“The Cross”

The Cross 5/24

John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine He said, “IT IS FINISHED” And bowing His head He GAVE UP HIS SPIRIT

(Introduction)

Like the electric chair or lethal injection The Cross was the Roman form of execution for those deserving the death penalty

After being whipped and beaten our Lord was nailed to a cross 

The primary cause of death for someone who was crucified was asphyxiation and congestive heart failure  

The God Man

Theanthropos = God/Man Jesus is the god man and the only one qualified to redeem 

Hypostatic union: to be a surrogate substitute sacrifice for humans Jesus had to be human to be a worthy sacrifice He had to be divine and sinless.  Fully God Fully Man

I can identify with him because of His Humanity

He can forgive me of my sins because of His deity

The cost of freedom has always been blood

The Old Testament Worshiper

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the altar to make ATONEMENT for your souls for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul

Blood was reserved for a holy purpose

The animal’s blood being sprinkled on the altar symbolized the animal’s life being given to God instead of the sinner’s life to appease the wrath of God

 The burning of the animal’s flesh on the altar completed the sacrifice as a result the worshipper was symbolically COVERED or ATONED for from the wrath of God 

Hebrews 10:1 for the law having a SHADOW of the good things to come and NOT the very image of the things can never with these same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year make those who approach perfect

The New Covenant Worshipper 

Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new testament/covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins 

One who writes a will or a testament is referred to as a testator

A will does not go into effect until the death of the testator 

Through His blood we enter in to a covenant relationship with God The Father

Covenant Relationship: The Lord takes 100% of the responsibility in His covenant relationship with you. It is an unbreakable bond.  You can be secure in your relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 

Old Covenant:  atonement = to cover over

New Covenant: JUSTIFIED = like we have never sinned declared innocent

The New Covenant is better than the old 

The Book of Hebrews was written to persecuted Jewish believers. As a result of persecution they were going back to Judaism leaving Christianity 

It Is Finished!  Atonement had occurred the price had been paid

The cross is a perfect work nothing can be added to it nothing can be taken away from it

Sin Finished, Death Finished, Anger Finished, Alcoholism Finished, Sexual Sins Finished, Drug Addiction Finished, Depression Finished, No Hope Finished, IT IS FINISHED

The Power of the Cross you must realize your deliverance 

Matthew 27:51 The Veil of the temple was torn in two now we have access to God Jesus is the mediator 

Generational curses were broken

Addictions were broken

Strongholds were broken

The power of sin and death were broken 

What the enemy intended for bad God used for good the Lord will make some of the worst thing that happen to you to be a strength to you

Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman. And between your seed and her Seed, He shall bruise your head And you shall bruise His heel 

The power of the Cross has saved us and delivered us for greater works

Greater works John 14:12 What did the Lord mean by greater works.  

He created an antigravitational force that enabled him to walk on water and defy gravity

He multiplied matter by turning a few fish and a few loaves into enough to feed thousands

At the word of His command he controlled atmospheric conditions and told the weather what to do and how to do it instantly

He rose the dead and commanded Lazarus who had been dead for 4 days who was in the process of putrefaction He recreated his tissue and cells and reversed rot and decay He summoned the Spirit of Lazarus back into the body and back to life 

Yet ultimately Lazarus died a second death

The 4000 and the 5000 thousand that were fed were hungry the next day

The disciples had to endure more storms throughout the rest of their lives

Now that Jesus sealed the new covenant in his blood and was seated at the right hand of God the Father he has literally given us the power to lead people to eternal life through Jesus Christ this is a greater work