The Paradox of the Cross

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(No Transcript)
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The Meaning Of It
It was the most tragic event in the history of
the world
It was the most wonderful thing that ever
happened to man
AND
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• Life is full of tragedies
• Natural disasters, accidents, brutal behaviors
• Nothing more tragic ever happened than the day
  the creature rose up and killed his Creator
  Acts 223
• Him, being delivered by the determined purpose
  and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by
  lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death.

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• Despite the tragic nature of Jesus death, it
  was wonderful
• It was the only way God could be appeased Heb
  105
• Therefore, when He came into the world, He
  said Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
  but a body You have prepared for Me.

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• Despite the tragic nature of Jesus death, it
  was wonderful
• It was the only way God could be appeased Heb
  105, 217
• Therefore, in all things He had to be made like
  His brethren, that He might be a merciful and
  faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God,
  to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

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• Despite the tragic nature of Jesus death, it
  was wonderful
• It was the only way God could be appeased Heb
  105, 217
• Had it not happened, we would still be lost Heb
  104, 11-12

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• Hebrews 104, 11-12
• For it is not possible that the blood of bulls
  and goats could take away sins.
• And every priest stands ministering daily and
  offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which
  can never take away sins. But this Man, after He
  had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat
  down at the right hand of God.

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The Meaning Of It
It was the greatest exhibition of Divine justice
in condemning sin
It was the most wonderful demonstration of Divine
mercy in pardoning sin
AND
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• God hates sin Ps. 54-5
• For You are not a God who takes pleasure in
  wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. The
  boastful shall not stand in Your sight You hate
  all workers of iniquity.

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• God hates sin Proverbs 616-19
• These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are
  an abomination to Him A proud look, a lying
  tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart
  that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in
  running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies,
  and one who sows discord among brethren.

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• God hates sin Ps. 54-5 Prov. 616-19
• Sin is always condemned, never commended by God
• Sin will always be punished Heb 21-3 2
  Peter 33-4, 9, 15

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• Hebrews 21-3
• Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to
  the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For
  if the word spoken through angels proved
  steadfast, and every transgression and
  disobedience received a just reward, how shall we
  escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which
  at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and
  was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.

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• 2 Peter 33-4
• Knowing this first that scoffers will come in
  the last days, walking according to their own
  lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His
  coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all
  things continue as they were from the beginning
  of creation.

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• 2 Peter 39, 15
• The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,
  as some count slackness, but is longsuffering
  toward us, not willing that any should perish but
  that all should come to repentance.
• And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord
  is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul,
  according to the wisdom given to him, has
• written to you.

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• Well never see a greater display of mercy than
  at the cross
• The cross made it possible for God to commute
  our sentence Eph 17
• In Him we have redemption through His blood,
  the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
  of His grace.

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• Well never see a greater display of mercy than
  at the cross
• The cross made it possible for God to commute
  our sentence Eph 17
• Accomplished in forgiveness Rom 41-8
• Proof of Gods love for sinners John 316
• "For God so loved the world that He gave
• His only begotten Son, that whoever
• believes in Him should not perish
• but have everlasting life.

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The Events Surrounding It
It was the darkest hour in human history
It was the time of the greatest light known
to man
AND
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• Darkness literally befell the earth Luke
  2344-45
• Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was
  darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
  Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the
  temple was torn in two.

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• Darkness literally befell the earth Luke
  2344-45
• We can only imagine
• Many think this represents God withdrawing from
  His Son Mark 1534
• And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a
  loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama
  sabachthani? which is translated, My God, My
  God, why have You forsaken Me?

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• Darkness literally befell the earth Luke
  2344-45
• We can only imagine
• Many think this represents God withdrawing from
  His Son Mark 1534
• Did not overwhelm the light
• of Christ John 14-5 812
  
  
  
  

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• John 14-5 812
• In Him was life, and the life was the light of
  men. And the light shines in the darkness, and
  the darkness did not comprehend it.
• I am the light of the world. He who follows Me
  shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of
  life.

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The Events Surrounding It
The Christ on the cross showed His love for man
who put Him there
Man showed his hatred for the Christ on the cross
AND
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• It doesnt take much effort to see mans
  bloodthirstiness at Jesus crucifixion
  Matthew 2720-25
• They hated Him with a passion
• They incited the flames of this passion

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• Despite the depth of this hatred, the love of
  Christ for these individuals was staggering
• His attitude was unnatural Luke 2334
• Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
  they do.

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• Despite the depth of this hatred, the love of
  Christ for these individuals was staggering
• His attitude was unnatural Luke 2334
• He never returned evil upon them 1 Peter
  221-24

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• 1 Peter 221-24
• For to this you were called, because Christ
  also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that
  you should follow His steps Who committed no
  sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth who,
  when He was reviled, did not revile in return
  when He suffered, He did not threaten, but
  committed Himself to Him who judges righteously
  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the
  tree, that we, having died to sins, might live
  for righteousness--by whose stripes
• you were healed.

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The Preaching Of It
To God it is a message of wisdom
To man it is a message of foolishness
AND
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• This is the paradoxical nature of the cross of
  Christ
• The cross portrays us as weak, needy
• The cross portrays God in all His holiness,
  strength
• Man is so enlightenedyet he stumbles over this
  1 Cor 118-25
• The cross catches us off guard
• Who can imagine it?

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• This is the paradoxical nature of the cross of
  Christ
• This kind of wisdom is beyond us 1
  Cor 29
• But as it is written Eye has not seen, nor ear
  heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the
  things which God has prepared for those who love
  Him.

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• This is the paradoxical nature of the cross of
  Christ
• This kind of wisdom is beyond us 1
  Cor 29
• This kind of redemptive scheme is out of our
  reach Rom 1133-36

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• Romans 1133-36
• Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom
  and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His
  judgments and His ways past finding out! For who
  has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become
  His counselor? Or who has first given to Him And
  it shall be repaid to him? For of Him and through
  Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory
  forever. Amen.

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• The paradox is only in our minds
• There is no contradiction
• The cross God opening Himself up to us
• It declares our need for mercy
• The only way it remains a paradox is if we
  ignore who we really are
• All we can do is respond to it