Three Crosses
Content
"The Three Crosses"
Picture in your minds three crosses on a hillside just outside the city walls of Jerusalem. 1... We will call the cross on the left the cross of rejection since the one on that cross was unrepentant unto death. 2... We will call the cross on the right the cross of reception since the one on it repented of his sins and trusted Jesus for his salvation. 3... We will call the center cross the cross of revelation since the Man who died on that cross allowed us to see ourselves for what we really are. We will call it the cross of revelation. What does the cross reveal? 1... The cross reveals the intensity of God's love. 3:16-17 !or God so loved the world" that he gave his only #egotten $on" 2... We find in ( John 3:16-17 that whosoever #elieveth in him should not no t perish" #ut have everlasting life. ( Vs17 !or God sent not his $on into the world to condemn the world% #ut that the world through him might #e saved. 3... The cross answers the &uestions% how far would God go g o to redeem manind. The cross would answer all the way. !or God ''$.'' loved. The Cross reveals the means of salvation: lifted up the serpent in the wilderness" wilderness" even so must the $on 1... ( John John 3:14-15 3:14-15 says" '')s Moses lifted of man #e lifted up% that whoever #elieves may have eternal life.'' 2... ''There is one mediator #etween man and God" the man *hrist Jesus.'' The Cross reveals the motive for service: 1... We find in ( 2 Cor. 5:15" '')nd he died for all" that they who live should no longer live for themselves" #ut for him who died and rose again on their #ehalf.'' 2... Why do + preach the gospel, -ecause e died on the cross for me. 3... Why do + attend church regularly, -ecause e died to save me. 4... Why do + witness to others a#out this good news, -ecause he died to save me. 5... all need to #e motivated. The We Cross reveals the melody of Heaven: 1... We find in ( Rev 5:9 that they sung a new n ew song" saying" Thou art worthy to tae the #oo" and to open the seals thereof/ for thou wast slain" and hast redeemed us to God #y thy #lood out of every indred" and tongue" and people" and nation% (Have you surveyed the wondrous cross of revelation? It reveals the intensity of God's love, the measure of man's sin, the means of salvation, the motive for service, and the melody of heaven). What we shold see when we see the cross: 1... The cross of *hrist tells us that su#stitution was made. )s the story of )#raham and +saac and the su#stitute ram for sacrifice foreshadowed the cross. Jesus *hrist was sent #y God to #e a su#stitute for me. e too my punishment and death. This is what we should see when we loo at the cross. 2... The cross of *hrist tells us that atonement was made. The story of the cross has its roots in
the ld Testament" Testament" When the high priest went into the Most oly Place once each year" he #rought the #lood of an animal to the mercy seat on the ar of the covenant. owever" the #lood
of animals could not accomplish this great wor% it remained for the #lood of *hrist to do it. When Jesus appeared #efore the throne of God with is own #lood" God accepted this as atoning for the sins of the world. )tonement for sin has #een made" and + should see this when + see the cross. 3... The cross of *hrist tells us that reconciliation was made. $ince atonement atone ment was made #y the sacrifice on the cross" it was possi#le for God to invite man #ac into a saved relationship. Paul said 0#e ye reconciled unto God0 (2 Cor. 5:18-20. + should see this when + see the cross. 4... The cross of *hrist tells us that fellowship with God is possi#le. +f we reject reconciliaiton" we reject the peace with God that forgiveness #rings. +f we accept the cross" we may enter into a relationship with God. + should see this when + see the cross. 5... The cross of *hrist tells us that + must #ecome dead to the world and alive to God. !or if we have #een planted together in the lieness of his death" we shall #e also in the lieness of his resurrection/ nowing this" that our old man is crucified with him" that the #ody of sin might #e destroyed" that henceforth we should not serve sin0 ( Rom. 6:2-6 .. !... The cross that Jesus #ore was that of 0o#edience 0o#edienc e unto death" yea" the death of the cross0 ( Phil. Phil. 2:8. ur 1ord said" 0)nd he that taeth not his cross" and followeth after me" is n not ot worthy of me. e that findeth his life shall lose it/ and he that loseth his life for my sae shall find it0 ( Mt. Mt. 10:3839. +f we understand this" we can understand the cross of *hrist. !"#e 23:39-43 23:39-43 39 $ne o% the &rimin'ls (ho h"n) there h"rle* ins"lts 't him: +,rent o" the Messi'h/ 've o"rsel% 'n* "s 40 "t the other &rimin'l re"#e* him. +ont o" %e'r o* he s'i* +sin&e o" 're "n*er the s'me senten&e/ 41 e 're "nishe* "stl %or (e 're )ettin) (h't o"r *ee*s *eserve. "t this m'n h's *one nothin) (ron). 42 hen he s'i* +Jes"s rememer me (hen o" &ome into o"r #in)*om. 1... Paul said in (1 Cor 1:18 !or the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness% #ut unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (There ( There is no power with God without the cross. cross. 2esurrection power came after the cross. 2... We find in ( M'tt 27:38 that it says" Then were there two thieves crucified with him" one on the right hand" and another on the left. 3... +n this message we will focus on each cross and what it means to us today. Three Crosses: to ( M'tthe( 27:3 27:38 8" there were three crosses on *alvary when whe n Jesus was 1... )ccording crucified. The picture that we see is this" three crosses" *hrist in the middle" and an d two thieves" one on each side representing the two conditions of manind. 3... The cross in the middle held the $aviour% the cross on the right" a saint (saved% the cross on the left held a lost sinner. +n fact" the man on the right received *hrist and the one on the left rejected. Which cross represents you, 4... Jesus died for sin and was resurrected. The man on the right received *hrist and went to heaven. ( Jesus Jesus said this day thy shalt e with me in !aradise. !aradise. The sinner on the left died and an d went to hell. race of od: (The three crosses represent represent the G"#$% & G&. G& . ;h 2:8-9 8 <or )r'&e 're e s've* thro")h %'ith= 'n* th't not o% o"rselves: it is the )i%t o% o*:
9 >ot o% (or#s lest 'n m'n sho"l* o'st. ?JV 1... *hrist was in the middle dying for #oth the sinners. ( oth ( oth were *uilty, *uilty, ut oth were *iven the opportunity to e+cept *race. *race. 2... The thief on the left had the same opportunity as the one on the right. 3ou 3ou do not have to get saved...(God saved...( God has *iven you free will . . God will let you mae the horri#le choice and pay the price. The man on the left only wanted his life saved" not his soul. (The (The same *race was offered
to oth. oth. 3... The one on the right said" 1ord remem#er me. ( He ( He found the *race of God .. #lan of $alvation: (The three crosses represent the wonderful !#- & #/#TI&- .. 1... *hrist died on the middle cross !2 $+4% the man on the right 5+65 T $+4% the man on the left 5+65 +4 +$ $+4. 2... n the middle cross" G5 *M6$ T M)4% on the right cross M)4 *M6$ T G5% on the left cross M)4 G6$ T 611. %an&s 'eactions to od: (The three crosses represent represent man0ind's reaction to God .. 1... Jesus on the middle cross represents God loving" suffering" su#stituting" giving" forgiving" paying and offering. 2... The cross on the left represents man refusing" denying" un#elieving" and unwilling. $*!!+4G. 3... The cross on the right represents man repenting" #elieving" responding" confessing" receiving" and accepting *hrist. 4... The &uestion to #e answered #y all is" W+* *2$$ 26P26$64T$ 37, The Cross of 'edem(tion. 1... 2edeem means to 0#uy #ac.0 Jesus #uys #ac from the slave maret of sin" from eternal damnation in a lae of fire all those who call upon im to save them. 2... The -i#le tells us concerning Jesus8 redeeming wor on the cross. 2om. 9/:; 0-eing justified freely #y his grace through the redemption that is in *hrist Jesus/0 law.0 .0 3... ('l. 3:13 tells us" 0*hrist hath redeemed us from the curse of the law 4... 1et8s notice Jesus response to thief on the *ross of 2eception < ( Vs43 0)nd Jesus said unto him" =erily + say unto thee" To day shalt thou #e with me in paradise.0 =erily parad ise.0 Conclsion: )s + conclude this morning" let me as you" which side of that cross of rede redemption mption are you on, 3our 3o ur eternity is counting on it> 2ejection or 2eception.
