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...