I'm the cross Jesus secured the victory over Sin, Satan,

and death. But as we think about the scene at Calvary, Jesus nailed to a tree. It hardly seems like a moment of glory.

Today on Truth for Life, we'll find out why that's exactly what it is.

Alistair Begg is continuing a series titled, Some Strange Ideas.

Our Old Testament reading is Isaiah 53 in our New Testament reading, its Galatians chapter 1.

I just want to read the first four verses. Paul and Apostle sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead, and all the brothers with me, to the churches in Galatia.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

On one occasion, the celebrated German academic theologian Karl Bart was conducting a speaking tour.

And on each occasion, when he spoke, he gave an opportunity for questions to be addressed to him and answers to be provided by him.

And it's recorded that on one of these occasions, when everything had been swirling around at a very high level academically and theologically, someone posed this question.

Professor Bart, they said, would you be able to tell us what is the most profound theological thought that you have ever had, that you have ever pondered?

And Bart paused for just a moment and then he said, Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.

If the Apostle Paul were to have been confronted by the same or a similar question, I think that there is a very good chance that he would have replied in words that come from the second chapter of Galatians.

They are found in verse 20 of chapter 2 and I think if we would have asked Paul, this would certainly have been in the top half dozen.

And the phrase that he might have used to reply would have been this, the Son of God loved me and gave himself for me.

The driving force of Paul's life and ministry is found in this.

And what you have in that phraseology is essentially Paul's personal testimony.

And for him to write as he does in this way is to understand that Paul knew that God had not counted Paul's sins against Paul.

Because Paul had discovered that God had counted Paul's sins against Jesus.

And it is with this immense truth that Paul writes to these Galatians people, people who have made a good beginning in their understanding of the good news of Jesus,

but who are being tested and tried and pulled away by some who are suggesting that to base your hope of heaven and eternity and new life simply and solely on the death of Jesus of Nazareth is a four-law and idea.

And that what you really need is something more than that. It's a good start. They were saying, but you need to apply your own observance of the Jewish law.

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