The Cross

2018-05-27

The cross causes many to stumble. In the first century, when the Jews began hearing the gospel, many believed that they still had to be circumcised and keep the Old Testament law. When they were told that they could only be saved apart from the works of the law, many were offended, and persecuted the Christians. Here are some references: Acts 6:11-14; 11:2-3; 13:39; 15:1-5, 21-24; 21:21; Galatians 5:2-3; 6:15; Philippians 3:1-3.

Today, circumcision is not so much the issue anymore. Now, the works, could be baptism, communion, church attendance, tithing, and the like. These are all good things, just as circumcision was a commandment of God in the Old Testament. However, these things do not contribute to Christ’s work on the cross at all. Believing God’s message that Jesus died for us and rose again, making us born again, is the only thing that saves us. The cross offends those that are trusting in their works.

Those might be some of the works that people might boast in, but also, the cross offends those who believe that Christ is just one of many prophets or ways that one can be saved. If you say you are a Christian, most will not be offended, until you say that their works, their gods, and their religions are false, and that they must be saved through the cross of Christ.

The cross says that our old beliefs, old works, and even our old selves must all die. We must be born again, with God making us a new creature. Jesus told us, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). We are hopeless while clinging to this world and to our own pride.

Taking Up Your Cross

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38)

Jesus commands us to take up our cross. This entails leaving behind this life, and following Christ. Anything else is unworthy of Him.

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

Moreover, Jesus identifies His true followers as those who deny themselves to follow Him, and not mere believers. If you do not deny yourself and take up your cross, you cannot be Jesus’ disciple:

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27)

To the rich man who was seeking eternal life, the Lord told him this:

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (Mark 10:21)

The Preaching of the Cross

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17-18)

Preaching the Gospel is preaching the Word of God, which is not done with worldly wisdom. People often look for smooth talkers when looking for a preacher, and there are quite a few from which to choose. However, the preaching of the Gospel and of the cross is not going to be after the world’s standards.

The Offence of the Cross

And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. (Galatians 5:11)

The cross is offensive because it says that you cannot please God with your own works or intrinsic worth. Christ came to die for us; anything short of what He did is worthless and not profitable for eternal life. The world persecutes the disciple because they are offended, and their pride is hurt.

The Glory of the Cross

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Galatians 6:14-15)

The cross divides us from the hopelessness of the world; we are not of the world, neither is the world of us. We are new creatures, and the elements of the world are dead to us. We glory in Christ alone because of this.

The Reconciliation of the Cross

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (Ephesians 2:15-16)

As pagans without the hope of God, apart from the commonwealth of Israel, God reconciled us to Himself by the cross, and there is “one new man” superior to the Old Testament nation.

The Humiliation of the Cross

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

The Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily became a human being, born into a poor family, and humbled Himself to the death of the cross. His execution was humiliating, as most of His clothing was taken from Him (Luke 23:34; John 19:24). Jesus slowly died before His enemies.

This is also our calling. We may not die like our Lord did, but we are called to the humiliation of the cross. One day, we also shall share in His glory.

The Peace of the Cross

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)

The shed blood of Christ on the cross is our peace. He was the sin sacrifice that reconciled us to God once and for all.

The Blotting Out of the Cross

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross (Colossians 2:13-14)

The ordinances that once condemned us are blotted out and taken away. The condemned Christ on the cross took away our condemnation.

The Endurance of the Cross

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Our Lord endured the most painful torture imaginable, because a greater joy lied ahead. That is for us as well. Whatever this life has for us, we must endure it, lying all down for Christ, because one day we will see His joy.