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The Cross Of Calvary: The Pleading Of Infinite Love

It is the cross of Calvary that should inspire enthusiasm in our world - God's redeeming love towards humanity.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:

therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. 1 John 3:1.

Now it remains for us to accept that love and to appropriate the promises of God to ourselves.

Moreover, the mystery of God’s redeeming love is the theme which the angels desire to look into.

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 on earth, or things in heaven. Colossians 1:20.

Behold the Lamb of God

Table of contents

What does the cross of Calvary tell?

Looking at the cross

Obtaining a full view of the crucified Savior

His infinite sacrifice

He humbled Himself

Paul showed how the Son of God had laid aside His glory, voluntarily subjecting Himself to the conditions of human nature.

What does the cross of Calvary tell?

It tells how Christ has magnified and made honorable the Law of Jehovah.

Thus through an understanding of the exalted claims of the law, we come to know the value of Christ.

Moreover, a comprehension of the precepts of truth helps us to appreciate Christ’s rescue mission.

Furthermore, we can’t understand the depth of the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,

unless we behold the marvellous character of the law of Heaven and earth - the law of love.

In the light of that holy law, the sinner sees the Redeemer as He is - full of mercy, compassion, goodness, and love.

Thus by looking to Jesus and contemplating His matchless love to such a sinner as oneself, his/her heart is filled with gratitude and heavenly peace.

A contemplation of the cross of Christ on Calvary enables the mind to form correct ideas of the plan of redemption.

Those who do this will have a better appreciation of what the sinner must become in character and life if they would be accounted worthy of eternal life.

Furthermore, the law of God will stand out in clear distinctness before one’s mind.

Looking at the cross

But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8.

Through the cross we learn that the heavenly Father loves us with infinite love.

God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14.

Christ's death proves God's great love for humans. It is our pledge of salvation.

The cross brings us near to God, reconciling us to Him, and He accepts us in the Beloved. Our every hope depends on the cross.

Moreover, the light of the Saviour's love shines from it.

Thus when at the foot of the cross sinners look up to the One who died to save them, they may rejoice with fullness of joy, for their sins are pardoned.

It is our privilege also to glory in the cross and to give ourselves wholly to Him who gave Himself for us.

Thus kneeling in faith at the cross, one has reached the highest place to which humankind can attain.

Then, with the light that streams from Calvary shining in our faces, we may go forth to reveal this light to those in darkness.

Obtaining a full view of the crucified Savior

The dearest price has been paid and the greatest sacrifice offered for the human’s redemption.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23.

For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8.

Thus God justifies us freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood. Romans 3:24, 25.

Jesus is the Lamb of God:

which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29
slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8.

Thus we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:19

There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Neither is there salvation in any other. Acts 4:12.

It is by depending solely upon the merits of the crucified and risen Savior and His atonement.

Moreover, by realizing that the cross is the center of hope for humanity and thus understanding the gospel that Christ taught.

His infinite sacrifice

The Word was with God, and the Word was God…All things and the world were made by Him…

The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 4, 7, 14.

He took the nature of humans, lived a sinless life, and developed a perfect character in this world. Therefore, Christ alone could make atonement for sinners.

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Romans 3:25.

The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7.

Furthermore, He came to bear testimony that fallen human beings, through faith in His power and virtue as the Son of God, may become partakers of the Divine nature.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name: John 1:12.

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6.

If we could reach heaven through our own merits and efforts, then Christ need not have come to the world to:

Endure suffering, reproach, and shame
Be subjected to humiliation, mockery, insult, and death.

His infinite sacrifice was the only way whereby man could be saved.

He humbled Himself

Paul showed how the Son of God had laid aside His glory, voluntarily subjecting Himself to the conditions of human nature.

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:6, 7.

Then He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8.

Jesus bore the humiliation, shame and reproach that justly belonged to the sinner. He was the:

Equal with the Father
Majesty of Heaven
King of glory

and yet He clothed His Divinity with humanity, that humanity might touch humanity, and that Divinity might lay hold of Divinity.

For we have not a High priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15.

Christ the sinless became sin for humankind. He bore the guilt of transgression and the hiding of His Father's face, until His heart was broken and His life crushed out.

In no other way could humans be freed from what sin brings - death.

Therefore, every soul that refuses to become a partaker of the atonement provided at such a cost, must bear in his/her own person the guilt and sure result of transgression.

It is finished

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;

and the Lord hath laid on Him (Christ) the iniquity of us all and He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. Isaiah 53:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21.

God laid humans iniquities upon Christ as their substitute. Thus He experienced the guilt of every descendant of Adam upon His heart.

In this hour of supreme anguish, the withdrawal of the Father’s countenance from His Son pierced His heart with a sorrow that we can never fully understand.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew 27:45, 46.

Jesus is the prince of sufferers. It was a sense of the malignity of sin that filled Him with horror and despair and not bodily anguish.

His humanity groaned and trembled under the weight of sin heaped upon Him in that fearful hour.

According to inspiration, angels witnessed with amazement the despairing agony of the Son of God, so much greater than His physical pain that the latter was hardly felt by Him.

Moreover, the hosts of Heaven veiled their faces from the fearful sight.

Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke 23:46.

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. John 19:34.

If I be lifted up

The Jews put no one to death by crucifixion. It was a method of punishment through the Roman empire.

Christ was to be lifted up in the most public manner on the cross, as the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness.

The people came to Moses, and said: We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee;

pray unto the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole:

and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. Numbers 21:7-9.

The people well knew that in itself the serpent had no power to help them. It was a symbol of Christ.

As the image made in the likeness of the destroying serpents was lifted up for their healing, so One made in the likeness of sinful flesh was to be their Redeemer.

Therefore, As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14, 15.

The Son of man has been lifted up on the cross. Thus everyone who has been deceived and bitten by the old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan - may look and live.

Therefore, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29.

The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself.

Jesus has said: If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto Me. John 12:32.

The goodness of God leads us to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour.

Moreover, as we as sinners behold this love - it softens our hearts, impresses our mind, and inspires contrition in our souls.

A sure foundation

The present and eternal security of humans is Jesus Christ the righteous - when keeping our eyes fixed on HIm and trusting in His power.

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

by whom also we have access by faith into the grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1, 2.

Therefore, all who wish for assurance on earth and in Heaven must look to the Lamb of God.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation:

he that believeth shall not make haste. Isaiah 28:16.

God's way is always the right and the prudent way. Therefore, let us trust Him wholly and be led by His wisdom.

He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:31.

I AM the assurance of every promise.

I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10.

God with us is the assurance of our deliverance from sin and of the power to obey the Law of Heaven.

Conclusion

Look at the cross of Calvary - a standing pledge of the immeasurable love and mercy of God.

Everything noble and generous in humans will respond to the contemplation of Christ upon the cross.

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. Hebrews 12:2.

Thus through the true light that shines one understands that the death of Christ is an unanswerable argument for the immutable character of the Law of God.

This can be only spiritually discerned. It kindles in the heart of the beholder faith, hope, and joy that Christ is his/her righteousness.

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