This week Mark Waterfield started our new series ‘The Cross: Foolishness or Power’

The Cross is a strange symbol for people to wear as jewellery or to hang up in their homes. It is a symbol of torture. It was the most barbaric way to kill someone. The Romans would never hang a Roman citizen on a cross, the Jews believed that anyone who was hung from a tree was cursed.

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18)

The Cross is Power over Sin

There are times where we do what we don’t want to do, Why?

Sin.

We may say ‘I’m not as bad as that person’
However the standard is not not each other but the standard is God

Exchange

Our behaviour is like the clothes that we wear, we are clothed in Sin and Shame.

Jesus’ takes on our rags so that we can put on his perfect robe.

Everyone is carrying around their dirt and shame, but by coming to the cross you can exchange those dirty rags for a perfect robe

Blood and Water

There can not be forgiveness without the shedding of blood, throughout scripture there are blood sacrifices for forgiveness.

This has ended,
This is no longer needed
Because Jesus is the perfect blood sacrifice that has redeemed all who believe once and for all.

Blood = Work of Jesus For us

Water= Work of Jesus In us

The water of the Holy Spirit changes us and helps us to live a Holy life.