The Triumph of the Cross: Justice and Salvation

Devotional

Day 1: The Cross as Substitutionary Sacrifice

The cross of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith because it represents a substitutionary sacrifice. Jesus, the just, died for the unjust, taking the place of humanity as a substitute. This act was not merely an example or martyrdom; it was a divine necessity. God is holy and just, and sin cannot go unpunished. If God were to overlook sin, He would cease to be just. Therefore, a substitute was required to bear the punishment for sin, allowing God to remain just while justifying those who believe in Jesus. This profound truth highlights the depth of God's love and justice, as He provided a way for humanity to be reconciled to Him through the sacrifice of His Son. [05:30]

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV): "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit."

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt undeserving of forgiveness. How does understanding Jesus' substitutionary sacrifice change your perspective on receiving and extending forgiveness today?

Day 2: The Cross in God's Eternal Plan

The cross was not an afterthought but was in God's plan from the beginning. Throughout the Bible, the theme of substitutionary sacrifice is evident, from the coats of skin for Adam and Eve to the Passover lamb. These Old Testament sacrifices were shadows pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This demonstrates that the cross was always in the heart and mind of God, showing His foreknowledge and sovereignty in the plan of salvation. Understanding this helps believers see the continuity of God's redemptive work throughout history and His unwavering commitment to redeeming humanity. [07:14]

Revelation 13:8 (ESV): "And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain."

Reflection: Reflect on how God's eternal plan has unfolded in your life. What is one way you can trust His sovereignty in your current circumstances?

Day 3: The Suffering of Jesus on the Cross

Jesus' suffering on the cross was both physical and spiritual. He bore the weight of the world's sin, experiencing separation from God, which was the ultimate suffering. In Gethsemane, Jesus faced the emotional agony of becoming sin for us, and on the cross, He experienced physical torment and spiritual separation from God, crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This separation highlights the seriousness of sin and the depth of Jesus' sacrifice. It serves as a reminder of the cost of sin and the immense love of Christ, who endured such suffering for the sake of humanity. [33:24]

Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV): "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Reflection: Think about a time when you felt distant from God. How does Jesus' experience of separation on the cross encourage you to draw near to Him today?

Day 4: The Settled Provision of the Cross

Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was once and for all, a settled provision that paid our sin debt in full. His death reconciles us to God, allowing us to enter into His presence and have intimate fellowship with Him. This act of grace means that believers no longer have to strive for acceptance or forgiveness; it has been accomplished through Christ's sacrifice. The cross is the bridge between sinful humanity and a holy God, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe. This assurance of salvation provides peace and confidence in the believer's relationship with God. [37:10]

Hebrews 10:14 (ESV): "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself striving for acceptance? How can you rest in the settled provision of the cross today?

Day 5: The Cross as the Bridge to Salvation

The cross is the bridge between sinful humanity and a holy God. It offers salvation and eternal life to all who believe, demonstrating God's love and justice in a profound way. Through the cross, believers are reconciled to God and can experience the fullness of His love and grace. This transformative power of the cross calls individuals to respond in faith, embracing the gift of salvation and living in the light of God's love. The cross is not just a historical event but a present reality that impacts the believer's daily life and relationship with God. [39:26]

Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the bridge of salvation offered through the cross? How can you share this message with them today?

Sermon Summary

The cross of Jesus Christ is central to understanding the Christian faith. It raises profound questions: Why did Jesus have to die? Why was such a sacrifice necessary? The answer lies in the substitutionary purpose of the cross. Jesus, the just, died for the unjust, taking our place as a substitutionary sacrifice. This act was not a mere example or martyrdom; it was a divine necessity because God is holy and just, and sin cannot go unpunished. If God were to overlook sin, He would cease to be just. Therefore, a substitute was required to bear the punishment for sin, allowing God to remain just while justifying those who believe in Jesus.

The cross was not an afterthought; it was in the heart and mind of God before the foundation of the world. Throughout the Bible, from the coats of skin for Adam and Eve to the Passover lamb, the theme of substitutionary sacrifice is evident. These Old Testament sacrifices were shadows pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

The suffering of Jesus on the cross was immense, both physically and spiritually. In Gethsemane, Jesus faced the emotional agony of becoming sin for us, bearing the weight of the world's sin. On the cross, He experienced physical torment and spiritual separation from God, crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This separation was the ultimate suffering, as Jesus, who had been in perfect communion with the Father, became the object of God's wrath.

Yet, the cross is also a triumph. Jesus' sacrifice was once and for all, a settled provision that paid our sin debt in full. His death reconciles us to God, allowing us to enter into His presence. The cross is the bridge between sinful humanity and a holy God, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe.

Key Takeaways

1. The cross of Jesus Christ is a substitutionary sacrifice, where the just died for the unjust, fulfilling God's requirement for justice while expressing His infinite love. This act allows God to remain just while justifying those who believe in Jesus. [05:30]
2. The cross was not an afterthought but was in God's plan from the beginning. The Old Testament sacrifices were shadows pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. [07:14]
3. Jesus' suffering on the cross was both physical and spiritual. He bore the weight of the world's sin, experiencing separation from God, which was the ultimate suffering. This separation highlights the seriousness of sin and the depth of Jesus' sacrifice. [33:24]
4. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was once and for all, a settled provision that paid our sin debt in full. His death reconciles us to God, allowing us to enter into His presence and have intimate fellowship with Him. [37:10]
5. The cross is the bridge between sinful humanity and a holy God. It offers salvation and eternal life to all who believe, demonstrating God's love and justice in a profound way. [39:26]
** [39:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:21] - The Question of the Cross
[01:00] - Gospel Dynamite in One Verse
[01:47] - The Greatest Tragedy and Triumph
[03:01] - Substitutionary Purpose of the Cross
[04:25] - God's Justice and Our Sinfulness
[06:29] - The Cross in God's Eternal Plan
[07:44] - The Red River of Blood
[09:49] - Old Testament Shadows
[14:10] - The Lamb of God
[19:18] - The Suffering Passion of the Cross
[23:47] - The Agony of Gethsemane
[29:51] - The Physical Suffering of Jesus
[32:34] - The Spiritual Suffering of Jesus
[36:46] - The Settled Provision of the Cross
[39:11] - The Saving Power of the Cross

Sermon Clips

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Christ suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. The greatest tragedy this world ever knew took place on an ugly hill outside Jerusalem, where the Son of God hung in agony and blood upon a cruel cross. [00:01:32]

The substitutionary purpose of the cross. Have you got it? Listen, the substitutionary purpose of the cross. Listen to this verse: For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust. That's talking about us. It's talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus did not die as a martyr. He did not die as an example. [00:03:05]

Jesus did not die as a martyr. He said, "No man takes my life from me. I lay it down of myself." The cross was in the heart and mind of God before he swung this planet into space. If you're making notes, I want you to jot down Revelation chapter 13 and verse 8. [00:06:36]

Think of it, after the very first sin in the Garden of Eden, what did God do for Adam and Eve? Before they'd sinned, they were naked, but they had no guilt. But now they're covered with shame, and they try to hide themselves with fig leaves. Adam might have said to Eve, "Eve, green looks good on you." [00:07:41]

The Bible says that God made them coats of skin, coats of skin. That is, the blood of an innocent animal was shed for them. God, right here in the very dawn of world history, is showing that without shedding of blood is no remission of sin. Hebrews 9:22. [00:08:22]

All of these other sacrifices from Abel's little lamb to the shed blood for the coats for Adam and Eve, to Noah's sacrifice, the Passover lamb, all of those were only shadows. Let me give you a verse of scripture that talks about these things being shadows. Hebrews 9:22. [00:14:28]

Sin means death. The wages of sin is death, but no animal could pay our sin debt. All that was was a conditioned response until Jesus, the very Son of God, died upon that cross. All of these Old Testament sacrifices pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Bible says without shedding of blood there's no remission. [00:16:49]

Jesus was crucified on the same mountain where Abraham was willing to offer Isaac, Mount Moriah. That's where Jesus died, and that's where the temple mount is. And on the day that Jesus died, the Jews were keeping Passover, and the Levitical priests were sharpening their knives, getting ready to cut the throats of little lambs. [00:17:28]

The suffering passion of the cross. Our verse that I gave to you says this: Christ also hath once suffered, the just for the unjust. Sin brings suffering. I want you to think of the sufferings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, not just the suffering on the cross. Think of the emotional suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:19:18]

The Bible says of the Lord Jesus, God hath made him who knew no sin to be sin for us. Jesus, if he becomes my substitute, has to bear my sin. And so he not, he never sinned, but he was made to be sin for us. And so Jesus took upon himself the sin of all of the world. [00:21:30]

The spiritual suffering on that cross. Listen, Matthew 27 verse 46: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" That is to say, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Now those are words from the Psalms, the Psalm of David. [00:32:34]

Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust. Now listen, that he might bring us to God. That's what it's all about. On the cross, the Lord Jesus took sinful man with one hand and holy God with the other hand, and the Bible says by the blood of his cross he hath reconciled God and man. [00:39:26]

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