Hope In The Cross Of Christ Series

We continue in our series on Hope Found Here and this month our focus is on Hope in the Cross.

The dictionary defines hope as a feeling of expectation or a desire for certain things to happen.

As Christians, we have a hope in God that is steadfast and certain, we have a blessed assurance that God is faithful.

We have placed our hope and trust in Jesus Christ, He alone is our Lord, our Saviour, our Deliverer, our Healer, our Baptiser in the Holy Spirit, He is our coming King.

Jesus is the only one who can save us from our sins, He is the only one who can assure us of eternal life, Jesus is our only true and certain hope.

If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we have the certain hope, the assurance, God has forgiven us of all our sins because of what Jesus has done on the Cross.

The cross is one of the earliest and most widely used images of Christianity.

The cross of Jesus tells a story with one single picture,

Jesus has come to save the world, He lived, He died on the Cross, He rose from the grave, He ascended into Heaven and one day He has promised He will return again, this is the reality of the cross and our certain hope.

The cross provides us with hope on our journey through life.

The cross is a reminder of God’s great love for us.

The cross is a reminder of what Jesus endured for our salvation.

There are many passages in the Bible that speak of the importance of the cross and throughout the years many men and women of God have preached or written books on the importance of the Cross.

The minister and author John Piper wrote these words in his book Don’t Waste Your Life: “Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.”

When I think of the Cross and what Jesus endured there for you and for me, what He willingly chose to go through for all people who would come to trust Him as their personal Lord and Saviour, I am amazed.

How deep the Father’s love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

When I think about what Jesus did for me on the cross, I am so thankful.

Jesus suffered and died a terrible death so that you and I, and all who accept the free gift of salvation, can be saved.

Jesus willingly died on the cross for you and for me. Our sins nailed Him to the Cross.

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

Jesus paid the price for my sin on the cross, He sacrificed himself so that I could be redeemed.

I have been forgiven,

I have been saved,

I have been blessed,

I have been accepted by God,

I have been assured of a place in Heaven,

because of what Jesus willingly did for me.

Jesus chose to go to the Cross, Jesus willingly laid down His life for your sin and mine.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Jesus died in our place, He defeated the power of sin, He conquered the power of death. Jesus was triumphant over all the forces of evil and death and hell.

What Jesus did at the cross assures us of the greatest hope of all, our sins forgiven, peace with God the Father, and the promise of eternal life for all who trust in Him as Saviour and Lord.

2000 years ago the City of Corinth was known as a great centre of intellectual excellence, yet the cross of Christ was a stumbling block to both the Jews and the Gentiles.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

2000 years later, and there are still many who think believing in Jesus is foolish.

2000 years later, and people still choose to reject Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.