The Doctrine of the Cross – Part I

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” 1 Corinthians 1:18. Here we see that a single message brings two different outcomes. Here the Bible clearly records that if any man in this world wants to be saved from all destructions that await the world, the message of the cross is the only answer. Those who reject the message of the cross are grouped under those who perish, and they will for sure get into the deception of every kind of power, sign and false wonders of the anti-Christ just because they refused to accept the Truth (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10).

But we who are the carriers of the doctrine of the cross should spread only the sweet aroma of Christ to both of the above said groups. But the sniffing of our sweet smelling fragrance will have two different outcomes. It will be the fragrance of life leading them to life to those that are being saved, but the same aroma will be an aroma of death leading them to death to those that do not accept this doctrine (2 Corinthians 2:15, 16).

Cross, the Symbol of Burden

Jesus could not carry His cross all alone from Jerusalem to Golgotha and hence Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry the cross along with Jesus (Matthew 27:32). Jesus clearly says that if we want to follow Him, we need to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Every individual has his own burden to carry. But the good news is that we can ask our Savior to help us sustain as we carry it. When we ask his help, He will never let us slip and fall down with our burden (Psalm 55:22). Though we fall we will not be utterly cast down because He holds our hands (Psalm 37:24).

Cross, the Symbol of Pain

With His life on, Jesus was nailed to the cross. Can we imagine it would have been painless? Carrying our cross indeed would be painful at times. EVERYONE who wants to lead a godly life in Christ will go through pains (2 Timothy 3:12). We must endure many hardships to enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Jesus meant that if they gave Him pain, they will give us pain too (John 15:20). Christ has left His best example for us to follow – i) Suffer unjustly ii) Suffer in turn for doing good iii) Don’t verbally abuse when verbally abused and iv) Don’t threaten when enduring miseries (as we usually do – saying, “See what God is gonna do to you”, etc.) (1 Peter 2:19-23).

Cross, the Symbol of Shame

We see that Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2). Being punished with bandits and law-breakers would really embarrass any genuine person. We know that Jesus was crucified between two robbers and these two criminals insulted Him (Matthew 27:44). But enduring the shame made Jesus sit at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). So when we have to face such disgrace, the Scripture exhorts us not to get discouraged but instead think of what He went through (Hebrews 12:3).

Cross, the Power of God

The same cross which is the symbol of burden, pain and shame is also the power of God to those who accept it unto salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18).

• It gives us eternal life through the gift of God instead of the penalty that is actually appropriately due to us (Romans 6:23). It redeemed us from the penalty of sin.
• Apart from this just being relieved of our penalty, it gives us a special status called ‘Righteous Person’. The blood of Jesus shed on the cross has made us righteous before God (Romans 5:9).
• It makes us beneficiaries of an unparalleled love of God all life long, here on earth and in heaven beyond (Romans 5:8).
• It makes us the property of the King of kings (Romans 6:20).
• It promises us all our providence from heaven above (Romans 8:12)

Beware dear church; let us grab hold of the doctrine of the cross in order to escape tribulations of the anti-Christ and to have Jesus catch us at His secret coming. Let none deceive us saying that there are no sufferings for a child of God on earth. Jesus Himself said that we will have tribulations in this world. But He asks us to cheer up because He who overcame all these earthly tribulations is with us (John 16:33). Let us depend totally on Him and keep moving forward day by day.

God bless you!