cross, took all our sins upon himself and so did our sinful self die with him. We are now free from the law as it has been fulfilled by Christ. We can live freely for Christ without being weighed down by the law. Living from the inside out with this great liberation and thankfulness for what Jesus did for us hear on earth.

Question 3: What is the difference between sons/daughters and servants in relation to God?
The primary difference between the two comes down to relationship. A servant does everything out of a forced obedience. They have no choice. They must complete the tasks set before them or risk the wrath of their master, which could end with them being kicked out of the master's kingdom. 
Now to be a son of God is quiet different. This relationship is represented in Jesus' parable about the Prodigal Son. The son did not do what his father wanted, he took his share of the inheritance and left home. He then proceeded to squander everything he had. When he had nothing, he returned to his father in the hopes of being welcomed back as a servant, not as a son. Much to his surprise, the father grabbed him in his arms and all was forgiven, and he threw a feast celebrating his return. This is how God treats us. Even when we turn our backs on him, he is always there to welcome us back with open arms. And likewise, we are comforted by the knowledge that if we make mistakes and fall, he is there to pick us up out of the dirt. There is no fear of his wrath, since Christ took that upon himself when he died upon the cross.