Scripture: Luke 5:27-6:22, Believers are depicted as the waiting Bride of Christ. Jesus is to be the Bridegroom. This is all foreshadowed in the Lord's Supper. The old has given way to the new. Jesus is making all things new. An example of cloth and wine are given. In chapter 6, Jesus is criticized for working on the Sabbath. A fundamental part of this is that He is feeding sinners and healing. When we rest on the Sabbath, we honor God's creation. Jesus says He is our Sabbath rest.

Scripture: Romans 4:1-25; Hebrews 11:13, Abraham was justified before circumcision. He was a Christian. His faith was credited to him as righteousness. Sons of Abraham are by faith. Abraham died in faith, not having received the things promised --- Hebrews 11:13. Passive faith (only receiving) is contrasted with active faith (produces good works). Christ is our justification and our sanctification. Faith has two different ways of functioning (i.e. two sides of a coin) but is still one coin. Heavenly rewards are discussed in conclusion. The key element of faith is to believe that God was able to do what He had promised.

Scripture: Luke 5:17-35 John 20:19-23 Mark 2:1-12, Jesus heals a paralytic and calls Levi as a disciple. Jesus is going to base His ministry on something that appears foolish. "Put down your nets during the daylight!" It works because Jesus says so! When we put our reason under the Word, in service to it, we have it rightly ordered. Augustine said it this way, "Believe in order to understand". If Jesus remembers you, you never die. We are never forgotten, we are eternally present with Him. What a comfort!

Scripture: Romans 3:19-4:15; Romans 3:21; Matthew 6:16; Psalm 32:1-2, By the works of the Law, no human will be justified. God looks through the Law at man and only sees sin. We need a different way to be justified. Verse 3:21, the "hinge verse" defines this different way. Just as Abraham was declared righteous by God (4:3), we are declared righteous through Christ.

Scripture: Luke 4:31 - 5:16, Jesus casts out a demon in a man, demonstrating His authority and power. Jesus simply speaks and it is so. So much so that faith comes by hearing His spoken word. Jesus said "I must preach the good news..." (vs.4:43). His preaching is more important than his healing. Jesus calls His first disciples and preaches from a boat.

Scripture: Romans 3:10-18; Romans 3:19-26, Nothing is good within man. We are all bound in our flesh. Sin denies that God exists and gives the sinner a feeling of entitlement (i.e. "I deserve to be able to do this action"). Through the Law comes knowledge of sin. The incomplete sacrificial system from the O.T. was lacking because it had to be repeated. It was pointing to the Messiah as the perfect sacrifice. In Romans 3:21, the great pivot occurs, God pours out the blood of Jesus on the heavenly mercy seat. When someone is saved from God's judgment the Scriptures declare the reason is the Holy Spirit. In contrast where Scriptures talk about unbelief, the blame is laid on the person.

Scripture: Luke 4:14-30 Isaiah 61:1-2, Jesus preaches in the synagogue in Nazareth. In order to preach to the poor, Jesus Himself becomes poor. Jesus was sent to preach forgiveness to the captives of sin and to lead mankind from the eternal blindness of sin back into the light.

Scripture: Romans 2:1- 3:18, Chapters 1 and 2 clearly indicate that we all have sinned and are incapable of saving ourselves. People are only good in God's sight when they are justified by Christ through faith. Perfect righteousness is only obtained through Christ. None is righteous apart from Christ. Any good works we do is through Christ by faith. When we pass judgment on another, we condemn ourselves. God approves of us only because of Jesus.

Scripture: Luke 4: 1-15, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness where he fasts and gives up the protection of His heavenly Father. Jesus is tempted three times by Satan and responds to him with: "man shall not live by bread alone", "you must worship God", and "you shall not put the Lord God to the test".

Scripture: Romans 1:16-2:2; Romans 3:19-22, In this lesson we study what "the righteousness of God apart from the Law" means. The Gospel is the only tool we have against Satan, and we learn here how the cross of Christ can be our weapon in a world that is controlled by the power of death.