The greatest day in the history of Christendom is the Cross of Calvary. It is what the sacrifices and offerings pointed to in the Old Testament; it is what we look back to “in remembrance” in the New. Hebrews 9:22 tells us “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, and Leviticus 17:14 tells us “The life of all flesh is in the blood.”
This is why the Cross is the symbol of the Christian church; this is why the apostle Paul said, “I preach Christ crucified.” (1 Cor 1:23) No other God atones for mans’ sins, only the God of the Bible.
Do you recall the words of Jesus’ cousin, John? He said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World.” (John 1:29) “The Lamb” is Jesus. In the explanation of the stained glass windows that appear in our sanctuary (which is similar to our logo) we read: The fourth window portrays the Sacrificial Lamb upon the Cross, calling attention to Jesus, the Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world. This is the paramount doctrine of the Church - “Christ Crucified.”
You may ask, and then what part does the resurrection play in Redemption’s plan. The resurrection proved that Christ’s death was not in vain and who Jesus claimed to be is who was, is and always will be. The resurrection authenticates the Cross. The resurrection reveals Christ as the conqueror of sin and death.
We keep Christ, the Lamb of God, with the Cross as a reminder of the need for a Redeemer and the price he paid (so beautifully portrayed by Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of Christ”) for our salvation and eternal life. We keep the Resurrected Christ as a reminder that His death was not in vain, and that we serve a risen Saviour who is coming again in splendor and majesty to reign and rule f o r e v e r.
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