When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
- Colossians 2:13-15
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:8
Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
- Romans 8:34
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
- 2 Corinthians 5:14
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
- John 15:13
“This is why the cross is the symbol of Christianity. It marks the dividing line between man’s futile efforts to achieve God’s righteousness and God’s gracious act in sending Christ to redeem all who will follow. It represents the most decisive moment in history, when God answered the great human dilemma that we have all sinned and yearn for forgiveness: God took upon Himself our sins to set us free. It is where justice and mercy meet. It is scandalous, for as Paul wrote, Jesus ‘cancelled the written code that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross’ (Colossians 2:14). He made the very instrument of what the authorities calculated would be a shameful defeat into the sign of God’s victory. As Paul further writes, ‘Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross’ (2:15).
“This is the heart of Christianity. It is why we can say that Jesus’ invasion of Satan’s territory assured that the victory will be completed on Christ’s return.
“When I was in Moscow in 1990 preaching at the Moscow Baptist Church, just blocks from the Kremlin, I told a packed crowd of worshipers that all through human history, as far back as recorded time and doubtless before, kings, princes, tribal chiefs, presidents, and dictators have sent their subjects into battle to die for them. Only once in human history has a king not sent his subjects to die for him, but instead, died for his subjects. This is the King who introduces the Kingdom that cannot be shaken, because this King reigns eternally. Within months of that day in Moscow, the great Communist behemoth fell, and the crowds in Red Square raised the cross high, chanting ‘Christ has risen! He is risen indeed.’ ”
- Charles Colson (with Harold Fickett), The Faith
Christ Jesus died in our place. He paid the price so that we would not have to do so. We are counted as God’s children. All by Jesus taking up His cross.
Chuck Colson’s sermon in Moscow shows the weight of what Jesus said that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for His friends. No earthly leader would do that, only God. Yet, earthly leaders would not hesitate to ask those under them to risk their lives.
God turned the entire concept on its ear because God is Holy. He has no sin nature. His love is pure. And His will is Holy. And if we desire Him, we are the ones who benefit.
Lord, show me what are the foundations of “the Faith.” You told Adam and Eve that eating the forbidden fruit had the penalty of death associated with it. And You paid that price. Only You Lord could pay that price. Jesus is fully human and fully God. Jesus is Holy. And only a Holy sacrifice would suffice. In Your name I pray. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.
Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley 
Leave a comment