I 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.
Today I want to talk to you about a tree that reaches from earth all the way to heaven and reaches all away around the world! And extends itself throughout all eternity!
I speak of the Tree - The Cross of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – Calvary’s Tree!
You see the devil had made a road for man to travel that led straight to a place called Hell But Praise God - God did not want man to go to hell – So God slammed a Cross right in the middle of the road and said to man I love you and don’t want you to go to hell and if man goes to hell – He has to go around the Cross!
The Promise of the Cross was before the world began:
Revelation 13:8 – The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Titus 1:2 – God Promised Eternal life before the world began.
Just think God created the tree that He knew His Son would be crucified on!
There was a Savior before Sin – There was Grace before Guilt – There was Promise of Life before Death – There was a Heaven before there was a Hell.
Where sin did abound – Grace did much more abound! Adam sold us out – But Praise the Lord Jesus bought us back! HALLELUJAH FOR THE CROSS – IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION!
THE CROSS IS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF GOD’S LOVE
Every time you see the cross – it should remind you of the marvelous Love of God!
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life! Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Romans 8:32 – He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.
THE LOVE OF GOD
The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; it goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell; the guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin. O love of God, how rich and pure – How measureless and strong – It shall for evermore endure – The saints and angels song. Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made, were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade, to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.
WHEN THE DEVIL COMES AND TRIES TO TELL YOU GOD DOES NOT LOVE YOU – TAKE HIM TO THE CROSS!
THE CROSS IS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF GOD’S GRACE
Eph. 2:8,9 – For by Grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast.
GRACE – The Unmerited Favor of God --- G.R.A.C.E – God’s Riches At Christ Expense!
Grace is free but it is not cheap – It cost Jesus His life on the cruel cross of Calvary!
THE CROSS REMINDS US OF THE PAYMENT FOR SIN!
When the devil comes – Sing – Jesus paid it all – All to him I owe – Sin has left a crimson stain – He washed it white as snow
OR - At the cross – At the cross – Where I first saw the light – and the burdened of my heart rolled away – It was there by Faith – I received my sight – and now I am happy all the day.
OR – Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. When we’ve been there 10,000 years, bright shinning as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.
THE CROSS IS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS
I John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Once a little girl went to Church with her Mother and she kept asking Mom – Why is that plus sign up over the baptism pool? Plus sign – Hallelujah the Cross is God’s Plus Sign to us!
YES THE CROSS REMINDS US THAT GOD LOVES US – HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT – AND GOD FORGIVES!