7 Things the Cross of Calvary provided for us
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - I don’t normally wear a cross but several years ago when I was pastoring in Columbus, I had real nice cross that was part of my installation as pastor dress. I wore that cross on one Sunday and I had this young girl about 13 years old in the church then and after church she came up to me and said Elder Maughmer you got a cross like the rapper’s wear. The rappers so-call wear a cross to show the world see I’m a Christian. As though wearing a cross is an indication that a person is saved or that it will guarantee that are you going to get into heaven.
I wore that cross to a service before I became a Bishop with my Black shirt and collar and had some preacher try to call himself scolding me and saying I was out of order because I wore this cross and was not a Bishop. I can honestly say I haven’t worn that or any cross since then. That is not to say that there is anything wrong with the wearing of a cross, but there is more to the cross than some Ecclesiastical adornment. There’s more to the cross than saying see I am a Christian. I am not trying to be Ecclesiastically proper. I’m not trying to say see I am a Christian. All I want to do is be like Jesus.
When we think of the word cross many pictures will come to our minds. We think of the Cross of Calvary, we think of the one on top of the steeple at the church, the one hanging from the chain around our necks and many other ideas may come into your mind.
Understand the cross does not refer to an ornament hanging around your neck. It is not an emblem seen on a church steeple. It is not the crucifix with some portrayal of Jesus on it. It doesn’t indicate that you are a Christian nor does it guarantee that you are on your way to heaven.
The Cross is an expression that signifies, embraces, and establishes the fact and significance of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of what it has done for you and for me.
Unlike the little girl that said I had a cross like the rappers, when we think of the cross, we automatically or at least should be drawn to the blood of the cross. The blood that poured down Jesus’ head from the crown of thorns that were pressed into His skull, the blood that ran down his body from the scourging he was inflected with. The blood that came from His nail pierced hands and feet. The blood that came gushing out of side mixed with water when he was pierced in His side. The cross and the blood refer to the death and to the great purpose and significance of His death.
We know without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord Jesus died upon the cross, but why did He die? What does His death mean for you and me?
My desire is to show the 7 things the cross did of us!
PRAYER:
SCRIPTURE: Galatians
The number 7 in the Bible represents the foundation of God's word and derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to creation. The number 7 symbolizes completeness and perfection both physical and spiritual. The number 7 is used 735 times in scripture and 54 times in Revelation alone.
The word created is used 7 times describing God's creative work (Genesis 1:1, 21, 27 three times; 2:3; 2:4). There are 7 days in a week and God's Sabbath is on the seventh day.
The Bible, as a whole, was originally divided into seven major divisions. They are 1) the Law; 2) the Prophets; 3) the Writings, or Psalms; 4) the Gospels and Acts; 5) the General Epistles; 6) the Epistles of Paul; and 7) the book of Revelation.
The 7 things the cross did for us shows the completeness and perfection of Jesus Death on the Cross.
The 1st thing the cross did for us was it provided a SUBSTITUTION for our death. On the cross Jesus Christ died for us and in place of us, bearing our sin in His own Body. Galatians 1:4 says, “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father”.
We all have sinned and are deserving of death. Regardless of how perfect you think you might be the Bible says in Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. Psalms 51:5 says, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me”. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.
The penalty for sin is death and since we all were conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity and live in this flesh which possess a carnal mind that is enmity against God according to Romans 8:7-9 we all deserve the wrath of God. But what a mighty God we serve who says in Ezekiel 18:4 “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die”.
So, in order that we would not have to suffer the wrath of God, God decided according to John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”.
So, in order that we might not die Jesus was substituted, He took our place and died for us 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed”. So, the 1st thing the cross did for us was Substitute our death. We owed a debt we could not pay, and Jesus paid a debt He did not owe.
If I didn’t say another word and ended this message right now that’s more than enough to just give God praise. But I said there are 7 things 1 is the beginning. 1 in the Bible means the unity and preeminence of the God. What is known as the Shema (or Shema Yisrael), in Deuteronomy 6:4 which says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord”.
The 2nd thing the cross did was gave us IDENTIFICATION. How so Bishop! On the cross, not only did Jesus die for us, but we died with Him.
Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. WATCH THIS: - Jesus’ death upon the cross was God’s judgment upon mankind because of sin. Jesus died as our Representative our Substitutes for all mankind. Now we that believe in Him also died with Him. This is what Paul was saying when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ”. My old sinful self, my sinful nature, my sinful desires were nailed to the cross along with Jesus. Romans 6 explains this so beautifully. Verses 1-8 especially. 8 is the number of new beginnings.
When we believe and accept Jesus, we have a new beginning, and we understand how we are identified in Him on the cross. Romans 6:1-8 reads “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin (that’s Identity we have been identified for we are dead to sin), live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death (Identity baptized into his death at our baptism we receive our identity)? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death (Identity buried into death – when we went under the water it signified and identified us as being buried with Jesus Christ): that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death (Identity united with him - in his death), we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him (Identification For we know that our old self was crucified) , that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin (Identification we who are free from sin). Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him (Identification live with Him)”. That’s our identity through and in Jesus Christ.
The 3rd thing the cross did for us was REDEMPTION. On the cross Jesus died to redeem us from the curse of the Law. Redemption/Redeem means to buy back. Every person that believes and accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior has been bought back by the blood of Christ on the Cross. It was His blood that was used to purchase our forgiveness. Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”. Galatians 4:4-5 says, But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons”.
The Law says to us, “Do this, and you shall live, and if you do not do it you will die” Galatians 3:10 says, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Because we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, we are under the curse of the Law which is death. Jesus died for us to deliver us from this curse. Imagine if you will the way of salvation would be to keep the letter of the Law. First and foremost, we never could be saved, for not one of us can ever keep the Law of God. We would never have any assurance of salvation because no matter how much we tried we would always be conscious of failure. We would ever be wondering if we had enough good deeds to outweigh the bad ones. Did I give to the poor enough, did I help somebody enough, did I drive to fast when I know the speed limit etc. Through Jesus death on the cross we have been redeemed bought back from the curse of the law.
The 4th thing the cross did for us was gave us an opportunity for PERSECUTION. Now I know someone will say wait a minute Bishop how can persecution be a good thing. Well, the Bible says, in 2 Timothy 2:12 “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him”.
Death by crucifixion was the most degrading form of punishment so when Jesus died on the cross it was a shameful death, and all who follow Him will suffer persecution.
Galatians 5:11 says, “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased Galatians 6:12 says, As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ”. So, we see that those of us who are identified with the cross must be willing to share the offence of the cross and to suffer persecution.
EXAMPLE: - There is a female Democratic candidate running for office here in Michigan and in one of her debates or interviews she stated “We are fighting against demonic force” she also went on to say how spirits are transferred through sexual activity. Now they have put commercials on T.V. with her saying those statements and it is followed by a coo coo sound. Then they say Michigan can’t afford to have this person in office because she is crazy. She is being persecuted for standing on the Word of God.
The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. That’s demonic force and she is being persecuted because she decided to stand on the Word of God pick up her cross and follow Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:23-24 says, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God”.
To her and all those that will accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior REMEMBER 2 Timothy 2:12 “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him”. That’s what the cross gave us.
The 5th thing the cross gave us is SEPARATION. Jesus died to deliver us from this present evil world in order that we might be a separated people. We are in the world but not of the world John 17:11, 14-15.
The number 5 represents God’s Grace. “The Ten Commandments contains two sets of 5 commandments. The first five commandments are related to our treatment and relationship with God with the remaining one concerned with our relationship with others.
There are 5 primary types of offerings God commanded Israel to bring to him. They are the Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1; 8:18 - 21; 16:24), Sin (Leviticus 4; 16:3 - 22), Trespass (Leviticus 5:14 - 19; 6:1 - 7; 7:1 - 6), Grain (Leviticus 2) and Peace Offering (Leviticus 3; 7:11- 34).
The Book of Psalms is divided into 5 major sections. Section 1 (Psalm 1 to 41) refers to the Passover, Israel's beginning, and the start of the God's plan of salvation that centers on Christ. Section 2 (42 to 72) sings about a unified Israel in the land and pictures the creation of the New Testament Church.
There are five books of God's Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) commonly referred to as the Pentateuch ('Penta' means five).
The 4 Gospels plus Acts equals five books that, as a set, can be designated as "the New Testament Pentateuch." They reveal Jesus' teachings concerning the Law and the Prophets. The apostle John wrote 5 books centered on the grace of God and eternal life (the gospel of John, 1John, 2John, 3John and Revelation). Jesus multiplied five loaves of barely to feed 5,000 (Matthew 14:17).
Galatians 1:4 says, “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our father”. On the cross Jesus died for us that we might have deliverance from the sinful nature. We have separation from the Works of the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21 says, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God”. We have been given Separation from that and now are able to live Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. That is the Grace of God.
The 6th thing the cross gave us is EMANCIPATION. Emancipation according to the dictionary is THE FACT of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions; it is liberation or liberty, it is FREEDOM.
The number 6 and its meaning is related to man and human weakness, the evils of the devil and the manifestation of sin. Man was created on day six of creation week. Men are appointed 6 days to labor.
A Hebrew slave had to serve 6 years before he could be released in the 7th year. Six years were appointed for the land to be sown and harvested.
On the cross Jesus died to deliver us from this present evil world. He died to deliver us from the curse of the law. He died to deliver us from this flesh. John 8:36 says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”
One song writer said it like this “I am free no longer bound no more chains holding me my soul is resting oh what a blessing I am free Hallelujah Praise the Lord I am free.
Unlike those in Galveston Texas that didn’t even realize they were free until several years later after the Emancipation Proclamation was given. When Jesus died upon the cross, He set you and me free and all you have to do is accept Him and you will immediately be free.
The 7th thing the cross gave us is EXALTATION. Exaltation to a new life and a new creature in Christ Jesus. Galatians 6:14-15 says, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature”. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 says, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
