THE CROSS AS

GOD’S FINAL ANSWER TO HUMAN BROKENNESS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Romans 3:23 might be the saddest verse in the Bible.

 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

 

1.    It means all have transgressed God’s law (1 John 3:4).

 

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law;  for sin is the transgression of the law.

 

2.    It means all have been enslaved to Satan (John 8:34; Rom. 6:16).

 

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin…Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servant to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.

 

3.    It means all have been in opposition to God (Hab. 1:13; Jam. 4:4).

 

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

 

4.    It means all have been lost (1 Tim. 2:4).

 

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

5.    It means all have been responsible for Jesus’ death (1 Cor. 15:3).

 

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

 

B.   Jesus’ death.

1.    Those words take our minds back to hill just outside the walls of Jerusalem known as Golgotha to the Jews and Calvary to the Romans. 

2.    Both words carry the same meaning:  “the place of the skull” (Mark 15:22).

 

C.   The Cross:  God’s Final Answer to Human Brokenness.

1.    We will look at this title in this lesson.

2.    We will consider four parts

 

I.             HUMAN BROKENNESS

    

A.   We do not talk about human brokenness very often.

 

B.   The word “broken” in the Bible usually means:  crushed, cracked to pieces, shattered.

 

C.   What is human brokenness?

1.    A shattered mind

a.    Romans 1:21, 28

 

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened…And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.

 

b.    Ephesians 4:17-18a

 

This I saw therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened.

 

2.    A shattered life (Rom. 8:13)

 

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die…

 

3.    A shattered fellowship (Isa. 59:1-2)

 

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:  but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

 

4.    A shattered conscience

a.    When some sin, they experienced a shattered conscience.  They understand that their actions have removed them from the good pleasure of God.

b.    This shattered conscience brings torment and agony to the mind to man. 

c.    The man yearns for a way back to God

d.    Isaiah 59:10

 

We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes;  we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

 

II.           ANSWER

 

A.   The word “answer” simply means solution.

 

B.   Solution means “a specific process to solve a problem.”

 

C.   Although the solution to human brokenness is a process, the answer can be stated in one word, “grace.”

1.    Grace is divine help rendered to those who are broken.

2.    Verses:

a.    Acts 15:11

 

But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

 

b.    Romans 3:24

 

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

 

c.    Ephesians 2:5

 

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.)

 

 

d.    Titus 3:7

 

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

e.    1 Peter 5:10

 

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus…

 

D.   Grace definitely encompasses the entirety of salvation, but salvation is NOT by grace ALONE.

1.    Romans 5:1-2

 

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  by whom also we have access into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

 

2.    Ephesians 2:8

 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God.

 

III.         GOD

 

A.   Man did not have the means to heal his brokenness.

 

B.   The only being who could have provided an answer was God. 

 

C.   God is a problem-solver.

 

D.   Another has said:  “God is the author, accomplisher, and finisher of salvation from beginning to end” (chat gpt).

1.    2 Timothy 1:9

 

Who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

 

2.    Titus 3:5

 

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

 

3.    Hebrews 12:2

 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…

 

4.    Acts 4:12

 

Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

IV.         “FINAL” ANSWER

 

A.   The word “final” does not imply that God had attempted other means before the cross to save men.

 

B.   It means it was “the one that settles all issues that are present.”

1.    It transforms the mind (Eph. 1:18; 4:23).

 

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened…And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.

 

2.    It gives life, in fact, eternal life (Rom. 6:23)

 

…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

3.    It restores fellowship (Rom. 5:1-2; Col. 1:20).

 

And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

 

4.    It accepts the broken and contrite heart (Ps. 51:17).

 

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:  a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Initially, I did not like the title to this lesson.  The words, “brokenness,” “answer,” and “final” were not very appealing.

 

B.   Other titles came to mind that almost became four additional points to the lesson.

1.    God’s only solution to man’s sin

2.    God’s divine response to mortal rebellion

3.    God’s loving sacrifice to a death sentence

4.    God’s heavenly hope to ultimate condemnation