The Cross and the Christian

1 Corinthians 2:1–5

I wonder if you would agree with the following view of the cross of Christ: the crucifixion of Christ was a once-for-all substitution of the Son of God in my place so that I would not have to suffer but could enjoy the abundant life that he purchased for me. This is a common view today—in practice if not in theory. And it is very near the view that Paul had to contend with at Corinth.

The Cross and the Christian

The problem with this view of the cross is that it leaves out a huge fact—namely, the one Jesus stated in Luke 9:23—“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” When Christ died on the cross for sinners, he not only stood in my place, doing what I never could do (forgiving my sin), but he also showed me what I must do if I would save my life, namely, take up my own cross and join him on the Calvary road of death to self.

Christ died to save us from hell but not to save us from the cross. He died so that we could be glorified, but not to keep us from being crucified. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily.” For the Christian the cross of Christ is not merely a past place of substitution. It is also a present place of daily execution.

(The excerpt above is from a Feb. 7, 1988, sermon titled "The Present Power of Christ Crucified" by John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org)