Historical Posts
Galatians 06:14 – How do you View the Cross of Christ? – Audio
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Text: Galatians 6:14 (Reading by )
Introduction to How do you View the Cross of Christ?
1. Some see the Cross of Christ as a piece of jewelry
2. Some see the Cross as a decoration in their home.
3. Some see the Cross as a design in their clothing
4. The bible points out seven different perspectives of the Cross of Christ
Body
A. The Cross of Christ was about silver to Judas
1. He was a thief and traitor – John 12:4-6
2. He sold Jesus – Matthew 26:15
B. The Cross of Christ was about silence to the Pharisees
1. They tried to trick Him – Matthew 22:15-22
2. They decided to kill Him – Matthew 26:3-5
a. He arose – Acts 2:32-33
b. His disciples turned the world upside down – Acts 17:6
C. The Cross of Christ was about self-preservation to Pilate
1. He knew Jesus was innocent – Matthew 27:23-24
2. He sacrificed Jesus to save himself – John 19:12-16
D. The Cross of Christ was about sport to the Roman soldiers
1. The soldiers made fun of Him – John 19:2-3
2. They gambled for His clothes – Matthew 27:35
E. The Cross of Christ was about substitution to the Father
1. This was God’s demonstration of His love
2. He died for us – 1 Peter 2:21
F. The Cross of Christ was about submission to the Son
1. He submitted willing – Matthew 26:39, 53
2. He humbled Himself – Philippians 2:8-9
Conclusion to How do you View the Cross of Christ?
1. The Cross of Christ is about salvation to the saints
2. So Jesus said – Matthew 26:28
3. So they preached – 1 Peter 1:18-20
4. He is coming again – Revelation 1:7-9
5. The Cross can change your life, change you. How will you respond to the Cross of Christ?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Donald W. Treadway
Return to the Home Page
Galatians 06:14 – Boast in the Cross – Audio
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Text: Galatians 6:14 (reading by Andy Anderson)
Introduction:
1. “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Galatians 6:14
2. Why would anyone want to “boast” in the cross, an instrument of death?
3. The answer is because the cross is a great paradox.
a. It is Instrument of death – but it gives life.
b. It is darkest day in history – but on it hung the light of the world.
c. It is premeditated murder – but also predestined sacrifice.
d. It is great act of sin – but it was also a great cure for sin.
e. On the cross, Jesus won by losing and He conquered by surrendering.
f. The cross demonstrates how much God hates sin and how much He loves the sinner.
4. The cross is central to the Christian faith, and rightly so, for it gives meaning, hope, and stability for our lives.
5. Let’s examine three messages from the cross which can give meaning, hope, and stability to my life.
Body:
I. The Cross Declares That My Life Is Not Futile
A. You are not an obscurity, but an object of God’s love.
B. John 3:16
C. 2 Timothy 1:9
II. The Cross Declares That My Failures Are Not Fatal
A. Luke 23:43
B. Ephesians 1:7
C. 1 John 2:1
D. 1 John 1:9
III. The Cross Declares That My Death Is Not Final
A. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
B. Hebrews 12:1-4
Conclusion:
1. All of us have suffered from what life can throw at us and how life can shake our faith and how life can knock us off balance.
2. It’s at these moments that we really need to look back to the cross, and lean on it for meaning, hope, and stability.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
Return to the Home Page
The Thief on the Cross – Luke 23:39-46
Text: Luke 23:39-46
Where do we read about the thief on the cross?
Mark 15:32 says that those who were crucified with Jesus reviled Him, but the only passage to tell us all the details is Luke 23:39-46.
What law did the thief live under?
Since Jesus was still alive, he could only be under the old law, or Law of Moses (Hebrews 9:15-17). He could not have been a Christian.
Had the kingdom of God come yet?
The Thief asked Jesus to remember him when He would come in the kingdom (Luke 23:42). Thus, speaking in a future tense, the kingdom had not yet come. Jesus promised He would build His church and give Peter the keys to that kingdom (Matthew 16:13-19), and after Christ ascended into Heaven Peter unlocked that kingdom on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1-2).
Did the thief on the cross repent?
According to Luke 23:41-42, he certainly did! We all must repent if we want to be saved (Luke 13:3-5).
Did Jesus have the power to save him?
Remember that Jesus has all authority (Matthew 28:18-20), and thus He may save whomever He wishes as He wishes. He proved this when He saved the paralytic. Not only did He show his power to heal him physically, but could forgive his sins (Luke 5:18-26).
It must be noted, however, that Jesus gave them different instructions than He does with us today. These individuals all lived under the Old Law, and Jesus gave the Great Commission (commanding us to believe and obey the gospel) after His resurrection (see also Matthew 27, Matthew 28, as well as Mark 15 and Mark 16).
Editor’s Note: There is not much discussion about the other thief. Let us repent and recognize Christ like the one discussed above.
Content by Richard Dillon
Return to the Home Page
