The Unadorned Cross: Embracing the Reality of Sin

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of the pastoral theology of repentance, we delve into the profound significance of the "naked cross." The cross, devoid of embellishments or distractions, stands as a stark reminder of the horror and reality of sin. In Deuteronomy 16:21, God commands that no groves or images be placed near His altar, emphasizing the need for purity and authenticity in worship. This command serves as a metaphor for the church today, urging us to strip away any superficial attractions or distractions that might detract from the raw power of the cross.

The cross is not a spectacle for entertainment; it is a bloody horror that reveals the vulgarity of sin. It is not the cross that is vulgar, but the actions of those who nailed Christ to it and those who continue to deny its necessity. The church must resist the temptation to use worldly attractions to draw people in, as these only serve to dilute the message of the cross. The Holy Spirit honors the simple proclamation of the truth that Jesus saves through His sacrifice.

Throughout history, God's people have struggled with the temptation to beautify or soften the message of the cross. From the Israelites who planted groves around their altars to modern churches that use entertainment to attract congregants, the pattern is clear. We must return to the simplicity and severity of the cross, recognizing that it is only through understanding the true horror of sin that we can truly repent and be born again.

The cross must remain central in our lives and our churches. It is not a lucky charm or a piece of jewelry to be worn for attention. It is the symbol of our salvation, the ultimate sacrifice that demands our reverence and our repentance. We must preach Christ, not a creed or a movement, and rely solely on the power of the cross to draw people to Him. In doing so, we honor the sacrifice of Christ and uphold the purity of the gospel.

Key Takeaways

1. The cross is a stark reminder of the horror of sin, and it must remain unadorned and central in our worship. Any attempt to beautify or soften its message detracts from its power and purpose. We must resist the temptation to use worldly attractions to draw people in, as these only serve to dilute the message of the cross. [02:05]
2. The vulgarity of the cross lies not in its nature but in the actions of those who crucified Christ and those who deny its necessity. The church must present the naked splendor of the cross, allowing people to confront the reality of sin and its consequences. Only then can true repentance occur. [05:23]
3. Throughout history, God's people have struggled with the temptation to beautify or soften the message of the cross. From the Israelites who planted groves around their altars to modern churches that use entertainment to attract congregants, the pattern is clear. We must return to the simplicity and severity of the cross. [08:49]
4. The cross is not a lucky charm or a piece of jewelry to be worn for attention. It is the symbol of our salvation, the ultimate sacrifice that demands our reverence and our repentance. We must preach Christ, not a creed or a movement, and rely solely on the power of the cross to draw people to Him. [12:02]
5. The church must be vigilant against any departure from the pattern of the cross. Even small deviations can lead to significant corruption and sin. We must uphold the purity of the gospel and rely on the power of the cross to transform lives. [19:18]
** [19:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:05] - The Naked Cross
[05:23] - The Vulgarity of Sin
[08:49] - Historical Struggles
[12:02] - The Cross as Central
[15:54] - Departures from the Pattern
[19:18] - Vigilance Against Corruption
[23:47] - The Power of the Cross
[27:19] - Upholding the Gospel
[30:00] - Conclusion and Worship

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

**Bible Reading:**

Deuteronomy 16:21 - "Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make."
Exodus 34:13 - "But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves."
2 Kings 16:10-16 - The story of King Ahaz and the altar.

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**Observation Questions:**

What specific command does God give in Deuteronomy 16:21 regarding the altar, and why is this significant? [02:05]
How does the sermon describe the cross in relation to worldly attractions and entertainment? [12:02]
What historical examples are given in the sermon to illustrate the temptation to beautify or soften the message of the cross? [08:49]
According to the sermon, what is the consequence of departing from the pattern of the cross? [19:18]

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**Interpretation Questions:**

How does the command in Deuteronomy 16:21 to avoid planting groves near the altar relate to the modern church's approach to worship and the message of the cross? [02:05]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church today might be diluting the message of the cross, and what are the potential dangers of this? [12:02]
How does the story of King Ahaz in 2 Kings 16:10-16 serve as a warning for the church today regarding the centrality of the cross? [08:49]
What does the sermon imply about the relationship between the purity of the gospel and the power of the cross to transform lives? [19:18]

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**Application Questions:**

Reflect on your personal worship practices. Are there any "groves" or distractions that you need to remove to focus more on the raw power of the cross? [02:05]
How can you ensure that your church's activities and programs do not overshadow the message of the cross? What steps can you take to address this if needed? [12:02]
Consider the historical examples of diluting the message of the cross. How can you guard against similar temptations in your own faith journey? [08:49]
In what ways can you make the cross more central in your daily life and interactions with others? What practical changes can you implement this week? [19:18]
How can you contribute to upholding the purity of the gospel in your church community? Are there specific actions you can take to support this effort? [19:18]
Think about a time when you might have relied on worldly attractions to draw people to faith. How can you shift your focus to rely solely on the power of the cross? [12:02]
What does true repentance look like in your life, and how does understanding the horror of sin through the cross influence this process? [05:23]

Sermon Clips

Pagan sacrifices are corruptions, either conscious or unconscious, of the authentic sacrifices of the Scripture. Now, because they did not like to look at the ugly spectacle of their blood-soaked altars, they planted trees around them to lessen the severity. The church must ever remember that the cross is an awful thing. [00:01:38]

It's not an entertaining spectacle. It is a bloody horror. G. Campbell Morgan, the great preacher, said, They are people who look upon the cross of Christ as vulgar. We agree it is the most vulgar object in the history of the world. But whose is the vulgarity? Not that of God's Son who gave His blood to wash away our sin. [00:02:11]

We are to present to the world and to ourselves the naked splendor, the bloody glory of that cross. Only then are men brought face to face with the horror of sin and what sin has done. And until that happens, they can never hate sin like God hates sin. [00:03:28]

The cross must be our only appeal. The cross itself must be the only attraction. It is wrong, terribly wrong, to arrange any kind of bait to entice people into our service. When I see all of the mimes and the clowns and all of the circus acts today and the programs that are geared to attract people into the house of God, the bait that is used. [00:04:15]

The Holy Ghost will honor faith in the simple proclamation of the naked truth that Jesus saves through the blood of his cross. That alone must be the attraction. In Exodus chapter 34 and verse 13, God commanded to destroy the enemy groves. You shall cut down their groves. [00:04:49]

There must be no groves, no beautifying, no easing of the severity. We must proclaim in absolute truthfulness what God has given us. The nearer we get to the splendor of that naked cross, the more the glory of the Lord surrounds us. We're happy to preach it. And sinners are moved by the simplicity of this unadorned, unembellished gospel. [00:06:55]

The cross is not a spectacle for entertainment. That which came nearest the cross at Calvary was sin and thieves. Only Jesus and sin were there. Murder, rejection, betrayal, unbelief. That is the position today. There is nothing in this world but sin and Jesus. Thank God there is Christ. [00:12:30]

To carry us to a lost eternity. But thank God Christ died for our sin. And it is only as we can see this cross and why there had to be a cross, are we made to see what a terrible thing sin is. Fool's, mocked sin, when we see the cross and the terrible horror of that cross, then and only then are we aware. [00:13:48]

And then and only then, when we see sin as God sees sin and feel about sin as God feels about sin, can there be true repentance. Church, we must ever be aware of things which seem to indicate a halfway house between sin and the Savior. [00:14:32]

There must be no additions of any sort to aid the work of the cross. The best of the world added to the cross fouls it. No groves, no gardens. They're beautiful and desirable in their place, but they must never be associated with the cross of Christ. The best of earth is no degree of heaven. [00:25:11]

We must learn that the cross only saves, only attracts, only sanctifies. The cross must be all, no groves. There must be no imitations, no shams. Neither shalt thou set up any image which the Lord thy God hateth. We do not set up actual images in the church today. However, they may represent some modern folly or profanity. [00:27:19]

May God help the church tear away the groves, decorations, tapestries around the cross that the world and all may see that it was not the Romans that crucified him. It was our sins. There must be no cribs or crucifixes. What good is a sculptured crucifix invoking fleshly tears? Let us make no avenues. [00:30:03]

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