The Preaching of the Cross
Posted: March 31st, 2010, 8:57 am
I just thought I would share a thought about the cross. My wife will only listen for so long
Paul preached "the cross" and "Christ crucified." The reason is simple. The cross explains it all. It tells us that God is merciful but it also tells us God is just. This last part often gets overlooked. Too many people only tell half the story. They say the cross teaches God is merciful. However, if God were only merciful but not just then Jesus didn't need to die. God could have simply forgiven the sins of mankind. The fact Jesus had to die to make that possible, tells us God doesn't overlook sin. God is just. "He will not at all acquit the wicked."
Sin has to be punished for God to be just. God has to show mercy in order to be merciful. How does God remain just and at the same time remain merciful? His answer was to send His Son to take our punishment and then He offers forgiveness to all who will believe. If some do not believe it is not because God is not merciful. It is because they stubbornly refuse to accept His provision. God is just because He punishes all sin. He is merciful because He has provided the means for mankind to be Saved.
The cross provides God the means to "...be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Rom 3:26b
Let none of us ever be moved from the simple message of the cross!
Paul preached "the cross" and "Christ crucified." The reason is simple. The cross explains it all. It tells us that God is merciful but it also tells us God is just. This last part often gets overlooked. Too many people only tell half the story. They say the cross teaches God is merciful. However, if God were only merciful but not just then Jesus didn't need to die. God could have simply forgiven the sins of mankind. The fact Jesus had to die to make that possible, tells us God doesn't overlook sin. God is just. "He will not at all acquit the wicked."
Sin has to be punished for God to be just. God has to show mercy in order to be merciful. How does God remain just and at the same time remain merciful? His answer was to send His Son to take our punishment and then He offers forgiveness to all who will believe. If some do not believe it is not because God is not merciful. It is because they stubbornly refuse to accept His provision. God is just because He punishes all sin. He is merciful because He has provided the means for mankind to be Saved.
The cross provides God the means to "...be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Rom 3:26b
Let none of us ever be moved from the simple message of the cross!