WHY THE NEED FOR THE CROSS:
The gospel never begins with man and his needs, but with God and his glory. The issue of the gospel is not how do we get sinful people to a holy God; but how does a holy God come to sinful people without violating His holiness and justice? And the answer is the cross—the once for all atoning and sacrificial work of the Lord Jesus Christ. (cp, Romans 5:1; Heb 2:17)
WHAT DID THE CROSS MEAN TO GOD?
God’s holiness demanded a sacrifice; His justice demanded satisfaction; His righteousness required perfection. God had to be satisfied before we as sinners could be justified. Beloved… on the cross Christ accomplished all of this! What glory, reverence and awe amid such brutality (cp, Romans 3:21-26).
THE EFFICACY, SUFFICIENCY, FINALITY AND GLORY OF THE CROSS!
To what extent have all of our sins been dealt with on the cross–even those we have not even committed or have had committed against us? When the Lord Jesus Christ declared from the cross,”It is finished!”, He had:
• fulfilled the Law;
• went beyond the veil;
• satisfied God’s justice;
• propitiated the Father’s wrath;
• satisfied His holiness;
• fulfilled all righteousness;
• exalted grace;
• confirmed the gospel;
• redeemed the elect;_
• justified His own from the penalty of sin;
• quenched the guilt of our sin;
• crushed the head of Satan and destroyed his hold of death;
• abolished death and its sting;
• fulfilled all redemptive Messianic prophecies;
• secured for us eternal life;
• brought us into intimacy with God;
• imputed to us His perfect righteousness;
• instituted a new covenant;
• and brought us into peace with God forever!
GOD DECLARES US AS RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE OF HIS IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS TO US… NOT OURS!
God treated Christ on the cross as if He lived our life, so that we by grace through faith in Him, can be treated as if we lived His life (2 Cor. 5:21). He was clothed with our sin (though remained sinless and holy); so that we might be clothed with His righteousness (though we are sinners and sinful and by nature children of wrath). That is the great doctrine of imputation. (cp, Eph 2:1-9; Phil 3:7-11)
“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-26)
Christ Died For God
by Steve Camp
Christ died for God
and God was satisfied with Christ
Pure, unblemished sacrifice
Oh, Son of GraceFor who are we to boast
not of works that we have done
But by faith in God’s own Son
We are savedAnd we cry, Holy, Worthy is the Lamb
God’s love has come to man In the earth
And we cry, Holy Glory to the King
Through Whom salvation brings
The new birthChrist died for God
and God has made Him Lord of all
For He drank the bitter gall
The cup of wrathBut He rose in majesty
that grace might reign through righteousness
Blessed obedience
Our Sabbath rest
