I'm preaching on Sunday with the title Why the Cross? (I think the whole 'Why can't God just forgive?' question is behind the choice of topic). What should I say?
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Jesus is the Word of God
Jesus is the Word of God
I'm preaching on Sunday with the title Why the Cross? (I think the whole 'Why can't God just forgive?' question is behind the choice of topic). What should I say?
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Speaking as a not-preacher, my mind wanders to John Piper's 50 reasons why Jesus came to die. You could go into overload mode and try and mention every single one of them. Or major on a few but in passing comments relate them to other bits.
I don't know. Just make Jesus look glorious (after all, Jesus talked about it as 'his hour' when he would be glorified) and pray that people's hearts would be changed!
Can't help you, but very interested in what you come up with!
What happens when an irresistable force meets and immovable object? God's love for us is as an irresistable force, yet His justice is like an immovable object.
There is a pastor at my church that loves to say, "What His justice demanded, His love provided."
But "Why the Cross?" could be answered with: Because death is the only solution for sin. We also must die to escape our sins.
And I'm sure you've already got several ideas floating around in your head.
Have fun and stay busy - Luke 19:13
-The Orange Mailman
Lord forgive me for answering such a question; it is high.
Still, I cannot help but praise Him if I can.
Have you ever noticed how every love story involves loss, and the more loss the better the story? In the Princess Bride, Wesley has to die or it wouldn't be half the story it is. In an almost Jungian archetype, we know to the core of our beings that love speaks through loss.
The Living blood of God had to be given freely for His beloved. The damage sin had done to her was too great. She could not be in His presence for her ugly offenses. Nothing less than His blood would suffice to restore her beauty. And God's love was too passionate, too jealous, too perfect to accept anything less than complete conquest. He loved her too much, He loved us too much, to shirk the demand of the cross.
Rev 5:9 & 10
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
What a generous question. Thank you.
Thank you all - great reminders. I must do more sermon prep online - your answers have been brilliant and very heart-warming. Jesus' hour. His glory. The problem of sin. His justice and His provision. The passionate, jealous love of God. The cleansing of His bride. Rev 5 (which I'm preaching on next week!). I confess I feel like codepoke - these things are too high. Yet we cannot help praise Him when we can. I'll give it a shot.
It's all Trinitarian, brother.
Oh man, don't make me get into John 10:17 - I'll never get out again!!
one can only see the ark of the covenant when the tabernacle is dismantled no?
Good one Dev, I was just reading Hebrews 9 this morning. Is that what you're refering to?
think so.. was writing bit about it in the john 1 talk on the forum
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