HF094 - The Mysteries of the Cross
To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 09:20:47 -0500
Subject: Bible Study HF094 - The Mysteries of the Cross
Hebraics,
In addressing the church at Corinth, Paul said he was determined to know nothing among them "except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1Co2:2) What did the apostle mean by this? Isn't there anything else we need to preach other than the cross? Not if you understand the message of the cross. The truth of the matter is that all the doctrines of Christ arise out of the cross.
Let's take a closer look at the cross. This is Bible Study HF094 - The Mysteries of the Cross.
As a beginning place we need to understand that the message of the cross is not simply about Jesus dying on a cross. It is a full message that includes who Jesus was, that He was born of a virgin, was truly a human and yet God, that He died for our sins, was buried, resurrected on the third day, ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the majesty on high, will return for the saints, and is the final judge of all things.
The essential message of the cross is actually five-fold. It speaks to the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and glorification of Jesus Christ. Out of this five-fold message flows a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. This is why the apostle said that in Christ "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Col2:3)
Back to knowing nothing but Jesus and Him crucified -- When Paul writes the Corinthian church, he explains that there is a wisdom which belongs only to believers, not to the world. God has done something entirely new. Paul says this 'new covenant' wisdom had been 'predestined before the ages to our glory.' (1Co2:7) He carefully sets forth that the old ways of wisdom have to be abandoned. Everything in the new covenant is 'new.' The new covenant is not the old covenant made new. It is entirely new.
Paul connects this hidden wisdom to the cross. He says, "For the word [full message] of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside." (1Co1:18,19)
Let's compare just two statements the apostle makes about what happened at the cross.
In his second letter, Paul says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2Co5:21)
Then in his first letter, he says, "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption." (1Co1:30)
The apostle is telling us why he is determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He is saying everything happened at the cross. At the cross our death sentence passed to Jesus. At the cross His life passed to us.
But why does Paul speak of this life of God in terms of Wisdom. He is saying that new covenant believers, that is, those actually born from above, have access to the very thoughts and feelings of God. He speaks of this as the mind of Christ. This means that the wisdom that belongs to God alone, is the wisdom that is given to believers. This is an awesome thing to consider.
So, the cross is our dying place. The cross is our living place. Is it any wonder that we Christians have so many songs about the cross. Out of the death of the cross comes a new creation. And this new creation is imbued with a wisdom that is not of this world.
Paul explains it this way: "For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God." (1Co2:11,12)
Notice carefully how the apostle connects the Wisdom of God with the Holy Spirit. In another place He calls the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Jesus. Paul says, "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" (Gal4:6) Having the Spirit of God's Son in your heart means that every believer has divine Wisdom to draw from. It also means that the very life of Jesus is in us.
Remember Jesus shared with the apostles that they would be given things that were not available to the world. In His high priestly prayer, Jesus says, "[Father] But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they [believers] may have MY JOY made full in themselves." (John 17:13)
The term 'made full' means more than 'fulfill' as it is translated in the King James. 'Pleroo' speaks of a totality of being filled up. Believers are going to be filled totally full with presence of Jesus, which includes His very own joy. This is what the Spirit filled life is about. It is being filled with the righteousness, peace and joy that is found in Jesus.
John wrote, "For of His fullness [pleroma] we have all received, and grace upon grace." (John 1:16) One of the distinguishing marks of a true believer is his or her joy in the Lord. But it is the Lord's joy that fills them. This is the life given us from the cross.
How about peace? We are the inheritors of the very peace of Jesus Christ, just as we are of His joy. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)
How about faith? The story is the same. Paul said that our faith comes from Jesus speaking to us. This is how he explains it; "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (Gal2:20)
The list is endless. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is our Father. The kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ is our kingdom. The righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ is our righteousness. The Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is our Spirit. The love of the Lord Jesus Christ is our love. The destiny of the Lord Jesus Christ is our destiny. And it all happened at the cross.
One thing that believers often fail to grasp is that the Holy Spirit of the new covenant does not come to us as the Holy Spirit of the former covenant. I'm not speaking of a different Holy Spirit. I am speaking of a spiritual dynamic. What is the difference? Lets hear it from Jesus.
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:37,38)
What did Jesus mean in saying the Spirit was not yet given? First notice that the word 'given' is in italics. It is not in the original. So it should read, 'For the Spirit was not yet.' How can that be? Didn't the prophets have the Holy Spirit? Did not David have the Holy Spirit? Yes they did, but not in the same measure or sense or fullness of Christ that new covenant believers have the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit comes into the heart of a new covenant person as the glorified Jesus Christ. The Spirit brings the fullness of Christ crucified, buried, resurrected, ascended, and glorified into our hearts. No person before the cross ever had such an experience. And it all happened at the cross.
Stop and think what the term 'new creation' actually means. It essentially means that God created a people out of nothing. A newly created thing only existed in the mind of the Creator before it became a reality. This is why the Bible says that we are God's workmanship, "CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS".
Peter adds to this in saying, "For you were once not a people, but now you are the people of God." (Cf. Eph2:10; 1Pe2:9)
Again listen carefully --- Peter said now we "are the people of God." He isn't simply speaking of replacement theology. We aren't replacing anything. There has been an act of creation. This new people is separate and distinct from any form of humanity this planet has ever known. The Adam race sprang forth from Adam. The new creation sprang from Christ Jesus. We are totally 'new'. We are the people of Christ, or as the prophet said, 'Christians.'
This is why Paul said that in Christ there are no Jews or Greeks. The new creation is a heavenly people. We are designed for heaven, destined for heaven, derived from heaven, and imbued with heavenly wisdom and life. So if anyone asks you where heaven is, you can say, 'Heaven is in my heart.'
David spoke of this prophetically, when he said, "How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion!" (Psa84:5)
How about you? Can you say what Paul said, in determining to know nothing among the peoples except Jesus Christ and Him crucified? Think about it.
There is certainly much more to be said, so lets open the study for discussion. Feel free to ask questions or provide insights.
The Lord bless you,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.christianchallenge.org/
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)