Cross References
What is the meaning of the cross? The cross of Christ is the crossroads of history.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because he lives, all fear is gone…
Because I know He holds the future,
And Life is worth the living just because he lives…
O death where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. The (New Testament) law of the spirit of life in Christ has made me free from the (Old Testament) law of sin and death. Because of our Lord’s sacrifice at the cross for sin on our behalf, we have been made the righteousness of God in him.
Men indoctrinated by the world subscribe to a different type of law that they call Murphy’s Law. This law states, “If it can go wrong, it will go wrong.” Our current pandemic is a case in point. These men also believe in Murphy’s Law corollary that says, “There are no answers, only cross references.” If they only knew the truth of this corollary. The real cross is the cross of Christ. Jesus Christ is the answer to every question. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the Word of God made manifest in the flesh. Therefore, we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified. Because at the cross, he paid our debt of sin…he balanced the scales of our iniquity…he redeemed us from the bondage of sin and death.
Therefore the law of the spirit of life in Christ has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the (Old Testament) law (of sin and death) could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.
The gospel is both good news and bad news. The bad news is that there is evil in this world. However, what men meant for evil, God meant for good. The book of Joel says, God will restore the days that the locust has eaten. According to Romans 8:28, All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
There can be no reconciliation without a separation. There can be no freedom from bondage without captivity. There can be no resurrection without a crucifixion.
According to Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
According tot he lyrics of the song, “Because He Lives,”
God sent His Son,
They called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because he lives, all fear is gone…
Because I know He holds the future,
And Life is worth the living just because he lives…
Pastor S.M. Lockridge said:
“You can’t out live Him, And you can’t live without Him.
The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.
Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him…
Herod couldn’t kill Him.
Death couldn’t handle Him,
And the grave couldn’t hold Him!”
What is the purpose of the resurrection? According to 1 Corinthians 15:52-58, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54” “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
…And life is worth the living just because he lives!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia, Amen and Amen!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael