The Cross
Devotions:
We too often do not realize the power of the cross. This was the main message that Paul preached. The cross of Jesus had separated him from the world and the destruction in the world. By the cross of Jesus Paul was forgiven of all his sin and set him free from the penalty of sin. The cross delivered him from his own sinful nature and gave him the righteous life of God. It took out of him his selfishness and replaced it with the love of God. Of course he had to grow in that love, be renewed in that daily from the presence of the Father. He also had to grow in his understanding of God's love for him. As with Paul so with each of us.
The cross is a place of torment and torture. But Jesus went to the cross on our behalf so we would not have to pay the penalty for sin which we could not do, but He was God in the flesh and willingly paid the full price for each one of us. Our enemy no longer has a hold on us through the power of sin unless he can get us to believe that God is still holding our sins over our head. When we walk around in the fear of judgement we are not believing in God's love for us as was demonstrated in the cross of Jesus.
“For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 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 2:19-20 KJV