July.21.03: Lftd - "The Cross: Relevant to Every Age" -- Hebrews 12:2 (NIVUS) "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." ----------------- The cross of Christ appears unimportant to many cultures today mainly because of the time of its occurrence: "How could the death of a Jewish carpenter on a Roman cross two thousand years ago affect my life today?" This reasoning confuses the significance of the Cross. WHEN Christ died is not the central issue. In God's timing He was crucified about A.D. 30, but He could have died in 100 B.C. or in 1943 - had the Father so purposed. HOW Christ died is not the essential meaning either. He died on a cross, but had God desired, His Son could have died another way. It is WHO was executed on the cross that is significant. Only God Himself was qualified to be our substitute on Calvary. The Cross is relevant for every man, woman, and child in every age because there the eternal God died on our behalf so that we might receive His gift of everlasting life. -- Charles Stanley ------------------ -- John 3:16 (NIVUS) 16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." -- 1 Corinthians 1:17,18 (NIVUS) "17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 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." -- 1 John 4:9,10 (NIVUS) "9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."