"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" (Colossians 2: 14)
The word "his" does not appear in this verse, but the meaning should come through nonetheless:
Jesus Christ bore our Cross, took all our punishment.
Some will argue, however, that Jesus told His followers that they should take up their cross and follow him.
Jesus posed this challenge to those who saw Jesus as Example, rather than Savior:
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16: 24)
In Luke's Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the impossibility of the demand:
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9: 23)
To take up one' Cross means that we will die on that Cross.
Who wants to die daily in such a gruesome fashion? Who can?
No one.
Jesus took our cross, He died our death, and when we believe on Him, we accept that He took our sins and gave us His life, that we may reign in Life through Him:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)
and also
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4: 9)
We are not called to take up a Cross, but rather rest in the truth that He took our Cross, that we may have His life.
The word "his" does not appear in this verse, but the meaning should come through nonetheless:
Jesus Christ bore our Cross, took all our punishment.
Some will argue, however, that Jesus told His followers that they should take up their cross and follow him.
Jesus posed this challenge to those who saw Jesus as Example, rather than Savior:
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16: 24)
In Luke's Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the impossibility of the demand:
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9: 23)
To take up one' Cross means that we will die on that Cross.
Who wants to die daily in such a gruesome fashion? Who can?
No one.
Jesus took our cross, He died our death, and when we believe on Him, we accept that He took our sins and gave us His life, that we may reign in Life through Him:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)
and also
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4: 9)
We are not called to take up a Cross, but rather rest in the truth that He took our Cross, that we may have His life.
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