The cross set us free, transformed our hearts and spirits, and gave us a new purpose. And it continues to renew us and give us new life at every moment.
We were raised with Christ—we now have a new identity through Him!
Freed from the Weight of Guilt
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:4-5
Before understanding the meaning of the cross, we carried guilt, mistakes, and memories that imprisoned us. We tried to make up for our failures, seeking to be accepted by God through human effort. But when we look at the crucified Jesus, we realize that He took upon Himself all that we could never bear.
The cross changed our story and reminds us daily that forgiveness does not depend on what we do, but on what Christ has already done. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin; shame loses its power over us when we focus on God’s sacrifice. Grace replaces fear, and freedom leads us into new beginnings and new life in Him.
Now, instead of trying to earn love, we can live as people who were loved first—and act out of that love. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. When we truly understand this, our relationship with God changes, and we grow deeper in intimacy with Him.
Called to a New Life
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Romans 6:4
The death of Jesus on the cross was not the end, but the beginning of a new life. The resurrection of Christ invites us to live differently. The cross is not only a symbol of sacrifice, but also a marker of transformation. In Christ, we are born again and called to leave behind who we once were. Thoughts, habits, and paths that once made sense no longer have a place in us.
This new life is not about perfection, but about daily surrender—dying to ourselves and living for God. Now, every decision, every reaction, and every action is an opportunity to manifest the Kingdom and honor what was done for us on that cross.
Loving Like Chris
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
1 John 3:16
There is not only pain on the cross—there is love and grace in its purest form. Jesus gave Himself for us, sinners. This confronts us and transforms us. It shows us how we are called to love and give ourselves—not because of merit or in hopes of a return, but by choice, by grace, by obedience, and gratitude.
True love gives, sacrifices, and empathizes. It is not a self-serving love, but an intentional one. If we have been forgiven, we must forgive. If we have received mercy, we must extend it.
Now, everything we do must be done out of love for the One who gave Himself for us.
