JESUS- The Gospel and the Path to Salvation

Facilitator: Min. Sonnie Robinson

The Family Baptist Church

MASTER CLASS SERIES

SESSION #1:

JESUS – The Man, His Ministry, His Teachings

In this session, we explored the dual genealogy of Jesus: His natural lineage as the son of Mary and His divine nature as the Son of God. It traced key milestones in His early life, such as His baptism by John the Baptist and His 40-day testing in the wilderness. Jesus emerged victorious over Satan’s temptations, establishing His reliance on God’s Word as a source of strength.

Beginning His Ministry: When Jesus came of age, was baptized, and was preparing to start his ministry, Satan tempted him in the wilderness.  After this temptation (the testing of Jesu’s strengths and weaknesses) Jesus rejected Satan’s temptations with the Word of God and immediately began his public ministry in Galilee, where He called his first disciples (Peter, Andrew James, and John).

Teachings from the Sermon on the Mount:  In Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount message, He emphasized living according to God’s will, rather than mere outward adherence to rituals, and in The Beatitudes, Jesus offers promises of blessings for the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the righteous and encouraged those who strive to live by God’s will.

Matthew recounts the major teachings of Jesus to His Disciples in Chapters 5–7:

• Salt and Light: Followers as preservers and beacons in the world.
• Prayer and Fasting: Approaching God with sincerity.
• Laying Up Treasures: Valuing eternal rewards over earthly riches.
• The Golden Rule and Judging Others: Living in alignment with God’s principles.
• Building a Solid Foundation: Emphasizing faith in Christ as the cornerstone of life.

Jesus’ Authority:  Jesus’ authority to teach was now established because He spoke with authority unlike the religious leaders of the time, who often cited rabbis to validate their words.  Jesus, as the Son of God, had inherent authority; His teachings came with a unique power, reflecting His divine authority and wisdom. He spoke as the original Word (John 1:1), needing no external validation (Matthew 7:28-29). 

SESSION #2: God’s Plan of Salvation & What Jesus Taught About Salvation

2-A: GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION – In this session, we delved into God’s eternal plan to redeem humanity, bridging the separation caused by sin and restoring harmony between Himself and His creation. 

God’s Desire for Fellowship:  From the beginning, God wanted us to live in harmony with Him, but sin disrupted this relationship.  Despite the fall, God’s love remained steadfast, and He crafted a redemptive plan centered on Jesus Christ.

Jesus as the Fulfillment:  Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are the cornerstone of God’s plan.  By accepting Jesus through faith and repentance believers receive forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit empowers them to live according to God’s purpose.  It is only through Jesus that God’s path to redemption becomes possible, offering everyone the chance for a renewed life with Him.

Salvation’s Promises:  Salvation not only promises a restored relationship with God, but also eternal life, beginning now and lasting forever. 

2-B: WHAT JESUS TAUGHT ABOUT SALVATION – The foundation of Salvation is Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection (Matt 16:21). Through His death, Jesus paid the penalty for human sin (past, present, and future), and by His resurrection He defeated death, making eternal life possible for all who believe (John 11:25-26). His sacrifice is seen as the ultimate act of love and the cornerstone of salvation. 

Jesus is the ONLY way to God! “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  Jesus positions Himself as the only way to reconciliation with God, making faith in Him indispensable. His role as the bridge between God and humanity is central to the Christian understanding of salvation.

Repentance and Faith:  Salvation requires a sincere turning away from sin and wholehearted trust in Jesus.

The Kingdom of God:  Salvation brings the values of the Kingdom—love, peace, and justice—into daily life (Matt 1:15).  It’s not just about the afterlife but also about living under God’s rule, in the present.

New Birth: Salvation is a spiritual rebirth, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus: “You must be born again” (John 3:3). This renewal, brought by the Holy Spirit, aligns believers with God’s will.

The Cost of Discipleship: Following Jesus involves self-denial, commitment to His teachings, and living out His example (Luke 9:23).

SESSION #3: The Elements of Salvation

In this session, we explored the components of God’s plan for salvation, emphasizing grace, repentance, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, which can only be obtained through FAITH.

A WORD ABOUT FAITH! 

Faith does not originate from human effort; it is a response to God’s grace, and the channel through which salvation is received, and requires trust in Christ’s completed work. Faith is not only a gift (Philippians 1:29) it is also a responsibility (John 3:18) since believers are called to actively place their trust in Christ and live out their faith.

Grace:

• Salvation begins with God’s grace, a gift that cannot be earned (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is God’s unmerited favor, demonstrating His love for us despite our imperfections. This concept reminds believers that salvation is not a reward for good deeds but an expression of God’s unconditional love and mercy.

Repentance:

• Genuine repentance involves acknowledging sin, turning away from it, and embracing a life committed to God. Rooted in God’s grace, repentance leads to forgiveness, renewal, and spiritual growth.

Justification:

• God’s act of declaring sinners righteous through faith in Jesus (Romans 5:1). It is rooted in grace, received by faith, and grounded in the finished work of Christ. This doctrine highlights God’s justice and mercy and provides believers with peace, freedom, and the assurance of eternal life.

Regeneration:

• The “new birth” transforms the believer into a spiritually alive individual responsive to God’s will. This transformation is not a result of human effort but a divine act that changes the believer’s heart and mind. Therefore, to be “born again” is to receive a new nature, one that is spiritually alive and responsive to God.

Sanctification:

• An ongoing process where believers grow in holiness, guided by the Holy Spirit. It involves spiritual discipline and perseverance. As Believers embrace this process, they grow in holiness, reflect Christ’s character, and fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. The Holy Spirit is the primary agent of sanctification, convicting believers of sin, guiding them into truth, and producing spiritual fruit. The Bible is a critical tool in sanctification, which teaches, corrects, and trains believers in righteousness.

Adoption:

• Believers are welcomed into God’s family, by gaining a new identity and eternal inheritance. As God’s children, believers are called to live in holiness, love, and obedience, reflecting His character to the world.

Redemption:

• Signifies the price Jesus paid to free us from the bondage of sin and restore us to a right relationship with God.

Glorification:

• The final stage of salvation, when believers are fully transformed into Christ’s likeness, when the effects of sin are completely eradicated, and when the redeemed enter eternal life with God, enjoying perfect holiness, resurrected bodies, and unbroken fellowship with their Creator. Glorification represents the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan and the hope of every believer.

SESSION #4: Connecting the DOTS!

In this session, we concluded our study by exploring how the elements of God’s Plan of Salvation and Jesus’ teachings apply to real-life experiences, particularly through evangelism. In this class, we saw ‘evangelism’ as the bridge between learning about, accepting, and living out the Gospel by sharing the message of salvation with others.

KEY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SALVATION AND EVANGELISM

Salvation as a Gift of Grace:

• Evangelism emphasizes that salvation is a free gift from God, not earned through good works but received through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The message of Jesus’ death and resurrection is central to evangelism, demonstrating God’s love and grace.

The Great Commission:

• Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20 to “make disciples of all nations” provides the foundation for evangelism. Sharing the Gospel invites people to believe in Jesus, repent, and experience the new life He offers (Mark 1:15).

Reflecting Jesus’ Compassion for the Lost:

• Just as Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10), evangelism extends this mission. Motivated by love and compassion, believers reach out to those who are spiritually disconnected, mirroring Jesus’ heart for the broken (Matthew 9:36).

Offering Hope and Transformation:

• Evangelism shares the promises of salvation, eternal life, forgiveness, and a restored relationship with God – bringing hope to a broken world. Through the testimony of transformed lives, evangelism demonstrates the real impact of salvation, making the Gospel message tangible and relatable.

Evangelism as Discipleship:

• True evangelism extends beyond conversion. It must also include fostering discipleship where new believers grow in faith, hope, and love. This process equips individuals to live according to Jesus’ teachings, creating a ripple effect as they too, share the Gospel with others.

CONCLUSION – This study equipped participants with a deeper understanding of Jesus, His teachings, and God’s plan of salvation. More importantly, it challenged them to integrate these truths into their lives, encouraging a transformative relationship with God, and inspiring others to do the same, through evangelism and discipleship.