by Rev. Joda Collins
It is said that W. A. Criswell ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._A._Criswell ) had thirty-three preaching messages about the Cross of Christ. I have no doubt that is true. Each message, I was told, dealt with a specific purpose of the Cross. So, the title of this article is a bit misleading. A better title would be "A Purpose of the Cross", but that does not sound right.
It is said that W. A. Criswell ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._A._Criswell ) had thirty-three preaching messages about the Cross of Christ. I have no doubt that is true. Each message, I was told, dealt with a specific purpose of the Cross. So, the title of this article is a bit misleading. A better title would be "A Purpose of the Cross", but that does not sound right.
Permit me a segue. The purpose of the Cross is the salvation of all human beings. That said there are many facets to our salvation and each facet serves a purpose, thus there are many purposes for the Cross. I hope that makes sense. If not, we shall continue anyway.
It is really hard for me to think, write or preach about the Cross. I find such efforts emotionally overwhelming. And, that is one of the purposes of the Cross.
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins." Hebrews 10:4 (KJV).
It is really hard for me to think, write or preach about the Cross. I find such efforts emotionally overwhelming. And, that is one of the purposes of the Cross.
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins." Hebrews 10:4 (KJV).
The concept of "taking away sins" is, at least, two-fold. One is the taking away of habitual sins in our lives. When we really understand the Cross with both heart and mind, it makes a difference in the way we live. Another concept is the removal of the list of sins that are attributed to our lives. Because of the Cross that list will not and can not be used against us.
"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Psalms 103:12. How is that done? "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 the cross." Colossians 2:14. ("Contrary to us" means it is the legal document used to justify God sending us to Hell.) The Cross of Christ is the legal action that God uses to take the legal document (our list of sins) that He could use and would use to send every person to Hell for eternity (if it were not for the Cross).
Salvation is not the result of trying harder to be a better person, nor is it the result of keeping religious rules and regulations. Salvation is the result of one legal action alone, and our response to that legal action. Salvation is a gift. Five times in Romans Chapter five, salvation is called a free gift. A person either accepts the free gift of Jesus blood offering on the Cross as the legal action to remove all charges of sin or a person does not accept that free gift. You do not have to reject it in order to go to Hell. You simply must refuse to accept it. If someone offers you ten million dollars and you will not accept it, you will never have it whether or not you openly reject it. Ignore the offer and you never get it.
However, when you accept and take the ten million dollars and begin to spend it with thankfulness for the many good things the money buys you, with every purchase your appreciation for the money and the gift-giver grows (matures). That is how it is with the gift of Salvation. Having the gift is good, but the by-product of the gift is the active presence of and blessings bestowed on us by God the Holy Spirit. With each blessing comes a growing appreciation of the gift and a growing commitment to the gift-giver, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is called the process of spiritual maturity.
There is a wonderful song by Gene Watson entitled, Climb Higher. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AC_vlPbGi0 ). One of the lines in that song is, "A rugged cross you bore with love to bring me to my knees." The more we contemplate the Cross, understand the Cross and appropriate the benefits of the Cross, the more we appreciate the Lord Jesus Christ. Appreciation of the Lord Jesus Christ is expressed in thanksgiving and the natural result of a thankful heart toward Jesus is worship. Worship is the intended implication of "bring me to my knees." That is what I mean by being "emotionally overwhelmed." I mean a natural, heartfelt, overwhelming appreciation for the Lord Jesus Christ that drives us to natural, normal, overwhelming worship.
What made W. A. Criswell an outstanding man and a great preacher was his deep comprehension of and appreciation for the Cross of Christ. Acceptance of the gift of salvation offered to us via the Cross of Christ moves us to worship God. But more importantly, your acceptance of the gift of salvation offered to you via the Cross of Christ motivates God to remove the list of sins from your account so that you can be judged by Him as completely innocent of any charge of sin, thus allowing you enter into His perfect Heaven.
What is your attitude towards the Cross of Christ? Your eternity depends on it.
However, when you accept and take the ten million dollars and begin to spend it with thankfulness for the many good things the money buys you, with every purchase your appreciation for the money and the gift-giver grows (matures). That is how it is with the gift of Salvation. Having the gift is good, but the by-product of the gift is the active presence of and blessings bestowed on us by God the Holy Spirit. With each blessing comes a growing appreciation of the gift and a growing commitment to the gift-giver, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is called the process of spiritual maturity.
There is a wonderful song by Gene Watson entitled, Climb Higher. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AC_vlPbGi0 ). One of the lines in that song is, "A rugged cross you bore with love to bring me to my knees." The more we contemplate the Cross, understand the Cross and appropriate the benefits of the Cross, the more we appreciate the Lord Jesus Christ. Appreciation of the Lord Jesus Christ is expressed in thanksgiving and the natural result of a thankful heart toward Jesus is worship. Worship is the intended implication of "bring me to my knees." That is what I mean by being "emotionally overwhelmed." I mean a natural, heartfelt, overwhelming appreciation for the Lord Jesus Christ that drives us to natural, normal, overwhelming worship.
What made W. A. Criswell an outstanding man and a great preacher was his deep comprehension of and appreciation for the Cross of Christ. Acceptance of the gift of salvation offered to us via the Cross of Christ moves us to worship God. But more importantly, your acceptance of the gift of salvation offered to you via the Cross of Christ motivates God to remove the list of sins from your account so that you can be judged by Him as completely innocent of any charge of sin, thus allowing you enter into His perfect Heaven.
What is your attitude towards the Cross of Christ? Your eternity depends on it.
Rev. Joda Collins
jodacollins@aol.com
I make no claim that anyone else agrees with me.
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