What Christ Did for Me on the Cross

A Communion Meditation   by Samuel E. Ward   Introduction:  The Establishment of the "Old" and New Covenants   A. The Establishment of the "Old" Covenant 1.  The ratification of the first Covenant, Exo 24:1-9   a. The Covenant was offered to the people, Exo 24:1-3a.   Exodus 24:1-3 (NIV) 1Then he said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance,  2but Moses alone is to approach the LORD; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him." 3a [Then] Moses went and told the people all the LORD's words and laws.   b. The people voiced their willingness of obey God's Law, Exo 24:3b-4a. Exodus 24:3b-4a (NIV) 3bThey responded with one voice, "Everything the LORD has said we will do."  4aMoses then wrote down everything the LORD had said.   c. An altar and pillars were set up as witnesses to the ratification of the Covenant, Exo 24:4b.   Exodus 24:4b (NIV) 4bHe got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel.    d. A fellowship offering was made before the Lord, Exo 27:5. Exodus 24:5 (NIV) 5Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings£ to the LORD.    e. Half of the blood from the offerings was sprinkled on the altar, Exo 24:6.   (Indicated the substitute as an offering for the sins of the people) Exodus 24:6 (NIV) 6Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar.    f. The people entered into agreement with God by promising to obey,  Exo 24:7 Exodus 24:7 (NIV) 7Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey."   g. Half of the blood from the offerings was sprinkled on the people in ratification of the Covenant, Exo 24:8.   (Indicated the substitute as an offering for the sins of the people) Exodus 24:8 (NIV) 8Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."   h. The leaders meet with the Testator, Exo 24:9-11. Exodus 24:9-11 (NIV) 9Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up  10and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.  11But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.   2. The blessings of the Covenant, Exo 19:4-6   a. Israel would be a treasured possession among all the nations, Exo 19:4-5b. Exodus 19:4-5b (NIV) 4'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.  5a,bNow if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. 5c Although the whole earth is mine,    b. Israel would be God's testimony to the rest of the world, Exo 19:5c-7. Exodus 19:5c--6 (NIV) 5cAlthough the whole earth is mine,  6you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."   B. The Establishment of the New Covenant Matthew 26:26-29 (NIV) 26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." 27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.  28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."   The goal of belief is obedient discipleship and service, but this is only possible because of the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ between Himself and any who would believe, repent, obey, and serve.    What Christ Did for Me On the Cross:   I. He Took My Place Matthew 20:28 (NIV) 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV) 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.    1 Peter 3:18 (NIV) 18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit   II. He Bought My Freedom Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV) 4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,  5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.         Revelation 5:9 (NIV) 9And they sang a new song:      "You are worthy to take the scroll      and to open its seals,      because you were slain,      and with your blood you purchased men for God      from every tribe and language and people and nation.   III. He Obtained My Peace 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (NIV) 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.    IV. He Satisfied God's Demand for Me Romans 3:25-26 (NIV) 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,£ through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—  26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.   V. He Obtained My Forgiveness Matthew 26:28 (NIV) 28This is my blood of the£ covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.    VI. He Gained My Acquittal Romans 5:8-10 (NIV) 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!  10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!    Conclusion:  My Response to Christ's Work on the Cross for Me   Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV) 19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, . . .   1. 22Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, . . . 2. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess . . . 3. 24Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  4. 25aLet us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but 5. 25b Let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.