The Horror and Victory of the Cross
Matthew 27:26-56
1. Mankind Personally Attacks God in Many Ways Through Sin. (Matthew 27:26-31, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
2 Corinthians 5:21, He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2. Mankind Proves Its Ignorance When It Assumes Understanding of God and His Plans. (Matthew 27:32-44, Isaiah 55:9)
Isaiah 55:9, For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
3. The “Price” of Sin is Separation and Death. (Matthew 27:45-50, Isaiah 59:2)
Isaiah 59:2, But your iniquities are separating you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not listen.
Romans 7:24, What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
4. The Victory in Jesus:
a. Removes the Barrier Between God and Man. (Matthew 27:51, 1 Peter 2:24)
1 Peter 2:24, He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed.
b. Removes the Finality of Death. (Matthew 27:52-53, Revelation 21:7-8)
Revelation 21:7-8, The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
c. Removes the Separation of the Gentiles. (Matthew 27:54, Ephesians 2:14, Romans 5:15)
Ephesians 2:14, For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility
Romans 5:15, But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.