Guest Post by Brent

The Cross

As Easter approaches I want you to reconsider the cross. Crucifixion is a horrendous way to die, but many people, believers and nonbelievers, in the Roman world endured crucifixion. While it is important to remember the physical and mental anguish Christ experienced the day of his crucifixion, it is much more important to consider the true cause of His agony on the cross. It wasn’t the beating he endured. It wasn’t the nails that pierced His hands and feet. It wasn’t the exhaustion. It wasn’t the mocking. It wasn’t the spear in His side. The thing that brought true agony was that for a moment Christ became sin for us, and for that moment Christ became the one thing that God hates most of all which caused him to be separated from the Father. That is why He exclaimed, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?”

The bible says that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. This doesn’t necessarily mean that if we sin we will die. It means that because of our sin we deserve the second death – eternal damnation – to be separated from God. On the day of the crucifixion, Christ took the burden of our sin and endured the mighty and just wrath of God. Christ paid our penalty and redeemed us, and by accepting the sacrifice, Christ is our advocate to the Father on our behalf. Christ eternally quenched the wrath of God on our behalf. This was the suffering he endured for us on the cross.

“Before the Throne”
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart.
I know that while in Heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on him and pardon me.
Behold him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by his blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

Romans 6:23
2 Cor. 5:21
Romans 1:18
Romans 5:8