1. “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

2. Our relationship to the Christ of the cross determines our eternal destiny Without the cross, Jesus is not the Christ and the gospel is not good news –Luke 24:25-27 We need to appreciate the importance of the cross in the scheme of redemption

3. The Necessity of the Cross Salvation not possible without the cross It did for us what we could never have done –Romans 5:6 Jesus drank the cup of His suffering –Not possible for it to be otherwise and our sins to be forgiven –Matthew 26:39, 42; Hebrews 5:7-9

4. The Death of the Cross Christ defeated death by dying for us Submitting to death – He conquered the power of death –Genesis 3:15; 2 Timothy 1:10 –He gave us life – by submitting to death! Jesus accepted the penalty of death –2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:14-15

5. The Blood of the Cross His blood cleanses us from sin –Life is in “the blood” (Leviticus 17:10-14) Life must be taken to atone for sin Animal sacrifices of the Old Testament pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus –Hebrews 9:11-15 Blood of Christ cleanses our soul –Revelation 1:5

6. The Love of the Cross God’s love for us is shown by His gift –God gave His only Son –John 3:14-17; 1 John 4:7-11 Required love of the part of Jesus –John 10:17-18 When we think seriously about the cross, we must be moved to give ourselves to God –2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 John 4:19

7. The Love of the Cross The cross will cause us to love the Lord and His people! –1 John 4:10-11 It will cause us to be faithfully obedient to the Lord –Christ died for US, that we might live for Him! –John 14:15

8. The Preaching of the Cross Should want to share the message to all Preaching of the gospel is the preaching of the cross of Christ –1 Corinthians 15:1-8 A proclamation that Jesus is Lord and Christ –Announces the conditions of acceptance of the gospel of Christ –Acts 2:36-39

9. The Preaching of the Cross Jesus draws men to Him by the cross –John 12:32 Our gratitude will cause us to preach the cross of Jesus –Mark 5:19

10. “As many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death....” Romans 6:3-4

11. “ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20