The Great Divide

Your view of the cross defines the difference between heaven and hell, between belief and unbelief. First Corinthians 1:18 draws a line. On one side of the line are those who are perishing. On the other side of the line are those who have trusted in the cross for their eternal destiny. (I Corinthians 2:2)

The fourth of seven things Jesus said on the cross was, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) God never abandoned His people, but here on the cross, the only perfect One was abandoned by God the Father. Jesus became sin for us (1 Peter 2:24). He bore the punishment of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is the act of grace—forgiveness, kindness, and love undeserved. 

What does the cross show us?
- Human depravity
- Satan’s hate
- God’s holiness 
- Sin’s devastation (Romans 5:12)
- Man’s physical death
- Man’s eternal death (John 8:21, 24; John 3:36)
- Christ’s suffering (Luke 22:44)
- Christ’s total loyalty to His Father (John 8:29; Hebrews 13:5b-6)

The cross is the basis for our salvation. (Nahum 1:6)
- Only Jesus could satisfy the payment for our sin. (Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:4)
- He was separated from God’s fellowship for His wrath so that we could be united with God. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:23-25a)

When we consider the great cost of our sin, it should make us shun sin! Christ earned our forgiveness and paid the highest price possible for our eternal salvation. 

If you were there when Jesus was hanging on the cross, would you say there was anything else you could add to Christ’s sacrifice to save you? His sacrifice was complete!