THE PURPOSE OF THE CROSS
Galatians 1:4
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of
wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was
the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of
darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had
everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to
heaven, we were all going direct the other way in short, the period was so
far like the present period. Charles Dickens wrote this from the novel, "A
Tale of Two Cities". As I thought about the message for this day, these
words fit with what we face.
We know on the cross seven times He spoke, seven words of love. All three
hours His silence cried for mercy on the souls of men.
One day of the year was special which was called the Day of Atonement in the
O. T. The high priest entered the Holy of Holies and sprinkled the blood of
the sacrifice to open the blessings of God. God was there to bless the
people through this ritual.
RM. 8:32 "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?" We do not need
the Day of Atonement any more because of what Jesus did for us.
Jesus gave His life that we might enjoy the special privileges and blessings
of God. Let us see what He gives to us:
1. Christ died to pay for our freedom from all wickedness. Tit. 2:14 "who
gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for
himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." RM
1:18-24The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the
godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their
wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God
has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s
invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly
seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without
excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor
gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish
hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like
mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Wherefore God also gave them
up." 2 TH 2:12 "All will be condemned who have not believed the truth but
have delighted in wickedness." 2 TIM 19Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation
stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are
his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from
wickedness." Our natural attitude toward God is not right. We are inclined
to do wicked works. It is from these wicked works that the blood of Jesus
Christ sets us free. To be redeemed from all wickedness means to be
delivered from everything that hinders us from becoming like Him who sets us
free. We are set free from all the motive, intentions, purposes and tempers
that forbid our being able to fulfill God’s divine plan for us. PS 11:5 The
Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates everyone who loves
violence. 32:10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love
surrounds those who trust the Lord. 37:17 For the strength of the wicked
will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.
2. Christ died for us that He might bring us to God. 1 PT 3:18 "Christ also
suffered when he died for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but
he died for sinners that he might bring us safely home to God. He suffered
physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit." We are not brought
to God as a criminal in need of punishment but as a child of God. The death
of Christ brings us to God in these ways: 1. It brings us to a knowledge of
God. How else could we have knowledge if Jesus did not come to bring it? 2.
It brings us into favor with God. Nothing we could do or say could bring us
into favor with God. 3. We are received by faith into the likeness of God.
The Bible declares we are made partakers of the Divine Nature. 4. We are
received into the enjoyment of God. "At your right hand are pleasures
evermore." 5. We at last will be received home into the immediate presence
of God in heaven. It needs to be said that the cross not only will bring us
at last to heaven but also will enable us to live a daily life in the power
of God.
We are to bring others to God. This does not say just invite them to
church. Howard Snyder wrote," Church buildings attest to five facts about
the Wesleyan Church: its immobility, inflexibility, lack of fellowship,
pride and class divisions. The GOSPEL says, "GO," but our church buildings
say, "STAY." The GOSPEL says, "SEEK THE LOST,’ but churches say, "LET THE
LOST SEEK THE CHURCH." Because of our fixation on church buildings and
programs, rather than on the church as a people committed to mobility, we
have become champions at turning gifted people, who are meant to penetrate
their worlds for Christ, into parking lot attendants, Sunday school
attendance takers, or committee members and we call it "MINISTRY." That may
sound hard on us today. We do have reasons for buildings and programs but do
these put our Christ likeness out into the community?
3. Christ died that we might become the children of God. We become His
children the moment we believe in His blood in the forgiveness of sins. We
cannot call on Him as our Father until we are freed from the guilt and power
of sin. We must be like Him as His children and that can only be as Christ
transforms us. Do you know you have been transformed? ROM 8:15 For you did
not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received
the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." GAL 4:6 Because
you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who
calls out, "Abba, Father." Dear Daddy is what is referred to here in saying
Abba.
4. Christ died that he might rescue us from this present wicked time.
Galatians 1:4 "He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in
order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live." As long as we
remain here in this body on this earth, we will be exposed to the many
pressures, powers and influences of the evil world. Without the Holy Spirit
helping us, we are at an attack from the "Wicked spirits that are now at
work in the hearts of the sons of disobedience." Christ’s death is at work
in us to save us from all the false principals and unclean motives. It is
through Him that our souls are preserved in the midst of wickedness and
unrighteousness. JN17:15 "I’m not asking you to take them out of the world,
but to keep them safe from the evil one." The three Hebrew children were not
saved from the fiery furnace but were saved in it. Daniel did not escape the
lion’s den but was safe in it. The cross is our protection from this evil
world. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb.
5. Christ died that we might no longer live only for ourselves. When we live
only for ourselves, the Bible says we are dead to God. The soul that has not
been drawn and changed by the power of God has not found true rest. It is
written that Christ lived not to please Himself that He came to serve and
not to be served. It is in the life of the believer to say, "Not I, but
Christ in me."
6. Christ died that we might receive the promised Holy Spirit. The power we
have from the Holy Spirit was secured through the power of His death and
Resurrection. We are told in the Bible that no one can receive the Holy
Spirit who is not redeemed by the blood of Christ. The Holy Spirit is the
One who provides us the enjoyment of all the spiritual blessings God has for
us.
The purpose of the cross was so He might have a body here on earth to work
through. I want to ask you this morning is our body without sin. When one of
our body parts hurts, the rest hurt with it. I ask you is there sin in your
life that is hurting this church as a body of Christ? The second question
that comes to me today is, "Is our church filled with the Holy Spirit? I am
asking that as God speaks this morning that we listen and obey. Would you
come to the altar this morning and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Without
Him, we can do nothing and our church will be out of existence. God needs a
Spirit filled church and He is speaking to you this morning.
