God’s Purpose in Christ

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

(Ephesians 1:7)

God's mind and purpose is in Christ. It was/is IN THE CROSS.

1. God cannot be known or understood apart from the cross.

2. Men in their sinfulness cannot be understood apart from the cross...the cross is God's judgment on all unrighteousness.

3. The cross is where the decrees from eternity were realized (transacted), YES and AMEN IN CHRIST BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD.

4. The cross is the prism to understand all that happened before it happened and all that will come after it...even your life here and now and what is to come.

5. Eternity is etched in the indelible ink [blood] of the cross.

6. The whole creation was to the service of Christ and His glory revealed on the cross.

7. Only the cross could make a new humanity, a new creation, not human obedience.

8. The cross was not just a place where the Son of God was hung...NO, it was both A COURTROOM and A DELIVERY ROOM.

i. A courtroom because all the legal transactions of our salvation were being transacted (sin imputed, sin debt paid, sin propitiated (God satisfied), righteousness imputed, possession of the bride, adoption of the bride perfected (holy and righteous). Bride adorned with the righteous garments of the Lamb, covered in the blood that God sees).

ii. The cross was a delivery room. It was the maternity ward...Jesus was like a woman giving birth to the church (blood and water: fluids of birth). Christ the New and Second Adam birthed His bride through the birth pangs of suffering.

iii. Jesus saw the labor of His soul and was satisfied (No stillbirth). Even God the Father was satisfied, that is why He put away our sins and doesn't remember them anymore.

“For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2)

Conclusion:

IT IS ABOUT THE CROSS. The whole Bible is leading us to the Christ of the Cross: your Salvation, your Hope, your Joy and your Inheritance. CAMP AT THE CROSS. THAT IS THE ONLY PLACE OF REFUGE FOR SINNERS.