THE CROSS
For the Christian, the cross is significant. It
represents victory, overcoming, love and commitment that Jesus Christ showed to you and I, freedom
from the bondage of sin. The
cross represents crucifying the flesh. We read in the Bible,
"Take up your cross and come follow me." As we come into
the knowledge of 'Christ
in us' (the spirit of God dwelling within us), we often experience
much change...The old man is falling away and the new man is
building up, not rooted in obedience to rules and regulations of the
flesh, rather a response to genuine love.
Jesus fulfilled
the law and the prophets.
As we recognize who
we are in Christ, we discover that we are called to be one with Christ.
In a way He said "I DO" to you and I at the cross (and with his
life), and now it is our turn to learn of Him and come to the place
where we can confidently pronounce our own, "I DO TOO,' in return.
As we experience and come into the knowledge of Jesus Christ
according to the Bible, we then develop a heart to reach out to
others. This is the 'Gospel' at work. Sharing the 'Good
News'.
This page is dedicated to the Christian walk.
BIBLE: Matthew 10:38-40 "And
he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not
worthy of me. He
that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for
my sake shall find it.
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he
that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." Jesus
BIBLE: Matthew 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. For whosoever will save his
life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake
shall find it. For what is a man
profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
BIBLE: Mark 8:34-38 "And when he had called
the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto
them, Whosoever will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose
it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s,
the same shall save it. For what shall
it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? Or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul? Whosoever
therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous
and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed,
when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
BIBLE: Mark 10:20-22 "And he answered and
said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then
Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him,
One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell
whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow
me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for
he had great possessions."
BIBLE: Luke 9:23-27 "And he said
to them all, If any man will
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
daily, and follow me. For whosoever
will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life
for my sake, the same shall save it.
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose
himself, or be cast away? For whosoever
shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man
be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his
Father’s, and of the holy angels."
BIBLE: Luke 14:27-35 "And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot
be my disciple. For which of you,
intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the
cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation,
and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin
to mock him, Saying, This man began to
build, and was not able to finish. Or
what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down
first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet
him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Or else, while the other is yet a great way
off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that
forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost
his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for
the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear,
let him hear."
BIBLE: 1Corinthians 1:17-18 "For Christ sent me
not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words,
lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For
the preaching of the cross is to them that perish
foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
BIBLE: Colossians 2:13-15 "And you, being dead in your
sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened
together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out
the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his
cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he
made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
BIBLE: Hebrews 12:1-3 "Wherefore seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and
let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For
consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against
himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
New Life in Christ