THE LARGER PICTURE OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST

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We have seen, in previous posts, the difference between pantheistic teachings and the truth of God. We are now prepared to take a look at the larger picture of the cross of Christ.

The arms of the cross that was erected on Calvary reach from Paradise lost to Paradise restored, and embrace the whole world of sin.

The crucifixion of Christ is not a thing of a single day. He is "the lamb that hath been slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev.13:8) and the pangs of Calvary will not be ended as long as a single sin or sinner exists in the universe. Even now Christ bears the sins of the whole world, for "In Him all things hold together." Col.1:17.

Galatia was a province in Asia Minor, so called from the fact that it was inhabited by Gauls,--people who came from the country known as France. They settled in the territory which took its name from them (Gaulatia-Galatia) , in the third century before Christ. They were, of course, pagans. The apostle Paul was the one who preached Christ to them, as we read in Acts 16:6; 18:23.

The Galatians had not witnessed the crucifixion of Christ outside the walls of Jerusalem and yet the apostle Paul stated, very emphatically, that they saw Christ crucified right before their eyes! "O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth among you as crucified?" Gal.3:1.

So vivid was this presentation, that they could actually see Christ crucified right before their eyes! It was not skillful word-painting on the part of Paul, nor imagination on the part of the Galatians, for then it would have been only deception. No; it was an actual fact; Christ was there, crucified, before their eyes, and Paul, by the Spirit, enabled them to see the reality.

The fact that a blind man can not see the sun, and denies that it shines, will not deter one who sees it from talking of its glory. It is something more than a figure of speech when the apostle Paul says that Christ was crucified before the eyes of the Galatians. They have had the experience. God grant that we too may see Christ crucified right before our eyes. We need the eye salve that we may see the cross of Christ at every turn! Until we do, we have not yet seen the reality of the Gospel!

The experience of the Galatians in this matter was not peculiar to them. The cross of Christ is a present thing. Christ is crucified before us, and each blade of grass, each leaf in the forest, reveals the fact! Yea, we have the testimony in our own bodies in that although sinful and corruptible, we yet live!

Although the curse is visible everywhere, "Change and decay in all around I see," yet things live, and men live! The curse is death, and no man and no thing in the universe can bear death and still live. Christ alone can bear the curse--death- -and still live. Therefore, the fact that there is life on the earth and in man, in spite of the curse, is proof that the cross of Christ is everywhere. Every blade of grass, every flower and fruit, even the bread that we eat, is stamped with the cross of Christ. In our own bodies is Christ crucified. Everywhere is that cross. The cross of Christ is seen in all things that God has made--even in our own bodies.

Thus, the apostle Paul said, "I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." 1 Cor.2:2.

The apostle Paul was anxious for every man to see Christ crucified in every man and not only in every man but wherever the curse is found. And where is it not found? In this world, the cross of Christ is an ever-present reality. Christ suffers in all creation, for "He is the life of everything that lives." Education, p.197.

"Our world is a vast lazar house, a scene of misery that we dare not allow even our thoughts to dwell upon. Did we realize it as it is, the burden would be too terrible. Yet God feels it all." Education, p.264.

"Christ feels the woes of every sufferer." Desires of Ages, p.823.

Therefore, all the curse, every trace of it, is borne by Christ,--by Christ crucified. Wherever, therefore, we see any curse, or wherever there is any curse, whether we see it or not, there is the cross of Christ! This can be seen again from the following. The curse is death, and death kills; the curse is in everything; yet everywhere we see life. Here is the miracle of the cross. Christ suffered the curse of death, and yet lived. He is the only One that could do it. Therefore, the fact that we see life everywhere, also in ourselves, in spite of the curse which is everywhere, is positive proof that the cross of the crucified One is there bearing it. So it is that not only every blade of grass, every leaf of the forest, and every piece of bread that we eat has the stamp of the cross of Christ on it, but above all, we have the same. Wherever there is a fallen, sin-scared, miserable human being, there is also the Christ of God crucified for him and in him. Because of unbelief and ignorance the man feels all the weight of the heavy burden, but the load is on Christ, nevertheless. It is easy for Christ, but heavy for the man; if the man will believe, he may be relieved of the load. In short, wherever sin is found, there we may be sure is the Christ of God, crucified! See E.J. Waggoner, The Glad Tidings, p.44,45,53,

"The heaviest burden we bear is the burden of sin. If we were left to bear this burden, it would crush us." Desire of Ages, p.328.

"Wherever there is sin, there is the Saviour" bearing it! Education, p.113.

"Christ upholds all things." Heb.1;3.

Is this not, indeed, a deep truth?

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Any comment, anyone? :)