CGMI SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE – Topic: SOME REALITIES OF THE CROSS [Church of God Mission International] 23 JULY 2023
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CGMI SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE
DATE: SUNDAY 23rd JULY 2023.
HYMN: S.S & S 115 “When I survey the wondrous cross…”
CENTRAL THOUGHT:
The sinless one became sin, in order to bequeath righteousness to the unrighteous.
TOPIC:
SOME REALITIES OF THE CROSS
TEXT:
1Corin 1:17-25
INTRODUCTION:
In the context of this study, the cross is not the physical emblem found on church buildings, the golden ornament held or worn by many, and neither is it a crucifix. Instead, “The Cross” signifies the totality of the shame, the sacrifice, and the significance of all that our Lord Jesus Christ had to undergo upon the wooden structure at Calvary in order to be the ransom for our sins (1Cor 1:18; Phil 2:8; Col 1:20)
Strictly speaking, there is no way we can talk of the cross without talking of the blood that Christ shed on that cross. Hence, sometimes, the terms the “cross” and the “blood” are used interchangeably. Both refer to His death and the redemption He procured for mankind (Eph 2:13; 1Pt 1:19)
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are to:
- Understand what the cross really is
- Appreciate why Christ had to die on the cross
- Comprehend what His death means to the believers, and
- Examine and discuss some important realities of the cross
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1. WHAT DOES THE CROSS MEAN FOR THE BELIEVERS ?
The cross means many things to many people. Physically, it is a simple upright pole with a transverse bar used for crucifixion. Culturally, the cross is the most widely recognized Christian symbol in the world, adorning millions of churches and chapels. Some display it on their mantes, others wear it around their necks. Indeed, the cross is a great contradiction; death and life, hate and love, tribulations and peace, accusations and forgiveness, sin and purity, brokeness and wholeness, all seems lost yet everything is gained, destruction and restoration, defeat and victory.
Once the cruellest form of execution, yet now it is a symbol of abundant life. It signifies the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the redeeming benefits of His passion (desire, hunger, thirst, appetite, craving) and death.
The cross is thus a sign both of Christ Himself and of the faith of Christians. For those who are redeemed, it is the power of God unto salvation.
QUESTION 2.
WHY DID CHRIST HAVE TO DIE ON THE CROSS ?
In Roman times, death by crucifixion (death on the cross) was reserved for criminals. The death of Jesus was part of a divine plan to save humanity (Gal 3:13). His death and resurrection are at the very heart of the Christian faith. It is through the Lord Jesus death that people’s broken relationship with God is restored
Jesus, God’s Son, came to the earth to reunite us with God through the ultimate sacrifice (His own life). We could never live a life worthy of God on our own. So, Jesus lived a life on our behalf. And then He died the painful death our sins deserve.
QUESTION 3.
WHAT DOES HIS DEATH MEAN TO THE BELIEVERS ?
I. THE CROSS MEANS LOVE: Christ died for sinners. He died for people who had lost their way. He did not die because it was forced upon Him. It was a choice. A choice made in love. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). Jesus still love sinners. He came and gave His life for them. The message of the cross remains a gift of love to those undeserving. Above all, the cross is a symbol of love (Jn 3:16)
II. THE CROSS IS PERSONAL: In most religions, man tries to reach God but in Christianity God reaches out to man. Our response to such a God is to know Him personally. We should respond like Paul who said “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Phil 3:10).
III. THE CROSS IS WILFUL HUMILITY: Christ’s death was an act of His will. Paul states that Jesus humbled Himself in obedience and died a criminal’s death on the cross (Phil 2:7-8). “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all]” (Heb 10:10). He chose to give His life for our sake. Galatians 2:20 says that “crucified with Christ”- past tense. As christians we are to submit our will to God’s will as Christ did.
IV. THE CROSS IS PROPHETIC: There are many prophecies of the cross in the Holy Scripture. From the beginning of time, God determine to rescue humanity from the clutches of evil by the Son’s death on a cross (Rev 13:8). “Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (Isa 53:4-5NLT)
V. THE CROSS IS FINAL: The sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross was not only adequate, but was made once and for all, meaning there is no additional payment required. (Heb 7:27; 10:12-14)
QUESTION 4.
DISCUSS SOME IMPORTANT REALITIES OF THE CROSS
I. SUBSTITUTION: On the cross, the Lord Jesus died as a substitute for us, by bearing our sins in His own body. In Gal 1:4, we are told that He is the one “who gave Himself for our sins. ” He took our place and died for us (Rom 6:23), “He was wounded for our transgressions” (Isa 53:5-6), “For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corin 5:21); “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Pt 2:24).
Indeed, the Lord Jesus took our place and died for us. Our sins incurred the penalty of sin, which He paid.
II. IDENTIFICATION: On the cross, not only did the Lord Jesus died for us, but we died with Him. A reality of the cross is that, if we acknowledge and appropriate His death, then we have identified with His atonement, and so then we have died with Him (Gal 2:20). The Lord Jesus died for us, thus, we who now believe in Him and identify with His death, died with Him and live with Him (Rom 6:3-8).
III. REDEMPTION: On the cross, the Lord Jesus died to redeemed us from the curse of the Law. This is because we are told that “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse…” (Gal 3:10a) and that “cursed is every man that hangeth on a tree” (Gal 3:13). We are also reminded that “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal 4:4-5)
IV. PERSECUTION: On the cross the Lord Jesus died a shameful death and all who follow Him will suffer persecution. The cross is an offence to the natural man, hence all who loved it and preached it will suffer persecution (Gal 5:12; 6:12). The preaching of the cross could sometimes be seen as a stumbling block and even considered as foolishness (1Corin 1:23). Death by crucifixion was the most degrading form of punishment (Gal 3:13). It is therefore obvious that those of us who are identified with the cross must be willing to share the offence of the cross and to suffer persecution.
V. SEPARATION: On the cross the Lord Jesus died for us that we might have deliverance from the sinful nature. When the Lord Jesus died, we died (Gal 2:20). Having reckoned ourselves as dead, buried and raised with Him (Rom 6:3-4), we have crucified the sinful nature with it’s passions and desires (Col 3:5). It is expected of us to live lives separated from the world unto Christ.
VI. EMANCIPATION: On the cross the Lord Jesus died to deliver us from this present evil world. From Galatians 1:4 and 6:14, we understand that the Lord Jesus died to deliver us from this present evil world in order that we might be a separate people. Hence, we cannot adopt the world’s standards, customs and precepts. Indeed, we are living in the world, but we are not of the world, it is only the cross of Christ that empowers us to be separated and emancipated from the world (1Jn 2:15-17).
VII. EXULTATION: Let Us glory in the cross ! God forbid that we should glory, rejoice, feel a sense of triumph or conquest, save in the cross of our Lord (Gal 6:14)
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
The realities of the cross place a strong demand on the redeemed to live and reflect the life of Christ in our daily endeavours. Christ died that we might have life and have it more abundantly. The live that we now live is not ours but that which the Lord has bequeathed to us. We are His ambassadors and those charged with the ministry of reconciliation. We cannot therefore afford to live lives other than that which portrays us as royal priesthood and peculiar people. May we glorify the Lord with the lives we live
MEMORY VERSE
Galatians 4:4-5
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons”
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