Pondering

The Cross

According to Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary the cross is a single stake " I " upon which criminals were hung until they died. If not dead by sunset, their legs were broken to bring death more swiftly (John 19:31-33).

What is it not? Two stakes formed to make a cross " t ". That symbol is a holdover from pagan culture brought into the apostate church, the church which turned its back on the truth of the gospels, desiring only to 'increase their prestige'; thereby allowing this " t " to remain as a symbol of Christianity, though it was not.

It is not the letter X, the first letter of the word "Christ", which Constantine used.

A. The cross is a humiliating means of execution for all crimes, not just treason, but theft and murder, as well.

1. Treason: John 19:12

2. Theft: while all the gospels agree that thieves were hung with Christ, careful study indicates that thievery was not a crucifixion matter. Malefactor is a word which means "a person who violates the law; one who does evil to another person"; these are the ones who were hung on either side of Jesus Christ.

3. Murder: Acts 3:14, wherein Peter states that a murderer was released instead of Jesus.

B. The cross is not to be revered as such, but The Lamb of God who was slain for the sins of the world is to be revered, worshiped, honored and adored.

1. Revelation 5:6, 12

2. John 1:29

3. Isaiah 53

C. The cross represents submission to God, our higher Authority. Though we are made to suffer by the hands of another, it is our silent submission to God that God sees. Christ did not defend Himself by word or by action, but meekly submitted to His Father's will; showing us by example how we are to behave when we are come against for believing The Word of God and obeying it.

1. Complain not to the person(s) judging you: Isaiah 53:7; John 19:9.

2. Do not hate the one(s) hating you: Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 6:1-10.

3. Do not judge, nor condemn they who come against you, but love and forgive them. Matthew 6:7; 7:1;18:22; Luke 23:34; John 3:16, 17; 13:34; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13.

So, as I sit and ponder the cross, I also see through communication with God that the cross is both multitudinous and personal. The invitation to salvation is for all, yet each must make an individual surrender and commitment to believe and to follow Christ.

1. John 3:16 states that GOD loved the world (multitudinous: all people)

2. Romans 3:10, 21 tells us we are all sinners and unrighteous.

3. Romans 5:8 BUT GOD commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. "How wonderful, how marvelous" as the hymn is written. We did nothing to deserve or earn or purchase this great love which God has for us. Ponder that, if you will. Nothing we, you nor I, can ever do will cause God to love us more than He does now or then.

4. Romans 3:23 Sin= Death - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

5. Romans 9:25-26 This gift of God is available to all people, not just to the Jews. "As He saith in Osee (Hosea 2:23), I will call them My people, which were not My people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people; there shall they be called the children of the living God."

6. Romans 10:9-13 This much loved passage of Scripture relates that it is on an individual repentance that salvation is given. The message of the gospel is for all, but belief is an individual act by each who hears the gospel.

"That if thou (you) shall confess with thy (your) mouth (speak out loud) The LORD Jesus, and shall believe in thine (your) heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou (you) shall be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.

For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The LORD shall be saved."

We don't need fancy words, nor long and wordy prayer, to admit we are sinners. We just need to talk to Him from the heart. I could give you an example of what to pray, but Jesus already did that for us. Twice in the Scriptures, we are brought into God's presence through the words of Christ when He prayed. Once, by an example of prayer; second, by His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, before He was betrayed and crucified.

Admit we have sinned against God.

Believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, that He died on the cross and rose from the dead.

Commit ourselves to a life of following Jesus and serving others.

Die daily. (not physically, but surrendering our bodies in full [thoughts and actions] to God's will.

Exemplify God's grace.

Forgive without number any and all sins committed against us every day.