Continuing Michael's message, he asks: What was the purpose of the crucifixion? Philippians 2 says, even though Jesus being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God, he set aside his heavenly nature and humbled himself. He took upon himself the form of a servant and became obedient to his Heavenly Father, even unto death. The purpose is that God highly exalted Jesus and gave Him a name that is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Because my old nature was crucified with Christ, the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one cometh unto the Father except by me.” For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
To reconcile with others, we must meet each other at the foot of the Cross of Jesus. God has called us into one body, the Church of Jesus Christ. According to Ephesians 1, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory ... has put all things under Jesus’ feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that fills all in all. The spirit of Christ in you the hope of glory is the reason for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The church is not an organization. Instead it is an organism ... the living body of the Lord Jesus Christ.
How can we make a sacrifice unto God? How do we sacrifice for the good of others? The world thinks that “sacrifice” is a burden and a curse. However, the Bible is its own best commentary. From God’s perspective, the sacrifice is not what we give up. Instead, the sacrifice is the sacrifice of praise. According to Hebrews 13:15, “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Jeremiah 33:11 says, “Bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord”. The sacrifice of praise is the outpouring of a thankful heart. The greatest blessing in life is not in seeking the blessing. Rather, the greatest blessing is to bless the Blessor. This is the purpose for which we were created ... that we may be to the praise of the glory of His grace.
For by grace are you saved by faith. Salvation is in the object of our faith. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Because we were “born again” of God’s Holy Spirit, we now have the capacity to love with the love of God. Spiritual (agape) love is the unconditional love of God. The characteristics of the love of God are listed in 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. The love of God loves the unlovable and forgives the unforgivable. This is the love that God had toward us even before we came to Him. For in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. He loved us first. We love Him because he first loved us. Because we have been born again of God’s Spirit, Jesus said, Come unto me all you who are weary and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. We can rest in His completed payment for our debt of sin ... He who was without sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we could be made the righteousness of God in Him.
There is much division, strife, and contention in the world around us. However, other people are not our enemies. The battle is a spiritual battle, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness form on high. The devil’s strategy is to divide and conquer. Despite the devil’s vain attempts to usurp God’s power, from God’s perspective, the lyrics of the Battle Hymn of the Republic still ring true today:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword. His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps. They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps. I can read His righteous sentence in the dim and flaring lamps. His day is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea. With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me. As He died to make men holy let us live to make men free
While God is marching on.
Glory, glory, hallelujah. Glory, glory, hallelujah. Glory, glory hallelujah. His truth is marching on! Amen.
Be crucified with Christ that you may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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