The Work of the Cross
The curse of the Law meant eternal separation from God. 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 Spurgeon¹
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.
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Friend, from birth there are all kinds of noxious compounds within our hearts, but when we involve ourselves in impurity, 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!
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. This is our new cycle! And it’s how we completely overcome bitterness!
True Purity
See, friend, purity is not when we simply stop doing porn or involving ourselves with sexual immorality. There are many people who do not do those things that are not even Christian.
Instead, purity 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!
Question 8. Do you now see the way to be pure and overcome the bitterness that comes from impurity? Please explain:
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