The Powerful Sign of the Cross

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And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. - Colossians 2:15

A sad occourence in some circles is the diminishing of the cross of Jesus Christ. We see in many Churches the cross being taken down in sanctuaries, other symbols being used in its stead. There are other more extreme cases where believers start to think of the cross as pagan, unbiblical and even not a cross but a pole as Jehovah Witnesses teach. This should not surprise us that there is enmity and division over the cross as a symbol as it bears the very message and death of the Person of God for a lost humanity. The enemy of our souls knows this and has and continues to oppose or pervert and mis-use its symbol.

The cross gives us a powerful message and truth in visible form when looked upon. It says that the eternal God became flesh and submitted himself to death on the cross for humanity. It was death being trampled upon by the death of God. It was the triumphing over demonic hosts in the unseen. It is the love of God and forgiving of sins. Its very symbol speaks to the believer of life, the unbeliever of God's love and the demons of their defeat.

When I was in a certain city, the Holy Spirit bore witness in my heart to wear a medium size cross around my neck with large rope. I was actively evangelizing unreached Punjabi peoples in the area with the Good News of Jesus. When I obeyed God and wore the cross an amazing thing happened, everywhere I went the Punjabi people seemed to see me very clearly and where drawn to me. I remember countless times in daily life where they would just stare and after I finished what I was doing, I would go and hand a scripture booklet to them. What that experience spoke to me was that bearing the cross of Christ in reference in a physical way had a spiritual impact. Whether they looked at me with my long beard and cross as a holy man or devoutly religious, I am not sure. But I could not deny the difference it made. It also made me councious that I was a bearer of this message of the Cross to the people daily.
Another way the symbol of the cross was used in the early Church was by tracing it on the forehead and other ways. This practice began with water baptism and later became an accepted way of acknowledging the Lord and the death of Christ. Cyril an early church leader in AD. 310 wrote: "Let us not then be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the Cross our seal made with boldness by our fingers on our brow, and on everything; over the bread we eat, and the cups we drink; in our comings in, and goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we rise up; when we are in the way, and when we are still." Martin Luther as other protestants carried on this tradition of the sign of the cross. Luther said, "In the morning, when you rise, you shall make the sign of the holy cross, and you shall say: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then, kneeling or standing, you shall say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer." This way of doing the sign of cross was to touch the fore-head, then the belly, then left shoulder, then right. This motion made a cross and it signified many things including, (1) acknowledging the Lord (2) declaring triumph over the enemy (3) testifying that our body, spirit and soul belong to God (4) putting in remembrance the death of Christ.

Should all believers wear crosses, have cross symbols in their home or church, or make the visible sign of the cross daily? This question should make us ask another question first, Do I daily remember, praise and thank God for the Cross of Christ? Is it always in my remembrance? All of these traditions of the symbol of the cross are servants to the greater reality of the very death of Christ for each of us personally. Life, time, work, vocations distract us at times from the very purpose and person that everything is all about. M. Basilea Schlink says, "You were created and redeemed to focus on Jesus – on Him alone." St. Paul the apostle said that the cross was everything to him, it was his focus and boast (Galatians 6:14).

Let us remember daily that it is this powerful cross that frees us from sin, satan and our own very self. Let it be in our gaze daily in all the motions of life. And hear the voice of your Lord saying "Remember Me", "Remember what I did for you." Yes, Lord we will remember you, let us not lose the wonder and holiness of your Cross.

[Fidei Defensor]

"The Christian Cross is one of oldest symbols of Christ and Christianity. From 2nd and 3rd centuries, crosses became a common symbol of faith next to Anchor, and Ichythus (fish). Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross (John 19), and after Constantine's battle at Milvan Bridge and seeing the vision of the cross and words, "in hoc sig natius: in this sign you shall conquer" the cross became a primary symbol of our faith. However, had Constantine not become Christian, the cross would have still become the symbol of our faith because of what The Apostle Paul said this about the cross, "As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died," (Galatians 6:14), "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God," (1 Corinthians 1:18), "He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross," (Colossians 2:14), "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross, In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross," (Colossians 2:15), "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power," (1 Corinthians 1:17), "For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross," (Colossians 1:19-20), "and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility," (Ephesians 2:16), "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross," (Philippians 2:8), "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne," (Hebrews 12:2), ""For I decided to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Corinthians 2:2), and the Apostle Peter said, "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed," (1 Peter 2:24), "Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit," (1 Peter 3:18), and Jesus Christ himself said, "Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me," (Luke 9:23), "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me," (Matthew 16:24), "And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple," (Luke 14:27), and "and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me." (Matthew 10:18). 

Crosses are symbol of the faith. Different types of crosses were used in different part of Church history. The Jerusalem Cross (third cross at the top, gold, with four smaller crosses) was used in the Crusades (1095-1291 A.D.), The Budded Cross/Apostle's Cross (333 A.D. to 1204 A.D.), and beyond. The Crucifix, Christ hanging on cross was invented in 12th century by St. Bernard of Clairvaux." (From my Christian Art Club, Crosses, Fidei Defensor). 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2017 by Fidei Defensor

[Lolly]

In seminary, I took a church-planting course.  This is what they taught--take down the crosses, and remove the choir robes--if you wish to grow your church. So, when you hear some people complain about the "church growth," or "church planting" movement, this is what they are referring to.

I found it reprehensible; unfortunately, this was mild compared to other ideas they presented.

Edited September 30, 2017 by Lolly
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[Justin Adams]

19 minutes ago, Lolly said:

In seminary, I took a church-planting course.  This is what they taught--take down the crosses, and remove the choir robes--if you wish to grow your church. So, when you hear some people complain about the "church growth," or "church planting" movement, this is what they are referring to.

I found it reprehensible; unfortunately, this was mild compared to other ideas they presented.

Wow. Planting with no soil or water - sure to grow something unrecognizable..EH?

[Lolly]

1 hour ago, Justin Adams said:

Wow. Planting with no soil or water - sure to grow something unrecognizable..EH?

Recognizable to the world, but not recognizable to God. 

[Fidei Defensor]

9 hours ago, Lolly said:

In seminary, I took a church-planting course.  This is what they taught--take down the crosses, and remove the choir robes--if you wish to grow your church. So, when you hear some people complain about the "church growth," or "church planting" movement, this is what they are referring to.

I found it reprehensible; unfortunately, this was mild compared to other ideas they presented.

Creepy, they are teaching people to be enemies of the Cross of Christ, "For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ." (Philippians 3:18).

I for one boast in cross of Christ (Galatians 6:14) and consider it a badge of honor and faith. 

Edited September 30, 2017 by Fidei Defensor