GREAT WORDS OF THE SCRIPTURE...             ÚÄ¿
     A weekly column                     ÚÄÄÙ ÀÄÄ¿
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  THEOLOGY CONFERENCE                       ³ ³
NewLife Christian Network                   ³ ³
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          "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
     Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the
     death of the cross."  Philippians 2:8

     In all the records of man's punishment inflicted upon his
fellow man, no form of death-penalty has ever been more severe than
death on a cross.  Yet this application of capitol punishment was
God determined intention to secure the salvation of all He gave to
His First-born (cf. Gal. 3.13; 1 Pet. 1.18-21).

     The realities regarding the cross are clearly evident in
Biblical revelation.  These truths are what Christ taught about the
cross; what Christ did on the cross; and the application of the
cross in the lives of Christ's own.

I.   The Teaching of Christ Regarding the Cross

     The cross was always obvious in the message and ministry of
the Lord Jesus.

          "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me
     is not worthy of Me."  Matthew 10:38

     (Refer: Matt. 16.24; Mark 8:34, 10:21; Luke 9:23, 14:27).

II.  The Truth of Christ Regarding the Cross

          "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the
     King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we
     will believe Him.  Matthew 27:42

     (Refer:  Matt. 27:32, 40; Mark 15:21, 30, 32; Luke 23:26; John
19:17, 25, 31; Phil. 2.8; Heb. 12:2).

III. The Theology of Christ Regarding the Cross

     The Message of the Cross

          "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the
     gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ
     should be made of no effect.  For the message of the cross is
     foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are
     being saved it is the power of God."  1 Cor. 1:17-18

     The Glory of the Cross

          "God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of
     our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to
     me, and I to the world."  Gal. 6:14

     The Reconciliation of the Cross

          "...that He might reconcile them both to God in one body
     through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity."
                         Eph. 2.16

          "and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him,
     whether things on  earth or things in heaven, having made
     peace through the blood of His cross."  Col. 1:20

     The Enemies of the Cross

          "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now
     tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross
     of Christ:" Phil. 3:18

     The Triumph of the Cross

          "having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that
     was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it
     out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."  Col. 2:14

          "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
     faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the
     cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand
     of the throne of God."  Heb. 12:2

                       John Lipscomb, Conference Host
                                                                                                     
PCRelay:GRACE -> #235 NewLife Christian Network
4.10             Grace+Base ì 901-452-0168  Memphis, Tn. -HST

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