Excerpt from Kay Arthur’s book Beloved – From God’s Heart to Yours (Harvest House Publishers, 1994)

In God’s economy, crucifixion always brings resurrection. In Romans 6, the whole purpose of death is life – death to sin’s power “so we too might walk in newness of life” (verse 4).

Thus Paul writes to the Corinthians, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). “Passed away” means that that it took place at one point in time. The verb “have come” denotes a past completed action with a present or continuous result. This is how effective Calvary was: For all who truly believe, there is newness of life.

What makes us new creations? It is the death of the old man and the new indwelling of the Holy Spirit: “For the law (principle) of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law (principle) of sin and of death” (Romans 8:2).

Life always follows death. In Galatians 2:20, Paul wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” The Crucifixion itself is a thing of the past: “I have been crucified.” It is through our identification in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Thus the cross leads us to the Spirit. Yet, when the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us, where does He lead us? To the cross! A personal cross. Why? Because the cross works death – to self, to our ways, to our desires – death to our own life. And through this death, Christ is manifested in our flesh. That is why, Beloved, God does not redeem our bodies immediately when we are saved. Instead, He puts the Spirit in our mortal bodies of flesh in order that men might see the surpassing greatness of the power of His Holy Spirit.

The cross was an instrument of death, and man is bent on life. Yet, even more than death, the cross was an instrument of inexorable torture. It was the place of the cursed, not only to the Jews but also to the Romans (Galatians 3:13). Yes, natural men were to shun the cross, to keep it from their thoughts, their eyes, their ears. Yet to those who would be God’s men and women, came the call of Jesus to keep the cross ever before them. Why? Because the cross is where the natural dies and the supernatural takes over (Galatians 2:20).

We who love God are never to fear the cross. Rather we are to fear its absence. Therefore, when you want to run, to escape, to save yourself from the call to forsake all and take up your cross and follow Him, you can be certain that fear is not from God.

Fear would cause you to doubt the character of the God of Calvary, who is a God of love. Fear that would keep you from the cross comes only from the one who would offer you a crown without a cross, the devil himself. Satan fears the cross, for there men are set free from bondage to death.

Have you, precious one, found yourself in a difficult situation? Have you seen it as an opportunity for His life to be seen in you?