The Weekly Diner

  THE CROSS OF CHRIST

What do we think and feel about the cross of Christ?
This week I want to examine what one of the greatest and most notable Christians who ever lived thought of the cross of Christ.
We can read about what Paul thought on this important question by reading Galatians 6:14  But God forbid the I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…..

So individually I would like to ask each of you, "What do you think about the cross of Christ?"

Paul begins our text by saying God Forbid.  In other words:  God, do not let this happen, or : God, allow me to NEVER Forget, or:  God,  stop me from glorying in something else, other than the cross of Jesus.   
These are such strong words from Paul! 

According to how the world sees things, Paul could have boasted about so many things, but he did not.
He could have boasted about his national privileges. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews.  He could have boasted he comes through his forefather Abraham, being in the right tribe, born in the right place, at the right time, etc.
He could have boasted in his own works, because he did so many things, even healings and wonderful missionary journeys.  He could have boasted in his knowledge, as he was schooled under the best teacher of his era.   He could have boasted in his graces. He was so loving, he was self-denying, so prayerful, so thankful.    

He never boasted in his churchmanship.  He started so many churches; he was a great church leader.
He could have gloried in his own personal conversion which was so exceptional that we read about it in the Holy Bible even today.

If Paul said, "God forbid that I should boast in anything whatever except the cross," should I dare to say, I have something to boast of? I am a better man than Paul?
Oh, let us beware of self-righteousness!   Be thankful, never boasting in ourselves!

  1^st Corinth 2:2 For I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.

When Paul talks about the cross in this way, he was referring to the doctrine that Christ died for sinners upon the cross.   This is what Paul is speaking about!  The Doctrine of atonement, blood shed for sin! The Doctrine of substitution, where we do not have to die and go to hell, because Jesus died for us!   
He is speaking about the doctrine that says as in Col 1:14    In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.  (also in Eph. 1:7)

He is speaking about the fact the “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.”   He is talking about the fact that   God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son! John 3:16
He is talking about the “ Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”   This is the Cross of Jesus Christ that Paul is referring to when he says he desires to Glory in nothing else!

A powerful verse says:  ( 1 Corinth 1:18)    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which believe it is the power of God!  
  
What a revelation when we can see the cross as the POWER OF GOD!  The Love of God!  Our Salvation!  O what power it is!

The Cross was in evidence before time:   In Revelations 13:8 … Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World  In Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lie, promised before the world began.   

The Cross in Sacrificial Symbolism:   Read the story of the Passover! What a picture!  Read about the sacrificing of the Lambs in the temple…. Right down to the water and blood flowed from the side of the temple just as they flowed from Jesus side.    

The Cross is Life for us!  1 John 5  11-12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.    READ 2 Corinth 5 :14-15! You will see life!

 The Blood Cleanses: Isaiah 1:18  Come let us reason together saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool!      

The Cross makes the believers exempt from judgment.      Romans 8:1 … No condemnation   Rev 2:11.. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.    Rev. 20:6  …on such the second death hath NO POWER.

The Cross gives us Power over sin: Romans 6:6  …Old man crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.   

The Cross is the subject Paul loved to preach about, and it is the subject he loved to dwell upon when he wrote to believers.
This is what Paul lived upon all his life, from the time of his conversion. He tells the Galatians, "The life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galat. 2:20.)

May we rest assured that Paul was right. Depend upon it, the cross of Christ—the death of Christ on the cross to make atonement for sinners—is the center truth in the whole Bible.
Let us not forget that all Christ's sufferings on the cross were fore-ordained. He was crucified "by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." (Acts 2:23.)

Do not forget that Christ's sufferings on the cross were necessary for man's salvation. He had to bear our sins, if ever they were to be borne at all. “by His stripes we are healed.”      

Do not forget that Christ's sufferings were endured voluntarily Romans 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all…..

How can we love sin, when we remember that because of our sins Jesus died?   
The Cross of Christ is the only place in the history of the entire world that we can see where the Saviour of Mankind, the Diety, dies for the sinner, for the disciple!     In all the other world religions, man has to do things to please the Diety.  That is why Christianity is a FAITH, not a religion and it is set apart by the Cross of Jesus, by the fact the it is all done for us by Christ! 

The cross is the strength of a minister and the entire church! . 1 Corinth 1:18    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which believe it is the power of God!       
Are you living in any kind of sin? Are you inquiring the way toward heaven?  Are you a distressed believer? Are you dying from a disease or cancer?  Jesus Christ won the victory over death, hell, and the power of the devil upon the cross!

Now I ask you again,  What you think now about the cross of Christ? 

 May you and I both say together… "God forbid that I should boast—except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!