The Cross Series

Galatians 6:11-18 THE CROSS

1. THE PROBLEM WITH THE CROSS - THE LEGALIZERS – 6:12-13

Their Conceit - 12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh,

Their Constraint - they constrain you to be circumcised;

Their Complaint - only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. (Being seen as Jews to avoid persecution)

Their Failure - 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law;

Their Fervor - but desire to have you circumcised,

Their Folly - that they may glory in your flesh.

2. THE PROMOTION OF THE CROSS -

Paul's Praise was in the cross. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul's Preaching was on the cross - We preach Christ crucified

Paul's Practice was by the cross - For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (I Cor 2:2)

3. THE PERSON ON THE CROSS - in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(a) THE PERSON IDENTIFIED: - it is “our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1. It is the Cross of the LORD: His Sovereign Authority. The Lord knew

the Manner of His death - He predicted it would be by crucifixion.

the Motive of His death - He came to die for the sins of the world.

the Moment - Father into Your hands I commend My Spirit

the Meaning of His death - Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

2. It is the Cross of the Lord JESUS: His Saving Ability.

thou shalt call His name Jesus for He shall His people from their sins

3. It is the Cross of the Lord Jesus CHRIST: His Saving Authority.

Christ - “anointed one.” He is the Master, the Mediator, the Messiah.

(b) THE PERSON CRUCIFIED: save in the cross - He had to die

(c) THE PERSON GLORIFIED:Heb 2:9 we see Jesus, made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man

4. THE PURPOSE IN THE CROSS - Through the Cross:-

The Love of God is Revealed: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to the propitiation for our sins

The Law of God is Relieved: Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Life of God is Released: - God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. (1 John 4:9) - Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

5. THE POWER BY THE CROSS - THE CROSS HAS A -

MAGNETIC POWER: John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

MOTIVATING POWER:2 Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 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.

MAJESTIC POWER: Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,

6. THE PROFIT THROUGH THE CROSS 14 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. CHRISTIAN'S THREE ENEMIES

THE INTERNAL FOE - CALLED - THE FLESH

THE EXTERNAL FOE - CALLED - THE WORLD

THE INFERNAL FOE - CALLED - THE DEVIL. BUT THROUGH THE CROSS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WE HAVE VICTORY OVER ALL THREE.

by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.