A couple things were just mentioned in Willie's thread on the good news, about the cross of Jesus. As you would expect, that is part of the good news. And the last few days I have been thinking quite abit about the cross experience. And Willie, I think a good understanding of what the cross was about, what it means, why did it happen, and understanding it in the context of the bigger picture of God's plan for the restoration of all things, is absolutely essential to understanding and sharing the good news. There are many believers who think the cross was about a blood sacrfice that was required in order to appease an angry God, other wise God would have blown his top and destroyed everybody. And thats not it! Its way deeper than that! As I said, lately I have been trying to understand the cross better, so I'm asking for help with this. Has anyone ever meditated on the cross for a deeper understanding of it? Here is your chance to share! Why isn't it about an angry God being appeased , as its presented in too many "churches"?
Thanks for any help here folks! :happy3:
All the libraries of men could not hold, if they were written down, the wonders of the Cross.
Here is a link to a few of them: www.kingdombiblestudies.org/union/UBF2.htm
Thanks for the link Beloved . :thumbsup:
Jesus was lifted up when He was crucified. His blood is for the remission of our sins. He was offered as the perfect sacrifice. IMO, the scriptures are definitive on it. My understanding, obedience, and acceptance may not always be as settled, but the scriptures are.
The second covenant was dedicated not by the blood of animals, but by Jesus' own blood (Heb. 9: 18-28). Jesus' effective blood benefited those before his death and those who would follow (Heb. 9: 15). Jesus' covenant is "everlasting" (Heb. 13: 20, 10: 9, 10, in regards to Jesus' covenant, notice the expression "once for all," Heb. 10: 10, 9: 28).
From David J. Stewart - "The Passover is a picture of Jesus Christ (Who is our Passover), "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even CHRIST OUR PASSOVER is sacrificed for us" (1st Corinthians 5:7). The slain lambs in Exodus 12:1-13 picture the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus was as a lamb without spot nor blemish, He was perfect. Jesus was killed and His blood shed for our sins, "...without the shedding of BLOOD there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). There can be no redemption without Christ's blood.
Beware of corrupt teachers such as Robert Thieme Jr. and popular radio teacher John MacArthur who claim that Jesus' blood is of no significance! Mr. MacArthur teaches that Jesus' blood soaked into the ground at the cross and has no redeeming power. These mislead men believe that only the death of Christ is of importance, not the blood. This is corrupt doctrine, lies. ["there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." 2 Peter 2:1] From reading Exodus 12:1-13 we have learned that the BLOOD HAD TO BE APPLIED to the door posts of the house if the firstborn was to survive through the night. The Lord said He was specifically going to look for the BLOOD, not the dead lamb. The Scriptures proclaim the message of the blood of Christ from Genesis to Revelation.
Romans 3:25 states, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." The word "propitiation" in the Greek means "to appease one's wrath." In other words, it is our faith in the shed blood of Christ that removes us from under the condemnation of God's Law. God's wrath is turned away and we obtain divine favor because of Jesus' blood. It is "FAITH IN HIS BLOOD" that brings the forgiveness and cleansing of sins."