The word “cross” is found in the New Testament 28 times. The mere expression “cross” doesn’t mean anything without some explanation. Jesus started us off by using it in Matthew 10:28:
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Obviously Jesus had not died on the cross yet, so He was prophesying His own death. He knew He was going to die on the cross. He was already making a symbol of Christianity before He died on it.
After Jesus died on a literal, physical cross, crafted by the Romans for execution, the Apostle Paul took up the symbolism and took it further than Jesus did. Paul does that in these references. I copy them here for your reading and consideration.
*1 Corinthians 1:17-18: 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 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.*Galatians 5:11: And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.*Galatians 6:12-14: 12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.*Ephesians 2:16: And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:*Philippians 3:18: (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:Colossians 1:20: And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.Colossians 2:14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
I don’t think Paul is using “cross” as a symbol in every one of these instances. I think he is in all the references before which I placed an asterisk. Maybe he is in the other references. In those, I believe, he is referring to Christ’s literal death on the cross. There is some symbolism, because cross itself became shorthand for Jesus’ real sacrificial, substitutionary death.
Someone could go further with Paul’s symbolism if he also listed the times Paul uses the term, “crucified.” He uses that word 7 more times in the way I have been describing. Based on the cross, crucified becomes an important theological word. Here are those verses as used by Paul.
Romans 6:6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.1 Corinthians 1:23: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;1 Corinthians 2:2: For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.Galatians 2:20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.Galatians 3:1: O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?Galatians 5:24: And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.Galatians 6:14: But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
In every case, the words cross and crucified are used as symbols of sacrifice. First, Christ was sacrificed for us. Salvation is not by works, not by human effort, but by the finished work of Christ on the cross. The cross represents the finished work of Christ, the penalty of sin paid. That’s why the cross is prominent in Galatians. The cross work saves us, not circumcision or any other human work.
Second, the believer is sacrificed for Christ. When someone comes to the cross for salvation, he comes to the sacrifice of Christ, but he comes with a sacrifice of himself. He is crucified with Christ. He is crucified to his life, his affections and lusts, and the world. This is his denying his self and taking up his cross, like Jesus said.
Some people say there are two crosses. That’s false. There is one cross. There, because of what Christ did, by faith we can do what we do, that is, lose our life for His sake. This doesn’t occur at some later date. This occurs when we are saved or justified by faith.
The cross is the symbol of Christianity and it represents those two sacrifices.
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