THREE VIEWS OF THE CROSS

THREE VIEWS OF THE CROSS

1. “The Cross” is a symbol used to rally the troops. (As in the warlord Constantine) A pendent to hang around your neck. (As in $9.95 at Walmart.) A banner to fly into battle. (Back to Constantine)
2. “The Cross” is a personal burden and/or some suffering you must bear to make you a perfect little angel. Madame Guyon kinda taught this, as well as Brother Lawrence, Fenelon and Watchman Nee.
3. Finally, “The Cross” is the work of God in Christ’s death and resurrection for all… to Justify all. Reconcile all. Vivify all. Complete all.

Posted below is all the places where Paul mentions “THE CROSS”.

(Not the “crucifixion”, nor the resurrection, nor the death of our Lord… although those are the same topic generally… Below we just list the specific phrase “THE CROSS” to see what we can discover.)

You’ll see that Paul will have none of that pendent business, nor will he cotton to the idea of “the cross” being our personal sufferings. Instead, you’ll see that Paul has the view that THE CROSS is the power of God to bring all creation into perfection and completion. THE CROSS is God’s answer to our every query.
We say (in a whiny voice) “Why?” And God’s answer is focused on the Son of His love, and all that happened on Calvary’s hill. Let’s get started.
I suggest you put on your sunglasses when you read these verse — they are that bright:

I CORINTHIANS 1:
17 For Christ does not commission me to be baptizing, but to be bringing the evangel, not in wisdom of word, lest the cross of Christ may be made void.
18 For the word of the cross is stupidity, indeed, to those who are perishing, yet to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I shall be destroying the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the intelligent shall I be repudiating.
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the discusser of this eon? Does not God make stupid the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in fact, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom knew not God, God delights, through the stupidity of the heralding, to save those who are believing,
22 since, in fact, Jews signs are requesting, and Greeks wisdom are seeking,
23 yet we are heralding Christ crucified, to Jews, indeed, a snare, yet to the nations stupidity,
24 yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God,

GALATIANS 5:
11 Now I, brethren, if I am still heralding circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? Consequently the snare of the cross of Christ has been nullified.
12 Would that those who are raising you to insurrection struck themselves off also!
13 For you were called for freedom, brethren, only use not the freedom for an incentive to the flesh, but through love be slaving for one another.

GALATIANS 6:
12 Whoever are wanting to put on a fair face in the flesh, these are compelling you to circumcise only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ Jesus.
13 For not even they who are circumcising are maintaining law, but they want you to be circumcised that they should be boasting in that flesh of yours.
14 Now may it not be mine to be boasting, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

EPHESIANS 2:
13 Yet now, in Christ Jesus, you, who once are far off, are become near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He is our Peace, Who makes both one, and razes the central wall of the barrier
15 (the enmity in His flesh), nullifying the law of precepts in decrees, that He should be creating the two, in Himself, into one new humanity, making peace;
16 and should be reconciling both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in it

PHILLIPIANS 2:
5 For let this disposition be in you, which is in Christ Jesus also,
6 Who, being inherently in the form of God, deems it not pillaging to be equal with God,
7 nevertheless empties Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of humanity,
8 and, being found in fashion as a human, He humbles Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name,
10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean,
11 and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father.

PHILLIPIANS 3:
17 Become imitators together of me, brethren, and be noting those who are walking thus, according as you have us for a model,
18 for many are walking, of whom I often told you, yet now am lamenting also as I tell it, who are enemies of the cross of Christ,
19 whose consummation is destruction, whose god is their bowels, and whose glory is in their shame, who to the terrestrial are disposed.
20 For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a Saviour also, the Lord, Jesus Christ,

COLOSSIANS 1:
18 And He is the Head of the body, the ecclesia, Who is Sovereign, Firstborn from among the dead, that in all He may be becoming first,
19 for in Him the entire complement delights to dwell,
20 and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens.

COLOSSIANS 2:
13 Who rouses Him from among the dead, you also being dead to the offenses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He vivifies us together jointly with Him, dealing graciously with all our offenses,
14 erasing the handwriting of the decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and has taken it away out of the midst, nailing it to the cross,
15 stripping off the sovereignties and authorities, with boldness He makes a show of them, triumphing over them in it.