1. THE NAILS OF THE OLD RUGGED CROSS THE NAILS OF THE OLD RUGGED CROSS John 20:25

2. Introduction:Introduction: Little said of the nails that held Little said of the nails that held Jesus to the cross. Jesus to the cross. Little said of the nails that held Little said of the nails that held Jesus to the cross. Jesus to the cross.  Mentioned in Jn. 20:25 and Col. 2:14.  We know more about the where- abouts of the gun that killed abouts of the gun that killed presidents Lincoln and Kennedy presidents Lincoln and Kennedy than the nails that crucified the than the nails that crucified the Lord. Lord.  We know more about the where- abouts of the gun that killed abouts of the gun that killed presidents Lincoln and Kennedy presidents Lincoln and Kennedy than the nails that crucified the than the nails that crucified the Lord. Lord.  We assume a soldier drove them.

3.  Upon Christ’s crucifixion, some things happened…they “nailed things happened…they “nailed down” some things! down” some things!  Upon Christ’s crucifixion, some things happened…they “nailed things happened…they “nailed down” some things! down” some things! THEY NAILED DOWN THE FAITHFUL- NESS OF GOD. THEY NAILED DOWN THE FAITHFUL- NESS OF GOD.  A 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).  A 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 “the Lord is not slack concerning His promises” concerning His promises” (2 Pet. 3:9). (2 Pet. 3:9).  We know that “the Lord is not slack concerning His promises” concerning His promises” (2 Pet. 3:9). (2 Pet. 3:9).

4.  “To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (I Jn. 3:8). the works of the devil” (I Jn. 3:8).  “To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (I Jn. 3:8). the works of the devil” (I Jn. 3:8).  God 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 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 before time began (Titus 1:2). time began (Titus 1:2).  God confirmed to “the heirs…of the hope set before us” and “it is the hope set before us” and “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6: impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6: 18). 18).  God promised eternal life before time began (Titus 1:2). time began (Titus 1:2).  God confirmed to “the heirs…of the hope set before us” and “it is the hope set before us” and “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6: impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6: 18). 18).

5.  “If we are faithless, he remains faithful; he cannot deny himself” faithful; he cannot deny himself” (2 Tim. 2:13). (2 Tim. 2:13).  “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 6,000 years have years have passed - time passed - time has not changed has not changed a thing! a thing!  Now that 6,000 years have years have passed - time passed - time has not changed has not changed a thing! a thing!

6. THEY NAILED SHUT THE DOORS OF JUDIASM. JUDIASM.  Jesus 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).  Jesus 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 the first that he the first that he may establish may establish the second” the second” (Heb. 10:9). (Heb. 10:9).  “He takes away the first that he the first that he may establish may establish the second” the second” (Heb. 10:9). (Heb. 10:9).

7. THEY NAILED TOGETHER CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. THEY NAILED TOGETHER CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.  “…shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own which he purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). blood” (Acts 20:28).  “…shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own which he purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). blood” (Acts 20:28).  “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 gave Christ loved the church and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:23-26). himself for it” (Eph. 5:23-26).  “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 gave Christ loved the church and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:23-26). himself for it” (Eph. 5:23-26).

8.  “Now in Christ Jesus you who once were you who once were far off have been far off have been brought near brought near by the blood by the blood of Christ” of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). (Eph. 2:13).  “Now in Christ Jesus you who once were you who once were far off have been far off have been brought near brought near by the blood by the blood of Christ” of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). (Eph. 2:13). THOSE NAILS CLOSED EVERY DOOR BUT ONE. THOSE NAILS CLOSED EVERY DOOR BUT ONE.  Jesus said, “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, “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).

9.  Jesus said, “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, “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, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6). me” (Jn. 14:6).  He also said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6). me” (Jn. 14:6).  Every other door is closed. is closed.  Every other door is closed. is closed.  You must not miss it! miss it!  You must not miss it! miss it!

10.  There is no other name but Christ’s wherein salvation can be found wherein salvation can be found (Acts 4:12). (Acts 4:12).  There is no other name but Christ’s wherein salvation can be found wherein salvation can be found (Acts 4:12). (Acts 4:12).  A slave girl possessed with possessed with “a spirit of “a spirit of divination” divination” cried out about cried out about Paul and his company, “These men Paul and his company, “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” (Acts 16:17). salvation” (Acts 16:17).  A slave girl possessed with possessed with “a spirit of “a spirit of divination” divination” cried out about cried out about Paul and his company, “These men Paul and his company, “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” (Acts 16:17). salvation” (Acts 16:17).

11. THOSE NAILS CLOSED THE PAST.  “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).  “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 need for starting over? need for starting over?  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!

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

13. SO, THE NAILS WERE THE KEY? NO, THEY WERE BUT A MEANS TO AN END; TO AN END; THE END WAS THE PRECIOUS LIFE THEY CLAIMED FOR US! NO, THEY WERE BUT A MEANS TO AN END; TO AN END; THE END WAS THE PRECIOUS LIFE THEY CLAIMED FOR US!

14. Those nails ought to motivate us to holy living! Those nails ought to motivate us to holy living! Rom. 6:1-17

16. Our Challenge is to understand and appreciate all that was accomplished at Calvary that impacts our lives today.