I've noticed that in the last couple of months everything I learn is repeated by another source - like I had mentioned in my last post, it's like God wants to make sure I got it! Well this week was no exception.
Before going to Alice's, I watched the most recent online replay of Heart of The Matter with Shawn McCraney - his message was about the Cross and what it represents. (You can watch it here.) My notes from his show are as follows:
Symbols evoke deep felt emotions in human beings - for example, when people see the peace sign, they think about peace and what that means. God made us with the ability to relate to icons and symbols.
The cross is symbolically important to Christians. It is not a man made symbol, but the result of scriptures.
The Material Cross - As an LDS, I was taught that the cross emphasizes Christ's death and the focus was that he is living, so we didn't utilize the cross for a symbol. McCraney says that he was taught at the MTC to tell people that the cross was an instrument of torture and we wouldn't wear a gun, a knife, or any other item that could cause death. However, it is the doctrine of the cross that is meaningful, beyond its material meaning.
The Metaphorical Cross - This represents, in scripture, Christian affliction. Luke 14:27 says "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." In Romans 6:6 is says "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin..." The cross, in these scriptures, teaches us to give up our old selves, become new in Christ and follow him.
The Metonymical Cross - Metonymical means "using the name of one thing for that of another with which it is closely associated; 'to say `he spent the evening reading Shakespeare' is metonymic because it substitutes the author himself for the author's works'". The cross, in this sense, is the icon of the gospel and all that Christ represents with the entire work that he did. The cross metonymically represents the power of God. Several scriptures further illustrate:
1 Corinthians 1:17-18 - 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Galations 5:11 - 11Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
Galations 6:12-14 - 12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Ephesians 2:16 - 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
Hebrews 12:2 - 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Some LDS people believe that the sacrifice Jesus made for us was in the Garden of Gethsemane, however, the following scripture clarifies:
Colossians 1:20 - 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Additionally, the ordinances/rules that were prior to Christ's sacrifice were done away with:
Colossians 2:14 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
A few hours after viewing this awesome program, I went to Alice's and what did we study? The Cross!!!
We watched a sermon from Louie Giglio about where to go when we are hurting the most. He said we would all come to a place where life hurts the most. Jesus taught "in ME you will have peace". His peace is relationship with him. In this world we will have trouble and the "good news" is that we know where peace is found. God is bigger and has a plan greater than we can imagine. He will make everything work and it's important to remember that the cross is the centerpiece of the plan of God.
In Hebrews 6:19-20 it talks about Jesus being an anchor for our souls. That anchor is the cross.
There are four things the cross tell us:
1- At the cross we see that God loves us, ESPECIALLY when we feel that God doesn't love us or when we wonder if he is really there.
2- God allows us freedom, but maintains control. The freedom was given to the people of the day to crucify Jesus, but God was still in control - the sacrifice needed to happen and he knew it.
3- God can use the worst things for eternal good. The crucifixion was a horrible event, but it was also the best, most beautiful event ever.
4- God paints on the canvas bigger than we can see or understand - our vision is just a small part of the painting. Trust him!
I am so glad this was the synchronized message! I had always thought about the significance of the cross, but had never gone into great depth as to how important it really is as an icon for Christianity. The cross is EVERYTHING to Christians - the symbol of freedom, love and hope!
Alice made me a beautiful bracelet and on it had several charms of things we have talked about in our Thursday studies - one of these charms was a cross - the first cross I have ever had! Awesome!!!!!
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