Why The Cross

WHY THE CROSS?

THOUGHT:

“Yahshua Messiah (Jesus Christ), the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (Based on 1 John 2:1 & 2)

HOW CAN THE DEATH OF YAHSHUA MESSIAH (JESUS CHRIST)

MEAN ETERNAL LIFE FOR ME?

INTRODUCTION

In order to answer the questions posed on the front page of this leaflet, the reader will first have to know something of the history of the world as recorded in the bible.  This will enable you to have an insight into why God chooses to act in specific ways at different points in history, and also give an indication of his present viewpoint and his plans for the future.

ORIGINAL SIN

God made the earth and the heavens and everything in them, and he saw that his creation was good [1].  However, when Satan tempted Eve to eat from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and Adam was in turn tempted by his wife, they disobeyed the command God had given to them.  It is this disobedience that the bible terms ‘sin’ [2].  God is perfect, he cannot tolerate sin, it is this reason why Adam and Eve were sent away from the Garden of Eden, and their path back to it blocked.  This ‘original sin’ (i.e. the first sin), spoiled Adam and Eve who were created perfectly, and so their offspring, the rest of mankind, are also subject to sin.

A TIME OF LAWLESSNESS

After Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, the bible details how the level of human wickedness increased [3].  God chose Noah because of his righteousness to be a preacher, who would warn people that God would destroy them if they did not turn from wrong doing.

THE BIRTH OF A NATION

Noah was followed by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob whom God chose to be the forefathers of the nation of Israel. It would be the Israelites to whom God would give a new set of rules to live by called ‘the law’.  The law came from God and was spoken by his servant Moses.  Moses was the person that God used to lead the Israelites out from slavery in Egypt, and by way of analogy, the law that came through him, acts as a guide to lead us out from being slaves to sin.

NEW RULES, THE LAW – (THE 10 COMMANDMENTS)

And God spoke all these words:

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

“Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

“You shall not murder.

“You shall not commit adultery.

“You shall not steal.

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.

“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.” [4]

THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN

Humans are the most important part of God’s creation, because God created us to rule over the works of his hands [5].  Human sin separates us from God, as can be seen by what happened to Adam and Eve.  Sin now shuts us out from understanding God. Again, as can be seen from the account of Adam and Eve, human sin also has the consequence of defiling the rest of God’s creation. The Old Testament can be viewed like a case study that focuses on the nation of Israel.  The Israelites were the first nation that God revealed himself and his law to.

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS UNDER THE LAW

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Based on Romans 5:8).

GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Based on Romans 5:8).

THE PERFECT SACRIFICE

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Based on Romans 5:8).

ARE YOU A SINNER?

Yahshua died because of human sin, yet God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Based on Romans 5:8).

FORGIVENESS

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Based on Romans 5:8).

A NEW AND BETTER WAY OF LIFE

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Based on Romans 5:8).

A DOOR TO HEAVEN

(ASK SEEK KNOCK) God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Based on Romans 5:8).

JUDGEMENT

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Based on Romans 5:8).

ETERNAL LIFE

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Based on Romans 5:8).

  • THOUGHT: YAHSHUA SAID, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” – (John 5:24). •

ESSENTIAL STUDY MATERIAL:

CREATION

  • Genesis chapters 1 – 3, (all).
  • Genesis 6:1 – 9:17.
  • 2 Peter chapter 3, (all).

THE LAW & THE PROPHETS

  • Exodus chapters 19 – 24, (all).
  • Isaiah 8:11 – 9:7.
  • Isaiah chapter 53, (all).
  • Malachi chapter 4, (all).

YAHSHUA MINISTRY, DEATH AND RESURRECTION

  • Matthew chapters 1- 7, 24, & 26 – 28, (all).
  • Luke chapter 12, (all).
  • John chapter 3, (all).
  • John 4:1 – 26, 6:25 – 71, & 8:1 – 11.
  • Matthew 13:1 – 23.
  • Luke 18:15 – 17, & 17:20 – 37.
  • Luke chapters 22 – 24, (all).
  • John chapters 13 – 21, (all).
  • Hebrews chapters 8 – 10, & 12, (all).

LIFE THROUGH THE SPIRIT

  • Romans chapters 3, 4, & 8, (all).
  • 1 Corinthians chapters 12 – 14, (all).
  • Galatians 5:16 – 26.
  • 1 Peter 1:3 – 12.
  • 2 Peter 1:3 – 11.
  • 1 John chapters 1 – 5, (all).

ADVICE AND WARNINGS

  • Romans chapter 13, (all), (Law & Authority).
  • Romans chapter 14, (all), (Foods & Worship Days).
  • Galatians 5:1 – 15, & 6:12 – 16, (Circumcision).
  • 1 Corinthians 6:12 – 7:40, (Immorality & Marriage).
  • 1 Corinthians 10:1 – 13, (Reading the Old Testament).
  • 2 Corinthians 11:1 – 15, (False Teachers).
  • 1 Timothy chapters 4 & 6, (all), (General Instructions).
  • 2 Timothy 3:1 – 4:8 , (General Instructions).
  • 2 Peter chapter 2, (all), (False Teachers).
  • 2 John verses 7 – 11, (Antichrists).

ENCOURAGEMENTS

  • 1 Peter chapter 4, (all).
  • James 5:7 – 20.

JUDGEMENT AND HEAVEN

  • 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, (all).
  • 1 Corinthians chapter 15, (all).
  • Revelation chapters 1 – 3, 21 & 22, (all).

CONCLUSIONS

  • Ephesians 4:17 – 5:21.
  • Titus 2:11 – 14.

THE BEATITUDES

Yahshua also said: –

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:1 – 12).

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Yahshua our Lord.  (2 Peter chapter 1, verse 2).

[1]      See Genesis chapters 1-3.

[2]      See 1 John 3:4. & Romans 5:12-14.

[3]      See Genesis chapters 4 :1 – 9:17.

[4]      Exodus 20:1 – 17.

[5]      See Genesis 1:28 & Psalm 8.