The Work of the Cross
The curse of the Law meant eternal separation from God. This was our lot in life due to sin. It should be clear to us now that Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Law by hanging on a tree, fulfilling the Old Testament Law that stated “anyone who is displayed on a tree is cursed by God” (Deuteronomy 21:23 NCV).
Jesus healed us of our sin-sickness on a tree. Jesus set us free on a tree.
If you look at the cross, what you see is Jesus carrying your sins in His own body. You see Him becoming a curse, wearing a crown of thorns (the symbol of the curse) while hanging on a tree. What He is doing as He hangs there is He is drawing to Himself all your sins, all your bitterness, all your animosity, all your hostility; He has absorbed it all while hanging on the tree.
And what has He left for you? Blessing, freedom, righteousness, purity, the Holy Spirit, and eternal life!
...so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”
Galatians 3:14
The Removal of Bitterness
In the story in Exodus 15:22-25, God chose to use a tree to turn the bitter waters into sweet, refreshing, drinkable water. In the gospel, God chose to use a tree to remove all your bitterness and fill you with His Spirit, His love, His grace, and His purity.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
Best of all, isn't this tree cut down an emblem of the Savior? He was a glorious tree with spreading branches, and top reaching to heaven—but he had to suffer the axe for our sakes; and now, today, contemplating his atoning sacrifice, and by faith resting in him, the troubles of life and the troubles of death are sweetened by his dear cross, which, though it is a bitter tree in itself, is the antidote for all the bitterness that comes upon us here and hereafter."—Charles Spurgeon
The Wonder of the Cross
Please take a moment and watch this video and answer the question below.
Question 7. What has the cross made you, and do you believe it? Please share.
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
Flawless, through Christ. I still have to live in this old flesh that's condemned to death anyway, but that doesn't matter; I hate the flesh. God sees me as flawless through His Son, because His Son shed His blood for me. I've come to believe that after years of doubt. Do I believe it? Yes, with all my heart, yes!
Friend, from birth there are all kinds of noxious compounds within our hearts, but when we involve ourselves in drunkenness, drug abuse, and smoking, then bitterness fills us up to overflowing so that it defiles many around us.
But there is a way out, a way to be pure, a way of freedom. The way we overcome bitterness is to come to the cross. As we look to the cross and believe, we experience the cross drawing all our bitterness out of us, all our sins, all our anger, and rebellion, out it all comes. Jesus is taking all that right into Himself; and like a leaf on a tree, He is photosynthesizing it all. He takes the noxious compounds into Himself and leaves us with purity, cleanness, health!
And now we have a new cycle, a virtuous cycle that replaces the vicious cycle. We come and wash at the cross, our conscience is cleansed, our heart is renewed, our faith is restored, we learn to walk by the Spirit and so we do not gratify the lusts of our flesh, and we war against the flesh and actually overcome. This is our new cycle! And it’s how we completely overcome bitterness!
True Cleanness
See, friend, being “clean” is not when we simply stop drinking or involving ourselves with drugs, smoking, and other sins. There are many people who do not do those things that are not even Christian, therefore not “clean”.
Instead, being “clean” is when the cross takes impurity out of our hearts when Jesus draws it all right to Himself on the tree, and when we are left with the liberating love of God in our hearts, the power of the Holy Spirit, the joyous and sweet fellowship with Christ, and no sin that blocks intimacy!
Sometimes, people turn to substances because of things that have happened to them in their past. Mike and Jody Cleveland, founders of Setting Captives Free, discuss this in the podcast below.
Question 8. Do you now see the way to be clean and overcome the bitterness that comes from sin? Please explain:
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
The cross, that tree, is upon my bitter waters, and as it is, I am made pure in Him, the sweetness of new life begins to increase. I rely on the Spirit of The Lord that searches my every part, to reveal all that is not according to this new life in Christ Jesus. When revealed, I shall seek my deliverance at the cross, the renewal of my mind by the Spirit, and give thanks to Jesus and the Father for such amazing Love and Mercy and Grace.