(1 Co) 1:18 CJB “For the message about the execution-stake is nonsense to those in the process of being destroyed, but to us in the process of being saved it is the power of God.”

Every person on earth is in a process.

No one is standing still.

We are either moving toward eternal separation from God or toward eternal life with God.

From birth, humanity inherits a fallen nature. Left to ourselves, we naturally drift toward sin, rebellion, and spiritual death. Physical death eventually follows, culminating in eternal judgment for those who reject the One True God.

Yet God, in His mercy, has made a way of escape.

At any moment, a person can leave the broad road leading to destruction and enter the narrow road leading to life through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

The Power of the Cross Produces New Life

When a person is born again, God does more than forgive sins.

He gives a new nature.

The Holy Spirit enters the believer’s life and begins the lifelong work of transformation. What was once dead becomes alive. What was once enslaved to sin becomes empowered to pursue righteousness.

This new life is not self-improvement.

It is spiritual resurrection.

The same God who raised Jesus from the dead begins conforming believers into the image of His Son. The Christian life is not merely about avoiding sin; it is about becoming like Jesus.

The resurrection of Christ guarantees that all who belong to Him will also be raised to eternal life.

The Power of the Cross Requires Repentance

Jesus was crucified on the execution stake because of humanity’s rebellion against God.

The sins of the world were placed upon Him.

He bore the judgment we deserved so that we might receive the righteousness we could never earn.

Yet this gift is not automatically applied to everyone.

God calls men and women to repent.

Repentance means turning away from self-rule and surrendering to Christ’s rule. It means abandoning confidence in our own goodness, morality, religion, or achievements and trusting completely in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

The world teaches self-reliance.

The gospel teaches God-reliance.

The world teaches self-righteousness.

The cross teaches Christ’s righteousness.

Those who repent and believe are pardoned by God and welcomed into His family as sons and daughters.

Living Daily Under the Power of the Cross

The Christian life begins with faith, but it continues through daily surrender.

Jesus taught His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him.

Though believers receive a new nature, they still battle the sinful desires that remain in their mortal bodies. Therefore, the Holy Spirit continually works through the Word of God to lead believers into obedience.

The power of the cross is displayed every time a Christian chooses holiness over temptation.

Every time pride is replaced with humility.

Every time selfishness is replaced with service.

Every time fear is replaced with faith.

The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make the people of God more like the Son of God.

This process is called sanctification.

It is not instantaneous.

It is lifelong.

Still in Process

Every believer should find encouragement in this truth: we are not yet what we will be.

God is still working.

We still stumble.

We still struggle.

We still fight against sin.

But the direction of our lives has changed.

Those born of the Spirit are no longer walking toward destruction but toward glory.

Day by day, they are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

One day that process will be complete.

Faith will become sight.

The battle against sin will end.

The resurrection will come.

And God’s people will be perfectly conformed to the image of His Son forever.

That is the power of the cross.

Run today’s play:

Ask yourself, “Am I trusting in myself or am I trusting in Christ?”

Then identify one area of your life where God is calling you to greater obedience. Surrender it to Him today and ask the Holy Spirit for the strength to follow Jesus faithfully.

Remember, if you belong to Christ, God is not finished with you yet. You are in process, and He is making you more like His Son every day.