1. LESSONS FROM THE CROSS

2. VIEWS OF THE CROSS What significance does it have for you?
To Paul, it marked his separation from the world – Gal. 6:14.
It was the focus of his preaching – 1 Cor. 2:2
It was something many could not understand – 1 Cor. 1:23

3. The Viewpoints of Men To Judas it was about money – John 12:4-6
To the leading Jews it was about silence
To Pilate it was about self-preservation.

4. III. The viewpoints of God
A.        To the Father it was about satisfying justice
    1.         Justified by Jesus’ blood - Romans 5:8-11
 2.         Jesus tasted death for us - Hebrews 2:9
 3.        He took our sins to the cross - Isaiah 53:5,11
 4.         He was our propitiation – he turned away God’s wrath against us - I John 4:9-10

5. The viewpoints of God B. To the Son it was about submission
 1.         He learned obedience - Hebrews 5:7-9
 2.         Jesus submitted to the Father’s will - Matthew 26:39, 53-54
 3.         He endured the cross - Hebrews 12:2
 4.         He humbled himself - Philippians 2:8-11   
C.        Unlike man, God knew what was going to result

6. IV. The viewpoint of the Christian
 A.        To each saint it was about salvation
  1.         Gave us redemption by his blood - Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5
  2.         It killed our sins - Romans 6:1-7
  3.         It purified us - Revelation 7:14
            
B.        To the Christian it purchased a kingdom - Acts 20:28
         
   C.        To the saved it demonstrated God’s power - I Corinthians 1:18-24

7. To the lost, the message of the cross is foolishness - I Corinthians 1:18
A.        Yet, we preach that message anyway - I Corinthians 1:23
  B.        Men of this world do not understand - I Corinthians 2:14-16
 C.        But in the message of the cross is the power of God - Romans 1:16
 D.        It is the core of all that we teach - I Corinthians 2:1-2
       
 E.        So, what does the cross mean to you?