The Charter of Christ
Jesus arrived in humanity announcing startling claims about his divine origin.
But his charter mission was even more shocking:
to be killed and then live again.
So the mission was not primarily intellectual, emotional, political, etc. but an exchange of life.
Huh?
What's the Meaning of This?
The Meaning of the Cross
The key is the transaction that occurs, nicely summarized by Paul in Galatians 2:20.
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
In short, here are various ways it's understood:
- Jesus became what we are, so we might become what He is.
- He became human, so we might become divine.
- He identified himself with us; and we are invited to identify ourselves with him.
- He took the evil due to us; and offers us the good due to him.
- It's a marriage, where two exchange lives, creating a combined new life.
What Does This Mean Practically?
Let go. We don't have to do it all ourselves.
Remember, it is in your childlike weakness that My strength is made perfect (II Cor. 12:9). I will love you regardless of what you do for I love you for who you are and I love you exactly as I made you. You are lacking nothing in Me. I have given you My gift of unending forgiveness from the cross of Jesus. His life-blood covers all your life: past, present, future. No sin is too great for the blood of your Rescuer.
Run to Me in your weaknesses and failings. Let Me be your strength. When wounded in your soul, and producing imperfect attempts at human, temporal, and conditional love; know that I have seen your life unfold in all its brokenness. My mercy is here for you.
You need never work up to a personal sense of goodness or feelings of being righteous. Come before me today, just as you are. It is I who will work in you an :eternal weight of glory." Even your best works are passing away. Refuse to live in the realm of condemnation where the devil yearns to take the world, especially believers in My name. You are redeemed, set free, My beloved. Receive this truth and believe Me when I tell you how much I love you.