The Cross

Paul made a decision to only preach the cross. His passion was the cross.

1. Paul is on first missionary journey. He gets beaten, he gets hurt
2. Paul on 2^nd journey starts to tap into the power of God.
3. Acts 17:22 Paul is in Athens and he is preaching by using arguments of God.
   1. Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive
4. 1 Cor 2:1 Paul says that when he first comes to Corinth he makes the decision not to speak with persuasive words or human understanding.
5. for the first time he doesn’t get beat up. Sostenes gets beat up. Paul continues to preach and do his best.
6. The next time we meet up with Sostenes is in 1 Cor 1:1 Sostenes is now traveling with Paul preaching the Gospel.
7. The reason of his success is that he came in fear and trembling to preach the cross.
   1. 1 Corintios 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power, That you faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The cross.

The cross is the symbol of Christianity. It is what we pursue and desire.

As Christians we need to love the cross.

We need to pursue the cross.

We need to understand the cross.

The cross is the secret of the universe

It is not Jewelry, it is not a symbol of some obscure religion (religion oscuro)

It is not pretty.

It was a humiliating death that took a few days.

1. Salvation
   1. The cross saves us from this world. There is no other way to go to heaven except by accepting the price that Jesus paid on the cross

                                                               i.      Col 1: 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of^[a] your evil behavior.

                                                             ii.      Col 1:19 porque al Padre agradó que en élhabitara toda la plenitud,^[a] 20 y por medio de él reconciliar consigotodas las cosas, así las que están en la tierracomo las que están en los cielos,^[b] haciendo la paz mediante la sangrede su cruz.^[c] 21 También a vosotros,^[d] que erais en otro tiempo extraños y enemigos por vuestros pensamientos y por vuestras malas obras, ahora os ha reconciliado^[e]

2. The cross is shameful (oprobio) Hebrews 12:2
   1. At times we must do thinks that we don’t like. Serve people that our not like us.
   2. Lay down our lives for a people we don’t know.
   3. Find Jim Elliots famous quote
   4. When we make the decision to be a slave/servant of Christ, that is the last decision that we ever get to make.

                                                               i.      Hebrews 12:2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

                                                             ii.      Hebreos 12: 2 puestos los ojos en Jesús, el autor y consumador de la fe, el cual por el gozo puesto delante de él sufrió la cruz, menospreciando el oprobio,^[d] y se sentó a la diestra del trono de Dios.^[e] 3 Considerad a aquel que sufrió tal contradicción de pecadores contra sí mismo, para que vuestro ánimo no se canse hasta desmayar,

3. The cross is the path to crucifixion.
   1. Death.
   2. Narrow is the way to eternal life. Find scripture ref.

                                                               i.      The path of the cross does not give us many options.

1.      The path is direct and straight.

2.      The path goes directly to calvary.

                                                             ii.      John12:24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

                                                            iii.      Juan 12:24 De cierto, de cierto os digo que si el grano de trigo que cae en la tierra no muere, queda solo, pero si muere, lleva mucho fruto. 25 El que ama su vida, la perderá; y el que odia su vida en este mundo, para vida eterna la guardará.^[b]

4. On the other side of the cross is Joy  Hebrews 12:2
   1. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him
   2. This world is our test, our exam
   3. God is looking for a people that love Him more than the things of this world
   4. Jonathon Edwards states, “I will do everything possible in this life to ensure happiness in the next life” (find source)
   5. I am extremely happy in what I do. I passed through the cross. I keep passing through the cross but in my death to my personal dreams God has given me better and bigger dreams.
   6. At age 19 I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do.

                                                               i.      Hebrews 12:2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

                                                             ii.      Hebreos 12:2 puestos los ojos en Jesús, el autor y consumador de la fe, el cual por el gozo puesto delante de él sufrió la cruz, menospreciando el oprobio,^[d] y se sentó a la diestra del trono de Dios.^[e] 3 Considerad a aquel que sufrió tal contradicción de pecadores contra sí mismo, para que vuestro ánimo no se canse hasta desmayar,

5. The Cross is Power
   1. The cross is power.
   2. Like touching the wires that electricity flows through

                                                               i.      Cable Electico

                                                             ii.      The power is always there. 110 volts or 220 volts

                                                            iii.      I don’t have to SEE the power to know it is there.

                                                           iv.      But If I touch the cables I will FEEL the power.

                                                             v.      The cross is the POWER. We just need to reach up and grab a hold of it.

                                                           vi.      PICK UP THE CROSS AND FEEL THE POWER.

3. 1 Cor 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18For 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.
4. 1 Cor:1 17 No me envió Cristo a bautizar, sino a predicar el evangelio; no con sabiduría^[a] de palabras, para que no se haga vana la cruz de Cristo.^[b] 18 La palabra de la cruz es locura a los que se pierden;^[c] pero a los que se salvan, esto es, a nosotros, es poder de Dios,^[d]

6. The Cross is Wisdom
   1. The cross is wisdom.
   2. The rules of God are different than the rules of this world.
   3. The math of God is different

                                                               i.      Divide to multiply and subtract to add

4. Proverbs: The fools says that “there is no God”

                                                               i.      1 Cor 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18For 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. 19For it is written:"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."^[a]

                                                            ii.      1 Cor:1 17 No me envió Cristo a bautizar, sino a predicar el evangelio; no con sabiduría^[a] de palabras, para que no se haga vana la cruz de Cristo.^[b] 18 La palabra de la cruz es locura a los que se pierden;^[c] pero a los que se salvan, esto es, a nosotros, es poder de Dios,^[d] 19 pues está escrito: «Destruiré la sabiduría de los sabios y frustraré la inteligenciade los inteligentes».^[e]

7. The cross is the beginning.  Matthew 10:37.
   1. Once we take up the cross then we can follow jesus. Matthew 10:37"

                                                               i.      Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

                                                             ii.      Mateo 10:37 El que ama a padre o madre más que a mí, no es digno de mí; el que ama a hijo o hija más que a mí, no es digno de mí; 38 y el que no toma su cruz^[a] y sigue en pos de mí, no es digno de mí. 39 El que halle su vida,^[b] la perderá; y el que pierda su vida por causa de mí, la hallará.^[c]

8. Voluntary. (Voluntaria)
   1. It is not placed upon us, as it was placed upon Simon, we must CHOOSE to carry it.
   2. Therefore the cross is not:

                                                               i.      Sickness

                                                             ii.      Cancer

                                                            iii.      Problems with members of our family

                                                           iv.      Problems from work

                                                             v.      Slavery or Poverty

3. Matthew16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
4. Mateo 16:24 Entonces Jesús dijo a sus discípulos: --Si alguien quiere venir en pos de mí, niéguese a sí mismo, tome su cruz^[b] y sígame, 25 porque todo el que quiera salvar su vida, la perderá; y todo el que pierda su vida por causa de mí, la hallará.

9. Cross requires denial to ourselves (Negar a si mismo)
   1. Our future

                                                               i.      College

                                                             ii.      education

                                                            iii.      good job

2. Not just bad things like

                                                               i.      Sin issues

1.      Drug addictions

2.      Alcohol problems

3.      etc

3. The cross requires us to deny ourselves of other things in this life.

                                                               i.      Matthew16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

                                                             ii.      Mateo 16:24 Entonces Jesús dijo a sus discípulos: --Si alguien quiere venir en pos de mí, niéguese a sí mismo, tome su cruz^[b] y sígame, 25 porque todo el que quiera salvar su vida, la perderá; y todo el que pierda su vida por causa de mí, la hallará.

THE CROSS WILL NOT ONLY CHANGE OUR LIVES BUT THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN.

10. The cross is legacy (legado)
    1. Mark 15:21 [ The Crucifixion ] A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.  
    2. Mark 15:21 ^[a] Obligaron a uno que pasaba, Simón de Cirene,^[b] padre de Alejandro y de Rufo, que venía del campo, a que le llevara la cruz.
    3. Romans 16:13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
    4. Romanos 16:13 Saludad a Rufo, escogido en el Señor, y a su madre, que lo es también mía.

Why does Mark state, “The father of Rufus and Alexander” unless the two of them were well known by then.

Why does paul state The mother of Rufus, unless He went to meet them, to hear the story himself.

I travel and preach. If I told you that my father carried the cross of Jesus, would you want me to come to your church and tell the story. Tell how this experience changed my father’s life and our lives as children? I would want to know this family.

Cyrene is in Northern Africa.

AS A FATHER:

I am very interested in seeing my children get saved and serve God.

I will die but my children will live longer

Around 40 years ago, Yale University conducted an extensive seven-year study on how a persons actions in life effects the lives of his or her children. This study was focused around the lives of two men: Max Jukes and Jonathan Edwards. Max Jukes was an Atheist that believed in the abolition of laws and rules. Mr. Jukes formed an organization called the Freedom Movement that preached free sex, no laws, no formal education and no responsibilities. Jonathan Edwards was known by all as the "disciplinarian".

Not because he disciplined his children harshly, but because he was a self-disciplined man. He became a preacher that believed in leading by example. He authored two books on the subjects of physical fitness and kindness. Mr. Edwards later became involved in teaching people to be responsible for their daily actions. Both of these men were chosen for their diverse beliefs, but also because they both fathered 13 children. Here are the legacies they left behind:

The Challenge of the Cross

The message of the cross is still as offensive to modern man as it was to those in the first century. People would rather believe anything and do anything rather than accept salvation as a gift from God. A proper understanding of the meaning of the Cross is essential to the process of sanctification - the gradual development of the Christ-like character in a believer (Gal. 5:22-23). Christians are not commanded to live good lives because of the threat of punishment if they fail, but because of the extent of what Christ’s has already done of their behalf. As Thomas Erskine put it: "in the New Testament, religion is grace, and ethics is gratitude."(15) The New Testament writers often linked believer’s understanding of the Cross and his sanctification, pointing to Jesus’ example and demanding a response in terms of personal ethics or right living, e.g. 1 Peter 1:17-19; 2:24; 4:1-3; 1 John 4:10-11. The message is clear: once we understand clearly how much Jesus had to suffer to pay the price for our sins, we will strive to obey Him out of gratitude.

We are not to use our freedom to indulge ourselves (Gal. 5:13), but to become holy (1 Thess. 4:3) and to achieve the purpose God has for us (Eph. 2:8-10). This will involve each of us paying a price in our efforts to fulfil this purpose. Jesus said that all who would follow him should take up their Cross daily and follow him (Matt. 10:34-39; 16:24-25; Luke 9:23). In saying this Jesus was not referring to some personal problem, arthritis or a congenital heart defect, to a conscious renunciation of everything that would oppose against God’s will in our lives. A.W. Tozer makes it clear that the taking up of the Cross is not done casually or half-heartedly, because the

...cross is a symbol of death. It stands for the abrupt, violent death of a human being. The man in Roman times who took up his cross and started down the road had already said good-by to his friends. He was not coming back. He was going out to have it ended. The cross made no compromise, modified nothing, spared nothing; it slew all of the man, completely and for good. It did not try to keep on good terms with its victim. It struck cruel and hard, and when it had finished its work, the man was no more.(16)