Pickup up from last week in 2 Corinthians 7, Paul explains that one way we can avoid receiving the grace of God in vain is to cultivate an attitude of godly grief, which leads to repentance and reconciliation. This is contrasted with a worldly grief which leads to death.

Question

What else does Christ’s death redeem?

Answer

Christ’s death is the beginning of the redemption and renewal of every part of fallen creation, as he powerfully directs all things for his own glory and creation’s good.

After several weeks of contemplating the glorious gospel of Jesus, this week we see Paul explain what the response to the grace of God should be. We cover being a new creation in Christ, our ministry of reconciliation, and Paul's example of and exhortation to not receiving the grace of God in vain.

Question

Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?

Answer

Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.

Picking up the theme of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ in Second Corinthians 4 and 5, this week we look at what Paul says about God's grace in suffering for the gospel and what motivates us to endure such suffering.

Question

Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die?

Answer

Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. By his substitutionary atoning death, he alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and everlasting life.

We continue our study of Second Corinthians this week, exploring how salvation is of the Lord, how the law relates to the gospel, how God overcomes Satan in conversion, and how these demonstrate the glorious nature of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Question

Why must the Redeemer be truly God?

Answer

That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.

Continuing in Second Corinthians, we look at the Grace of God in Ministry. We have a message of grace that we need to believe and proclaim. Who is adequate to the task? But thanks be to God that Christ is our competence and our confidence. Finally, we briefly overview how we can experience the grace of God through the ordinary means of grace: The preaching and reading of the Word of God, prayer, and the sacraments (baptism and communion).

Question

Why must the Redeemer be truly human?

Answer

That in human nature he might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin; and also that he might sympathize with our weaknesses.