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Today the apostate church is glorying in things of the world. The world attends churches today that glory in tradition. Look at our history they say, surely we are the true church.
They glory in buildings. They have a huge structure and beautiful to behold. They glory in numbers. They can blind you with statistics and stagger you with a long list of members.
Some glory in their finances. They are rich and increased with goods. Their church budget swells each year. Their investments are enormous.
Some glory in learning. Their schools and colleges are without comparison. They brag about scholarly degrees. They brag that they are recognized churches.
The apostle Paul glories in only one thing. "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."
It is strange to glory in the cross. This was a way the most contemptible criminals were put to death by the Romans. The criminal Roman citizen would be executed by chopping off the head, and the common criminal was executed by hanging, and the most contemptible criminals were crucified.
To the Christian the cross should be more than a piece of jewelry to wear. How about wearing a replica of a hangman's noose or the electric chair as jewelry.
The cross is to be preached so it can be
seen by both sinner and saint..
Sinners, Behold and Repent. Saints,
Behold and Rejoice.
Paul calls Him Lord Jesus Christ. His full Name.
He has a title Name. God, in the flesh, has atoned for sin completely. He is Lord of lords. The Cross is the Cross of the Lord.
He has an earthly Name, and that Name is Jesus. He is human. He is God in the flesh. The Cross is the Cross of our Lord Jesus.
He has a mission Name. Christ means Messiah, and this means the Anointed One. The Cross is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament, prophets, priest, and kings entered upon their special offices by anointing.
Heb 8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man (Jesus Christ) have somewhat also to offer. Jesus Christ offered Himself.
Speaking of Christ Heb 8:1 says, "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;"
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
God had anointed and appointed Him as the only Redeemer of lost mankind.On the Cross at Calvary, the Everlasting Covenant being completed.
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,Christ death on the Cross was ratified. This is to legalize and make official.
Heb 9:16-17 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.This New Everlasting Covenant was ratified by Blood.
Heb 9:18-22 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
The Cross is not the emblem of Christianity. If that's all that Christ did was die, we believers would have the penalty paid for our sins and wouldn't have to suffer in hell for eternity, but we would not live again.
Sin sends a person to hell forever. Sin also kills the body soul and spirit. Christ's death on the Cross, eliminated our going to hell, but it didn't give us everlasting life. When Christ died on the Cross, He conquered the punishment for sin and when He rose from the dead, He conquered the death of sin
1 Cor 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
The Christian can say, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor 15:55) The grave cannot hold us no more than it could hold Christ.
The Cross is not the emblem of Christianity. The finished work of Christ is the Empty Tomb. The Lord, Himself, gave us the appointed emblems of Christ-
Ianity, and that is the Bread and Cup at the communion table.
The Cross meant that a "sinless Savior" died for "condemned sinners" and He arose a "living Savior" so that "dying sinners" might "live".
There are five great truths of the Cross.Imputation. God attributes-ascribes, credits us with the righteousness of Christ. That is He acts like we are as righteous as God Hinself. (2 Cor. 5:21).Substitution. The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)
That is, He gave Himself in my place.Reconciliation. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. (2 Cor.5:19)
He was making us once again pleasing to God.Redemption. In Christ we have redemption through His blood.(Eph. 1:7)Salvation. God has not chosen us to revenge, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,(1Thes 5:9)
Paul gloried in the cross, and so
should we. What else can a poor useless sinner glory in?Christ was crucified for me That is SUBSTITUTION. He took my place and
died for me. On that basis I am totally forgiven. No more the dread of hell. It
is heaven for me. Complete pardon.I am crucified. That is
IDENTIFICATION. Christ not only died for me, but He died as me. He was my
representative as well as my substitute. In Him, I died, and so, now I shall
live forever..The world is crucified. That is
EMANCIPATION.We are
freed from the law, the bondage of sin.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free
from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the
end everlasting life.We are
at liberty in Christ.
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be
delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God.
2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit:
and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.We have been delivered from the curse of
sin.
1Thes 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the
dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to
come.We have won the war. We
have won the battle against Satan. But how did we win it.
1 Cor 15:57 But
thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.
When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died, my sorrow is turned to joy unspeakable and full of glory.I glory in the Cross of Christ.