1. WELCOME TO OUR CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM

5. Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day: Christ on the road to Calvary. Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then nailed to a cross of wood. THE POWER OF THE CROSS

6. CHORUS: This the pow'r of the cross: Christ became sin for us; Took the blame, bore the wrath - we stand forgiven at the cross.

7. Oh, to see the pain written on Your face, bearing the awesome weight of sin. Every bitter thought, every evil deed, crowning Your bloodstained brow.

8. CHORUS: This the pow'r of the cross: Christ became sin for us; Took the blame, bore the wrath - we stand forgiven at the cross.

9. Now the daylight flees; Now the ground beneath quakes as its Maker bows His head. Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life; "Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

10. CHORUS : This the pow'r of the cross: Christ became sin for us; Took the blame, bore the wrath - we stand forgiven at the cross.

11. Oh, to see my name written in the wounds, For through Your suffering I am free. Death is crushed to death; Life is mine to live, won through Your selfless love.

12. CHORUS : This the pow'r of the cross: Son of God—slain for us. What a love! What a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross! ***

13. FREEDOM What comes to your mind…? What is “spiritual freedom”? How can we have peace with God? Romans 5.1

14. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Justified - Made right with God Cleansed from the guilt of sin and righteous in God’s eyes

15. THE MESSENGER OF FREEDOM John 1.6-8 “a man sent from God” Chosen by God before he was even born to announce the imminent arrival of the promised Messiah Mark 1.5 Why did people go out to see him? His looks, style, diet? v.6

16. THE METHOD OF THE MESSENGER Luke 7.24-26 What did they go out to see? They recognized that he was a prophet sent from God. Why did the go hear him? He was a man with God’s message He preached and baptized

17. THE MESSAGE What did they hear? Mark 1.4 A message that related to the condition of every human heart. A message of forgiveness and freedom. Began with a call to repentance Which leads to Freedom from condemnation.

18. Romans 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who no longer walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Why did the go hear him? Because it was a message of hope and “Good News”!!!

19. HOW IS THIS FORGIVENESS POSSIBLE? John pointed to a Savior, a Sin Bearer, a Forgiver, a Substitute. The communion table does too. How well we forgive others is an indicator of whether or not we’ve been forgiven. Then there is freedom from malice, etc.