THE MOST IMPORTANT HOUR OF HISTORY - bY jOHNsTEINER

The most important hour of all history was the hour when the Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary's cross for the sins of mankind. Often in scripture, the hour of our Lord's death is called simply "the hour," "My hour" or "His hour."

To fulfill prophecy He could not have died one hour earlier, or one later. Until that hour arrived, His enemies were somehow restrained from doing Him bodily harm, so that we read in John 7:30, "Then they sought to take Him; but no man laid hands on Him, because HIS HOUR WAS NOT YET COME" (See also John 8:20).

This hour was to be for Him a time of unspeakable agony and shame. Referring to this, He said to Andrew and Philip, "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father save Me from this hour? But FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I UNTO THIS HOUR" (John 12:27).

He had come to die for the sins of the world and would not now turn away from the sufferings involved. But this hour of suffering and shame was also an hour of glory, for there the Son of God paid a debt which would have sunk a world to hell. This is why, at this same time, in the very shadow of the cross, He said, "THE HOUR IS COME THAT THE SON OF MAN SHOULD BE GLORIFIED. Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (John12:23,24. See Also John 17:1,2).

Little wonder we read in John 3:35,36; "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE: AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LlFE BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM"

These thoughts are taken from one of my favorite daily devotionals called: TWO MINUTES WITH THE BIBLE by C.R. Stam. I think these comments are fitting this time of the year when many are hopefully turning their thoughts to the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

THE DEATH OF THE CROSS

There are four words which everyone of us should consider in connection with Christ's death at Calvary if we would fully appreciate what our Savior did for us there.

CRUCIFIXION

It is doubtful whether man has ever conceived a more cruel and humiliating way to execute even the vilest criminals. The physical agony alone must have been horrible beyond comprehension. The criminal was nailed to a tree and left to hang there, writhing in the most intense pain until, fevers wracking his body, he died. And then think of the humiliation as he hung there,  stripped and naked, to suffer shame and disgrace before the public gaze. Little wonder Philippians 2:8 says that Christ humbled Himself to become obedient "unto death even the death of the cross."

SUBSTITUTION

We have not even begun to understand the cross if we do not understand that Christ died there as our Substitute, paying for our sins. "Christ died for our sins" (I Corinthians 15:3). "His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree" (I Peter2:24).

He is our substitute because the "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Death is God's required penalty for sin, and by the way, even with all the medical advances of our day the death rate remains the same (one apiece).

Our Lord Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. He is an eternal being and as such "through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God" (Hebrews 9:14).

Many people do not get saved because they don't realize they are lost. They haven't agreed with God who says they stand condemned and guilty of the sentence of death. God's Word tells us we are sinners and therefore enemies of God by nature, the nature we inherited from Adam. Paul tells us, "I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18). So, take it by faith, you're a guilty sinner, lost, guilty and condemned. Trust it fully in your heart, mind and soul that Jesus Christ died as your substitute on the cross of Calvary.

REPRESENTATION

But Christ was more than our Substitute; He was our voluntary Representative at Calvary. He had taken on Himself human form that He might represent man before God and die as Man for men. "As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment, so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many ... " (Hebrews9:27, 28) "(He} was made ... lower than the angels ... that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9).

He was qualified to represent man "in that he himself hath suffered being tempted" and was "touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 2:18, 4:15)
 

IDENTIFICATION

It follows from this that if Christ represented me at Calvary, He became identified with me there, and I am identified with Him as I accept this by faith. The moment we trust Him as Saviour, the Holy Spirit quickens, baptizes, or identifies us completely with Christ. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath QUICKENED US TOGETHER with Christ. (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us SIT TOGETHER in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6)

It is the OPERATION of God. This is why it says "without hands" we are identified completely with our Lord. Paul writes, "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And YE ARE COMPLETE in HIM, which is the head of all principality and power. In whom also Ye ARE CIRCUMCISED WITH THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in putting off the body of sins of the flesh by the CIRCUMCISION of Christ, BURIED WITH HIM in baptism where in also ye are risen with him through the faith of THE OPERATION OF GOD, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, HATH HE QUICKENED TOGETHER WITH HIM, having forgiven you all trespasses." (Colossians 2:9-13)
   
We are then so identified with Christ that we are hidden in Him as Paul writes, "for you are dead and, YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."  (Colossians 3:3-4) With all of this being true for us who believe, we should exclaim with Paul who wrote, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith (or faithfulness) of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Considering these four words in connection with our Saviour's death at Calvary causes me to believe it was indeed the most important hour of history. How about you? God must see it this way for His Word has so much to say on this event and what our Savior accomplished in that hour. What peace and assurance comes to your heart and mind when you believe what the Bible tells us. Believe these truths for yourself if you have never done so. Do it this very hour. It could become the most important hour of your life.

How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4

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Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey

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