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  ?