Men often sing a patriotic song that begins, "Mine eyes have seen the glory..." But singing it and seeing it are two different things. This is especially true concerning the glory of the gospel of Christ crucified. Almost everybody has heard of the cross of Christ all their lives. It is a fact of history that Jesus Christ died on a cross outside of Jerusalem almost two thousand years ago. But while most men are aware of the fact of the cross, few have ever seen the glory of the cross. Paul said, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Gal. 6:14) I wonder if you who read this have ever seen the glory of God that is displayed in the crucified Christ.

We have not seen the glory of the cross until we have seen the Person who was crucified! It is the "cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." The One who laid down His life for sinners on the cross is none other than God "manifested in the flesh." He is the "Word" that "was God" and "was made flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:114) God could never suffer the penalty of His law and man could never satisfy the penalty of God's holy law for sin. But the GodMan, the Lord Jesus Christ, being fully God and fully man in one glorious Person, suffered the penalty of the law due unto the sins of His people and satisfied it! Christ as the Substitute and Savior of that people chosen in Him by the Father before the foundation of the world, met the justice of God head on. By shedding His precious blood, He satisfied that justice so that God might be both just and the justifier of all who believe. Christ's sacrificial death on the cross was not an attempt to redeem sinners or a making of redemption possible. He "gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." (Gal.1:4) He "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity." (Tit. 2:14) This is what He came to do and He did it! He redeemed all for whom He died and effectually accomplished their salvation. We have not seen the glory of the cross if we haven't seen and believed this. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law." (Gal. 3:13) "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." (Heb. 10:14) "By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, HAVING OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION for us." (Heb. 9:12) Christ did not die in vain, He laid down His life for "the sheep." Every person for whom He shed His blood on the cross of Calvary shall be saved. If one of them should perish, then the glory of the cross ceases. The work of Christ would be reduced to a failure and His cross work would not be a work of righteousness. This cannot be!

All who by faith see the glory of the cross of Christ, see it because the Spirit of God reveals it through the truth of the gospel. Is it any wonder Paul declared, "I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified"? Can you see the reason he exclaimed, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Believers do not glory in the sign of the cross, but in the sacrifice of the cross. They do not glory in the emblem of the cross, but in the expiation of the cross. Not in the symbol of the cross, but in the Savior and salvation of the cross. Not in the wood of the cross, but in the work of the cross. Not in the agony of the cross, but in the atonement and accomplishments of the cross. Not in the structure of the cross, but in the satisfaction of the cross. Not in the form of the cross, but in the forgiveness of the cross. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is not something we put on our buildings, wear around our necks or use as a sign of christianity; such is idolatry forbidden by the God of the cross.

When we are brought to see the glory of the cross, we see everything that God requires of us and everything necessary for our eternal salvation in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. This is the most glorious thing, the glory of God and the glory of grace, "Christ and Him crucified." Here is the glory of His love! "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us." (I John 3:16) "God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) I know nothing of the glory of God's love if I do not see by faith through the gospel, the glory of the cross of Christ. Do you see the GLORY of the cross? May God be pleased to reveal it to you. Only by His grace and Spirit can we see "the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." But He enable us to see it, what a glory it is!

Gary Shepard

UPON THE CROSS

1. Upon the cross our Savior,

Defeated ev’ry foe;

He died to save His people,

And paid the debt we owed.

The sword of justice pierced Him,

God put His Son to grief;

He poured on Him His vengeance,

And gave Him no relief.

2. Upon the cross Christ suffered,

For sheep who went astray;

And by His blood most precious,

He washed our sins away.

The law cannot condemn us,

For in our place He died;

He fully honored justice,

The law He magnified.

3. Upon the cross of Calv’ry,

Our Lord was crucified;

His blood has sealed our pardon,

He now is glorified.

Sing of His lovingkindness,

Of His redeeming grace;

Sing praises to the Savior,

Who saved His chosen race.

Jim Byrd

(Tune: The Church's One Foundation)