Title: The Cross That Gives You Abundant Life
2012
March
25 days
Sermon Title
The cross that gives abundant life
preacher
Old Testament text
Psalm 3:1-8
New Testament text
Galatians 6:11-16
sermon video
Old Testament
1. How many are my enemies, O LORD, for there are many who rise up against me.
2. Many say against me, saying, He cannot be saved by God.
3. O LORD, you are my shield and my glory, you are the lifter of my head.
4. I cry out to the LORD with my voice, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5. I lay down and slept and awoke; the LORD upholds me.
6. Even if ten thousand men encamp around me, I will not be afraid.
7. Arise, O LORD, save me, O my God, for You have struck all my enemies on the cheek, and have broken the teeth of the wicked.
8. Salvation belongs to the LORD; bless your people.
new testament
11. See what my hand wrote to you in such large letters
12. Those who wish to take on the likeness of the flesh compel you to be circumcised only so that they may escape persecution through the cross of Christ.
13. Even those who are circumcised do not keep the law on their own, but they want you to be circumcised, so that they may boast in your flesh.
14. But I have nothing to boast about except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15. Circumcision or uncircumcision is nothing, but it matters only to be created anew.
16. Peace and mercy to all who practice these ordinances, and to the Israel of God.
sermon
We are united to Jesus Christ and died on the cross. God raised us who were dead with Christ to life with Christ. He gave new life to us who died on the cross. God wants us to experience abundant life through the cross. How can we enjoy an abundant life through the cross?
1. The cross rejects those who want to take the shape of the body. “Those who want to take the shape of the flesh are compelled to be circumcised by you…” Circumcision was a mark engraved on the body that meant the people of God, and Jews and Christians insisted that they should be circumcised even after they believed in Jesus. But the cross rejects the pride of the flesh.
2. The cross becomes our only pride. “But I have nothing to boast about except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ...” The Apostle Paul had many things to boast about, such as a good family and lineage, extensive knowledge, a sectarian background well versed in the law, and a clean and righteous life. But when he experienced the cross, all his pride disappeared, and only the cross was left.
3. The cross is between the world and me. “The world was crucified to me, and I to the world” The cross completely changed the meaning of the world and of me. I no longer have a reason to give up what the world expects of me. I no longer have to expect anything from the world. Because I and the world have all been crucified. Because the cross is my everything, and it becomes the power to save me.
Now, what is important to us is not the appearance of the flesh to be proud of, but only the new life gained through the cross. “Therefore, circumcision and uncircumcision are nothing, but only the new creation.” Praise God who made us anew in the cross. He also desires to renew us daily through the cross.
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