ITS STILL THE CROSS
December 29, 2002 AM
Sermon Outline
Mt 27:29-37
INTRO: One of the hymns I remember so well from my youth says:
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
That event was a long time ago in a far away land. There is no disputing that. But, friends, its still the cross!
I. ITS STILL THE CROSS OF CALVARY
A. Distance from and passing time do not matter
1. there is still sin
2. and there remains the need for remedy
3. further, the remedy is not available through human ingenuity or philosophy
4. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, New Age philosophies do not offer any remedy ... if they acknowledge sin
5. folks, its still the cross that is the answer
B. So, Heb 12:2
1. endured the physical pain ... bad enough
2. but despised the shame ... note Gal 3:13 with Mt 27:46 ... the shame of being cut off from God
3. 1 Cor 1:18 the preaching of the cross
4. and, yes, there are many intelligent, powerful people who continue to belittle the cross
II. ITS STILL THE BLOOD
A. What an exciting age in which we live!
1. space age? information age? technology age? etc.
2, what I read as fiction as a boy has become fact ... and beyond imagination we take things for granted
3. some things, though, have not changed
4. humankinds basic needs have not changed nor its basic nature
5. so, as already mentioned sin does its damage! - 1 Jno 5:19b
B. So, Rev 1:5
1. washed us ... in His own blood
2. or, 1 Jno 1:7
3. modern advancements have not changed the need or the remedy
4. I think, then, of Acts 22:16 ... why in baptism? it is the one place of identification with/into His atoning sacrifice (Rom 6:3)
5. for the stain (and tragedy) of sin, Jesus blood is the only hope
III. ITS STILL THE NAME
A. There have been many great names in 2000 years
1. national political figures - artists - medical names
2. technological names - scientific names - philosophical names
3. those names burn brightly in memory for a time
4. and some of the significance lasts (do we remember the names of developers of scientific breakthroughs - probably not ... but we still enjoy their developments)
5. and there will be more great names
B. But Jesus name ... none other is like it
1. Acts 2:38 in the name of ... - upon His authority
2. Acts 4:10-12 there is none other name
3. His name represents all thats involved in salvation
4. yes, other religious names have come along
5. but not a single one of them has the qualification of Acts 4:10 (resurrection) or Acts 4:11 (prophecy)
6. Jno 1:12 believe on His name
7. Eph 1:19-23 Jesus ... the name above every name
CLOSE: I have no idea what marvelous name or event will burst upon our future. But I know this. Where our eternal salvation is concerned, its still the cross; its still the blood; its still the name of Jesus that has power on earth to save.
Cecil A. Hutson
29 December 2002