Title: The Cross – The Love of God demonstrated
Text: Romans 5:6-8
Introduction
Last week we started a series of 3 messages on the Cross of Christ. Last week in the first message we saw how the Cross of Christ satisfies the wrath of God.
“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we were healed.”
Isaiah 53:5
This week we will see how the Cross of Christ demonstrates the Love of God.Of course the Cross of Christ is not the only demonstration of the Love of God. God demonstrates his love for each one of us in countless ways.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father” (James 1:17).
We tend to take everything that is good in our lives for granted but we need to remember that everything that’s good and perfect in our lives is a demonstration of God’s love for us.
But what if someone was to ask you the question… What is the greatest demonstration of God’s love for you?
According to the Apostle Paul that’s an easy question to answer…
The greatest demonstration of God’s love for you and I is found at the Cross of Christ.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
The Cross of Christ – the love of God demonstrated
Now the Bible also says that…
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.
This means that there are always those who when told that the Cross of Christ is the greatest demonstration of God’s love for them -they don’t accept it.
They foolishly respond "If you really love me God then demonstrate it by giving me lots of money instead."I’d rather have lots of money than the cross of Christ
Or if they are a lot older they might say," If you really love me God then demonstrate it by giving me perfect health." I’d rather have perfect health than the Cross of Christ
And if they are a lot younger they might say "If you really love me God then demonstrate it by giving me a nice looking boyfriend or nice looking girlfriend." I’d rather have a nice looking boyfriend or a nice looking girlfriend than the Cross of Christ
Why do they say those things? Because the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.
When a person doesn’t see the Cross of Christ as the greatest demonstration of God’s love for them then a terrible thing begins to happen
… They end up doubting God really loves them!
Just think about it…
If I believe that the greatest demonstration of God’s love for me is my good health. Then what happens when I get sick? I’m going to start doubting God’s love for me! I’m sick so I guess that means God must not love me anymore.
Or if I believe that the greatest demonstration of God’s love for me is in all my possessions. What happens when I lose those possessions? I’m going to start doubting God’s love for me. I lost my job. I lost my house…well I guess God must not love me any more
But when I come to see that the Cross of Christ is the greatest demonstration of God’s love for me …then a wonderful thing begins to happen
…I never again doubt God’s love for me.
I’m sure there are people here who seriously doubt God loves them. Why?
They are looking at their circumstances instead of looking at the Cross of Christ!
Even though everything else may be falling down around you; the Cross of Christ will always stand tall.
Question: Why is the Cross of Christ the greatest demonstration of God’s love for us?
To put it another way; "Why is the Cross of Christ a greater demonstration of God’s love than say…receiving millions of dollars from God?"
1.Millions of dollars can’t buy forgiveness for your sins but the Cross of Christ can
You give an ungodly person a million dollars you end up with an ungodly millionaire.
2.Millions of dollars can’t purchase a place in heaven for you but the Cross of Christ can
Millions of dollars can’t build a bridge to heaven but The Cross of Christ is the bridge to heaven
3. Millions of dollars can’t take away the wrath of God but the Cross of Christ can.
“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we were healed.” Isaiah 53:5
Question: Isn’t the Cross of Christ a demonstration of God’s love for good people only?
Isn’t that how it works in the world - Good things always come to good people
Is the Cross of Christ a demonstration of God’s love for good people only?
What does the Bible say?
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:6-8
Here we clearly see that the Cross of Christ is the demonstration of God’s love for people who are …
•powerless. (When we were still powerless)
•ungodly. (Christ died for the ungodly)
clarification: the ungodly person is not someone who is an atheist but a person who believes in God yet doesn’t reverence Him.
•sinners (while we were yet sinners Christ died for us)
Conclusion
So the Cross of Christ is not a demonstration of God’s love for the truly deserving
Instead the Cross of Christ is a demonstration of God’s love for the truly undeserving!
Question: What then should I do with this demonstration of God’s love?
It’s not enough to just know that God demonstrated his love for me on the Cross of Christ
God didn’t demonstrate his love on the cross of Christ for our information. He demonstrated his love on the cross of Christ for our transformation!
God wants me to receive this love that he demonstrated on the cross of Christ
How do I receive this love?
There are 2 things we need to do
1.When we look at the Cross of Christ we need to see what God wants us to see!
“You see, (v6)
You need to see that God demonstrated His own love for you on the Cross.
While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. You need to see that the Cross of Christ was not some tragedy that never should have happened.You need to see that the Cross of Christ is the plan of God to save you from your sins! You need to see that it was for your sin that Christ died on the Cross for.To be fair- none of the disciples saw what God wanted them to see either.
It was only after Jesus rose from the dead that they saw what God wanted them to see.
Do you see that God loves you so much that he sent his son Jesus to die on the Cross for your sins?
But only seeing what God wants you to see is not enough!
2.When we look at the Cross of Christ you need to do what God wants you to do!
You need to Repent of your sins and receive God’s free gift of salvation!
There is a phrase in Romans 5 verse 6 that says it best.
It’s the phrase “at just the right time.
It means “a critical or decisive point in time; a moment of great importance and significance, a point when something is ready or favorable.”
It’s critical we all leave here today having done what God wants us to do!
This moment is a moment of great importance and significance
Will I do what God wants me to do?
Will I repent of my sins and accept God’s free gift of salvation? Will I accept what God did for me in Jesus. Don’t hesitate!
Demonstrate that you see what God wanted you to see by doing what God wants you to do!
Come to God today. Receive His forgiveness. Receive His grace! Receive His love!
Will you come to him today?
