The Cross
By: John K Johnson
The Message of the Cross
The
message of the cross is without question the main and central message of New
Testament Christianity. Without the cross there is no reconciliation of man to
a Holy God. It was not each of us that were crucified for our own sins, but it
was the unblemished Son of God… Yeshua Hamashia (Jesus Christ). He was
crucified in our place on the cruel cross. In FACT, those who truly study and
learn the TaNaK (Tanakh/TANAKH), which is the ancient name for the Hebrew Bible
(that we call the “Old Testament”), if they have an honest heart, will come to
agree (thankfully) that the “cross” was established “before the foundation of
the world (because the “lamb was slain
before the foundation of the world” Rev 13:8) The book of Isaiah alone is
full of reference to the “Moshiach/Messiah”. Those “before” Calvary looked to
the same salvation that those after
1
Cor 2:5-8
5 That your faith should not
stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom
among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the
princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in
a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our
glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it,
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. KJV
Paul
the Apostle clearly declares the importance of the message of the cross.
1
Cor 1:17-18
17 For Christ sent me not to
baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of
Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to
them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of
God. (KJV)
We
are also admonished by Peter in Acts 2:38 “to
repent and be baptized” (every one of us), and that we must do. But Paul
says he is sent to preach or “proclaim” the one message that is the most
important. Paul is not saying baptism is not important, he is simply saying
that the preaching of the cross is what God has called him to do. Without the
cross there is no fellowship with God. Now, having this “New Testament
revelation,” and because we KNOW this provision that YHVH has made, we now must
come to Him only on His terms. His only term (or method) available is through Yeshua/Jesus
Christ and His sacrificed life on the bloody cross on
Heb
9:12
12 Neither by the blood of
goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption for us. (KJV)
Heb
9:22
22 And almost all things are
by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
(KJV)
Heb
9:28
28 So Christ was once
offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he
appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (KJV)
There
is a spirit of evil power in the world that hates the person and message of the
cross. The god of this world, Satan, (whom Yeshua/Jesus Christ defeated in His
earthly walk and triumphed over at the cross), has had his evil dominion over
mankind destroyed by the power of the message of the cross. Satan’s main weapon
against man, in opposing YHVH/God, is that of carnal or intellectual reasoning.
The entire picture of this stratagem is clearly explained by Paul in 1Cor 1:17
through 1Cor 2:16. You must read these scriptures and understand the importance
of what Paul is teaching.
The
message of the cross is devastating to the power of sin. It is the message of
the love and endless grace of YHVH/God, who “Himself” became man (“son of man”
Yeshua/Jesus) incarnate (John 1:14), surrendered Himself to unfathomable
suffering, and was slain on a bloody hillside used for execution of the worst
of offenders. The message of the cross is a message of hope and the substance
of faith for “Believers in this message” everywhere
because of the resurrected Yeshua. Paul says “that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of
God.” (1Cor 2:5). Men everywhere, of every race, tribe and culture are all
drawn to the message of the cross… drawn by YHVH, and ONLY by Him:
John
6:44
44 No man can come to me,
except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the
last day. KJV
AND…
No Man Comes to YHVH other than by Yeshua:
John
14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. KJV
All Are One Family “in Yeshua”
It
is at the cross where all of mankind is reconciled to God. Jews and gentiles
alike are all made one family by Yeshua’s death and resurrection. The cross was
God’s plan to fulfill the requirements of the Law (Torah, Law of Moses given
Israelites at
Matt
5:17-19
17 Think not that I am come
to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle
shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever
therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so,
he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do
and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. KJV
Be
careful with these next scriptures… often times, Paul’s teachings are
misconstrued by either unlearned, miss informed, or “agenda driven” persons to
infer or imply that the “Torah” is “Old Testament,” or “nailed to the cross,”
or “for those Jews… etc.” Torah is THE “forever settled Word of YHVH,” Ps
119:89. It is eternal, everlasting and its truth and message are intended for
all true Believers; no exceptions, if they want salvation in Yeshua… because
since He IS the Word that became flesh Jn 1:1-14. The Word and Yeshua are ONE…
the only Word that was then, and was able to become “flesh” was the Torah… The
Torah, at
Eph
2:11-22
11Wherefore remember, that
ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by
that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at
that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in
the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made
nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one,
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having
abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in
ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And
that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain
the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off,
and to them that were nigh. 18 For
through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore
ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints,
and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In
whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the
Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through
the Spirit. (KJV)
The Cross is a Place of Death, and a Place of Life
Yeshua
came into the world for the purpose of giving His sinless life so we (all
mankind) who were sinners could be saved (redeemed) by His blood that was shed
for us on the cross. He came to die, the perfect for the imperfect, the godly
for the ungodly. He also came knowing that beyond the cross was the throne of
glory that YHVH/God the Father had prepared for Him. There is not time in this
article for the discussion of this great story. Yeshua came to destroy the
power of sin that rules the flesh and brings death, so that the power of the
Spirit could give life to all who received the work that He did at the cross
for them. It is at the cross where we come “just as we are,” to surrender our
hearts (our innermost being), by voluntary will of our own choice (remember
from above, we are “drawn” to Yeshua by the Father). We come in faith alone
believing in the power of the cross to kill the old nature so we can have life
anew in Yeshua Hamashia… eternal life. It is at the cross where we crucify the
flesh and wisdom of man, the carnal nature, and by faith alone we must trust in
Yeshua’s blood to save us. Paul said the following about this miracle of new
life.
Gal
2:20
20 I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me, and gave himself for me. (KJV)
Death
of the old nature of our lives is not an easy experience. The old nature dies
very hard indeed. Yeshua taught many key points by using parables. The parable
of the sower and the seed are very appropriate to this lesson on death of the
old man at the cross, so the new man (Yeshua in us) can live. One scripture in
particular is of importance.
John
12:24-25
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of
wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it
bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he
that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (KJV)
Any
farmer knows that the seed that is in the barn does not produce much fruit.
However, when we plant the seed in the ground (where it dies to its old form
and nature), it becomes a new life-giving plant and produces much fruit. It is
at the cross where we plant the old nature, the old man of the world, so that
the new man of “Yeshua-likeness” can be raised up. When we arise from the place
of the cross, we do not automatically have the natural ability to walk without
old nature desires and temptations. However, we have the Word of God (Bible)
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) to coach us and lead us
into the upright ways of “Believers” living.
(I hesitate to use the term “Christian” now days because of so many false
“Jesus’” represented by “Christianity in the modern time,” and because of so
many “Christian” doctrines that refute the Torah and very “likeness” of the
real Yeshua/Jesus of the Bible). The sincere and truly born-again man has
the life-giving Spirit of Yeshua indwelling him so he can make the right
choices. The Spirit of Truth (Yeshua/living Word in us) and the “written” Word
of God that we begin to read, study and memorize will never fail to inform us
of the truth and upright way to walk. These will all be in “one” accord,
without differing in any way. Any “spirit” that refutes the written Torah is a
devil in disguise. It will be our choices that make us or break us. God did not
make us to be robots without a personal/private will. It is the surrendered
will that makes us the “slave” of the Moshiach/Messiah, as Paul calls himself a
“slave.” When we acknowledge the blood of Yeshua as having redeemed us, we
accept its terms of calling us to be true followers (disciples) of His. Yeshua
is our master forever thereafter. You must once again go back up the page to
Gal 2:20 and study and understand the full meaning of who you are as a Believer.
If you do not accept these terms… your trip to the cross has only been a visit,
not a death to self and new birth experience.
What about the “Much Fruit” that is to come?
Fruit
comes from seed, and only from seed that is planted and has given up its own
identity and form. It then goes through a gestation period and later is
produced towards the end of its season. When a man is sincerely transformed at
the cross by death to self, planting the old man in the ground (so to speak),
he will also go though a gestation time. It is the life giving Word of God and
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit that causes the new man to come alive in Yeshua
and through the unity (union) of that relationship, the fruit will come.
Galatians 5:22-23 tell us of the type fruit we can certainly expect when the
seed has surely been planted and the gestation time is nurtured with the
fellowship of the Word and the Spirit. It
is a “Law” of YHVH’s creation that everything “produces” after its own kind.
You can not fool YHVH/God, you can perhaps to some extent fool people, but
there is nothing but the consuming fire of YHVH’s judgment awaiting the “tares”
or look-alike impostors that dare to tinker with YHVH’s commandments. Yeshua
said, “if you love me keep my
commandments,” Jn 14:15. False teachers, charlatans and others who
dare to tempt YHVH with selfish motives will soon come to the bitter end of
their folly. The cross is serious place and a most holy place. Those who come
there are truly on “Holy Ground.”
Who Bears the Cross?
When
Yeshua was crucified the Roman soldiers compelled Simon (a bystander) to carry
the cross to
Matt
10:38-39
38 And he that taketh not
his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his
life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
(KJV)
It
is at the cross that we lose our life for Yeshua, and it is at the cross that
we find real life as YHVH intended for us to have… eternal life in the
Moshiach/Messiah. The cross, that Yeshua refers to in verse 38, can only be
carried by faith in Him. Flesh muscle and brawn that Simon had to exert to
carry Yeshua’s cross will not work with the cross of Mat 10:38. Only those who have laid down their own
self-life at the cross can carry the cross that Yeshua says must be “taken” and
then follow after Him. There will be times when mockers will call on us to
“come down” from the cross we have chosen to bear. Unbelievers who tormented
and mocked Yeshua during His trials and sufferings are not unlike the same kind
of people today, who all are influenced by the spirit of this world. They do
not understand the message of the cross, as Paul said, “it is foolishness to them” 1Cor 1:18. They do not even know who Yeshua
is in the same understanding that a born-again believer has.
Matt
27:39-43
39 And they that passed by
reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the
temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God,
come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with
the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he
be the King of
Unless
someone has been to the cross and died to their own self-life, they will never
understand the one who believes in the eternal life and power of the cross of Yeshua.
Remember, this was YHVH’s “mystery of the ages,” that He had ordained before
the foundation of the world… (see above ref. 1Cor 2:5-8).
Who Needs the Message of the Cross?
Everyone.
First, all men need the salvation that only comes from the message of the cross
and Yeshua’s vicarious death. His life was substituted for ours. The life we
now live, with all its trials and difficulties, is made more meaningful and fuller
of joy and love when we understand the message of the cross. Beyond that, the
message of the cross is the only hope for sinners condemned to eternal hell
without Yeshua’s redeeming blood being applied to their hearts. There are many
that are so entangled in their own perspective of their circumstances that they
are blind to any way out of their dilemmas. It is no surprise that drug and
alcohol addictions as well as criminal and destructive lifestyles are so
powerfully able to capture their victims. They only see through carnal eyes
that are forever blinded to the message of the cross. Likewise, failing
marriages and broken relationships are trapped in self-life perspective. There
are so many, but perhaps the best list is in the book of Galatians, where Paul
the Apostle is teaching about the “fruit of the Spirit.” These “destructive
addictions” could be called the fruit of the “un-holy spirit” (god of this
world).
Gal
5:19-21
19 Now the works of the
flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and
such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(KJV)
These
are the result of seeing life only through the self-life or gratification of
the flesh, that being the nature of sin, with the end result being death. There
are really two deaths; one is the familiar death of the man or natural body.
The other, real death is separation
from YHVH/God, the Creator, who created us for fellowship with Him for all
eternity. It is the message of the cross that provides us with opportunity for
life (both here and hereafter). Life in Yeshua preserves us both bodily and
spiritually. Yes, it is at the cross where man comes to die to self, so he can
have real life in the Moshiach Yeshua. One of the greatest enemies of man is
that of “thinking” we have everything, or that we don’t need Yeshua… for
whatever reason. “Thinking” of the natural man was man’s undoing in the Garden
of Eden, where man reasoned his way into sin. The journey to the cross is the
way home… to life eternal. Yeshua bids you come; you do not know when you will
die. We must understand what Paul said when he spoke of “heavenly” or eternal
things. The self-life will have us focus on the “earthly” or temporary things.
2
Cor 4:18
18 While we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
(KJV)
What
are you looking at? If you are offended by the message of the cross, you are
yet being summoned to come to the cross and die to self, and receive new life
in Yeshua. Unless the preaching of godly men offends your carnal reason, they
fail to speak the uncompromising Word of God. God’s Word will always confront
the man who is living in sin. God’s Word is forever sent to do just that.
Heb
4:12-16
12 For the word of God is
quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any
creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened
unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a
great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let
us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like
as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (KJV)
We
all need Yeshua; He surely understands our most private thoughts and motives.
We truly are “naked” before Him. His substitute death for you and me on the
cruel and bloody cross was by purpose of God the Father, so that we may be
redeemed. The great message of the cross is:
John
3:16-21
16 For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into
the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to
the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
(KJV)
Sometimes We Must Return to
the Cross.
When
believers have problems that need addressed, that only the slaying of the
self-will can remedy, then it is time to return to the cross. Believers are not
perfect (yet they are perfect in Yeshua), but they are “under construction.”
Until Yeshua returns (second coming) or until we go to be with Him in glory, we
must continually deal with the old nature that tries to enslave us to sin’s
fetters. For example, pride, unforgiveness, anger, lust, and a host of other
old nature pitfalls try to trap us into falling into their grip. When the Holy
Spirit faithfully convicts us of some of these things working their way into
our life, it is time to get on our face before YHVH/God and repent and ask
forgiveness and ask Yeshua to help us get back on the straight and narrow path.
He is more than able to do His part, but we must be “willing” to continually
put to death the old man in us so Satan has no “occasion” to trash our lives.
We not only may need to put to death (more than once, sometimes often) some of
the old nature reoccurrences, but we may need to seek forgiveness of someone
else, or make something right that only we can do. Yes, the cross is truly a
place of new life. However, it is first a place of death of the old nature. If
you have never been to the cross to receive Yeshua’s redemption of your soul, you must come now. You may never have
another chance to come. You do not want to die without being born-again in the
likeness of the Yeshua of the Bible. Come now, and repent of your sins, receive
Yeshua and eternal life. If you are already a Believer, what is it that the
Holy Spirit is convicting you of that you need to return to the cross to get
straightened out? Come now, waiting is not only disobedient, but it is costing
you abundant life by allowing Satan to enter into some if not more than one
area of your life. Demons and evil spirits are looking for openings (occasions)
in Believer’s lives to keep them from God’s best for them. This is where the
Torah is specific; obedience to Yeshua’s likeness (Torah identity) is what
benefits Believers… as is expressed in Deut 30:19:
19 I call heaven and earth
to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may
live: KJV
It
is a “written” Biblical fact; Blessings come from “obedience,” as in “if you love me keep my commandments.”
And Curses come from disdain for the Torah… read Deut. Chapter 28 for a more
thorough picture of the facts. Now, if you think Torah fact is not for today,
why was it referenced as the only “it is written” response that Yeshua quoted
from when rebuking the devil (Mat Chpt
4, Luke Chpt 4) in his attempt to snag Him into self-serving sin? Is not “self”
interest man’s motive for disobedience to the Torah? The Cross is YHVH’s cure
for sin’s power… without the Cross, sin overcomes humanity. Yeshua, the living
Torah is our Salvation… The written Torah is our “guard rail” from Satan’s
temptations, and disastrous results if we comply with sin … that is, if we
“keep it.” Remember, the Bible says: “…
for sin is the transgression of the Torah (law) 1Jn 3:4b.
Shalom… Praise YHVH for the Cross!
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