Five of many groups of people Jesus died for can be spelled out in the acrostic CROSS:
The Cross is for the CONFUSED. Many people are confused about what is truly important in life. They are confused about what can really satisfy them in a world that says "do whatever you want, and live however you want to live." Aleister Crowley, an English occultist, mystic, ceremonial magician, espoused a form of libertinism based upon the rule of "Do what thou wilt [shall be the whole of the law]." Many are confused about how to fill in certain gaps and voids in their lives that only Christ can fill.
The Cross is for the RUNNERS, those who are trying to run from God because of skepticism about how true His Word, the Bible, is; because of people pushing vain religion down their throats; because of a bad church relationship with someone or a group of people; or because of something else. But no matter how hard or how fast you think you're running, you cannot outrun God. So please just stop. There is no point in wearing yourself out.
The Cross is for the OVERWHELMED. Many are overwhelmed by life pressures, by unexpectedly having to take care of sick loved one, by juggling work, school, etc. God does not promise the absence of trouble. But He does promise to be with us through it all and to neither leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Isaiah 43:1-3; Hebrews 13:5).
The Cross is for the SINNERS. We need to talk about sin. Why don't we like we should? Oftentimes it is because we are afraid of seeming judgmental or intolerant toward others. But we have adopted a twisted definition of "tolerance." "What's right for you is right for you and what's right for me is right for me" does not necessarily fly too well with God. If God calls something sin, then it's sin. If He calls something good, then it's good. That's it. He is the Final Authority on all matters. Romans 6:23 declares, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." We even see the Apostle Paul, a very strong believer in Christ, struggle with the issue of sin in Romans 7:7-25. When he wanted to do right, he found himself doing wrong at times. But he recognized it was because of the sin in him. We all struggle with our fleshly nature at times, but Christ is the Remedy for us.
Last, but certainly not least, the Cross is for the SAVED. First, we have to get over this "good ol' boy" syndrome that has permeated too many places. Just because someone seems like they are so "good" and could do no wrong and they're religious, saying "Lord, Lord," it does not mean they will hear the Lord say "Well done" on that final day (Matthew 7:21-23). Our good works alone cannot save us. Only Christ can do that. If we could be "good" on our own, we wouldn't need a savior. But we need a Savior Who can wash away our mess, and our filth, and our sin. We need to know without a shadow of a doubt that if we did not make it to work, or to our homes, or to any other place, that we're saved and ready for heaven, ready to meet Jesus face to face. Secondly, to those of us who are saved in Christ, the Cross is a reminder that we still need Jesus to encourage us, to mature us, and to grow us up in things of God. I don't care how long you've been saved, none of us can out-grow our need for the Gospel message. And please, let us not compare ourselves to other people. No one is "more saved" than another saved person. You're either saved or you're not. You're either saved or you're lost. The Cross is a reminder that it's not about "what I did," but it's about what Christ did on it in our place.
I put my trust in Christ the way I put my trust in a stool. It's one thing to say I believe in Christ (I believe in the stool, it's real, it's solid.) But it's another thing to actively transfer my trust to the stool to the point where I am sitting on it, knowing that it will hold me up. That's active faith. So I actively trust the Lord with my life, knowing He keeps me safe from dangers. I trust the Lord with my finances, knowing that when I pay my tithes and give my offering, that He will bless me for my obedience, so I can then be a blessing to others. And there are many other applications for this, of course...
So basically, the CROSS is for EVERYONE.
The Cross is for the CONFUSED. Many people are confused about what is truly important in life. They are confused about what can really satisfy them in a world that says "do whatever you want, and live however you want to live." Aleister Crowley, an English occultist, mystic, ceremonial magician, espoused a form of libertinism based upon the rule of "Do what thou wilt [shall be the whole of the law]." Many are confused about how to fill in certain gaps and voids in their lives that only Christ can fill.
The Cross is for the RUNNERS, those who are trying to run from God because of skepticism about how true His Word, the Bible, is; because of people pushing vain religion down their throats; because of a bad church relationship with someone or a group of people; or because of something else. But no matter how hard or how fast you think you're running, you cannot outrun God. So please just stop. There is no point in wearing yourself out.
The Cross is for the OVERWHELMED. Many are overwhelmed by life pressures, by unexpectedly having to take care of sick loved one, by juggling work, school, etc. God does not promise the absence of trouble. But He does promise to be with us through it all and to neither leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Isaiah 43:1-3; Hebrews 13:5).
The Cross is for the SINNERS. We need to talk about sin. Why don't we like we should? Oftentimes it is because we are afraid of seeming judgmental or intolerant toward others. But we have adopted a twisted definition of "tolerance." "What's right for you is right for you and what's right for me is right for me" does not necessarily fly too well with God. If God calls something sin, then it's sin. If He calls something good, then it's good. That's it. He is the Final Authority on all matters. Romans 6:23 declares, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." We even see the Apostle Paul, a very strong believer in Christ, struggle with the issue of sin in Romans 7:7-25. When he wanted to do right, he found himself doing wrong at times. But he recognized it was because of the sin in him. We all struggle with our fleshly nature at times, but Christ is the Remedy for us.
Last, but certainly not least, the Cross is for the SAVED. First, we have to get over this "good ol' boy" syndrome that has permeated too many places. Just because someone seems like they are so "good" and could do no wrong and they're religious, saying "Lord, Lord," it does not mean they will hear the Lord say "Well done" on that final day (Matthew 7:21-23). Our good works alone cannot save us. Only Christ can do that. If we could be "good" on our own, we wouldn't need a savior. But we need a Savior Who can wash away our mess, and our filth, and our sin. We need to know without a shadow of a doubt that if we did not make it to work, or to our homes, or to any other place, that we're saved and ready for heaven, ready to meet Jesus face to face. Secondly, to those of us who are saved in Christ, the Cross is a reminder that we still need Jesus to encourage us, to mature us, and to grow us up in things of God. I don't care how long you've been saved, none of us can out-grow our need for the Gospel message. And please, let us not compare ourselves to other people. No one is "more saved" than another saved person. You're either saved or you're not. You're either saved or you're lost. The Cross is a reminder that it's not about "what I did," but it's about what Christ did on it in our place.
I put my trust in Christ the way I put my trust in a stool. It's one thing to say I believe in Christ (I believe in the stool, it's real, it's solid.) But it's another thing to actively transfer my trust to the stool to the point where I am sitting on it, knowing that it will hold me up. That's active faith. So I actively trust the Lord with my life, knowing He keeps me safe from dangers. I trust the Lord with my finances, knowing that when I pay my tithes and give my offering, that He will bless me for my obedience, so I can then be a blessing to others. And there are many other applications for this, of course...
So basically, the CROSS is for EVERYONE.