Lessons

The Cross. The lesson on April 1, 2007 studies the Cross of Christ. You can’t get to the resurrection until you get to the cross. This is where the transaction of our sin debt was paid by God. This is the week before the resurrection which is when we see his suffering, his passion. There is a lot said about the cross in scripture. Without the cross we would still be in our sins. The cross is every where today. It’s on the walls, it’s in jewelry, it’s on a hill by a church… but the cross has lost it’s meaning. If we see it from a proper perspective, the only thing we should see is the shame of sins that God resolved. It says in 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” In Hebrews 11:6, we find that in order to come to God we must first believe that he is, and a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. Preaching is one way we get to know God (preaching from the word of God). It says faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God. (Romans 10:17). When you look at the cross in scripture, you find out why God used the cross. God established the cross to be a picture of cursing. In Deuteronomy 21:22-23 “And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;)”. The cross is accursed of God. In Galatians 3:10, 13 it says “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” God created the law that all who sin receive death. God is righteous and he had to take care of your sins in order to have fellowship with you. All you have to do is accept the fact the Christ took the penalty for us. He had plenty of opportunity to walk away from it but he choose to do it God’s way. In Matthew 27:39 we see that “… they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,” Isn’t it wonderful that Christ did God’s will to take care of the sins of the world instead of coming down from the cross as the asked him to do in Matthew 27:42. You may also want to hear other audio lessons about Easter.