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When I Survey The Wondrous Cross (#154)
Another Resource: History of “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross”
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
When you “survey” something, you study it! Of course, you “observe it,” but you also study what led to that moment. You ask yourself, what happened? What purpose was fulfilled? Was there any “master plan” behind this event? And finally, you ask yourself, “What was it like for Jesus to make that Sacrifice”?
All Of Heaven Worked To Fulfill Prophecy!
“And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days”. Daniel 10:10-14 KJV
Here we see that Michael (Jesus) helps one of the angels that was sent to Daniel to convince the kings of Persia to sign a document on which the prophecies concerning the Messiah critically depend! This happened nearly 500 years before Jesus was born to Mary! Yet, even at this time, Jesus clearly demonstrates His own commitment to His Sacrifice on the Cross!
We don’t see everything that went on for thousands of years ahead of that Sacrifice, but here in Daniel, we catch a “glimpse” of what all 3 members of the Godhead, and all of the angels in heaven have been constantly “working toward” for thousands of years! Real love is demonstrated by commitment! Is this love of God REAL?
Forbid It, Lord!
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God (some say King);
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 KJV
How Hard Do Angels Work?
Let that “sink in” for a moment! Every being in heaven has worked diligently for thousands of years so that YOU might be made the Righteousness of God in Him (in Christ)! How much effort have you exerted in cooperating with God and the angels in this “master plan”? Do you suppose you might be able to give up a few of your favorite TV programs? Perhaps talk with your friends about Jesus?
What Price Did Jesus Pay?
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.
What did Jesus pay for on the Cross? He paid the penalty for our sins! And what exactly is that “penalty”? The Bible refers to this penalty as the “second death”! There are four verses which help to define the “second death”.
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death”. Revelation 2:11
“He that overcometh” what? Naturally, he that overcometh Sin!
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years”. Revelation 20:6 KJV
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death”. Revelation 20:14 KJV
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”. Revelation 21:8 KJV
The Nature Of The Second Death
What can we say about the nature of the “second death”? It involves temporary torture in hellfire. This means that the wicked, including Satan and his angels, all die an “eternal death” in it! And all those who die in this way die without any hope!
This is the penalty that Jesus Christ paid for you and me! Jesus paid the full and complete penalty for our sins by dying without ANY hope of EVER seeing His Father ever again! And this proves that the Ten Commandments have never ceased to be the eternal standard of obedience to God!
What Do I Owe?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
This song’s final verse perfectly sums up what we owe to Jesus Christ: We owe Him Everything! Our lives no longer belong to us!
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's”. 1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV
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