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The Cross and the Last Generation
Sermon by David Qualls at Tulsa Three Angels SDA Church, January 8, 2005, published on GreatControversy.org the same day.
Introduction
Without a doubt, we are living in unprecedented times. The signs indicate that earth’s last hour is upon us. There seems to be a swelling of events that we know will soon burst upon the world as an overwhelming surprise. We are about to be caught up in the grandest of times in human history. The Lord of glory is soon to work marvelously; He is about to come with 10,000 times 10,000 of his angels. The earth is soon to give up her dead; the wicked are very soon to feel the wrath of God poured out without mixture; the righteous are about to receive glorified bodies and to join their Lord in the air; the little horn is about to receive his just due. Grand movements will soon take place. Miracles, both counterfeit and the real thing, are about to unfold before our eyes. Satan is about to work his marvelous works. Christ is about to pour out His Holy Spirit in latter rain power. The heavenly sanctuary is soon to close its doors forever.
In light of these momentous times, to where should our eyes be focused?
The cross.
That’s right. The cross. But wait. Why would a generation living at the climax of history; looking forward to the Second Coming, preparing to live in the sight of a holy God, want to look back 2000 years to a historical event that is done and past? Should not we be looking to the future?
Were we to take a narrow view of the cross and what it means, those questions would be legitimate. But I am firmly convinced that the cross has a much deeper and broader significance than we too often suppose.
The last generation will have an intimate view of the cross that is both profound and deep. They will know by experience something of what happened there on Calvary’s hill.
The Last Generation
We need to say a word about who this last generation. Who are they?
The last generation is that group of people who are privileged to live without tasting death to see Jesus coming in the clouds of glory; they are those spoken of in Revelation who are found without guile in their mouth; without fault. They are the 144,000 who are translated alive to meet their Lord in the air. They are typified by Enoch and Elijah. Their experience is unique in that they have lived in the sight of a holy God after the sanctuary has closed its doors forever. They don’t have the benefit of forgiveness for ongoing or unconfessed sins. Instead, they have developed perfect and righteous characters by allowing Christ to live out His life perfectly in and through them. God has placed His final seal upon them and pronounced them just. These are they who live, not by sight, but by faith alone through the most trying hour of earth’s history. They are living witnesses to the universe of what God can do for, in, and through those who cooperate fully with Him.
It is these, this last generation, who have come to see the cross in its full and true significance. They share an intimacy with the Savior so close that they are pictured in Revelation as standing on the sea of glass and singing “the song of Moses…and the song of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:3).
The Meaning of the Cross
The cross is the focal point of all history. The cross was the low point of history for it was there that created beings murdered their Creator and Redeemer. Sin showed its ugliest side; its lowest depths. You and I, working through our hired surrogates, murdered the Son of God.
But it was also at the cross, that God and His truth triumphed. Love proved stronger than evil; righteousness won out over selfishness; sin and death suffered a mortal wound. Yes, the cross was the high point of history because the Creator allowed His creatures to murder Him. Why? To demonstrate His beautiful, loving, gracious character; and to purchase our freedom.
The cross proves that the law of God is immutable, unchangeable. Else, God could have found another way. Think about it. Would God have allowed His Son to be sacrificed were He able to suspend or change His law? Surely, He would have found another way. But God’s law could not be changed. Therefore He met its unbending rule by sacrificing Himself to meet its demands. He could not bear to lose humanity, His created beings; therefore He sacrificed Himself to win us freedom.
Can you love a God who allows Himself to be murdered by you as He makes an all-out effort to convince you that He truly is a God of love? What more could we ask for?
The Psalms sum it up so beautifully, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalms 85:10).
When we use the term, “the cross,” we mean not just the hard facts of history, that a man was willing to die on a wooden cross. No, this man was no ordinary man. He was the very Son of God who had stooped to take our own fallen, sinful humanity; to live a perfect life; to empty Himself completely, to submit Himself entirely to the will of His Father; to sacrifice Himself once and for all for the sake of His created universe; for you and me.
The cross was a revelation of the divine character of God. It was a demonstration of His love and of His justice. We received His love; He administered His justice to His own self; to His own Son. God suffered; we walked free. He deserved what we got; we got what He deserved. That is the meaning of the cross. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
Focusing on the Cross
That is why the following three texts have such significance:
And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live (Numbers 21:8).
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:14, 15).
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).
And that is why the last generation focuses on the cross. Not because they see only an event of history; they see a living reality in their own lives moment-by-moment—because of the cross. They recognize the gospel therein.
The Gospel on the Cross
A most interesting statement is made in an obscure manuscript written in 1898.
Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel (Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, p. 37).
What was the gospel? The cross? No, Christ. Christ was the gospel hanging on the cross. Why was He the gospel while on the cross? Because the cross is the ultimate statement about who God is; about His love; about His character. The cross reveals that God is unselfish; that He was willing to go to the most extreme measures to set us free and to prove that God’s way is the best way. That is the gospel. The good news that God is a loving, forgiving, empowering God who denies Himself to save sinners from their sins.
Now, let’s put some context to the above quoted statement:
Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel. Now we have a message, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.’ Will not our church members keep their eyes fixed on a crucified and risen Saviour, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered? This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. If we can awaken an interest in men’s minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, we may step aside, and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God. They thus receive their lesson. Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. He whose eyes are fixed on Jesus will leave all. He will die to selfishness. He will believe in all the Word of God, which is so gloriously and wonderfully exalted in Christ (Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, p. 37). (All emphasis supplied throughout this document.)
There we have it. The cross brings us a message of the self-denying love of God. We are bidden to follow His example in denying our selfishness, taking up our cross and following Jesus wherever He leads. This is what the gospel is about. It is the “power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). This is what the last generation understands so well. This is what they see when they look at the cross. They understand the significance of the following statement:
Christ died to make it possible for you to cease to sin (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, August 28, 1894).
The Gospel Comes to Us
The last generation also has come to realize the full import of the following statement:
The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail.… It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church.… Of the Spirit Jesus said, ‘He shall glorify Me.’ The Saviour came to glorify the Father by the demonstration of His love; so the Spirit was to glorify Christ by revealing His grace to the world. The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity. The honor of God, the honor of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the character of His people (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 671).
Allow that to sink in. Read it again!
What is this saying? That the cross would have been of “no avail” if it were not for the Holy Spirit making it effectual in the hearts of believers by purifying them, and making them partakers of the divine nature? That is exactly what it is saying. Contrary to what some teach, the cross was only the beginning. More must follow. The sacrifice on the altar of burnt offering in the courtyard of the sanctuary begins the process. It ends when the Day of Atonement is completed.
The last generation sees this truth. They see that the Holy Spirit gives power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil. This is making the sacrifice effectual so that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:4).
You see, the last generation has something uniquely in common with the earthly mission of Christ. Christ’s mission was to glorify the Father by showing the true character of God. The mission of the last generation is likewise to glorify God in heaven by revealing what God can do in and through them in the most trying time of earth’s history. “The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity. The honor of God, the honor of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the character of His people.”
That is the message of the cross. That is the gospel.
The Gospel as Present Truth
This is powerful; this is present truth. This is the view of the cross through the eyes of the last generation.
The atonement of Christ is not a mere skillful way to have our sins pardoned; it is a divine remedy for the cure of transgression and the restoration of spiritual health. It is the Heaven-ordained means by which the righteousness of Christ may be not only upon us but in our hearts and characters (Ellen G. White, SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1074).
We are starting to get a fuller picture of the meaning of the Gospel hanging upon the cross. Not only is the righteousness of Christ being put upon us (justification), it is being put in our hearts and characters (sanctification). This is what Paul means when he declares:
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 of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
Is this the meaning of true righteousness by faith?
The last generation understands that there is a truncated version of the gospel floating around out there. It goes something like this: The gospel is limited to what Christ did on the cross 2000 years ago. It is contained only in the declaration of our righteousness as found in a forensic (legal) justification. The righteousness that saves us is said to reside outside of us, apart from us.
The last generation understands it differently. They understand the true meaning of the cross.
The gospel is a system of practical truths destined to work great changes in human character . If it does not work the transformation in life, in habits, and practice, it is no truth to those who claim to believe it. Man must be sanctified through the truth. And said Jesus, ‘Thy word is truth’ (John 17:17 ). Unless the truth of God shall lift up man out of his depravity, his intemperate and profligate habits, and make him reflect the image of God, he is lost (Ellen G. White, This Day with God, p. 81).
The very essence of the gospel is restoration… (Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 213).
The last generation realizes that the cross was the ultimate revelation of God’s love and His character. They understand that Christ completed the sacrificial atonement at the cross; that He “was earning the right to become the advocate of men in the Father’s presence” (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 744).
What else does the last generation see when it looks at Calvary?
- It Sees Forgiveness (Justification).
The last generation understands that they are vile sinners who are deserving of eternal death. They are overwhelmed that a holy God is willing to forgive them of their past sins and to substitute the perfect, righteous life of Christ in place of their own dark past. They understand that God’s forgiveness is not limited to a legal declaration only. They agree with Inspiration when it states that “God’s forgiveness is not merely a judicial act by which He sets us free from condemnation. It is not only forgiveness for sin, but reclaiming from sin. It is the outflow of redeeming love that transforms the heart” (Ellen G. White, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, p. 114). - It Sees Sanctification.
The last generation has learned that the Bible includes sanctification in the salvation equation. “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13). This gives them freedom and power to grow up into Christ; to form perfect characters like Christ. This is good news indeed. - It Sees a Complete Emptying of Self (Full Conversion).
Like Jesus on the cross, the last generation will be completely emptied of self (Philippians 2:5-8; Revelation 14:1-12). Because of this utter giving of themselves, they share in being lifted up by the Father. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9); “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). - It Sees the High Priestly Ministry of Christ.
The last generation understands by way of the types and shadows of the Old Testament, that the sacrifice was not the end of the salvation process. The cross provided the sacrifice. But then the priest took the blood into the sanctuary. At the cross, Christ “was earning the right to become the advocate of men in the Father’s presence” (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 744). - It Sees the Atonement.
The last generation understands that the sacrificial atonement was completed at the cross. And yet, they have come to learn that this is not the end of the atonement. There is another phase. Staying true to the types, they have come to understand the significance of the final atonement. Just as in the Old Testament model, the high priest must make an atonement for the sanctuary and for the people—a final atonement in the Day of Atonement—a cleansing of the sanctuary from the sins of God’s people with a simultaneous cleansing of their soul temples here on earth. This is what Christ is doing as He fulfills His role as the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary as described in the book of Hebrews. He is working to bring at-one-ment between His saints and Himself—a great last work of separating sin from God’s people. (See Leviticus 16; Daniel 8:14; The Great Controversy, pp. 409-432, 479-491).
This final atonement is the key to closing up the sanctuary service. It must be accomplished before the Holy Spirit can place the final seal upon His people, before probation closes, before Christ can come to take us home. - It Hears the Call to Overcome As Christ Overcame.
The last generation understands they are uniquely invited to overcome as Christ overcame (Revelation 3:21). They must exercise the same faith as Jesus. In fact, this is one of the identifying marks of the last generation: that they have “the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). - It Realizes its Own Calling to Give the Last Message: the Final
Revelation of God’s Character of Love.
The last generation understands that the last message of mercy given to a dying world is a revelation of God’s character of love. They are humbled as they have come to realize that God intends to demonstrate this message through them. They understand that this will bring glory to God.
Revelation’s first angel tells us to “Fear God, and give glory to him” (Revelation 14:7). Jesus tells us that we “are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). God is glorified and vindicated by His faithful people at the end. Mrs. White says it this way,The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them. The light of the Sun of Righteousness is to shine forth in good works—in words of truth and deeds of holiness (Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 415, 416).
Thus, the last generation sees a unique connection between themselves and Christ. Christ as the head of His church suffered the cross to bring glory to God and to vindicate His name. At the end, Christ as the head operates through His church, the body, to suffer the intense trials of the end times to bring glory to God and to vindicate His name.
These seven things are clearly seen by the last generation as they contemplate the cross and its meaning for them and for the great controversy. They are overwhelmed with consternation at their own failings, but at the same time are filled with hope at the mercy, faithfulness, and empowering richness of God toward them. They press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). They lay hold of the promises and by them are made partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). This is the secret of their success. God is able to keep them from falling and to present them faultless before His throne (Jude 24).
Has the Cross Changed Us?
But the last generation is still forming. The church has not yet made herself ready (Revelation 19:7). And so we take another look at the larger context of the passage we read earlier; the one stating that, “Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel.” We already presented the paragraph containing that line. Here are the paragraphs immediately following:
As the sinner sees Jesus as He is, an all compassionate Saviour, hope and assurance take possession of his soul. The helpless soul is cast without any reservation upon Jesus. None can bear away from the vision of Christ Jesus crucified a lingering doubt. Unbelief is gone.
I present this before you to whom these lines are applicable, and I ask you, Do you know anything about self-denial and self-sacrifice for Christ’s sake? Have you with the eye of faith contemplated the scenes of His sufferings? Or have you allowed your own selfishness to overshadow the sense of what Christ has endured for you? Oh, my brethren and sisters, I lift up Christ, who has been crucified among you, as your eternal center.
But I must tell you that the church in her present state is represented by the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish. The foolish had lamps, but had no oil in their vessels with their lamps. Those represented by this class will die greater sinners than they were before they professed to believe the truth, because when they knew God, they worshipped Him not as God. Self, self, self, in all its perverted attributes, hardened the heart and closed the door against Jesus Christ, that He should not enter and abide with them.
Many are unconverted. They have hard hearts and unappreciative minds. Their eyes are blinded by self-indulgence. ‘If our gospel be hid,’ Paul declares, ‘it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ’ [2 Corinthians 4:3-6].
Brethren, we are far behind. The things which the church should do to be a living church, are not done. The Lord has sent you light… but who receives it and believes it? …. The truth, though presented in clear lines, is not accepted. It cuts at the idols of the church members, but they refuse to put them away (Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, pp. 37, 38).
It is a sobering message indeed. “Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel.” What are we going to do with that Gospel? What is our response today?
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die (John 12:32, 33).
He longs to hear our response of love, of obedience, of commitment, of loyalty. Shall we hold back, or shall we surrender all to Jesus right now and join that last generation as it strives to see Jesus more clearly and to allow Him to change us so that we will fully reflect the beautiful character of God to a dying world. GCO
Supplementary Material
Following are some supplementary material pertaining to the statement quoted above, “Hanging upon the cross, Christ was the gospel.” The most basic point to be made here is that the benefits of the cross are broader than many suppose. For a correct interpretation of this topic, alongside the statement, “Hanging upon the cross, Christ was the gospel,” must be quoted other statements such as the following:
The gospel that is to be preached to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples presents the truth in clear lines, showing that obedience is the condition of gaining eternal life. Christ imparts His righteousness to those who consent to let Him take away their sins. (MS 40, 1900) (Ellen G. White, SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p 971).
The gospel of Christ is the law exemplified in character (Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 2, p. 108).
Teach them the first principle of the gospel, which is Christ formed within, the hope of glory (Ellen G. White, Sermons and Talks, vol. 2, p. 73)
Perfection of character is attainable by every one who strives for it. This is made the very foundation of the new covenant of the gospel (Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 211).
When temperance is presented as a part of the gospel, many will see their need of reform (Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 75)
The Lord has given instruction that the gospel is to be carried forward; and the gospel includes health reform in all its phases (Ellen G. White, Counsels on Diets and Foods, p. 75).
Notice carefully how each of these statements include within the gospel the perfecting of Christian character, the law exemplified in character, Christ formed within, temperance, and health reform “in all its phases.” None of these are described in the above statements as the “fruits” of the gospel, but rather, as part of the gospel itself.
This understood, it becomes clear that when Ellen White spoke of Christ being the gospel while hanging on the cross, she is including practical sanctification among the gifts the cross offers. The problem with too many is that they mistakenly associate the cross exclusively with justification, a restrictive definition not allowed by such Bible texts as Hebrews 13:12, 20-21 and I John 1:7, 9 (see below). According to these verses, the blood of Jesus is as much the instrument of our sanctification as it is of our justification.
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate (Hebrews 13:12).
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever (Hebrews 13:20-21).
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7, 9).
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