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It was to redeem us that Jesus lived
and suffered and died. He became "a Man of Sorrows," that we might
be made partakers of everlasting joy. God permitted His beloved
Son, full of grace and truth, to come from a world of indescribable
glory, to a world spoiled and ruined with sin, darkened with the
shadow of death and the curse. It was the burden of sin, the sense
of its terrible nature, the separation of man from God--it was this
that broke the heart of the Christ.
"God so loved the world, that He gave
His only-begotten Son." He gave Him to live among men, to bear their
sins, and die their sacrifice. He gave Him to the fallen race.
Christ was to identify Himself with the interests and needs of the
human family. Jesus has linked Himself with the children of men by
ties that are never to be broken. Jesus is "not ashamed to call them
brethren" Hebrews 2:11. Jesus has done all this that man might be
uplifted from the ruin and degradation of sin that he might reflect
the love of God and share the joy of holiness.
We must gather around the cross. Christ and Him
crucified should be the theme of contemplation, of conversation, and
of our most joyful emotion. We should keep in our thoughts every
blessing we receive from God, and when we realize His great love we
should be willing to trust everything to the hand that was nailed to
the cross for us. This study will open to us the endless theme of
the cross of Christ.
1. Did Jesus do anything worthy of
death?
Luke 23:13-15
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2. What was the response of the
people when Pilot wanted to release Jesus?
Luke 23:20-23
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Note:
The priests, rulers, and people called out “crucify Him.” It is
clear that they had another purpose. For it is written “cursed is
everyone that hangs on a tree.” Galatians 3:13 Deuteronomy 21:22,
23. The people’s desire was that He be cursed of God; and for their
sake He was. “Christ bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1
Peter 2:24. As it says “He became sin for us that we might become
the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.
3. Who was the subject of the
prophecy that the Ethiopian eunuch was trying to understand?
Acts 8:32-35
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4. When Jesus came to take away our
sin how did we respond?
Isaiah 53:3
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5. Who was responsible for putting
Christ on the cross?
Isaiah 53:4-6
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Note:
The shameful cross
has been lifted up, the nails have been driven through his hands and
feet, the cruel spear has pierced to his heart, and the redemption
price has been paid for the human race. The spotless Lamb of God
bore our sins in his own body upon the tree; he carried our sorrows,
our grief, our pain, and was bruised for our iniquities. They are
now His; do not keep from Him what He bought with His own life.
6. What price did Jesus pay to
purchase our sins?
Galatians 1:4
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Note:
His death has secured pardon and life for all. Nothing can keep us
from salvation except we decide to keep what has been bought on the
cross. Jesus paid it ALL! If you were to save and buy a brand new
car; but upon delivery time it did not come. So you called about
the matter and they said ‘what car.’ Would you let the matter
rest? No, you would go after it right. Why? Because you paid for
it.
7. Why
was Christ crucified on the cross?
Romans 6:6-7
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Note:
Destruction of sin is
the only way of salvation. “You shall call His name Jesus for He
will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21. So when I
receive Him into my heart I can know that “if I died with Him I
shall also live with Him.” 2 Timothy 2:11. So this is the object
of the cross the destruction of sin.
8. After having died with Christ
what will he now do?
Hosea 6:2
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Note:
“For if we have been
united together in the likeness of His death certainly we also shall
be in the likeness of His resurrection.” Romans 6:5. If we receive
Him into our hearts we can know that the body of sin was put to
death in the grave on the first day; and on third day He raises us
to ‘newness of life’ in Him. Romans 6:4
9. What was abolished on the cross?
Ephesians 2:15-16
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Note:
That which is
destroyed is the body of sin, and it is destroyed only by this
personal presence of the life of Christ. It is destroyed in order
that we may be freed from its power and no longer need to serve it.
It is destroyed for everybody, for Christ in His own flesh has
abolished "the enmity," the sinner's carnal mind. Our sins, our
weaknesses, were upon Him. For every soul the victory has been
gained, and the enemy has been disarmed. We have only to accept the
victory which Christ has won.
10. What does the Bible declare the
“Power of God” to be?
Romans 1:16
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Note:
Therefore the Gospel
simply reveals to us the power which was used to bring the worlds
into existence, now exercised for the salvation of men.
11. What is the “Power of God” to
those who are being saved?
I Corinthians 1:18
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Note:
The cross of Christ
is the great truth around which all other truths cluster. In order
to be rightly understood and appreciated, every truth in the Word of
God, from Genesis to Revelation, must be studied in the light that
streams from the cross of Calvary. To the world the cross is the
indisputable message that God is truth and light and love.
12. What is given up in order to
gain Christ?
Philippians 3:8
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Note:
As we are crucified with Him the world becomes dark and we count
everything else as rubbish. Heaven, eternal life, is worth
everything, and Christ has died that we might come into possession
of the eternal weight of glory.
The cross of Christ is to be so distinctly presented before the
world that every other power will be eclipsed, and the human race be
drawn in homage to Christ Jesus. The Father has given everything
into the hands of Christ,--all power, dominion, and glory have been
bestowed upon the Son of God. When the eye is directed to Calvary,
the soul beholds Jesus, the royal Sufferer, dying for the sin of
man. When Jesus Christ is evidently set forth before the sinner's
eyes, manifest in the flesh and crucified for him, the result will
then be transformation of character for the sinner has become a new
creature in Christ Jesus. |
