When Jesus Christ was put to death by being nailed to a wooden cross, wicked men thought they were just executing a man who was disturbing their way of life. They did not realize that the Cross was planned by God from the beginning of the world.
A. GOD DEALS WITH ALL SIN
Jesus was dying in the place of every individual in the world. When Jesus died on the cross God was dealing with every person's sin, suffering and sorrow. Receiving personally what He has done on the Cross brings the answer to all our needs.
1. GOD REVEALS HIS POWER THROUGH THE CROSS
1Cor. 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
2. GOD SHOWS HIS LOVE ON THE CROSS
Rom. 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
3. GOD REMOVED OUR SORROWS ON THE CROSS (PAIN OF SOUL)
Isa. 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
4. JESUS TOOK THE PUNISHMENT FOR OUR SINS ON THE CROSS
Isa. 53:5-6 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes 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.
1Pet. 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
B. NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH THE CROSS.
1. WE BECOME ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THROUGH THE CROSS
2Cor. 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2. WE RECEIVE FORGIVENESS THROUGH THE CROSS
Col. 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
1John 2:1-2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
3. WE BECOME MEMBERS OF GOD’S FAMILY THROUGH THE CROSS
Hebr. 2:10-12 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
4. RACIAL BARRIERS ARE BROKEN THROUGH THE CROSS
Eph. 2:13-16 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Gal. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
C. FREEDOM THROUGH THE CROSS
1. FREEDOM FROM SATAN’S POWER
Col. 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Col. 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
2. FREEDOM FROM PAST SINS
John 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Col. 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
1Pet. 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
3. FREEDOM FROM PRESENT SINS
Rom. 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
4. FREEDOM FROM SICKNESS
Matt. 8:16-17 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses."
5. FREEDOM FROM THE CURSE
Gal. 3:13-14 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
6. FREEDOM FROM JUDGMENT
Hebr. 9:26-27 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
7. FREEDOM FROM EVERLASTING DEATH
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
D. LOVE AND JUSTICE MEET AT THE CROSS.
The Cross is the place where the love of God and the righteous judgment of God meet. His righteous judgment demanded the death penalty for sin - the shedding of blood. His love met His own demands and Jesus, the Son of God, died in our place.
Rom. 5:8-11 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
E. THE CROSS IS THE CENTER OF HISTORY
From the moment that Adam and Eve sinned God planned that Jesus Christ should die on the Cross for our sins. Now through faith we can receive this salvation and walk in His light.
Gen. 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
