The Centrality of the Cross in Christian Life
Summary
In the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verses 14 and 15, we find a profound truth that speaks to the heart of Christianity. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This passage, spoken to Nicodemus, a learned teacher of the Jews, underscores the necessity of the cross for salvation and the Christian life. Nicodemus struggled to understand the concept of being "born again," a mystery that transcends human comprehension. Yet, it is through the cross that we enter into this new life, a life that is not merely about doing good but about receiving the fullness of Christ.
The danger lies in our tendency to either reduce the mystery of salvation to something we can fully understand or to move beyond the foundational truths of the cross in pursuit of higher spiritual experiences. The devil is adept at using both tactics to keep us from the fullness of life in Christ. We must guard against the temptation to compartmentalize our faith, separating the cross from other aspects of Christian doctrine. The cross is not just the starting point; it is central to our entire spiritual journey.
The cross humbles us, revealing our sinfulness and our need for a Savior. It exalts Christ, showing that our salvation is entirely His work. It reminds us to continually look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. The cross is the lens through which we must view all aspects of our spiritual life, ensuring that we remain grounded in the truth and protected from spiritual pride and imbalance.
Key Takeaways:
- The cross is essential not only for entering the Christian life but for sustaining it. It is not merely a starting point but a continual source of life and growth in Christ. We must resist the temptation to move beyond the cross in pursuit of higher spiritual experiences, as this leads to spiritual imbalance and pride. [11:08]
- The cross humbles us by revealing our sinful nature and our complete dependence on Christ for salvation. It is a reminder of our need for humility and the danger of self-satisfaction and pride in our spiritual achievements. [38:10]
- The cross exalts Christ, highlighting that our salvation is entirely His work. It is through His sacrifice that we are forgiven and made righteous. This truth should lead us to a deeper appreciation and worship of Christ. [43:30]
- We must continually look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. The cross is a reminder of His love and sacrifice, and it should be central to our spiritual life. By keeping our focus on Him, we remain grounded in truth and protected from spiritual deception. [45:39]
- The cross is the foundation of all Christian doctrine, and separating it from other aspects of our faith leads to spiritual imbalance. We must view all aspects of our spiritual life through the lens of the cross, ensuring that we remain rooted in the truth and protected from spiritual pride. [21:23]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to John 3:14-15
- [01:05] - Nicodemus and the New Birth
- [02:52] - The Necessity of the Cross
- [03:28] - Receiving Christ's Fullness
- [05:20] - Hindrances to Spiritual Growth
- [06:41] - The Devil's Tactics
- [08:29] - The Cross in the Christian Life
- [10:34] - The Cross as Foundation
- [12:33] - Dangers of Spiritual Compartmentalization
- [16:39] - The Unity of Christian Truth
- [20:36] - The Cross and Sanctification
- [25:14] - The Danger of Spiritual Pride
- [31:50] - The Cross as Central to Faith
- [38:10] - The Humbling Power of the Cross
- [45:39] - Continual Focus on Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 3:14-15
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Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of the comparison between Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness and the Son of Man being lifted up? [00:28]
2. How does the sermon describe Nicodemus's struggle to understand the concept of being "born again"? [01:40]
3. According to the sermon, what are the dangers of trying to comprehend the mystery of salvation with our limited understanding? [05:39]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the role of the cross in the entire Christian life, not just at the beginning? [11:08]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the necessity of the cross for both entering and sustaining the Christian life? [08:29]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the cross humbles believers and reveals their need for a Savior? [38:10]
3. How does the sermon describe the danger of moving beyond the foundational truths of the cross in pursuit of higher spiritual experiences? [06:41]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between the cross and spiritual pride? [26:27]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Have you ever felt tempted to move beyond the cross in pursuit of higher spiritual experiences? How can you refocus on the cross as central to your faith? [11:08]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of humility. Can you identify a recent situation where pride may have crept into your spiritual life? How can the cross help you address this? [38:10]
3. Consider the idea of compartmentalizing your faith. Are there areas of your spiritual life where you have separated the cross from other aspects of your faith? How can you integrate the cross more fully into your daily walk? [16:39]
4. The sermon warns against the danger of spiritual pride. How can you cultivate a spirit of humility and dependence on Christ in your daily life? [26:27]
5. Reflect on the statement that the cross is not just the starting point but a continual source of life and growth. How can you ensure that the cross remains central in your spiritual journey? [11:08]
6. The sermon suggests that the cross exalts Christ by highlighting that our salvation is entirely His work. How can this truth lead you to a deeper appreciation and worship of Christ in your daily life? [43:30]
7. How can you keep your focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, in the midst of life's distractions and challenges? [45:39]
Devotional
Day 1: The Cross as a Continuous Source of Life
The cross is not just the entry point into the Christian life; it is the sustaining force that continually nourishes and grows our faith. Many believers are tempted to seek spiritual experiences beyond the cross, thinking they will find deeper truths or higher levels of spirituality. However, this pursuit can lead to spiritual imbalance and pride. The cross remains central to our spiritual journey, reminding us of our need for Christ and His sacrifice. By keeping the cross at the forefront, we ensure that our faith is grounded in the truth and protected from the allure of spiritual distractions. [11:08]
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you been tempted to seek spiritual experiences beyond the cross? How can you refocus your spiritual journey to keep the cross central today?
Day 2: The Cross Reveals Our Need for Humility
The cross humbles us by exposing our sinful nature and our complete dependence on Christ for salvation. It serves as a constant reminder of our need for humility, warning us against the dangers of self-satisfaction and pride in our spiritual achievements. By acknowledging our sinfulness and recognizing that salvation is entirely the work of Christ, we are led to a posture of humility and gratitude. This humility is essential for a healthy spiritual life, as it keeps us grounded and open to God's transformative work in our lives. [38:10]
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: What areas of your life reveal a tendency towards spiritual pride? How can you practice humility today by acknowledging your dependence on Christ?
Day 3: The Cross Exalts Christ's Work of Salvation
The cross highlights that our salvation is entirely the work of Christ. Through His sacrifice, we are forgiven and made righteous, a truth that should lead us to a deeper appreciation and worship of Christ. The cross exalts Christ, reminding us that our salvation is not based on our efforts but on His grace and mercy. This understanding should inspire us to live lives of worship and gratitude, continually acknowledging the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice and the depth of His love for us. [43:30]
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding that salvation is entirely Christ's work change your perspective on worship? What specific ways can you express gratitude for His sacrifice today?
Day 4: Continual Focus on Jesus
We are called to continually look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. The cross serves as a reminder of His love and sacrifice, and it should be central to our spiritual life. By keeping our focus on Him, we remain grounded in truth and protected from spiritual deception. This continual focus on Jesus helps us navigate the challenges of life with faith and perseverance, knowing that He is with us every step of the way. [45:39]
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What distractions are currently pulling your focus away from Jesus? How can you intentionally fix your eyes on Him throughout your day today?
Day 5: The Cross as the Foundation of Christian Doctrine
The cross is the foundation of all Christian doctrine, and separating it from other aspects of our faith leads to spiritual imbalance. We must view all aspects of our spiritual life through the lens of the cross, ensuring that we remain rooted in the truth and protected from spiritual pride. By understanding the centrality of the cross, we can maintain a balanced and holistic approach to our faith, integrating its truths into every area of our lives. [21:23]
"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11, ESV)
Reflection: How can you ensure that the cross remains the foundation of your faith? What practical steps can you take to integrate its truths into every aspect of your life today?
Quotes
The cross is not merely a starting point; it is something that continues throughout the whole of the Christian life. I emphasize it for this reason: there has often been a temptation that has come to many Christian people to feel that they can now leave the cross behind, that that was just the beginning. [00:11:00]
The danger in a sense can be put like this: it is the danger of dividing Christian truth up into separate watertight distinct compartments. If I may use such an illustration, it's almost like the various departments in a great store. Though they're all in the same building, they're separated and are independent in the conduct of their business. [00:16:31]
The cross tells me that my nature is sinful, that I was born in sin and shapen in iniquity, that I am vile, that I am wrong. Not only am I sinful, I am diseased; there is no health in us. From the crown of the head to the soles of his feet, it's full of rottenness. [00:41:10]
The cross tells me that I am condemned, that I'm perishing, that I'm under the wrath of God, and the law of God condemns me. But the cross tells me that nothing else can tell me that. Why did he die? He says he must, he has to. Why did the Son of God die? [00:41:37]
The cross humbles us to the dust and shows us that we have nothing and less than nothing, and that left to ourselves at any point, we are still vile and we'd go back to perish. But also, you see, it exalts him, and that is where these people are so foolish who think they can receive of his fullness without the cross. [00:43:20]
There is nothing that so exalts him as the cross, for it shows us that our salvation is entirely his work. Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. He's taken our sins upon him; he's borne the punishment, the punishment of the guilt. He's died that we might be forgiven. [00:43:50]
The cross is always vital, and we must never leave it nor forsake it. And I say again, if you find any sort of tendency within you almost to belittle it, to say you no longer need it or you've gone beyond it, oh my dear friend, I say come back to it. [00:37:14]
The cross above everything else humbles us and brings us to realize the truth about ourselves and our perpetual need. And you need it at every single moment of your life. Pride will keep on creeping in—pride of achievement, pride of good works, pride of activities. It's always there. [00:44:59]
The cross is the center of the doctrine of holiness. How does it do it? Well, it's perfectly clear, isn't it? It is the cross that reveals to us our sinful state and condition. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. [00:45:35]
You start in the Christian life by looking at him and to him, and you go on doing the same thing. And as you look at him, you'll always see how he came and how he died, how he was buried, how he rose again. Read your New Testament epistles. [00:46:27]
If you want to receive of his fullness and grace upon grace, look at him crucified, look at him dying on the tree. Of course, you'll know that he was buried and that he rose again, but keep on looking at that. Keep on and say, God forbid that I should glory save in the cross. [00:47:07]
Holiness teaching which can dispense with a constant repetition of the message of the cross is already a teaching that has lost its balance and will eventually do more harm than good. Test yourselves, my dear friends, this morning and always by your view of the cross. [00:47:50]
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