WHAT THE CROSS MEANS
Brother James, OIC
Php 3:18-19 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
CROSS: Greek: stauros
stow-ros'
From the base of; a stake or post (as set upright), that is, (specifically) a pole or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment); figuratively exposure to death, that is, self denial; by implication the atonement of Christ: - cross.
Daily I am exposed to the death of the world as its ideals its goodness and its evils attempt to invade my mind with thoughts contrary to the Work and Victory of the Cross.
The Cross that I pick up daily is my obedience to God to acknowledge the Truth of His Word in my heart, to Trust uncompromisingly His Promises. But when I allow the Works of my flesh to guide my life then I am giving in to the carnal thoughts and solutions of the world and its god Satan. And it’s usually the dark forces of the fallen nature of goodness that attempts to detour me away from the Spirit of Christ.
Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Many things are contrary to the Work of the Cross in our lives and I’ve said before the arrogance of the worlds fallen nature of its own goodness is summed up in this statement:
“There is a goodness in the world that cheats its possessor out of the True Knowledge of God and True Faith in Jesus Christ.”
The hypocrisy of this is it judges its twin fallen nature of evil. Both natures are contrary to the work of the Cross in your life. Yet it’s easier to get an evil man to repent of his wickedness then it is to get a good man to repent of his wicked goodness.
So the Cross is first upright stance rooted in the Truth of Gods Word against the world and its god Satan.
Next the Cross is the leaving of your past behind where you are in this world but no longer of this world.:
Php 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Then the Cross is our obedience to Gods Command:
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
And
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
And finally it is a daily Overcoming of Satan;
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
In Christ’s Love and Service,
Brother James, OIC
