WHAT CHRIST PROVIDED BY HIS CROSS
Pastor Anita Clark
Carbondale, Kansas
Our Lord Jesus’ death on the cross was the greatest sacrifice ever made by anyone. Let us meditate upon a few of the benefits of the cross. As I thought upon this, I remembered ten things that are ours because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, but there are many more.
1. LOVE – I John 4:8 says “God is love.” His very nature is “love.” His love came to the world in the form of His son. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that he sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” This love is experienced when we actually accept Him as our Savior. This love grows in our hearts as we mature in Christ. It is so deep and so wide, and is totally inexhaustible. It’s eternal. Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 3:19 that his desire for the saints was “to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
2. SALVATION – God’s love provided this wonderful salvation whereby, we become the sons of God. This salvation comes to us by believing on Jesus and asking Him to come into our hearts and lives. Romans 11:18 says, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel [Good News] of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” This salvation delivers us from our sins, and makes us a child of the living God, and gives us eternal life.
3. JUSTIFICATION – Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” “Justification” in the Greek that the New Testament was written in, means “to render just, or innocent, or be made righteous.” When we believed on Jesus as our Savior, we were made righteous in God’s sight. We are made a New Creation in Christ Jesus (II Cor. 5:17). We are given a new life, the life of Christ that dwells in us - all because we are justified.
4. PEACE WITH GOD – He is no longer angry with those who believe. There is peace between us because Jesus is the Peace Bringer. Ephesians 2:14 says, “He is our peace, Who hath made both one.” Vs. 15 -18 Paul explains that Jews and Gentiles are now made one by Christ’s death. In Old Testament times God was dealing only with the Jews. Now, since the death of Christ, salvation is for all those who believe. Colossians 1:20 says, “...having made peace through the blood of the cross.” Besides this initial peace because of our acceptance of Christ as Savior, we can also experience peace in the midst of the trials of life.
5. GRACE – Romans 5:2 says, “By Whom (Jesus Christ) we have access by faith into this Grace wherein we stand; and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” We stand in grace. This means we are standing in His divine favor. The word “grace” in the Greek language means, “ a gift, a benefit or favor.” Ephesians 2:8 tells us, “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.” Romans 11:6 tells us, “And if by grace, then it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be by works, then is it no more grace otherwise work is no more work.” We see by this verse that there is no mixing of the two concepts. It is in man to want to merit the salvation that God offers, but we must realize that without God’s grace we can never be saved, as our works to try to merit salvation are considered “filthy rags” by God (Isa. 64:6).
6. REDEMPTION – Redemption in the Greek means, “the act of ransom in full, to deliver by paying a price.” In the Old Testament sacrifices of animals had to be made to stop the wrath of God from coming upon the people because of sin. We are delivered from the curse of the law because of Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself. The price -death- was paid fully by Christ’s death. He paid the ransom to set us free from the slave market of sin in full. He gave His own life baring all our sins (past, present and future), and has forgiven all our sins. Hebrews 9:12 says, “Not by the blood of bulls and goats, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
7. SAVED FROM THE WRATH OF GOD – 1 Thessalonians 1:10, “... He has delivered us from the wrath to come.” This is speaking of the eternal damnation of those who refuse salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus spoke of it while He was here on earth. In Colossians 3:6, it says, “For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience.” Those who do not accept Jesus as Savior will suffer God’s wrath in the Lake of Fire. Psalms 7:11 states, “God is angry with the wicked every day.” But, God is not angry with those who believe and accept Jesus. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” Those who are saved by the blood of Christ will live forever in heaven with the Lord.
8. OUR NAME WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE – Jesus said (Luke 10:20), “Rejoice, because you names are written in heaven.” Hebrews 12:23 Paul says, about the people of God, “...which are written in heaven.” In contrast. Revelation 13:8, those who worship the Antichrist, “...whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Also, chapter 21:27, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or worketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Isn’t it precious that God keeps track of His own. He writes our name in His book with indelible ink.
9. WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST – An advocate (an intercessor or lawyer) with the Father. (I John 2:1). Romans 8:34 says, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession (Gk. “To entreat in favor or against”) for us.” And, Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” The word “uttermost” has a great meaning in the Greek - “to completion, entire, perfectly, finally and for all time.” What assurance we have in God for giving us His Son as our Savior! Does God the Father hear His Son’s intercessory prayers for us? We are absolutely sure that He does. We are so blessed by receiving the Lord Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
10. HEAVEN – All these previous nine things have been provided for us by Christ’s death and resurrection plus eternity in heaven with Him forever. Heaven is a subject that is mentioned throughout the New Testament. When Jesus was here on earth he spoke 76 times about heaven as recorded in the book of Matthew. He came down from heaven to give mankind salvation that we might go there to that wonderful place to live with Him forever and ever. John 14:1-3, Jesus assures us, “And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am there you may be also.” Throughout the New Testament “heaven” is talked about. Colossians 1:5, speaks of “the hope laid up for you in heaven.” We are looking for the soon coming of the Lord Jesus. Apostle Paul taught that, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Let us rejoice in what the death of Christ and his resurrection has provided for us. We have not covered all of these blessings in this article. There are so many more. Let us praise Him for what His death has given us. We are the Sons of the Living God! Christ is coming back very soon.
