7 Things The Cross Of Calvary Provided For Us

7 Things the Cross of Calvary provided for us

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - I don’t normally wear a cross but several years ago when I was pastoring in Columbus, I had real nice cross that was part of my installation as pastor dress. I wore that cross on one Sunday and I had this young girl about 13 years old in the church then and after church she came up to me and said Elder Maughmer you got a cross like the rapper’s wear. The rappers so-call wear a cross to show the world see I’m a Christian. As though wearing a cross is an indication that a person is saved or that it will guarantee that are you going to get into heaven.

I wore that cross to a service before I became a Bishop with my Black shirt and collar and had some preacher try to call himself scolding me and saying I was out of order because I wore this cross and was not a Bishop. I can honestly say I haven’t worn that or any cross since then. That is not to say that there is anything wrong with the wearing of a cross, but there is more to the cross than some Ecclesiastical adornment. There’s more to the cross than saying see I am a Christian. I am not trying to be Ecclesiastically proper. I’m not trying to say see I am a Christian. All I want to do is be like Jesus.

When we think of the word cross many pictures will come to our minds. We think of the Cross of Calvary, we think of the one on top of the steeple at the church, the one hanging from the chain around our necks and many other ideas may come into your mind.

Understand the cross does not refer to an ornament hanging around your neck. It is not an emblem seen on a church steeple. It is not the crucifix with some portrayal of Jesus on it. It doesn’t indicate that you are a Christian nor does it guarantee that you are on your way to heaven.

The Cross is an expression that signifies, embraces, and establishes the fact and significance of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of what it has done for you and for me.

Unlike the little girl that said I had a cross like the rappers, when we think of the cross, we automatically or at least should be drawn to the blood of the cross. The blood that poured down Jesus’ head from the crown of thorns that were pressed into His skull, the blood that ran down his body from the scourging he was inflected with. The blood that came from His nail pierced hands and feet. The blood that came gushing out of side mixed with water when he was pierced in His side. The cross and the blood refer to the death and to the great purpose and significance of His death.

We know without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord Jesus died upon the cross, but why did He die? What does His death mean for you and me?

My desire is to show the 7 things the cross did of us!

PRAYER:

SCRIPTURE: Galatians

The number 7 in the Bible represents the foundation of God's word and derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to creation. The number 7 symbolizes completeness and perfection both physical and spiritual. The number 7 is used 735 times in scripture and 54 times in Revelation alone.

The word created is used 7 times describing God's creative work (Genesis 1:1, 21, 27 three times; 2:3; 2:4). There are 7 days in a week and God's Sabbath is on the seventh day.

The Bible, as a whole, was originally divided into seven major divisions. They are 1) the Law; 2) the Prophets; 3) the Writings, or Psalms; 4) the Gospels and Acts; 5) the General Epistles; 6) the Epistles of Paul; and 7) the book of Revelation.

The 7 things the cross did for us shows the completeness and perfection of Jesus Death on the Cross.

The 1st thing the cross did for us was it provided a SUBSTITUTION for our death. On the cross Jesus Christ died for us and in place of us, bearing our sin in His own Body. Galatians 1:4 says, “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father”.

We all have sinned and are deserving of death. Regardless of how perfect you think you might be the Bible says in Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. Psalms 51:5 says, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me”. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.