A View of the Cross – the Heart of the Artist The message today at NRN

A View of the Cross – the Heart of the Artist

Palm Sunday 2015

INTRO: Remember when you were in college or graduate studies and you were required to take an elective humanities class? You may have taken Art Appreciation. A certain A until you were in the class and you had to do more than simply look at pictures and paintings – you had to gain appreciation or understand the mood, method and message of the artist. Here are some examples:

·        Van Gogh – Starry Night

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Michael Angelo – on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome during       the Reissuance period – part of the creation of Adam painting.

 

 

 

 

 

         Contemporary -   I always got this wrong – thinking it was from the Kindergarten or first grade years - My grandchildren could paint this.

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    This is a picture I created.  I call it:  Coaching in the ACC.

 What are they saying – what message is being communicated?  I have no idea. 

 

 

 

  I am wonder on that morning when Jesus entered into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey what people saw – what did they think about it? Did Judas appreciate it?  Did the Disciples truly understand what they were observing? The religious leaders did they grasp the meaning? The multitudes who cried “Hosanna” within the week cried “Crucify Him!” They missed it.  They were all part of the picture God was painting. They could not see it – comprehend it – understand it until later.

 

My question to you this morning is: Do you really understand, do you fully comprehend and appreciate what God was communicating to you through the Cross?   What we are going to do this morning is to go to a short Art Appreciation Class – but I am not the instructor – The Apostle Paul will be teaching us today through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:  Romans 5 – Paul unpacks for us a View of the Cross - the Heart of the Artist:                                                              

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely will one die for a righteous man, yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we shall also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.                                Romans 5:6-11 (KJ21)

                                                     

 God demonstrated His LOVE   for us!

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely will one die for a righteous man, yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.   Romans 5:6-8

Examples: 1. Pastor of first church I ever attended.   The church family surprised the pastor: box with string attached – followed throughout the church – to parking lot – end of the string a set of keys to his new car.

2. Pastor in Michigan who served on staff of a growing church – Pastor became ill with a kidney disease. The staff pastor was tested and matched – donated one of his kidneys to save this man’s life.

3. Many of you can look at your left hand a view a ring that you have worn for many years.  That wedding ring is a symbol – it means that you have made a convent to love your spouse. To care for one another – put up with your differences and have a committed love for one another. (Some people break that promise – but God never breaks His promises)

But God commended (demonstrates) His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Do you ever think “Does God love me?”  He loved us when we were: Helpless (without strength) [total depravity]; you were ungodly - still sinning (yet sinners) God is paining a portrait of his love for us! Don’t miss it! The Cross is a picture of how bad – sinful – lost we were and of the extreme heights and depths of God’s love for you and me.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.                                                        1 John 4:10

 All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins. God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life’s blood, so that by faith in him we could come to God. And God did this to show that in the past he was right to be patient and forgive sinners. This also shows that God is right when he accepts people who have faith in Jesus.          Romans 3:23-25 (CEV)

You are SAVED   and   BEING  SAVED

Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.                                                                         Romans 5:9 (KJ21)

Justified – a legal term – justice is required. God punished sin. The wages of sin is death……And “saved” forgave us.  The Devil is an accuser and often tells us we are not good enough for God.  We are still guilty. 

Example: When I am up late at night and going through the stations on TV I often fall on a movie called Double Jeopardy.  Once a crime has been paid for by time served – a person cannot be re-tried for the same crime.

For 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

Brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the good news I preached to you. You received it and have put your faith in it.  Because you believed the good news, you are saved. But you must hold firmly to the message I preached to you. If you don’t, you have believed it for nothing. What I received I passed on to you. And it is the most important of all. Here is what it is. Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said he would. He was buried.  He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as Scripture said he would be.        1 Corinthians 15:1-4

This is the reason we do not give up. Our human body is wearing out. But our spirits are getting stronger every day.                                                     1 Corinthians 4:16 (NLV)

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NKJV)

God desires RELATIONSHIP with us!

 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we shall also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.                                                                                       Romans 5:10-11 (KJ21)

Those who claim to belong to him must live just as Jesus did.      1 John 2:6

Closing: God loves you and demonstrates his love for you by paying the price for your sins – Christ died once – for all! 
You are to walk in that forgiveness in relationship with God.

I ask today that you gasp the heart of the Artist and understand that God has reconciled us and we can rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom we have now received atonement. Do you appreciate what God has done for us though our Lord Jesus Christ? 

Give your life to God – accept his love and forgiveness.