The Real Reason For The Cross - Pt 2

The Real Reason For The Cross - Pt 2

Let’s start by making this much clear; we are sinful and God is not. This is a sinful world and it is openly rebellious against God and His holiness and the impact of sin is real. Yet, God is present here on earth.

Psalms 139:7-10

“Where can I go from Your Spirit or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me.”

God is everywhere. There is no place that He is not. In theological circles we called this the omnipresence of God. He is present everywhere at all times.

One of the things that we really have trouble grasping is the incredible impact that sin has on us as humans. We were not designed for sin. When we choose sin instead of obedience to God, a chain reaction of events takes place.

The first thing that changes is our relationship with God. When Adam and Eve sinned, their immediate reaction was to hide. They knew that something was different.

Life itself has been changed. The human condition now leads every one of us to a death penalty. Sin changes life into death.

Then, the final consequence of our sin is separation from God. Mankind was cast out from the Garden and from God’s presence. This is the condition of humanity - separation from God. As Isaiah puts it:

Isaiah 59:2

“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you...”

God is clear on this. Sin causes separation from God.

Isaiah 1:13-15

“...I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly...I will hide My eyes from you...”

Habakkuk 1:13

“Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You can not look on wickedness with favor.”

Ephesians 2:12

“...remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

The Bible clearly teaches that God removes sinfulness from His presence. Galatians 5:4 calls it “being severed from Christ”.

So, God is holy and we are sinful and separated from His presence. How, then, can we be restored to God if we can’t be in His presence?

Allow me to introduce you to Jesus, the cross and the meaning of Good Friday. More on that over the weekend and into Monday.