The Hope Of The Cross

The hope of the cross

Colossians 1:20-22

Introduction :Year in review often highlight the greatest event of the year. Expand to not just a year or decade or century or millennium. The greatest even of all earthly history we celebrate in two weeks: The cross

The world has no regard for it. I Cor. 1:18 “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to those being saved it is the power of God”

Have we become so familiar with it that we have forgotten it’s meaning in our life?

I. The cross reconciles us to God

a. Katallaso- a change in relationship

b. In this passage preposition is added to it that intensifies the meaning

i. Thoroughly, completely or totally reconciled

c. Ill. Husband and wife separated from each other

i. I Cor 7:11 speaks of a woman being reconciled to her husband

d. It means the restoration of a right relationship between God and man

e. Man and God could never be reconciled unless the wrath of God was appeased. Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified [a]by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

f. Vs. 21- we were “alienated” from God.

i. Estranged, separated

ii. Broken relationship

g. The cross is the means of our restored relationship to God

h. There was nothing we could do to fix it

i. Only something he could

ii. Something He did

iii. Something He completely did

1. Next to last words on the cross: “It is finished”

a. Not a reference to his physical death

b. A reference to accomplishment of his purpose

c. The debt of sin was paid

d. The means for mankind to be restored in right relationship with God once again was accomplished

e. Broken since the fall of man

i. Has your relationship to God been restored by your faith and repentance in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross?

II. The cross reunites us to God

a. Not just okay with God

b. We can have peace with God

c. Some think they were never God’s enemy

i. Romans 5:10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved [f]by His life.

ii. Colossians 1:21

1. You were formerly alienated and hostile in mind

2. This is the antithesis of peace

d. We have moved from an enemy of God to a friend of God. Not just some neutral position

e. Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

f. He made the way of peace

i. We didn’t meet him in the middle

ii. He came all the way to us and for us!

g. Application: Have you found peace with God your Lord and creator?

i. It comes by saving faith through Jesus Christ

ii. II Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every [a]circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

iii. Peace with God leads to peace in life!

III. The cross is our righteousness

a. The purpose of the cross

i. Positionally it made us right with God

ii. Relationally it made us at peace with God

iii. Practically it gave us the righteousness of God

b. To present us holy and blameless and beyond reproach

i. Your were a sinner saved by Grace

ii. You are now called to be more than just that!

c. Formerly “engaged in evil deeds”

d. Because of the cross when God sees me he sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ

e. Because of the cross we now have the means to live out the righteousness of Christ

f. The cross is the key to Christian living!

i. Cant preach on how to make a better marriage, parent, handle your money, etc. apart from the cross!

ii. The cross is not just an after thought, or part of the thought.

iii. For the true believer the cross is everything: it is our past, our present and our future

iv. The cross of Christ is to touch every aspect and reality of our life!

g. We must get past our lame excuses for continuing in the mire of our sinful thoughts and actions.

i. Because of the cross we are new creatures!

h. We can live victoriously (didn’t say perfection) because Christ conquered sin on the cross

i. When we struggle with sin let us remember what the cost of that sin was!

IV. Conclusion

The cross changed world history

It has changed nations and cultures

It has changed communities and families

Has it changed you?