Still on the cross?

[LornaDoone]

A friend of mine (who was saved about a year ago) was having a discussion with another Christian sister when a subject came up that has confused her a little. My friend was given her Grandmothers cross (which had been a confirmation present) on a new chain for her own confirmation present, and this sister told my friend that she was of the opinion that it was wrong to wear a cross because Jesus was no longer on the cross.

My friend asked my opinion, and to me its a no brainer: Jesus died for ALL sins, past, present and future. He died for ALL sinners, past present and future and since the are still souls to be saved (whom we are supposed to be reaching) - souls whom He died to save - in some sense He still is on the cross, dying for us.

He was, He is, and He is to come.

My friend and I are going to have a bible study session together soon - can anyone suggest some good scripture for us to study? And does anyone have any thoughts they could share on this?

Blessings

 

[ladylovesJesus]

The ones I cannot stand to see are the ones showing Jesus on the cross as He is now alive and risen. No longer on the cross. I used to wear a cross but now I do not wear it. A lot of people can wear them but it does not necessarily mean they are walking with Jesus. It says in the Bible by their fruit you will know them. Matt.7.16. People need to see Jesus in us to bring them to salvation.

God bless

LLJ :rainbow: :rose:

 

[Ann]

A friend of mine (who was saved about a year ago) was having a discussion with another Christian sister when a subject came up that has confused her a little. My friend was given her Grandmothers cross (which had been a confirmation present) on a new chain for her own confirmation present, and this sister told my friend that she was of the opinion that it was wrong to wear a cross because Jesus was no longer on the cross.

My friend asked my opinion, and to me its a no brainer: Jesus died for ALL sins, past, present and future. He died for ALL sinners, past present and future and since the are still souls to be saved (whom we are supposed to be reaching) - souls whom He died to save - in some sense He still is on the cross, dying for us.

He was, He is, and He is to come.

My friend and I are going to have a bible study session together soon - can anyone suggest some good scripture for us to study? And does anyone have any thoughts they could share on this?

His Resurrection Destiny (from the Quick verse program)
“Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26).
Our Lord’s Cross is the gateway into His life. His resurrection means that He has the power to convey His life to me. When I was born again, I received the very life of the risen Lord from Jesus Himself.
Christ’s resurrection destiny—His foreordained purpose—was to bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). The fulfilling of His destiny gives Him the right to make us sons and daughters of God. We never have exactly the same relationship to God that the Son of God has, but we are brought by the Son into the relation of sonship. When our Lord rose from the dead, He rose to an absolutely new life—a life He had never lived before He was God Incarnate. He rose to a life that had never been before. And what His resurrection means for us is that we are raised to His risen life, not to our old life. One day we will have a body like His glorious body, but we can know here and now the power and effectiveness of His resurrection and can “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Paul’s determined purpose was to “know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Philippians 3:10).
Jesus prayed, “… as You have given Him authority over all flesh that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him” (John 17:2).The term Holy Spirit is actually another name for the experience of eternal life working in human beings here and now. The Holy Spirit is the deity of God who continues to apply the power of the atonement by the Cross of Christ to our lives. Thank God for the glorious and majestic truth that His Spirit can work the very nature of Jesus into us, if we will only obey Him."


I think that each person must decide on his/her own what the cross symbolizes to them and in faith wear the symbol. There will be different connotations to the wearing of the cross, some will be wrong but others not. We must let God do the conviction and convincing in each persons life according to each one’s believe. Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

To many the cross is a symbol of the Christian hope, in that it affirms that death has been defeated through the resurrection of Jesus, but if anybody is wearing the cross please pray about it and let God reveal the true reason in your heart, He will show you the right way.

I do not agree that:

in some sense He still is on the cross, dying for us.

Jesus has risen and is sitting on the right hand of God.
Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

It is great that you and your friend will attend a Bible study session, I hope there will be many more. You still have a long way to go and a lot to learn, keep it up - don't get discourage if you don't get some things right the first time. We all made a lot off mistake on our own walk with God and will make a lot more - keep faith.

Lots of love.:girl_hug:

Many blessings to you and your friend!

 

[rlowe]

my best illustration

-
When Christ Jesus died on the cross, He died as the Lamb of Sacrifice for
past, present, & future sins all at once.

He next offered to all dead this gift.

He then rose & offered this gift to those currently living then.

He still offers this gift today & will until He comes back.

The gift is still available today NOT because He is still on the cross, but because He was a pure, sufficent, lasting sacrifice.

Feel free to PM me if this does not fully answer your question.

-
May God bless your Bible study.
-

 

[stephen]

God bless you in your bible study. Encourage your friend in Jesus. We are not redeemed by things which we wear, but by what we believe.

God Bless

 

[Radcliffelion]

I guess I feel the same as the 2nd poster. I certainly love wearing a necklace with the symbol of the cross because it is an important reminder to me of why and how I am saved. However, I have trouble with a cross that still shows Christ on it.....this is saying to the world that we believe He is still there and He is not.
That's my 2 cents.

Laura

 

[aaroncam85]

Jesus always spoke aboutmotives and what was in the heart if you feel you should not wear it then dont but if you feel comfortable wear it. Paul speaks of people eating food offered to idols he concludes by saying if you think it is wrong do not eat but if you feel okay with it then eat it for what is an idol, what is gold but i will say if someone findsit offensive do not wear it in their prescence be considerate put others before yourself.
May God bless you

 

[WingedGrace]

Three words... He is risen.

I don't see anything wrong with wearing a cross necklace as a reminder of His sacrifice. I don't really like seeing crosses with Him hanging there, but if someone wants one, that's their choice. I don't think God looks down on that really. Kind of similar to watching The Passion...sometimes we need to be humbled in that sense.

 

[Chad]

I love all the responses in this thread. The great thing is, each person gave an awesome different answer - yet truthful without being opinionated.

I feel that way too. Basically, if you feel comfortable wearing a cross with or without Jesus on it, then so be it. There is no Scripture at all to either support nor defend this. As long as your not wearing it as solely a jewelry because if you are, then your in a position of insulting GOD, insulting what Christ went through and practically belittling the value of His immeasurable Love for us all.

 

[trulyblezzed]

Personally I don't mind people wearing crosses. I have one (without Jesus on it) and it's so beautiful. To me, it's a symbol of my faith.

When I first started going to church, I bought my boyfriend (now husband) a cross with Jesus on it and someone told him not to wear it because "Jesus isn't hanging on the cross anymore". We didn't take offense to it and just got him another one.

A quick story... a few years ago, I had a friend who got a tattoo of a cross on her inner wrist. I said "isn't that like an oxymoron... kinda like jumbo shrimp?" She didn't understand.

 

[Janette]

I guess it depends...

For the most part, I agree with everyone who has said the "intent" matters and that each individual should pray about this and decide what to do for him or herself.

Personally, when I wear a cross, I prefer an "empty" cross without Jesus upon it, which (to me) shows Jesus has conquored sin and death and the devil and is Resurrected and in Heaven at the right hand of the Father.

But I don't think God has a problem with those who wear the kind with Christ still on it. People are at different stages in their spiritual walk. Some need to be reminded of the Sacrifice that Christ made for us with images like those.

I *do* think there are only two situations where you can get into trouble with crosses (or holy water, or anything else):

1) There are some non-Christians who will wear a "defiled" cross upside down (not to be confused with St. Peter's cross, which some wear innocently) as a deliberate affront to Christianity and Jesus. I'm sure no one on this forum is doing that, but obviously it would be a bad thing to do.

2) I've seen a few people treat a cross like a talisman. They get sick, they put on a cross. They have a bad day...cross. They are afraid of food poisoning...cross. They think demons are after them...cross. It gets to the point that they don't even *mention* God anymore but just treat that piece of jewelry like it's some kind of magical artifact with special powers. Those people worry me, because I'm pretty sure you're really not supposed to do that.

Other than that, I think you're fine however you do or don't wear the cross.

God bless,
Janette

 

[david_james]

you guys are over thinking this. Having Jesus on the cross shows that, that is where he died and paid for our sins. There is nothing wrong with showing Jesus on the cross.

 

[trulyblezzed]

They get sick, they put on a cross. They have a bad day...cross. They are afraid of food poisoning...cross. They think demons are after them...cross. It gets to the point that they don't even *mention* God anymore but just treat that piece of jewelry like it's some kind of magical artifact with special powers.

So true! Good Point.