The Cross of Christ

AT THE CROSS…


Spiritual Blog - Cross

1 Timothy 2:5-7 – “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle — I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying — a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.”  NKJV

 

I have long loved Isaac Watt’s beautiful song, “At The Cross”.  What a beautiful and powerful truth of not only the beauty of what Christ did but the necessity.  In today’s world, too many churches are either no longer or limitedly preaching the Cross as a staple.  I had a preacher tell me that the Cross was too violent for civil society and not really necessary for man’s redemption.  He did not come out of a liberal theological persuasion but grew up in an old line fundamental church and trained in a very conservative theological seminary.  How he arrived at that conclusion I do not know but he is not alone.

The Bible is clear that “without the shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).  Jesus sacrificial death on the Cross paid the price for mankind’s sin and effected a legal transaction that stripped the devil of his dominion over man.  The god of this world had been empowered over the race in the Garden at the Fall when Adam sinned.  Now the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, came to earth and satisfied divine justice in presenting a lamb without blemish sacrifice in His person.  He took our place on the Cross!  He died that we could live!

            The refrain is incredibly powerful: 

            “At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,

             And the burden of my heart rolled away,

             It was there by faith I received my sight,

             And now I am happy all the day!

Hank Williams wrote and sang, “I Saw The Light” and although his life testified of a life outside the light the lyrics indicate he understood something that too many miss.  In God there is light and without God, there is no light.  It is at the Cross that we truly begin to see and as Watt’s song declares, it was there that real sight came.

Once we receive spiritual sight and can look beyond the present into the eternal our heart’s burdens roll away and joy comes to the heart that has been freed from sin.  The Bible declares that there is no greater love than to die for a friend.  Jesus willingly went to the Cross for you and me.  He paid for our crimes or sins and opened the door to grace that is beyond human comprehension.  I’m not sure any of us can understand grace we experience it and as a result are transformed into a new creation.

How can I fail to preach the Cross for without the Old Rugged Cross I would still be lost in my sins and separated from God?  The preaching of the Cross to those who are perishing is foolishness but to those of us who have believed it is the power of God unto salvation.  (1 Corinthians 1:18)   If one thinks the Blood and Cross too vile for civil society what will they think of Hell?

            God bless you as you go through this day!

 

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THE OLD RUGGED CROSS…


Spiritual Blog - Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 – “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

 “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”  NKJV

 

Hebrews 12 reveals to us that Jesus, out of incredible love and great joy, “endured the Cross” to redeem mankind.  The Cross was part of the process but an indispensable portion for without the Cross there would be no Crown and no Redemption for you and me.  Then in 1 Peter 2, we find some of the benefits of the Cross including, salvation and healing both spiritually and physically.  That message is lost to many today and it seems we virtually never sing the old hymns of the church for we have progressed and evolved, as I’ve been told.  If it is deemed progress to relegate the Cross to a position of unimportance then I do not desire progress.  Yes, I want each of us to grow in grace and mature spiritually but I never want to forget the Cross and what our salvation cost.

The timeless hymn was written by George Bernard, a traveling evangelist in 1913, “The Old Rugged Cross” is a song that may not have the modern beat but has a message that is timeless.  He was heckled incessantly by some of the youth at a revival meeting in Michigan.  George Bernard was so troubled by their disrespect and disregard for the gospel he turned to Scripture to study and reflect on the Cross of Christ.  He said, “I seemed to have a vision… I saw the Christ and the Cross inseparable.”  That is powerful.  He completed the first verse during meetings in Albion, Michigan and the remaining three verses were completed in Pokagon, Michigan during meetings in local churches.  He first performed the song in its entirety for the host pastor, Reverend Leroy and Ruby Bostwick, in the living room of their parsonage. They were so moved by the song and message it was incorporated in the revival service on June 7, 1913. 

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

             The emblem of suff’ring and shame:

             And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best

             For a world of lost sinners was slain.”          

That so encapsulates the message it is amazing.  The refrain so grips my heart I can never read it, hear it, or sing it without tears coming to my eyes:

“So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

             Till my trophies at last I lay down;

             I will cling to the old rugged cross,

             And exchange it someday for a crown.” 

The next three verses convey the awesomeness of the Cross and the Christ of the Cross.

“Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,

             Has a wondrous attraction for me;

             For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above

             To bear it to dark Calvary.

             In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,

             A wondrous beauty I see.

             For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

             To pardon and sanctify me.

 

             To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;

             Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

             Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,

             Where His glory forever I’ll share.” 

The Cross is and has been seen as foolishness and even unnecessary by many, but to us who are saved it is the Power of God.  It holds the revelation of what we have in this New Birth in Jesus Christ.  It reveals the love and mercy of God for mankind.  It truly is something I will always cherish and to which I cling, not the tree of wood but to the Christ who hung on that tree and the tree is a symbol to me to remind me of WHAT JESUS DID.

            God bless you as you go through this day in Him.

 

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