More Than a Cross

More Than a Cross

Text: Various Date: 3-29-26

I. The cross isn’t just a piece of wood; it is the means to salvation (Gal. 1:3-5).

• Through the cross, Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins (Gal. 1:4a).

Jesus voluntarily gave up His life as payment for our sins.

Truth: No greater price has been paid than the willing Savior giving His life and blood to pay for our sins.

• Through the cross, Jesus Christ delivered us from all facets, systems, and enemies of this age (Gal. 1:4b).

This present age is now and in the future, a time of loving the pleasures of this world, of loving the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. The present age is the world of loving that which God hates, a lover of pleasure and passions, and a world of living for themselves. This is the sinful world, cursed from the beginning of the first sin until now and into the future.

Application: Our Redeemer has delivered us thoroughly—every sin, every stain, every consequence—leaving nothing unfinished and nothing unpaid.

• Through the cross, Jesus Christ fulfilled the will of God the Father (Gal. 1:4c).

From eternity past, God knew that mankind would fall into sin and a pathway to restore the relationship between God and mankind would be needed. Jesus Christ was a willing sacrifice. Jesus loved His Father so much that He went freely to the cross on our behalf. That is the gospel: the good news! The Father said that His Son’s sacrifice was enough. Imagine that. It was exactly what was necessary to bridge the gap between God and man. Nothing more. Nothing less. To add anything else would not just be foolish, but wrong. Any other gospel is heresy and a pollution of what Jesus has done for us at the cross. The cross is proof that good wins, right prevails, and evil is forever overthrown.

II. The cross is more than a symbol; it is a means of celebration (Rom. 5:8).

The cross is to be lauded and revered because of the victory won for us through the events that happened on the day that Jesus died.

• The cross exudes the power and wisdom of God – I Cor. 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. I Cor. 1:23-24 - 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
• We are reconciled to God through the cross – Eph. 1:16 - 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.
• The cross should be boasted in – Gal. 6:14 - But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
• We have peace through the blood of the cross – Col. 1:20 - And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
• We have forgiveness through the cross – Col. 2:13-14 (NKJV) - having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
• In the cross, we have obedience personified – Phil. 2:8 (NKJV) - And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Jesus obeyed His Father all the way to death. Jesus Christ submitted to death in all its pain on our account. He yielded Himself to the curse of curses being beaten, mocked, reviled, tortured, and shamed even before its icy grip overcame Him.
• The cross epitomizes unspeakable love, taking us from being enemies of God to being His child (Rom. 5:10), bringing us near to God through His blood (Eph. 2:13), having declared us righteous so that we can live righteously (Rom. 5:19; I Pet. 2:24), and having abolished (inoperative) death (II Tim. 1:10).

III. The cross is more than a word on a page; it is the extraordinary only way to salvation, the triumph over death, and an instrument to life (Rom. 5:8).

Application #1: Without the cross, you have no hope. Ignore the cross at your own peril.

• Ignoring the cross will cause you to forever remain hopeless (Eph. 2:12-13).
• Ignoring the cross means your sins won’t be forgiven. Your sins remain on your account (Col. 2:13-14). You are condemned forever (John 3:18).
• Ignoring the cross means you remain guilty forever before God (Rom. 5:9).
• Ignoring the cross means an unreconciled relationship with God
• Ignoring the cross means the wrath of God remains upon you (John 3:36).
• Ignoring the cross will bring eternal judgment upon your soul (Rev. 20:11-15).
• Ignoring the cross means eternal separation from God (Eph. 2:13; Rev. 20:15)

Application #2: The cross answers life’s toughest questions. Why am I here? Can a person have a relationship with God? Can a person’s sins be forgiven? How many good works does one have to do to get to heaven? What will happen after I die? How should I live today? Is there hope in this life? Is there a God?

Application #3: What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. Believe it today! Don’t delay. Christ died in your place. Christ can make you righteous so that you can be a child of God. Christ will take all of your sins and forgive them. Through the blood spilled at the cross, through His broken, pain-racked body, Christ bore those sins on the cross. Christ paid for those sins with His death. Christ didn’t just cover our sins, He took them all away. He washed our sins away. He buried them forever.