Revisiting Grace and The Cross

Jesus Christ did not die on the cross so that I would have an excuse to sin. He died on the cross because He is holy, and good, and just, and can not abide in the presence of sin. He demonstrated His love for me, a sinful fallen creature destined for His wrath and justice, by taking that sin upon Himself.

The cross is a demonstration of both the love and justice of God. It demonstrates His hate of sin. His desire for holiness and obedience. His desire for love and glory. His desire for me. His grace that gives us power not to sin.

It demonstrates His love. "But we know that we love Him because He first loved us..." And Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments [obey me]." Obedience is a result of what Jesus did on the cross. Because of who God is. Because He is holy and just. He will be treated as Holy by those who come near.

"We live in a society today where obedience is optional." Well said. But if we use Christ's sacrifice as an excuse to sin, have we not then missed the whole point? Haven't we made void that sacrifice...placing Jesus again on the cross?

Do we truly have a revelation of what the cross is about? God's love. God's holiness. God satisfying His own wrath and justice. God satisfying obedience. His standard of righteousness. Because of the cross, because of God's grace, we are no longer slaves to sin. We are no longer held captive by the world when we have a true revelation of God's amazing love and holiness. His Justice. The reason behind the cross.

If I struggle so much with sin, maybe I should go back to the cross. Maybe we haven't truly understood God's hate for sin. His desire for righteousness. His love. His mercy. His sacrifice. His glory.

He took responsibility for humanity's choice to be separated from Him. Sin. Restoration. He desires obedience (Righteousness) which is love, so much that He died to inspire (by His love first) to love Him (obedience) and give Him the glory due His Name.

If we think that Jesus died just so that we could emphasise grace, put Him back on the cross everyday by sinning, and make void His sacrifice, then we've missed what what the cross is all about. If the cross doesn't inspire us not to sin, then we've missed the whole point.

Did He not die so that we would no longer be a slave to sin [the very thing that separates us from Him]? Did He not die so that He could have fellowship with us [He can not abide in the presence of sin]? Did He not die so that we would love Him and give Him glory [obey His standard of righteousness]?

Oh, that I could live this revelation...