The Sacrifice

Study Guide: Week 1

The Sacrifice

Isaiah 53
Summary: Because God is a holy and righteous judge, He must punish sins. Sin brings death (Genesis 3). As the sacrifice for our sins, Jesus paid for the price for our sins (Romans 6:23). Jesus is our substitute—he takes our place on the cross (we deserve to be punished for our sins). Jesus’ death and resurrection are key pillars of gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). 

God’s holiness also demands that the sacrifice for our sins be righteous because He can only accept a perfect sacrifice to pay for our sins. Jesus’ sacrifice includes the idea of accrediting his righteousness to us (2 Corinthians 5:21). To those who receive the gift of salvation, God declares them righteous (Romans 3:21-31: doctrine of justification). In addition, God’s grace, love, and goodness have also been demonstrated at the cross (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9).  

Scripture: 
1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his and
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Reflection
1. How does Isaiah describe Jesus in verses 1-3? Is there any significance?
2. What’s the relationship between Jesus’ punishment and our sins? (see verses 4-6)
3. What kinds of traits of Jesus are highlighted in verses 7-9?
4. What is the doctrine of justification? Why is it important? How does verse 11 support this teaching? (cf. Romans 3:21-31; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
5. Isaiah wrote many prophecies from chapter 53. Discuss a few. 
6. How can you use Isaiah 53 to share the gospel? 
7. How can Isaiah 53 help us to experience God’s grace and forgiveness? 

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