“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
I Corinthians 1:18 NKJV
The cross of Jesus Christ is central and is the very foundation of the Christian faith. The cross reveals God’s character: His love for lost sinners and His perfect justice meet at the cross.
Do you desire to see the love of God? Look to the cross. Do you desire to see the wrath of God against sin? Look to the cross.
The cross is the very heart of our faith and the path to continuous growth in Christ.
Jesus, in dying on the cross, opened a way for us. There is a crown and a reward for each one who has been born again, but on the road to our reward, there stands a cross! No one will ever draw near to the Father’s house without having passed by the cross first! No one will ever approach the Lord unless they become more like Him!
Jesus said, “Anyone who does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:38 (NIV)
To give up on the cross is to give up on Christianity itself. The cross is the only path to salvation. And the cross gives a new purpose to life.
The Apostle Paul draws a parallel between the labour pains a woman experiences giving birth and the formation of Christ within us.
“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,” Galatians 4:19 (NIV)
The process for a child to be born involves waiting, it involves pain and discomfort, and it is through this that we must pass on the cross… until Christ is formed in us!
Last week, we saw that the cross is not just a religious symbol, but a reality that shapes our lives. God’s desire is that Christ be formed in us!
We learned that:
The Church is a Family: We are called to participate actively, seeking spiritual protection and mutual care. It is through the church, our family, that we are transformed into the likeness of Christ.
We Need to Be Born Again: Transformation begins with a fresh start in Christ, as a spiritual baby who will grow in their new family.
The Cross is Central: It reveals God’s love and confronts our sins, guiding us to holiness.
It’s a Daily Process: To kill your ego (your old self) and to live for Christ is a decision we make each and every day.
We Need to Allow Ourselves to Be Rebuild: The cross acts to remove that which hinders the formation of Christ in us, like a silversmith refining silver.
“Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel from it.” Proverbs 25:4 (NIV)
We saw that the silversmith submits the silver to the fire, and with the silver melted, he removes the dross (impurities) from the metal. The silversmith is certain that there is no more dross when he lifts the crucible near his face to see if the metal can reflect his image. If it does not reflect it, the silver returns to the fire, and the purification process is restarted.
“For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29 (NIV)
As Christ is formed within us, we become more and more like the image of Christ Jesus! This is God’s plan. That is why you are born again into a new family, which is the church. We have pastors, leaders, and teachings – all of this to form Jesus within us!
Today, we will delve even deeper into this journey, exploring the power of the cross in our past, present, future, and relationships. We will plunge even further, discovering how this symbol of suffering becomes a source of power and transformation in every area of our lives.
How many of you have ever felt trapped by the past, struggling to overcome mistakes or wounds? Or perhaps frustrated with the present, trying to find purpose amidst the challenges? The good news is that the cross holds the answer to all of this.
- The Cross and Our Past: Complete Redemption
The cross does not merely forgive, but it redeems our past.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)
God can transform even our greatest mistakes into opportunities for growth and blessing. The cross frees us from guilt and empowers us to use our past experiences to help others.
Illustration: Think of Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 50:20). He was betrayed, sold into slavery, and treated unjustly… But God used all of this to place him in a position of leadership and save his people. Just like Joseph, we can trust that God is working all things together for our good.
There are situations I have lived through, mistakes from my past, sufferings I have endured, betrayals by people, that have become a source of learning and strength, and today I can use all of these experiences as lessons to teach others.
What scars from your past do you need to hand over to God so that He can transform them into marks of His grace? How can you use your experiences to build up others?
- The Cross and Our Present: Radical Discipleship
Last week, we talked about the importance of ‘dying daily’. What does this truly mean in practice?
“Then Jesus said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'” Luke 9:23 (NIV)
What does it mean to “take up your cross”? Taking up your cross is not merely enduring a difficult mother-in-law! Taking up your cross is not merely losing your job and feeling lost. Taking up your cross is not merely the adversities of daily life. Taking up your cross is not something temporary or circumstantial.
Taking up your cross is dying to your own will and submitting to God’s will. Only the death of the “self,” your ego, will bring true life.
Taking up the cross is not only enduring suffering, but denying our selfish desires and prioritising God’s will in every decision. It is living with a purpose greater than ourselves.
Illustration: Think of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:1-17). He, being the master, assumed the role of a servant. Thus, we are called to serve one another with humility and love.
Practical Examples:
Time: Giving up leisure time to serve in the church or help someone in need.
Money: Donating generously, even when financially stretched.
Pride: Asking for forgiveness and acknowledging our mistakes.
In what areas of your life do you need to deny yourself and follow the example of Jesus? What practical steps can you take to live a more radical discipleship?
III. The Cross and Our Future: Unshakeable Hope
Last week, we celebrated the hope of eternal life through the cross. Today, let’s understand how this hope transforms our perspective on the future.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”
1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
Our hope is not in material possessions, professional success, or perfect relationships, but in Christ. The cross guarantees us an eternal future alongside God, a future free from pain, suffering, and sin.
Think of an athlete who trains intensely, enduring pain and sacrifice, because they have a clear goal in mind: victory. Likewise, we should live with eternity in mind, investing in things that will last forever.
Where does your hope lie? How does the hope of eternal life influence your choices and priorities today? What treasures are you accumulating in heaven?
- The Cross and Our Relationships: Unconditional Love
The Cross of Christ (when we take it up daily) empowers us to love unconditionally.
“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
God’s love for us, demonstrated on the cross, is the foundation for us to love one another, even when it is difficult.
The cross teaches us to forgive, to have compassion, to seek reconciliation, and to save the lost.
Illustration: Think of Jesus on the cross, suffering terrible pain yet praying for those who crucified him. (Luke 23:34). He demonstrated a love that goes beyond human comprehension. Thus, we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, and only in this way will we show the love of Jesus and save the lost.
In which relationships do you need to demonstrate the unconditional love of Christ? Who do you need to forgive or seek reconciliation with?
The cross is not merely a religious symbol; it is the source of our forgiveness, transformation, hope, and love.
The Christian life demands sacrifices. Going to the cross is you deciding to pay the price to walk a straight path, you decide to obey those in authority, you dedicate your time to God, you choose to serve others, you humble yourself asking forgiveness of those you have sinned against, sometimes sacrificing our time to go to meetings. All of this is sacrifice and renunciation!
All of this hurts, but this is the action of the cross in your life; it is the character of Christ being formed in your life. The old self, of poor character, dying, and Jesus living through you!
The cross challenges us to die to ourselves, be born again in Christ, grow in spiritual maturity, and make disciples. But only those who die are able to truly live in this way.
Illustration: The Seed
A seed, in order to generate a new plant, must die. It must be planted in the ground, where it breaks down and releases the life that is within it. In the same way, we must die to ourselves, so that the life of Christ can flow through us. And just as a plant grows and bears fruit…
May the cross always be a reminder of our calling to submission, growth, and discipleship. May we live lives that honour Christ and that impact the world around us.
Our title today, “Dying to Live,” may seem like a paradox, but it is the key to understanding the Christian life. Jesus Himself taught us about this, using the image of the grain of wheat:
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 (NIV)
Think about a kernel of wheat. On its own, it is just a single seed. But if it is planted in the soil and dies, it will produce an abundant harvest. In the same way, when we die to ourselves, when we renounce our own desires and ambitions, we allow Christ to live in us and produce fruits of righteousness, love, and service.
The death of the kernel of wheat is what allows it to live in abundance. Likewise, death to self is what allows us to experience the full life in Christ.
Conclusion: The Choice is Yours
What is your decision today? Are you willing to die to yourself, to take up your cross, and to follow Jesus? If you make that choice, you will not only experience the full life in Christ, but you will also produce much fruit for the glory of God.
Remember, if the kernel of wheat does not die, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
If we die to ourselves, we will produce disciples, save the lost, and impact the world for the glory of God.
May God bless you, and may you decide today to take up your cross and follow Jesus.