For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.-I Corinthians 1:18

This may sound like a strange title but I wanted to speak just a little bit about how the Father feels about the gospel. Has it every occurred to you that what the Lord Jesus did on the cross was a joy to God. Isaiah 53:10 says "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt makehis soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.' The cross was that moment in time which the Father was looking to so that He could truly purchase to himself a people. Even though it was in the mind of God, since the foundation of the world, the actual event had to occur for redemption. Thus the cross has become the power of God.

'According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.' - I Timothy 1:11 This verse says that the gospel is glorious and originates from the blessed God. The word blessed means happy. So we have a happy God, happy to announce to fallen man that he can be redeemed. '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

...we have a happy God, happy to announce to fallen man that he can be redeemed. It is our charge as preachers to herald this great news of the Happy God. He is happy with His Son and His offering for my sins and yours.

The cross has thus become the power of God:

1. To purchase to himself a people. 'Even so we, when we were children, were in under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.' - Galatians 4:263-5

2. To satisfy the sinless nature of God as seen in the Law, thus making Him just and the justifier of all who come to Him through the Son. 'He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.' - Isaiah 53:11

3. To save and keep us from the penalty of sin. 'By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.' - Hebrews 7:22-28

4. To deliver us from him who had the power of death, that is the devil. 'Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;' - Hebrews 2:14

- Brother Terry