The Devil, who “sinneth from the beginning” (1Jn. 3:8), only appears to have complicated and delayed God’s original purpose in creation. Scripture reveals to us a gradual unfolding of how the Creator has wisely devised, arranged, and enacted strategies to bring it about anyway. As we look at the world, we not only see the Creator God at work. We see one chief Adversary opposing it all, a spirit creature who, while wise, is not wise enough to outdo his Creator. It is the work of this evil being that we must now consider.

As we will see, Peter on the day of Pentecost, as “the Apostle to the circumcision (Israel)” (Gal 2:7-8 KJV), preached to Israel concerning the “gospel of the kingdom” just as he was instructed to by Jesus. This was 50 days after the cross-death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but Peter’s preaching made no mention Christ’s Cross-work at Calvary.

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” (Luke 23:33)

If the Bible makes anything clear, it is the fact that the secret of all God’s good news gospel to men is centered in Calvary’s Cross. It was because Christ was to die for sin that God could proclaim good news to sinners down through the ages.

It was not until some time after the crucifixion, however, that “the preaching of the cross” was widely proclaimed as a message by Paul in “the gospel [good news] of the grace of God” (ICor.1:18; Acts 20:24).

All through the Old Testament the cross is only dimly seen. Though a hundred historical characters and a hundred more Levitical sacrifices and rituals were typical of Christ and His finished work, not once does the Old Testament state this. The silence is profound. The clearest Old Testament prophecy of Christ’s death, Isaiah 53, does not even specify who the Sufferer would be, referring to Him as only “my righteous servant” (v11)

1. God's Intentions for you: Peace and Everlasting Life

God loves you and wants you to enjoy His peace and His life, today and... eternally.

God doesn't hate you, but He hates sin. He loved you before you were born. He knew you'd need a Saviour and sent His only Son, Jesus, to die in your place. Christ, who was without sin became a sin sacrifice for you to pay your sin-debt and wash you of your sins.

Three times in Paul's letter to the Romans we read that Christ died for us, that is, in our place - for us.

5:6: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

5:8: "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."