Living in the Shadow of the Cross

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:4-5

Jesus, the Son of God, endured the agony of suffering, the anguish of bloodshed, and the finality of death, all for the redemption of our sins. His sacrifice upon the cross, bearing the weight of our transgressions, has cleansed our souls and paved the way for our reconciliation with the Divine.

“With one sacrifice, then, he has made perfect forever those who are purified from sin.” – Hebrews 10:14 GNT

In the shadow of the cross, we find solace, for it is there that we discover our righteousness, our justification, and our holiness.

“For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.”

– Hebrews 10:14 NET Bible

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”- 1 Peter 3:18

In the embrace of His sacrifice, we are immersed, and filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

Jesus became a curse to bless us.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, and so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” – Galatians 3:13-14

Jesus is our Messiah, our Savior, He laid down his life, conquered death, and rose again, so that we may dwell in Him and He in us.

Let us request the Father to pour out His Spirit upon all, to save every soul, that they may bask in the light of His grace and mercy.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8

The Crucifixion: A Foundation of Justification, Righteousness, Holiness, and Life in the Spirit.

In the grand tapestry of Christian theology, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ stands as the pivotal moment, an event of cosmic significance that reverberates through the corridors of time. The multifaceted implications of the crucifixion, how it justifies, sanctifies, and blesses the believers with divine union with Holy Spirit.

At the heart of the Christian doctrine lies the profound assertion that the crucifixion justifies the faithful. To be justified is to be declared righteous before God’s tribunal, a divine exoneration wrought by the sacrificial act of the incarnate Son. In the vicarious shedding of his blood, the sins of humanity were borne upon the cross, and in this exchange, a divine transaction unfolded—transgressions for justification. In the shadow of the crucifix, the soul finds solace in the assurance of acquittal, for Jesus was crucified.

The crucifixion establishes a righteousness that transcends human merit. It is not a righteousness earned through human effort or moral rectitude but imputed through the atoning sacrifice of Christ. The crucifixion becomes the meritorious source of righteousness, an immeasurable reservoir from which believers draw. In Christ’s crucifixion, the nexus between divine justice and human righteousness is forged, a bridge spanning the chasm of human frailty.

Holiness, the divine attribute radiating from the essence of God, becomes an inheritance through the crucifixion. The blood spilled on Golgotha becomes a purifying agent, washing away the stains of sin and consecrating the believer into a sanctified state. The crucifixion, in the theological symphony, is the sublime crescendo where the discord of human fallenness is resolved into the harmonious melody of holiness.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit, an indelible mark of the believer, finds its origin in the crucifixion. As the lifeless body hung on the cross, the promise of the Comforter was sealed. The crucifixion is the conduit through which the Holy Spirit flows into the lives of the faithful, transforming mere mortals into vessels of divine presence. In the baptism of the Spirit, believers become partakers of the crucified Christ’s resurrection life, a reality echoing through the corridors of eternity.

The fulness of the Holy Spirit, an ineffable reality experienced by the believer, finds its genesis in the crucifixion. The overflowing measure of the Spirit is not a surplus granted capriciously; rather, it is a consequence of the crucified Savior’s victory over sin and death. In the outpouring of the Spirit, the crucifixion’s transformative power is manifest, birthing a life characterized by divine empowerment and spiritual abundance.

To assert one’s blessedness is not an audacious claim but a humble acknowledgment of the crucifixion’s manifold blessings. From the forgiveness of sins to the hope of eternal life, the crucifixion inaugurates a kingdom of blessings for those who believe. In the shadow of the cross, believers stand enveloped in the benedictions of divine favour, a favour made possible because Jesus was crucified.

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ stands as the bedrock of Christian faith, a theological keystone upon which justification, righteousness, holiness, and and life in the Holy Spirit are built. Let us delve into the profound mysteries of the crucifixion, where the divine drama unfolds, and humanity finds its ultimate redemption. For indeed, in the crucifixion, we discover our justification, embrace our righteousness, walk in holiness, and bask in the blessedness of divine union with Holy Spirit.