"The Crucifixion; More Than An Easter Message”

Intro: Today church I want to talk to you about the importance of the cross, and how the Crucifixion is more than an Easter Message. We as the church have found ourselves forgetting about the importance of the cross and the blood that was shed on Calvary. We have limited the message of the cross to an annual message given on Easter, or during the weeks prior to Easter. But church I am here to tell you that the cross, the blood, and the man that hung on the cross is more than a message, but a testimony that we are to honor daily. For if it had not been for the cross, there would be no hope.

I. There is a need for the cross; for it is the bridge of reconciliation.

A. Ever since man fell from the Grace of God Almighty in the Garden of Eden. A plan was in motion to reconcile man back to God. For the very first prophecy was given as God was sentencing judgment on all involved in the fall plot. Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This was in relation to the virgin birth of the Messiah and the war of the Sons of God and Sons of Perdition, and the triumphant victory over Satan.

1. Since the expulsion of man from the garden his own righteousness was infected and no longer was pure, but now coincided together with sin and evil. A once perfect heart became wicked and deceptive. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

2. Man now faces the decision to which master he is going to serve, the purity of the heart that was given at his creation pleaded for him to do good in the sight of God for he was created in God’s image, but his now deceitful heart begged him to follow in the ways of its new master.

3. Man ran into the problem of only being able to do good for so long before turning to wickedness.

4. For every law that was given could now only be upheld for so long before mans now own carnality would take control and run him into the very pits of sin and hell.

B. Through out the Word of God we are given examples of those that would follow in the path of purity and love for our Creator before they gave into there own lust. Many would be reconciled, some over and over again, but the pattern was the same.

1. The very first men that were born after the fall were Cain and Abel. Both sought the Lord but within Cain there was unrighteousness he allowed to control him, and after being rejected by God for his sacrifice, instead of repentance he turns his anger toward his brother and kills him, and tries to cover up his sin just as his parents had done in the Garden with fig leaves.

2. Aaron after being the mouth piece for Moses found himself now at the base of Mt. Sinai helping in the construction of an idol to worship.

3. The children of Israel that were first led out of Egypt by the mighty hand of God, murmured so much and had so much disbelief in God and there deliverance to the promise land they all died, all but there children lived and were heirs of the promise. When all could have obtained it.

4. The judges of Israel such as Gideon after his victories in the Lord retired and helped in the spread of idolatry. Samson gave himself over to Delilah and she delivered him to the Philistines.

5. David whom I call the chiefest of sinners was the greatest of repenters. He would do well in the sight of the Lord and then transgress and then repent.

6. The Old Testament speaks of many that failed God and this same failure would be evident in the New Testament from Peter the Apostle to all the other Apostles.

7. There are many other recorded cases throughout the Word of God just as these. Man in all his might could not uphold righteousness for his heart was held captive to sin.

8. Paul speaks of this war in Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.