Roger Redmond, Pastor /Teacher
Luk 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Acts 13:29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
In the Sequoia National Park, you can stand under a tree which was called the most massive living thing on earth. It is the California "Big Tree" the "General Sherman" It s height is 274'.9'' Estimated mass weight 2,105 tons.
That is a great tree. However, I want us to think of another tree; it is sometimes called Calvary's Tree: the Cross where Christ our Saviour died. This place where Christ died is so powerful that it crosses the expanse of time and space. It reaches down every street, into every home, and touches every life. It bridges the eternities and speaks a word to every heart.
"I saw one hanging on a tree in agony and blood;
He fixed His languid eyes on me
As near His cross I stood.Oh, can it be,
up on a tree the Saviour died for me?
My soul is thrilled, My heart is filled,
To think He died for me!"
Consider with me: what Happened in the place called Calvary. There was a death! The death of the Son of God. The death of the sacrifice, chosen of the LORD. His death occurred after the debt of sin was paid and after the justice of God was satisfied. Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
When Abraham, in obedience to the LORD, took his son Isaac to the land of Moriah, Abraham had to explain to Isaac the whereabouts of the sacrifice. His answer....My son, God will provide himself a lamb... The sacrifice is always chosen by the LORD and in the place called Calvary, the sacrifice was the LORD Himself.
The Bible says, Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
On the cross the just died for the unjust, 1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
On the cross, the righteous died for the unrighteous that the unrighteous might have the righteousness of the Righteous One. It is where the Son of God died for sinning man. Isa 53:5 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 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
What happened in the place called Calvary? The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, died in your place; and through His work, God the Father declared Good News: your debt has been paid. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
It is the message of redemption, Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Peace has been made. A peace that mankind wanted but was helpless to bring about But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
In Christ God hath reconciled you to Himself, even though we were far away because of sin, He has made us nigh, 2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, if God did not impute (charge) your sins to you, then to whom were your sins charged? The answer is seen in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, (a place called Calvary), 2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. God the Father, while His Son was on the cross, took your sin (all sin) and placed it on His Son. That is how Christ was made sin! God the Father saw the sacrifice of His Son and said, the debt of sin has been paid, Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: ...." And when the debt was paid Christ said, Joh 19:30 ..... It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. He died and your sin is gone, it was put on Christ and three days later God raised Him from the dead, Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
As the truth of Christ confronts us remember this, 1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The record is the Word of God.
Salvation is not a prayer or a commitment you make but a person you believe, Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
There is only one way of salvation and that way is believing on Christ for Eternal Life, Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
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