Christianity without a cross.

Belief in Christ without commitment shows we have not yet been impacted by the cross.

What Jesus did for you.

Isaiah 50:7 ESV

But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.

Isaiah 50:6 ESV

I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

Luke 9:51 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

Jesus wasn’t dying for people who loved Him, He was dying for people who hated Him.

Romans 5:6 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:7 ESV

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Matthew 16:21 ESV

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

There was a definite shift of emphasis in the ministry of Jesus at this point. The disciples loved His teaching, loved His miracles, but they didn’t like His cross at this point.

Matthew 16:22 ESV

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”

Greek, Pity thyself. Or “May God be merciful to you Lord!”

Matthew 16:23 ESV

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Here i am trying to go to the cross and here you are trying to trip me up putting a stumbling block in the way of me with your false, self centered affection.

Matthew 16:24 KJV 1900

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Much of our modern christianity today will tell us, “you don’t have to carry a cross!” In fact christianity is about you. Making us me centered instead of Christ centered.

This is christianity without a cross.

In summation, Christ gave His all for us. Isn’t it time we gave our all for Him?