Cross Position: The Believer's CompassSample

The Offense of the Cross

Before the Cross, people under the Old Covenant followed the law given by Moses in the Bible.

"This commandment that I’m commanding you today isn’t too much for you, it’s not out of your reach. It’s not on a high mountain—you don’t have to get mountaineers to climb the peak and bring it down to your level and explain it before you can live it. And it’s not across the ocean—you don’t have to send sailors out to get it, bring it back, and then explain it before you can live it. No. The word is right here and now—as near as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest. Just do it!" - Deuteronomy 30:11-14 MSG

The law was not intended to qualify men for right standing with God. It was a temporary guardrail until Christ came (Galatians 3:19). Unfortunately, it was misappropriated and people started relying on the law as a scorecard to measure their good works as a means to gain righteousness and salvation.

Instead of trusting in God and his word, people believed legalism would solve the sin problem and guarantee their salvation.

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." - Romans 10:3 KJV

Can you imagine the charged atmosphere in the Temple as the woman caught in adultery is brought before Jesus by the Pharisees in John 8? The weight of their accusatory words crushing her in shame, as they defend the law that should have sealed her fate. Jesus points to them that adherence to the law does not absolve them of their own sins. And then He declares to her that God does not condemn her, proclaiming the redemption available to everyone who believes in him!

Now you would think at least one of the accusers would wait to question Jesus, but they all leave the scene too stunned and offended to accept the good news of the gospel right before them! This is the "offense" of the Cross! The too-good-to-be-true nature of the Gospel of God’s Grace lavished upon us.

The doors are swung wide open for all, and no good-work checklist needed. The Cross positions everyone on the same level playing field by simply believing in Jesus.

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." - Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

Here, Apostle Paul reveals what Moses meant by being made right with God through faith in Christ. In the New Covenant sealed by the Cross, all we need is to BELIEVE!

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and BELIEVE in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation." - Romans 10: 8-10 NKJV

What the law could not complete in us, Christ completed on the Cross. By fulfilling the requirements of the law, Jesus brought it to its perfect end. We are not bound by the law’s demands anymore because Christ completed it! Today, you and I can live totally free to worship God because we believe in Christ’s finished work on the Cross!

Reflection Question:

Jesus has completed the requirements of the Law, how does your understanding of Christ’s finished work on the Cross impact your love walk today?