The Cup

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB95) — 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

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What happened on the cross? I'm sure you've heard, "Jesus died for me," but what does that even mean?

What was accomplished on the cross is called atonement. You can remember it as at-one-ment, it was God reconciling us to himself. This atonement didn't just accomplish one thing, but rather a myriad of things. The atonement at the cross is like a multi-faceted diamond, where each facet is a different accomplishment of the cross. Today we're going to talk about one of the things that the cross accomplished. 

You aren't born neutral, you are actually born with a propensity to sin. Sinning is what comes natural to a baby. Think about it, did you have to be taught to be selfish? Or, did you have to be taught good manners? Do you have to teach a child that sometimes they can break the rules to get what they want? Or do you have to teach them to respect authority and listen to those that are older than themselves?

Not only do we sin against each other, but we are born wanting to sin against God. No one looks at a Bible for the first time and thinks, "Oh, how wonderful!." I remember a time when I thought reading the Bible would be about as fun as reading through a dictionary.

Also no one wants to submit their plans to God, we want things our way. If I've planned out exactly how my day is supposed to go, I don't want God to change my plans or interfere in any way, I've already got this planned out and I know what I want.

We also don't want help from God, or help period. Think about it, remember Christmas. Don't you feel bad when you get a friend a gift, and they get you a much better, more expensive one than you got them? Why?!.....they didn't get it for you so that you could feel in-debt to them! (unless you have terrible friends)

We don't like to be given things that we didn't earn, and we don't like to ask for help, but this is what God requires. Our natural state rebels against this idea and does not submit to God.

Romans 8:7–8 (NLT) — 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Every time we sin, imagine that there's a drop of wrath/judgement that goes into a massive cup that God is holding. This is the imagery that the Bible sometimes uses for the wrath of God.

Jeremiah 49:12 (NLT) — 12 And this is what the Lord says: “If the innocent must suffer, how much more must you! You will not go unpunished! You must drink this cup of judgment!

You were watching porn...drip...you stole something when you wouldn't get caught...drop... you've been talking behind your friends back....drip...you slept with your girlfriend...drop...

Sin isn't just when you do things that you shouldn't, sin is always when you don't do things that you should. So if you know you should go help your friend move, you are completely capable of doing it, and choose not to because you want to stay home and play video games/watch tv...that's a sin.

Imagine that this has been happening your whole life, the cup is getting more and more full. If you stay this course, at the end of your life on earth, you are going to have this cup of wrath poured out on you.

John 3:36 (NASB95) — 36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

On the cross Jesus did what is known as "the great exchange."

Jesus, who was sinless...

Hebrews 4:15 (ESV) — 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus became my sin on the cross. He became an alcoholic, a fornicator, a liar, a cheater, thief, a porn watcher, a pot-head. That cup that we were talking about, Jesus refers to it before he goes to the cross

Matthew 26:39 (NLT) — 39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Matthew 26:42 (NLT) — 42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.”

Jesus went to the cross, he drank the cup of God's wrath on the cross.

You want to know what a real man looks like? 

Jesus was able to weep with his friends when Lazarus died, to comfort and empathize with Lazarus' family...but when he was beaten nearly to death, carried a cross on his shredded up, bleeding back to a hill outside of town, was nailed to that same cross and hung on it for the salvation of all those who believe.......he didn't shed a tear. That's what a man looks like.

The cup that has God's wrath for the sins that I've committed, Jesus drank every last drop on the cross. When that cup comes to me, it's empty!

Romans 5:8–9 (ESV) — 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

The sinless one became sin on the cross, my sin, and now when Jesus looks at me he "reckons" or "accounts" Christ's perfect life to me. When Jesus looks at me he says, "there is no sin in that man." It was a switch!

Because of my faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and his substitutionary death for me on the cross, God sees me and it's 

*Just as if I'd never sinned

*Just as if I'd always obeyed

All of my sins, all of your sins if you place your trust in him, past, present, future sins, they were all paid for on the cross by Jesus the second person of the Trinity.

You're free!

John 8:36 (NLT) — 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Galatians 5:13 (NLT) — 13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.