Crucified to the World

As we continue our series on the apostolic preaching of the Cross, we find ourselves in Paul's letters to two churches - Philippi and Galatia. The apostle Paul says that the Cross of Christ "crucified" him "to the world, and the world to him" What does this mean for you and me? And, on a closely related matter, what does it mean to be "enemies of the cross of Christ?" Our scripture focus is Philippians 3:17-21 and Galatians 6:14. It is here that we learn that substitutionary atonement is not the only purpose and message of the cross. It reaches much deeper and further. The cross is not simply, that Christ bore your shame… It is also that through the Power of the Cross, God is delivering us from worldliness and shameful living, crucifying us to the world and the world to us. He crushes the head of the serpent. It is clear that the things that die were never good for us in the first place.