Encounter Church
Wednesday Night SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY 07.29.26

      • Matthew 5.17-18NKJV

      • Matthew 5.19NKJV

      • Matthew 5.20NKJV

      • John 7.21-22NKJV

      • John 7.23NKJV

      • Genesis 2.1-2NKJV

      • Genesis 1.27NKJV

      • Genesis 2.17NKJV

      • Genesis 3.3NKJV

      • Genesis 3.4NKJV

  • Perfect. This is exactly how I would build it if I were writing a theology textbook. We're going to create something that feels like a combination of Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, John Frame, Michael Horton's Pilgrim Theology, and a modern discipleship workbook—written for Encounter Church.

    CHRISTOLOGY

    The Work of Christ

    "Justice Demanded. Mercy Provided. Love Satisfied."

    LESSON OBJECTIVES

    After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
    □ Explain why Jesus is not merely a martyr.
    □ Explain Active Obedience.
    □ Explain Passive Obedience.
    □ Explain why Christ had to obey before He could die.
    □ Explain substitutionary atonement.
    □ Explain redemption.
    □ Explain propitiation.
    □ Explain reconciliation.
    □ Explain the significance of Tetelestai.
    □ Explain why the resurrection is essential.
    □ Answer the accusation of "divine child abuse."
    □ Explain why justice and mercy meet at the cross.

    MEMORY VERSE

    Romans 3:26 NKJV
    26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
    "...so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

    BIG IDEA

    The cross is not where God's justice was suspended—it is where God's justice was completely satisfied and His mercy was gloriously displayed.

    OPENING QUESTION

    Imagine standing in court.
    Every sin you've ever committed is read aloud.
    Every motive.
    Every lie.
    Every hidden thought.
    Every selfish action.
    The Judge is perfectly holy.
    The evidence is overwhelming.
    You are guilty.
    Then something unimaginable happens.
    The Judge leaves His bench…
    walks to your side…
    and pays your sentence Himself.
    That is the gospel.

    I. JESUS IS NOT A MARTYR

    Common Misconception

    Many people—even Christians—describe Jesus as a martyr.
    That language is understandable but ultimately insufficient.

    A martyr

    dies
    because evil people kill him.

    Jesus

    died
    because He willingly offered Himself.
    Those are radically different.

    Scripture

    John 10:17–18
    "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord."
    Notice the verbs.
    Jesus
    laid it down.
    No one
    took it.

    Why This Matters

    If Jesus were only a martyr,
    then
    evil won.
    If Jesus is the willing substitute,
    then
    God's eternal plan succeeded.
    Acts 2:23 says Jesus was "delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God," while also holding sinful people responsible. The cross is simultaneously the outworking of God's saving purpose and the result of genuine human wickedness.
    Acts 2:23 NKJV
    23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

    Digging Deeper

    Read:
    Acts 2:22–24 ESV
    22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
    Isaiah 53 ESV
    1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
    John 18
    Hebrews 9

    Discussion

    Why is voluntary sacrifice greater than unwilling victimhood?
    How would the gospel change if Jesus had no authority over His own life?

    WORD STUDY

    Greek

    παραδίδωμι

    (paradidōmi)
    "to hand over"
    Jesus is handed over
    by Judas
    by Pilate
    by sinful men
    and ultimately
    He hands Himself over.
    This highlights both human responsibility and Christ's willing self-offering.

    Leader Note

    Ask:
    Could anyone have crucified Jesus if He had chosen not to allow it?
    Discuss John 10:17–18 together.
    John 10:17–18 ESV
    17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

    II. THE COURTROOM OF THE GOSPEL

    One of the richest biblical pictures of salvation is the courtroom.
    Imagine entering the courtroom of the holy God.
    The Judge is perfectly righteous.
    The Law is flawless.
    The evidence is complete.
    The sentence is death.
    Romans 6:23 declares, "The wages of sin is death."
    Romans 6:23 NKJV
    23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    This courtroom is not unjust or arbitrary. The verdict is based on truth.
    Then the Judge does the unexpected.
    He does not dismiss justice. He satisfies it Himself.
    The Judge steps down from the bench, takes the place of the guilty, bears the sentence, pays the debt, and returns to declare the believer righteous.
    Romans 3:25–26 teaches that God presented Christ as the atoning sacrifice "to demonstrate His righteousness," so that He might be both just and the justifier. Mercy is not granted by ignoring justice; mercy is granted because justice has been fulfilled in Christ.
    Romans 3:25–26 NKJV
    25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

    Reflection Questions

    Why is justice necessary for mercy to have meaning?
    Would a judge who ignored every crime truly be loving?
    How does this courtroom picture deepen your appreciation of the cross?
    How does justification differ from merely being "let off the hook"?

      • 2 Corinthians 5:1-3ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:4-5ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:6-9ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:10-11ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:12-13ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:14-15ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:16-17ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:18-19ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:20-21ESV

      • Isaiah 53:1-2ESV

      • Isaiah 53:3-4ESV

      • Isaiah 53:5-6ESV

      • Isaiah 53:7ESV

      • Isaiah 53:8-9ESV

      • Isaiah 53:10ESV

      • Isaiah 53:11ESV

      • Isaiah 53:12ESV

      • John 10:17-19ESV

      • John 10:20-21ESV

      • Acts 2:22-23ESV

      • Acts 2:24-26ESV

      • Acts 2:27-29ESV

      • Acts 2:30ESV

      • Romans 3:26ESV

      • Acts 2:23ESV

      • Acts 2:22–24ESV

      • Isaiah 53ESV

      • John 10:17–18ESV

      • Romans 6:23ESV

      • Romans 3:25–26ESV

Encounter Church
http://www.encounter360.org
5 members • 9 followers