The Cross of Christ

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture:    I Corinthians 1:17-2:8

I.          What does the Cross mean to you?

II.        The Cross is the power of God

A.        It is the power of God to those who are being saved.  Are you being saved today?

B.         Romans 1:16  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

C.        Salvation (Greek:  “sozo”):  means “deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, soundness, prosperity, happiness, rescue, general well-being.”

III.       The Cross is the Wisdom of God

            A.        God has destroyed the wisdom of the wise

            B.         God has made foolish the wisdom of this world

            C.        The foolishness of God is stronger than man

            D.        God has chosen

                        1.         The foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise

2.         The weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty

3.         The base (insignificant, lowly) things and the despised things of this world to bring to nothing the things that are.

            E.         Why?  So that no flesh would glory in His sight.

IV.       The Cross is the Knowledge of God

A.        I Corinthians 2:2 “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

B.         You cannot know God without going through the cross.

V.        The Cross is the Victory of God

            A.        Victory over death (He has made us alive)

            B.         Victory over the separation of sin (He has forgiven you)

C.        Victory over guilt and shame (He has wiped out the handwriting that was against us having nailed it to the cross---i.e. bill of debt)

D.        Victory over Satan and his demons (He has disarmed them of their weapons that they had fashioned against us because of our sin)

            1.         The crucifixion of Jesus was Satan’s greatest military blunder

VI.       The Cross is the Love of God

            A.        John 3:14-17

VII.     Look upon the Cross and believe

A.        All that is required is to look upon the cross and believe (cling to, trust in)