OceanSide church of Christ
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BECAUSE OF THE
CROSS
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Psalm
22:16
For dogs have
compassed me: the assembly of the
wicked have enclosed me: they
pierced my hands and my feet.
1.
This psalm of David is
Messianic in nature.
2.
Specifically, it foretells
of the crucifixion; Jesus’ hands and feet would be pierced with the Roman
nails.
B.
The New Testament tells of
the fulfillment of this prophecy in a few brief words (Luke
23:33).
And when they
were come to the place, which is called
C.
Roman crucifixion was a
horrible, agonizing form of death.
It was the death reserved for criminals (Gal.
3:13b).
…for it is
written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
D.
Because of the cross,
however, Christians have many blessing bestowed upon them.
I.
BECAUSE OF THE CROSS, I KNOW THAT I AM LOVED
A.
I
John 4:10.
Herein is love,
not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent him Son to be the
propitiation for our sins.
B.
By means of the cross of
1.
It was divine love, God for
man.
2.
It was unique love, love for
enemies.
3.
It was sacrificial love, the
death of the Son of God.
4.
It was great love, on behalf
of every sin of mankind.
C.
Our enemies may oppose
us. Our friends may forsake
us. Our family may disown us. Still, we are loved by God (Rom.
8:38-39).
For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, or things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in
Christ Jesus.
II. BECAUSE OF THE
CROSS, I KNOW THAT I AM FORGIVEN
A.
Sin is a debilitating,
soul-damning disease that infects the inner man. It is incurable, likened to the disease
of leprosy.
B.
Because of the cross,
though, we are healed, cleansed, and saved from our sins.
1.
Isaiah
53:5.
But he was
wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon
him, and with his stripes we are healed.
2.
Revelation
1:5b.
Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
3.
Ephesians
1:7.
In whom we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of his grace.
C.
Christians have no weight of
sin to carry, no sting of sin that inflicts the conscience, nor corruption of
sin that will condemn his soul (
There is
therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death. For what
the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the
flesh.
III. BECAUSE OF THE CROSS,
MY LIFE HAS PURPOSE
A.
Purpose involves an end to
be obtained.
B.
Those in the world argue
that their lives have purpose.
1.
The rearing of a good
family.
2.
The building of a successful
business.
3.
The storing up of riches for
retirement.
4.
Good health and the
enjoyment of life.
C.
Worldly purposes, however,
are just that, worldly. The
purposes of which we speak goes beyond this world into realms
eternal.
1.
Two verses set forth our
purpose.
a.
Titus 2:14.
Who gave himself
for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
b.
Ephesians 2:10.
For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.
2.
Our purpose is to constantly
engage in good works.
a.
Such brings glory to God (Matt. 5:16).
b.
Good works serves the needs of mankind (Titus 3:8).
c.
Good works help us to save those who are lost (John
15:8).
d.
Good works store up treasures in heavenly realms (Matt.
6:91-21).
IV. BECAUSE OF THE CROSS, I
CAN FORGIVE OTHERS
A.
Remember, because of the
cross, I am forgiven.
1.
My sins were great, but they
were forgiven.
2.
My sins were numerous, but
they were forgiven.
3.
My sins were committed
against a perfect God, but they were forgiven.
4.
My sins cost God the death
of His Son, but they were forgiven.
B.
Because of the cross,
therefore, I should be able to forgive others who trespass against me (Col.
3:13).
Forbearing one
another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do
ye.
1.
Have the trespasses of
others against me been as great as mine against God?
2.
Have the trespasses of
others against me been as numerous as mine?
3.
Were the trespasses of
others against me committed against one as holy as God?
4.
Does the forgiveness I am
called to offer cost me as much as God’s cost Him?
C.
What I must forgive pales in
comparison to what God has forgiven.
Perhaps now the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant is put in a proper
perspective.
1.
The debt of ten thousand
talents was forgiven by the lord (Matt. 18:23-27).
2.
That same servant could not
forgive his fellowservant who owed him only a hundred pence (Matt.
18:28-30).
3.
The confrontation of the
servant by the lord (Matt. 18:31-34).
a.
The question (Matt. 18:32-33).
Then his lord,
after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave
thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also had compassion
on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
b.
The punishment (Matt. 18:34).
4.
Jesus’ application (Matt. 18:35).
So likewise
shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not
every one his brother their trespasses.
CONCLUSION
A.
The cross was a horrible
thing, but because of the cross
1.
I
know I am loved.
2.
I
know I am forgiven.
3.
I
know that my life has purpose.
4.
I
know that I can forgive those who sin against me.
B.
Because of the cross, I have
an example of obedience.
1.
Hebrews
5:8-9.
Though he were a
Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made
perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey
him.
2.
There are two major
components of obedience (Matt. 26:39).
a.
The sacrifice of our will.
b.
The complete surrender to the will of the Father.
And he went a
little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be
possible, let his cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
3. Perhaps you need to obey this morning. The cross shows you how to do this.