THE CROSS, OUR GAINS {Part 1}
Cross means many things to many people. Some folks display it on their mantle, some wear it around their necks, wrists and fingers, others mount it on the top of the roof of their buildings or on their gates.
It is a mark, an object, or a figure; an upright post with transverse bar; and or formed by two short intersecting lines or pieces.
Historically, the first record of the cross for crucifixion was about 519 BC, when Darius, king of Persia, crucified 3,000 political opponents in Babylon.(Encyclopaedia Britannica). Thus crucifixion is first attested among Persians, perhaps derived from Assyria impalement. it was later employed by the Greeks, especially Alexander the Great, and by the Carthaginians from whom the Romans adopted the practice as a punishment for slaves, and non-citizens, and occasionally for citizens guilty of treason
There are many forms of crosses for many kinds of people. However, there is but yet one Cross I call THE CROSS. It is The Cross upon which The Messiah, Jesus Christ hung. Important about The Cross is its applied message of transverse, intersection, and contradiction: life contradicting death, love to hate, peace to violence, forgiveness to accusation, purity to sin, wholeness to brokeness, restoration to destruction, and victory to defeat.
It was once the cruelest form of execution, yet now it is a symbol, a mark, a figure, and an object of abundant life. All is lost on The Cross, yet everything is gained!
Join me this season as we consider the GAINS The Cross afford us. With hope that all that have discarded The Cross will open-heartedly embrace it.
HE TOOK OUR PLACE
It is a mark, an object, or a figure; an upright post with transverse bar; and or formed by two short intersecting lines or pieces.
Historically, the first record of the cross for crucifixion was about 519 BC, when Darius, king of Persia, crucified 3,000 political opponents in Babylon.(Encyclopaedia Britannica). Thus crucifixion is first attested among Persians, perhaps derived from Assyria impalement. it was later employed by the Greeks, especially Alexander the Great, and by the Carthaginians from whom the Romans adopted the practice as a punishment for slaves, and non-citizens, and occasionally for citizens guilty of treason
There are many forms of crosses for many kinds of people. However, there is but yet one Cross I call THE CROSS. It is The Cross upon which The Messiah, Jesus Christ hung. Important about The Cross is its applied message of transverse, intersection, and contradiction: life contradicting death, love to hate, peace to violence, forgiveness to accusation, purity to sin, wholeness to brokeness, restoration to destruction, and victory to defeat.
It was once the cruelest form of execution, yet now it is a symbol, a mark, a figure, and an object of abundant life. All is lost on The Cross, yet everything is gained!
Join me this season as we consider the GAINS The Cross afford us. With hope that all that have discarded The Cross will open-heartedly embrace it.
HE TOOK OUR PLACE
1 Pet. 1:8; John. 1:16
All Have Sinned (
All Billed to Die (
Christ Took Our Place (I Pet.2:24; Isa. 53:5; II Cor.
5:21; Jon. 15:13; Rom.3:26
Christ Took Our Place (I Pet.2:24; Isa. 53:5; II Cor.
5:21; Jon. 15:13; Rom.3:26
Death is the result of sin. But Jesus died even when He did not have a sinful nature and never committed sin of any kind. He died to bear the penalty of sins which He did not deserve, in the place of others who deserve it.
Christ’s death on the Cross was an impressive example of meekness, forgiveness, and faith; but above all, it was an example of substitution. He took the place of those whose sin leaves them spiritually bankrupt and exposed to God’s righteous anger.
HE RECONCILED US WITH GOD
Sin Made Us God’s Enemies Rom. 5:6-10; Col. 1:21; Jam. 4:4 cf. Gen.
We Needed to Be Made ‘At One’ With God
On the Cross Christ Reconciled Us With God (II Cor. 5:18-19; Col. 1:15-20; Eph. 2:14-16; Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 5:1;
Christ went to the Cross and paid the penalty our sin demanded in other to appease God whom we have offended. He showed the cost of being the propitiation for our sin when on the Cross He cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me (Matt. 27:40).
HE PAID OUR DEBT
In the Old Testament times a price was paid for the redemption of a slave (Lev. 19:20); a reparation was paid for injury or damages (Ex. 22:10-12); a fine, fee, or heavy assessment laid on a person as a substitute for his own life (Ex. 21:30).
Sin Made Us Debtors to God.
A Debt That Must Be Paid. The price tag was not monetary, Abraham would have paid. It was not for a show of human wisdom, Solomon would have paid. Samson would have paid if it was for physical strength The price was not for a show of military might, David would have paid. It was tagged on the purest blood, the sinless life.
Jesus Gave His Life As a Ransom. (I Tim. 2:5, 6; Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). And in this New Testament time, the term Ransom signifies the redemptive price offered by Christ on the Cross for the salvation of His people.
Friends, The Cross is our Gain. If you’ve not embraced
it please do. He died that we may live. Blessings.
Christ’s death on the Cross was an impressive example of meekness, forgiveness, and faith; but above all, it was an example of substitution. He took the place of those whose sin leaves them spiritually bankrupt and exposed to God’s righteous anger.
HE RECONCILED US WITH GOD
Sin Made Us God’s Enemies Rom. 5:6-10; Col. 1:21; Jam. 4:4 cf. Gen.
We Needed to Be Made ‘At One’ With God
On the Cross Christ Reconciled Us With God (II Cor. 5:18-19; Col. 1:15-20; Eph. 2:14-16; Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 5:1;
Christ went to the Cross and paid the penalty our sin demanded in other to appease God whom we have offended. He showed the cost of being the propitiation for our sin when on the Cross He cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me (Matt. 27:40).
HE PAID OUR DEBT
In the Old Testament times a price was paid for the redemption of a slave (Lev. 19:20); a reparation was paid for injury or damages (Ex. 22:10-12); a fine, fee, or heavy assessment laid on a person as a substitute for his own life (Ex. 21:30).
Sin Made Us Debtors to God.
A Debt That Must Be Paid. The price tag was not monetary, Abraham would have paid. It was not for a show of human wisdom, Solomon would have paid. Samson would have paid if it was for physical strength The price was not for a show of military might, David would have paid. It was tagged on the purest blood, the sinless life.
Jesus Gave His Life As a Ransom. (I Tim. 2:5, 6; Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). And in this New Testament time, the term Ransom signifies the redemptive price offered by Christ on the Cross for the salvation of His people.
Friends, The Cross is our Gain. If you’ve not embraced
it please do. He died that we may live. Blessings.
