For unto you it is
given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer
for his sake. Philippians 1:29
In the Christian faith there is a real sense in which the
cross of Christ embraces all crosses and the death of Christ encompasses all
deaths: “If one died for all, then were all dead….”
This is in the judicial working of God in redemption. The
Christian as a member of the body of Christ is crucified along with his divine
Head. Before God every true believer is reckoned to have died when Christ died.
All subsequent experience of personal crucifixion is based upon this
identification with Christ on the cross.
But in the practical, everyday outworking of the
believer’s crucifixion his own cross is brought into play. “Let him… take up
his cross.” That is obviously not the cross of Christ. Rather, it is the
believer’s own personal cross by means of which the cross of Christ is made
effective in slaying his evil nature and setting him free from its power.
The believer’s own cross is one he has assumed
voluntarily. Therein lies the difference between his cross and the cross on
which Roman convicts died. They went to the cross against their will; he,
because he chooses to do so. No Roman officer ever pointed to a cross and said,
“If any man will, let him!” Only Christ said that, and by so saying He placed
the whole matter in the hands of the Christian believer. Each of us, then,
should count himself dead indeed with Christ and accept willingly whatever of self-denial,
repentance, humility and humble sacrifice that may be found in the path of
obedient daily living.
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