The Cross Is Everything!

The apex – the high point – the summit of both Christ’s active obedience (law-keeping) and passive obedience (suffering for sinners) happened on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus Christ never suffered more than when He was crushed by the eternal wrath of the Father and forsaken by Him in whose presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. And at the same time, Jesus was actively giving His most perfect climactic obedience to the law: He never loved His Father with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength more than when He was on that cross (“. . . but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.” John 14:31) , and He never loved His neighbor as Himself more than when He suffered for sinners on that cross (“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ”). The cross is everything!

And all those who have repented of their sins and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ – they are united with Christ in this very death He obediently suffered on the cross:

Romans 6:4-5 : We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death [into the apex of His passive and active obedience] , in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his [the apex of His passive and active obedience] , we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his [He did the law and therefore He lives in resurrection life, so that we might live in Him!] .

Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ.

So by grace through faith in Jesus, I have participated in the culmination of Christ’s active and passive obedience because I have been crucified with Him where this culmination of His active and passive obedience took place. The cross is everything!

Galatians 6:14 :  But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . .

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
[And] my [ransomed] soul shall find
Rest beyond the river. (Fanny Crosby)