cross_cruelty_or

The Cross -- Cruelty or Love?

The Key to Christianity

Adapted from the writings of A. W. Tozer

A Goodsoil Discipleship Lesson - Bro. A. Madonio

Lesson Introduction

What this lesson teaches:

* This lesson will, hopefully, bring out true heart-felt views on the Cross of Christ from both teacher and disciple.

* This lesson will also, hopefully, shed some light on the vital necessity of the Cross as it relates to the "black & white" world of sin. We have added too much "gray" in the church of America.

* It is desired that a true sense of the tragic necessity of the Cross be realized in our lives and our world today.

Scripture references used:

* 2 Corinthians 4:10; 5:17, Romans 6:3, Revelation 21:7-8, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:10.

Other scripture that may be helpful:

* 1 Timothy 1:18-19, Luke 12:48, Romans 14:12, Hebrews 4:13.

Discussion questions for study:

1. Did you read this lesson in preparation for this week's discussion?

2. What do you think of when you contemplate on, or meditate on "The Cross"? Think hard and answer thoughtfully.

3. Think of what the cross meant to the one who was carrying it to their death. Would they think of WHY they were going to be subject to it, or would they consider HOW it might feel, or might they ONLY think of the cruel nails that would be driven thru their flesh? Did you ever think that the contemplation of it beforehand was the hardest part? Did Jesus think of these things? Do you think of them now?

4. Can you see that to fulfill God's plan, Jesus KNEW He had to die? Can you see that to do the same you must do the same? Is it clearer now than before you contemplated The Cross? What does our society today say regarding "dying to self"?

5. Do we die "all at once", like Jesus, or do we do it "bit-by-bit"?

6. The Cross symbolizes SIN. Can you see how horrible sin is now? Can you see what it costs? Discuss the cost of sin and how your attitude towards it might be changing.

The answers required in this lesson are either YES/NO/WHY or a varied response that has no correct answer.

What does the Cross mean to you? What does it symbolize to you personally?

The Cross is a symbol of death. After all -- that was it's only function -- to bring about the agonizing, violent end to human life. In Jesus' day, when a man took up his cross and started down the road, he was already dead. He'd said his good-bye's to his loved ones and was gone.

He was already dead in every way except the final physical form.

The Cross makes no compromises. It does not do it like this for him or like that for her - it is the same for everybody. Does that seem fair to you? Does that seem right? Why or why not?

The Cross spares nobody. It treats all the same - somewhat cruel and hard. When it is finished doing it's work, the one who picked it up and carried it was no more. The Cross had completed it's job, it had put to death what was nailed to it, it's purpose was fulfilled.

You see, there is no escape from death. Either you can "die to self" on the Cross, and have life with Jesus . . . . .

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,

so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus

were baptized into his death?

. . . . or you can wait and die apart from Jesus in the SECOND DEATH:

He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

Do you understand the implications of this "second death?" What is it really?

Contrary to what "New Ager's" say, we Christians do not wish to bring our "old life" up to some silly "higher plane", as the Bible tells us that is not possible. We should only strive to leave our "old life" on the Cross. Now, does that sound like a popular or desirable option?

You see, God has offered us life:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

. . . . but not an improved old life. The life He has offered us is one that is born in death. It is a life that can be found only by going the route of The Cross.

"1" Must ask "1's" Self:

Will I accept God's verdict against sin and the necessity of the Cross?

Do I have any interest in the death of Jesus?

Do I want to be identified with His death, to be "killed" completely with regards to all interest in sin, in worldliness, in self - to be so identified with Jesus that I am "spoiled" for everything else but Him?

This may hurt a bit:

Although many pastors do not like to preach it this way, and many churches are afraid to stress it in this manner, the Cross enables us (albeit with difficulty and pain) to make black and white decisions about sin. Without this distinction, we will allow sin to creep in to places it shouldn't and destroy our joy.

The following is something you must be willing to do if you intend to fight the good fight (1 Timothy 1 : 18-19), but read the warning label below carefully . . . .

WARNING: KNOWING THE FOLLOWING WILL CAUSE

YOU TO BE HIGHLY ACCOUNTABLE TO JESUS

(Read Luke 12:48, Romans 14:12, Hebrews 4:13)

Get alone with Jesus and either tell Him that you do not want sin to die out in you - that the Cross is not to rule in your life; or else tell Him that at all costs you want to be identified with His death.

If you tell Jesus "Yes, I will give you my all and put it on the Cross," here is what He will do. Immediately, a SUPERNATURAL IDENTIFICATION with His death takes place and your "old man" and "worldly values" are crucified with Him.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed

in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

The proof that you have placed your old man on the Cross will be seen in the amazing ease with which the life of God in you enables you to obey the voice of Jesus Christ!

Can you see the connection between obedience and love? They are woven together. The love of God towards us is defined on the Cross at Calvary and nowhere else. This act cost God the ripping of His heart in the death of Jesus. Can you see that when you identify with this kind of love you will desire to be obedient to Jesus - whatever He asks - simply because of your love for Him. Does this seem "do-able"?

The bedrock of Christianity is a personal and passionate devotion to Jesus Christ. Many people have emotional, wonderful conversion experiences - but that isn't what it's all about. God's only purpose for the Cross is that we may realize all the wonder and love of what IDENTIFICATION with JESUS really means.




	The Cross -- Cruelty or Love? The Key to Christianity Adapted from the writings of A. W. Tozer & Oswald Chambers A Goodsoil Discipleship Lesson - Bro. A. Madonio




Lesson Introduction What this lesson teaches: * This lesson will, hopefully, bring out true heart-felt views on the Cross of Christ from both teacher and disciple. * This lesson will also, hopefully, shed some light on the vital necessity of the Cross as it relates to the "black & white" world of sin. We have added too much "gray" in the church of America. * It is desired that a true sense of the tragic necessity of the Cross be realized in our lives and our world today. Scripture references used: * 2 Corinthians 4:10; 5:17, Romans 6:3, Revelation 21:7-8, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:10. Other scripture that may be helpful: * 1 Timothy 1:18-19, Luke 12:48, Romans 14:12, Hebrews 4:13. Discussion questions for study: 1. Did you read this lesson in preparation for this week's discussion? 2. What do you think of when you contemplate on, or meditate on "The Cross"? Think hard and answer thoughtfully. 3. Think of what the cross meant to the one who was carrying it to their death. Would they think of WHY they were going to be subject to it, or would they consider HOW it might feel, or might they ONLY think of the cruel nails that would be driven thru their flesh? Did you ever think that the contemplation of it beforehand was the hardest part? Did Jesus think of these things? Do you think of them now? 4. Can you see that to fulfill God's plan, Jesus KNEW He had to die? Can you see that to do the same you must do the same? Is it clearer now than before you contemplated The Cross? What does our society today say regarding "dying to self"? 5. Do we die "all at once", like Jesus, or do we do it "bit-by-bit"? 6. The Cross symbolizes SIN. Can you see how horrible sin is now? Can you see what it costs? Discuss the cost of sin and how your attitude towards it might be changing. The answers required in this lesson are either YES/NO/WHY or a varied response that has no correct answer.



What does the Cross mean to you? What does it symbolize to you personally? The Cross is a symbol of death. After all -- that was it's only function -- to bring about the agonizing, violent end to human life. In Jesus' day, when a man took up his cross and started down the road, he was already dead. He'd said his good-bye's to his loved ones and was gone. He was already dead in every way except the final physical form. The Cross makes no compromises. It does not do it like this for him or like that for her - it is the same for everybody. Does that seem fair to you? Does that seem right? Why or why not? The Cross spares nobody. It treats all the same - somewhat cruel and hard. When it is finished doing it's work, the one who picked it up and carried it was no more. The Cross had completed it's job, it had put to death what was nailed to it, it's purpose was fulfilled. You see, there is no escape from death. Either you can "die to self" on the Cross, and have life with Jesus . . . . . We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:10 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Romans 6:3 . . . . or you can wait and die apart from Jesus in the SECOND DEATH: He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. Revelation 21:7-8 Do you understand the implications of this "second death?" What is it really? Contrary to what "New Ager's" say, we Christians do not wish to bring our "old life" up to some silly "higher plane", as the Bible tells us that is not possible. We should only strive to leave our "old life" on the Cross. Now, does that sound like a popular or desirable option? You see, God has offered us life: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 . . . . but not an improved old life. The life He has offered us is one that is born in death. It is a life that can be found only by going the route of The Cross. "1" Must ask "1's" Self: Will I accept God's verdict against sin and the necessity of the Cross? Do I have any interest in the death of Jesus? Do I want to be identified with His death, to be "killed" completely with regards to all interest in sin, in worldliness, in self - to be so identified with Jesus that I am "spoiled" for everything else but Him? This may hurt a bit: Although many pastors do not like to preach it this way, and many churches are afraid to stress it in this manner, the Cross enables us (albeit with difficulty and pain) to make black and white decisions about sin. Without this distinction, we will allow sin to creep in to places it shouldn't and destroy our joy. The following is something you must be willing to do if you intend to fight the good fight (1 Timothy 1 : 18-19), but read the warning label below carefully . . . . WARNING: KNOWING THE FOLLOWING WILL CAUSE YOU TO BE HIGHLY ACCOUNTABLE TO JESUS (Read Luke 12:48, Romans 14:12, Hebrews 4:13) Get alone with Jesus and either tell Him that you do not want sin to die out in you - that the Cross is not to rule in your life; or else tell Him that at all costs you want to be identified with His death. If you tell Jesus "Yes, I will give you my all and put it on the Cross," here is what He will do. Immediately, a SUPERNATURAL IDENTIFICATION with His death takes place and your "old man" and "worldly values" are crucified with Him. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:10 The proof that you have placed your old man on the Cross will be seen in the amazing ease with which the life of God in you enables you to obey the voice of Jesus Christ! Can you see the connection between obedience and love? They are woven together. The love of God towards us is defined on the Cross at Calvary and nowhere else. This act cost God the ripping of His heart in the death of Jesus. Can you see that when you identify with this kind of love you will desire to be obedient to Jesus - whatever He asks - simply because of your love for Him. Does this seem "do-able"? The bedrock of Christianity is a personal and passionate devotion to Jesus Christ. Many people have emotional, wonderful conversion experiences - but that isn't what it's all about. God's only purpose for the Cross is that we may realize all the wonder and love of what IDENTIFICATION with JESUS really means.

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