The Cross: The Basis And Way For Man To Get Into Communion With God

Servants, be subject to your masters

with all your fear; not only to the

good and gentle, but also to the

froward.  For this is thankworthy,

if a man for conscience toward God

endure brief, suffering wrongfully.

For what glory is it, if, when ye be

buffeted for your faults, ye  shall

take it patiently, this is acceptable

with God.  For even hereunto were

ye called: because Christ also

suffered for us, leaving us an example, 

that ye should follow His steps: who

did no sin, neither was guile found in

His mouth: who, when He suffered,

He threatened not; but committed

Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:

who his own self bare our sins in His

own body on the tree, that we,

being dead to sins, should live unto

righteousness: by whose stripes ye

were healed.  For ye were as sheep

going astray; but are now returned 

unto the Shepherd and Bishop

of your souls.

I Peter 2:18 -- 25

     The word "froward" is the Greek word where we get scoliosis a disease where the spine is crooked, curved and this is the meaning of the Greek word: "crooked." Peter under the direction of the Holy Spirit has given us how we are to react and act then others come against us to harm us in some way.  No level of income, status, is left untouched by Peter to tell us that in no matter what ever our situation is we are to be in subjection.  This subjection is to bring glory to God and not to ourselves for having been under subjection as though we have done something spectacular.  To be in subjection as Peter has outlined for us is to simply be doing what God requires of His children. It is like a person doing the secular work and has done what the supervisor has asked is one who has done nothing more than what was required, therefore there is nothing spectacular and that exercise of subjection.  Jesus Christ left us an example for he was patient under all the trials even going to the cross to die an innocent man for us to follow.  That term "in His steps" reminds me of the book entitled "In His Steps" and I would suggest reading it for you will be touched to do what has been asked of us and that is to do what is acceptable to God which means to be in subjection.  We are not too retaliate or threaten others because of what they are doing to us, rather we are to be in subjection and this does not mean to just allow atrocities, but when there is no other way we are to be in subjection. we must never forget that Jesus is God, albeit, He was also The Son of God, the Wisdom of God sent to die on the cross for sin.

     When you see the cross of Jesus you are seeing God's revelation and judgment on sin.  The death of Jesus was not one of martyrdom and we are never to think of the crucifixion in this way.  The cross of Jesus was an example of a superb triumph over sin.  By means of the cross of Jesus there is nothing more certain in time or an eternity than what Jesus did on the cross for He switched the whole human race back into a right relationship with God. No, this does not mean that all men are saved so that they have eternity without actually believing upon the Lord Jesus Christ.  What this means is the sin that besets the human race from the fall of Adam until the return of Jesus Christ on the last day, a sin that no man can pay has been paid by God Himself, now by means of the Holy Spirit teaching that gospel man has the ability to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is not that man can work in any way to earn salvation, but by the hearing of the Word of God and of faith that comes by actually hearing, having ears to hear, they can place this faith upon the sheer fact of the redemption paid for by Jesus Christ.

     Think of this: by the cross man can come into a right relationship with God for Jesus made the redemption the basis of human life and what this means is that He paved the way for every man to get into communion with God. unfortunately many men will not choose to believe even after hearing the gospel.

     Do not be one who misunderstands the cross for it did not just happen to Jesus for the cross was the purpose for why He came. Do not be as those who teach in theology that Jesus is a created being formed by God, and Angel, even some calling Michael the Archangel, for this is incorrect and they must be aware to separate God manifested in the flesh from the Son becoming sin. Remember the incarnation was for the purpose of redemption.  God did not put away our sins so that we can have some sort of self-realization. No, the cross is the center of time and eternity and is the answer for both.

     The cross is not the cross of a man at the cross of God, and the cross of God cannot be realized in human experience.  Do not forget this one very important fact; the cross is God exhibiting His nature, and it is the gateway whereby any person of the human race can enter into a union with God.  Coming to the cross we do not go through the cross, that is, it is not something esoteric, which means to understand that it is only for a select few have special knowledge or interest, but it is for man.

     The cross of Jesus is the very center of salvation, and is the reason that one can obtain salvation.  The cross of Jesus cost God much for He became the bearer of sin, our sin.  The cross of God is the very point were sinful man can merge into a way of life and that way of life is the heart of God. The question for each of us to answer is: Will we after hearing the gospel and receiving the faith that comes by this hearing follow God?

 Though He slay me, yet will I
     hope in Him.  I will surely
defend my ways to His face.
     Indeed, this will turn out
for my deliverance, for no
     godless man would dare
come before Him.  
            Job 13: 15 -- 16

Exhibit and your life the Cross

Richard L. Crumb