More to a Symbol
For those who are saved, I have a special challenge for you!
I want to briefly take a moment and reflect on the utter impossibility of earning what Christ did on the cross. It is by no means an easy challenge to understand that the God of the universe and creator of all things, died on the cross for us. It is another challenge entirely to understand that we continue to fail in earning that redemption. Yet, Jesus Christ is alive now for us and is still working on our behalf. Romans 8:34 “Who [is] he who condemns? [It is] Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” What does this mean for the believer? It means two things! First, we still cannot save ourselves; we are still in need of Jesus Christ. Second, for those who are saved we have a promise of Jesus as our eternal security, He is ever watching and interceding on our behalf. This fact allows Paul to make the solemn claim of salvational security. Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [Shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” We see that there is nothing that can separate us from Him. Paul even goes further into detail with verse 37-39 stating, “37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
At first glance one might think this is only talking about security of salvation, but that would be wrong. Paul is also making a subtle claim that many pass over and do not see. You see, this entire section of scripture is discussing after the cross for Jesus Christ. Paul is talking about the present situation we are in literally today. Paul’s omission of anything relating to “earning” what we have been freely given indicates that we are still indirectly without capability of earning salvation, even after we are saved. It is entirely founded on the blood of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. So when you see the cross, do not think just of the free gift of eternal life that He gave you, but think of it as a promise that He is still holding you tightly as His own even when you still do not deserve Him. The cross and His resurrection is more than our sign of conquering death, but our promise by Jesus Christ to continue to be that promise even when we fail. This is why we celebrate each year what He did, this is why we continue to earnestly and eagerly wait for Him to finish His work in us as He has promised. Philippians 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
So as today is the day after the anniversary of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us remember that His promise is still true to this day and that we cannot ever earn what He has done. The cross and the empty tomb are a solemn promise that Jesus Christ will not forsake those who are His. We have more than you know to celebrate.
Hold until relieved, our Blewssed Hope is coming,
JL