Principles of the Cross

THE PROBLEM

"As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who under-stands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one" Romans 3:10-12 (read also Rom 3:13-23) .

The whole human race is in a place of utter and total separation from God. From the time the first man and woman sinned until the resurrection of Christ man had no legal access into the presence of God. In the Old Testament only the high priest could come into the Holy of Holies once a year, and then only after detailed ritual (see Leviticus 16:2-30).

MANKIND IS DESCRIBED AS:

Children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:1-2)

Children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3)

Children of the devil (John 8:44)

Enemies of God (Colossians 1:21; James 4:4)

Having no hope (Ephesians 2:12)

THE BIBLE REVEALS:

There is sin in everyone (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:23).

Sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:2).

Man is unable to be righteous by his own efforts (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16).

God judges sin (Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23).

Because God's nature is holiness, and because He is a righteous Judge, He is bound to abide by His own righteous Law. Man's sin, rebellion and disobedience made it impossible for a holy God to accept him into His presence without destroying the very foundation of the moral law which governs the universe. Sin brings the death penalty; man has sinned and therefore has to die.

THE PLAN

The only way God could abide by His righteous Law and still bring forgiveness and reconciliation to man was to find a substitute to die in his place. A suitable substitute had to be found who could stand righteous before God, and yet who could truly represent the human race. It had to be a man who had no sin.

But there was no man - for all had sinned. So God Himself had to become man in order to reconcile man to God.

" . . . Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Phil 2:5-8 (read also Phil 2:9-11; Hebrews 2:9).

" . . . that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation . . . God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" 2 Corinthians 5:19, 2 Cor 5:21.

THE SUBSTITUTE

"Surely he took our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" Isaiah 53:4-5 (read the whole chapter).

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, entered fully into the stream of human life, becoming, as He called Himself, 'the Son of man' (Luke 19:10). He lived a perfect life and thus was able to represent us before God, bringing man and God together. He was the only one who could satisfy both the holiness of God and the total needs of mankind.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" Hebrews 4:14-16 (see also 8:6; 1Timothy 2:5).

God's judgement on sin is death - both physical and spiritual. Jesus died in the place of all sinners. He took upon Himself God's judgement on sin.

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" 1 Peter 2:24 (see also Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 3:18)

THE CROSS

Why did God choose the Cross as the means of Christ's death? The disciples glorified in the Cross and continually preached "Christ crucified".

" . . . but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (see also Galatians 6:14).

The Cross is the greatest symbol of shame and humiliation: To the Jews it was a sign of being cursed by God. Therefore it was a stumbling block to them to think of the Messiah being crucified.

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree' " Galatians 3:13.

In the Old Testament only those guilty of idolatry or blasphemy were hung on a cross or tree, after being stoned to death, as a warning to others (see Deuteronomy 21:22-23). The Romans used the cross as a means of executing slaves and the worst criminals. That mankind's sin was judged on a cross indicates God's attitude towards those who reject Him: their rebellion is compared to the worst crime.

LOVE AND JUSTICE MEET AT THE CROSS

The Cross is the place where the love of God and the righteous judgement of God meet. His righteous judgement demanded the death penalty for sin-the shedding of blood. His love met His own demands and Jesus, the Son of God, died as our substitute.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him. For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" Romans 5:8-11.

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