The role of the cross in devotedness:
There is a drawing and compelling power in the lavish gift of Christ’s life that stirs thinking believers to “follow the Lamb” wherever He leads. “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Heb. 13:12-14). The logic leads us to only one conclusion: “He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15).
The role of the cross in personal holiness and victory over sin:
As surely as Christ dealt with the penalty of sin, so in His death He is the answer to its raging influence and the conspiracy between my flesh within and the world system around me: “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…But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. 2:20; 6:14). So whatever the present struggle in my life, the intended outcome is obvious: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Rom. 6:6).
The role of the cross in character development:
Coming by faith to the cross is a crisis that becomes a process: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ” (Heb. 13:20-21).
The role of the cross in confession:
Better to spend time at the cross in adoration than confession, but when we need cleansing, the Lord is standing by. It is not a fresh application of the blood but a fresh appreciation of the blood that we need. “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:7-9). Paul would encourage to be proactive; don’t wait until you fall down—get down at the foot of the cross. You cannot have resurrection life without first identifying with His death for us: “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (Phil. 3:10-11).
The role of the cross in worship:
Religionists would have a crossless Christ or a Christless cross. The rest of the world would just like to forget Christ and the cross. But we are here behind enemy lines to raise the blood-red banner of the cross: “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show [declare] the Lord’s death till He come” (1 Cor. 11:26). Heaven agrees! “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (Rev. 5:13).
The role of the cross in prayer:
The cross tells out the generosity of the heart of the One we approach in supplication: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). But the cross also provides wonderful accessibility: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:19-22).
The role of the cross in evangelism:
What other gospel is there worth preaching? None! What other belief offers a Saviour? None! Who else but Christ can save to the uttermost? None! “We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:23-24). God help us to tell our world about the once crucified but now resurrected and exalted Christ—nothing less, nothing more, nothing else: “…[We] preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect” (1 Cor. 1:17).
The role of the cross in personal relationships:
The Lord could not have put it in any stronger terms, could He! “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you…Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it” (Eph. 4:32; 5:25). He provides both the pattern to follow and the motive to do it. “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Col. 3:13). Do we need peace among us? He is the blessed Peacemaker. “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). See also Eph. 2:13-16.
The role of the cross in enduring and suffering:
Feel like you’re going under? What a load He bore! Feel like you can’t go on? What a race He has run! “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2). The writer will go on to say: “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood” (v. 4). But He did! If you look to Him, you can’t look down any more. You will have to look into heaven, because that is where He is.
The role of the cross in stewardship and good works:
Titus, writes Paul, that was the point! To cure us of self-willed works for our own ends and captivate us with doing good works: “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). It is impossible to be stingy with our giving if we visit the cross first and ask the Lord how much we should give. How much did He give? “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver…Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:7, 15). But it is not just example; it is enabling that He provides: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14).
So living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring,
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Saviour.
—Dora Greenwell