Imaginations, thoughts,............

2 Corinthians 5:10

“Every thought brought into captivity to Christ”

Paul saw himself as a soldier warring against the proud reasoning’s of man, arguments that oppose the truth. The true character of these arguments is described in the expression ‘against God’. It could be applied today to the reasoning of scientists, evolutionists, philosophers and religionists who have no room for God in their scheme of things. The Apostle was in no mood to sign a truce with these. Rather he felt committed to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. All men’s teachings and speculations must be judged in the light of the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul would not condemn human reasoning as such, but would warn that we must not allow our intellects to be exercised in defiance of the Lord and in disobedience to HIM

W MacDonald (Believers Bible Commentary)

The Cross of Jesus Christ the Lord

The cross of Christ is an embarrassment to religion – Jewish religion and others. Who would want to follow a Messiah who was defeated and disgraced by crucifixion! It seems illogical to  honour one who was condemned by Jewish and Roman courts. The shame of crucifixion was extreme.

But when we see the situation from God’s perspective, everything changes. Listening to the words of Jesus before He died , and the teaching of His messengers after He rose from death, they all point to God doing something special by the cross.

For example, Jesus is presented as the ‘Lamb of God’ to take away the sins of the world. He spoke of Himself as fulfilling the purpose of the Passover lamb – to protect people from judgement. Paul clearly states that “Christ died for our sins”. This means that the cross of shame really became an alter of sacrifice.  By this means, God chooses to forgive.

More than forgiveness, God sees Jesus Christ dying the death that we should have died. Now God can welcome us back as children in His family. More than that, through the purging of sin, believers are clothed with the righteousness of God and will be presented in heaven without fault, all because “the Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me”   (Galatians 2)

By this work of God, true Christianity is based on what God has done through Christ, not on what we might do for God.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Why the cross