Cross that Saves

Welcome everyone

Welcome THrive

Welcome other guests

Welcome new youth members

Make them feel like they’re at home with family

I’m hoping that this camp is a huge blessing to you!

What’s theme of the camp?

What is the cross in a believer’s life?

Many people dont’ know or think about it

Cross is ONE of central truths in the Bible and IS A Requirement to be a follower of Jesus

honestly, CHristians may say - “I didn’t know this is what it takes to follow Jesus”

We’ll cover many aspects of the cross but first

Let’s look back into history about the origin of the cross

Cross as the biggest punishment

Most painful and humiliating punishment in Roman empire

Not allowed for Roman citizens

Sign of submission

When you broke the law and was in uprising against Rome, the empire would judge you

largest crucifixion event took 70 years before christ during the gladiator revolt

Roman general Marcus Licinius crushed a slave army and ordered that 6,000 rebels be crucified simultaneously

The crosses were planted along the Appian Way for 120 miles!

In some sense, we are similar to those rebels.

Rebellion against God

You also have rebelled but not against a corrupt empire - against a Holy God

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

You’ve heard that we sinned against God but it’s not just sinning - it’s revolting

Deuteronomy 4:23–24 “Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

God is a consuming fire. He doesn’t take your sin lightly. It’s not just an unfortunate mistake…

I like it better how Isaiah puts it:

Isaiah 59:12–13 “For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities: transgressing, and denying the Lord, and turning back from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words.”

Sure sounds like revolt against God.

That’s why Isaiah also says Isaiah 33:14 “The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: “Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?””

What’s your punishment? Crucifixion.

Let’s talk about what it meant to be on the cross…

Suffering on the Cross

It took centuries to perfect the art of crucifixion to maximum suffering and humiliation

We think that cross were very high but in reality they would suspend a person 1-2 ft off the ground

so that you can see people and watch them as you walked past them

At first they would take off your clothes to humiliate you

flog you with a special whip that had bone and iron hooks weaved into the material

As it beat you, it would tear out flesh

muscles would get damaged and results in massive blood lose

Jesus wasn’t even able to carry the cross

The person would carry the crossbeam to the place of crucifixion which… the cross beam itself weigh 70-100 pounds

At the place, their wrists (not palms) would be nailed to the cross with 7 inch cross nails

Their feet would be slightly bent and nailed (through the heel)

Death would be slow and agonizing, from several hours to several days.

As the person was hanging down suspended, lung expansion would be very hard

every time you take a breath, you have to push against nailed feet or pull up with nailed hands.

Eventually, exhaustion, asphyxiation (lack of oxygen in body), dehydration, hypovolemic shock (lack of blood circulation by heart), and heart failure took over.

play the video

I would argue that the video doesn’t show the full accuracy

Isaiah 52:14 “As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—”

Did it have to be the cross?

Yes, for the most wicked sins in the world there needed to be the most costly price paid

Couldn’t God have just forgiven us?

Remember the Devil tempted Jesus to take the easy path? Could God have taken the easy path?

Wasn’t there another way to sit in Jerusalem as King and force everyone to bow down?

Do you think He wanted to take His cross?

In Gethsemane Jesus was torn apart. He know about the mission but he didn’t want to go through the suffering.

It was the biggest injustice in history

God demanded justice as a just and holy judge. Wrongdoing demands punishment.

Isaiah 53:10–11 “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.”

The greater the sin, the greater the punishment

We like to compare ourselves to each other - I’m not that bad

Before God, even if you’re above average, you’re a rebel who joined the devil’s army and waging war against God

I a payment had to be made for your rebellion

When romans condemned someone to crucifixion, that person already considered to be dead. For this reason you could do whatever you want with him… beat him, etc.

We were also once dead to God.

Colossians 2:13–14 “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”

Jesus cancelled our debt by paying for it

There’s no other way to reconcile (fix relationship) with God but through the cross

1 Peter 1:18–19 “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Because he had no sin and didn’t have to pay for his own sin, his payment is now transferred to us and makes us clean. Debt free.

All you have to do now is put your faith in Jesus. He paid for everything on the cross and we can be at peace with God

Colossians 1:20 “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

WE ARE JUSTIFIED (made right) before God because of his sacrifice on the cross.

WHen you accept that Jesus died for you, you accept Jesus as savior and accept salvation

However, your journey has just begun

The cross is not left behind

Understanding the Cross

We take the cross with us as we follow Jesus

The story of the cross doesn’t just end on Golgotha. Jesus says:

Matthew 16:24–26 “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Luke 14:27 “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

What does it mean for you to take on that cross?

What does it mean for you to endure pain and suffering for Christ? What cost are you paying to follow Him today?

if you want to follow Jesus, you MUST take on the cross

Sometimes we forget how much our sins cost our Lord Jesus Christ

we take it for granted

If the cross was before our eyes every single time we sin, we’d hold ourselves back

If Jesus was beaten in front of you and every sin resulted in an additional lash, I think we’d have an easier time obeying God

Conclusion:

I hope your experience here at the camp will help you become a stronger and more genuine disciple of Jesus.

so that you can grow in your faith

So that you can understand what cross you have to take in your life

so that understanding of Cross helps you overcome sin

Come up at any time for a conversation, for prayer, for anything.

This is the weekend when many will decide to take on their cross