Sunday, March 25th, 2018 Message By: Pastor Bam Lauvao Series: Building Your Future & Hope “Foundation of The Cross" THE CROSS IS THE EXPRESSION OF GOD’S MERCY OVER OUR DESERVED JUDGEMENT. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 NKJV) 1. THE CROSS WAS THE TARGET OF GOD’S DIVERTED JUDGMENT. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation of our sins.(1 John 4:10 NKJV) Propitiation: Diverting of God’s wrath to a Substitute. 2. THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS THE REMEDY FOR SIN. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:15 NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV) For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, (Romans 8:3 NKJV)
3. THE CROSS IS THE BRIDGE TO AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER. “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. (John 12:32-33 NASB) IF YOU’RE GOING TO GIVE UP, GIVE UP AT THE CROSS. Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30 NASB) Life Group Discussion: What does the Cross of Christ mean to you? What would the Gospel sound and look like if there was no cross? When JESUS said, “It is finished,” what did He mean by that? What was finished? If God is all loving, why is it that the road to Him is narrow? What does it mean when JESUS said that if we want to be His disciples, we must deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him?