GOSPEL – PART 3 Video: CLEAN SLATE
The face of forgiveness…
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.
(Psalm 136:1, NIV)
Who wrote this Psalm of praise to the Lord? (David, the shepherd boy who became second king of Israel…)
How did the psalmist learn the Lord’s love endures forever? (because of his awfulsins which were forgiven…)
An angelof the Lord appeared to him in a dreamand said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfillwhat the Lord had said through the prophet:“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:20b-23, NIV)
What was the shocking news Joseph learned from an angel? (the virgin, he was engaged to, was pregnant…)
How did the Lord explain Mary’s pregnancy? (the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit…)
If the Holy Spirit was the real Father of Jesus, what does that mean? (theChild is the Son of God…)
If the child’s name was to be “Jesus,” what does mean for Him? (the Child is the “Savior,” saving us from sin…)
If the child’s name was to be “Immanuel,” what does that say about Him? (He is not only “a son” of God but is
the“one and only Son of God andfullyGod with us…”)
Can I at least begin to see, if not fully see, the “face of divine forgiveness” in the infant Jesus? Discuss
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there. . . Jesus said,“Father,forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. . . Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”
When he had said this, He breathed His last. . . When the centurion and those with him who were guardingJesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed,
“Surely he was the Son of God!” (Luke 23:33, 34, 46; Matthew 27:54, NIV)
What all happened for the Roman centurion and his guards to confess Jesus as Son of God? (thecourageous
wayJesus died, the earthquake and the sun’s three hour eclipse in the middle of the day…)
Can I hear the “voice of forgiveness for myself” in Jesus’ last two prayers from the cross? Talk about it.
For God so lovedthe world that he gavehis one and only Son,that whoever believesin him shall not perish but have eternal life.For God did not send his Son into the worldto condemn the world, but to save the world through him.Whoever believes in him is not condemned,but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18, NIV)
What is so unbelievable about God’s giving His one and only Son? Discuss this great Gift. (the greatest loss and
grief in all the world comes over the death of one’s own child…)
Why does everybody need the death of Jesus? (everyone is guilty of sin and deserves the death penalty, but
Jesus paid for our penalty execution…)
Was the death of Jesus only for a few pre-selected people some partial God chose and predestined them to be
His children? (the gift of Jesus is for “whoever”believes in the name of God’s one and only Son…)
Discuss 2 Peter 3:9 if you have time.
What is the “one thin line” between knowing I have eternal life or eternal condemnation? (believe in Jesus,
the name of God’s one and only Son…)
How does Jesus make possible my getting a “clean slate, new day, new life,” never having to look back? Discuss.
The LORD is calling you…
…to come to Him to know Jesus as Immanuel, “God with you,” God’s one any only Son, your Lord and Savior
…to come to Him to see in Jesus “the face of forgiveness” and receive a “clean slate,” new beginning and new day
…to come to Him to accept pardon from eternal condemnation and receive the gift of eternal life
What is YOUR response?