ANGLICAN CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION IBADAN

SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY

• TOPIC: GRACE OF GOD

• KEY TEXT: John 19: 1-37

A. WHAT IS GRACE?

At the end of a Christian gathering, activities or devotion, it is customary to share the Grace . Christians talk about it all the time, even the Bible closed with the “Grace” (Rev 22:21)

It is the kindness that God shows towards human race.

“Unmerited Favour”G-od’s R-iches A-t C-hrist’s E-xpenseIt is CHARIS (in Greek)

B. WHY DO WE NEED GRACE?

a) As a result of sinWhat is sinTransgression of the law, or going against the laws of God in thought, Word or deed.Origin of sinIsaiah 14:12-17, Ezekiel 28:11-19, Gen 1:1 & 1:2 (Pre-Adamite world)However, sin came on the human race through Adam & Eve.Consequences of sinGen 3:17-19 (Curse on Land and Man)Ez 18:4- “……the soul that sinneth, it shall die”Wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23)Man is doomed without Grace, “ for all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God” Romans 3:23

(b)Our righteousness is like a filthy rag Isaiah 64:6

(c)There is non righteous, no not one –Rom 3:10(d)Not by works, but by Grace –Eph 2:8-9(e) For whosoever shall keep the whole and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all-James 2:10

C IMPORTANCE OF GRACE

As a result of the fall of Adam, the entire human race was plunged into sin and condemnation and they need REDEMPTION.The word “Redemption” means to buy back or restore to the original state (“Restituo-in-integrum”) and this type of restitution, man cannot do by himself. He will need heavenly intervention.

Man had already lost dominion over all the earth to satan, but God revealed His redemption plan and how satan will be defeated in Gen 3:15

He also gave us a glimpse of His Grace in Num 21:8.God also showed His redemptive plan to the early Patriarchs. This can be deduced from what Jesus said in John 8:56, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad.” (we will treat this in detail later)

When you are out of GRACE, you are in for dis-GRACE

D ORIGIN OF GRACE

Before Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, God provided clothing for them from the skin of the animal (lamb) that was slain, in order to cover man’s nakedness (Gen 3:21)The animal that was slain typifies Jesus Christ, the lamb that was slain from the foundation of the World (Rev 13:8)No wonder John the Baptist said in Jn 1:29- “Behold the Lamb of God, which beareth or taketh away the sin of the World.”

What happened in Gen 3:21 is a shadow of God’s plan in the “New Testament” age.

“For God so love the World that He gave His ONLY begotten son……….” John 3:16

E WHO IS THE GRACE OF GOD ?

2 Cor 12:9Titus 2:11-14

F WHAT WAS THE MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST IN HIS FIRST ADVENT?

Isaiah 61:1Luke 4:17-21Was he able to accomplish this mission?

G. SOURCES OR SPOTS OF GRACE

In John 1:17 we find “for the law was given by Moses, but Grace and truth came by Jesus.” Law as represented by Moses, cannot lead God’s people into their inheritance(promised Land) Only Christ (fullness of God’s Grace) in resurrection pictured by Joshua, can do it.(Joshua or Yeshua in Hebrew word for Jesus or iesous-Greek)There are five (5) major spots from which our Lord Jesus shed His blood. He bled through His back, His head, His hands, His feet and His Side (These are “Spots” of Grace.)

In numerology (the study of numbers), just as seven (7) stands for completeness and Perfection, so also is Five (5) the figure for Grace and Victory.God was trying to convey a special message by each spot from which Jesus bled.Let us consider these spots by taking a look at the crucifixion of Jesus in John 19:1-37. Brethren behold the “Mystery of the cross” !

1. HIS BACK

In John 19:1, we have, “Then Pilate took Jesus, and scourge Him”Why and where was He scourged?to fulfill the Scripture? Isa 50:6, 53:4-5 Peter said in I Peter 2:24, “……………An by His stripes we are healed.”

2. HIS HEAD

let us digress a bit by drawing a comparison between Isaac and Jesus.Only beloved Son (Gen 22:2 VS Jn 3:16)Isaac claved the wood for the sacrificial offering on his head (Gen 22:3), just like Jesus carried his wooden crossThey journeyed for three days to Mt Moriah (Gen 22:14). Jesus spent three days in Hade or SheolThe Ram substituted for Isaac caught in a thicket by his horns i.e wore a crown of thorns (Gen 22:13), like the crown of thorn worn by JesusIn John 19:2 we find “and the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head….”

Beloved when a blessing lands on someone, it falls on his head same with a curse. When Adam sinned, God put a curse on him and Land. Gen 3:17-18 Jesus (the last Adam) took upon His head the symbol of Man and Land’s curse, which is the “thorn” and shed His blood as the thorn pierced His head . He allowed the curse to fall upon himself in order to cancel any curse in our lives forever (Gal 3:13)Before we move on, I would not like us to overlook two bible passages:

(i)Gen22:7-8- Isaac asked, “where is the Lamb for sacrifice?” His father answered, “God will provide himself a Lamb”Why was a Ram provided instead of a Lamb?

(ii)In John 8:56, Jesus said “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day and he saw it, and was glad.”When did Abraham see Jesus’ day?From all these, cant you “see” Jesus in Isaac?

3 HIS HANDS

Why was blood shed through HIS hands?Hand is the symbol of Economic power.Hands are used to work and gather wealth.No wonder the bible always talk of “the work of your hands” or “that which you set your hands upon to do” “Deut 28:8, 12

Man lost dominion of the earth, work of Man’s hand was cursed, poverty replaced abundance and man began to live a life of struggle as a result of the fall.

Gen 3:19, “…in the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread….”Whereas, before the fall, Man was living in God’s abundance in the garden of Eden(“Eden” means Abundance, Pleasure, Paradise, e.t.c.). By shedding that precious Blood through His Hands, Jesus released the covenant blessing of wealth upon Man’s hand (again) Jn 10:10

4 HIS FEETAt Golgotha, Jesus the seed of the Woman allowed His feet to be bruised, in order to fulfill the Scripture. Gen 3:15Now Satan has been put under our feet forever Rom 16:20Jesus said in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give unto you Power to tread on Serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”This is an assurance of victory for us over satan as a result of the Blood Jesus shed from His feet.

Jesus smashed the head of Satan on the Cross, spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly and restored our dominion (Col 2:15, Heb 2:14-15)We are now more than conquerors through Him that loved us. (Rom 8:37)

5. HIS SIDE

What are the things that happened before HIS side was opened?Luke 23:39-43: The thieves reviled Him. One of them repented and Jesus said to him “…..today you will be with me in Paradise.”Was the thief in Paradise with Jesus (that same day) as promised?Was the thief once a believer, who backslided? You can see from Luke 23:40-43 that the repentant thief knew, believed, and had faith in Jesus. He even acknowledged HIM as Lord (This is “gospel within Gospel”)

In Matt 27:45, we were told that darkness fell upon the earth from the 6th hour to 9th hour i.e 12:00 noon to 3:00pm

Why the darkness? see Hebrew 1:3, Amos 8:9 -God’s judgement against evil occurred at Jesus death

In Matt 27:46, Jesus cried with a loud voice Saying “Eli, Eli lama Sabach thani?” meaning “My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken me?

This is in fullfilment of Psm 22:1, Isaiah 54:7-8Why was Jesus forsaken? Apart from the reason of

fulfillment of scriptures mentioned above, the answer will be found in Psm 22:3 and Rom 6:23.

In Jn 19:28-29-Jesus said, “I thirst ……..and they filled a sponge with vinegar……and put it in His mouth”

After He had received the vinegar, then came the Victorious cry “TETELESTHI” which means, I have paid in full, the work of redemption is over or “It is finished” John 19:30

And He said, “Father into Thy hands I commend My Spirit” After which he gave up the ghost.

The earthquake and the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to bottom Matt 27:51 (It means we now have freedom and in Jesus, all now have access to God.)

The graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose (Matt 27:52)and came out of the graves after His resurrection and went to the Holy City(Matt 27:53).

These were the old saints and Patriarchs who were in bondage of satan and have been looking forward to this day for deliverance (Psm 24:7-10, 107:15-16, Isaiah 26:19, 61:1, and Luke 4:18-22)Events in Matt 27:52-53 happened after the Resurrection of Jesus, not before.John 19:32-33,36 A bone of Him was not broken, this is in fulfillment of Exodus 12:46, Psm 34:20 (Jesus the Passover Lamb)

We have now arrived at the fifth (5th) major spot from which Jesus shed His blood.In John 19:34, we find “……….but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water”

This is in fulfillment of the scripture which says “they shall look unto Him which they pierced” Zech 12:10.The Douay version of the Catholic Bible commentary says that the two liquids that came out of the side of Jesus Christ when he was pierced symbolized Baptism and Holy Communion (Eucharist).

When His side was opened, a fountain was opened, blood and water gushed out.In Zech 13:1, we are told that “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and Uncleanness”

That is “GOD FOUNTAIN OF GRACE” opened at Jesus’ side. “And the Spirit and the Bride say come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life “…Rev 22:17In order to drink from this Fountain of Grace, you must live a sinless and holy life.

H. CONCLUSION

For you to continually enjoy His Grace, you must humble yourself, because Prov 3:34(c) says “…but He giveth Grace unto the lowly”.You must also let Him know that without Him you can do nothing (John 15:5b).

On recognition of your insufficiency, you must approach the Throne of Grace with humility to receive help.Paul said in Heb 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need”

Brethren let us rise as we take the first three (3) stanzas of the Hymn composed by Charlotte Elliot “ Just as I am, without One plea”.