That was written on a small board I saw this morning – it is Sunday today – at the front of one of our churches here in Kaitaia, in the north of New Zealand. (Virtue Christian Centre) The board was on the right side of a wooden cross.
After the church service the refrain of the hymn THE CROSS! THE CROSS! THE WONDROUS CROSS! came to my mind and is still there. The chorus begins, “At the cross, at the cross, where…”
The author, John H. Stockton rejoices in the hymn and tells us four things:
1. FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT
I remember when I passed from darkness to light. That’s when I had my second birthday and when my new life began.
All this is called the new birth or regeneration and is the work of the Holy Spirit. What is the new birth? The new birth is the door to salvation and to heaven of course. The new birth brings us also into the family of God and into the kingdom of the Son of God.
2. FORGIVENESS OF SINS
Many, many things are happening the moment when one believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. I was only conscious of great happiness, the struggle was over. But people are also conscious of sins forgiven of course and peace.
I have learned that in fact 38 things are happening the moment a person, a sinner, believes on the Lord. There are things in relation to God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, in relation to sin and finally in relation to others.
3. A SINNER ACCEPTS CHRIST
Here are some things that are happening when a sinner believes on the Lord Jesus Christ in relation to Satan:
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST BECOMES OUR ADVOCATE.
First John 2:1
WE HAVE VICTORY OVER SIN.
First John 5:4
4. PRAISING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
It is so easy to take things for granted. But I know that I must never take my salvation for granted. I want to remember to praise the Lord every day for everything!
Please read Psalm 150, the last Psalm, and find out how many times you find the word “PRAISE” in the Psalm!
AND HERE IS ALL OF THE CHORUS OF THE HYMN “THE CROSS! THE CROSS! THE WONDROUS CROSS!”
“At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light
