Step Up to Speak Up 4- What Is the Cross?

In recent weeks we have spent some time mapping out some places in the Bible that we could take the people around us who don’t know Jesus to explain the Gospel better. We want to help you to make use of God’s Word in speaking to the people God has placed in your life, after all Romans 10: 17 says that, ‘faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.’

You can catch up on the introductory post here
Part 1 here
Part 2 here
Part 3 here

What is the cross and what does it achieve? This is a timely question, coming as it does hot on the heels of Easter. The cross has become anything from peace symbol to fashion accessory which means two things for us as we seek to share the Gospel.

First, there is already a degree of familiarity with the cross as something that has been adopted into the culture. This is a massive win and it won't take you long to find some sort of cultural reference point upon which to talk about this. Second, such familiarity is a sign that there is already a level of, if not contempt, then certainly complacency about the true meaning of the cross.

His work not yours
In many ways this is the hardest thing for people to get their heads round. So much of our culture is built upon achievement and so much of our confidence is constricted on capability. This makes the Gospel even greater news, because anyone who has pursued achievement and But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2: 4-7

His light for your darkness
There are few things that make you feel more vulnerable, often painful and occasionally fearful than stumbling around in the dark. Colossians 1: 13-14 says that darkness typifies our experience of life We have made ourselves at home in the dark; we have not just settled for it but settled in it. But God has something better and different for us. 'He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. This pictures our darkness as a place of slavery, guilt and shame and God's response as bringing freedom (redemption is the paying of a price to set free a slave) and forgiveness.

His life for your death
Redemption costs- It just does. And this is where the cross comes in: it is the paying of a price you could not afford. Colossians 2: 13-14 says that '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.' We need to get personal about this when it says you it means... well... you. What can a dead person contribute? Nothing. As Jesus was nailed to the cross so to was all of your history of rebelling against God, replacing God and rejecting God. All of Jesus perfect life for all of your punishable sin (and all your sin is deserving of punishment).

To get you to God
It can be easy to miss something in this though. We can make it all about eternal life, or no more guilt, shame or punishment for sin. These things are true and awesome benefits of the Gospel. But don't forget to tell people the greatest treasure, don't lose track of the highest prize. Don't miss that the goal of the cross was to bring people to God, to restore a lost and broken humanity, wrecked by sin to fellowship with God. 1 Peter 2: 24-25 tells us that Jesus, 'bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.' You get to have God guiding and watching your life. You get His presence with you now and to be present with Him for all eternity. 1 Peter 3: 18 say: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.' In the same way as our greatest need is God, so the great gift that the cross accomplishes for us is to bring us to God.