1. In this verse, the apostle Paul stated how he gloried in the Lord's cross. 2. Many passages explain why we should feel the same way. a. According to 1 Corinthians 1:18, the preaching of the cross is "the power of God." b. Also, Jesus accomplished all things on the cross (John 19:16-18, 28). 3. To help us glory in the cross, in our lesson we are examining 3 things Jesus accomplished on the cross. Discussion: I. FIRST, JESUS FULFILLED THE LAW OF MOSES ON THE CROSS
A. In Matthew 5:17-18 Jesus said that He came to fulfill the law and the prophets. B. When Jesus died on the cross He fulfilled the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets, and He took them away. 1. See Galatians 3:23-29 a. (vs.23-24) The law was designed to bring us unto Christ [the law is compared to a schoolmaster]. b. (vs.25) Now that Christ has established His faith we are no longer under the law. c. We learn from vs.26-29 how we become God's children today. 2. See Colossians 2:14 a. Jesus blotted out the law and took it out of the way. b. When He died He nailed the law to His cross. 3. See Hebrews 8:6-7; 9:15-17 a. The Lord's covenant is much better than the old covenant. b. When Jesus died, His New Testament went into effect. C. On the cross Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets, and He took them away. D. Let us glory in the cross. II. SECOND, JESUS PROVIDED THE REMOVAL OF SINS ON THE CROSS
A. According to 1 Peter 2:24-25, Jesus bore our sins on the cross and made it possible for us to be righteous in God's sight. B. The law did not provide the complete removal of sins (Hebrews 10:1-4). C. The removal of sins is one of the great features of the new covenant that Jesus established (Hebrews 8:8-13; 10:9-10, 14-17). D. On the cross Jesus provided the removal of sins. E. Let us glory in the cross.
III. THIRD, JESUS MADE RECONCILIATION POSSIBLE BETWEEN JEWS AND GENTILES IN ONE BODY ON THE CROSS (Ephesians 2:13-18)
A. These verses also teach that Christ abolished the law when He died. B. By doing so, He made it possible for Jews and Gentiles to be reconciled to God and to each other in the one body, the church. C. Let us glory in the cross. Conclusion:
1. When Jesus died on the cross He knew that all things had been accomplished. 2. Let us especially appreciate the fact that Jesus: a. fulfilled the law and established His new covenant b. provided the removal of sins c. made it possible for Jews and Gentiles to be reconciled to God and to each other in the one body, the church. 3. Let us glory in the cross as Paul did.
