WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CROSS?
John 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
It is so very sad that the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is so widely known, but so very little understood! It is a piece of jewelry to decorate the persons and clothing of those affiliated with traditional religion. It is the subject of religious hymns and songs. “How I love that old cross…” Yet the scriptures state “Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” (Gal. 3:13). It is placed over the graves of the dead. It adorns the spires of religious buildings. Its’ ‘sign’ is made across the chest’s of those thinking that to be their protection from evil and acceptance by the Lord God.
Yet the spiritual truth of the cross cannot be known except to the hearts of those redeemed by His blood and sealed by the Holy Spirit! 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Therefore the preaching of the true gospel cannot be known except there be a spiritual and proper understanding of the cross and of that which it accomplished! For there was a definite purchase made then! Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. AND WHEN A PURCHASED IS MADE, THAT WHICH IS PURCHASED IMMEDIATELY CHANGES OWNERSHIP! All of the Father’s elect were purchased by the Son’s blood, and sealed by the Holy Spirit! 1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
With this understanding that a definite purchase of a definite people being accomplished at the cross, the gospel is not “Let’s Make A Deal!” It is an effectual call of the Holy Spirit within the general call to the souls of all mankind, so that they who are ordained to eternal life may be given the gift of faith! Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. True faith is a heavenly gift, not a human effort!
But those without faith have this opportunity removed with their hearts more hardened that before. Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
And just what did the Savior mean in his cry, “It is finished” upon the cross? (John 19:30). He was stating that he had finished the transgression and made an end of sins, as prophesied by the Prophet Daniel! Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. That is, he had now made a full and complete atonement as payment for all the sins and transgressions for all the elect of God, for all time!
And it must have been so, for the Father was, for the first time since Adam sinned, “satisfied!” Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
All of their sins were paid for! All their transgressions were finished. For “Jesus paid it all!” Justification was accomplished. The debt was paid. The church was purchased. The Father was satisfied! All that remained now was for the Spirit to make application of that accomplished redemption! Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Another aspect of the cross that the majority of those who relate to it only in its physical aspect, is their ignorance of the necessity of a personal cross! Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For a gold cross around the neck, or making its sign on ones chest can never substitute for being assigned a life of daily dying to one’s self!
We are to be living sacrifices – living the death life! Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. We are to be as if dead to all other relationships, having the Lord Jesus as our only love! Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Also no human being with human effort can successfully imitate the Spirit’s work in setting forth the character of Christ! 2 Corinthians 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
We really don’t know that many true christians! For all organized religion substitutes some issue that they hold to be essential for fellowship with them. Every brand of religion has its own demanded performance in order for anyone to be received into fellowship with them. But only abiding on one’s cross is the issue of the true church! Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
And they hold their required traditions so high that they rebuke cross dwellers – even the Lord Himself! Matthew 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Notice that the Harlot Church says, “Save thyself.” But of the Spirit within the true church we read in, John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
The cross of the Lord Jesus shall change the entire human race. For even He was not known after his crucifixion the same as he was before it. 2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The redeemed of God shall no longer be identified by their relationship to one another. They shall only know themselves as they are known of God! 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
For as we were made in the image of the First Adam in natural birth, so we shall come to bear the image of the Last Adam in our spiritual birth and resurrection! 1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. All these shall be in ‘oneness’ with Eternal God! 1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. …that they also may be one in us…John 17:21
Pastor Gene Breed
November 9, 2017
