The Message Of The Cross

The Gospel of John tells about Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem just days before he would deliver himself over to be crucified for the sins of the world. The story unfolds to reveal the Pharisee's final rejection of Jesus and their plot to kill him. Significantly, we encounter a group of Greeks wanting to see Jesus and Jesus extends to them an invitation to follow him. All of this is pointing to the culmination of Christ's advent on the earth. The reason for His coming. What he came to do.

We pick up the story in verse 31 of John chapter 12.

John 12:31-33 "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." 33But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die

This morning as we begin the new year it is important for us to realize that the world around us needs to be confronted with the cross.

We need to make our goal as individuals and as a church to bring people to the cross because when we do that God is going to use it - God is going to use the cross to bring people - draw people to Jesus Christ - and they will be saved.

This is what I've heard called the "Magnetism" of the cross because it has the power to draw men to Christ.

There is a powerful message - that the world we live in must hear.

The Cross Carries The Message Of Love

In the cross of Christ we see the love of God expressed in a way that it can not be expressed in any other place.

Romans 5:8 - 11 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Important points in this passage:

- Christ died for us while we were still sinners (next verse - enemies)

- We are justified (declared not guilty) by Christ's blood

- Saved from wrath (Christ's anguish in the Garden ...)

(ILL) Rock Of Ages "be of sin the double cure - save from wrath and make me pure"

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

- Reconciled to God - (lined up with - corresponding to what God created us to be)

All this was done - while we were still sinners - while we were enemies with God

Why? Because God loves us that much.

We need to bring people to the cross this year because the cross carries the message of God's love.

The Cross Carries The Message Of Forgiveness

The greatest need we have is the need for forgiveness. We have all sinned. We have all come short of the glory of God. Sin separates us from God and each other. The problem we have is sin.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

Jesus' death on the cross is God's answer to our sin.

1 Peter 2:24-25 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness: for by His wounds you were healed

25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

On the night of Jesus' arrest - just a few hours before he was crucified he had his last supper with his disciples

Matthew 26:27-28 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them saying, "Drink from it all of you;

28 for this is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins,

When we observe the Lord's Supper we affirm once again that our faith is based on Forgiveness of sins - that forgiveness is possible only because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son

The message of the cross is the message of forgiveness. Its a message that people must hear in 2005.

The Apostle Paul - recognized the importance of the cross and its message and understood that it was so important that when he came to the pagan city of Corinth that he had nothing better to say - no other message than that of the cross

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified

The Cross Carries The Message Of Victory

John 12:31-33 "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." 33But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die

Galatians 6:14 But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

(the world = the evil satanic system - the world is spiritually dead to believers and they are dead to the world)

The cross of Jesus marked the defeat of Satan and the ultimate victory of God in time and in eternity.

At the cross we see the struggle between God and Satan, between light and darkness, between good and evil, -- Jesus Christ prevailed - good over came evil - light over came darkness - God defeated Satan

People around us in 2007 need to see the cross - see God's victory over evil - victory of darkness - victory over sin and death

That is the message of the cross - That message needs to permeate all that we set out to accomplish in 2007