Conversion & Calling, Student Workbook, SW01

7 6 /

C O N V E R S I O N A N D C A L L I N G

I. The Gospel of Jesus Christ Is the Word that Converts.

Video Segment 1 Outline

A. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God to salvation for both Jew and Greek, is a word regarding Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.

1. Before the Cross , the word of salvation came in the form of expectation , the hope of the Messiah’s work, symbolized by the blood of animals sacrificed.

a. The notion of “atonement” in the Old Testament deals with the concept of passing over, of sins “atoned for.” The sacrificial system looked forward to the day when God’s true Lamb would settle all accounts concerning sin and righteousness with God.

b. Atonement can be understood through two critical passages in the New Testament. (1) Rom. 3.25 - “in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” (2) Acts 17.30 - “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”

3

c. In this era, Jesus of Nazareth has now become our Passover, the One whose blood sacrifice on the cross atoned for our sins. Literally, in his death our sins are “passed over,” 1 Cor. 5.7-8.

2. After the Cross , the Word that converts is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

a. Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (i.e., through his sacrifice on the Cross), John 1.29.