THE CROSS
In this sermon outline we take the letters
of the Cross to show the meaning and the work of Christ upon the cross.
It makes us appreciate His great Work on the Cross.
"C" is
in CROSS is for the Christ,
the Son of the Living God who died on the cross for us all.
- Romans 5:8 (KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1. On the cross He became a curse for us.
- Gal 3:13 (KJV) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree:
"R" is
in cross for the reason Christ died for us, the reason being sin.
- 1 Peter 3:18 (KJV) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the
just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death
in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1. We have all sinned.
- Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God;
- Psa 14:3 (KJV) They are all gone aside, they are all together become
filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
- Psa 53:3 (KJV) Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether
become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
- Rom 3:10 (KJV) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
- Rom 3:12 (KJV) They are all gone out of the way, they are together
become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
2. The second reason He died for us is found in:
- John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.
3. Also in Romans 5:8 (KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1. A. His love is so great. Like the
words to the hymn 'The Love of God':
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain:
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure-
The saints' and angels' song.
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God's love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race-
The saints' and angels' song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
"O" is for
the outcome of sin which is death.
- Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Ezekiel 18:20 (KJV) The soul that sinneth, it shall die.
...........................
"S" the
first s is that Christ is our substitute on the cross for everyone of
us.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who
knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
a. He Was the perfect sacrifice.
- Hebrews 4:15 (KJV) For we have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
"S" the
second s is for the Salvation Christ has provided for us on the cross.
- 1 Pet 3:18 (KJV) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just
for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the
flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
- Acts 3:19 (KJV) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins
may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord;
- John 1:12 (KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
We need to also after receiving Him as our own Personal Saviour follow
Him. There is a cross for all of us to bear, but He bore the greatest
and heaviest cross of all, it carried the sin of the whole world.
- Luke 9:23 (KJV) And he said to them all, If any man will come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
- Luke 9:62 (KJV) And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to
the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
I love the words to that old hymn 'At
the Cross':
Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sov'reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
Refrain:
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine-
And bathed in its own blood-
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His soul in anguish stood.
Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature's sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
'Tis all that I can do.
Say "Yes" to the Cross
We can say "yes" to the cross by fully surrendering our lives to Christ.
- Romans 6:13 (KJV) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of
unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that
are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of
righteousness unto God.
God wants us to be wholly His, so He can be wholly ours. What an amazing
exchange this is, all of us for all of Him, our selfishness for His
love, our sin for His holiness, our own way for His perfect will, our
strife for His peace, our pain for His healing, our bondage for His
freedom.
No wonder Paul could say, Galatians 6:14 (KJV) 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.
Excerpted From "The Cross" on 'Meet Me in
the Meadow' by Roy Lessin:
Jesus is...
- Jesus is Hope...Because every promise of God is fulfilled in Him.
- Jesus is Joy...because in Him dwells all God's fullness.
- Jesus is Love...because He gave Himself without reservation
May His hope, joy, and love be your
celebration!
- 1 Peter 1:3 (KJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again
unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
