The Centrality and Glory of the Cross: "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross"
Galatians 6:14-18

Introduction
I declare today the centrality and glory of the cross. I encourage a closer look, for the closer one gets, the better one sees. The NT focuses on the cross and resurrection as the center of the gospel (for example, Gal. 6; 1 Cor. 1, 15; and more). This is important for our study and understanding for the NT focus on the cross and resurrection is generally missing in the historical emphasis of the Restoration movement on church and unity. The Greek word for cross is crux, as in the crux of the matter. We need to restore also the crux of the matter. The core gospel is that what God did on Golgotha is a nuclear power for Christian living. It empowers all of the Christian life--relationships, church, family. Yet, as demonstrated in Bill Love's book, The Core Gospel, this has not characterized Restoration preaching. It is a part of our songs but not a part of our preaching. We sing of the cross more often than we preach about it, "When I survey the wondrous cross…."

The cross is a visible symbol of Christianity. It is a significant feature of Christian history and belief. Ancient Judaism avoided symbols because of the second commandment. The fish (Jesus-Christ-God-Son-Savior) was used and continues, but the fish would not remain the distinctly Christian sign. That sign would be the cross: central to faith, central to salvation. This is true despite the (1) horror of crucifixion among the Romans, (2) The curse of the cross among the Jews, Gal. 3:13-14; Deut. 21:23, (3) the unlikely message, Paul says that the message of salvation sounds crazy--1 Cor. 1:18,23. It was the most cruel form of execution ever practiced, for it deliberately delayed death for maximum torture. The Jews made no distinction between tree and cross--between hanging and crucifixion. They automatically applied the words of Dt. 21:23 to both.

We cannot say all we would like to say, nor all the Bible says, about the cross--but we can call attention to its importance and several aspects of the cross. Here is a major theme of the Bible.

I. Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross--There I See God's Love (Gal. 2:20, John 3:16)

II. Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross--There I See God's Purpose

Notice again this theme in our songs: I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross...."

III. Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross--There I See My Worth (Gal. 2:20)

IV. Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross--There I See Sin's Curse

V. Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross--There I See God's Majesty

VI. Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross--There I See The Power of the Cross
Now I see the power of the cross, 1 Cor. 1:18-26
Here is an interesting question: Who is Responsible for the Cross?

• Judas gave Jesus to the priests
• The priests gave Jesus to Pilate
• Pilate gave Jesus to the mob
• The mob let the soldiers have their way
• God gave him us
• Jesus gave himself up
• I did it, my sins sent him there
• This is the POWER of the cross!

VII. Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross--There I See My Salvation (Gal. 6:14-18)
My death to world, my separation from world, world's separation from me, my newness, my glory
God's way of forgiving sinners, reconciling to himself, must first of all be consistent with who he is. Certainly he must overthrow and disarm the devil, satisfy his law, honor, justice, moral order. But he must satisfy himself. His love, mercy, justice cannot be compromised.

VIII. Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross--There I See God's Ultimate Plan

• With faith in Christ, accept and admit the redeeming power of the cross to deal with sin
• In what the Bible calls repentance, let the cross change your life as you renew your thinking
• Experience the death of the cross in baptism
• Experience the resurrection in daily life, living a new and changed life