Thankfulness - The Message of the Cross!

Thankful for the Message of the Cross

Today is a day that we enjoy family, friends, and food. It is a time to rest and recoup, as well as a time to reflect on the things that we are truly grateful and thankful for.

I am thankful that I am still here among the living, and for my husband, children, and extended family. Some reflect on being thankful for careers, travel, and life in general. With all of these in mind, I have also been reflecting on my thankfulness for hearing and being able to understand the Message of the Cross. It has made such an impact on my life.

I want to share some things from the great book—the Bible—that show the importance of having our faith placed in the Finished Work of Christ.

Before I begin, I want to stress that everything Christ Jesus did and said is of utmost importance. However, it was at the Cross that God’s Plan of Redemption for all who would believe was fulfilled. Faith in God’s Redemptive Plan is what saves us, justifies us, and sanctifies us.

Jesus and the Cross should never be separated, and our faith must be firmly and exclusively placed in both—the Cross of Christ. All Scriptures quoted are from the Amplified Bible via BibleGateway.

Scriptural Foundation of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:17 — Paul explains that he was sent to preach the gospel, not with eloquent speech, so that the Cross of Christ would not be made ineffective. Today, many pastors want to preach messages that do not offend but instead lift spirits and make people feel good.

Paul’s ministry focused on proclaiming the Message of the Cross rather than clever words or hype. In 1 Corinthians 1:23 he states plainly: “We preach Christ crucified.”

Every message preached in church should come from the foundation of what Jesus accomplished on the Cross. Everything must trace back to the Cross because all of God’s Word is made possible through it.

1 Corinthians 1:18 — The Message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.

Romans 5:6–8 — While we were still powerless and sinners, Christ died for us, demonstrating God’s great love for humanity.

Ephesians 2:16 — The Cross reconciled both Jews and Gentiles to God in one body, putting an end to hostility. It was—and is—the Cross.

Colossians 2:11–14 — Jesus canceled the record of debt against us and removed it by nailing it to the Cross. Everything we have is made possible by the Cross.

1 Peter 2:24 — Christ bore our sins in His body on the Cross so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.

Philippians 2:8–11 — Jesus humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death—even death on a Cross. Because of this, God exalted Him above every name. All praise belongs to Jesus alone, because of what He accomplished on the Cross.

John 19:30 — Jesus declared, “It is finished,” signifying the completion of His redemptive work on the Cross.

John 3:16 — God gave His only Son, Jesus, to die on the Cross so that whoever believes would not perish but have eternal life. The Cross completed God’s plan of redemption for mankind.

Romans 6:3–5 — When we place faith in Christ’s finished work on the Cross, God sees us united with His Son in His death and resurrection.

2 Corinthians 5:17 — If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away, and new life has come. This is made possible by the Cross.

Romans 6:8–11 — Because Christ died to sin once and for all, we now consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ.

Luke 9:23 — Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. Our faith in Christ’s finished work on the Cross must be evidenced daily.

Romans 6:12–14 — Sin no longer has dominion over us because we are not under law but under grace. Jesus defeated sin at the Cross.

John 14:6 — Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him—and we come to Jesus through the Cross.

Denying self is difficult. We want a role in our salvation, but salvation comes only by faith—faith placed in the correct object. What redeemed us? What reconciled us to God? It was the selfless sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.

If it is not the Cross of Christ, then it is not God’s way. Luke 18:8 asks whether Jesus will find faith on the earth—singular faith. There is only one faith God accepts.

2 Corinthians 5:21 — God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. When our faith is in Christ’s finished work on the Cross, God sees us through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

All of this is not my word—it is God’s Word. We should be ever grateful and thankful for the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.