Are we Supposed to Die on a Cross Daily?

Take up your cross and die daily.

This scripture used to confuse me, fill me with fear, and leave me wondering if I had died enough to meet what was required of me to follow Jesus. Then I heard the gospel. The gospel announces the good news that Jesus died the death we deserve and that we get eternal life as a free gift. We simply receive God’s gift of salvation by believing and trusting in the work of Christ.

So what about taking up your cross and dying daily? When we read the gospels, even the words of Jesus Himself, we must read them through the correct New Covenant lens or else we will end up feeling condemned, confused and insecure.

When you made the decision to accept Christ’s free gift of eternal life, you died (Gal 2:20). You took up your cross and you were crucified with Him. Your old life is gone and now you are alive in Him (Eph 2). There is no need for those who have believed the gospel to take up a cross or die daily, it has already happened, the old us already died. Now we are new creations, we are alive and we are free to manifest Jesus everywhere we go. He lives in us and we are now bright and shining lamps that reveal the Father to the world around us. You have total union with Christ (1 Cor 6:17).

If the focus is on you — what you’re doing, have you died today, have you taken up your cross, have you done this or that — it’s never ending and it leads to works righteousness. So much of what is taught and preached leaves the listener focused on self, on personal performance, on behavior and on works. If we look at ourselves in order to have right standing with God we will never have peace or assurance because we fall short every time. We can’t do it, that’s why Jesus came. The gospel beseeches us to focus on Jesus, what we now have because of Him, and on our new creation identity.

You will never be able to do enough or be good enough and if you follow religious doctrines and teachings of men you will become self righteous and burn out. Look to Jesus and His finished work. Seek to understand the gospel and to know what you’ve been freely given by God through Christ. Knowing that you’ve already got everything you need in Christ will result in rest and abundant life. You don’t have to strive, worry or fear you have total and complete peace with God through Christ (Romans 5:1). The gospel sets us free from us. It’s truly the best news ever!