Cross Purposes
Romans 3:25-31 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Intro: Did you ever wonder if there was any other way for man to be made right with God than what we read about in the Bible? Why did Jesus have to die such a cruel gruesome death to take care of our sins? Could God have come up with any other plan? Many of you are probably wondering why I would even ask such a thing, but let me assure you, many people have stumbled at the idea of God demanding justice and then taking it all out on His Son.
-Several years ago Phil Donahue (who hosted a popular TV talk show for many years) listed the various reasons why he had become disillusioned with Christianity. Among them was this: "How could an all-knowing, all-loving God allow his Son to be murdered on a cross to redeem my sins?" (cited by Dr. Ray Prichard).
-Well, we will understand it better by and by… as the song says. One day it will all make sense. The Bible is pretty clear that there was no better way – no Plan B! In Revelation 13, Jesus is hailed as the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world. God knew what He was doing even before He created mankind. He knew how we would treat Him, yet He loved us anyway! The cross was in view even before there was a single tree from which to make it. There is a lot we don’t understand about the cross, but I believe we can identify a few purposes or functions of the cross in the verses we read this morning. Here is the first one.
1. The cross demonstrates God’s justice
Romans 3:25 “…He did this to demonstrate his justice….”
-God passed over the previous sins of those who put their trust in Him. Why was He able to do that without sacrificing His justice?
-I think part of the answer is found in the fact that God is not restricted by time and space the way we are. God is timeless. His existence is not governed by the sunrise or sunset. He does not sleep at night because there is no night in His presence. So, long before He spoke atomic particles and molecules into existence to form our universe, He had the cross planned out.
-Even when the first human sin was committed (Adam and Eve disobeying God), we see the first object lesson that pointed forward to the cross where God the Son would die to take away the sins of the world. Genesis 3:21 “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” This was the first death we read about. Animals were killed (and blood was spilled) to provide a covering for Adam and Eve.
-Now we get caught up with the chronology of things, but the cross was already a present reality in the plan of God – way back in the Garden of Eden. What’s another 4,000 years to God? 4 days?
-So God, who is totally fair / totally just had already provided the payment for the sins of the world – even though it hadn’t really happened yet. Jesus later paid the penalty for all who would put their trust in Him. God never bypasses justice. If He did then His righteous standards would always be changing. God would go easy on everybody, and doing right and being holy would become meaningless. Even though He is a merciful God, He is always completely fair. That is one of God’s unchangeable attributes. It shows us who He is and how He rolls! He does all things well!
2. The cross demonstrates God’s mercy
-This almost goes w/o saying. By faith we are cleared- made right with God – what an act of mercy! The whole story of God is one of love and mercy and benevolence toward mankind.
-V.25 speaks of His forbearance. Forbearance means tolerance or patience. God’s justice would be fully satisfied, but it could wait for the cross.
-I don’t know any better way to talk about God’s love and mercy than to point you to one of the most famous Bible verses of all time. You might have heard it. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
-Guess who deserves to die for their own sins? Each and every one of over 100 billion people who have ever lived on this earth. Guess how many God wants to see die for their sins and be lost forever? Zero. 2 Peter 3:9 “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
-God’s mercy made Him patient before the cross, but His mercy and patience continue even now! During our Wednesday Bible study we were talking about feeling torn between being ready and eager for the Lord to return now and take us to heaven, and wanting Him to wait so each of our family members and loved ones have made things right with Him. What must God feel as He longs to gather us together to be with Him forever, but doesn’t want anyone to miss out on the incredible gift of eternal life with Him? God loves people and doesn’t want to lose any of them! However, the choice is ours to make.
-We can either respond to His love and eagerness to forgive us, or we can ignore it or reject it. Both ignoring God and rejecting Him eventually will have equally disastrous results. It is my prayer and hope that everybody here will choose life with Jesus! There is no reason to miss out on what you were created for – being reunited with your Creator forever! Some people let shame and guilt keep them away from God. Others allow pride and stubbornness to keep them away. Whatever the roadblock is, there is a way around it! Repentance! Coming clean with God! Feeling a true sense of brokenness over our own sinful condition – these responses will demolish the barriers that keep us away from God. We need Him so much! Life makes no sense without Him. Let His mercy work on your heart today!
3. The cross gives God all the credit
-Since faith in God is the only way to access the benefits of the Cross, faith gives total credit to God for salvation. Forgiveness is pure benevolence from God to those who trust Him instead of themselves and their good works.
-Folks, we have nothing to brag about. We have nothing to offer God in payment for His forgiveness. It was all paid in full at the cross nearly 2000 years ago.
-WILLIAM COWPER: Years ago lost his mother at age 6. Put into a boarding school. Beaten and bullied by bigger kids. Felt in terror all day long. By the age of 25 had tried to take his life twice. At 25 was committed to an asylum and put under the care of a man named DR. COTTON.
Dr. Cotton led William Cowper to faith in Christ. He began to go to the Bible for comfort when he would have his fits of terror.
One day he turned to Romans 3:24-25. It transformed his life when he understood what the blood of Jesus Christ really meant. A brand new person.
Wrote later:
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins,
and sinners plunge beneath that flood lose all their guilty stain.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day, and there have I though vile as he washed all my sins away. Ere since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die. (Borrowed from Guy McGraw, sermoncentral.com)
-Which way does the cross point? It points up! It shows us who our Maker is. It shows us who our Savior is. The cross piece is like wide open arms, welcoming all who want to come and do life with God. Without Him there is no life worth living!
Close:
-Maybe today you are at a Cross Road. You know where you need to turn to make things right with God. It starts with coming clean with Him in repentance. It also involves making Him the Leader of your life. Maybe you’ve been at cross purposes with God in your past. But through the Cross He is showing you there is hope! He has been very patient with you and has even sent people into your life to help point you to Him. Remember, He is totally fair and just. In His mercy He provided the cross as a solution for your sin problem. However, if you refuse it, there is no other solution! He is God and wants to do life with you! That is so amazing! Why does He want to have anything to do with us? I don’t get it, but I do receive it! It comes by faith in Him, believing that what Jesus did on the cross by His death was enough to provide forgiveness and deliverance from our sins.
-If you need to make things right with God and put your trust completely in Him, I know it is a decision you will not regret! I’d love to help you as you make that decision. I’d be happy to talk with you, pray with you, listen to your story, or do whatever I can to connect with God. Once you experience His mercy and forgiveness, your life will never be the same!
