-Strength for Today- "The Power of the Cross." - Colossians 2:13-15.

    The spiritual phenomena of the power of Jesus' cross to draw all men to Himself, is to keep them there. Jesus’ cross is the “magnetic force” which is able to set mankind free. Because no human being, apart from the cross, is worthy this freedom. Why? Because the whole human race, has been “charged” as convicted sinners.”  

     As it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks after God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not one. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” - Romans 3:9-12;23. 

     And for that cause, people are seeking relief by way of “social reform,” and “new age philosophies,” but neither of these so-called solutions can do what the cross does, which is to remove the cause of guilt, which is sin. To this 1 Peter 2:24 says, “... He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness for by His wounds you were healed.” 

  The cross has the power that when mankind comes into “vital” union with the “risen and glorified Savior,” an abiding union with Christ happens” - 2 Corinthians 7:17. And “..., there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”- Romans 8:1. Even though a person can't achieve perfection on this earth, the cross of Jesus gives them a thirst for it. Because:  

• When we contemplate Jesus' sacrifice for us, there for the first time we can envision the essence of God's “unconditional love, and purest justice.  
•  By the cross, God took upon Himself: 

             1. A human nature, and  

             2. Entered into human history in order to  

             3. Suffer the punishment for the sins that we committed.   In the same way that we craved after evil and the pleasures of sin; after the cross our hunger and thirst is after righteousness, now that we’ve seen what perfect righteousness does. Because of the Law, the sin in us was aroused. But because of the cross, the spirit in us is aroused! 

     There’re many things in the world that will change a person's “state of mind,” but only the cross of Jesus has the power to “change a person's heart.” The reason for “ungodly separation” is due to the “subliminal” disconnect between God’s truth, and Satan’s “willful motivated lies” in the Garden of Eden.   

      But the cross broke that cycle when it clearly said, "I love you." John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time God died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:6-8. 

     But in order for the cross to begin to have any power at all, Jesus had to first die, was buried and on the third day was resurrect.  Only this gives the cross its “purpose and power! 

    Jesus actually died on a “wooden cross” over 2,000 years ago. Even though, the cross “had its purpose,” “Jesus had the power!” When we confess by faith in His completed work, and repent of our sins, that “power” is transferred to us! 

Author: Plez Lovelady, Jr., PhD