Leader Guide

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Leader Guide April 8, 2018

The Gospel Explained Sermon Text:​ Luke 24:13-35 Study Texts:​ Revelation 22:6-21 Sermon Recap​: In this week’s sermon text, we note that Jesus clearly explains the gospel to the two men on the Emmaus road using Himself as the interpretive key. The gospel is not a new theme that emerges in the New Testament. Rather, as Luke makes clear, the gospel is the central theme of the entire Bible, and Jesus Himself is the key to understanding it all. Imagine hearing the most thorough and sound explanation of the Bible from the very Person Who wrote it. By doing this, Jesus clearly shows that the accomplishment of redemption is the theme of the Bible and of all history. Sermon Connection:​ Knowing that the entire Bible is about Jesus and the accomplishment of redemption, it should come as no surprise that we find this theme everywhere. We can often become tired of repetition in our culture, and yet this is exactly what the Bible does: It repeats the accomplishment of redemption through Jesus. In Revelation 22, the last chapter in the Bible, we find John reflecting on this very fact; and because of this, he anticipates the coming culmination of God’s redemptive plan: the glorifying of Christ in the salvation of His people. Furthermore, we see John affirming the trustworthiness of the Bible, which itself tells the story of Jesus’ accomplishing of redemption. In light of all these things, and with John, we cry, “​Come, Lord Jesus!​”

Lesson Plan Lesson Goal: ​To see that, in accomplishing salvation through the cross, Jesus assures the coming promise of eternal life in God. Lesson Points: Point 1: The Promise and Warning of His Coming​ (vv. 6-11) Point 2: The Purpose of His Coming​ (vv. 12-15) Point 3: The Foundation of His Coming​ (vv. 16-21) The Context: ​We find ourselves at the very end of the Bible. Having been exiled because of his faith in Jesus, John (now an old man) is permitted to see the coming fulfillment of God’s 1

plan of salvation. And while some parts of Revelation are still unclear, this closing passage is crystal clear. We see that Jesus is coming, that we are to warn everyone by sharing and living the gospel, that He is coming to bring reckoning, and that He is Himself, God. With this, John ends his letter.

Opening Question: ​What is your greatest hope? What are the reasons you hold this hope? Does this hope affect how you live?

Transition Statement: ​Jesus perfectly accomplished the gospel and assured salvation for all who believe on His Name. He has also promised (gospel hope) that He will return and gather all those who love and follow Him (those who have been saved through the gospel).

Point 1- ​The Promise and Warning of His Coming​ (vv. 6-11) Numerous times throughout the New Testament, the church is assured of Jesus’ imminent return. And as she waits the church is called to faithful living and obedience to the Word. In telling us that, “...​These words are trustworthy and true​,” what implication about obedience can we draw from verse 6? We draw the implication of obedience and confidence. John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes that the words of this letter are right and worthy of all acceptance. Therefore, as the Church of God, we are to receive them with gladness, hope and assurance. There is nothing false, no hopelessness and no emptiness. Rather, in God’s Word, we find only fullness and glory; and we find that as we learn to love and trust Him more, the more joy-filled our lives become. Verse 7 is a quote from Jesus Himself. According to this verse, what is the promise for those who walk in His ways and keep His Word? Jesus states, “​Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.​” Revelation is a fitting culmination of the Biblical story as it sums up all that the Bible is about: The glory of God in Christ in the formation of His holy people through the gospel. This is what Jesus willingly gave Himself for on the cross; it is what John speaks of to the seven churches and it is where the end of history culminates. It is, then, a sweet promise from Jesus Himself to His people: To keep the Word of God is to find true blessedness and joy in Him. How might we understand verse 7 to include a warning alongside the blessing? As we reflect on the blessedness of life in and through the Word of God, we must also note the flip side, which is life outside the Word. Jesus’ Words are clear: Blessedness is found in the Word, not apart from it. The warning, then, is for those who do not keep the Word, for 2

those who fail to embrace the truth of the gospel and for the glory of Jesus. There is no blessedness to be found outside the Word; there is only the curse of rejection and Hell. What are the verses (6-11) in this section saying about the trustworthiness of the Bible? The picture we gain from this section is one of the supreme and complete truthfulness of the Bible. Verse 6 states, “​...These words are trustworthy and true,​” v. 7 promises blessing for those who keep this Word, v. 9 speaks to the unique truthfulness of the Bible by highlighting obedience, and v. 10 warns against trying to change this unchanging Word. On this point, the ESV study Bible notes, “The centrality, authority, sufficiency and eternality of the Word (and words) of God are foundational to all of Scripture, from the first words of Genesis to the last words of Revelation...Blessed is the one who keeps the words of this book. A timeless promise for believers in every age.”1 Transition Statement: ​Knowing that Jesus’ return is a divine promise that demands repentance and faithfulness, let's consider the purpose of His return...

Point 2 - The Purpose of His Coming​ (vv. 12-15) In verse 12, we see Jesus making a pronouncement about His return (the Second Coming). What do we learn about the purpose of His coming? We first note that Jesus says He is “...​coming soon..​.” We must not understand Jesus’ use of “​soon​” by our own measurements. Rather, we trust the truthfulness of Scripture which says, “​...with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.​” A second thing we note from v. 12 is that when Jesus does return, He is coming to bring reckoning and recompense (compensation). Jesus’ promised return will bring the payment for which everyone on earth is owed...and it will either be glory and eternal joy with God for those who are in Christ, or it will be an eternity in hell separated from the goodness of God. How does verse 13 coincide and support Jesus’ words from Luke 24:25-27 and show us why Jesus is able to bring reckoning and recompense? We have a clear confession of the deity of Jesus from the mouth of Jesus Himself. By claiming to be the Alpha and Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet), Jesus is saying that He is God Himself; He is the One through Whom all things were made (Gen. 1; Jn. 1); He is saying that He is the One Who holds all things together (Col. 1:17); He is saying that He is the One Whose Word upholds the universe by His Own power (Heb. 1:3); and He is saying that all of Scripture is a testimony about Himself (Lk. 4:21; 24:27). 1

This is one foundational reference for Parkwood’s 1st core belief, “The Bible is God’s Word and must be proclaimed.”

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When Jesus appeared to those two men walking along the Emmaus road, He gave them what was perhaps the most elegant and spectacular sermon never recorded. We do not know exactly what He said, but we do know that Jesus Himself, the Author and Main Character of the Bible, explained His Bible to those men Himself. He did so using Himself as the interpretive key.2 In doing so, He shows Himself to truly be God; the Giver of life and Judge over all things. What do verses 14 and 15 teach us about salvation? Why is this dependent on Jesus’ sacrificial death, burial and resurrection? There are two components covered here: the righteous and the unrighteous. First, the righteous are those who have washed their robes and have gained the right to the tree of life and entrance into the Holy City.3 Because we know the gospel is only obtained “by grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8), we know that the washing of the robes of the righteous is a reference to the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. In His death, He dealt with sin, imparting His righteousness to His people (2 Cor. 5:21). Furthermore, His resurrection obtained entrance into the Holy City, eternal life with God for His own (Phil. 3:12-13). The unrighteous, on the other hand, are those who have rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are characterized as those who “​love and practice falsehood.​” Apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ, man remains enslaved to the love of his sin (Rm. 3; Eph. 2). Jesus’ return will not be a time of calling sinners to final repentance, but of recognizing the state of each person’s heart. His return will not be an invitation, but a time of reckoning. Transition Statement: ​Finally, seeing the promise and purpose of Jesus’ return, let’s consider why Jesus Himself is the foundation for our hope in the gospel….

Point 3 - ​The Foundation of His Coming​ (vv. 16-21) Consider what Jesus says about Himself in verse 16. Why does He make a point to identify Himself as “​...the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star”​? See also Mt. 1. This is similar to His statement in v. 12. In saying that He is ​“...the root and descendant of David,...”​ Jesus is saying that He is both David’s Lord and God, and that He is the rightful and royal heir of David’s throne. This is the same point Matthew makes with the opening line of his gospel saying, “​The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.​”

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Here, Jesus Himself teaches us to use a Redemptive-Historical Hermeneutic. As a side note, in theology this is recognized as a restoration of the Garden of Eden: The people of God, living in God’s place, living under God’s rule. For more reading, see T. Desmond Alexander’s book, “​From Eden to the New Jerusalem​.” 3

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It was prophesied from the beginning that God would send His Son through the covenant line of His people, to give Himself for the sins of His people, saving them from the perfect wrath of God, and bringing them into perfect relationship with God forever (Gen. 3:15; 15). It was prophesied that Jesus would willingly take the cross (Isa. 52:13-53:12) and accomplish/prosper​ the will of the Father. It was prophesied that Jesus would be the bright Morning Star (Num. 24:17) Who would crush the sin of His people and give them eternal glory in God. Why is this a sure foundation for our hope in the gospel? This is a sure foundation for our hope in the gospel because we see Jesus reflecting on how perfectly He has completed this gospel. He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last. As He said from the cross, “​It is accomplished​.” The gospel rests on the foundation of God Himself. It is a perfect foundation, not able to crumble and fall. Jesus Himself willingly took the cross for the sake of God’s perfect will. He embraced the suffering under the full weight of God’s wrath against sin so that He might present the Church to God in full perfection (Eph. 5:27). To reflect on these words shows a deep and abiding confidence in the gospel; it is unwavering and cannot be moved. The Big Picture Having reflected on this passage of Scripture, which is so full of hope, I hope we can say with John, “​Come, Lord Jesus!​” Come! This is a fitting close to the Bible: Hopeful anticipation. We see that because Jesus perfectly accomplished the salvation of His people on the cross and through His resurrection, the Church now has a great hope for eternity with Him. There is no hope apart from Him, which is why we cling to Him alone for salvation and why we must go with the gospel to all the people(s) of the earth. Purposeful Prayer:​ Pray for those who are serving in foreign lands as they labor to spread the gospel and see the church planted and established. Pray that they would be continuously motivated by the hope of Jesus’ return and burdened with an urgency to press on without ceasing. Application Questions ● How does my life reflect my hope in Christ and His coming? ● How is Jesus’ assured return motivating me toward mission(s)? How it is affecting my urgency with the gospel? ● Are there areas of my life where I need to repent over a low view of the Bible, or a comfort with the gospel? ● How does Jesus’ assured return give me great hope and faith?

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