The Mystery of the CROSS – Salvation by GRACE.

The time before the Cross was all about Faith and works for salvation.

Israel were commanded to keep the Law to enter the promised land.

Jesus told the Israelites to obey the Sermon on the mount, sell everything, forgive others (Lord’s prayer), carry the cross, deny themselves to enter the kingdom.

All of this was before the cross. It was still under Law.

But then the people of God, the Jews themselves crucified Jesus.

This proves these things:

• The purpose of the Law was not to save anyone.
• The purpose of the Law was to crucify Jesus.
• They crucified Jesus because of the same law!
• The Law demands the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins.
• The Law demands curses for those who don’t obey it.
• Jesus died on the cross to take the full curse of the law, dying for the sins of the world (Jew and Gentile).
• Jesus shed His blood to take away our sins.
• On the Cross, the Law ended.
• The commandments were abolished.

Grace was revealed on the Cross when Jesus said these words: “Father forgive them!!” “It is finished”

This is the mystery of Grace that now everyone including Jew and Gentile can be saved without doing works but only just believe in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2 “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

This is the Mystery of the Bible: the Cross of Jesus where the Law was abolished and Grace was revealed.

Ephesians 2 “11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

The only reason we Gentiles are saved is because on the Cross, Jesus fulfilled and abolished the law.

This is a mystery that was not revealed in the scriptures until Jesus died, rose again and sent the Apostle Paul.

Ephesians 3 “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”

“8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.”

Colossians 1 “25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”