There are two aspects to the cross of Christ, the Objective and the Subjective.
1st aspect of the cross is where Jesus Christ identified with us in His suffering and death.
2nd aspect of the cross is where the believer identifies with the sufferings of the cross.
The Objective aspect of the cross is the initial salvation acknowledgment of and response to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for me personally, repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, (Acts 20:21). This is where one acknowledges the identification and death of Jesus for the sinner.
The second aspect of the cross is the identification of the believer with the suffering of Christ on the cross. Taking up one’s cross (Rom. 6; Gal. 2:20; 6:14; Luke 14:27) to be separated from this world and joined to Christ in the Spirit to have the soul, the mind of man, renewed according to the truth of the Word of God.
Moving from the objective position to the subjective walk in Jesus Christ, God the Father made the believer complete in spirit empowered with the Holy Spirit and with total provision available to live as He intends His children to live. All provisions were secured in the life and sufferings of Jesus Christ, His Son (Rom. 8:32). In Christ God, our Father, will supply us freely with every provision to live a spiritual, physical, mental and emotionally balanced and fulfilled life. (Rom. 8:32).
Christ became a curse to set us free from guilt and condemnation, (Gal. 3: 13). We can now freely enter into His blessings and live to the glory to His name. Furthermore, our Father, the God of Peace (Yahweh Shalom) is vitally interested to keep His children protected, provided, preserved and purposed to live out of reach of the enemy at all times and able to stand in the evil day, (Eph. 6:13).
I. God’s Plan and Provision for Salvation and Sanctification:
In order to live in His abundance our heavenly Father wants and needs to restore us to wholeness in Jesus Christ and is committed to us to accomplish it to the perfect end.
- Romans 8:32 – He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are being saved it is the power of God.
- Hebrews 4:15 – For we have not an High Priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 – And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 – Faithful is He that calls you, who also will do it.
- Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: {perform: or, finish}
1. Positional Salvation: (Positional sanctification)
- John 3:3 – Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. {again: or, ‘from above’}
2. Progressive Salvation: (Progressive or experiential sanctification)
Renewing or Restoring – (Renewing of the mind and emotions and restoring life of God in the soul of man)
- John 3:5 – Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- 2 Cor. 4:2 – But we have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. {dishonesty: Gr. things that shamed}
- 1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
3. Healing of the Body: (Restoring health and strength)
- Matthew 8:17 – That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses.
- Matthew 9:35 – And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (Acts 10:38).
- Mark 16:18 – . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
II. Getting into right relationship with God.
1. Repent and submit to God and His authority. Realize that God never was the cause of your problems of rejection, insecurity, etc. . . . for He loves you.
- Luke 15:7 – I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
2. Forgive everyone who has broken his/her promise to you. Everyone who failed your expectations, who rejected or shamed you.
- Luke 6:37 – Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven: {forgive: or, release, shall be released}
3. Receive God’s forgiveness and thank Him for forgiving you and give Him praise.
- 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 – For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: . . .” 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that you sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what revenge! . . .”
III. Redemptive Healing by Identifying with the Cross of Christ
Many believers think they are healed from their hurts as they forgive and are forgiven, but this is often not the case. The next steps will lead you into the redemptive healing aspect of the cross of Christ
1. Recognizing your need for renewing and restoration of your mind.
- Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may experience what is that good, acceptable and perfect, will of God.
2. Acknowledge and own your problem.
With the help of the Holy Spirit expose the root cause of the problem.
- Isaiah 37:31 – And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:
- Ephesians 5:13 – But all things that are reproved or exposed are made manifest by the light: for whatever is made visible will turn to light.
3. Taking up your cross:
Being a partaker of His sufferings in the power of God. (2 Tim.1. 8)
- Luke 9:23 – And He said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
- Luke 14:27 – And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
- Philippians 3:10 – That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
- 2 Timothy 1:8 – Therefore, don’t you be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
4. Now look at Jesus as He was wounded and crucified for you.
- Isaiah 53:5 – But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
- 1 Peter 2:24 – Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
- Hebrews 12:2 – Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, . . .”
5. Pray for those who persecute you and bless your enemies. (Matt. 5:44,45)
- Romans 12:19 – Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.
- Romans 6:8 – Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him:
- Matthew 5:11 – Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.