3. Cross of Redemption (Isa 53:5, Rom 4:25)
The holy justice of God, which can never forgive sins, and the great love of God, who forgives all sins unconditionally, meet together on the cross to achieve complete atonement for sinners.
Therefore, the cross of Jesus Christ is the cross of atonement that completed the covenant of salvation.
This is God’s mysterious secret (Colossians 1:27).
Among the three crosses erected on Golgotha Hill, the seven words left by Jesus hanging on the central cross clearly demonstrate the essence of the Christian gospel and the spirit of the cross.
①Love, Forgiveness: Father, forgive us our sins (Luke 23:34).
②Jesus, Heaven: Today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).
③Family, Ethics: Behold your mother (John 19:27).
④Justification, Judgment: Why have you forsaken me?
⑤Redemption, Suffering: I thirst (John 19:28).
⑥ Entrust, Faith: Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit (Luke 23:46).
⑦Achievement, Victory: I have achieved it all (John 19:30)
The amazing fact of redemption is based on God's great love and grace, but it is not cheap grace.
The grace of the gospel came at a great price, including the unspeakable suffering, sacrifice, bloodshed, and death of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28).
Before resurrection and the crown of glory, there had to be a cross of suffering and sacrifice (Philippians 2:5-11).
Blood is life (Deuteronomy 12:3).
Therefore, without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).
Your sins and sinful nature are forever forgiven through the blood of Jesus on the cross (Isaiah 53:5, Hebrews 9:14-22, 1 Peter 1:19, 1 John 1:7, Revelation 1:5).
True repentance and precious blood transform us into new creatures, children of God (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The blood of Jesus on the cross breaks the devil's head (Genesis 3:15), neutralizes the devil's power (Revelation 12:11), and destroys the devil's works (1 John 3:8).
Hymn: I hear Thy welcome voice.
1. I hear Thy welcome voice,
that calls me, Lord, to Thee,
for cleansing in Thy precious blood,
that flowed on Calvary.
Refrain) I am coming, Lord! coming now to Thee!
Wash me, cleanse me in the blood
that flowed on Calvary.
2. Though coming weak and vile,
Thou dost my strength assure;
Thou dost my vileness fully cleanse,
till spotless all, and pure.
3. ‘Tis Jesus calls me on
to perfect faith and love,
to perfect hope, and peace, and trust,
for earth and heaven above.
4. ‘Tis Jesus who confirms
the blessed work within,
by adding grace to welcomed grace,
where reigned the power of sin.
5. All hail, atoning blood!
All hail, redeeming grace!
All hail, the gift of Christ our Lord,
our Strength and Righteousness!
The precious blood makes us the property of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:28, 1 Corinthians 6:20).
The precious blood of the cross is the eternal and unique sacrifice that comes before God (Hebrews 10:12-14) and allows us to experience God’s presence (Hebrews 10:17-20, Romans 3:25).
The precious blood makes sinners stand righteous before God (Romans 3:25-26, Hebrews 10:10).
Through the blood of the cross, sinners can boldly come before the throne of God's grace to receive God's grace to help them in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Jesus, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), redeemed all human sins with his precious blood on the cross.
At the center of the Bible stands the cross of atonement.
It is very unfortunate that the Israelites have a tradition of ignoring Isaiah chapter 53, which prophesied the cross and atonement event in the Old Testament, and not even reading it to this day.
You must not forget that you have received eternal forgiveness because of the atonement of the cross and are no longer sinners, but righteous and saints (Hebrews 10:12-14).
1) He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: by his chastisement we enjoyed peace, and by his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). But Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever, and sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12).
2) Jesus was delivered for our sins and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:25, 1 Peter 2:24).
3) But Christ, having offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting until afterward to make his enemies a footstool for his feet; and by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified ( Hebrews 10:12-14)
4. Cross of Victory (John 16:33, Col 2:15)
The cross of Jesus is a battle against the devil (Genesis 3:15, 1 John 3:8, Revelation 12:11), sin (Hebrews 10:12), the law (Galatians 4:5), and the suffering and death of life (Hebrews 2:14-15). ), and it is the cross of victory that overcomes even the judgment of hell (John 5:24) (Colossians 2:15).
Thus, on the cross, He fulfilled the work of redemption that He began in Genesis 3:15, saying, “It is finished (John 19:30),” and declared final victory.
The final covenant, “You will have tribulation in the world, but take heart, I have overcome the world (John 16:33)” was also fulfilled through the death and resurrection of the cross.
By completing the work of atonement on the cross, the fundamental purpose of the satanic movement was destroyed.
The victory of the cross left Satan mortally wounded and bound to await judgment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1-3).
Jesus Christ overcame the power of death and was resurrected, leaving the tomb empty (Hebrews 2:14-15), fully paying the price of death, the wages of sin, forgiving sinners, making them righteous, and giving them life.
He also gave sinners the hope of resurrection (John 19:30, Acts 20:28).
Satan was bound and his activities were restricted, and the gospel movement of the Holy Spirit arose like fire (Revelation 20:2-3).
Those who had opposed Jesus' sermon heard Peter's sermon, and 3,000 people repented and returned, and the history of revival began in Jerusalem and spread throughout the world (Acts 1:8, 2:41).
Sin caused discord between God and humans, but the cross of Jesus was a cross of peace that broke down the discord not only between God and humans but also between humans (Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:16, Colossians 1:20).
Therefore, to those who believe in Jesus' victory on the cross, Jesus said, “I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; no one will be able to harm you (Luke 10:19, Mark 16:17-18). )”, he gave permission to receive the license.
Just as the secret of Jesus' victory was death on the cross and resurrection, the secret of the believer's victory is to look to the cross (Hebrews 12:2) and follow Jesus' secret of victory (Revelation 12:11).
A life of faith is enjoying freedom from Satan, the law, sin, and death through the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross (John 8:32, Galatians 5:1, Rev 1:5).
When the old nature dies, you live and win.
Hymn: The Power of His Blood
1 Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you o'er evil a victory win?
There's wonderful power in the blood.
Refrain) There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the blood of the Lamb.
There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
2 Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide;
There's wonderful power in the blood. [Chorus]
3 Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Sin stains are lost in its life-giving flow;
There's wonderful power in the blood. [Chorus]
4 Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There's wonderful power in the blood. [Chorus]
2) God erased the provisions of the law that were unfavorable to us and removed them from among us by nailing them to the cross.
He neutralized the claims of all rulers and powerful people and presented them as captives in Christ's triumphal procession, making them a spectacle for all to see (Colossians 2:5; Revelation 12:11).
5. Cross of Union (Gal 2:20, Mtt 16:24)
If you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5) and become united with the cross death and resurrection of Christ Jesus (Romans 6:3-8, Colossians 2:12), the work of the cross of Jesus (Romans 4:25, 1 Peter 2:24) becomes your actual event. By applying this, sins are forgiven and the salvation history of new creation is accomplished by being reborn as a righteous person (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In the grace of the Holy Spirit, the atonement event of Jesus' cross is united with my event, the passions and greed of the old person are crucified (Galatians 5:24), and a new life of faith begins (Galatians 2:20).
We always look to the crucified Lord as our model of faith (Hebrews 12:2) and boast only of the gospel of the cross of Jesus (Galatians 6:14).
We only testify the gospel of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:23) to a world that regards Jesus hanging on the cross as a curse and foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18) and treats us as enemies (Philippians 3:18).
We take up our cross (Matthew 16:24) and live a glorious life participating in the remaining sufferings of Christ.
That is why the Christian life cannot be thought of apart from the cross.
The cross of Jesus Christ is the core of the Bible and the center of our religious life, and the spirit of the cross becomes the goal of Christian spirituality.
We cannot bear the cross of redemption that the Lord bore, and we do not need to.
All we can do is participate in the cross incident, receive its grace, and live a life of witness while looking at the cross (Hebrews 12:2).
True Christian spirituality is not a religious spirituality that improves through practice.
It is a life that comes from being born again (Romans 8:9, 2 Corinthians 5:17), a life of serving as a servant with the spirit of the cross (Mark 10:45), obeying the Lord, bearing witness with the heart of the Lord, and being faithful until death.
(1 Corinthians 2:16)
Christian spirituality focuses on a life of personal fellowship with the Lord who is present in the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:5) and a life that embodies the spirit of the cross every day in one's life (Galatians 2:20).
The Bible teaches us to abandon ourselves and follow the spirit of the cross of Jesus, who saved sinners through death on the cross (Matthew 16:24) and to embody it in our lives every day (Galatians 2:20).
If you look at the cross of Jesus and bear witness to it, you will have a plus life (Hebrews 12:2).
If you take up your cross and walk with the Lord, your life will be multiplied (Matthew 16:24).
Thus, the message of the cross, namely, the principle of personality change, the principle of piety, the principle of service, the principle of balance, the principle of forward growth, the principle of life, the principle of systemization, and the principle of reproduction, are the eight basic principles of disciples who follow the Lord. (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23).
2) If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24).
Hymn: "Are Ye Able," Said the Master
1. "Are ye a-ble," said the Mas-ter,
"To be cru-ci-fied with Me"
"Yea," the sturd-y dream-ers answer-ed,
"To the death we fol-low Thee."
"Lord, make us a-ble," Our spir-its are Thine,
Re-mold them, make us like Thee, di-vine:
Thy guid-ing ra-diance a-bove us shall be
A bea-con to God, To love and loy-al-ty.
2. "Are ye a-ble," to re-mem-ber,
When a thief lifts up his eyes,
That his par-doned soul is wor-thy
Of a place in Par-a-dise
"Lord, make us a-ble," Our spir-its are Thine,
Re-mold them, make us like Thee, di-vine:
Thy guid-ing ra-diance a-bove us shall be
A bea-con to God, To love and loy-al-ty.
3. "Are ye a-ble," when the shad-ows
Close a-round you with the sod,
To be-lieve that spir-it tri-umphs,
To com-mend your soul to God
"Lord, make us a-ble," Our spir-its are Thine,
Re-mold them, make us like Thee, di-vine:
Thy guid-ing ra-diance a-bove us shall be
A bea-con to God, To love and loy-al-ty.
4. "Are ye a-ble," still the Mas-ter
Whis-pers down e-ter-ni-ty,
And he-ro-ic spir-its an-swer,
Now, as then in Gal-i-lee.
"Lord, make us a-ble," Our spir-its are Thine,
Re-mold them, make us like Thee, di-vine:
Thy guid-ing ra-diance a-bove us shall be
A bea-con to God, To love and loy-al-ty.
Some religions use the light of the sun and a woman as symbols, while others use an empty circle, a candlestick, a sword, and the moon as symbols.
What do you think of when you see the cross?
Among the three crosses that stood on Golgotha Hill, the cross of Jesus in the middle is the Cross of Justice, the Cross of Love, the Cross of Atonement, the Cross of Victory, and the Cross of Unity, which show the core truths of the Christian Bible and gospel.
The sign of the true cross, not the fake cross of an ornament, is a confession of faith in Jesus (Galatians 2:20) and a sign that one belongs to Jesus and is a disciple who follows Jesus (Matthew 16:24).
Such a Christian has no choice but to crucify the affections and greed of his old life and live a new life (Galatians 5:24).
True believers have no choice but to live a life that boasts and testifies to the victory and glory of the cross (Galatians 6:14, 1 Corinthians 1:23).
True believers have no choice but to deeply meditate on the meaning of the cross and follow Jesus’ example (Hebrews 12:3).
True believers have no choice but to embrace the love, humility, and patience of Christ Jesus, who submitted to the will of God even to death on the cross (Philippians 1:5).
True believers have no choice but to participate in Christ’s sacrifice and suffering (Colossians 1:24, 1 Peter 4:13).
Christians must imitate the Lord and live a new life with the spirit of the cross that Jesus spoke of on the cross (1 Peter 2:21-24).
Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who came out to witness the suffering of Jesus and climbed the hill to Golgotha carrying Jesus' cross under the pressure of a Roman soldier, experienced amazing grace at the scene of Jesus' bloody atonement on the cross (Matthew 27: 32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26).
Afterwards, he evangelized his entire family and actively cooperated with Apostle Paul's European missions (Romans 16:13).
We do not live for ourselves, nor do we live for others.
We lived because of Jesus Christ, we still live in Jesus Christ, and we must continue to live for Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:20-21).
In order to live a life that concludes with Jesus Christ hanging on the cross, we need a great change and decision to change our life in this world to a life in Jesus (Matthew 16:24).
We need a change to transform earthly things into heavenly treasures, a change in sovereignty, a change in heart, and a change in priorities in life.
This is possible only when we know and experience the meaning of the gospel of Jesus' cross through the grace of the Holy Spirit. The important truth of Christianity is that Jesus Christ died for me, and when I die spiritually with the Lord, I am resurrected by the Spirit of Christ and live a new life united with the Lord (Galatians 2:20).
What God loved us and accomplished on the cross through Jesus is the gospel of grace as opposed to religious law (Acts 20:24).
When we live by the gospel of the grace of the cross, we live in grace, not sin.
“Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me eternal life.
I believe that all my curses have been completely resolved because of Jesus.
Thank you for God’s grace and love.
Jesus my Savior, Jesus my Lord, Jesus alone Glory Hallelujah, Amen! amen! amen!"
This is the gospel of the cross that must be confessed every day.
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