EPHESIANS 1.5-6
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3.21-26
The symbol of Christianity is a Roman torture device. We can try to explain away many of the difficulties and sharp edges of God, but we will always come back to the violent death of Jesus Christ on the cross as the centerpiece of our faith. Even more disturbing: God designed it this way. If God was willing to go through all of this than it must have been because there was something accomplished there that could not be done in any other way. There was a truth so powerful and important that Jesus was willing to put Himself to shame and extreme pain in order to secure it. But what? What could be so immense? What happened at the cross?
1. What part of the text or sermon had the greatest impact on you? Where were you most encouraged? Most intrigued? Most challenged?
2. What does the Bible describe as the fitting punishment of sin (Romans 6:23)?
3. How does God reveal Himself in the process of regeneration?
4. How does this give us confidence that we belong to God?
5. What do we lose when we give up the doctrine of the atonement (Imputation, Propitiation, and Identification)?
6. What did Jesus accomplish at the cross?