“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20 KJV).

The one thing that marks the true followers of Christ is the cross! It was on the Cross that Jesus paid for our sin in full! He became the sacrificial Lamb of God, chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). It was on the cross that sin was judged and judgment was carried out. And it was there on the cross that the greatest message of love and forgiveness in the universe was displayed. Both events were open and visible for all to see.

The cross is the dividing line of human history. And the cross is the dividing line of our personal history. For the followers of Christ, it is there on the cross that our old life and our old person died. And it is there on the cross, that our new life in Christ begins. It is there on the cross that we were delivered from the power of sin. It is there on the cross where we are empowered to live a new life in Christ. It is there on the cross that all of Satan’s claims against us are cancelled. And it is there on the cross that we are empowered to overcome all the powers of darkness.

The crucified life is the paradox of the Christian life. Both death and life, judgment and freedom, hell and heaven all meet together at the cross. Mercy and grace are wrapped in unbelievable love. Death is swallowed up in victory and eternal life is the ultimate outcome (1 Cor. 15:54). It is the mighty resurrection of Jesus that gives the cross its power. And the revelation of that reality causes us to bow before Him! Until the cross and the resurrection becomes a reality to us, all we have is religion. But when it becomes a reality, we will be forever changed and transformed. We will never be the same again. And we will willingly spend our lives for Him! For there is no genuine life in Christ apart from the cross (Mark 8:34).

Rev. James W. Black