Scripture
“To make you stand before the Lord blameless with great joy. This has come about because of the cross.”
Prayer
Introduction
So how did Jesus see the cross?
Read John 17:1-26
How should we think about the cross?
Let us look at the prayer that Jesus prayed before the cross. There are three things we need to view concerning the cross.
1. He saw the cross as a saving force.
a. He lead the perfect life, so that we might have salvation.
b. He died on the cross, so that we might have salvation.
c. He had victory over the cross, so the we might have salvation.
2. He saw the cross as a satisfying force.
a. God will provide a protecting force.
b. To live a satisfying life, we must look unto God’s word.
c. We are not sanctified by the cross, but by truth.
There is not truth without the Word and there is no cross without Christ.
As the disciples looked, the cross it gave them the strength to live the life, so as we look at the cross we should also receive strength.
3. He saw the cross as a justifying force.
We shall be like him because we shall see him as he is.
Salvation is a justifying force that is continuous.
I am being saved, I shall be saved, and I shall ever be saved.
How are we progressing in our salvation?
We should look forward to being made perfect.
Our attitude will determine our altitude.
The lost shall never be happy in Heaven.
Because they don’t know the justification of the cross.
The truth is not in them.
Conclusion
We have been justified, forgiven, sanctified, through the cross.
We can live our lives with peace because of the cross.
Don’t come lightly to the Lord.
We serve a risen Savior.
