Sanctified by the Cross

38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself.”  Matthew 27:38-42 I know Easter has past, but put yourself at the scene of the crucifixion as they add the two robbers up alongside Jesus. You know them and the heinousness of their crimes and you see the great contrast between the reason they are there and the reason that Jesus is there.   Why is He up there? You wonder with the others, “He saved others, but why can’t he save himself? If he is truly the king of Israel, the Son of God then why doesn’t he come down?” If God really had his seal of approval on this Jesus - how could this happen to Him?   If He ...

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.  11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. We talked about the fact that we are in a battle.   This is a battle of rival claims on our heart and how to see the world.   So how do we fight those rival claims?   All of our hearts are hard wired to willingly and traitorously wave the white flag and give into sin.   As Christians, we must fight against any way of thinking that does not depend on Christ.   Paul writes this whole letter to help us fight against untrue and dangerous ways of seeing the world that tempt and lure us away from Jesus Christ.   This world...

8  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8 Many in our world today fear war.  There is good reason to fear war. What is worse than looming war is to be in a war and not realize it.  To not be prepared for war or battle means that war itself will overtake you and you have no way to defend your life against it.  This, I fear, is the state many believers find themselves in spiritually speaking.  They are in a war, unaware and epically losing. Paul in essence sounds the bomb raid siren.   See to it,  he says, watch out for, be on guard, look carefully, make sure of this, be settled and firm.   That no one   takes you captive  or carries you off as plunder, spoil, treasure of their own triumph, winning you over to their side.  See that no one carries you off as s...

6   Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,  7   rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 How do we battle what wars with Jesus for first place in our hearts?  Continue as you began.  Continue to live your lives in Christ.  Continue to look to Christ and Christ alone for all of your spiritual needs. If Jesus is the only sufficient thing to cling to at the beginning of my Christian life, and Jesus is the only thing sufficient to cling to at the end of your Christian life, what do you cling to in the middle of it? This makes us consider another question. Who is Jesus (and the gospel) for? Generally we think the gospel is for those who have not believed. That’s not wrong necessarily. But it is wrong to think that it is only for unbelievers.  The good news of Jesus saving me from my sin is for me as a believer every da...