Sunday: At The Cross
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). What is this text saying to us? 1
At the cross, in the most humiliating, inconceivable manner imaginable, God triumphs over and shames the enemy. Love, justice and compassion fuse in a singular dynamic act. God forgives sinners by paying in Himself the price of sin and absorbing into His own suffering Self the penalty of that sin. On Calvary, God reveals how extremely costly forgiveness is.
Christ didn’t die in order to create love in God’s heart for us. No, Jesus insists that the Father’s love is the source, not the consequence, of the atonement (John 3:16, 17). God doesn’t love us because Christ died for us; Christ died for us because God loved us. The atonement of Christ was not offered to persuade the Father to love those whom He otherwise hated. The death of Christ did not bring forth a love that was not already in existence. Rather, it was a manifestation of the love that was eternally in God’s heart. Jesus never had to persuade the Father to love us. Notice how He insists on this truth in John 3:16, 17; 16:26, 27.
The real tragedy is that we have lost much of the knowledge of God, against whom we have sinned. We do not even feel that we have much to repent of, because we’re not always sure about just how much we have offended God with our sins. We can become dull to just how bad sin really is. Modern religious sentimentality often minimizes repugnance toward sin. And because sin doesn’t make us angry anymore, perhaps it becomes harder to realize that sin arouses the wrath of a Holy God.
Paul is not afraid to discuss the wrath of God. How does he express it in Romans 1:18?
This strong statement sets the tone for the lengthy treatment of the universal sway of sin that Paul continues to elaborate on for the next two chapters (through Romans 3:20).
An astounding aspect of the gospel is the fact that God is both the victor over our sin and the victim of it. And, as a result of this dual role, our holy God can keep His covenant with sinful covenant breakers. God’s love does not lead to a bland tolerance of sin and evil but to triumphing victoriously over it. It is precisely because God is love that He opposes sin and evil, for these realities corrupt and destroy His beloved children. The death that God endured on the cross is the price His love pays for taking sin seriously while still loving sinners.
How seriously do you take the sin in your life? And what criteria do you use to justify your answer?
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Have you ever experienced poison ivy? I once did, and as I was suffering with it thought this is like sin. You get in to it sometimes unawares, but the effects are long lasting nevertheless. Praise God that He came to save us from suffering. By showing us where to walk through life and keep us out of the "poison ivy" patch of sin.
Gods love is so encompassing that we don't find space for our self righteousness. He is everything to us. praise be to His name.
I have one constant, and this is that God loves me.God has made provision to redeem me from the curse of sin,eternal death.The soul that sin shall die. But God's love would not let me go.for he step forward and offered Himself a ransom. then He is gracious unto him (me) and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit.I HAVE FOUND A RANSOM.Job.33:24.(praise God,praise God for his mercy endureth for ever.) He is despised and rejected, of men, a man of sorrows and aquainted with grief.and we ( i did not want to look at Him ) hid as it were our faces from Him he was dispised and we (I did not appreciated Him ) esteemed Him not.
Surely he hath borne ( my ) griefs,and carried ( my ) sorrows and yet ( i ) did not ( appreciated ) esteemed stricken,smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for (my) our transgressions, He was bruised for (my) our iniqities,the chastisement of (my) our peace was upon Him and with His stripes (i) we are healed. Is.53:3-5.
what a wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Saviour, what a wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord.
And when they were come to the place,which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him. ....who for the joy that was set before Him endure the cross, dispiesing the shame,and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,Heb.12:2. Thank you Jesus,thank you Lord, for i was lost in sin untill Jesus took me in. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from of sin and death. Rom.8:2. For sin shall not have dominion over (me) you. Rom 6:14. For by grace are ( i am saved) ye saved through faith, and not of works less any man should boast.Eph 2:8.Let no man take your crown.
“Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149)
The profound irresistible incomprehensible unadulterated love of God is so deep and strong that it's hard for the chiefest of sinners to escape it's gripping path. Imaging with me, since the fall of man heaven is busy to save us from the fatal result of sin, reconciling us to God's ideal blue print for our lives. God has demonstrated the depth of his love on the cross of Calvary and the strength of His love by His continued intercessory work in the heavenly sanctuary. indeed you would agree with me that love is a verb, it requires a certain action as demonstrated by Jesus. Let us corporate by loving God the way we ought to, and to give our best in every aspect of our lives
Yes, sin so like poison ivy. The effects are not immediate, but after a few days, the itching and redness, weeping skin and rash will torment the one with it. Praise God for the effective "Medicine" of His atoning Blood which heals me from sin.
Just the thought of the cross makes me realise how deeply God loves us. We are his children if we keep his commandments because by that we show him our love. I think the problem of us christians is that we do not love God with all our hearts,soul and mind, because of this lack of love we do not fear Him hence we do not fear sin. Little by little sin starts to poison our hearts soul and mind. Thank God for the Blood which cleanse us form all our unrighteousness.
sometimes i feel distant,but when i read about love on the cross i feel loved.thanks to GOD for lovin (unworthy) me
"Christ didn’t die in order to create love in God’s heart for us. No, Jesus insists that the Father’s love is the source, not the consequence, of the atonement (John 3:16, 17). God doesn’t love us because Christ died for us; Christ died for us because God loved us. The atonement of Christ was not offered to persuade the Father to love those whom He otherwise hated. The death of Christ did not bring forth a love that was not already in existence." Quoted from second paragraph of Sunday part of the lesson. Does this mean, atonement was done and finished at the cross? If so, how do we reconcile the teaching to that of the earthly sanctuary atonement (Leviticus 16)? Isn't Christ ministering as the High Priest to complete the atonement (Hebrews 9:22-28) which began at the cross (sacrifice to shed His blood required to enter the Heavenly sanctuary)?
Dear Boykie,
To me this is simple. The atonement was complete at the cross. Jesus is ministering in the heavenly sanctuary to apply the atonement.
God bless!