The objective of this series of lessons is to increase or to deepen an understanding of the essential roles of Jesus Christ in making our relationship with God possible. The objective of this first lesson is to challenge teachers and students to realize that Jesus' roles are essential for humans to have relationship with God.
In the language of the late twentieth and twenty first century, essential "links" between important, independent bodies of information is made by successfully "interfacing" these bodies of information. This "interfacing" allows these important, independent bodies of information to constructively share rather than destructively conflict. After reading those two statements but before you say "what?????", let your focus be placed on some simple problems and needs. These problems and needs are not new. They always have existed. The situation is much simpler than it sounds.
If the students are under forty years of age, the first paragraph should readily communicate a recognized reality in today's world. In twenty-first century America, many jobs (including running registers at fast food services!) require a basic knowledge of computers and awareness of interfacing. Even grocery stores inventory their supplies and place orders through computer technologies that allow interfacing. If your students are beyond forty years of age, some will and some will not understand interfacing. If you have a mix of ages among your students, let them explain to each other what interfacing is and why it is important.
As an illustration, consider some examples of "bodies of information" that traditionally compete in atmospheres of conflict. As you consider the illustrations, ask this question: must separate bodies of knowledge confront each other? For example: must the military and civil government confront each other? [In many nations a strong military and a strong civil government cannot co-exist.] Must college educations and vocational skills confront each other? [The "gown and town" conflict is visible in many university communities.] Must science and God confront each other? [The conflict between science and religion is legendary.] Must the Old and New Testaments confront each other? [Many Bible students conclude the Old and New Testaments are at war.] Must the nation of the Old Testament and the church of the New Testament confront each other? [Many Bible students conclude the nation of Israel God created and the Christianity God created are "natural enemies."]
The point in each of the illustrations is the same. Adversarial perspectives with their bodies of information possess essential knowledge needed by everyone. The highest good is achieved when all bodies share correct information with each other rather than fight each other. God's purposes are served through sharing information that is correct, not through isolation that attacks information that is correct.
Or ... can each of these bodies of information learn from the other? Does each represent the "whole" of all knowledge, or is each only a part of the "whole"? If each is only a part of the "whole," it has something useful to share. "The whole" is blessed and benefited if each shares with the others. A sharing of healthy knowledge results in increased understanding. Increased understanding results in surrendering to God's full purposes.
The objective is to learn all forms of correct information so that we have and function on the best possible understandings. God's objectives are not achieved through ignorance. God's purposes are served through understanding.
The ability to share correct information between bodies of knowledge depends on those bodies of knowledge establishing a "healthy connection." With a "healthy connection" sound information can flow between them. Rather than being in conflict with each other, they benefit each other as they both move closer to a better understanding.
Bodies of information that differ in perspective (remember the examples in paragraph two) must be able to form a "connection" with each other if they are to be able to share. If they are afraid of each other, or if they do not trust each other, or if they are incapable of understanding each other, or if they are hostile toward each other, they cannot share.
The greatest of all confrontations exists between the pure, holy God and impure, unholy people. God is the ultimate form of good. There is no evil in Him. People are slaves to the ultimate form of evil, Satan. There is no good in him. While God seeks and produces only good, Satan seeks and produces only evil. God functions in light and offers the openness of understanding. Satan functions in darkness and offers the deception of manipulation.
The greatest difference producing the greatest chasm that exists is between God and people. God and people have nothing in common. Evil destroyed the common bond that linked God and people. God is absolute purity, absolute holiness. He is the exact opposite of evil and has absolutely nothing in common with evil. People are impure and unholy. People associate with evil to the extent that even the best people regard some forms of evil to be good.
There was a time when people belonged exclusively to God's goodness. Then there came a time when people belonged exclusively to Satan's evil. From the moment people shifted allegiance from God's goodness to Satan's evil, God maintained His determination to provide people an opportunity to return to Him.
Before Adam and Eve rebelled against God, they belonged exclusively to God. They were holy people who associated with the holy God. In their state of purity, they had never experienced evil, never rebelled. They were deceived to the point of rebellion against God because they were enticed to think that knowing evil was a virtue. As holy people, fear, guilt, shame, and blame were unknown. As rebellious people, fear, guilt, shame, and blame quickly became a part of human reality. Once they were Satan's slaves, they immediately had a new appreciation of God's holiness. However, it was not in their choice or power to "undo" what they did in their rebellion against God. No matter how much they wanted to return to their previous holy condition, returning was not an option.
That could happen only if people enslaved to evil could again "connect" with God, understand His goodness, and choose the unselfishness of a righteous existence over the selfishness of an evil existence. But how could that happen? How could the pure, holy God reestablish a connection between Himself and impure, unholy people? How could a God of no evil reveal Himself to a people controlled by evil? How could a God with no impurities "connect" in a sound, healthy way with people who are full impurities? The chasm between the holy God and unholy people was and is enormous! How can a connection be produced between two realities that exist in total separation?
The key issue: how could a God of holiness Who was completely devoid of evil restore an open relationship with unholy people who were of themselves incapable of being devoid of evil? How can He Who is holy be connected to those who, of themselves, are incapable of being holy?
Unholy, impure people of themselves could not produce a viable connection between themselves and the living God of absolute purity. God produced the connection. God gave a gift to evil people. In God's gift is the viable connection His holy self and unholy people. Through God's gift people can choose to come to God. Through God's gift God can express His love for people in ways that bridge the chasm. The holy God and unholy people have an enduring link that connects them through God's gift. God's gift was Jesus the Christ.
The solution must proceed from God because unholy people were incapable of producing an enduring solution. The solution could not be deserved (that was an impossibility). It could not be earned (that was an impossibility). It had to be a gift, a gift God offered people (a gift from God was possible). Through this gift, people had the option of returning to God. Jesus Christ is the gift God gave us.
In many ways the situation never changed. God's presence still resides in His temple. Only the nature of the temple changed. A high priest still represents people to God. Only the identity of the high priest has changed. People who choose to belong to God still offer sacrifices. Only the nature of the sacrifices have changed. The inner sanctuary of God still remains. Only the location of that sanctuary has changed. Unholy people who trust God's gift still come into His presence. Only the nature of the gift has changed.
A temple, a high priest, sacrifices, and a holy of holy's exist in the Christianity of the New Testament.
This study will focus on why Jesus Christ is the essential link between God and people.
This quarter will focus on the roles Jesus Christ fills. Because he fills these roles, we can have relationship with God.
Read the following scriptures and discuss the questions:
1 Corinthians 3:16, 17
Christians should know that they are God's temple.
God's Spirit dwells in God's temple.
Anyone who causes destruction to God's temple will be destroyed by God.
1 Peter 2:5
They are living stones.
They are built into a spiritual house.
They are to house a holy priesthood.
This holy priesthood is to offer spiritual sacrifices.
They must come to God through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus the Son of God is our high priest.
Though he was tempted with all forms of temptation that humans experience, he committed no sin.
They should come to the throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and find help when they are in need.
Hebrews 8:1-3
In Jesus, Christians have the ideal high priest.
He ministers in the heavenly sanctuary in God's immediate presence in the heavenly tabernacle.
The Lord did.
He must offer gifts and sacrifices.
Hebrews 9:11-14
Jesus Christ serves in the tabernacle found in heaven, in God's presence.
He took his own blood there. It is superior because it can cleanse the human conscience.
Hebrews 13:15
They can offer a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips.
The attitude that serves as a foundation for the praise is the attitude of gratitude which gives thanks to God.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 1