Reading
Gal 3:10-14; ‘All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.’ Ps 27:13; ‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Paul, like all the writers of the New Testament, wrote extensively about the cross. His reflections and admonitions are comforting and enlightening, even though, at times they are startling.
We want to discuss four pillars of truth that Paul brought to the church about the cross. Firstly, the cross as the ‘measuring rod’ of God. In Paul’s thinking, everybody and everything lined up to godliness or didn’t line up to godliness, according to how they or it measured up to the word of the cross.
Secondly, Paul wrote about the many ‘accomplishments’ of the cross. Indeed, Paul made a list of results that the cross brought about, and for which it is the source and substance of the new context for righteousness.
Thirdly, Paul underlines ‘two dimensions’ for understanding the work of the cross – in history and eternally in the lifestyle of the Godhead. Fourthly, Paul spoke of the word of the cross as the message of the cross and in this manner he developed three key messages of the cross.
As we discuss these thoughts in greater depth, we need to do so understanding where Paul received such passion and clarity about the cross. It was clearly by revelation. However, Paul would never have sought such a revelation without a revolutionary change to his thinking.
Paul was a Pharisee, which among other things, meant that he knew the scriptures backwards. Clearly, he knew the scripture that said if one was crucified on a cross that one was accursed of God. Paul, like his religious compatriots, could not accept that blessing could result from one who hung on a cross.
Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on a cross. So it must follow, how could He be the blessed of God? It was not until Paul acknowledged Jesus of Nazareth as His Lord, that he perceived the cross as the wisdom and capacity of God. From his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul was able to find his answer for the apparent contradiction of the message of the cross, from what he had been raised to believe.
He did so, however, from the totally changed perspective of finding out why it had to be right, rather than to find out, how it could be right. All of us need zeal to seek out the knowledge of God but we also need to do so from the perspective of believing. As the Psalmist wrote, ‘believing is seeing’.
Gal 3:10-14; ‘All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.’ Ps 27:13; ‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Paul, like all the writers of the New Testament, wrote extensively about the cross. His reflections and admonitions are comforting and enlightening, even though, at times they are startling.
We want to discuss four pillars of truth that Paul brought to the church about the cross. Firstly, the cross as the ‘measuring rod’ of God. In Paul’s thinking, everybody and everything lined up to godliness or didn’t line up to godliness, according to how they or it measured up to the word of the cross.
Secondly, Paul wrote about the many ‘accomplishments’ of the cross. Indeed, Paul made a list of results that the cross brought about, and for which it is the source and substance of the new context for righteousness.
Thirdly, Paul underlines ‘two dimensions’ for understanding the work of the cross – in history and eternally in the lifestyle of the Godhead. Fourthly, Paul spoke of the word of the cross as the message of the cross and in this manner he developed three key messages of the cross.
As we discuss these thoughts in greater depth, we need to do so understanding where Paul received such passion and clarity about the cross. It was clearly by revelation. However, Paul would never have sought such a revelation without a revolutionary change to his thinking.
Paul was a Pharisee, which among other things, meant that he knew the scriptures backwards. Clearly, he knew the scripture that said if one was crucified on a cross that one was accursed of God. Paul, like his religious compatriots, could not accept that blessing could result from one who hung on a cross.
Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on a cross. So it must follow, how could He be the blessed of God? It was not until Paul acknowledged Jesus of Nazareth as His Lord, that he perceived the cross as the wisdom and capacity of God. From his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul was able to find his answer for the apparent contradiction of the message of the cross, from what he had been raised to believe.
He did so, however, from the totally changed perspective of finding out why it had to be right, rather than to find out, how it could be right. All of us need zeal to seek out the knowledge of God but we also need to do so from the perspective of believing. As the Psalmist wrote, ‘believing is seeing’.
