The Explanation of the Cross

“For the preaching of the cross … is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

“But, brethren, if I still preach circumcision [as some accuse me of doing, as necessary to salvation], why am I still suffering persecution? In that case the cross has ceased to be a stumbling block and is made meaningless (done away)” (Galatians 5:11).

In other words, natural circumcision—defined as “the surgical removal of the foreskin, the tissue covering the head(glans) of the penis”—is no longer preached; in its place is the circumcision of the heart—which is only accomplished by the power of the cross applied. But natural circumcision removes actual flesh, whereas supernatural circumcision removes merely the works of the flesh. Indeed, “When you came to Christ, you were ‘circumcised,’ but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature” (Colossians 2:11).

Thus, when Paul says that by “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ … the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:4)—“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:16)—he is, by that crucifixion/circumcision, removing the influence of his body of death/sinful nature away from his clean and redeemed spirit. This is THE EXPLANATION OF THE CROSS.

When Paul bemoaned the destiny of those who made themselves enemies of the cross of Christ—“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Philippians 3:18-19)—he saw in their enmity, a throwing off of the only means by which they could be transformed into the Lord’s image and made ready for spirituality and heaven. Ultimately, those who avoid the cross are those who forsake their lives. As is written, “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy” (Jonah 2:8).

T. Austin-Sparks explained things well when he wrote, “Here is THE EXPLANATION OF THE CROSS of our Lord Jesus and the crucifixion of the old man and all that is related thereto. The explanation is just this, that that Cross represents the bringing to an end, or winding up of what is less than God intended. For things were pulled down to a lower level than God intended. There came in divisions, alienation, circumscribing of man and of things, limiting God and His purpose for man in the world, and the Cross represents the undoing of all that.”

Austin-Sparks went on to say, “The resurrection speaks of emancipation into the limitless—into the universal … The resurrection represents universality because it brings you into spiritual realities—delivered from the flesh and brought into the spirit, delivered from what is of man and brought into what is of God … We have lost every form of limitation … We are now set free and brought into the kingdom of heaven’s emancipation on resurrection ground. Under the anointing of the Spirit we are brought into the universality of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is THE EXPLANATION OF THE CROSS.”