“For the preaching of the cross…unto us who are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
Dear Ones:
How is the preaching of the cross…the power of God? And how does the answer to this question affect us where we live, for as long as we live, on this earth?
Christianity is a declaration of a new beginning, but one which has its origin, essence, and realization IN GOD. What is the role of the cross of Christ in this declaration? That blood-stained cross upon which Christ died, declares to us, not only that the penalty and judgement for sin was dealt with, but also, all that pertains to the flesh, the world, and the devil, was confronted and conquered. It was GOD alone who put us into Jesus Christ, and made Him to be unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. It was God alone who dealt with the totality of our sin. And it was God alone who dealt completely with everything concerning US that is not of Christ. How? He took US to that cross in Christ. We were crucified with Him, and we died. It is important that, at this point, we stop a minute and define the word,”us,” for there is a spiritual meaning here that needs to be very clear.
When Paul declares in Galatians 2:20 that he IS crucified with Christ, he is not saying that his soul, spirit, and mind, were put to death. However, he is saying that someone did die, and that someone was, what the Bible calls “the old man.” (Romans 6:6) The “old man” is that person who represents what we were IN ADAM, with all that is of sin, the flesh, and the devil. Every vestige, manifestation, or characteristic of what we were as sinners in Adam has been nailed to that cross, as were our sins. What does this mean for us? It means that God, by the Cross, has severed us for time and eternity from all that is of sin and death, in order to give us a new beginning.
When God chose Abram to become the “father of many nations,” through whom God would bless the world, He changed his name to Abraham. There was a new beginning because of an intervention of God. When Jacob wrestled with the angel, pleading with Him to bless him, God changed his name to Israel. It was the commencement of a NEW beginning. When Jesus confronted Peter, He spoke to him in the context of what He was going to do through him, so, He changed his name from Simon to Peter, thus declaring a new beginning. To us, the cross declares that the “old” IS passed away, having been crucified and buried. The resurrection is a declaration that the “new man” in Christ is now the great reality. The cross dealt with the old, so that we could be free, by the Spirit, to live unto God IN CHRIST, in fullest measure, as we abide in Him, and He in us.
Dear Father, open our eyes to see, understand, and grasp the greatness and power of the Gospel, which declares that Christ has dealt with all that we were in Adam, freeing us from the “man of old,” in order to embrace by faith the reality of the new man in Christ. Give us grace to “put on” this new man by faith, with all that it means, for Thy glory and honor. Then we shall know newness of life, and the power of the resurrection, on a daily basis. We thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad