Show Me the Cross

"SHOW ME THE CROSS!” 1 CORINTHIANS 1:17-25 INTRO: For ages the cross has been the symbol of the Christian faith. Today the cross is worn around the neck and embossed upon Bibles, clothing, and raised upon steeples. But the cross has not always had the appeal that it enjoys today. The cross in Christ’s day was the ultimate example of weakness and shame. It was one of the most cruel and barbarous forms of death known to man. So dreaded was it that even in the pre-Christian era, the cares and troubles of life were often compared to a cross. Because of the commercialism of our day, the cross has lost much of its true meaning! To Paul the cross was his statue of liberty. It was a reminder of Christ, who had suffered, bled and died offering the ultimate sacrifice for our sins: HIMSELF! Thus Paul proclaimed in Galatians 6:14—“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Paul found in the cross what he had been searching for his entire life-peace with God! That is true of every child of God: Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace! Romans 5:1 tells us—“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." It is only by the cross and Christ's sacrifice there that we can have true peace! We must "take another look at the Cross and see the revelation it is a sword that cuts our conscience; it is a key that unlocks our prisons; it is a royal scepter under which we will live eternally with Him in His kingdom."(Edith Brock) (Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations- Contemporary & Classical. p. 53). I want to show you the cross this morning. I want you to see it as you've never seen it before! I want it to make an impact on your life today. I want it to burden and encourage you as never before. And if you're lost, I want you to see it for the first time! I want you to see the Savior hanging on that cruel cross for you. I want you to see Him dying there for your sins and mine. And I want you to allow God's Spirit to speak to your heart today! SHOW ME THE CROSS: (1) ITS GIFT 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.” A. THE NEED OF THIS GIFT. This is a season of giving. A season of joy. A season of showing mercy. But 2,000 years ago in a lowly Bethlehem stable, God gave mankind the greatest gift of all! Isaiah 9:6 says, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." ILLUS: If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior (Raymond McHenry. The Best of In Other Words. p. 44). The babe in Bethlehem's stable grew up to be the Savior of the world! He came that we might be able to come unto God. 1 Peter 3:18 tells us—“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” ! B. THE NATURE OF THIS GIFT. At the cross, God's gift to mankind was fully revealed. The cross gave:  Release (2 Corinthians 5:21). At the cross, Jesus took my sin and your sin and He placed them upon Himself that we might free of their guilt and shame. We are now free of their penalty and power (John 8:36). Christ has set us free!  Redemption (Galatians 4:4-5; 3:13). At the cross, Christ took our place-every thing that was due us because of our sins-so that we might be redeemed before God! (Isaiah 53:5-6). It is through the blood of the cross that we stand redeemed before Almighty God (Ephesians 1:7). Its price was great-Himself for our sins-but it is through his willing sacrifice that we now enjoy fellowship with God!  Reconciliation (Colossians 1:20-21). The words "reconcile" and "reconciliation" are wonderful words in the Word of God! Both words come from the same Greek root word and mean "to change from enmity to friendship." We were the enemies of God, but at the cross reconciliation was made! The natural mind of the unsaved sinner is at war with God. Man, because of sin is separated from God, he is "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1), and is unable to save himself or to please God. If there is reconciliation between God and man, God must take the initiative. This was done at the cross. It is in Christ that God was reconciled to man by "the blood of his cross." When a sinner receives Jesus as his Savior reconciliation is then realized. But until then he remains the enemy of God! SHOW ME THE CROSS-ITS GIFT-At the Cross, God's greatest gift was given! It spelled RELEASE, REDEMPTION, and RECONCILATION. But unless we, by faith, believe what was done there and receive it as the only Hope of our soul, then the cross remains to us but an empty ornament hanging around our neck or else a meaningless symbol gracing the top of a steeple! SHOW ME THE CROSS… (2) ITS GLORY GALATIANS 6:14—“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” A. THE DECISION OF PAUL. Paul was a very educated man. He had some impressive credentials and he belonged to some exclusive organizations of his day. In Philippians 3, it tells us he was “a Hebrew of Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church, touching righteous which is in the law, blameless.” (vv. 4-6). But on the road to Damascus, Paul met the resurrected LORD, and from that day forward his life was not the same! Thus he could only exclaim, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ...". The former things meant nothing to Paul anymore! (Philippians 3:7-8, 13-14). He now would glory in the cross! Not so much the object itself, but the MAN who hung there! B. THE DISCOVERY OF PAUL. Paul found out that the cross:  It Brings Pardon (Hebrews 9:22; 10:12, 14, 17). At the cross Christ paid for every sin we have ever committed or will ever commit. But unless we receive what He has done for us it profits us nothing!  It Gives Peace (John 14:27: Romans 5:1). Peace is something that all mankind desires. But few enjoy. Why? Because true peace can only be known in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! "God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. (C.S. Lewis) (Raymond McHenry. The Best of In Other Words. p. 183). The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:14—“He is our peace…" There is no peace apart from Him! ILLUS: A chaplain related the story of a little girl, who when told that her father had gone to heaven, asked her mother, "If she had not better begin to pack up too, and get ready to go?" A soldier heard it and said, "I am glad you told us that story about packing up, it made the thing so plain to me. I haven't much learning, and I haven't tried to understand these things much; but now I see through it all. I want you to help me pack up. Pray with me, chaplain." While the prayer was being offered, the man in an earnest heart cried out, "Oh, do LORD, help me! Help me!" The Holy Spirit was there. The poor man cried out and the LORD heard him, and He said, "I am happy now; I have found Jesus." with a face radiant with joy. "What of your body;" one asked, "are you suffering now?" He had been shot through right shoulder and left leg, and had an arm taken off. "Oh," he said, "my wounds are nothing now. I can bear them all. I have peace within." (Elon Foster. 6000 Classic Sermon Illustrations. p. 614).  It Gives Purpose (Galatians 2:20). Man’s life without Christ has no purpose. No meaning. Only in Christ can we have purpose in life! Paul learned, after his conversion, that the true measure of success in life is to live for Christ (Philippians 1:21). WE haven't truly started living until we start living for Christ! (3) ITS GREATNESS 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18, 21—“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” A. THE POWER OF THE CROSS. The apostle Paul states that "The preaching of the cross is…the power of God." The word "power" comes from the Greek word "Dunamis" from it we get our word "dynamite." The same Greek word is used in Romans 1:16. The message of the cross is dynamite because it can break the stoniest of hearts. It has the power to change men's lives! God took the worst thing that man could do to his Son, and transformed it into the best thing he could do for man. – Unknown. Religion will not change a man's life, but the Gospel will! Religion is man-made; the Gospel is God-given. Religion is what man does for God; The Gospel is what God does for man. Religion is good views; the Gospel is good news. Religion ends in outer reformation; the Gospel ends in inner transformation. Religion often becomes a farce; the Gospel is always a force-the power of God unto Salvation. (Jerry Noble) (Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations- Contemporary & Classical. p. 82). B. THE PRECIOUSNESS OF THE CROSS. ILLUS: How splendid the cross of Christ! It brings life, not death; light, not darkness; Paradise, not its loss. It is the wood on which the Lord, like a great warrior, was wounded in hands and feet and side, but healed thereby our wounds. A tree had destroyed us; a tree now brought us life. -- Saint Theodore of Studios in Breakfast with the Saints. Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 4. Why is the cross great? Because of:  Its Mission (Romans 5:8-10). The cross's mission was to show God's love to mankind and make a way of access unto God! Jesus died on that old cross so that God could once again enjoy fellowship with man He created (1 Peter 2:24-25; Hebrews 10:19-23).  Its Message (Romans 10:9-10, 13; John 5:24; 1 John 2:2). The message of the cross is so great because whosoever will may come! Whosoever will can be free from their sins, enjoy the forgiveness of God, live forever with God! All men are welcome! Anyone who will call upon God in faith will be saved! ILLUS: It is said that after the American Civil War, General Robert E. Lee, a devout Christian, visited Washington, D.C. During the Communion service, he was seen kneeling beside a black man. Later when someone asked how he could do that, Lee replied, "My friend, all ground is level at the foot of the Cross." What makes the ground so level? The awfulness of our sins, the terrible price Jesus paid to forgive them, and the love He has for all people (Dennis J. DeHaan. Our Daily Bread. Volume 40. Number 10. January 15, 1996). I'm glad that "whosoever will may come!" Because "whosoever meaneth me!”  Its Man (Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 2:9). At the cross, we see the great humility of Christ-"obedient unto death, even the death of the cross". We see the love of Christ- (John 13:lb—“Having loved His own which were in the world, he loved them even unto the end." Christ loved us so much He was willing to die for us! We see His ability to save--"and he said, "It is finished"--Tetelestai--"Redemption is completed." The price has been paid, the sacrifice made! When He said those words victory was His. Over death, hell and the grave! Stand with me once more at the foot of the cross. In that deep darkness when God hid His face, hear the Savior's powerful cry “It is finished!" At that moment the earth shook, the rocks were split, and the graves were opened. His work of salvation was complete. Aren't you glad you can say, "Praise God, it is finished for me!" CLOSING: Outside an old Church in Old Greenwich, Connecticut stands an old cross made of raw, unpolished steel. When it rains, red, rusty drops roll off that cross like blood. On sunny days in the winter, rust-red holes dot the snow at its base. What goes through the minds of those who pass by that weathered symbol? More important, what is their response to its message? Is the cross foolishness, nothing more than a fashion trend? Or does it bring to mind the blood Christ willingly shed for our redemption? (Vernon C. Grounds. Our Daily Bread. Volume 40. Number 4. July 7, 1995). I have showed you the cross this morning. ITS GIFT, ITS GLORY, and ITS GREATNESS. The cross reveals man's sin at its worst and God's love at its best. The Rev. George Bennard wrote: “Oh, the old rugged Cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary. SO I cherish the old rugged Cross…Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged Cross…And exchange it someday for a crown." What does the cross mean to you?