05.
Dying to live
Jesus made it absolutely clear; “Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone.” Dying is a must to secure proper avenues for life to manifest. The cross denies us the right to live our lives on our own terms. Rulings and regulations of another sort apply for the life in Christ; the ways of the world find an end at the cross. The cross denies us the right to formulate a framework for Christian living. Each and everyone who approach the Lord must be prepared to go through this extraordinary, non-negotiable reduction which opens for the things which are settled and safeguarded by the Law of the Spirit of Life. The cross denies us access to these things, as we continue horizoned by our own views, in the same incorruptible manner as the first couple was denied re-entry into the Garden of Eden – there, angles with swords, here an old rugged cross.
The cross, the preaching of the cross, is the power of God unto salvation. But we are engaged in producing system upon system which to some degree rest on theological scholarship but each of these constructions are aiming at warding off the necessity of experiencing the cross of Christ in practical living. The reality of its power is somehow denied or located to a spiritual level to which none of us need to enter – grace, they conclude, allows us to refuse the quest for fullness. A true revelation of grace, however, comes with the discovery of the necessity of thorough repentance and formation.
Meddlesome efforts of this kind have introduced a reduction of what salvation is at its root; the law of grain of wheat does not apply anymore, a dying to be able to take part of the resurrected life is simply not needed as a means to saintliness. The right to a living according to self is re-established in the name of salvation. As a result of this process, the saint to-be suffers great loss in regards to that which is so much greater – the resurrected life in Christ, a life which truly pleases both God and men. The resurrection-side of the cross is defined as “Christ in us, the hope of Glory.” The resurrection-side of the cross is defined as a walk in newness of life. The cross denies us the right to try to undertake such a walk in our own power. Capturing or emulating a resurrected life on the basis of soulish capacities is nothing but a humanistic initiative. Nothing is gained or enforced but a continuation of the rule of the flesh.
Man captured by the attraction and resourcefulness of the cross views the world together with its influences as an absolute enemy. He becomes aware, soberingly aware of the impact and tension pressed into the words of James: “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.” Jas 4:4. To live in, and to stay alive amidst this intense tension takes an ongoing experience of the cross of Christ. The cross invites us into a fellowship which lasts through conflicts. The cross creates opportunities for reconciliation. The cross gives us a sound mind, a godly mind which expresses goodness even when thoughts and views diverge. Its common approach is summarised in “newness of life”. It creates a new mind, a different approach.
The cross is indeed suited to purpose, practical and sufficient, inescapable and attractive. Its definite aim is to annihilate every structure opposed to the dynamics of the resurrection life. The final results of its workings bring us to a richness and fullness which can not be obtained by any other means. Man positioned outside its influence will be deceived by the theological influences designed to re-instate flesh as common rule and denominator. Herein we find the perennial conflict between that which is authentic and its counterfeits.
Many are they who find themselves in opposition regarding the necessity of the cross of Christ. But none of us are able to live and serve in our own strength – the cross is a must if salvation and saintliness has become our goal. No other truth causes opposition of any measure: A Christian lives his life on the basis of the death of Christ – “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me.” This is the hope of Glory, this is resurrection expressed as a reality.
For the re-establishment of this reality among Christians we pray.
For thorough experiences of the cross we pray.
A praying for these things shows the cross already at work.
A praying of this kind secures salvation and saintliness among us all.
Lars Widerberg