The Blessings Of The Cross

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9

The cross is the foundation. the pillar, the essence and the centre of the gospel. From ti flows the riches of God's grace, as well as the benefits and blessings of the finished work of redemption. The cross symbolises pain, suffering, agony, punishment, sacrifice and substitutionary death of Christ Jesus for the full redemption of man. All these blessings were provided at a price so dear and a sacrifice so great.

Our salvation hands upon the cross. Santification is made possible only by the cross. People often ask this question: "Why did Jesus have to die? Why is it by the way of the cross?" We must realise that the cross is more than the wooden frame on which Jesus the Saviour died. Every good thing we receive from God has actually been made available through the cross.

The Cross and Salvation
The cross was not an accident. It was prophesied in the Old Testamen. Even from the time of the fall of man, God had declared and predicated that the cross and Calvary will be the means of man's salvation. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel" (Genesis 3:15).

The fulfilment of this plan was spoken about in the New Testament, "Who Himself bore our sins in HIs own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for rigtheousness - by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). Here, the Bible talks about the cross and how Christ bore our sins on it when He gave Himself as a sacrifice and as our sin bearer.

On the cross, Christ Jesus paid the whole price, satisfactorily for our sins. We do not have to perish anymore because He made a perfect sacrifice. "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ was central to the salvation of man. "And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). This sacrifice was total and final. Christ's sacrifice is sufficient for the salvation of man.

All have sinned and there is no expection. How then can a sinful man obtain pardon, forgiveness and salvation from sin? No effort or ability of man, no punishment inflicted upon self can atone for one's sins. Salvation comes only from the accepting Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). Full and total salvation comes from heaven. It is not the work of man, not the religious work or zeal of man. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11).

Sin carries the death penalty. But Christ died so that our sins will be taken away. Salvation is received as the sinner confesses his sins and believes in his heart (1 John 1:9, Romans 10:10). It is freely given: it is of grace. The way out of sin, guilt, damnation and spiritual death is to be cleanesed by the blood of the lamb. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away your sins.

- Daniel O.C