Job’s Redeemer – Discussion starters
- The End in Sight. As we reach the conclusion of the story of Job do you see Job’s position as evidence of an unrelenting war between Christ and Satan? As often as you have studied the book of Job and considered its spiritual implications, have you been blessed this time through with one or more new or deeper insights? If so, share your discovery in your class. Or are you still as perplexed as you were the first time you thought about Job’s dilemma of good and evil co-existing in this world in the presence of a holy God?
- My Redeemer Liveth. What is the single most important gift that God offers us? Compare God’s creative power with His redemptive power. Which one gives us the most hope? The most courage? Or can we even compare them? How does the book of Job wrap together the creative and redemptive powers of God? What hope would we have if we were to admit that God created us but overlooked His gift of redemption? Does this gap ever occur in our thinking?
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- The Son of Man. What is the essential difference between the long-ago controversy between Christ and Satan in heaven and its presence in the world where we live today? Could Christ have won the battle over Satan without involving this world? How did accepting our human nature qualify God in the war to overcome the evil one? Job boldly told God He couldn’t fully understand mankind’s woes from His exalted position as king over all. What is God’s answer to this perplexing question?
- The Death of Christ. Is Jesus’ death foretold in the book of Job? If not, why not? Our lesson states, “obedience to the law, though central to the Christian life, is not what saves the fallen…” Does that mean you and I don’t need to obey the law to be saved? What role does the death of Jesus play in your salvation…and mine?
- Jesus’ Sufferings. Can we even begin to compare Job’s sufferings with those of Jesus? Why not? Do you ever struggle to understand how the Creator of the universe could take on Himself the suffering of fallen man? That’s not fair, is it? Did Christ deserve any form of punishment that He received while on earth? What about us? Do you and I deserve to be punished for our sins? On what terms does God offer us freedom from all sin and suffering? Are those conditions fair?
- Satan Unmasked. Do you ever feel so sick and tired of this sinful world that you pray earnestly for relief? What does Satan proclaim is the reason Jesus endured the heartache of this world? What is the real reason? Compare the suffering of Job with the suffering of Jesus. Is there any comparison? How can you and I express our gratitude for Jesus not only for His forgiveness but also for His release from the penalty of death and the corresponding reward of eternal life in a sinless world?
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The greater enigma for me is in Hebrews 5:8 - learning obedience from suffering. A Christian brother recently reminded me of Lamentations 3:33 which says He does not willingly afflict us -
Even though God shows Himself to Job later in chapter 38, Job was ever assured that his Reedemer lives
This lesson had some new thoughts for me. On Thursday I have thoughts about the statement "At the cross, Jesus paid the legal penalty for sin, thus reconciling the fallen world to God." I have come to realize that Jesus didn't "pay" for our sins but rather forgave our sins. Who did He pay for our sins, God? So he paid Himself? So if you pay yourself do you really pay anything.
This may seem like "splitting hairs" but the subtle difference makes all the difference in our picture of God. Either a God who demands payment or one who cares so deeply for His creation that He would give Himself to save them. Forgiveness always costs the forgiver. So in forgiving He took the consequences of our sin.
That is interesting, as if God demanded some kind of recompense for sin. However, I see it differently. Sin pays a wage and that wage is death. It is cause and effect. Without God there is no life only death. To bridge that gap Jesus stepped in and in the term 'paid the price' he took the consequences in our behalf. The term 'paid the price' is a bit misleading as it suggests that something was owed to someone, its meaning, as I suggest above, is that He took the consequences. This also raises an additional consideration - the death that Jesus died was the second death not the usual sleep we all will experience if we 'die' before Jesus comes. So the consequences or wages of sin was experienced by Jesus in our behalf. You might ask who set up the 'consequences' again to clarify it is down to cause and effect; as Jesus said 'you reap what you sow.' In the case of Jesus He reaped what we have sown.