The Gift of Sabbath Rest
Sabbath rest is not a legalistic restriction but rather a gift from God to allow us to be refreshed as we rest from our daily vocations and activities so we can focus on God and His provision for us.
Leviticus 23:1-3
He Does All Things Well
Jesus’ miraculous healings were signs that He was the promised Messiah, the foretaste of His renewal and restoration of all creation for the glory of God.
Mark 7:31-37
Jesus Christ – The Only Redeemer and Mediator
Question 25: Who is the Redeemer and Mediator, the perfectly righteous God-Man?
The only Redeemer and Mediator between God and humanity is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God who became human for us and for our salvation.
1 Timothy 2: 5-7
God Our Redeemer
Question 24: Why must the Redeemer be truly, fully God?
The Redeemer must be truly, fully God so that His obedience and suffering would be of infinite value, He would be able to bear the full wrath of God against sin, and overcome Satan and death.
Acts 20:28; Colossians 2:13–15
Our Perfectly Righteous Redeemer
Question 23: Why must the Redeemer be perfectly righteous?
The Redeemer must be perfectly righteous so that His obedience and sacrifice in our place will be acceptable to God.
Romans 5:19; Hebrews 2:17; 1 Peter 1:18-19
Redemption Through Christ the True Human
Question 22: Why must the Redeemer be truly human?
The Redeemer must be truly human so that He might fulfill humanity’s obligations to God by completely obeying God’s Law and suffering and dying for human disobedience.
Romans 5:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21; Hebrews 2:14-17
Why the God-Man?
Question 21: What sort of Redeemer and Mediator is needed to bring us back to God?
One who is perfectly righteous, truly human and truly God.
Hebrews 4:14–16; Hebrews 7:23–28
UnAuthentic
Believers must be prepared to resist unauthentic teachings that distort the Person and work of Jesus Christ and thus create a false Gospel.
2 John 7-11
The Covenant of Redemption (Adam)
In the fall, humans broke God’s covenant and fell under the curse, but God promised to redeem humans from the curse through the coming Seed of the woman.
Genesis 3:14–19
The Advent Promise Given
In the midst of the wreckage of the Fall, God gave a promise that Jesus would come to redeem and rescue us.
Genesis 3:15
Reversing The Curse
The sin of mankind’s arrogance at the Tower of Babel brought about the curse of confused languages and the splintering and scattering of mankind. Nevertheless, the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus is undoing the effect of that curse of Babel in anticipation of the total and final reversal of the Curse.
Genesis 11:1-9
All Things New
Our God is One Who renews and restores that which has been broken and marred by sin, and Who proclaims “I make all things new!”
Revelation 21:1-5
Luke – The Ox
Luke presents Jesus as the ox, full of strength yet suffering as a sacrifice for sin, so that we might repent and be forgiven of our sins and then serve others.
Luke 1:5; 9:22; 22:15; 24:44-47
The Refreshment of Rest
Sabbath rest is not a legalistic restriction but rather a gift from God to allow us to be refreshed as we rest from normal activities so we can focus on God and His provision for us.
Leviticus 23:1-3
Glorified!
The consummation of our salvation will happen at the return of Christ, when our bodies will be raised from the grave and transformed to be like Jesus’ body, and all of creation will be renewed. At that point, we and all of the renewed creation will experience the glorious freedom of full redemption and will radiate the glory of God.
Romans 8:18-25
The Thanksgiving Meal
The Eucharist is the thanksgiving meal, where God’s people receive His grace anew and give thanks for His many blessings.
Matthew 26:26-29
The Preeminence of Christ
Christ is preeminent in and over everything – the present creation and everything it, and the new creation, which has already begun through His reconciling work.
Colossians 1:12-20
Second Chance
God through his grace has justified us and forgiven us our sins, giving each of us a second chance.
Ephesians 2:1-10
Praise the LORD for His Great Works!
As we ponder the great works of the Lord in redeeming and giving us His covenantal commands, we respond with heartfelt praise and willing
obedience.
Psalm 111
Jesus Our Great High Priest
Jesus as our Great High Priest was able to offer the perfect eternal offering on our behalf.
Hebrews 8
The Spirit of Creation and Redemption
The Spirit was active in both our creation and redemption, and in His ongoing work in our lives He is restoring God’s original intent for creation and our place within it.
Genesis 1:1-2; Deuteronomy 32:9-12
Life in the New Heavens and Earth
In the new heavens and earth, God’s purposes for creation will be fulfilled, and our deepest longings and desires will be satisfied.
Revelation 21:1-4
The New Heavens and the New Earth – Part 2
The new heavens and new earth will exhibit both continuity and discontinuity with the present heavens and earth.
2 Peter 3:10; Matthew 19:28
The New Heavens and the New Earth Part1
The new heavens and the new earth are our eternal home, and those who love and serve God will experience the removal of the curse and the consummation of God’s original purposes for mankind.
Revelation 21:1-8
The Resurrection of the Body – Part 2
At the resurrection, our present bodies will be raised and transformed to be like Christ’s resurrected and glorified body, exhibiting both continuity and discontinuity with our present body.
1 Corinthians 15:35-44