Sunday 5th February 2023
Ministering: Rev Samuel Ifeanyi Michael
Forgiveness as a Benefit of the Cross
The Cross is a symbol of man's eternal redemption. Every part of Christ became sin for us. Colossians 2:14
The cross is not about the wood, it's about the event, the death of Christ.
When we received the forgiveness of Christ, we became beneficiaries of the cross, we became righteous.
A hedge is a consciousness of our righteousness in Christ.
The Cross Dramatised.
1. Abraham and Isaac: Abraham would sacrifice Isaac, but God provided a lamb. The lamb was sacrificed instead. A kind of crossing, the lamb crossed over to Isaac's stead.
2. The red sea would have swallowed the children of Israel, but they crossed over and the the Egyptian army was swallowed instead.
3. The brazen serpent was a saving grace for those who could look up to it, as it hung on a pole.
4. The tradition of confessing all sins upon a goat, which was left to stray and die as sacrifice to atone for wrongdoings.
Simply put, God took away our sins and guilt, and substituted them with eternal life. Jesus, who was sinless, took all our sins.
Noteworthy Concepts about forgiveness.
1. Jesus forgives sins. Some problems people encounter is because they've not received forgiveness of sin. The problem of man is not sickness, poverty and material things, the problem of man is sin and Jesus paid for the sin of man on the cross and forgave the sin of mankind.
2. Forgiveness isn't only for a sin or period. Forgiveness is all times and all sins, past sins, present sins and future sin. When we recieve forgiveness, we begin to live away from sin and live in the Love of Christ.
3. Forgiveness isn't about the amount of sin. It's commonplace to hear people "he's hurt me so much, that I can't forgive him". Christ forgave every sin, no matter the weight. Colossians 2:13-15.
4. God already forgave man of all his sins. I John 2:1.
When God forgives you;
Grow to maturity.
Tell others that God forgives and that His forgiveness doesn't weigh sins.
#tepservice #benefitsofthecross #SundayService
