A Daring Rescue
Picture yourself driving down the highway, when all of a sudden a wall hits you with the force of an oncoming truck! Before you know it, you are swept off the road into a ragin flood. The swirling waters cover the streets, the houses, and even farmlands. As the minutes tick by, the flood waters rush into your car, leaving you no way of escape. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a hand reaches down and pulls you to safety. A rescue crew from a helicopter arrives just in time.
The truth is, all of us are trapped in a raging flood. We urgently need to be rescued--not by the Coast Guard as in this story--but by a hand from above.
Why do you need to be rescued?
"For _____ have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)
Sin is a raging flood sweeping across our world. There's not a single person that hasn't been trapped in its swirling waters. Everyone is a trapped sinner. The Bible says, "Through one man [Adam], sin entered the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12).
Is there something you can do to get rid of sin in your life?
"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard is spots? Then may you also do good who are _____ to do evil" (Jeremiah 13:23).
"Without Me, you can do _____" (John 15:5).
Sin's got you trapped in its clutches. Even when you sense your danger and wrestle to be free, you're powerless to save yourself. You need a power from above to rescue you from the swirling waters of death.
Why is sin so deadly?
"Your iniquities have _____ you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2).
One Christian writer explains the danger this way: "Sin not only shuts [us] away from God, but destroys in the human soul the desire and capacity for knowing Him" (Prophets and Kings, pg. 233).
How can this barrier be removed?
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten _____, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Why did Jesus have to die for you?
"The wages of sin is _____" (Romans 6:23).
"Without the shedding of blood there is no _____" (Hebrews 9:22).
The devil is one tough enemy! He entices you to follow him, knowing that he's leading you to your death. And this penalty must be paid for in blood or you can never be forgiven.
How did Jesus pay the penalty?
"You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold...but with the precious _____ of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18,19).
We all deserve to die, but Jesus reached His hand from above to pay the price for us. He became our substitute. He took all the sins of the world upon Himself when He went to the cross--including your sins and mine. The Bible says, "He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:5,6).
Why was Jesus willing to initiate such a daring rescue?
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that _____ should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
The sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary's cross demonstrates how valuable you are in God's eyes. Jesus was willing to give up everything to save you! He gave His own life in exchange for you! And this undying love isn't just for the salvation of a whole world; even if you were the only sinner on earth, Christ still would have come for you!
"Who will have all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the _____" (1 Timothy 2:4)
This truth is more than just information about the Bible. God wants you to experience the truth that comes from knowing Jesus. He is the "way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Jesus died so His saving Truth (which is rooted in Him) will set you free from the shackles of sin (see John 8:32).
Is there any other way you can be saved?
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is _____ other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Our lives are so damaged by sin that it's impossible to free ourselves from its deadly grip. We might try to be good to pay our way into heaven, but "all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). They are so stained by sin and so deeply entrenched that there's no way they can save us. Only Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, can give the perfect payment for our sins.
How does the death of Jesus show us what God is like?
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still _____, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Sometimes a person will make a great sacrifice for the sake of family, country, or freedom. But the death of Jesus stands above all these. For He gave His life while you were still His enemy (see Romans 5:10, Colossians 1:21,22)! God's love is powerfully demonstrated on the cross. And this love isn't based on anything you do or don't do. There are no strings attached.
Is there something you can do to get rid of sin in your life?
"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard is spots? Then may you also do good who are _____ to do evil" (Jeremiah 13:23).
"Without Me, you can do _____" (John 15:5).
Sin's got you trapped in its clutches. Even when you sense your danger and wrestle to be free, you're powerless to save yourself. You need a power from above to rescue you from the swirling waters of death.
Why is sin so deadly?
"Your iniquities have _____ you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2).
One Christian writer explains the danger this way: "Sin not only shuts [us] away from God, but destroys in the human soul the desire and capacity for knowing Him" (Prophets and Kings, pg. 233).
How can this barrier be removed?
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten _____, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Why did Jesus have to die for you?
"The wages of sin is _____" (Romans 6:23).
"Without the shedding of blood there is no _____" (Hebrews 9:22).
The devil is one tough enemy! He entices you to follow him, knowing that he's leading you to your death. And this penalty must be paid for in blood or you can never be forgiven.
How did Jesus pay the penalty?
"You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold...but with the precious _____ of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18,19).
We all deserve to die, but Jesus reached His hand from above to pay the price for us. He became our substitute. He took all the sins of the world upon Himself when He went to the cross--including your sins and mine. The Bible says, "He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:5,6).
Why was Jesus willing to initiate such a daring rescue?
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that _____ should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
The sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary's cross demonstrates how valuable you are in God's eyes. Jesus was willing to give up everything to save you! He gave His own life in exchange for you! And this undying love isn't just for the salvation of a whole world; even if you were the only sinner on earth, Christ still would have come for you!
This truth is more than just information about the Bible. God wants you to experience the truth that comes from knowing Jesus. He is the "way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Jesus died so His saving Truth (which is rooted in Him) will set you free from the shackles of sin (see John 8:32).
Is there any other way you can be saved?
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is _____ other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Our lives are so damaged by sin that it's impossible to free ourselves from its deadly grip. We might try to be good to pay our way into heaven, but "all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). They are so stained by sin and so deeply entrenched that there's no way they can save us. Only Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, can give the perfect payment for our sins.
How does the death of Jesus show us what God is like?
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still _____, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Sometimes a person will make a great sacrifice for the sake of family, country, or freedom. But the death of Jesus stands above all these. For He gave His life while you were still His enemy (see Romans 5:10, Colossians 1:21,22)! God's love is powerfully demonstrated on the cross. And this love isn't based on anything you do or don't do. There are no strings attached.
Is there anything you can do to be saved?
"The wages of sin is death, but the _____ of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not that of yourselves; it is the _____ of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9).
You can never be good enough to earn salvation. It is a free gift, offered by a God of love and mercy. The blood of Jesus, shed for you, is your assurance that God has paid for your sins. All that is needed is to accept this free gift and come to Jesus just as you are. He will abundantly pardon. He will welcome you home!
Why is the cross so important to you and me?
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the _____ of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will _____ all peoples to Myself" (John 12:32).
The cross has the pulling power of love to draw you to Jesus. On the cross, we see a Living demonstration of God's everlasting love. It assures us that nothing can separate us from God anymore. The cross is the bridge to reunite us.
What invitation does Jesus give you from the cross?
"Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have _____ on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).
Taken from Bible Guide #3 in "The Living Way" Bible Course. For a full-color copy of your own, please send $1 to Living Way Ministries at our home address.
"The wages of sin is death, but the _____ of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not that of yourselves; it is the _____ of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9).
You can never be good enough to earn salvation. It is a free gift, offered by a God of love and mercy. The blood of Jesus, shed for you, is your assurance that God has paid for your sins. All that is needed is to accept this free gift and come to Jesus just as you are. He will abundantly pardon. He will welcome you home!
Why is the cross so important to you and me?
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the _____ of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will _____ all peoples to Myself" (John 12:32).
The cross has the pulling power of love to draw you to Jesus. On the cross, we see a Living demonstration of God's everlasting love. It assures us that nothing can separate us from God anymore. The cross is the bridge to reunite us.
What invitation does Jesus give you from the cross?
"Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have _____ on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).
Taken from Bible Guide #3 in "The Living Way" Bible Course. For a full-color copy of your own, please send $1 to Living Way Ministries at our home address.
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