The cross is central to Christianity, representing love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. Today, we’ll look at what the Bible teaches about the significance of the cross and what it means for believers.
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What Does The Bible Say About The Cross
1. Matthew 16:24
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
This verse underscores the act of surrender as a central aspect of discipleship. Surrendering to Christ requires self-denial, an intentional choice to put aside our own desires, ambitions, and plans.
Taking up the cross symbolizes embracing the challenges and sacrifices that may come with following Jesus. This verse highlights that surrender is not passive but involves actively choosing to follow Christ, even when it requires personal sacrifice.
2. 1 Corinthians 1:18
“For 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.”
This verse emphasizes the contrast between the perception of the cross by those who reject Christ and those who believe. To unbelievers, the message of the cross seems foolish and nonsensical. However, for believers, the cross holds the power of God for salvation.
The cross is more than just an instrument of death; it represents the redemptive work of Jesus, securing our forgiveness and offering us eternal life. It is through the cross that we encounter God’s power and experience transformation.
3. Galatians 6:14
“May 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.”
This verse highlights the unique position of the cross in the life of a believer. Instead of finding pride or worth in worldly accomplishments or possessions, the apostle Paul declares his sole source of exaltation to be the cross of Jesus.
Through the cross, the world loses its grip on us, and we become dead to its allurements and temptations. The cross becomes our ultimate source of identity and significance, leading us to live a life dedicated to God’s kingdom rather than worldly pursuits.
4. Ephesians 2:16
“And in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”
This verse highlights the reconciling power of the cross. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus not only reconciles us with God but also brings unity among believers, breaking down the walls of hostility and division.
The cross has the power to mend broken relationships and heal the wounds caused by sin and conflict. It serves as a reminder of God’s immense love and the limitless potential for unity and harmony among His people.
5. Philippians 2:8
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”
This verse emphasizes the humility and obedience of Jesus, who willingly went to the cross to fulfill the Father’s will. Jesus demonstrated the ultimate act of selflessness by enduring the shame and suffering associated with crucifixion.
His death on the cross reveals the depth of His love for humanity and exemplifies the character we are called to imitate. The cross challenges us to embrace humility, obedience, and self-sacrifice in our relationship with God and others.
6. Colossians 2:14
“Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
This verse speaks of the transformative power of the cross. Through His death, Jesus not only paid the penalty for our sins but also removed the record of our transgressions.
The cross signifies our freedom from the guilt and condemnation brought about by sin. The debt we owed has been canceled, and our slate has been wiped clean through the cross, enabling us to live in the fullness of God’s forgiveness and grace.
7. Hebrews 12:2
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
This verse reminds us to keep our focus on Jesus, the one who endured the cross for the joy that awaited Him. Despite the shame and suffering associated with the cross, Jesus willingly embraced it to accomplish the redemptive plan of God.
The cross serves as a source of inspiration and encouragement for us as we face difficulties and challenges in our own lives. Just as Jesus overcame, we too can find strength and hope in the cross, knowing that victory awaits us through faith in Him.
8. Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This verse highlights the profound love of God displayed through the cross. While we were still in a state of sin and rebellion against Him, God chose to send His Son to die on our behalf.
The cross reveals the incredible depths of God’s love for humanity, as He willingly sacrificed His only Son to bring about our reconciliation. It serves as a constant reminder of the unconditional love and grace that God extends to every individual.
9. 1 Peter 2:24
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
This verse highlights the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. In His body, Jesus bore the weight of our sins, taking upon Himself the punishment we deserved. Through His sacrificial death, we are enabled to die to sin and live a life dedicated to righteousness.
The wounds Jesus endured on the cross serve as a source of healing and restoration. By His wounds, we are spiritually made whole and experience the transformative power of His grace.
10. 1 Corinthians 2:2
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
In this verse, the apostle Paul emphasizes the centrality of the crucifixion of Christ in his ministry. He recognized that the message of the cross was paramount, and it was through the crucified Christ that lives were transformed.
Paul’s focus on the cross challenges us to prioritize Jesus and His redemptive work in our own lives and ministries. It is through the cross that salvation is found, and it is the cross that should remain at the forefront of our proclamation of the gospel.
11. Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
In this verse, Paul declares his identification with Christ’s death on the cross. Through faith, he recognizes that his old self has been crucified with Christ, and now it is Christ who lives in him.
The cross represents a complete transformation of our lives. It is through our union with Christ that we are empowered to live a new life, guided by faith and fueled by the love of God, who sacrificed His Son for our redemption.
12. John 19:30
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
These words spoken by Jesus just before His death on the cross signify the completion of His redemptive mission. Jesus accomplished everything necessary for the salvation of humanity through His obedient sacrifice.
The cross represents the finished work of Christ, signaling the victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. It serves as a powerful reminder of the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice and the assurance of our salvation through faith in Him.
13. Luke 23:46
“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.”
These final words of Jesus on the cross demonstrate His complete trust and surrender to the Father. Despite the agony and torment He was experiencing, Jesus willingly offered up His life, placing Himself entirely in the hands of God.
The cross serves as a profound example of trust in God’s sovereignty, even in the midst of suffering. It challenges us to entrust our lives, both in life and in death, to the faithful hands of our Heavenly Father, knowing that He is in control.
14. Isaiah 53:5
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.”
These prophetic words from Isaiah foreshadow the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Jesus took upon Himself the punishment we deserved and bore the weight of our transgressions and iniquities.
The cross serves as a powerful reminder of the extent of Christ’s sacrifice for our redemption. It is through His wounds that we find healing, peace, and restoration, both spiritually and emotionally.
15. 2 Corinthians 5:21
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
In this verse, Paul highlights the great exchange that occurs through the cross. Jesus, who was sinless, took upon Himself our sinfulness so that we could be clothed with the righteousness of God.
The cross serves as a place of divine exchange, where our guilt and shame are replaced by God’s forgiveness and righteousness. Through faith in Christ, we are made new creations, restored to a right relationship with God.
16. Revelation 5:9
“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain, and with your blood, you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
This verse describes a heavenly scene where those redeemed by the blood of Jesus worship Him for His sacrificial death on the cross. The cross serves as the means by which people from all corners of the earth can be reconciled to God.
The cross represents the unlimited scope of God’s grace and the inclusivity of His salvation plan. Through Jesus, every tribe, language, people, and nation can be redeemed and brought into the family of God.
17. Acts 2:23
“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
In this verse, Peter explains to the crowd the significance of Jesus’ crucifixion. While the wickedness of men played a role, the cross was part of God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge.
The cross reflects God’s sovereign purpose in bringing salvation to humanity. It was not an accident or a twist of fate but a predestined event orchestrated by God, displaying His ultimate wisdom and love.
18. Colossians 1:20
“and 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.”
This verse emphasizes the universal impact of the cross. Through Jesus’ shed blood on the cross, God is reconciling all things to Himself, both in the earthly realm and in the heavenly realms.
The cross not only restores our broken relationship with God but also brings about peace and restoration in every aspect of creation. It serves as the ultimate expression of God’s love and longing to reconcile and redeem all things.
19. 2 Corinthians 13:4
“For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power, we will live with him in our dealing with you.”
In this verse, Paul compares the weakness of Jesus’ crucifixion to the power of His resurrection. Although the cross appears to be a display of weakness, it is through God’s power that Jesus conquered death and now lives eternally.
The cross reminds us that our own weaknesses and struggles do not define us. By God’s power, we can experience transformation and live victoriously, empowered by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.
20. Psalm 22:16
“Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.”
This prophetic verse from Psalm 22 foreshadows the crucifixion of Jesus, describing the piercing of His hands and feet. It highlights the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies through the crucifixion of Jesus.
The cross represents God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises and the assurance that every word spoken by the prophets finds its fulfillment in Jesus. It is a testament to the reliability and trustworthiness of God’s Word.
21. 1 Peter 4:13
“But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
This verse encourages believers to find joy in sharing in the sufferings of Christ. The cross symbolizes the suffering and sacrifice endured by Jesus and calls us to willingly embrace the hardships that come with following Him.
The cross challenges us to shift our perspective and find joy in the midst of trials, knowing that they are not in vain. Our sufferings unite us with Christ and prepare us for the glory that will be revealed in Him.
22. Matthew 27:46
“About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).”
These agonizing words spoken by Jesus on the cross reveal the depth of His suffering and the weight of the sin He bore. In that moment, Jesus experienced the separation from the Father, taking upon Himself the full consequences of human sin.
The cross represents the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus, who endured the abandonment and separation from God that we deserved. Through His forsakenness, we find reconciliation and the assurance of God’s unrelenting love.
23. John 12:32
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
In this verse, Jesus speaks of His impending crucifixion and the transformative impact it will have. The cross serves as a magnet, drawing all people to Jesus, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or social status.
The cross represents God’s invitation to all humanity, extending His love and grace to anyone who would accept it. It stands as a symbol of inclusivity, breaking down barriers and welcoming all who are willing to come to Jesus.
24. Luke 23:24
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
In this verse, Jesus demonstrates His unfathomable love and forgiveness even in the face of immense suffering. On the cross, He intercedes for His executioners, pleading with God to forgive them for their ignorance.
The cross exemplifies the incomprehensible love of Christ, who chose to forgive those who wronged Him. It challenges us to extend forgiveness and grace to others, even when they have wronged us, just as Jesus did on the cross.
25. Isaiah 53:12
“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.”
This verse from Isaiah foreshadows the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus willingly poured out His life, taking upon Himself the sins of humanity and making intercession for transgressors.
The cross represents Jesus’ victory over sin and death. Through His sacrificial death, He secured our salvation and opened the way for us to receive the abundant blessings and rewards that come from being united with Him.