Bishop Lightfoot has a good word in place of the phrase "evidently set
\nforth."({{Gal 3:1}}) It is the word placarded. The Lord and His atoning work on the
\ncross had been placarded before these Galatians. The message of His
\nPerson and work had been clearly demonstrated before them. But now they
\nwere falling back to the legalism of the Old Covenant. “O foolish
\nGalatians!” What folly is this to leave Christ for Moses—the gospel for
\nthe law—justification by the righteousness of Christ which brings such
\nsolid comfort, for justification by the works of the law which could
\nonly bring their souls into bondage. The apostle was so astonished as
\nto call them foolish or senseless.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Emphasis on the Cross<\/strong> The Old Covenant could never convey souls to heaven. It was too weak It is only the Lord Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross The Scope of the Cross<\/strong> \n The Reach of the Cross<\/strong> It also reaches down to the bottom of human degeneracy. Some may
\nPaul had placarded the cross before their eyes. We have often seen men
\ncarrying a large placard over their shoulders, hanging down front and
\nback as a means of advertising. Paul had made “Christ crucified” as
\nvivid and arresting as that to them.<\/p>\n
\nto open those bright gates. It was too feeble to ascend the hill of the
\nLord. If we seek acceptance of God by Sinai’s code, we must surely
\nfail; it is folly to try it.<\/p>\n
\nwhich can make a way for us to heaven. On that cross He met every need.
\nHis finished work alone satisfies divine justice. He has given His life
\nfor mine. In Him—by Him—we clear the law’s uttermost demand. Such is
\nthe value of the Savior’s cross, and its value was made clear by the
\napostle to these Galatians.<\/p>\n
\nThe cross of our Lord Jesus embraces and affects the whole universe of God:<\/p>\n\n
\nstand fearless on the rock of a completed sacrifice: “It is finished!”
\nHuman redemption is secured, an accomplished fact. Every payment has
\nbeen made in full. Every penalty has been endured. The cursed cup has
\nbeen drained. Satan has been vanquished. Believers are free. So to the
\nGalatians the apostle could write, “God forbid that I should glory,
\nsave in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,” and, “I am crucified with
\nChrist: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” ({{Gal.
\n6:14}}; {{Gal 2:20}}).<\/li>\n
\nassembly.<\/em> The Lord has formed His Church by sovereign grace. He has
\nplanted it with His virtues, gifts, and graces. He waters it every
\nmoment. He has fenced it round with His almighty power. It is nourished
\nwith the refreshing doctrines of the gospel which are seasonably
\napplied. It is impregnable against the forces of evil. Its faith,
\npiety, and courage have spread to the ends of the earth. Because the
\ncross is the center of the Church, “the gates of hell shall not prevail
\nagainst it” ({{Mt. 16:18}}).<\/li>\n
\nhistory.<\/em> Everything beforehand moved toward the cross; everything since
\nflows from that cross. The whole world was sunk in ruin and misery,
\ngiven over to idolatry and superstition. No distinction is made for any
\nperson of any race: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of
\nGod” ({{Rom. 3:23}}). “They are all gone out of the way…there is none that
\ndoeth good, no, not one” ({{Rom. 3:12}}). But at the center of this ruined
\nrace, God has set forth a means whereby sin can be forgiven and guilt
\nremoved. That means is the cross of Christ which God has made a
\nMercy-seat.<\/li>\n
\nis a state of disorder in the whole cosmos. But the regeneration of the
\nwhole is promised so that there is to be a new heaven and earth.
\nThrough the blood of the cross, God will “reconcile all things unto
\nHimself… whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” ({{Col.
\n1:20}}).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\nIt gives assent to His holiness. The one grand purpose of the scheme of
\ngrace is to guard and secure God’s holiness which is the very ground of
\nHis nature. Holiness was therefore manifest in our Lord’s life on
\nearth. His walk in our soiled path was as clean as when He moved on
\ncelestial pavement. His every act—every word—have but one feature, and
\nthat is one of absolute holiness. The cross reaches up to heaven and
\nsecures that holiness. It thus gives God righteous ground on which to
\nforgive sinful men.<\/p>\n
\nask, “Can holiness revive the wasteland of nature upon which the blight
\nand curse of God rests?” Only by means of the cross! The Lord Jesus
\nalone can make a wretched sinner holy and fit for the presence of the
\nholy God. The Saviour welcomed is holiness begun. The Saviour cherished
\nis holiness advancing. The Saviour never absent is holiness complete.
\nHoliness complete is fitness for heaven. Only through the cross can man
\nrise to that heaven of heavens where God is, and live in God’s holy
\npresence without fear forever. O wondrous cross that can do that for
\nus, and do it forever!<\/p>\n