Tag: cross
Alive in Christ!
Scripture reading for September 9: Colossians 2
“In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, Who raised Him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him.” Colossians 2:11-15
Paul wanted to insure that the Colossian believers had a full understanding of the will of God working in their lives through repentance and faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. He used the image of circumcision to describe God’s surgery done on each person who repents and believes. The old covering of flesh and sin is cut away without human hands by the Holy Spirit in the removal of the old nature from man’s heart. This is acted out by faith in water baptism when we symbolically are ‘buried’ in the water in identification with Christ’s death and burial. In baptism we are then raised up out of the water in identification with Christ’s resurrection to life. We are buried in sin’s deadness but raised in eternal life’s promise of a future glorified body.
Legally, the satanic rulers and authorities, had accusations of sin written up against us and these accusations stood before God. But God in His justice, took these accusations and nailed the record of our debt to the cross of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus died taking the punishment for our sins, thus disarming these rulers and authorities and making a show of them openly. We now have victory over our sins and their penalty of death through faith in Christ’s blood and sacrifice on the cross. In Christ’s resurrection we have the guarantee of eternal life and a glorious body like unto Christ’s body. (Philippians 3:20-21)
Does your world view include an invisible element of demonic forces against us? Does it include the invisible realm of Heaven and God’s throne where Jesus is seated awaiting His return? Have you taken advantage of the forgiveness of your debts nailed to Jesus’ cross?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for defeating the rulers and authorities of Satan’s false kingdom of accusers through the cross of Jesus Christ. I have and now identify with Jesus’ through water baptism and through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. I await Jesus’ soon return in power and glory! Amen!
Finding true life!
Scripture reading for January 22: Matthew 16
“”Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until the see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Matthew 16:24-28
Peter had just made a strong confession of faith that Jesus was the Christ and the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16) Jesus went on to reveal to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer and die but on the third day be raised from the dead. Peter rebuked Jesus for such teaching! Peter loved His Lord and did not want to hear of this happening. Jesus then rebuked Satan for using Peter to think naturally instead of spiritually! (Matthew 16:22-23) This exchange makes us examine our own world views concerning what following Jesus really means and what really leads to true life.
Jesus taught His followers that there was a cost in their chosen journey. They, as He would soon do, must take up a cross, denying themselves their own desires and life goals. They must be willing to lay down their lives to find eternal life in His eternal kingdom. His questions to them: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” and “What shall a man give in return for his soul?” Jesus revealed His future return in glory with the holy angels to judge each person for their deeds. Each person will have to give an account. This somber truth is meant to encourage His followers to remain faithful.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for speaking plainly to me and all mankind concerning our need to follow Jesus no matter what it might cost. I have nothing to give in exchange for my soul but my faith in Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for me and His resurrection to glory. I await His return for me! Amen.
The message of the cross
Scripture reading for November 21: 1st Corinthians 1-6
To educated people, Christ and the cross seems to be a foolish idea. It doesn’t make sense to the natural mind trained to trust senses, self, and science. It is not logical or even believable to many who have college degrees and have embraced modern secular humanism. To these people, religion is fine, but the cross is offensive! They are strong enough to handle life by themselves. But God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong! (1st Corinthians 1:27)
The message of the cross is a message of God’s wrath against sin. God has decreed that the soul that sins must die. (Romans 6:23) Jesus Christ took the wages of man’s sin upon Himself and was beaten, mocked, spit upon, ridiculed, and crucified as a common criminal. Isaiah says that we considered Him “stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4) The punishment that we deserved fell upon Him and by His stripes we are healed! (Isaiah 53:5) God’s wrath was directed against His own Son, that we might be free from that wrath! (2nd Corinthians 5:21)
The message of the cross tells of God’s love for us who are made in His image. God Himself being willing to send His only Son to earth to die in our place tells the greatest love story ever told! “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) He demonstrated His love for us in that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners! (Romans 5:8) God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on Him would not perish, but have eternal life! (John 3:16)
The message of the cross demands repentance and faith. We must turn from our self-centered ways and look to Jesus Christ for salvation and forgiveness of sin. This message is the power of God for salvation to those who will believe! (Romans 1:16-17) “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us Wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1st Corinthians 1:30)
We must be humble to receive this message of the cross. It is foolishness to those who claim worldly wisdom. It is weakness to those who think themselves strong. It is an offense to our intellect and strength, but it is God’s wisdom for the humble! Oh how I love the cross and the One who gave His life for me!
God’s saving wisdom!
Scripture reading for August 1st: 1st Corinthians 1, Psalm 2, Proverbs 28
1st Corinthians 1:18-25 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Corinth, a city where he had spend considerable time preaching the Gospel. The result was many were saved as they believed in the message of the cross and Christ Jesus offering Himself there for the sins of the world. This message was foolishness to all who were perishing, both Jew and Gentile. But God, in His infinite wisdom, chose this simple message to save those who would believe. This put all men on level ground at the foot of Christ’s cross. Anyone who trusts in his own mind and reasoning will be a fool. Those who choose Christ will become wise and walk in wisdom. The choice is available to all for a limited time! Today is the best day to kiss the Son!
Psalm 2:10-12 “Now therefore, O kings, be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him,”‘
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing wisdom and mercy found in the message of the cross and the Son of God Who offered Himself there for all as a sacrifice for sin. I humbly bow before You and pay homage to Jesus Christ, Son of God. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and wisdom to share this message with both wise and foolish that they may believe and be saved from the coming wrath.
Proverbs 28:26 “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
Wisdom: “take up his cross and follow Me!”
Scripture reading for January 11th: Mark 8, Psalm 8, Proverbs 8
Mark 8: 34-38 “And calling the crowd to Him with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father will the holy angels.””
Jesus called out to the crowds and directly again to His disciples. His call was to take up their cross and follow Him. What a strange thing to ask of your followers! Carrying the instrument of their own cruel death and following Jesus would not normally be attractive. Jesus explained that loving our life here on earth would cause us to lose our relationship with Him. We would not find the way of the cross that leads to real life. Jesus explained that to lose our lives in following Him was to gain life! We must not be ashamed of Him, His death on a cross for us, or His resurrection to become our Savior! We confess our confidence by faith and take up our cross and follow Him to eternal life and victory over death!
Psalm 8:1 “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.”
Prayer: Father God, I confess my utter dependence on You and Your way of salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ. I am not ashamed of Jesus Christ, my Lord, or of His Gospel of repentance and salvation through His sacrifice on the cross. Fill me with fresh boldness to declare the Gospel message in simplicity and in power, with conviction through the Holy Spirit, opening eyes and drawing the lost to salvation.
Proverbs 8:10-11 “Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.”
Jesus Christ: the believers wisdom!
Scripture reading for August 25th: 1st Corinthians 1
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 1:26-31 “For consider you calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.””
Boasting and pride are a big part of the world system. Even in the church, there are people vying for titles and position and fame. But Paul asked the Corinthian believers to examine their lives first according to worldly standards. Not many of them were wise or powerful or famous. Not many were in positions of nobility. But thankfully God doesn’t judge us according to worldly standards but according to our relationship to His Son, Jesus Christ. In Christ Jesus, we are made wise with God’s wisdom and strong with God’s strength. In Christ Jesus we are set apart (sanctified) fully as a vessel of honor in God house and given the free gift of eternal life and full redemption. We can now boast in what our Lord Jesus has done for us! We are totally indebted to Him!
1st Corinthians 1:4-5 “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge. . . “
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for becoming my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and full redemption. My nobility comes from a relationship with You alone! Help me today to spread Your fame through the powerful message of the cross to those who have not yet heard and are still caught in a failed world system centered on sin and selfishness and pride.
1st Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Christ the Preeminent
Scripture reading for June 7th: Colossians 1
Key Scriptures: Colossians 1:15-20 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.”
Paul explained to the Colossian believers the place held by Christ Jesus in the grand design of creation. Christ is the exact image of the invisible God. Christ is the firstborn of all creation and the creator of all things. He sustains all things and holds them together. Christ is the head of the church, His body, now active in this world. In Christ Jesus all the fullness of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, dwells. In Christ alone is peace with God through His sacrifice of His body on the cross of Calvary. Looking at a summary, Christ Jesus is preeminent in all things and He now resides in us who believe! He hold first place!
Colossians 1:27 “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I give You the place of preeminence in my life in honor and worship of Who You are. Thank You for the blood shed on the cross and for placing me in Your Body, the Church and for sending the Holy Spirit to reside in me. May I declare Your preeminence in word and deed in Your power through my daily living.
Colossians 1:28-29 “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me.”
Count the cost!
Scripture reading for March 22nd: Luke 14
Key Scriptures: Luke 14:25-30 “Now great crowds accompanied Him, and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers ad sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.'”
Salvation and forgiveness of sins is a free gift for all who repent and believe on Jesus Christ. That is the first step of a journey that is to last the rest of our earthly lives and continues for eternity. According to Jesus, following Him definitely has a cost. First, all other interests, people, and priorities must be put behind our love for Jesus. We can’t put marriage, family, or even our own life ahead of Him. This is symbolized by His call to “bear his own cross” and come after Him as He modeled for us carrying His cross and loving not His own life unto death on our behalf. Following Him should not just be an emotional decision based on a momentary whim or pressure from a friend. These costs must be weighed, and if paid, must be followed through to completion.
Luke 14:33 “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank You for purchasing the free gift of salvation and eternal life through Your sacrifice on the cross. I desire to be Your disciple and sometimes struggle with taking up my cross and fully following You. Show me daily what this looks like for me. Give me more grace.
Psalm 49:7-9 “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit.”
Not Peace but a Sword!
Scripture reading for July 29th: Joel, Matthew 10
Key Scriptures: Matthew 10:34-39 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
After observing Jesus ministering and healing, He sent out the twelve hand-picked disciples to do ministry with additional instructions concerning their reception. They were going out as sheep among wolves. There would be great persecution and even some loss of life–the sword would be raised against them! Their enemies would even come from among their own families. The Gospel message would offend and cause conflict between close relatives. These disciples must choose Jesus and take up their cross to find the life He offered: eternal life and everlasting joy!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for speaking plainly and laying out the choice of following You with our whole heart. I choose to follow You, losing my life for Your amazing life! Lead me onward today!
Joel 2:32 “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.”
The ‘foolish’ message of the cross!
Scripture reading for November 22nd: 1st Corinthians 1-6
Christ and the cross seems to be a foolish idea that doesn’t make sense to the mind trained to trust senses, self, and science. It is not logical or even believable to many who have college degrees and have embraced modern secular humanism. To these people, religion is fine, but the cross is offensive! But God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong! (1st Corinthians 1:27)
The message of the cross is a message of God’s wrath against sin. God has decreed that the soul that sins must die. (Romans 6:23) Jesus Christ took the wages of man’s sin upon Himself and was beaten, mocked, spit upon, ridiculed, and crucified as a common criminal. Isaiah says that we considered Him “stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4) The punishment that we deserved fell upon Him and by His stripes we are healed! (Isaiah 53:5) God’s wrath was directed against His own Son, that we would be free from wrath! (2nd Corinthians 5:21)
The message of the cross tells of God’s love for us. God’s willingness to send His only Son to earth just to die in our place tells the greatest love story ever told! “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) He demonstrated His love for us in that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners! (Romans 5:8) God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on Him would not perish, but have eternal life! (John 3:16)
The message of the cross demands repentance and faith. We must turn from our self-centered ways and look to Jesus Christ for salvation and forgiveness of sin. This message is the power of God for salvation to those who will believe! (Romans 1:16-17) “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1st Corinthians 1:30)
Oh how I love the cross and the One who gave His life for me! May this message of God’s wrath against sin and God’s amazing love flow from us who believe each and every day!