The Cross | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Nov 16, 1876

The Cross.

Those who take Christ must take his cross. Christianity without a cross is Christianity without Christ. Though it is embalmed in love, and glistening with the rays of the Sun of Righteousness, it is a cross still. It is the dividing line between the church and the world. It makes no compromises and gives no licenses. Whatever is not of faith is sin; and in the sight of God there are no little sins. To do evil we must go out from under the shadow of the cross. To them that perish the cross is unlovely, and its preaching foolishness. But it is only heavy and cumbersome to those who have not apprehended Christ. It crushes only that in us which is not according to the will of God. Borne upon the divided heart, it has in it the thorn and spear, as well as the nails. But borne with Christ it is restful, and sweet, and fragrant. Abiding in him, after having risen with him from the baptism of death, there is joy in its touch. Is there not danger of accepting all that looks beautiful and restful in the gospel, and shunning all that calls for sacrifice—of trying to take Christ for our Saviour, but not for our Master? The temple was very beautiful with gold and purple, and choice workmanship, its fountain and pillars; but there was an altar too—an altar of sacrifice. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” Let us fully apprehend the “death” and “separation” of the cross.—Sel.