BIBLES * Bulldogs * & Beards

THE CROSS, THE CROSS, THE CROSS

JESUS: CUT OFF FROM GOD FOR US At the cross in the middle of the afternoon it became dark. Darkness descended upon the land. Was this an eclipse? How did it become dark, and what is the significance? Jesus screamed in agony; “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? (Matt. 27:46) ->Albert Schweitzer concluded that Jesus died in disillusionment. Some liberal theologians say that Jesus felt forsaken but was not forsaken. Do all liberal theolgoians conclusions come from feelings? Others point out that He was quoting Psalm 22. The sign of the Old covenant was circumcision. The positive meaning was that God was cutting out this group of people from the rest, setting them apart to be a holy nation, to be a blessing. The negative was that the Jew was saying, “Oh God, if I fail to keep every one of the terms of this covenant, may I be cut off from You, cut off from Your presence, cut off from the light of Your countenance, cut off from Your blessedness. God is Holy, He cannot even look upon sin. He turned His back on Christ. He removed His face. He turned out the lights. 

HE CUT OFF HIS SON. Jesus willingly bore our sin by imputation for our sake. Many died upon a cross, why was Jesus’ death different? Many suffer on a cross, but only Jesus received the full measure of the curse of God while He hung upon the tree. He was cut off, He became a curse for us so that we someday will be able to see the face of God. Jesus cried, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) It was over. What was over? God’s forsakenness ended. The light of God’s countenance returned and Jesus said, “Into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46) It was an act of redemption that transcends our full understanding. But it was a real curse that brought real redemption. 

THE CHARGES AGAINST US: NAILED TO THE CROSS In the atonement, Christ was the scapegoat who carried our sins away from us (expiation) into outer darkness. He is the victor over the forces of evil – over principalities and powers. He fulfilled the terms of the Old Testament curse. He set the captives free. Read Colossians 2:11-15 Page 77-78 It speaks of the union between the believer and Christ. How are we united with Christ? We are circumcised with Him. Just as baptism speaks of being buried with Him so that we will be raised with Him. It speaks of having “wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us”. What was this handwriting? How was it wiped out? In the ancient world criminal charges and debts were formally written down. When the debts had been paid a notice was posted in a public place. Our indebtedness to God (the handwriting of His requirements) that stood against us has been removed from our account by Christ. A notice that the debt had been paid was publicly posted when Jesus was “nailed to the cross”. 

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST: PURCHASED BY HIS BLOOD

Read Exodus 21:1-11 Page 79-80

his gives provisions regarding slaves, indentured servants.

Servants that entered into service with a wife were released with their wife when the debt had been satisfied.

Servants that entered single and received a wife from his master was not allowed to take his wife with him.Why not?   

He had to demonstrate that he was able to provide for them. He had to pay the “bride-price”. He had to buy her back. He had to redeem her.

The church is the bride of Christ. The church is the bridegroom’s possession.

He owns her because He has purchased her.

We are not our own, we have been purchased. (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

We are purchase with the precious blood of Christ.

He in His atoning death paid the ‘bride-price” by which His betrothed was redeemed.