All week I have reflected on the significance and meaning of the cross, and to be honest I don't think I'm any closer to grasping its full significance. The beauty and mystery of Calvary is simply beyond my feeble attempts at understanding.
I have gained new insight in the form of perspective. It came in the metaphor of one window, two views, and one focus. A window is typically framed on four sides. This frame brings definition not only to the window, but your perspective. I normally "view" the cross solely from my perspective, forgetting that each window has a front and back, or two perspectives...man's and God's.
God’s View (Jesus as the means of salvation)
- Satisfaction – the satisfaction of God’s wrath stemming from the chasm between His holiness and our sinfulness (Colossians 2:13-15)
- Propitiation – the value of Christ's death as a vindication of God's righteousness, the sole ground alone upon which God can show mercy to sinners…the sacrifice of Christ (Romans 3:25)
- Reconciliation – the removal of the effects of sin (enmity toward God) that enables us to trust and love God in an intimate relationship (Colossians 1:19-20)
- Redemption – the reclaiming and restoration of God’s creation (Romans 8:20-23)
Man’s View (Jesus as the model of salvation)
- My Past – I am no longer defined by the events, mistakes, and wounds of my past I am forgiven and free (Galatians 5:1)
- My Present – my life is now measured by the standard of the cross; I am called to a life of courageous sacrifice (Galatians 6:14)
- My Future – events do not define my reality, God’s presence does and that brings purpose to all things (Hebrews 12:1-2)
- My Eternity – the end is secure and is the final measure of all my actions (Revelation 21:5-7)
In light of Jesus as means and model…I now understand more deeply His life as the message and mission of mine.
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