There have been few methods of execution more excruciatingly
painful than crucifixion, and the Romans mastered it. By design,
death on a cross was not quick. Soldiers would first whip the
victim with a scourge and then force him to carry his own crossbeam
to the execution site. Once suspended on a cross, the hours in a
strained position took a toll, causing difficulty in breathing and
often resulting in suffocation. Some victims would hang alive for
days, finally succumbing to death as a welcome relief. It wasn't
until AD 337 that crucifixion was banned in Rome by the first
Christian emperor, Constantine the Great. But by then thousands had
been tortured on a cross--including one named Jesus Christ.
Interestingly, it was out of reverence for this very Jesus that
Constantine outlawed this method of execution three centuries
later. When Jesus was crucified he voluntarily took the guilt of
your sins and mine to the cross with him. As death drew near, the
Son of God summoned all of his human strength and said, "It is
finished!" What did that mean? "It is finished!" meant that no more
was there a need for bloodshed. Never again would innocent lambs
have to be sacrificed to atone for sins, as had been done in Old
Testament times. The blood flow was finished. Our salvation had
been paid for in full! A famous preacher of yesteryear explained it
in this fashion: as Jesus's blood--the blood of God--coursed down
the crude Roman cross and into the sand, it was as if the sand
whispered to a blade of grass, "It is finished!" The blade of grass
leaned toward a tree and said, "It is finished!" The tree lifted
its leafy limbs heavenward and shouted to an eagle, "It is
finished!" The soaring eagle rose higher and higher and screamed to
the whole earth, "It is finished!" And so it was--finished! My sin
and yours were paid for with the precious blood of Christ. Though
thousands of men were crucified, only the crucifixion of the
sinless Son of God was worthy to be part of God's eternal plan for
the salvation of humanity. The cross should be a constant reminder
to each of us of the goodness of God in allowing his only Son to
die in that manner and, especially, to die in our place. He gave
his life for you and for me. So each of us is personally
responsible for receiving or rejecting God's offer of cleansing
from our sins. The thing that makes Jesus's experience with
crucifixion unique and supreme is that he was taken from the cross
and placed in a sealed tomb, and after three days he rose from the
dead. He ever lives to be our Savior and Lord. Thus, God's plan for
our salvation was made complete. Although it cost Jesus everything
to pay for your sins and mine, he makes it very easy for us to know
him personally and to be saved. We are the sinners; he is the
sacrifice. We have the problem; he is the provider. Here is God's
plan of salvation for you and me, according to the Bible. FIRST,
ADMIT THAT YOU ARE LOST AND NEED A SAVIOR. For there is not a just
man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. (Ecclesiastes
7:20) All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans
3:23) SECOND, REALIZE THAT THERE IS A HEAVY PENALTY FOR YOUR SIN.
Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3)
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by
sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
(Romans 5: 12) THIRD, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GOD MADE A WAY FOR YOU TO BE
SAVED. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. (John 3:16) He humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)
FOURTH, ACCEPT GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR SALVATION TODAY. [Jesus] is able
also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,
seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
But as many as received [Jesus], to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. (John 1:12)
Read and pray the following prayer, accepting Christ personally,
and God will forgive your sins and make you one of his own. Dear
Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a guilty sinner and that I need to
be saved. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay my sin
debt. Please forgive my sins, come into my heart, and save my soul.
I turn my life over to you. Help me to live for you from now on.
Amen.
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