heart of the Cross is the very heart of God, a heart full of the tenderest compassion

for sinful man, a heart that was bruised and broken while atoning for our

sins – the Cross is the place where all the wounds of sin are healed.

I. WE WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT THE CROSS MEANT TO GOD THE FATHER. Heb.1:3,8

A. Jesus must die on the Cross to turn away God’s wrath. Romans 3:24-26

1. The word “propitiation” means to turn away wrath by the offering of a gift – or the sacrifice

of atonement.

2. The provision of salvation and the righteousness it brings is granted unto all and upon all

them that believe. Romans 3:22-23

B. To show the glory of God in the Cross of Christ. Isaiah 43:6-7, I Corinthians 10:31

1. The glory of God is the majesty and splendor and supreme value of the perfection of

God’s character.

2. The failure to live for God’s glory, which we are all guilty of, is the essence of what the Bible

calls sin. Romans 3:23; 1:18-23

3. There at the Cross, God judged Him – He paid the price for all of us – that we all might be

saved. II Corinthians 5:21, II Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:6, John 3:16

II. LOOK AT WHAT THE CROSS MEANT TO CHRIST.

A. We need to see our Lord Jesus Christ as He hung on the Cross of Calvary without sin .

II Corinthians 5:21; II Peter 2:22

B. But “ He became sin for us” – God treated Him as if He were a sinner for He was identified

with sinners – He was numbered among the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12

Note: How Christ became sin for us:

1. He took our place – God the Father “hath laid in Him the iniquity of us all”.

2. He took our penalty – He paid the price we owed to God, the debt we could never pay.

C. Jesus died, suffered on the Cross that we might become the righteousness of God.

1. He was condemned that we might be justified.

2. He bore our sin that we might be set free.

3. He died that we might live.

4. He suffered that we might be redeemed.

5. He was made sin that we might be made righteous.

III. WHAT DOES THE CROSS MEANT TO THE WORLD?I Corinthians 1:18-22

A. The world is offended by the Cross.

1. They looked for a political leader who would deliver from the yoke of Roman Empire.

B. The world is judged by the Cross.

1. To the Jews – the Cross was the tree of shame and honor and a crucified person was

accursed of God.

C. The world is saved by the C ross.

1. vs. 18 “but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God.”

IV. LET’S LOOK AT WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL THINKS OF THE CROSS

OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

A. He sees at the Cross the power of God to save.

B. The Cross of Christ was the most wondrous thing in life because it was on the Cross that

the full payment of all our sins were made.