THE NAILS OF THE

OLD RUGGED CROSSJohn 20:25John 20:25

Introduction:Introduction: Little said of the nails that Little said of the nails that

heldheld Jesus to the cross.Jesus to the cross. Mentioned in Jn. 20:25 and Mentioned in Jn. 20:25 and

Col. Col. 2:14. 2:14. We know more about the where- We know more about the where- abouts of the gun that killedabouts of the gun that killed presidents Lincoln and Kennedypresidents Lincoln and Kennedy than the nails that crucified the than the nails that crucified the Lord.Lord. We assume a soldier drove them.We assume a soldier drove them.

Upon Christ’s crucifixion, some Upon Christ’s crucifixion, some things happened…they “nailed things happened…they “nailed down” some things!down” some things!

THEY NAILED DOWN THE FAITHFUL-THEY NAILED DOWN THE FAITHFUL-NESS OF GOD.NESS OF GOD.

A promise was given that GodA promise was given that God would overcome the damage of would overcome the damage of the devil by the death of Jesus.the devil by the death of Jesus. (Gen. 3:15-16).(Gen. 3:15-16). We know that We know that “the Lord is not slack “the Lord is not slack concerning His promises” concerning His promises” (2 Pet. 3:9). (2 Pet. 3:9).

““To this end was the Son of God To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroymanifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil”the works of the devil” (I Jn. 3:8). (I Jn. 3:8). God is a faithful God, even after HeGod is a faithful God, even after He replaced Moses with a new leader, replaced Moses with a new leader, His blessings continued (Deut. 7:9).His blessings continued (Deut. 7:9).

God promised eternal life beforeGod promised eternal life before time began (Titus 1:2).time began (Titus 1:2). God confirmed to God confirmed to “the heirs…of“the heirs…of the hope set before us” and “it isthe hope set before us” and “it is impossible for God to lie”impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6: (Heb. 6: 18).18).

““If we are faithless, he remains If we are faithless, he remains faithful; he cannot deny himself”faithful; he cannot deny himself” (2 Tim. 2:13).(2 Tim. 2:13).

Now that 6,000Now that 6,000 years have years have passed - time passed - time has not changedhas not changed a thing!a thing!

THEY NAILED SHUT THE DOORS OFTHEY NAILED SHUT THE DOORS OFJUDIASM.JUDIASM.

Jesus took away the handwriting ofJesus took away the handwriting of requirements that was against us and requirements that was against us and contrary to us, nailing it to the cross.contrary to us, nailing it to the cross. (Col. 2:14).(Col. 2:14).

““He takes away He takes away the first that hethe first that he may establish may establish the second” the second” (Heb. 10:9).(Heb. 10:9).

THEY NAILED TOGETHER CHRISTTHEY NAILED TOGETHER CHRISTAND THE CHURCH.AND THE CHURCH.

“…“…shepherd the church of Godshepherd the church of God which he purchased with his ownwhich he purchased with his own blood”blood” (Acts 20:28). (Acts 20:28). ““Christ is the head of the church; Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Savior of the body…and he is the Savior of the body… Christ loved the church and gaveChrist loved the church and gave himself for it”himself for it” (Eph. 5:23-26). (Eph. 5:23-26).

““Now in Christ JesusNow in Christ Jesus you who once were you who once were far off have been far off have been brought nearbrought near by the blood by the blood of Christ”of Christ” (Eph. 2:13).(Eph. 2:13).

THOSE NAILS CLOSED EVERY DOORTHOSE NAILS CLOSED EVERY DOORBUT ONE.BUT ONE.

Jesus said, Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved…”enters by me, he will be saved…” (Jn. 10:9).(Jn. 10:9).

Jesus said, Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved…”enters by me, he will be saved…” (Jn. 10:9).(Jn. 10:9). He also said, He also said, “I am the way, the truth,“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the and the life. No one comes to the Father except throughFather except through me”me” (Jn. 14:6). (Jn. 14:6).

Every other doorEvery other door is closed.is closed. You must notYou must not miss it!miss it!

There is no other name but Christ’sThere is no other name but Christ’s wherein salvation can be foundwherein salvation can be found (Acts 4:12).(Acts 4:12). A slave girl A slave girl possessed withpossessed with ““a spirit of a spirit of divination”divination” cried out about cried out about Paul and his company, Paul and his company, “These men “These men are the servants of the Most High are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation”salvation” (Acts 16:17). (Acts 16:17).

THOSE NAILS CLOSED THE PAST.THOSE NAILS CLOSED THE PAST. “ “For I will be merciful to their For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Heb. 8:12).remember no more” (Heb. 8:12). Have you ever thought about the Have you ever thought about the need for starting over?need for starting over?

• Saul of Tarsus did (Acts 22:16).Saul of Tarsus did (Acts 22:16).• We can do so through Christ!We can do so through Christ!

• “ “Jesus Christ…To him who lovedJesus Christ…To him who loved us and washed us from our sinsus and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Rev. 1:5).in his own blood” (Rev. 1:5).

SO, THE NAILS WERE THE KEY?SO, THE NAILS WERE THE KEY?

NO, THEY WERE BUT A MEANSNO, THEY WERE BUT A MEANS TO AN END;TO AN END;

THE END WAS THE PRECIOUS THE END WAS THE PRECIOUS LIFE THEY CLAIMED FOR US!LIFE THEY CLAIMED FOR US!

Those nails ought to motivate us to holy living!

Rom. 6:1-17

Our Challenge is to understand andappreciate all that was accomplished

at Calvary that impacts our lives today.