it all comes down to a cross, an empty cross. A victorious cross. Without the cross there is no sacrifice. Without a sacrifice there is no shedding of blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission. Without remission we remain in our lost state.
What is even more incredible is that if you were the only person on earth, still the Father would have sent the Son to redeem you. And as difficult as that is to comprehend, it is still true – it is what happened and is happening today for those who accept the gift of redemption. Jesus loved the Father so much that He was willing and available to do what was asked, what was needed. And the Father and Son loved us so much that they were determined to bring us to a place where we could choose.
Scripture says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). And there had to be a sacrifice of a spotless lamb – Jesus. He came to establish a new covenant between God and man and His blood was the way, the cross was the method. Continuing in Hebrews 10:10 – “…we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” All includes you and it includes me.
Romans 5:8-9 tells us: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” (See also Romans 3:25-26). Everything was completed – we had a way to return to fellowship. That’s why He cried… “It is finished.” He had completed His task. What do we need to do? Accept. It’s so simple, yet so profound. Accept His sacrifice on the cross to redeem us from death and separation. “… the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe…” (Romans 3:22)
It is totally impossible to consider all the height and breadth of the cross in only 4 paragraphs. Why even attempt to? Because I believe it is critical that each of us sees the cross for what it is to and for us. It’s where we nail our sins and receive our adoption. Without the cross and Jesus we would still be lost and wondering what to do. For we gentiles, we’d also not have any basis for relationship with the God of the universe. We’d not have a covenant. Thankfully, this is not our condition. We have a way. We have redemption and a new covenant established in Jesus. Is this necessary? Absolutely! He chose us in our state. But we can escape from this… what’s stopping you from choosing?
