Category Archives: Cross

Islam and the Cross

Walking With Giants Posted on by

John Stott has written about the Muslim attitude towards the cross of Christ:-

‘One of the saddest features of Islam is that it rejects the cross, declaring it inappropriate that a major prophet of God should come to such an ignominious end.  The Koran sees no need for the sin-bearing of a Saviour.  At least five times it declares categorically that “no soul shall bear another’s burden’.  Indeed, “if a laden soul cries out for help, not even a near relation shall share its burden”. …

Why boast in the Cross of Christ?

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Because it is:-

1. The measure of man’s guilt, Acts 3:13-15.
2. The manifestation of God’s love, Rom 5:6-8.
3. The means of salvation, Jn 3:14-15.
4. The mark of separation, Gal 6:14.
5. The motive of service, 2 Cor 5:14f.
6. The melody of heaven, Rev 5:8-10.

(Source unknown)…

The excellency of knowing Christ crucified

Walking With Giants Posted on by

John Flavel’s work entitled The Fountain of Life (subtitled, ‘Presenting Christ in his Essential and Mediatorial Glory’) is an absolute treasure.  The first chapter is based on 1 Corinthians 2:2 (‘I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified’).  What follows is a summary.

I resolved – this is his settled, considered, conviction, reached after due consideration of the pros and cons, arguments and counter-arguments.

To know nothing – he does not mean that he despised all other knowledge, but only so far as it stood in opposition to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. …

The centrality of the Cross

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Martin Luther said, ‘There is not a word in the Bible which is extra crucem, which can be understood without reference to the cross.’

And J.I. Packer has written, ‘It cannot be over-emphasised that we have not seen the full meaning of the cross till we have seen it…as the centre of the gospel, flanked on the one hand by total inability and unconditional election and on the other by irresistible grace and final preservation.’

In the New Testament, the cross is:-

  1. the subject of the eternal counsel of God, Acts 2:23.
…

Lk 9:18-27 – The cost of discipleship – sermon notes

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Jesus has attracted to himself not only a group of 12 disciples, but also a large number of admirers. Events such as the Transfiguration, and Peter’s confession, have marked a change of direction in his ministry. Hitherto, he has been occupied for much of the time in the north, around Galilee.…

Gal 3:13-14 – Redeemed from the curse of the law – sermon notes

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Acceptance by God is a matter of grace from beginning to end.  This was the message that Paul himself had brought to these former pagans.  And they had believed the message, received the Holy Spirit, entered into a living relationship with God in Christ.  But some time later, some Jewish people had arrived at the Galatian churches saying, “Faith in Jesus Christ is fine; but in order to be accepted by God you must also be circumcised and observe the law of Moses.”…