1 Corinthians 1:17-18
ON A HILL FAR AWAY
Intro: We are living in a day when the message of the
church is changing. Churches, and even whole
denominations, are moving away from the old message
of salvation through the blood of Jesus, and are moving
toward a message of salvation through social activism
and good works. The old bloody message of the cross
is quickly being replaced by a bloodless message that
lacks power and that lacks hope. Instead of hearing the
devastating news that men are sinners, people hear a
message that tells them, "I'm OK and you're OK!"
Well, I would like to take the same stand that the
Apostle Paul took all those years ago. When he wrote
to the church in Corinth, Paul reminded them that he
had been called fro one purpose and that purpose was
to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. That
message was to be his focus and that message was to
be his ministry.
This morning, I would like to restate the old, old
message. I would like to remind everyone in this
building about what happened that day when the Lord
Jesus died on the cross at Calvary. Because, it was
that event, which took place on a hill far away, that
altered the future for every person who places their faith
in the One Who died there that day.
Please join me as we revisit the old, old story one
more time. I would like to take you back to A Hill Far
Away, where we will encounter an event that purchased
and provided salvation for every person who receives
that event as their very own. Let's return together to the
cross of Calvary, and try to grasp the message of the
cross! As we do, please let the Lord speak to your
heart and if you have never been saved, I invite you to
come to Jesus today for salvation through His precious
blood.
I. THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS
A. A Strange Message - (That there should be life
out of death. Ill. The Jews were looking for a
Messiah Who would throw off the Roman yoke
and give them liberty from their captors. They
totally missed the fact that their Messiah would be
One Who would suffer for the sins of the people,
Isa. 53:1-3.)
(Ill. The message of the bloody cross of Jesus is
still a strange message to those who have never
experienced its life changing power. To them it is
"foolishness". This word comes from the same
word from which we get our word "Moron". To
the lost the idea of trusting a suffering, bleeding
man for salvation is moronic!)
B. A Startling Message - (A brutal, awful death was
experienced there on that cross.)The death Christ
died on the cross was one of absolute torture.
You and I cannot even begin to imagine all the
pain that Jesus was forced to endure for our
sakes. Allow me to refresh your mind this
morning about the terrible price Jesus paid for
you as He suffered for sin that day.
1. Scourged - Matt. 27:26
2. Beaten - Luke 22:63-64
3. Spit upon - Matt. 27:30
4. Beard Plucked from His Face -Isa. 50:6
5. Mocked - Matt. 27:26-29
6. Stripped Naked - Matt. 27:35
7. Nailed to the Cross - Matt. 27:38; John
20:25 (Ill. The ancient Assyrians were the first
to "crucify" their victims. However, they did
not nail them to cross, they merely impaled
them on sharpened stakes and left them to
die a horrible death that often took several
days. When the Romans came along, they
streamlined the method and added the little
touch of actually nailing their victims to the
cross. This method of death usually took
several days as well.)
8. These truths don't even begin to scratch the
surface of Jesus suffered for you and me, Isa.
52:14. His was a bitter cup, but one that He
drank of willingly so that we might be saved,
Luke 22:41-42.
(Ill. To hear the details of Christ's death on the
cross is disturbing! But, it is a necessary truth
that mist be proclaimed and must be heard before
there can be salvation. Friend, there is only one
way for you to get to God and that is by the way
of the cross. There is no salvation apart from
faith in the work of Jesus on Calvary!)
C. A Simple Message - (Ill. Not clouded by
demands and details, but delivered in simplicity
and clarity.) One of the problems with the modern
church si that we have tried to attach too many
conditions to salvation. However, the Bible is
clear when it tells us that the way to be saved is
for the sinner to accept by faith what the Bible
teaches about Jesus and His atoning death on
the cross, Rom. 10:9-10. This is what the
preaching of the cross is all about! It is not about
you quitting your sins! It is about you coming to
Jesus by faith! It's not about turning over a new
leaf, it's about placing your faith in Jesus and Him
alone for salvation!
I. The Preaching Of The Cross
II. THE PURPOSE OF THE CROSS
A. About Making A Statement - Since way back in
the Old Testament, the Lord has been telling me
of His love for them, Deut. 7:7-8; Jer. 31:3.
However, in Christ's death on the cross, God was
able to declare boldly, for all to see, His
boundless, matchless love for the lost of this
world.(Rom. 5:6-8) The cross is God's statement
of love to the world - John 15:13!
B. About Providing Salvation - The Bible, tells us
that there is no other way to cleanse sin, but
through the sacrifice of an innocent one in the of
the guilty one, Heb. 9:22. This is seen all the way
back in the beginning when Adam and Eve
sinned in the Garden of Eden, Gen. 3:21. This
same line of thought continues all the way
through the days of the Tabernacle and the
Temple. There, sin was atoned for by the blood of
sheep, bulls and goats, but it was never taken
away, Heb. 10:4; Heb. 10:10-11. However, the
Lord Jesus went to the cross and died for the sins
of humanity. When He did, His death on the
cross forever settled the sin debt of man, Heb.
10:12-14; Heb. 9:24-28! It is clear yet? If not,
then listen to these two precious passages of
Scripture, Rev. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:18-19.
(Ill. By the way, the word "saved" in this verse
means, "to keep safe and sound, to rescue
from all harm and danger; from destruction
and from perishing!" Sounds to me like when a
person comes to Jesus by faith and gets saved,
it's a done deal! That person does not need to
fear losing his salvation, John 10:28!)
C. About Defeating Satan - Ever since the Lucifer
sinned and became the devil, he has been in the
business of trying to hinder the work of God. He
loves nothing better than keeping souls in
bondage and seeing them condemned to Hell,
Eph. 2:1-3. But, when Jesus went to the cross,
I am of the opinion that the devil thought he had
won the victory that day. I am sure he rejoiced
when Jesus cried out, "It is finished!" But, what
the devil did not know that day was that the Lord
Jesus wasn't planning to stay dead! Maybe the
devil should have listened closer and he would
have understood that Jesus did not say, "I am
finished!" He said "It is finished!" You see, when
Jesus died on the cross, He did not die to stay
dead, but He rose from the dead three days later
and nailed old slew foot's coffin lid shut! The
Bible tells us that the victory over the devil is
found in the blood of the Lamb, Rev. 12:11.
(Ill. Satan is defeated! He may roar like a
ferocious lion and he may try to keep you from
God, 1 Pet. 5:8, but he has been defeated by the
power of God and you do not have to remain his
prisoner this morning! There is power in the
blood of Jesus to set you free!)
I. The Preaching Of The Cross
II. The Purpose Of The Cross
III. THE POWER OF THE CROSS
(Ill. When the power of the cross is appropriated,
three great and wonderful things take place. Notice
what they are:)
A. Sin Dies - When a person places his/her faith in
the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, that
person is forever changed! The chains of sin are
broken, Rom. 6:14, and they are made into a
new creature, 2 Cor. 5:17. Now, the new born
believer does not have to live his life in bondage
to sin, Rom. 6:6! (Ill. The blood has the power
the change every life touched by it! There really
is wonder working power in the blood of the
Lamb!)
B. Hell Is Defeated - No blood washed, blood
bought individual will ever experience the flames
and fires of Hell! One of the most precious
verses in the Bible pertaining to this subject is
found in John 5:24. There, the Bible tells us that
we will never come into condemnation! Romans
8:1 confirms this for us! Thank God, no child of
God will ever have to go to Hell, Satan will not get
his wish! That ought to cause us to rejoice this
morning!
C. Heaven Is Delivered - The blood is the key that
unlocks the gates of glory! When the blood is
applied, the child of God becomes instantly
destined for an eternity in Heaven with the Lord!
That is His promise to every believer, John 14:1-3. And, there is only one way to get to that
glorious place, John 3:3; 7.
Conc: When evangelist John Wesley (1703-1791) was
returning home from a service one night, he was
robbed. The thief, however, found his victim to have
only a little money and some Christian literature. As the
bandit was leaving, Wesley called out, "Stop! I have
something more to give you." The surprised robber
paused. "My friend," said Wesley, "you may live to
regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here's something
to remember: 'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us
from all sin!'" The thief hurried away, and Wesley
prayed that his words might bear fruit. Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a
Sunday service when he was approached by a
stranger. What a surprise to learn that this visitor, now
a believer in Christ as a successful businessman, was
the one who had robbed him years before! "I owe it all
to you," said the transformed man. "Oh no, my friend,"
Wesley exclaimed, "not to me, but to the precious blood
of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!"
Has the blood been applied to your life? Is your
name written down in Heaven? Is your faith in Jesus
and in Him alone?
If you need to come to Jesus for salvation this
morning, this altar is open! If you need to come and get
you walk with God straightened out, this altar is open.
You come while the Lord is dealing with your heart
today!
