The Glory of the Cross

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Gal. 6:14

“glory” – boast (take pride in), rejoice, joy

Things we commonly glory in

• sports
• fun activities
◦ fishing
◦ golfing
◦ hunting
◦ etc
• video games
• movies
• work
• family
• relaxing

I’ve heard some preachers say “the cross is just a piece of wood” “the cross is just a symbol” “our
focus shouldn’t be the cross”. Paul said (under inspiration of the Holy Spirit) “I glory not but in the
cross of Christ”. He said that the preaching of the cross is the power of God to those that are saved. 1
Cor. 1:18

THE CROSS OF CHRIST

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of
Christ should be made of none effect.” 1 Cor. 1:17

“And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of
the cross ceased.” Gal. 5:11

“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest
they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.” Gal. 6:12

“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest
they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.” Eph. 2:16

“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the
enemies of the cross of Christ:” Phil. 3:18

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by
him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Col. 1:20

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it
out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” Col. 2:14
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed
is every one that hangeth on a tree:” Gal. 3:13

I. The Suffering of the Cross (Heb. 12:2): “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of God.”

A. Christ’s physical suffering. Jesus Christ is 100% God, but He is also 100% man, which means
that He suffered physically. Every one of those strikes against his back and his face, he felt that. Every
one of those thorns going in to his skull because of the crown of thorns, he felt that. Every strike of the
hammer against the nails going in to his hands and his feet, he felt that! It was a most painful death. It
was a torturous death. It was one of the worst deaths that you could suffer, because of the pain involved
and because of the time it took to actually die. Not including the time prior to the cross where he
physically suffered, Jesus was actually hanging there on the cross for about 6 hours.

1. Beaten

2. Slapped

3. Crown of thorns

4. Nails in his hands and feet

5. Thirsty

6. He shed all of his blood. When the soldier pierced his side, there came flowing blood
and water. The water means that he didn’t have any more blood to shed.

B. Christ’s emotional suffering. Any hardship or difficulty in our lives, whether it’s directly
happening to us, or whether it’s happening to someone we love, takes a toll on us emotionally. Imagine
the emotional toll all of this took on Jesus Christ. Look at all these things that happened to Jesus that
we can classify as emotional suffering:

1. Betrayed by one of his disciples (Judas)

2. Denied three times by another one of His disciples, and one of his closest friends (Peter)

3. Abandoned at one point by all of His disciples. Mat. 26:55

4. Having false witnesses and false charges brought against him.

5. Portrayed as a criminal in front of His own people

6. Exchanged for a robber and a murderer (Barabbas)

7. Left all alone at the cross, save John and his mother
 8. Being mocked

C. Christ’s spiritual suffering:

1. The sin debt of the entire world was placed upon him. “But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon
him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isa. 53:5

2. His father turned his back on Him because of that. He cried out “My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?” (Mat. 27:46; Mar. 15:35). His Father had to turn his back on him
because of the fact that the sin of the entire world was upon him.

II. The Significance of the Cross. ““Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that
we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” I Pet. 2:24

A. The Spiritual Blessings:

1. Our sin debt paid (redemption)

2. Our relationship with God restored (reconciliation)

3. A new family (adoption)

4. A new home in Heaven

5. Access to the presence of God when the vail rent in two.

B. The Spiritual Responsibilities:

1. Make sure you’re saved! There’s no other way to Heaven but through Jesus Christ. If you
want to get to Heaven you gotta make a stop at the cross. There Jesus paid for your sins and
mine. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by
me.” (Jn. 14:6) Mat. 7:21-23

a. Your good works can’t get you to Heaven

b. Going to church can’t get you to Heaven

c. Getting baptized can’t get you to Heaven

d. Having Christian parents can’t get you to Heaven

e. You must accept the finished work of Christ on the cross as payment for your sins.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!”

2. Walk in the light

3. tell others about Jesus

 4. be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ

5. be dead to the world. Paul said “the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world”.

Conclusion: Oh how different our lives would be if we, like Paul, would not glory save in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ!

Are you saved? Why don’t you come and get saved today?

Have you lost the wonder of the cross? Do you need to come and leave your burdens at Calvary today?

Hymns about the cross:

The old Rugged Cross #113

At the Cross #129
At Calvary #477
Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Burdens are lifted at Calvary #218
Lead me to Calvary #124
Near the Cross #351
When I survey the wondrous cross #118
There’s room at the cross #243