Has the Cross ever crossed your mind?
Galatians 6:14
Others may Glory in the circumcision, rituals, and a great show of converts to an easy religion, but I will glory only in the cross of Christ. Those things are empty, worthless and crucified to me and I am crucified to them.
(Dakes notes on Gal. 6:14 K )
*Death by the cross was a punishment of the meanest slaves, and was a mark of infamy.
*Our Savior says that his disciples must take up the cross and follow Him. Though the
cross is the sign of suffering, yet it is the badge and glory of the Christian.
*An inscription was generally placed above the criminal’s head, briefly expressing his
guilt, and generally was carried before him. Christ was guilty of being the King of the
Jews.
>The Cross indicates the necessary punishment for man’s sin ordered by God.
1 Tim. 1:15 says…
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
>The Cross is the punishment that God planned and demanded for man’s sin.
( Zodhiates Sermon satraters volume 4 “Is the Cross Foolishness?” Page 114 C )
Has the Cross ever crossed your mind?
1. Paul knew the Person of the Cross
~Paul mentioned Jesus some 45 times in this letter of Galatians.
~Do you think he was trying to get his point across about whom this letter is about?
~One third of the verses contain reference to Christ.( Be Free Warren Wiersbe pg.155)
~Prior to Paul’s conversion, he gloried in himself, after his conversion, all the glory was given to Christ alone, no longer consumed with himself, but consumed and full of Christ.
Read Galatians 1:13-14 of his boastings……
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14. And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
And now we read in Galatians 6:14
“That I should glory in nothing but the Cross.”
> I asked you today has the Cross ever crossed your mind <
2. Paul knew the Power of the Cross.
In Paul’s day the cross was the ultimate sign of weakness and shame.
A. He knew there was Reconciliation through it;
Ephesians 2:16 says;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
B. He knew that there was Peace made by it;
Colossians 1:20 says;
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
>Men everywhere tried to obtain there fellowship with God by works, no work, other than the Cross could obtain that fellowship again with God.
>That is why there is power in the Cross.
> I will ask you again today, has the Cross ever crossed your mind? <
3. Paul knew the purpose of the Cross
A. It was substitutionary in its work.
Romans 5:6 says;
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
B. He died for our sins
I Corinthians 15:3 says;
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
>Has the Cross ever crossed your mind<
Closing;
The wounds of Calvary certainly make Christ a “marked man,” for those wounds mean liberty to those who will trust him. The Judaizers boasted in circumcision; but Paul boasted in the Crucified and Risen Savior. He Gloried in the Cross. This does not mean that he gloried in the brutality or suffering of the cross, he was not looking at the cross as a piece of wood on which an criminal died, but where a glorified Savior took his place.
Pastor Stepp
