Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church-Friedheim
Celebrating our 167th Year

A 21st Century Parish with a 1st Century Faith
Acts 2:42

Easter 3
April 10, 2005
1 Peter 1:20
The Cross in the heart of God

“He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake.”

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INTRODUCTION: The cross preceded the creation of man. Before the world was created, Peter tells us that God had the cross in mind. It was at the center of His heart. Jesus’ coming into this world to suffer died and rise again was according to an eternal destiny for our Savior Jesus.
 

God our heavenly Father knows everything. Apparently He already knew man would fall into sin and would need redemption through the sacrifice of His dear son. [Note: Let the reader be aware that the foreknowledge of God is a mystery to man which his finite mind cannot understand. Who knows the breath and depth of the mind of God?] It was therefore necessary for the Christ to suffer. It was logical for Jesus to be raised as part of this plan. In other words, according to Peter, the cross did not change God’s attitude towards humankind. The Father always loved His creation. His grace has always been directed toward us. This morning, we see that God had a cross in His heart.

I.   A cross of grace to redeem us.

A.     No perishable thing sufficed to redeem us.

1.   Such as silver or gold or stocks or bonds.

2.   Neither did any of our own human achievements such as a good reputation or great achievements.

B.     The ransom for sin was none other than the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

1.      He was the spotless Lamb who was able to take our place by bearing our sin.

a.   John remind us in His gospel, “The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” {John 1:29}

b.   In our liturgy we Christians pray in the Gloria, “O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, That takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.” And in the Agnus Dei we cry, “O Christ, Thou Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us…grant us Thy peace.”

2.   We have been redeemed by Christ’s precious blood. There is power in that blood. The blood of Christ cleans us from all sin.

Transition: God had a cross in His heart when He chose to redeem us by grace. He determined to do this before the world was ever born.

II.   A cross of mercy before Creation.

A.  Before the creation of this world God determined that His own Son would be the payment; by which, we were ransomed from the dominion of Satan and the power of sin and death. 

B.  The Father determined to do this in time before there ever was such a thing as time or the sun, moon and stars by which we mark time.  The time of our salvation started before there was time. But when Jesus broke into time and space the angels sang for joy, “glory to God in the highest…” {Luke 2} because our redemption was beginning to take shape. Our redemption was fulfilled at the bloody cross and empty tomb. For this reason we are Easter people!

Transition: God had a cross in His heart. A cross of grace to redeem us, a cross of mercy before creation, and a cross that results in the glory of the resurrection.

III.    A cross that results in the glory of the resurrection.

A.   One of the old canvas symbols; part of our parish 150th anniversary restoration, hangs in the balcony. It is the symbol of the cross and crown. The cross and the crown are the two sides of the coin of salvation. They belong together; the cross and the crown.

B.   There can be no crown without the cross! A cross without the crown is no gospel! Why was the movie “The Passion of the Christ” TM such a huge success last year? It concluded with the resurrection! The price of exaltation is humility. Sacrifice is the forerunner of glory.

CONCLUSION: God had a cross in His heart. A cross of grace to redeem us. A cross of mercy determined before creation. A cross that results in the glory of the resurrection.

 + Soli Deo Gloria +