Bible Study for June 24: Why did Jesus come?

Posted

John Yarbrough, TMU director of Alumni Affairs and Public Policy

Luke 1:68-79

We know that SIN has separated us from God. When SIN entered the world through Adam and Eve the fellowship that they enjoyed with God was broken. God’s love was not broken, but the fellowship with God was broken.

As a matter of fact, it is God’s love for us that has provided the way to repair the breach in our fellowship that SIN has broken. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) 

There is nothing that we can do ourselves to repair the broken. Our goodness will never meet God’s standards of righteousness. None of us are righteous enough to fix the problem. We are all sinners by nature and by choice. Our worst problem is that our human condition has a genetic origin. We inherit our sin nature as descendants of Adam.

Man has sought to repair our SIN issue since that first SIN in the garden. Religion, philosophies, works, knowledge, technology, sacrifice, and isolation have all been proven inadequate. Man’s attempts are insufficient to meet the requirements of our omniscient, holy, loving, God.

Today we hear numerous individuals say that there are many paths that lead to God. However, all of those paths have proven to be dead ends. There is only one path that leads to God and His name is Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). He is the ONLY WAY to repair the damage SIN has caused in our relationship with God. Sincere, good people may attempt to follow other roads in their attempt to relate to God, but all of those efforts will not fix what SIN has broken. God’s love has proven to be the only way to address our SIN issue. 

Our study passage, Luke 1:68-79, is often called Zacharias’ Prophecy or song. Remember that Zacharias, a priest, did not come easily to believe Gabriel’s message concerning the answer to his prayers for a son. His wife would give birth to a son and they would call him John. Their son would be the forerunner for the Messiah. Because of his disbelief he was made mute until the birth of John (the Baptist) and then he makes the proclamation concerning the Messiah (Jesus). 

Zacharias proclaims three great provisions that Jesus Christ coming would provide for us.. The first is in verses 68-71. He would redeem us from defeat. We have victory in Jesus. He gives us victory over the enemies that we face that seek to destroy our peace, our joy and purpose. Can you name the enemies we face today? 

Second (verses 72-75), He redeems us from fear. Satan uses fear to keep us out of the battle. Jesus has defeated our ultimate enemies that cause us to fear.

When we were dating, my wife asked me one night, “Why are you so happy?”

My response was that if the worst thing that could happen to me is death and when I die I am going to spend eternity in heaven, what do I have to fear? Now, I know there are things worse than death for those of us who follow Christ, but when we know the big issue of death has been handled the rest of the stuff we face become a minor problem. Jesus defeated death for us. 

Thirdly (verses 76-79), He redeems us from SIN. The result of SIN is death (Romans 6:23). He paid the price of our SIN on the cross. His death on the cross. SIN has separated us from God. Jesus opened the door for us to have fellowship with God and enter a relationship with God as His children and to live with him forever.

In 1 Timothy 1:15 Paul gives us the purpose that Jesus came: “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” 

Romans 10:9-10 shows us how to appropriate what Jesus has provided for us to our own lives. It is as simple as A, B, C: 

A – Admit that our sin separates us from Holy God 

B – Believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again to pay for our sins 

C – Confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, repent (turning away) from our sin. 

forgiveness, gospel, grace, sin