Issue 757 – Fellowship of the Cross – May 27, 2022
I chose this morning’s cross illustration because of its simple beauty. I confess to having mixed feelings about such beautiful and ornate decorations. I love their beauty, but I question the appropriateness of churches spending money on such things when it might have been used for ministry instead. However, that is the subject for another day.
This morning, I want to look at the fellowship of the cross. You might never have thought of the cross in terms of fellowship before.
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:19-20
We have been crucified with Christ. That does not mean that we are physically crucified, but those who accept Him are covered under the blood shed on that horrid piece of wood.
We are reconciled to Father through Christ. That means we have true fellowship with the Father, so much so that He has adopted us children and made us coheirs with Christ and ambassadors of righteousness.
When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we come into a deep fellowship with Him of the sort that could never have been possible before our rebirth. He moves in. It doesn’t get more intimate than being inside of us.
The idea that we could be clean or holy enough to have Christ dwell in us is mind-boggling. It is impossible on our own merit. Our best efforts are like filthy rags without Christ. Yet the Bible declares it to be so, and God’s Word does not lie. We are righteous because God declares us righteous under the blood.
Wherever we go, He goes. That is both comforting and frightening. It is comforting in the fact that He is always with us. Unnerving in that He is a close, first-hand observer of all the things we do that are not pleasing to Him. It should give us cause to stop and think before we walk in rebellion.
Not only do we fellowship with Christ because of the cross, but with Holy Spirit as well.
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
We are His through the cross; He dwells within us because of the cross—what a marvel and miracle. God is not some distance impersonal force to the Christian but a person with whom we can have intimate fellowship. That is a reason to celebrate the cross and the love of the one who went there on our behalf.
Because of the finished work on the cross, we are brought into true communion and fellowship with every other believer, liven and dead, around the globe. Our fellowship is huge, transcending gender, ethnicity, language, and all other barriers. We are made equal at the foot of the cross.
Until next time, rejoice in the love of the one who died for you on that cross.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV). Spelling modified to Canadian English as required.
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