THE CROSS ALLOWED SINNERS TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Priceless Cross
a) We see that the cross cancelled the debt against us, and made atonement, reconciling us to God in peace (Ephesians 2:16).
2. The Cross Allowed Sinners To Be Reconciled To God
a) "But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off are made near by the blood of Christ... that he might reconcile [you] to God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Ephesians 2:13-17).
b) Don't misunderstand this. The commandments of the new covenant, the gospel, will alienate those who do not obey them just as surely as any other law did. Christ will come "dealing out retribution to those who... do not obey the gospel" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10). However there is the means in that covenant to avoid retribution before the time, by accepting the sacrifice of Christ. "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he himself is the propitiation for our sins..." (1John 2:1-5).
c) The cross is the means of reconciliation to God. We justly deserve God’s wrath. Our sins made us enemies of God. How can we justly find grace instead? The cross of Christ allows regeneration and reconciliation (Ephesians 2:3-5,13).
The End ...
1. The Priceless Crossa) We see that the cross cancelled the debt against us, and made atonement, reconciling us to God in peace (Ephesians 2:16).
2. The Cross Allowed Sinners To Be Reconciled To God
a) "But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off are made near by the blood of Christ... that he might reconcile [you] to God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Ephesians 2:13-17).
b) Don't misunderstand this. The commandments of the new covenant, the gospel, will alienate those who do not obey them just as surely as any other law did. Christ will come "dealing out retribution to those who... do not obey the gospel" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10). However there is the means in that covenant to avoid retribution before the time, by accepting the sacrifice of Christ. "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he himself is the propitiation for our sins..." (1John 2:1-5).
c) The cross is the means of reconciliation to God. We justly deserve God’s wrath. Our sins made us enemies of God. How can we justly find grace instead? The cross of Christ allows regeneration and reconciliation (Ephesians 2:3-5,13).
Comments
Post a Comment