The Message of the Cross --
READ/ 1 Corinthians 1:17-25
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UNBELIEVERS cannot make sense of the cross as a symbol of God's love. How could affection motivate a Father to sacrifice His Son? Many decide to ignore such "foolishness." Instead, they expect to enter heaven because of their strong character and decent acts. According to the Bible that belief is truly unwise (Is. 64:6). But the prevalence of a "good works gospel" reveals that the church needs a stronger voice in delivering its message of truth to the world.
We must explain holy justice in tandem with divine care: God does love the world, but He cannot overlook mankind's sin (John 3:16). He is righteous, which means He is perfect. No taint of wrongdoing can enter His pure presence. A person cannot show up at heaven's gate hauling a lifetime of sin baggage and demand to be allowed in. God does not excuse sin; however, He provides a way to deal with it.
Three fundamental facts undergird the Father's plan to make sinful people righteous. First, as Romans 3:23 tells us, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Next, the soul that sins shall die (Ezek. 18:20; Rom 6:23). Finally, a perfect sacrifice offered on behalf of a sinner pays his or her debt (John 1:29). God satisfied His own justice by placing our sin upon Jesus and allowing Him to die in our place.
EARLY LIGHT/ We humans oftentimes try to simplify God's character, but the truth is, all of His attributes make up one perfect Father. Realize that the cross symbolizes more than His love: it also represents His wisdom in creating a plan to maintain His holiness without diminishing His perfect justice.
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Pastor Charles Stanley
In Touch Ministries
Blessings, Abishag <>< + + +
