Pastor Pete Hartwig

SLIDE: Get Real –  The Cross

 

SLIDE:  Health – 2018

 

The Cross:  It is the center of what and who we are. 

 

TO “GET REAL” &  TAKE HEALTH SERIOUSLY

 

START AT THE CROSS

 

 

SLIDE:  Thieves on the cross

Luke 23:39-43   One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”  But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Pg. 856

 

THE SETTING

 

1 innocent & 2 guilty

 

2 different responses!

 

A WAKE UP CALL

SLIDE:  1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.   Pg. 924

 

Love is the motivation

SLIDE: Romans 5:8  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Pg. 914

 

 

THE BREAD =  HIS BODY

 

SLIDE:  Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us ALL OUR SINS, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.  Pg. 954

 

 

Who was made a public spectacle?  

 

The CROSS = instrument of death, shame, guilt, and raw human domination  and power!   DEFEAT!!!

 

The instrument of political and governmental power

 

The Cross =  Human physical cruelty and violence.

 

God uses “Physical Death”  to Make us alive!                          

 

 

The Cross = the physical tangible “FLESH”.

Colossians 2:14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

 

 

HE NAILED IT!  God in Jesus – Nailed out debt to the cross!

 

This is NON EMOTIONAL! 

 

:13 ALL OUR SINS, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness.

 

This is a matter of fact.  A matter of law

 

 

Take THE BREAD =  HIS BODY

 

1 Cor. 11: 23 The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

 

THE CUP

 

WHAT actually HAPPENED ON THE CROSS?

 

SLIDE:  Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”  Pg. 944

 

 

 

 

SLIDE:  2 Corinthians 5:21  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

1 Peter 2:24  He himself  “bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

 

 

SLIDE:  Ephesians 1:7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

 

 

REDEEMED (redemption)  Bought back (from death)

 

 

DRINK THE CUP

 

THE CUP = his blood.

1 Cor. 11: 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

 

THE CROSS

 

All 4 Gospels bring me to the cross

 

I stand alone  (no Fran, no praying mom)

 

Race, male or female, rich or poor,

 

I stand here in the flesh!

 

He was there in his!

MY FLESH  says “go around”, skip this,

 

Godly Order:  Cross then resurrection!

 

“GET REAL”:  HEALTH

 

Body, Soul & Spirit.

 

Body = Flesh & Finances

Soul =  Emotions, Relationships

Spirit =  Sacrifice, Love and Forgiveness