WHY THE CROSS?
1. MAN’S DESIGN
Gen 1:27-28
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them,"Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."NKJV
· Made in the image of God
Spirit – Soul – Body
· Designed for relationship
· Designed for dominion over God’s creation as His representative
2. MAN’S DILEMMA
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. NKJV
· Man rejected God's design
· Man rejected God…became independent
· Man became separated from God
· Man lost –his direction - his purpose and his source of life
3. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, NKJV
· Separation from God
· Sickness and Disease
· Death
· Broken Relationships
· Loneliness
· Strife and Conflict
· Searching for purpose and life
4. GOD’S NATURE …GOD IS HOLY
Rev 15:4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested." NKJV
Holy means without any fault or sin
· God rejects sin…He is Holy
· God must judge all sin
· God calls all men to give account for their sin
· God will call you to give account for your sin
5. GOD’S NATURE ……..GOD IS LOVE
1 John 4:7- He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. NKJV
Love means sacrificial giving to benefit others
· God is compassionate
· God forgives people who fail
· God gives generously and abundantly
· God wants to give to you
6. GOD’S ANSWER ……..THE CROSS
1 Peter 2:23-24
He personally carried the load of our sins in his own body when he died on the cross so that we can be finished with sin and live a good life from now on TLB
The cross reveals the seriousness of sin
· The penalty for sin is death
· God sent Jesus to represent us
· Jesus Christ died on the cross on our behalf
· Jesus paid the full price for all our sins
7. GOD’S ANSWER ……..THE CROSS
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. NKJV
The cross reveals God's love for Sinners
· God loves every person ever born
· God loves you
· Jesus did all this for you
As you watch our Easter drama consider this question…
How will you respond to God's love
· Reject it ?
· Receive it ?