THE CROSS- A SIGN OF HOPE
January 23, 2000 AM
Sermon Outline
Eph 2:11-17
INTRO: The inner circle of Jesus disciples either ignored, or completely misunderstood, his references to His death. He certainly did not hide from them that His death was necessary ... even imminent. The disciples response to His arrest was, according to Mt 26:56, to forsake Him and to flee. The things which were transpiring seemed to take them by complete surprise and put them into a state of complete disarray. But the cross is truly a sign of hope.
I. GO WITH ME TO THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
A. Lk 24:13,14 and 17-21 They had no hope
1. what had they hoped? v.21a
2. knowing the political situation and the traditional Jewish expectation, I have an idea they saw Him as another King David!
3. the cross crushed their hope - v.17
B. Traditionally, the cross was not a thing of hope
1. a sign of torture, pain, death, inescapable death
2. a sign of terrible humiliation: 1 Cor 1:23
3. so, the cross in its immediate time frame was the end!
II. BUT WITHOUT THE CROSS NO HOPE IN LEVITICAL SYSTEM
A. Sacrifices of the Law did not take away sins!
1. Heb 10:1-4 it is not possible
2. there was, thus, annual day of atonement and continuation of animal sacrifices
3. without the cross would that system have had to continue? even if it had, would complete remission ever have become reality? (apparently not ... no hope!)
B. So, the cross and Israels hope ...
1. seem totally unconnected and to work against each other
2. Jesus was the hope of Israel (Lk 2:25)
3. and Roman cross seemed to end that hope!
C. But Bible explains the opposite is true!
1. Levitical sacrifices were a shadow of the perfect offering - Heb 10:1 with 10:5,6,10
2. cross became the altar for perfect offering
3. what seemed so hopeless is the very event, thing by which true hope is offered - Heb 9:26b-28 ...
III. NOW, LOOK AT OUR TEXT: EPH 2:11-18
A. Notice the prominence of the cross here
1. v. 13 the blood of Christ (so, Eph 1:7)
2. v. 16 the cross (so, 1 Cor 1:18)
B. Without the cross?
1. aliens, strangers, no hope, without God
2. no access to the Father
3. according to Col 2:13,14 without the cross an unpaid debt
C. The cross changes everything!
1. our only hope centers in the cross
2. relationship can change; debt can be paid; we can look with confidence to the future
3. Heb 10:15-18
D. So, the bottom line
1. only hope beyond this life is in the cross
2. 1 Cor 15:1-3 and 19,20 this great chapter is filled with eternal assurances and hope because of the cross
3. have you obtained this hope?
CLOSE: In several lessons I have noted the need to make the great, perfect sacrifice ours. Rom 6:3 says plainly we are baptized into the death of Jesus. Rom 6:5 notes union with His death in baptism. The hope of the cross becomes yours when you are baptized.
Cecil A. Hutson
23 January 2000