Have We Outgrown the Cross?

• Bible
• Bible study
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• Dr Eliezer Gonzalez
• Faith
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• New Testament

Dec 1, 2014 2947

Too many people think that they have outgrown the cross.

Atheists think that the cross is too mythological, too primitive, too incomprehensible. They think that as a civilisation, humanity has outgrown the cross. They replace the cross with ways of thinking (like materialism) and ways of living (such as hedonism) that attempt to deny the cross and to push it out of their consciousness.

Too many Christians also think that they have also outgrown the cross. For them the cross is only simplistic, too inadequate, or simply just too removed from their experience. They say that the cross was merely only a demonstration of God’s love, or just the beginning of salvation – whatever it takes in order to convince you that you need more in order to be saved. And then they supply you with other things to focus on, and with masses of other teachings and traditions (which may be good in themselves) and even their own unique gospels. The result is that the cross is crowded out of their consciousness as well.

In these ways both the atheist and the misguided Christian fulfil the words of the Apostle Paul:

For although they knew God… their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools… They exchanged the truth about God for a lie ­– Rom 1:21–25.

If only the atheists were right! If only these zealous Christians were right! If only there were some other way to be saved than through “Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2)! If only there were any other name under heaven by which we could be saved (Acts 4:12 – said in the specific context of the cross)! If only there were some other more important message that should define who we should be!

But there isn’t.

If you have found perfect happiness and peace in your life, if you have never needed more in life, if you have found perfect forgiveness and righteousness, if you have found the secret of eternal life – then and only then have you outgrown the cross. Then and only then should you put other things first.

But if that is not the case, then remember what is of first importance, in the words of the Apostle Paul:

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures – 1 Cor 15:3.

– Eliezer Gonzalez