Dangerous Worship: Study 04 in Part 1 (Dangerous Promises), a 7-part series planned for the gospel of Matthew

Like the children of Israel in Egypt, Jesus the Son of God escapes death at the hands of Herod; and like Moses, will lead Israel out of slavery and into the promises of God.

And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

1. Dangerous Escape (Matthew 2:13-15)
2. Deadly Flashback (Matthew 2:16-18)
3. Dangerous Return (Matthew 2:19-23)

• Matthew 2:1-23
• Exodus 4:18-23
• Psalm 80:1-9
• Psalm 18:17-19

Dangerous Origins: Study 02 in Part 1 (Dangerous Promises), a 7-part series planned for the gospel of Matthew

With fearful expectation, Joseph and Mary take their place in the fulfilment of the promises and dangerous presence of the Messiah.

1. Dangerous Expectations (Matthew 1:18-19)
2. Faithful Fear (Matthew 1:20-21)
3. Fearful Fulfilment (Matthew 1:22-25)

• Matthew 1:1, 1:17-25
• Isaiah 9:2-7
• 2 Samuel 7:1-16

With the enemies of God now destroyed, God is making all things new, He will dwell with His people forever. What do you think heaven will be like?

We started the story of the whole Bible in a garden, but this story ends in a City. We started with two people, but end with a multitude. We started with God dwelling with his people, but we finish with people dwelling with their God. We started with two trees in Eden, but we ate of the tree that brought us death.

That wrong choice meant we needed another tree at Calvary. So now there is only one tree left remaining - the Tree of Life.

God has dealt with the problem of our sin and the curse of death. We’ve now come full circle. We are back to the start again, only this time it’s different. The end of the story is like the beginning, only it has a different outcome: God makes all things new! God’s faithfulness to all his promises to Abraham and David are now fulfilled in Jesus. Death is conquered, rest from our enemies is secured, and now nothing in all creation can separate God’s people from his love in the new Creation.

What role does the Old Testament Law have, in the life of a Christian?

So far, the story of the whole Bible has been a story of great promise in search of fulfillment. A God who makes promises to a people who break them. Right from the beginning, our human problem is sin. Sin brings death and separation (exile) from God. But so far no one has obeyed God! No-one has dealt with our sin problem.
Up until now everyone has shown themselves to be a sinner, not a Saviour.
God’s promise of a King and Saviour who deals with sin is fulfilled in the birth of a baby boy at Bethlehem (the town of David). But in another act of repeated history, God’s people reject Jesus as their King - and crucify him.
Was the death of Jesus the Messiah all in vain?

References:

• Galatians 3:1-18
• Genesis 17:1-8
• Romans 8:1-4
• Romans 8:31-39

References

• 2 Kings 24:1 - 25:30
• Lamentations 1:1 - 3:33
• Romans 5:1-11