Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 22, Issue 11 April 15, 2012
Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Look at the cross, my friend....
Have you ever really looked at it?
I Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God.”
You will never understand the significance
of what happened at the cross until you
are clear about who it was that died there.
If He is the Son of the living God what is He doing there on the cross?
Jesus answered this Himself in Matthew 20:28 “the Son of man came give his life a ransom for many.”
Charles Spurgeon said…..
“The heart of the gospel is redemption and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ.”
The cross had blinded the eyes of the apostle Paul so much that he gloried in nothing else!
The preacher who has ceased glorying in the cross of Christ has ceased preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit. For the whole counsel of God finds its center in the crucified One.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Let not the wise glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty glory in his might, let not the rich glory in his riches: But let him that gloriy, glory in this, that he understands and knows God, that He is the LORD which exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for I delight in these things, said the LORD.”
To know the meaning of the cross of Christ is to
understand and know God and to glory in Him.
I Corinthians 2:2 “I have determined not to know any thing....except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
Here are some good reasons why we should glory in the cross:
BY IT…..
* The Love of the Father is seen
I John 4:9-10 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”
Romans 5:8 “But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
* The Love of Jesus is declared
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
* Sinners are reconciled to God
Romans 5:10 “We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.”
* Believers are crucified
Galatians 6:14 “God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.”
* Every blessing is pledged
Romans 8:17&32 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together..... He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
IN IT…..
* Lies a remedy for all the woes of the world
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The cross, not just any cross -
but the cross of Christ,
is what brings man,
a guilty sinner,
together with a Holy God.
Without the shedding of blood there would be no remission of sin.
At the cross of Christ, Jesus Himself, bore your sins and mine. Jesus paid the debt of our guilt and our transgressions.
II Corinthians 5:21 “For he has made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God.”
Galatians 1:4 “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world.”
I Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.”
Colossians 2:13-15 “You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting (IOU) of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”
You and I have only one thing to do:
Simply believe the cross’ message.
Nothing else! Simply trust God!
- Do not tell me you are going to live better.
- Do not tell me you will try harder.
Acts 13:38-39 “Know this - through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Only believe and you shall see!
That Christ is all and all to you!
The most important thing about each and every one of us is that outside of Christ we are lost! It doesn’t matter who we are for “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God!”
Whatever particular form your sin takes…
- respectable sins
- repulsive sins
Be it known to you all, that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay your debt.... Just believe!
By Him, all who believe, are at this very moment justified entirely and completely from everything you have ever done!
Jesus died on the cross for your sins!
Believe that and thank Him for it and rely utterly and only on Him and all your SINS are blotted out completely as if you had never sinned in your life!
Jesus’ righteousness is put on you and God sees you perfect in His Son….
THAT IS THE CROSS’ MESSAGE!
Now do you see why we should glory in the cross of our Lord?
And can it be that I should gain,
An interest in the Saviour’s blood
Died He for me who caused His pain,
For me who Him to death pursued….
Amazing love How can it be,
That You my God, should die for me!
Christ, by offering Himself, has…..
FOREVER COMPLETED THE PAYMENT FOR SIN!
Hebrews 10:14 “For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
Jeremiah 31:34 “I will forgive their sin, and I will remember it no more.”
Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.”
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