THE PATTERN OF THE CROSS
OUTLINE
1. SALVATION
2. SANCTIFICATION
3. SUFFERING
4. SACRIFICE
5. SUBMISSION
6. SILENCE
7. SOVEREIGNITY
THE MESSAGE
THE PATTERN OF THE CROSS
1. SALVATION
We must follow the example and the pattern of the cross of Christ in our lives. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ shows clearly that God wants to save us not destroy us. We must devote our lives to leading people to salvation.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
MARK 16:15-16
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
LUKE 15:7
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
2.SANCTIFICATION
The cross teaches us that our sinful fleshly desires must be crucified.We must live a holy and sanctified life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
ROMANS 6:5-7
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin”
because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
GALATIANS 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
3.SUFFERING
The cross of Jesus Christ involved suffering. He suffered spiritually , emotionally and physically. He suffered spiritually when He became sin for us. Jesus suffered emotionally .His agony in the garden of gethsemane made Him sweat tears of blood. He suffered physically when whipped and crucified with nails with a crown of thorns pressed into his skull.We should be willing to suffer for the sake of Christ.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
2 Corinthians 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Luke 22:44
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Mark 15:15-25
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers.
They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.
And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!"
Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.
And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.
They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).
Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.
And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
It was the third hour when they crucified him.
1 PETER 2:21
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
4.SACRIFICE
Jesus sacrificed his life for the salvation of mankind.The cross challenges us to give up our selfishness and be willing to sacrifice our welfare for the benefit of others.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Matthew 20:28 ,
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Luke 23:28
Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.
5.SUBMISSION
We should walk in the humility and obedience that Christ demonstrated on the cross. We must surrender to the will of God.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
MATTHEW 26:39
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
LUKE 9:23
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
6. SILENCE
The cross of Jesus Christ is an example of silence in suffering. Jesus bore his suffering silently. He did not revile and threaten those who made Him to suffer. Instead He committed all things to God who judges righteously.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Matthew 27:14
But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge to the great amazement of the governor.
Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
I Peter 2:22-23
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
7. SOVEREIGNITY
The cross of Jesus Christ is an example of God's sovereIgnity. Jesus told Pilate that he had no power over him except what is given from above. We must trust in the sovereignity of God and believe that He is in control of our lives and will make all things work together for good.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
JOHN 19:11
"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
Acts 4:24-28
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.
They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
ROMANS 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
