Repetition aids retention <3

We listened to a great sermon yesterday and let me tell you, I had to just retype that intro because I first wrote that we heard a great sermon…but no..no..we LISTENED to a great sermon.

And there is a world of difference.

I am still chewing on it this morning and have decided to bless you with the Reader’s Digest version of it.

I encourage you to check out firstdecatur.org sermons sometime this week and listen to it yourself but here is Part 1 of the notes I took:

Pastor Brian Talty led us through a clear study of the different facets of The Cross and why THE CROSS is the main thing about Jesus being THE Messiah based on Peter acknowledging Him as “the Christ” in Matthew 16:13-18.

He pointed out that Peter got the “Sunday School” answer right when Jesus asked who the disciples thought He was…and how we often, in the Church, get that answer right as well…and yet like Peter, turn around and show that we have no clue what it means.

Messiah – Greek word for “anointed one”, so could be used generically for a king…but Jesus is THE MESSIAH.

He is God’s Anointed One who is the Only One who has earned the right to be both our Savior AND our LORD.

And it is all based on The Cross.

Pastor Brian then pointed out that it is paramount that we examine the Cross and what it means.

But the Cross is more than a symbol hanging over a pulpit or around a believer’s neck and so he broke it down into eight components.

1. Atonement: to cover; the quality of being at one or alike. Through the Cross, our human nature and sin have been covered over by the blood of Christ and we are seen as pure and holy.

Genesis 2:17 – but of the tree of knowledge of GOOD AND EVIL you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

Death is the result/consequence of sin. It is what happens.

1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the COVERING for our sins, and not for ours only BUT ALSO for the WHOLE WORLD.

2. Substitution: the act of replacing one thing for another

Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; the punishment for our peace (reconciliation to God) was put on HIM and by HIs stripes we are healed (made whole, forgiven, restored, completed to our pre-sin state)

Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law; having become a curse for us

3.Ransom: sum paid for the release of a prisoner

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason (vv. 13-14 His sacrificial death is 100% effective for the cleansing of our sins, unlike that of any other sacrifice either we could make or that could be made for us ie. the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant Law or our own attempts to cleanse ourselves of sin and unrighteousness) He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of His death, for the redemption of the transgressions/sins under the first covenant that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

4.Expiation: to be cleansed

Leviticus 16:30 For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD>

Zechariah 13:1 In that day (the day of Christ’s sacrifice for us and the sins of the world) a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleaness.

Jeremiah 33:8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me.

I will give you the last four tomorrow.

But please absorb this into your heart, mind, soul and spirit.

I hear people who do not or will not understand the Cross saying things that show their ignorance…

whether it is completely disregarding what God has called “sinful” and so hardened in their hearts that they are embracing and celebrating sinful choice.

Or…somehow believing that God is expecting them to work hard, harder and even harder still to wash away their own sin.

It is clearly NOT what God has said AT ALL.

I grew up in a mainline church and loved Jesus with all my heart.

But somehow the idea that permeated all the teachings and applications reinforced the lie that God was keeping a score card…and we just needed to do our very best to make sure that in the end we had more tally marks under the “Good” than the “Bad”.

Others I know were raised believing that because they are in church, they are destined to salvation and there you go. Done and done.

It is the mystery of the Gospel…the paradox that we can do NOTHING to cleanse our selves of sin except do the ONE THING…

receive His gift of salvation by accepting that we do sin and we are separated from our Holy God and there is One, only ONE who is able and who is worthy, who paid the price that we cannot pay…

Jesus Christ…THE Messiah…

To believe in our hearts and declare with our mouths…

Jesus Christ paid the price for my sin.

He took my place.

Died for me that I might live in Him.

God bless you as you apply the Word to your Monday <3