This message explores the third chapter with redemption in Jesus Christ. Jesus the eternal Son enters into the fallen cosmos in a real body as Messiah to redeem us, including our love, sexuality, and bodies. Encountering true love of God through Christ helps us find God’s presence, provision, truth, grace, acceptance, and freedom. When we see Jesus’ encounter with people throughout His ministry we see the dignity of redemption for real people with real challenges in real bodies. This redemption is firmly staked out through the Cross of Christ. Knowing our redemption cost God richly, we now live in our bodies – including our sexuality – in a way to honor God.
Romans 6:1-23; Matthew 5:29-30; 19:10-12; Mark 1:15; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 7; Galatians 5:1, 16-17
SERMON OUTLINE
“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Jesus Christ’s Redeeming Work (Romans 5:6-8, 17-21)
The Importance of Jesus’ Redemption in the Body (John 1:14; 1 John 4:1-3, 9-10)
Redemption and Bodies (John 9:1-2)
Redemption and Sexuality (John 8:2-11; Romans 6:1-14; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
Redemption and Love (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
Experiencing Christ’s Redemption in Our Love, Sexuality, and Bodies
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- We continue our series, “Love – Sex – Body,” this week by looking at the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, and what that means for love, sexuality, and the body. Before you begin this study, ask God to speak to you through His Word and transform you by His Spirit.
- The last two weeks, we explored how love, sexuality, and the body were made good by God at Creation (Genesis 1-2) but were also disordered through the influence of sin, brokenness, and evil at the Fall (Genesis 3). Take a moment to summarize these first two “chapters” of God’s Good Story.
- Read Roman 5:6-21. How does Paul describe the work of Jesus Christ in redemption in these verses?
- In the writings of the Apostle John, we see great emphasis upon Jesus’ bodily incarnation and redemption. Read both John 1:14 and 1 John 4:1-10. Why do you think the bodily incarnation of Jesus Christ is so important for our redemption?
- Read John 8:1-11. What does this story tell you about the ways in which Jesus’ redemp- tion impacts our struggles of living with love, sexuality, and bodies in a sin-touched world?
- Now return to Romans and read Romans 6:1-14. How does Paul relate the redemption of Christ at the Cross to the life of the Christian in the body in these verses?
- What do you think it practically means to offer our bodies either “to sin as an instrument of wickedness” or “to God as an instrument of righteousness” (Romans 6:13)?
- According to Paul in Romans 6, how does baptism serve as an image for the Christian life, including our love, sexuality, and body life, according to Paul?
- Now read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. Redemption literally means to be bought out of slavery, which Paul references in verses 19-20. How does Paul relate life in the body and our sexuality to the redeeming work of Christ in these verses?
- Now read John 8:1-11. If we think about Jesus coming “from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), how does this story help us see Jesus’ redeeming love manifested both in grace and truth?
- Where do you need to encounter the grace of truth in your love, sexuality, or body life today? How might you tangibly take a step forward with God in that area?
- How is God speaking to you about redemption in our love, sexuality, and body life through this study? If you are on your own, write some things down and let this become a source of prayer and action in the days to come. If you are in a small group, discuss your answers aloud together. Close in prayer.