Transference and Transformation of the cross

When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, He conquered death and Hades and opened the way for the world, should they choose it, into the very Throne room of God. The Holy of Holies.

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For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all,
and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:14-21).

I was recently thinking about the cross and what it was that had actually taken place there. What I mean by that, is I know Christ’s body was broken for us and that His blood was shed for us so that our sins could be forgiven, and we could be set free from sin, but this scripture actually says much more than that.

Firstly, it says in verse 15 that ‘He (Christ) Died for all’ and then in verse 19 it says ‘that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ’. Then there’s John 3:16 where it says 'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.'

It’s clear that God’s desire is that the world should be reconciled to Himself and receive eternal life. However, it’s also clear from these scriptures that not all the world will be reconciled to God or receive eternal life.

So, what actually happened on the cross? Well, I believe there was a transference from the world to Christ and from Christ to the world or at least those in the world who would receive the gift that God now offers post cross.

You see when Jesus died on the cross all our sin and unrighteousness was taken from us and put on Him and all His sinlessness and righteousness was taken from Him and put on deposit for us. Therefore, although Jesus died to reconcile the world to God, it’s clear in John 3:16 that only those who believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life, meaning those who choose not to believe in Him and receive the gift of eternal life and reconciliation to God would go to eternal separation from God in Hades and then Hell.

When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, He conquered death and Hades and opened the way for the world, should they choose it, into the very Throne room of God. The Holy of Holies.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Revelation 1:17-18).

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This is why the communion table that God has prepared for us is so important, as it’s a regular reminder of the incredible act of love shown to the world by God and is symbolic of Christ’s broken body and shed blood, something only those who have received their salvation should take part in, because to do so without acknowledging Christ would be to take the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus in an unworthy manner and could result in illness or even death. See 1 Corinthians 11:27-30.

In verses 14-15 it says ‘that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again’.

So just as Christ died for all, all those who receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour have also died, not physically but to their old self or nature and to sin, and so are buried with Him through baptism and raised to new life and a living hope. And as the scripture above says ‘That those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.’

So, although Christ died that the world might be reconciled to God it’s clear that not all the world will be reconciled to God. I guess a good way to test this is to ask ourselves if we’re able to say what Paul said in Galatians 2:20 ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.’

Jesus told His disciples to take the bread and wine i.e. ‘The communion’ as often as they met in remembrance of Him and so constantly remembering what He did for them. So, it’s good for us do the same and to remember that we are working through our salvation on a daily basis. We are a work in progress led by the Holy Spirit, and we need to keep a short account with God, which means forgiving those who sin against us and daily seeking God’s forgiveness for all that we get wrong during each day. To put it another way, a constant dying to self and sin and a continual living for Him who died for us and was raised again.

When the Father now looks at us, He sees us through Jesus and therefore, not counting our sins against us He sees us in our new state as His redeemed children, reconciled back to Himself through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

So, in conclusion, we who are born again have been washed by the Blood of the Lamb, reconciled back to God through Christs obedience on the cross, have died to self and sin and will one day be raised to life in Christ, who is our life, and appear with Him in glory. What a transformation!!

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4).

God bless you.

Author: Kevin Hunt

May God bless and enrich your life

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