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The Message of the Cross


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THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS

By: Jim Crews

 

Let’s begin today by reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians. 

1 Corinthians 1:18-21

The message of the cross elicits two reactions. It brings foolishness or it brings the power to save. The response depends on our perception of what the cross truly means. Only when we see what God intended to convey by the cross will we truly appreciate and accept its message. In the cross, God "set forth" Christ as a public declaration of this message.

Romans 3:24-26 

 

We are going to take some time today to study just what is the message of the cross?

The message of the cross shows us God's hatred for sin. Galatians 3:13

Deuteronomy 21:22-23    

 

Sin is a  transgression or a violation of law. Sin is exactly the same as rebellion, arrogance, and idolatry against God.


 


Sin is a very serious matter to God, and this is why WE must be serious about it too.
 

In the Old Testament, death penalty victims were impaled to demonstrate God’s displeasure and hatred for sin. The wages of sin is our spiritual death. 

Romans 6:23

 

Every single one of us has sinned and earned this spiritual death. 

Romans 3: 23

 

The message of the cross teaches us that the sinless Jesus was not worthy of death, but His death FOR US demonstrates the same thing. It shows how serious our sin is to God.

The message of the cross shows us God's righteous substitution for our own required spiritual deaths.

Hebrews 4:15

Hebrews 9:14
 

He kept the Mosaic Law perfectly.  He then offered His sinless life as a ransom for us. His death took the place of the required spiritual death we earned by sinning. 

1Timothy 2:5-6


The sacrifice by crucifixion of the sinless Messiah was the only possible worthy substitute for the eternal spiritual death we have earned by our sins.
 

Here’s a good real world example. Even in civil law, a pardon requires some justification or basis for being granted. The same is true in God’s kingdom. sin cannot be pardoned without justification. The cross IS that justification. The cross demonstrates the importance of Divine law, and the high cost of forgiveness.

The message of the cross shows us God's willingness to forgive our sins.  

John 1:29

Ephesians 1:7


The sacrifice of the Lamb of God was a clear demonstration of God’s willingness to forgive us of our sins. Notice that the cross did not make God willing to forgive. He was already willing. Instead, God’s willingness to forgive our sins made the cross a necessity.

Hebrews 9:22


 

The public crucifixion of Christ demonstrates God’s willingness to forgive our sins to the entire world.

The message of the cross shows us God's love for humanity.  John 3:16

Romans 5:8


When God publicly allowed Jesus to be hung on the cross, He was very clearly showing us exactly how much he loves us. What parent would not die for their child? God, our Father  willingly died for us, His children. When we study the message of the cross, we should see the love of God above all else. His love for us should shame us, it should humble us, and it should motivate us to serve Him.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

The message of the cross shows us God's desire for us to return to Him and be reconciled with Him. 

Ephesians 2:14-16

Colossians 1:19-20


We are able to be reconciled right here and right now.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

 

How? 


 

First, we must simply believe what we have learned this morning, that Jesus Christ is the Messiah who died for our sins. Without faith, we have no hope at all. 

Hebrews 11: 6

John 8: 24

 

When we believe the message of the cross, we must then obey the commands Christ has given us. 

John 3: 36

Hebrews 5: 9

 

Our Saviour told us to repent of our past sins. 

Luke 13: 3

 

The Holy Spirit also taught this through the Apostles. 

Acts 17: 30

 

Our Saviour told us to publicly confess our faith in Him. 

Matthew 10: 32 - 33

 

The Holy Spirit also taught this through the Apostles. 

Romans 10: 9 - 10



 

He told us we must be immersed in water to have our past sins washed away. 

Mark 16: 16

 

The Holy Spirit also taught this through the Apostles. 

Acts 2: 38

Acts 22: 16

 

He then told us we must remain faithful to Him unto death. 

Revelation 2: 10

 

We are able to maintain an ongoing, faithful relationship with God. 

1 John 1:7


If we stay faithful and obedient to Him, we will enjoy an eternal relationship in Heaven. 

John 14:1-6
 

This relationship is established by covenant and ratified by blood.

Matthew 26:28



 



God is just. God is merciful. We SEE that clearly in the message of the cross.  The only variable here is each one of us. What will we do with the message of the cross? Will we believe it and obey to be saved? Or will we continue to ignore it and be lost eternally. 

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