Why the Cross?

Blood. It is an important item. The life of man is in his blood. It is an amazing thing. Just one drop of blood is a factory in itself: it hauls and dumps waste; it cleanses and replenishes vital food elements; it transfers fuel; it repairs damages and rebuilds broken parts; it seeks out and destroys invaders who seek to take over the body. But it has an even more important function that is far greater than the sustaining of physical life. The blood of a certain one provides for us escape from God’s wrath and peace with Him.

God says that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. The word used to describe God’s work to reconcile us to Himself is the word, “atonement.” As noted in the previous article, man was not only hostile to and alienated from God; God was in a hostile attitude toward us! There's a lot of people you don't want mad at you. But if God is mad at you, friend you have no hope (see Romans 3:9-18 and John 3:36).

And yet the bible clearly teaches that God, for His own glory and out of love for us, provided the way we could escape the terrifying judgment due to us for our sin (Ephesians 1:6-9; John 3:16). Centuries ago God chose a people, the Jews, to communicate His truth to the world and prepare them for the coming of Christ. In preparation God gave the Jews a ceremony: kill a lamb (or goat or bull) to atone for their sin. A lot of blood was shed for their sin so they could worship Him. One thing was etched in their minds: God was holy and they were sinful, and without the shedding of blood there was no forgiveness of sin.

When Christ came into the world John the Baptist (Jesus' forerunner and herald) cried out to his followers, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Jesus said of Himself, "I lay down my life for the sheep." When Christ hung upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished!" Jesus spoke in Aramaic. The word He used was tetelestai. It is an accounting term and means "paid in full." As Christ hung on the cross, He looked down the centuries and saw all those He would save. The shedding of His blood paid in full for the wrath due to us for our sin. God, His Father, took out all His wrath for our sin upon Jesus. He took the punishment for our sin. Centuries before Christ died, one of His prophets--under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit--penned these words:

Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.

-- Isaiah 53:4-6

There's more to discover; more to know. If you'd like to know how this all applies to your life. If you'd like to know how you can enter into this relationship With God and experience not only forgiveness of your sin, but the very life of God in you, then click on the link below and write us a letter asking for more information. We will send you some information that will explain how to have a personal relationship with God. Better yet, join us this Sunday at church. You can meet God there and we can give you that information personally!

Pastor Jonathan Culley, Associate Pastor for Outreach and Young Adults