Great morning at CLC! Paul Benger completed the series ‘The Cross’, an excellent finale about the fact that Jesus died to forgive us.
The Pharisee & The Tax Collector - In Luke 18 Jesus tells a story about 2 men that go to pray, we think it's a simple story about prayer but it's not. It's a story about how to be right with God. The first man is trusting his own efforts the second says, "Please provide atonement for me." It's the second man that gets justified.
We need forgiveness. We all fall short of God’s righteous standard.
Romans 3:23-24 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus
People try to get right with God by what they DO... it's law keeping, if I’m good enough then...but it doesn't work!
If you were asked the question does God love you, like most people you would probably answer yes. But what about the question "Does God like you?" How would you answer that?
God takes no pleasure in holding our sins against us. He wants to forgive us.
Acts 13:38 – Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you
God loves you and God likes you! He has removed our sin from us completely. We can live in that place of joy and thankfulness. The Gospel is more than forgiveness…there is an exchange that takes place, our sins are placed on Jesus and his righteousness is given to us. We are made right with God!
The Nature of Forgiveness
It’s Total - It’s not 10% forgiveness…it’s complete! Hebrews 8:12 – For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 10:18 – And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
It’s a Gift – you can’t earn it. We can’t boast about it. Even as Christians we can still fall into the trap of trying to please God…to earn his righteousness. We need to accept the gift and live in the power of that righteousness. Don’t walk around with your heads down…lift up your heads and believe that the gift belongs to you…it’s yours!
It’s by Grace – It’s God’s favour shown to us. Titus 3:7 – so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
It’s through Faith – Acts 13:39 – Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
Romans 5:1 – Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith is the only currency of Heaven. We can’t do it in our own strength…we rely on Him.
It’s by His Death – It all comes back to the cross and his resurrection. Romans 5:9 – Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
Results of Forgiveness
- We have peace with God
- We escape God’s wrath and condemnation
- We have freedom from the law
- We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live for Jesus
- We forgive others
Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Cross – Jesus Died to Reveal God
Another amazing morning in church today. As part of our current series on the Cross, Paul Benger shared a great message on the fact that Jesus died to reveal God.
The New Testament emphasises death Jesus - Matthew devotes 33% of book to final week of Jesus' life, Mark 37%, Luke 25% & John 42%. It's the death of Jesus therefore that reveals God to us. Jesus is the visible appearance of the invisible God. His death shows us what God is like more than anything else.
John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Unless God shows us what he is like we can make it up! He couldn’t allow that so he came to earth through his Son.
Look at four things about Jesus on the cross that reveals to us what God is like so that we don’t get a distorted view.
God is JUST
God could have left us…he could have let sin have its way. However, he chose to save us and in doing so in order to be just had to punish sin.
Romans 3:25-26 - God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Somebody, Jesus, took the punishment for us. Some believe this was unfair…that Jesus would go through this for us. They feel that we should pay in someway for our sin. That we get away with it cheaply!
It wasn’t cheap – it cost God his only Son. No-one can say that God is unjust. He has to deal with sin. He chose to save us when he could have just left us alone.
God is LOVE
The cross is barbaric but the good new is God loves People.
John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 4:9-10 - This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God is love…that is the reason that he didn’t leave us. His passion is for people…it’s what drove him. He could do no other. He loves people…the unlovely! The cross reveals his passion for people.
God is our REDEEMER
God redeems us. Puts us back in the place we should be in. Puts us in the position where we can live by the life of the Spirit!
Galatians 3:13-14 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Got to see things from God’s perspective now. Don’t let things become blurred…line oursleves up with him. Get on his wavelength.
God has a HEART for RECONCILIATION
God is our Friend. God has taken the initiative to reconcile us to himself and call us friends.
We see miracles today…every time God finds someone and rescues them.
As we see the amazing images on our screens from Haiti of the search and rescue missions…God is seeking and searching for the lost. No one is off his radar. He is clambering through the rubble of a sin soaked world to bring life to all who will trust him for salvation. We are now engaged in that mission with him!
He doesn’t give up after so many days either! He keeps on seeking and saving the lost.
Romans 5:10-11 - For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 - And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Let’s join with his mission…in the search and rescue!
Mark 16:15 - And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
The New Testament emphasises death Jesus - Matthew devotes 33% of book to final week of Jesus' life, Mark 37%, Luke 25% & John 42%. It's the death of Jesus therefore that reveals God to us. Jesus is the visible appearance of the invisible God. His death shows us what God is like more than anything else.
John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Unless God shows us what he is like we can make it up! He couldn’t allow that so he came to earth through his Son.
Look at four things about Jesus on the cross that reveals to us what God is like so that we don’t get a distorted view.
God is JUST
God could have left us…he could have let sin have its way. However, he chose to save us and in doing so in order to be just had to punish sin.
Romans 3:25-26 - God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Somebody, Jesus, took the punishment for us. Some believe this was unfair…that Jesus would go through this for us. They feel that we should pay in someway for our sin. That we get away with it cheaply!
It wasn’t cheap – it cost God his only Son. No-one can say that God is unjust. He has to deal with sin. He chose to save us when he could have just left us alone.
God is LOVE
The cross is barbaric but the good new is God loves People.
John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 4:9-10 - This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God is love…that is the reason that he didn’t leave us. His passion is for people…it’s what drove him. He could do no other. He loves people…the unlovely! The cross reveals his passion for people.
God is our REDEEMER
God redeems us. Puts us back in the place we should be in. Puts us in the position where we can live by the life of the Spirit!
Galatians 3:13-14 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Got to see things from God’s perspective now. Don’t let things become blurred…line oursleves up with him. Get on his wavelength.
God has a HEART for RECONCILIATION
God is our Friend. God has taken the initiative to reconcile us to himself and call us friends.
We see miracles today…every time God finds someone and rescues them.
As we see the amazing images on our screens from Haiti of the search and rescue missions…God is seeking and searching for the lost. No one is off his radar. He is clambering through the rubble of a sin soaked world to bring life to all who will trust him for salvation. We are now engaged in that mission with him!
He doesn’t give up after so many days either! He keeps on seeking and saving the lost.
Romans 5:10-11 - For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 - And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Let’s join with his mission…in the search and rescue!
Mark 16:15 - And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Cross - Jesus Died for our Freedom
A great time at CLC today, Mark Wilkins spoke this morning on the fact that Jesus died for our freedom. An excellent message, part of our current series on the Cross.
Freedom…it is something we will fight for, even die for. Independence…wars fought for freedom.
It comes from that basic human desire…to be free. We’re born to be free.
What is freedom? One definition – ‘A capacity to determine your choices, the absence of constraint or servitude’
‘Freedom’ at the opposite end to ‘Tyranny’. Tyranny is the ‘illegitimate ruler’…freedom is the absence of that illegitimate ruler, choosing to be free of that tyrant. Through Jesus’ death we can cast off those illegitimate rulers.
Titus 2:13-14 - while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good
Redemption is synonymous with freedom. We can have the wrong grasp of what redemption means today…of what Jesus accomplished at the cross.
What does redeem mean? The penalty was paid by Jesus, but how do we understand what this meant? It helps to think of what happened to the children of Israel in Egypt.
Exodus 6:6 – "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgement.
Deuteronomy 15:15 – Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today
God dealt with Pharaoh…he removed the tyranny that was over the children of Israel. To redeem means to crush or destroy that thing that has a hold over us. When Jesus died the debt was wiped out…destroyed.
2 Samuel 7:23 - And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?
Who is our Redeemer?
Romans 3:24 – and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus
1 Corinthians 1:30 – It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption
Jesus is our Redeemer. What has been redeemed? What has been crushed…destroyed?
Galatians 3:13 – Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree”
Free from the Law – Jesus rescued us from the curse of the law. As we come to him we are accepted and forgiven. His grace is sufficient. We can have a relationship with God and not religion. God erases our past.
Free from Satan – the cross completely crushed the power of the enemy. Removed the tyrannical hold that Satan has over us. Jesus won the battle and we are able to walk free.
Romans 6:6-7 – For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin
Free from Sin – sin, the illegitimate ruler. Jesus breaks the addiction, that rule over our lives. We can be victorious over all of that!
Galatians 6:14 – May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world
He has overcome the world. Jesus completely destroyed the those things over us that seek to bind us and keep us enslaved. How did Jesus do it?
Romans 3:22-23 – This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Jesus rescued us…we now need to accept who is. His death on the cross is what freed us.
His love has saved us
His blood has claimed us
We can walk in the life that God intended for us. Only through Christ can we live a free life…a full life.
Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Galatians 5:1 – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery
We are truly free through him. We can stay free as we keep our eyes on him and what he has done for us.
Freedom…it is something we will fight for, even die for. Independence…wars fought for freedom.
It comes from that basic human desire…to be free. We’re born to be free.
What is freedom? One definition – ‘A capacity to determine your choices, the absence of constraint or servitude’
‘Freedom’ at the opposite end to ‘Tyranny’. Tyranny is the ‘illegitimate ruler’…freedom is the absence of that illegitimate ruler, choosing to be free of that tyrant. Through Jesus’ death we can cast off those illegitimate rulers.
Titus 2:13-14 - while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good
Redemption is synonymous with freedom. We can have the wrong grasp of what redemption means today…of what Jesus accomplished at the cross.
What does redeem mean? The penalty was paid by Jesus, but how do we understand what this meant? It helps to think of what happened to the children of Israel in Egypt.
Exodus 6:6 – "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgement.
Deuteronomy 15:15 – Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today
God dealt with Pharaoh…he removed the tyranny that was over the children of Israel. To redeem means to crush or destroy that thing that has a hold over us. When Jesus died the debt was wiped out…destroyed.
2 Samuel 7:23 - And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?
Who is our Redeemer?
Romans 3:24 – and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus
1 Corinthians 1:30 – It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption
Jesus is our Redeemer. What has been redeemed? What has been crushed…destroyed?
Galatians 3:13 – Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree”
Free from the Law – Jesus rescued us from the curse of the law. As we come to him we are accepted and forgiven. His grace is sufficient. We can have a relationship with God and not religion. God erases our past.
Free from Satan – the cross completely crushed the power of the enemy. Removed the tyrannical hold that Satan has over us. Jesus won the battle and we are able to walk free.
Romans 6:6-7 – For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin
Free from Sin – sin, the illegitimate ruler. Jesus breaks the addiction, that rule over our lives. We can be victorious over all of that!
Galatians 6:14 – May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world
He has overcome the world. Jesus completely destroyed the those things over us that seek to bind us and keep us enslaved. How did Jesus do it?
Romans 3:22-23 – This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Jesus rescued us…we now need to accept who is. His death on the cross is what freed us.
His love has saved us
His blood has claimed us
We can walk in the life that God intended for us. Only through Christ can we live a free life…a full life.
Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Galatians 5:1 – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery
We are truly free through him. We can stay free as we keep our eyes on him and what he has done for us.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Cross – Jesus Died to Crush our Enemies
Another amazing morning in church today. Paul Benger continued our series on ‘the Cross’, a great message about the fact that Jesus died to crush our enemies.
The truth sets us free. We see this starkly when we consider our theme today. Jesus was victorious at the cross…not defeated by sin, death or the devil. He triumphed over them!
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” C.S. Lewis
Colossians 2:13-15 - When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
The battlefield exists…we need to enforce the victory that Jesus has already won!
There are three public enemies (or Christian enemies) for us…
Enemy Number 1 – Sin
Sin always separates us or disconnects us from God. Jesus conquered sin at the cross.
Jesus defeats sin in our lives by making us alive to God. He has defeated sin at the cross he now causes us to be alive to God's peace, wisdom, grace, power, people, Spirit, mission.
Sin always disconnects. It disconnects us from others, from God even from our true self. When we become alive to God we reconnect and make new connections into which God puts his life!
As we become alive to God and his purposes people can see this in us…and when can then see other people coming alive to him.
CLC is unashamed to say that church is all about God and people. Seeing people connecting with God and his mission.
“When people have an experience that’s very powerful in the movie theatre, they want to share it. They want to grab their friend and bring them, so that they can enjoy it. They want to be the person to bring the “news” - that this is something worth having in their life.” James Cameron, Director of Avatar.
When we are alive to God we want to be that way too!
Enemy Number 2 – The Law
Jesus took away the Law by being the sinless sacrifice for sins. The law tries to keep us in RELIGION & not RELATIONSHIP. Any stuff added to the gospel takes away its power to transform us!
Hebrews 4:15-16 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
The law wants to make us religious. Our relationship with God is not all about rules and regulations…Jesus is enough!
Religion says ‘can't do’ Jesus says ‘can do’!
Enemy No 3 – Satan
Jesus has crushed Satan at the cross we now enforce that victory in our lives and bring his kingdom to others.
Colossians 1:13 - For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves
He triumphed over Satan and has placed you and I in that same place of victory…and our enemy is under our feet.
Ephesians 1:20-23 Ephesians 2:4-6
Which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
So how will we live? The issue of SIN is will we live DEAD or ALIVE. The issue of LAW is will we live in RELIGION or RELATIONSHIP. The issue of SATAN is will we live BOUND or FREE.
The truth sets us free. We see this starkly when we consider our theme today. Jesus was victorious at the cross…not defeated by sin, death or the devil. He triumphed over them!
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” C.S. Lewis
Colossians 2:13-15 - When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
The battlefield exists…we need to enforce the victory that Jesus has already won!
There are three public enemies (or Christian enemies) for us…
Enemy Number 1 – Sin
Sin always separates us or disconnects us from God. Jesus conquered sin at the cross.
Jesus defeats sin in our lives by making us alive to God. He has defeated sin at the cross he now causes us to be alive to God's peace, wisdom, grace, power, people, Spirit, mission.
Sin always disconnects. It disconnects us from others, from God even from our true self. When we become alive to God we reconnect and make new connections into which God puts his life!
As we become alive to God and his purposes people can see this in us…and when can then see other people coming alive to him.
CLC is unashamed to say that church is all about God and people. Seeing people connecting with God and his mission.
“When people have an experience that’s very powerful in the movie theatre, they want to share it. They want to grab their friend and bring them, so that they can enjoy it. They want to be the person to bring the “news” - that this is something worth having in their life.” James Cameron, Director of Avatar.
When we are alive to God we want to be that way too!
Enemy Number 2 – The Law
Jesus took away the Law by being the sinless sacrifice for sins. The law tries to keep us in RELIGION & not RELATIONSHIP. Any stuff added to the gospel takes away its power to transform us!
Hebrews 4:15-16 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
The law wants to make us religious. Our relationship with God is not all about rules and regulations…Jesus is enough!
Religion says ‘can't do’ Jesus says ‘can do’!
Enemy No 3 – Satan
Jesus has crushed Satan at the cross we now enforce that victory in our lives and bring his kingdom to others.
Colossians 1:13 - For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves
He triumphed over Satan and has placed you and I in that same place of victory…and our enemy is under our feet.
Ephesians 1:20-23 Ephesians 2:4-6
Which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
So how will we live? The issue of SIN is will we live DEAD or ALIVE. The issue of LAW is will we live in RELIGION or RELATIONSHIP. The issue of SATAN is will we live BOUND or FREE.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
The Cross - Jesus Died in our Place
New Year and a great new series started in church this morning, called the Cross. Paul Benger spoke an excellent message called Jesus died in our place.
It’s amazing how many people wear crosses…they’re everywhere! The cross is the most popular symbol and icon for the Christian faith.
Jesus and the what he accomplished at the cross still changes lives today.
Crucifixion was a brutal way to die. Cicero said, "Roman citizens should not think of it" and the first Christian emperor banned it. The word excruciating which means from the cross was born from the act of crucifixion and the pain that a crucified person would go through.
It’s sometimes hard for us to comprehend the enormity of what was happening at the cross of Jesus Christ.
All of the charges brought against him were false…it was an unfair death, because he did not die for himself – he died for us.
John 15:13 – Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:9-10 – This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
These verses reveal 2 amazing truths…
1) The cross shows the love of God
2) Jesus died in our place for our sins. This is known as substitution.
God is love…but he’s not just love, he is righteous, he is fair, he is judge. But love is the key. He is lovingly just, he is lovingly righteous…he is a loving judge.
The ultimate expression of God’s love is through the Cross.
The great truth for us today is that God has done all the work. He sent his Son to save. He realised that we couldn’t save ourselves. He does it all.
Isaiah 53 (The Message)
The fact that Jesus died in our place needs to be applied to our lives. Five applications of this great truth…
1) Know that your sin and the sin of the world has been by Jesus
Isaiah 53:6 – We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
ALL sin and for ALL the peoples of the world! Wow the Lord laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. Rapists, murderers, liars, thieves, deceivers etc. Let this truth free us. He has bore our sin so that it would not weigh us down. O what grace!
2) Trust him with your life
The cross is not just about Heaven. He died to redeem us…to bring us back to the place where we were meant to be. Jesus has paid the price for your life now! Live in freedom, with hope & knowing there's a great future ahead. The love of God expressed through the cross is powerful. It redeems, delivers and sets free.
Let us leap into his arms with total trust…total abandonment!
3) Receive peace and healing
Isaiah 53:5 – The punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed.
Jesus heals the human condition!
Don’t let the enemy steal your peace, your rest. We can know breakthrough this year…because of all he has done. Jesus died for you peace, your rest.
4) Live free from guilt and condemnation
Don't let anything hold you back! Believe God. Exercise faith in the work of Christ.
The best is yet to come!
5) Know God
Jesus died for us as the sacrifice for our sins but to bring us to God. Relationship, it's all about relationship not religion!
1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit
It’s amazing how many people wear crosses…they’re everywhere! The cross is the most popular symbol and icon for the Christian faith.
Jesus and the what he accomplished at the cross still changes lives today.
Crucifixion was a brutal way to die. Cicero said, "Roman citizens should not think of it" and the first Christian emperor banned it. The word excruciating which means from the cross was born from the act of crucifixion and the pain that a crucified person would go through.
It’s sometimes hard for us to comprehend the enormity of what was happening at the cross of Jesus Christ.
All of the charges brought against him were false…it was an unfair death, because he did not die for himself – he died for us.
John 15:13 – Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:9-10 – This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
These verses reveal 2 amazing truths…
1) The cross shows the love of God
2) Jesus died in our place for our sins. This is known as substitution.
God is love…but he’s not just love, he is righteous, he is fair, he is judge. But love is the key. He is lovingly just, he is lovingly righteous…he is a loving judge.
The ultimate expression of God’s love is through the Cross.
The great truth for us today is that God has done all the work. He sent his Son to save. He realised that we couldn’t save ourselves. He does it all.
Isaiah 53 (The Message)
The fact that Jesus died in our place needs to be applied to our lives. Five applications of this great truth…
1) Know that your sin and the sin of the world has been by Jesus
Isaiah 53:6 – We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
ALL sin and for ALL the peoples of the world! Wow the Lord laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. Rapists, murderers, liars, thieves, deceivers etc. Let this truth free us. He has bore our sin so that it would not weigh us down. O what grace!
2) Trust him with your life
The cross is not just about Heaven. He died to redeem us…to bring us back to the place where we were meant to be. Jesus has paid the price for your life now! Live in freedom, with hope & knowing there's a great future ahead. The love of God expressed through the cross is powerful. It redeems, delivers and sets free.
Let us leap into his arms with total trust…total abandonment!
3) Receive peace and healing
Isaiah 53:5 – The punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed.
Jesus heals the human condition!
Don’t let the enemy steal your peace, your rest. We can know breakthrough this year…because of all he has done. Jesus died for you peace, your rest.
4) Live free from guilt and condemnation
Don't let anything hold you back! Believe God. Exercise faith in the work of Christ.
The best is yet to come!
5) Know God
Jesus died for us as the sacrifice for our sins but to bring us to God. Relationship, it's all about relationship not religion!
1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit
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