Why We Make So Much of the Cross
Apr 15, 2020 14:47:39 #
Why We Make So Much of the Cross
DR. JOE MCKEEVER ~ APRIL 13, 2020
No one is taking my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord (John 10:18).
Now is the judgement of this world; now is the ruler of this world cast out (John 12:31).
It was the moment Jesus had come for.
He was headed to the cross.
For Jesus, going to the cross was not Plan B.
God did not shake His head in disgust at mankind’s messing up His pretty plans and decide He would have to take drastic action. “This is not how I had planned it, but those pesky humans leave me no other choice!”
Didn’t happen.
God was not blindsided by mankind’s sin nor thwarted by our human frailties. “Okay, heavenly host—engage backup plan. Everyone–Plan B!”
Did not happen.
The Lord knew from the beginning what He had and who He was dealing with.
He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust (Psalm 103:14).
Now, that raises a lot of questions to which we have few answers. If He knew, why did He do such and such? If He knew, why didn’t He do that? I don’t know. I have trouble enough trying to figure out my own motivations for actions, inactions, and reactions, let alone God’s.
What was God thinking to make such a marvelous creature capable of both glory and mischief at the same time? And how does it happen that He knew all this and went ahead anyway? We are not told.
Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? (Romans 11:34)
The gospel song said, “Known only to Him are the great hidden secrets...I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future...”
Suffice it to say God knew what He was doing.
Another gospel song says, “We’ll talk it over in the bye and bye. I’ll ask the reasons; He’ll tell me why...”
Scripture tells us that Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).
Whatever else that means, I take it to say that throughout the centuries in the past, present, and future, the benefits of the cross are a given, a reality. After all, the God of the universe does not dwell within the same time frame we do. The eternal present is how some put it.
Consider also that at the Judgment, believers are to be told: “Come, ye blessed of the Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Heaven: prepared from the beginning.
Clearly, God has been making plans a long, long time.
Our welfare has been uppermost in His mind from the beginning, it would appear.
He loves us far more than we can understand, could ever deserve, or adequately respond to.
Therefore, since the cross was the main thrust of God’s plan from the beginning…
–One: How dare we think anyone will be saved by any other method.
–Two: How dare we think our works will get us to heaven.
–Three: How dare we glory in anything except in the cross of Christ by whom the world is crucified unto us and we unto it.
–Four: How dare we even consider that our righteousness may have played a part in our salvation.
–Five: How dare we remove from our hymnals–as some have done–all references to the blood. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission (of sin)” (Hebrews 9:22). What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
–Six: How dare we expect there to be no difficulties in our understanding of this amazing event! A critic who had read where I said that Jesus knew He was going to die and had come for that very purpose cited Jesus’ cry from the cross–“My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?– as contrary evidence. He accused us of what he called “just one more example of us misusing the Bible.” (Although He was far cruder than this.)
We are a funny lot. The sinless Son of God comes from heaven to a wayward earth to reveal God to us, to show us the way, and to become the ultimate offering for our sin, and we expect it all to be tied up nicely with a pretty bow, for there to be nothing hard to understand, no parts that amaze us or challenge our puny minds.
If anyone has ever grasped the vast complexities of the death of the Son of God with all its meanings and ramifications, I’ve not heard of them.
–Seven: How dare we not bow in His presence and say, “My Lord and my God,” as Thomas did (John 20:28).
Amen. Thank You, Father, for such love, for such a Savior, and for such Promise. Thank You for such a privilege, for a glorious future, for a divine present. How great Thou art!
DR. JOE MCKEEVER ~ APRIL 13, 2020
No one is taking my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord (John 10:18).
Now is the judgement of this world; now is the ruler of this world cast out (John 12:31).
It was the moment Jesus had come for.
He was headed to the cross.
For Jesus, going to the cross was not Plan B.
God did not shake His head in disgust at mankind’s messing up His pretty plans and decide He would have to take drastic action. “This is not how I had planned it, but those pesky humans leave me no other choice!”
Didn’t happen.
God was not blindsided by mankind’s sin nor thwarted by our human frailties. “Okay, heavenly host—engage backup plan. Everyone–Plan B!”
Did not happen.
The Lord knew from the beginning what He had and who He was dealing with.
He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust (Psalm 103:14).
Now, that raises a lot of questions to which we have few answers. If He knew, why did He do such and such? If He knew, why didn’t He do that? I don’t know. I have trouble enough trying to figure out my own motivations for actions, inactions, and reactions, let alone God’s.
What was God thinking to make such a marvelous creature capable of both glory and mischief at the same time? And how does it happen that He knew all this and went ahead anyway? We are not told.
Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? (Romans 11:34)
The gospel song said, “Known only to Him are the great hidden secrets...I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future...”
Suffice it to say God knew what He was doing.
Another gospel song says, “We’ll talk it over in the bye and bye. I’ll ask the reasons; He’ll tell me why...”
Scripture tells us that Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).
Whatever else that means, I take it to say that throughout the centuries in the past, present, and future, the benefits of the cross are a given, a reality. After all, the God of the universe does not dwell within the same time frame we do. The eternal present is how some put it.
Consider also that at the Judgment, believers are to be told: “Come, ye blessed of the Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Heaven: prepared from the beginning.
Clearly, God has been making plans a long, long time.
Our welfare has been uppermost in His mind from the beginning, it would appear.
He loves us far more than we can understand, could ever deserve, or adequately respond to.
Therefore, since the cross was the main thrust of God’s plan from the beginning…
–One: How dare we think anyone will be saved by any other method.
–Two: How dare we think our works will get us to heaven.
–Three: How dare we glory in anything except in the cross of Christ by whom the world is crucified unto us and we unto it.
–Four: How dare we even consider that our righteousness may have played a part in our salvation.
–Five: How dare we remove from our hymnals–as some have done–all references to the blood. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission (of sin)” (Hebrews 9:22). What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
–Six: How dare we expect there to be no difficulties in our understanding of this amazing event! A critic who had read where I said that Jesus knew He was going to die and had come for that very purpose cited Jesus’ cry from the cross–“My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?– as contrary evidence. He accused us of what he called “just one more example of us misusing the Bible.” (Although He was far cruder than this.)
We are a funny lot. The sinless Son of God comes from heaven to a wayward earth to reveal God to us, to show us the way, and to become the ultimate offering for our sin, and we expect it all to be tied up nicely with a pretty bow, for there to be nothing hard to understand, no parts that amaze us or challenge our puny minds.
If anyone has ever grasped the vast complexities of the death of the Son of God with all its meanings and ramifications, I’ve not heard of them.
–Seven: How dare we not bow in His presence and say, “My Lord and my God,” as Thomas did (John 20:28).
Amen. Thank You, Father, for such love, for such a Savior, and for such Promise. Thank You for such a privilege, for a glorious future, for a divine present. How great Thou art!
Apr 15, 2020 20:08:28 #
Indeed! Parky, thank you for posting God's infinite truth.
Without the Cross of Calvary, and Christ crucified upon it, then resurrected, there is no
Gospel, there is no Christianity, and there is no eternal Salvation for all who will accept it.
Praise God for His wisdom and His infinite love for all mankind.
Without the Cross of Calvary, and Christ crucified upon it, then resurrected, there is no
Gospel, there is no Christianity, and there is no eternal Salvation for all who will accept it.
Praise God for His wisdom and His infinite love for all mankind.
Parky60 wrote:
b Why We Make So Much of the Cross /b br i DR. ... (show quote)
Apr 18, 2020 10:56:29 #
What was God thinking to make such a marvelous creature capable of both glory and mischief at the same time? And how does it happen that He knew all this and went ahead anyway? We are not told.
Christ said that He foretold us all things. maybe you're not meant to know, because I know. Maybe you should be studying more earnestly.
Christ said that He foretold us all things. maybe you're not meant to know, because I know. Maybe you should be studying more earnestly.
Apr 18, 2020 15:04:09 #
iFrank wrote:
...maybe you're not meant to know, because I know...
Do you have some secret knowledge that only you are aware of?
Apr 18, 2020 15:34:36 #
Since its written in the Bible and you seem like a knowledgeable fellow, the joy comes from finding it by researching it yourself. Christ said study yourself to be shown approved, anyway that should come from your church leader. I'm surprised that any man cannot study the Bible to find what Christ foretold us.
Apr 18, 2020 16:02:50 #
iFrank wrote:
Since its written in the Bible and you seem like a knowledgeable fellow, the joy comes from finding it by researching it yourself. Christ said study yourself to be shown approved…
Actually it was Paul who said it.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
iFrank wrote:
…anyway that should come from your church leader.
I listen to my church leader. But I’m like the Bereans and also test what he says against the Word of God.
Acts 17:11 (KJV)
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
iFrank wrote:
I'm surprised that any man cannot study the Bible to find what Christ foretold us.
The Holy Spirit teaches me through God’s Word everything I need to know.
1 John 2:27 (NLT)
But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
Apr 18, 2020 16:12:06 #
Apr 18, 2020 16:22:46 #
iFrank wrote:
Christ put the words in his mouth. try again.
If you want to get technical the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to say it.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP)
Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Apr 18, 2020 17:01:01 #
That the basics. GOD is Going to raise Jesus Christ and continues saying about putting words in His prophets mouths. Due 18;15-20 verse :19 and it came to pass that whosoever will not harken unto My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. KJV 1611
The Holy Spirit is GODs Spirit in His children who revere GOD.
The Holy Spirit is GODs Spirit in His children who revere GOD.
Apr 18, 2020 17:26:43 #
Written before His time on the Cross at Calgary or Golgatha, Psalms 69:19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: Mine adversaries are all before Thee. 20 Reproach hath broken my heart: and I am full of heaviness: And I Looked for some to take pity, but there was none: And for comforters, but I found none. 21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar. 22 Let their table become a snare before them. KJV 1611
Parky60 wrote:
b Why We Make So Much of the Cross /b br i DR. ... (show quote)
Apr 18, 2020 19:28:04 #
At the Cross where I First saw the light. This is my last one pertaining to the cross and The Messiah's Prayer-
Psalms 22:1-6. The Messiah Plea 7-21. on Verse 8 this is the Chief Priest "He trusted on The LORD that He would deliver Him: Let Him deliver him, seeing He delighted in him" is in Matt 27:43. Verse 12-13 Christ is walking to the Cross. In Verse22 is in Hebrews 2:12-14.
The Old Testament has many insights into what Christ said about Uttering things about the foundations of the world. Study yourself with a better teacher because your knowledge of the Word is lacking. No offense.
Psalms 22:1-6. The Messiah Plea 7-21. on Verse 8 this is the Chief Priest "He trusted on The LORD that He would deliver Him: Let Him deliver him, seeing He delighted in him" is in Matt 27:43. Verse 12-13 Christ is walking to the Cross. In Verse22 is in Hebrews 2:12-14.
The Old Testament has many insights into what Christ said about Uttering things about the foundations of the world. Study yourself with a better teacher because your knowledge of the Word is lacking. No offense.
Apr 18, 2020 19:37:54 #
iFrank wrote:
...Study yourself with a better teacher because your knowledge of the Word is lacking. No offense.
How can I have a better teacher than the Holy Spirit?
I'll repeat...(emphasis mine)
1 John 2:27 (NLT)
But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
Apr 18, 2020 20:01:51 #
Apr 18, 2020 20:03:14 #
Apr 19, 2020 00:38:34 #
Jesus understood that His life would be required as a sacrifice for the sins of man. The cross is the central theme of the Bible.
We all cut and paste. Thank God for the Windows Operating Systems that made it possible, beginning in 1995!
We all cut and paste. Thank God for the Windows Operating Systems that made it possible, beginning in 1995!
iFrank wrote:
There's one more about Christ on the Cross. Mr. copy and paste.
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