Work of the
Cross Reflection
paper
Part 1:
How does the “work of the Cross” pertain to the salvation and sanctification of believers?
First let’s take a look at what makes us need Jesus. If we look at Romans 3:23 we see that it
says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, 1and if we take this a literal that we all
sin and there is nothing that we could do on our own because we have already fallen short of
God’s glory then we can see that only the work of Jesus on the cross could pay the ultimate
sacrifice that is needed to pay for our eternal soul to reside in Heaven. So on that day that Jesus
was on his way the Golgotha and the Cyrenian man named Simon who helped Jesus by carrying
the cross that Jesus would be nailed to and then died, we all know that that was the only way that
the sins of man could ever be paid in full and without the perfect life of Jesus and eventual death
on the cross we would all be destine the lake of fire. Like “the Bible says “without shedding of
blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22)2
Part 2:
In this section we will be looking at the specific achievements of the cross, but more
importantly the one that made the largest impact in my life personally. In our text we see that
Billy Graham tells us about the “five things blood brings”.3 He then continues to tell us that the
five things are that we could be “redeemed, brings us nigh, makes peace, justifies and cleanses”,4
All of these things are very important but in my life I would have to say that Justification is the
1 The Soldier's Bible: With Slide-Tab Closure (Nashville, Tenn.: Holman Bible Publishers, ©2004), 1006.
2 Billy Graham, Peace with God (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., ©1984), 123.
3Billy Graham, Peace with God (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., ©1984), 125.
4Billy Graham, Peace with God (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., ©1984), 125.
5 Billy Graham, Peace with God (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., ©1984), 125.
one thing that I am most thankful for. What is justification: we see in (Romans 5:9) “much more
then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him”.5
Part 3:
Let us now look at the true conversion that happened in my life. Back in 2002 I was
homeless and living in a car with my mom. We would park the car at the city park and sleep
every night. I was in a very bad place in my life and I was only sixteen years old. One day my
aunt and uncle ask me to come with them to church and I went. It all started with that one
invitation and from then on I knew that there was something missing in my life. After a few
weeks of going with them to church I had a life changing thing happen to me God just broke me
down and I didn’t just ask Jesus into my life I begged that Jesus would come into my life. At
that time I knew that because of his death on the cross that he has paid for all of my sins. I gave
my life to God on that day and from then on I have been in a constant state of change that has
brought me to where I am now. From that moment on everything in my life has changed, from
my language and even the way that I would work, because in all things I would try to bring glory
to God.
Part 4:
What does it mean that “Jesus demands lordship?” Simply put, Jesus wants to be in
control of us and he can only do that if we will open our hearts and allow him in and also allow
Him the overall control of our lives, emotions and future aspirations. This is very hard for a lot
of people in our current culture that we live in because we are all told you can do anything if you
just put your mind to it. In our text book we see that there is a great description of what salvation
is. “We know that salvation is based entirely upon the grace of God. The Bible says that no man
is justified by the law in the sight of God, and it also says, “The just shall live by his faith”
(Romans 1:17). Salvation, forgiveness, and justification are based entirely upon the atoning
work of Christ.”6 So as we can see from this explanation we need to give our entire life to the
Lord because that is the only way that God can use us the way he intended for us to be used.
Bibliography
The Soldier's Bible: With Slide-Tab Closure. Nashville, Tenn.: Holman Bible Publishers, ©2004.
Graham, Billy. Peace with God. Nashville, TN: Word Pub., ©1984.
6 Billy Graham, Peace with God (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., ©1984), 147.
Student:
Criteria
Points
Possible
Points
Earned
Instructor’s Comments
Part I: The paper “opens” with a clear
explanation of the phrase “The Work of
the Cross.”
20
Part II: The student identifies the 5 ethical
achievements of the cross and explores
which one most aligns with his/her season
of life.
20
Part III: The student talks about the impact
“true conversion” has on his/her mind,
will, and affections.
20
Part IV: The student explains why it is
essential for true followers of Christ to
surrender his/her desires, hopes and
future aspirations to the Lordship of Christ.
20
Proper spelling, grammar, flow, and
clarity are used. 10
Assignment meets all general,
formatting (Turabian, APA, or MLA), and
length requirements.
5
Use of at least 1 additional reference
in addition to the course material and
the Bible.
3
This grading rubric is attached to the
bottom of the student’s paper. 2
Total 100
