The Meaning of the Cross An Easter message Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009 Speaker: Phil Hainaut

THE MEANING OF THE CROSS INTRODUCTION: THE DEATH OF JESUS OF NAZARETH 1. IS IT RELEVANT TODAY? 2. WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING ABOUT IT?

THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS AT LEAST 8 THINGS… 1. A demonstration of God’s justice 2. A sacrifice John 1:29 “This is the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”.

Isaiah 53 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 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. He was… led like a lamb to the slaughter… It was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days”

THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS AT LEAST 8 THINGS… 1. A demonstration of God’s justice 2. A sacrifice 3. A propitiation, appeasing God’s wrath Leviticus 4:35 “The priest shall burn it on the altar, upon the offering by fire to the Lord; and the priest shall make atonement for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven”

Romans 1:18 “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men” Romans 3:23-25 “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. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood” “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. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood” John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him”

THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS AT LEAST 8 THINGS… 1. A demonstration of God’s justice 2. A sacrifice 3. A propitiation, appeasing God’s wrath 4. A substitution

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” 2 Cor.5:21 “He made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us” 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”

THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS AT LEAST 8 THINGS… 1. A demonstration of God’s justice 2. A sacrifice 3. A propitiation, appeasing God’s wrath 4. A substitution 5. A ransom

Matthew 20:28 “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 “You are not your won, you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” Revelations 5:9 “You were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God..” “You were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God..” Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel”

Romans 6:6 “Our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we no longer should be slaves to sin…” 1 Cor.15:55,56 “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” Colossians 2:15 “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”

THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS AT LEAST 8 THINGS… 1. A demonstration of God’s justice 2. A sacrifice 3. A propitiation, appeasing God’s wrath 4. A substitution 5. A ransom 6. A reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:18,19 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS AT LEAST 8 THINGS… 1. A demonstration of God’s justice 2. A sacrifice 3. A propitiation, appeasing God’s wrath 4. A substitution 5. A ransom 6. A reconciliation 7. A demonstration of God’s love

Romans 5:8 “God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 8:3 “He who did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him?” 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”

THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS AT LEAST 8 THINGS… 1. A demonstration of God’s justice 2. A sacrifice 3. A propitiation, appeasing God’s wrath 4. A substitution 5. A ransom 6. A reconciliation 7. A demonstration of God’s love 8. An example

1 Peter 2:21 “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” Luke 10:27 “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind” Luke 9:23 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”

Luke 14:27 “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” 1 John 3:16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers”

CONCLUSION: A FITTING RESPONSE… When you look at the cross, you should see a God of love, taking the punishment for your sin upon his body, in your place, to save you as your perfect sacrifice, taking His wrath away from you who are His enemy, to free you from the power of Satan, sin, and death, making the first move to reconcile you back to himself, and calling you by his example to love Him and your fellow man completely.