Unit .19
Session .01 Jesus is the Last Adam
Scripture Luke 3:23,38; Romans 5:12-21
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, but the free gift following many trespasses brought the son of Heli, … 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, the son of Adam, the son of God. … 12 Therefore, just death reigned through that one man, much more will as sin came into the world through one man, and death those who receive the abundance of grace and the through sin, and so death spread to all men because all free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one sinned—13 for sin indeed was in the world before the man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even leads to justification and life for all men.19 For as by over those whose sinning was not like the transgression the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the died through one man’s trespass, much more have the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the through Jesus Christ our Lord.
UNIT 19 | SESSION 1 | 7 His Story
Why do you think we have a tendency to think this way about sin?
If you were in Adam’s shoes, do you think you would have chosen differently? Why or why not?
99 Essential Doctrines
Imputation
When God pardoned sinners at the cross, our sins were imputed or transferred to Christ, who became sin on our behalf. Our sin was imputed to Christ, and Christ’s righteousness was imputed to us (Rom. 5:17; 1 Cor. 1:30). When God the Father looks at those who have trusted in Christ, He does not see their sins but the righteousness of Christ as belonging to them (Rom. 4:6).
THE GOSPEL PROJECT FOR STUDENTS | 8 Main Point The Son of God came to bring those spiritually dead to life.
Share a time you experienced or witnessed injustice. How did that lack of justice make you feel?
Why would it be wrong of God to not respond appropriately to sin (injustice)?
Imputation
When God pardoned sinners at the cross, Why can’t one have sanctification without justification? Why are both our sins were imputed or transferred to important when thinking about our salvation in Christ? Christ, who became sin on our behalf. Our sin was imputed to Christ, and Christ’s righteousness was imputed to us (Rom. 5:17; 1 Cor. 1:30). When God the Father looks at those who have trusted in Christ, He does not see their sins but the righteousness of Christ as belonging to them (Rom. 4:6).
UNIT 19 | SESSION 1 | 9 His Story
How would you feel if you were forced to take on someone else’s guilt?
Do you truly believe that you have been made righteous before God, through Christ? Or are you still trying to prove yourself good enough for God?
Christ Connection
The first Adam’s transgression brought sin, death, and condemnation upon the world. Jesus is the last Adam, the long-promised offspring who overcame Adam’s transgression through His life of perfect obedience and His payment for sin on the cross. Through Jesus we have life and are declared righteous before God.
THE GOSPEL PROJECT FOR STUDENTS | 10 Our Mission
Head
How might you explain the good news of salvation to someone interested in learning what Christianity teaches?
How would you explain the similarities and differences between justification and sanctification?
Heart
Using Romans 5, how would you describe the problem of humanity to someone?
How would you describe to that same person the promise of hope that also exists for those who trust in Jesus?
Hands
Why do you think people tend to keep their beliefs about God and Jesus private? Why does it go against Christianity to keep our beliefs private?
What are some ways you can intentionally reflect the righteousness of Christ in your attitudes and actions this week to those who don’t know Him?
UNIT 19 | SESSION 1 | 11 Day 1 Daily Devotions Genesis 3:17-19
Sin is continually crouching at our door (Gen. 4:7), waiting for just the right time to whisper lies. The evil one does not want us to succeed at obeying God. Satan wants us to doubt and fear and take matters into our own hands by getting us to doubt the wisdom and goodness of God. The serpent distorts truth and weasels his way into our lives looking for an opportunity to spin his web of deception.
Both Adam and Eve got tangled in this web. They listened to the evil one’s whispers instead of The 7 Arrows of the echoes of God’s earlier command (2:16-17). Bible Reading With this disobedience came grave consequences. Though Christ would eventually come to make right what Adam wronged, the ramifications of the fall are still evident.
What does this As we await God’s final restoration of all things, passage say? let us be on guard against the serpent’s attempts to undermine our trust in the goodness of God. What did this What does this passage mean to its passage tell us original audience? about God? In what area of your life are you struggling to trust God? How can you better defend against Satan’s attacks What does this passage Tell us against your view of God’s goodness? about man?
What does How does this passage this passage change the way I demand of me? relate to people?
How does this passage prompt me to pray?
THE GOSPEL PROJECT FOR STUDENTS | 12 Day 2 Day 3 Luke Romans 3:23-38 5:12-15
I doubt you have these verses framed and hung on Have you ever noticed finger prints on the television your wall. Genealogies are typically not what you screen, computer, or windows throughout the would call a crowd favorite. They are repetitive, house? If you have smaller siblings, chances are many of the names are hard to pronounce, and you have first-hand experience of the way little kids (quite honestly) reading them can seem pointless. like to touch everything in the house with their What does a list of old men have to do with all sticky little fingers. And of course, the problem is we’ve studied so far? exaggerated when little kids make a mess of what was otherwise a clean setting. Maybe mom just Yet, genealogies are part of God’s perfect Word to wiped down the table or cleaned all the smudges us. They usually serve to drive home a point and off the window only to have junior eat a chocolate are typically geared toward the original audience. bar and forget to clean his hands before touching For example, in the Book of Matthew (which the walls and windows. was written primarily to a Jewish audience to demonstrate that Jesus is indeed the Christ), the Our sin is somewhat similar. The gravity of our sin author uses ancestry to prove Jesus as a descendant stems back to who God is. A smudge against that of King David from whom the Messiah was which is already dirty appears not to be that big promised to come (Matt. 1:1-17). of a deal. But the same smudge of sin is infinitely offensive to our infinitely holy God. The Book of Luke, however, was written for a broader, universal audience. Luke links Jesus back to King David, but continues the line all the way back Do you see your sin as a small blemish? Do you tend to compare to Adam, thus portraying Jesus as the Messiah for all your sin to the standards of those of mankind, not just the Jews. Jesus is not only the around you or to the standard of our Son of David but also the Son of Adam, indeed the perfect God? Last Adam, who stands related to all humankind.
Who in your life needs to hear about the truth of who Jesus is?
UNIT 19 | SESSION 1 | 13 Day 4 Day 5 Romans Romans 5:16-17 5:18-21
You may have thought this week as we’ve studied, Sin can be defined as “missing the mark.” It is less “Man, Adam really messed it up for us all.” And than perfection. We also see another word in these you would be right to think this. Adam really did verses, “trespass,” which has more of a crossing-the- mess everything up and the consequences of his line connotation. We use the same idea with the offense have been rightly severe—not only for him word trespassing. If we cross over into someone but for you and me as well. However, before we go else’s property uninvited, that is trespassing. wagging our fingers at Adam, we need to realize The notion of trespassing indicates there is a line to that though we inherited the sin and guilt that be crossed. However, the problem is that many of us originated from Adam, we each have made plenty of feel as if we can live comfortably as close to the line our own mistakes. We’ve each individually sinned. as possible without stepping over. Instead of running We’ve each individually offended a holy God. We far away from the good and right boundaries God has each individually deserve the wrath of God. placed on our lives, we try to get away with as much If we’re honest, we can see that if given the chance, as we can without crossing the line. Yet the reality we would have ultimately messed up perfection of our hearts is that more likely than not, if we’ve as well. Thankfully, Christ has conquered the already taken so many steps toward the property of sin of Adam and replaced condemnation with sin, once we are there at the line, it will be incredibly justification. And now, grace reigns. hard to stop that forward progression.
How can you express praise and Do you intentionally flee from sin or thankfulness to God right now for His do you tend to creep up as close as rescuing you from condemnation and you can to it? Why? declaring you to be righteous in Christ?
THE GOSPEL PROJECT FOR STUDENTS | 14