What does the Cross Mean To Me? And why the Cross?

In my unsaved condition, and without the Cross, I was: 1) Exposed to God's righteous anger, and was spiritually dead. 2) A prisoner of Satan and sin. (Belong to Satan.) 3) A helpless captive. (Unable to set themselves free.) 4) Hopelessly in debt to God. (Sin is a debt to God which you cannot repay.) 5) A sworn enemy of our Creator. (Belonging to Satan means an enemy of God.) 6) Guilty without excuse or escape. ~

Matthew 26:39 (ERV)  “My Father, if it is possible, don’t make me drink from this cup. But do what you want, not what I want.” The profoundness of this statement expresses: The agony of Jesus regarding God’s way of dealing with sin. A request from Jesus as to whether there is perhaps another way to bring about salvation. A submission to God’s will; body mind and spirit. The immensity of Gods’ love for us. The prayer of the righteous is always dependent on the will of God. ~

Why God’s wrath? The wrath of God is His eternal hatred of all unrighteousness. It is the displeasure and indignation of Divine justice against evil. It is the holiness of God stirred into action against sin. It is the moving cause of a just sentence which He passes onto evil-doers. God is angry against sin because it is a rebelling against His authority; a wrong done to His absolute sovereignty. ~

Why does God hate sin so much? It is the exact opposite of His nature. Because it keeps us separated from Him. God also hates sin because of its subtle deceitfulness which entices us to focus on worldly pleasure to the exclusion of God’s blessings.  God hates sin because it blinds us to the truth. God hates sin because it enslaves us and will eventually destroy us.  God hates sin because it lessens our love for Him. ~

I am a good person, Is God going to punish me? Doesn’t the Cross provide forgiveness and salvation to all? Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly teaches, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Being saved from sin and receiving eternal life cannot take place by our works. Getting into heaven requires faith in Jesus Christ. Ecclesiastes 7:20 also teaches, "Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins." No matter how hard you may try, even one sin is enough to keep you from heaven unless you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ. ~

How much does God love us? Isaiah 49:16 God loves you so much that He has engraved your name on the palm of His hand.  Matthew 10:30 He loves you so much that He knows how many hairs are on your head.  Psalm 56:8 He loves you so much that He saves your tears in a bottle.  Jeremiah 31:3 He loves you with an everlasting love. So much so, that Jesus had to carry out God’s way of buying you back. ~

How do I know that God loves me? Do I base it on:- (Could lead us to believe God loves some more than others.) His benevolence? 2. His provision? (What if our needs are unmet?) Gods’ love cannot be based on circumstances. If it cannot be based on circumstances, what is it then based on? 1 John 4:9 provides the answer (faith and trust confirms this.) This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God. God’s love is not seen today in our satisfaction in this life, but yesterday in His own satisfaction in His Son. ~

What did the cross do for me? My sin and guilt has been removed. (expiation) The wrath of God has been removed. (propitiation) My alienation has been removed. (reconciliation) I have been delivered from captivity by means of a price. (redemption) Satan no longer has claim to me. Satan’s only weapon that can ultimately hurt people is unforgiven sin.  I deserved to die, but Jesus took my place. (substitute) ~

But how should we respond to the cross? The Psalmist wrote: What can I give back to God for the blessings He has poured out on me? We can give to our Lord the faith He deserves. (Faith is absolute trust in God, in Jesus, and the Holy Scriptures.) You can never please God without faith, without depending on Him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that He rewards those who sincerely look for Him. Heb. 11:6. (Rom. 4:20). 2. We can give to our Lord the love He deserves.  Matt. 22:37. Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 3. We can give to our Lord the obedience that is essential. Jesus said to his disciples and to us, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). 4. We can give our Lord a dedicated body (Rom. 12:1). Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship 5. Faith is the best way we can express our love for God. ~

This morning we will be partaking of Holy Communion. But why is it so important for you and me? What has it got to do with the cross? It commemorates the final plague on Egypt.  It causes us to remember our Lord’s death and resurrection and to look for His glorious return in the future. It is the sharing of God’s gift with God. ~

Paul makes a very important warning in 1 Cor. 11:23-29 “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself” Let us also remember that: Taking communion doesn’t make you a Christian. It doesn’t save your soul or get you to heaven. ~

No Cross means no Communion. In conclusion, what does the Cross mean to me? No Cross means no Communion.