The Gospel of the Cross, the Mystery of God to be Praised Forever
1) The Way of the Cross is the Wisdom of God and the Power of God
| The Cross is the core and essence of Christianity. The Cross is the place where God the Father gave up his only begotten Son. The heart of God remains eternally at the Cross. God has no other interest besides the Cross. God placed all the mystery and the glory of the gospel in the Cross. The event of the Cross 2,000 years ago where God did not spare his only begotten Son is greater than any event in history even if the universe changed a million times over. Only by the Cross can my old self be given over to death so that I can become a new creation united with Jesus. The problem of our sins is fully rectified. Therefore, the Cross is the greatest of God’s wisdom and power. God’s wisdom was the unimaginable method of the cross. It was the level of God’s wisdom that resolved humanity’s greatest problem—sin—through the death of His Son. God’s power was the ability to transform us, existential sinners, into children of God, restoring us to be partakers of holy communion with Him. Therefore, the cross represents God’s greatest mystery. Therefore, unless God reveals it through the Holy Spirit’s revelation in our hearts, no one can understand the way of the cross! |
》Scripture Prayer
(1 Corinthians 1:18-25) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
(1 Corinthians 2:6-10) Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. In the gospel of the Cross, which was accomplished through the power and the wisdom of God, let us pray for the complete unity through our faith. Also, let’s pray not to focus on ourselves, but on God who gives us the salvation.
And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:13-14)
2. Let us pray to God to enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we may know deeply the secret of Christ revealed in the Cross. Let us ask God that we would find and enjoy all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ. We should recognize ourselves only in Jesus Christ and that the life we live, we live by Jesus’ life. Let’s pray that we would recognize ourselves in Jesus Christ alone and live in life of Jesus.
That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2-3)
2) The Way of the Cross Revealed Throughout the Whole Bible
| The mystery of the Cross of God is an astonishing revelation that involved all of human history. The way of the Cross is the perfect revelation because all the requirements of salvation are perfectly fulfilled to defeat any of enemies’ attacks and challenges. God has gradually and clearly revealed the mystery of the Cross from the beginning of human history. The whole Bible reveals the mystery of the Cross. The Cross is the perfect gospel that the Triune God prepared before the world existed. When God has given the Cross to human beings through his only son, the gospel was more than sufficient to save the world. The gospel prepared in Christ before the beginning of the world is accomplished thoroughly by God’s grace according to his will and authority. In Genesis 3:15, Jesus Christ, who came to the world as the descendant of woman, must have life without sin and must be in the human form. In other words, the savior must have divinity without sin and personality as a human life. This is impossible for human beings. Therefore, Jesus Christ, the son of God, is only the savior for the world. Then, how did Jesus, the only savior, fulfill salvation? It was possible through the Cross. How could the death on the Cross make the way of salvation possible? Right here is the mystery of the way of the Cross. Satan used his ultimate attack, the authority of death, to crucify Jesus Christ on the cross. However, this death brought a complete destruction to all powers of Satan for eternity. Thus, Jesus proclaimed on the Cross, “It is finished.” |
》Scripture Prayer
(Romans 3:19-22) 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
(2 Timothy 1:9) who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began
(Genesis 3:15, 20-21) 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 20 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. Let us pray to God to open the eyes of heart for us to understand the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection revealed in the Bible. Let us ask God to let Christ of the Cross live in us and for us to lay ourselves down to God.
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:44-48)
2. How can sinners comprehend the secret of the cross revealed throughout the entire Bible? Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit abundantly pours out wisdom and revelation to all sinners who hope to obtain salvation through the Scriptures, enabling them to understand.
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)
3) There’s only one way: board the ark of salvation with faith.
| Genesis 6 depicts how the wickedness of humanity on the earth became widespread. Fueled by the desires of their hearts, people sinned, filling the world with sin. The situation reached a point where not only self-destruction was inevitable due to the overwhelming presence of sin but also the impending destruction of everyone. However, in this circumstance, God provided salvation. He judged and completely eradicated sin, yet in the midst of this judgment, He provided salvation through the ark of Noah—a vessel of grace amid the complete judgment of sin. The grace of God came upon Noah, an existential sinner just like the people on the earth, and the message came to him and his people: there was only one way—board the ark of salvation. God’s salvation, from planning to completion, was a demonstration of God’s ‘absolute sovereign work.’ Building the ark, gathering every kind of animal onto it, determining the direction and duration of the flood—the entirety of it was orchestrated personally by God. Those responding to the news of salvation amid judgment are demanded to have one thing: ‘Absolute faith, simply faith.’ Boarding the ark means choosing nothing else but the ark. Those who board by faith should surrender their life’s schedule, direction, worries, and anxieties, and simply look to God. He enables and accompanies, allowing a life of gratitude, praise, and worship within the ark of salvation, free from worries and concerns. |
》Scripture Prayer
(Genesis 6:5-8) 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
(Genesis 6:13-22) 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. Are you discovering and believing in God’s goodness, preparing salvation amid judgment? The Lord who not only invites us to board the ark of salvation but also prepares each step of life within it is our Heavenly Father. Let’s set aside the life we’ve led, driven by our efforts and best intentions, and move towards the place where we can receive God’s grace through faith.
It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. (Romans 3:26-27)
2. There are moments in life when we face conflicts between what’s important and what’s more important. To choose the value of eternal heaven, we must let go of all the values of this temporary, visible world. Let’s make the decision, in the face of such choices, to prioritize obtaining the life of Jesus Christ over any value I possess and pray for the resolve to do so.
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
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