"Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4:10,11)
When we were young, we heard this from spiritual masters. They say that at first I bear the cross, but later the cross bear me.
About 20 years ago, it was difficult for me to be yoked with the Lord.(Matthew 11:28-30)
It was obviously a work to move my will and apply the cross to me according to the principles of the Lord's Word.
Naturally, the result was worth it.
Also, the secret of the Spirit and life of the Lord appearing in my body by carrying the cross of Jesus was work and hard work.
But the reward for that work was great.
So, at that time, I thought that this was the secret weapon that the minister would have and decided to share this secret(?) with the ministeres.
This is because the people to whom we have to preach the gospel are all human being who have death and are in a dead state, so unless we project the life we have into them, we cannot bring them to life.(2Cor.4:12)
As the Lord said, we already know that we are not qualified for this power without the Holy Spirit.(Acts 1:8)
But the problem is that Christianity is trapped in the model that Jesus came to this earth, preached the word, showed that he was the word, died on the cross, rose again, ascended to heaven, and will come again someday.
What Paul refers to as the living ones here are those who have fulfilled the new covenant in which Jesus Christ resides in them.
The words of the Lord, "I live, and you will live"(John 14:19), because the Spirit of truth has come, he is the one who who has fulfilled the commandment of the Lord" I am in Father, you in me, and I in you"(John 14:20).
It is not that the Lord comes again to make us alive, but because the Holy Spirit of truth has come and dwells in us now, we who were dead through the Lord who is the resurrection and life are resurrected and live forever.
He who thinks he has only his own life cannot deny himself. Because there is only one life.
But those who are tasting the life in Adam and the life in Christ deny themselves and take up their cross. If you don't, it's uncomfortable.
Because that's the taste of Hades.
If you have been assured by the Holy Spirit that you died with Christ and rose again with Christ, you already know that you are bearing the cross with Christ.
There is no other way to become one with the Lord in the Lord except through the cross.
Therefore, to remove the cross from yourself is to remove the ventilator from the patient.
However, since the word cross is commonly used as words such as suffering or sacrifice, they mistakenly think that carrying the cross is an option, considering that it is not a condition for their desperate salvation.
No. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no salvation. In order to receive the Holy Spirit, we must bear the cross and must be bearing the cross.
However, there are many trials and errors until we realize that unless I bear the cross of the Lord with the Lord, I cannot overcome the powers of Hades.
The sense of duty to carry the cross is also the cause of keeping the cross far away.
But those who live in Christ realize that they are one with the cross.
They already know that I am destined to die on the cross with Christ and live again with Christ.
Therefore, instead of carrying the cross that is outside, you know that you are already carrying the cross with the Lord.
We learn that the message of the cross is the power of God to save.(1Cor. 1:18)
Whenever we confess that we are following the Lord while carrying the grace of the atonement of the cross of the Lord, the life of Jesus Christ appears in our mind and body.
This is the fragrance and letter of Christ. It is also the praise of God's glory.(Eph.1:12)
For such people, the cross is not a burden to them, they themselves become burden on the cross.
Easy and lightweight. They bear the death of others.(2Cor. 4:12)
This is the principle of Paul's ministry.
The workers of the new covenant must be able to bear the weaknesses of others with the power of the life of Christ in them.
If we want to live by that life through the new covenant of becoming one with Christ, we must not take off the cross.
Then we fall under the law and become the bullet catcher of sin, from which death shoots with its power.(1 Cor. 15:56)
Therefore, knowing that I am already included in the cross of Christ, who was passed from death to life on the grace of Christ's atonement, I am destined to be carrying that cross, and I must move forward to the point of loving and boasting about that cross.
Of course, because of the constitution and habits of the old self, we will taste bittermess for a long time, but ministers must advance until the cross makes us easy an light.
Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.
Translated by Nancy Chung
COME AND SEE WORLD MISSION