THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS
I CORINTHIANS 1:18 - FOR THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS IS TO THEM THAT PERISH FOOLISHNESS; BUT UNTO US WHICH ARE SAVED IT IS THE POWER OF GOD.
In Sequoia National Park in California, There is a big tree that stands 275 feet high
and is 36 feet in diameter. It is called the General Sherman. It is known as the biggest tree in the world. Today I want to talk to you about a tree that reaches from earth all the way to heaven and reaches all away around the world! And extends itself throughout all eternity!
I speak of the Tree - The Cross of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – Calvary’s Tree!
You see the devil had made a road for man to travel that led straight to a place called Hell But Praise God - God did not want man to go to hell – So God slammed a Cross right in the middle of the road and said to man I love you and don’t want you to go to hell and if man goes to hell – He has to go around the Cross!
The Promise of the Cross was before the world began:
Revelation 13:8 – The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Titus 1:2 – God Promised Eternal life before the world began.
Just think God created the tree that He knew His Son would be crucified on!
There was a Savior before Sin – There was Grace before Guilt – There was Promise of Life before Death – There was a Heaven before there was a Hell.
Where sin did abound – Grace did much more abound! Adam sold us out – But Praise the Lord Jesus bought us back! HALLELUJAH FOR THE CROSS – IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION!
THE CROSS IS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF GOD’S LOVE
Every time you see the cross – it should remind you of the marvelous Love of God!
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! Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Romans 8:32 – He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.
HYMN – THE LOVE OF GOD
The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; it goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell; the guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin. O love of God, how rich and pure – How measureless and strong – It shall for evermore endure – The saints and angels song. Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made, were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade, to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry.
WHEN THE DEVIL COMES AND TRIES TO TELL YOU GOD DOES NOT LOVE YOU – TAKE HIM TO THE CROSS!
THE CROSS IS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF GOD’S GRACE
Eph. 2:8,9 – For by Grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast.
GRACE – The Unmerited Favor of God --- G.R.A.C.E – God’s Riches At Christ Expense!
Grace is free but it is not cheap – It cost Jesus His life on the cruel cross of Calvary!
THE CROSS REMINDS US OF THE PAYMENT FOR SIN!
When the devil comes – Sing – Jesus paid it all – All to him I owe – Sin has left a crimson flow – He washed it white as snow
OR - At the cross – At the cross – Where I first saw the light – and the burdened of my heart rolled away – It was there by Faith – I received my sight – and now I am happy all the day.
OR – Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. When we’ve been there 10,000 years, bright shinning as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.
THE CROSS IS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS
I John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Once a little girl went to Church with her Mother and she kept asking Mom – Why is that plus sign up over the baptism pool? Plus sign – Hallelujah the Cross is God’s Plus Sign to us!
YES THE CROSS REMINDS US THAT GOD LOVES US – HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT – AND GOD FORGIVES!
COME TO JESUS!
