THE PURPOSE OF THE CROSS
Many care very little for the cross of Christ. This was true in the first century as well. By inspiration, Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). But, without the cross of Jesus the Christ, there would be no hope for any of us. It was on the cross that Christ shed his atoning blood, “and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).
WHY DID CHRIST DIE ON THE CROSS?
Christ died on the cross to fulfill Old Testament prophecy. Contrary to the false doctrine of premillennialism (the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth), Christ was rejected of men and died on the cross just as the Old Testament Scriptures said he would. Isaiah 53:3-5 says, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Jesus said, “...all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44). “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25-27). Mark 8:31 says, “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and [of] the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” Paul “reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead...” (Acts 17:2-3). The Old Testament reveals as many as 300 prophecies of Jesus. He fulfilled every one.
Christ died on the cross to take away the Old Testament. Second Corinthians 3:14 speaks of the Old Testament as a “vail” (covering, curtain) and then says, “which vail is done away in Christ.” Jesus’ death on the cross was a “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:14). “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second” (Hebrews 10:9). “For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth” (Hebrews 9:15-17). Hebrews 8:13 says, “In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.”
Christ died on the cross to establish the New Testament. “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached...” (Luke 16:16). “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth” (Hebrews 9:16-17). “He taketh away the first that he may establish the second” (Hebrews 10:9). “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old” (Hebrews 8:13). All men who have lived this side of the cross will be judged by the New Testament. Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).
Christ died on the cross to reconcile Jew and Gentile. Before Jesus went to the cross, the Israelites were God’s chosen people through whom the promised Messiah would come to make redemption possible. Since the Lord came and died, the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people. Today, Christians are God’s chosen people. There is now no respect of persons or nationality with God. People from all nations serve God equally in the church. “...Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34-35). God has made both Jews and Gentiles one. “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:14-16). “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20).
Christ died on the cross to purchase the church with his blood. The church of the New Testament is the kingdom that was promised in the Old Testament. The price paid for the church was Jesus’ death on the cross. The apostle Paul told the elders of the church of Ephesus that Jesus bled and died for the church, purchasing it with his own blood (Acts 20:28). “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). Without the church, there is no salvation! Those who are IN the Lord’s body, his church, the kingdom, will be saved, for Christ is the savior of his body, the church (Ephesians 5:23; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). Since Jesus thought enough of the church to die for it, we must hold it supreme in our hearts and lives. We must seek it first above all else (Matthew 6:33).
Christ died on the cross to redeem man from his sins. To redeem means to “buy back.” Jesus paid the price (his life’s precious blood) to buy sinners back from sin and death. “For ye are bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). “...The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 28:20). “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things; [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Christ died on the cross to give us an example. “...Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). His devotion to the heavenly Father’s cause was to do His will whatever the cost. Our devotion should be the same. The Lord’s whole life was to show us the Father (John 14:8-12). His act of humility and service is vividly portrayed in John 13:2-17 when he washed the disciples feet. Our lives must be filled with labor, help and service. This world and our existence in it is about bringing praise and glory to the heavenly Father. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).
The purpose and accomplishment of the cross of Christ was for the benefit of all mankind. The Lord’s sacrifice was not limited to only those who believe and obey the Lord as the doctrine of Calvinism claims. Jesus died for all men. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9). The Lamb of God was slain to take away the sin of the whole world (John 1:29). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus said his death was to draw all men unto Him (John 12:32). “Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life” (Romans 5:18). Jesus died for all men (2 Cor. 5:14-15). “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). The Lord’s death on the cross “...is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
To receive the benefits of the cross, one must OBEY THE GOSPEL. Condemnation is pronounced upon those who do not. The Lord will one day come “...in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17).
To obey the Gospel, one MUST:
BELIEVE the Gospel and what is says of Jesus the Christ. Jesus said, “...if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). If one believes Jesus, he will do what He says. “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say” (Luke 6:46)? Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
REPENT OF SINS. Jesus said, “...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3; Luke13:5).“...God...commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).
CONFESS FAITH IN CHRIST. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). When the man from Ethiopia wanted to be baptized, “..Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37).
BE BAPTIZED. Perhaps the easiest verse in all the Bible to understand is found in Mark 16:16 where Jesus said,“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Masses of people hate the Lord for making water baptism essential for being saved. But, it can’t be refuted!
The remainder of the New Testament is consistent with the Lord’s simple statement in Mark 16:16. In the very first Gospel sermon ever preached, when people heard the Gospel and were convicted of their sins, they asked what they should do. They were told to repent and be baptized FOR the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). They did not fuss and quibble about baptism. They did not tell the apostles that water baptism had nothing to do with forgiveness of sins and going to heaven. They gladly received the word of Peter and were baptized FOR the remission of sins.
When Saul of Tarsus wanted to be saved, he was not told to accept the Lord into his heart as his personal saviour to be saved. He was told the same thing the thousands were told on the day of Pentecost: “Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). He was calling on the name of the Lord by doing what he was told to do.
Years later (by inspiration), Paul the apostle wrote that Salvation is IN Christ (2 Timothy 2:10). He also wrote that water baptism puts one INTO Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27). The conclusion is clear and certain, water baptism saves because it puts one into Christ where salvation is. Those who are baptized are saved because they are now IN Christ. This is exactly what 1 Peter 3:21 says, “baptism doth also now save us.” Baptism is not the only thing that one has to do to be saved, but it is the final step that transforms a person from the state of being lost to the state of being saved.