THE CROSS OF CHRIST

"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God" -- 1 Corinthians 1:18

Devotion 10 of 13

GLORYING IN THE CROSS

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Gal 6:14 KJV)

To glory in the cross is to exult in the Lord. It is to make our boast in His vicarious, substitutionary, work and our participation in it. This is an activity of faith. Glorying in the cross is a joyful recognition of the grace of God revealed through Jesus Christ. We "glory" in the cross because we are participating in its benefits. It towers above all the paltry accomplishments of men. We rejoice that what we could not do was accomplished in the cross. There our sins were removed. There our indebtedness was paid. There we were reconciled to God. There our adversary was destroyed, and inimical powers were "spoiled," as Jesus triumphed over them in the cross (Col 2:15).

Glorying, or boasting, in the cross is an insightful exercise of faith. Driven by spiritual understanding, and fueled by joyful exultation, it comes from perception, and the enjoyment of the benefits that have resulted from it.

When Paul says, "by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world," he means, "On the cross Jesus died, Paul died, and the world died." Paul's identity with the cross caused the world to lose its attractiveness. A religious career was no longer appealing. What is even more, the world lost its interest in Paul because of his death to the world order. There are still those who can relate to the Apostle in these matters. When pondering the cessation of the world's hold upon them, they do not point to their own resolution. They do not give credit to a disciplinary procedure acquired from one of their peers. Like Paul, they glory in the cross of Christ, where these things were accomplished.

The cross justifies God

The cross justifies God's sentence of death against the human race. It proves that casting the transgressing couple from the garden was wise. It was judicious to place the Cherubim with the flaming sword to keep the way to the tree of life, forbidding any to again take of its fruit while "in the body." The cross confirms the necessity and wisdom of flesh and blood being unable "to enter the kingdom of heaven" (1 Cor 15:50). Therefore, we boast in the cross of Christ!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, give be grace to see more of the cross of Christ, that rich repository of Divine grace and glory.

-- Tomorrow: THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS --