Chapter 11 - Jesus is Our Only King

Notes for "Jesus Is Our Only King"

Introduction:

All through this book, we have followed the journey of Israel from the time they crossed the Jordan River until they settled in the land of Canaan. This land of grace is a picture of the inheritance every Christian has in Jesus Christ. What the land was to Israel, Jesus is to the believer. After Israel defeated her enemies, the land of Canaan rested from war. Jesus has sat down at the right hand of God because the final victory has been won. He has taken the whole territory, and there is nothing left in the dominion of hell that the cross hasn’t overthrown. Jesus Christ is the King of all Kings!

Contemporary residents of Grace Land are those who, by God’s grace and through faith, have come to know Jesus Christ and who are living out of their identity in Him. Our inheritance is Jesus Christ, and in Him we have everything we need!

George Chen sang "In The Garden" as the hymn that best reflected his personal testimony while in the Chinese prison camp. What hymn or chorus would you choose to represent your testimony as a Christian?

"What a Friend We Have in Jesus," because I believe friendship is the best description of the relationship God wants to have with humans. Or "Into My Heart," because I believe it best describes where Jesus lives in the world today.

John 10:10 A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life—life in all its fullness.

Describe the meaning of the abundant life that Jesus Christ said He came to give to us. What does this abundant life look like? List three reasons some Christians aren’t experiencing the abundant life:

	They’re trying to live it for Him.
	They don’t understand their identity in Him.
	They don’t understand that He calls His followers to rest.
	They don’t understand that the abundant life only happens when He lives His life through their bodies.

Charles Trumbull was disturbed by the question, "Is your kind of Christianity worth sending to the non-Christian world?" Describe the kind of Christianity you were taught as you grew up. Describe the kind of Christianity emphasized in your church now. Describe your kind of Christianity.

My understanding of Christianity is this: As a lost person I was drawn to God through the power of the Holy Spirit and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. As the Holy Spirit, Jesus, came to live inside my body, my old self died and He became my new Life, which He expresses through me to others around me. I now live in Him and He lives in me. I still have control of myself and can "take charge" anytime I please, but the results of that have "encouraged" me to "leave the driving" to Him!

Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Remember this! In the last days there will be many troubles, because people will love themselves, love money, brag, and be proud. They will say evil things against others and will not obey their parents or be thankful or be the kind of people God wants. They will not love others, will refuse to forgive, will gossip, and will not control themselves. They will be cruel, will hate what is good, will turn against their friends, and will do foolish things without thinking. They will be conceited, will love pleasure instead of God, and will act as if they serve God but will not have his power. Stay away from those people.

Discuss verse 5. Explain the statement: "Christianity uses the forms of religion, but is not a religion."

I believe that much of what we see today in the modern church is not Christianity at all. Christianity focuses on the person of Jesus Christ, religion always focuses on the response of the devotees. Here are five contrasts between Christianity and religion:

	The Christian religion sees the Bible as God’s final revelation to humans and teaches that by careful study the truth can be understood and obedience can be realized. Christianity says that God’s final revelation is God Himself communicating to humans through the Holy Spirit who alone can illuminate the Bible so that truth can be understood and that the only obedience that pleases God is that which comes from Christ living His life through human bodies.
	The Christian religion sees the teachings of Jesus as the more complete revelation of what God requires from His followers and their emphasis is on personal effort and commitment to complying with these demands. Christianity sees the teachings of Jesus as the more complete revelation of what God requires from His followers and rejoices in the Good News that Jesus Himself has met all God’s demands and offers His life of perfect obedience in exchange for the believer’s life of failure.
	The Christian religion believes that its devotees are responsible for advancing God’s Kingdom in the earth and that if they fail, others will be eternally lost. Christianity believes that God alone is responsible for advancing His Kingdom in the earth, that He gives His followers the privilege of being physically present when He does the work through them. They understand that God has given each individual the sole responsibility of choosing their eternal destiny, and no one can be responsible for another’s choice.
	The Christian religion believes that the lesson to be learned from example of Israel is that failing to obey God always results in defeat. Christianity believes that the lesson to be learned from the example of Israel is that failing to trust God and depend on His provision always results in defeat.
	In short, the Christian religion stresses doing while Christianity stresses trusting.

Identify two ways you regularly express the life of Jesus in your home, your work, and your church.

It’s much easier to identify the ways I fail to express the life of Jesus than to identify the ways I do, but whenever the results encourage, uplift, inspire and validate those around me, that’s Jesus expressing His life through me. Whenever, I get frustrated, angry, selfish, hurt, offended or conceited, that’s me taking charge. When I’m disappointed with the outcome and feel peaceful and optimistic, that’s Jesus. When I feel depressed and want to "get even" or "show them," that’s me!

Now go out there and "rest" in Him!!!

Next week we’ll begin The Saving Life of Christ…I want to encourage more discussion and questions from you…let Jesus express Himself through you in class.

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