The Centrality of the Cross

Victory Church Podcast

FOCAL TEXT: 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. - 1 Peter 2:21-25 I. The Cross is God's Standard for Men (1 Peter 2:21) A. Absolute Sinlessness (Isaiah 53, 1 Peter 2:22) B. Absolute Submissiveness (Isaiah 53:7, Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 2:23) 1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. - Isaiah 53:1-12 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; - Romans 3:23 II. The Cross is God's Salvation for Men (1 Peter 2:24) A. Deliverance from the Penalty of Sin (1 Peter 2:24) B. Deliverance from the Power of Sin (1 Peter 2:24) C. Deliverance from the Poison of Sin (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24) III. The Cross is God's Satisfaction for Men (1 Peter 2:25) A. The Shepherd Restores the Soul (Psalm 23:1-3, Philippians 4:7, 1 Peter 1:8, 2:25, Hebrew 6:19) B. The Shepherd Preserves the Soul (John 10:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Timothy 1:12) 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. - Psalm 23:1-3 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: - 1 Peter 1:8 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; - Hebrews 6:19 28 And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. - John 10:28 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Thessalonians 5:23 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. - 2 Timothy 1:12