Lesson 4: The Cross Removes our Shame and Disgrace!

1. Jesus Christ is removing your sin and is rolling away your shame and disgrace.
2. Jesus Christ is giving you a new beginning.
3. Jesus Christ is dying to give you entry into the Promised Land of victory and rest.
4. Jesus Christ is establishing your base of operations for the rest of your life.

• The cross is the place where sin is removed and shame and disgrace are rolled away. Psalms 103:12 (ESV) "as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." At the cross, your shame and disgrace is removed. At the cross, your entire past is crucified and buried. At the cross, you lose all your labels, that is, your identity associated with past sinful behavior, your identity that is described by your temptations. All that identity was crucified, and it died on the cross. “I’ve been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
• The cross is the place of new beginnings. As you come to the cross and look up, you see that your old life died and you now have a new beginning, a new identity, a new life. Jesus Christ killed your sin and your past for you, and now by believing that message you come alive to God and begin to live differently (Ephesians 2:1-5).
• The cross is the place of entry into our Promised Land of victory and rest. As you come to the cross and receive forgiveness of sins and a new identity, you then begin to fight spiritual battles against your own flesh, against the devil’s temptations and against the philosophy of the world. And God grants you victory on all sides, and through faith, He brings you peace and rest. “For we who have believed enter that rest” (Hebrews 4:3).
• The cross is the base of operations for all Christians. When we win battles against the world, the devil and our own flesh, we come back to the cross to thank God for the victory He purchased for us there. When we lose and fail and fall to sin, as we all do sometimes, we return to the cross for forgiveness, cleansing and to renew our strength. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Mike L. writes, "Yes, I saw the Gospel today and like always when I see the cross my faith has been built up. Before the cross and probably sometimes still I always struggled to justify my existence, but I have been completely justified by Jesus on the cross, I no longer need to prove my worth to anybody or anything as Jesus did it for me. I'm starting to let this sink into my soul, it is truly freeing, I am falling more and more in love with Jesus all the time. The more I learn about the scope of what He did for me on the cross is growing  exponentially and it truly is mind boggling to really understand who I am in Christ. Galatians 6:14 (NIV)"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

Kelly writes, "Once again the Lord has done it! He has elevated my faith in Him by elevating the Cross right before my eyes! I love the imagery of the Cross being my base of operations. I think of a military regiment that has been on the battled field all day and long hours into the night. As they make the long trek back all the weary soldiers can think about is getting back to base camp, where they're safe. There's food to revive them and water to refresh them. There's help and support to ready them to return to the battle field and fight another day. That's what the Cross is for us. Its where my heart finds saftey and support in the  affirming love of Christ. I find food for my hungry heart and water for my thirsty soul there as I eat and drink of the Gospel promises. The Cross is where I get all the support of His Grace to keep winning my battle over sin in light of the War that has already been won in Him on the Cross."

Karen writes, "Yes, I did see the Gospel and I love how these lessons are truly "faith builders".  I love the reminder in scripture of my identity in Christ and that all sin was rolled away and I now live in His rest.  It is so hard to not strive in life, but to receive God's love in Christ, to walk in the Spirit and His strength and rest.  This lesson highlighted my need to do just that.  I don't need to strive and battle, "It is Finished!"

Paul writes, "As I am reading this book of Joshua, I see the new generation that were not present at the Exodus, they had heard the testimony of the elders on the miracle at the Red Sea and the convenant with God and the Promise Land. They may have been witnesses to the last of faith, the rebelliousness of the people and were living their life with no worries of God. Joshua one day declares its time to move to the Promise Land. This generation witnesses the miracle of the Jordan and were ready for their circumcision and God declared their past to have been rolled away, sin forgiven. It brings me to Christ and the gospel and the words he repeat while miraculously healing many, “Your sins are forgiven”. We receive those word from Christ at the cross, “Your sins are forgiven”. It is a wonderful gift to return to the cross and give thanks and bath in the mercy of God."