THE WAY OF THE CROSS

I CORINTHIANS 1:17-18

INTRODUCTION

Good Friday 2000 years ago was a very eventful day for our Lord Jesus Christ. He went through three religious Judgements: Annas, Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. He then went through three legal and political judgments; Pilate, Herod and Pilate a second time. They beat Him and mocked Him. On the cross, the Lord spoke seven times. (1). Father forgive them (Luke 23:34), (2) I Thirst (John 19:28), (3) You will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43), (4) Behold your son, behold your mother (John 19:26), (5) My God, my God why have you forsaken me (Mark 15:34), (6) It is finished (John 19:28), (7) Into Your hands I commit my soul (Luke 23:46). Jesus died on the cross. The whole process that Jesus went through on Good Friday is called “WAY OF THE CROSS”. When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, He reminded them that he had been called for one purpose and that purpose was to preach the Gospel of the cross. The message of the cross of Jesus Christ is still a strange message to those who have never been saved. To them “it is foolishness”. To the lost, the idea of trusting a suffering, bleeding and dying man for salvation is foolishness (I Cor. 1:21-24). There is only one way of the cross. There is no salvation apart from faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary (Acts.4:12)

Let us Learn:-

I.   THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS.

• The preaching of the cross is a simple message.
• The way to be saved is for the sinner to accept by faith what the Bible teaches about Jesus and His atoning death on the cross (Rom.10:9-10)
• The preaching of the cross is not just quitting your sins but coming to Jesus Christ by faith.
• It is placing your faith in Jesus and Him alone for salvation.
• There is nothing else that needs to be preached anymore or any stronger.
• Salvation has to do with what happened at the cross and at the tomb that Friday and that resurrection Sunday morning. (Gal.6:14)
• The cross is a sign of man’s complete dependence upon the grace of God for salvation and forgiveness of sin.
• God’s only plan for our salvation is all based on His death on the cross.
• So Jesus bought our pardon, our adoption as sons of God with His own blood.
• Therefore, there needs to be a preaching of the cross because it is the power of God unto salvation.
• The Gospel is therefore how Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, how He was buried, how He rose from the dead overcoming death, hell and the grave for us.

II.  THE PURPOSE OF THE CROSS

1. To reveal the love of God to the world

• Through Christ’s death on the cross, God declared boldly for all to see, His boundless, matchless love for the lost world (Rom 5:6-8)
• The cross is God’s statement of love to the world (John 15:13)

2. To give salvation through the remission of sins.

• The debt of our sins was fully settled at the cross (Heb.10:12-14, 9:24-28)

3. To gain and give total victory over Satan

• Jesus died on the cross, but he did not remain there.
• He was dead, buried and He rose on the third day.
• Victory over Satan is found in the blood of the Lamb (Rev.12:11)

4. To call us to a life pleasing to God (I Thess. 4:7)

• We are not only forgiven but we are also called to live holy lives (2 Cor.5:15)

III.  THE POWER OF THE CROSS.

1. Power over sin and the flesh- we are changed forever (2 Cor.5:17)

• The chains of sin are broken (Rom.6:14)

2. Power over the world.

• The cross of Jesus gives power to every believer to overcome the dictates, practices and traditions of this world which are contrary to the ways of God. (I John 5:4-5)

3. Power over satanic kingdom

• The believer has power over all satanic powers and agents of darkness.
• We are expected through the cross and the shed blood to cast out devils (Luke 10:18-19)

4. Power over sickness and diseases.

• His death on the cross purchased for us good health, divine healing from sickness and disease (I Peter 2:24)

5. Power over poverty.

• He became poor for our sakes that we may be rich through His poverty (2 Cor.8:9)

6. Power to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God.

• We have received power to preach (Acts 1:8)

CONCLUSION

• The way of the cross is the only way of salvation.
• The way of the cross is the only way of victory over, sin, world and Satan
• Have you come to God through the way of the cross? Do it today.