Christian Bible Tracts - Sin and Sex

The cross here represented is surmounted with a crown, and there are written upon it four letters of the alphabet. These letters are intended to denote knowledge, belief, love, and obedience. You also see two arrows pointing towards a central letter X, and this letter is used to denote the word Christ. These letters suggest that we are to know, believe, love, and obey Christ. The arrow pointing towards the central letter indicates that Christ is the CENTRE OF ATTRACTION. "Jesus only." Matt. xvii. 8. At the foot of the cross you read: "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross." Gal. vi. 14.

The LITERAL cross was a gibbet made of two pieces of wood, crossing each other. The vilest criminals were put to death upon the cross. Hence it became a badge of shame. But Paul accepted it as though it were the highest badge of honor, and gloried in it.

We glory in the cross, because it is the symbol of Christianity. We see the zealous Jew bearing a YOKE as the symbol of his faith, a heavy, burdensome yoke of rites and ceremonies; but the Christian finds his symbol of faith in the cross. "By the cross, then, we mean that which embodies the great doctrines of the Gospel, and presents them in all their clearness and force to the mind. Here the whole Diety is known. No wonder Paul glories in it. We glory in the cross, because it is an INDEPENDENT moral force. There is only ONE cross, and it stands ALONE. It does its own work and will win its way to universal triumph. "I would say to the insidious skeptic: Sir, Christianity asks no permission to live from either you or me - she draws her life from a higher source." - Bishop Clark.

Constantine looks up into the beautiful heavens at noon, and beholds, written upon a cross of wondrous beauty, the words, "In this sign conquer." Christianity will conquer by the cross - the cross alone. "There is none other name given under heaven among men, whereby we much be saved." Acts iv. 12. Take the cross and glory in it. "The old crusaders used to wear a cross upon their shoulders. This was their badge of service." - Foster. Jesus says, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS , and follow me." Matt. xvi. 24. Take the cross and let it ELEVATE the soul. A heathen ruler, who had heard the story of the cross, was dying. He said to his attendants, "Make a cross, and lay me upon it." They did so, and as he lay there dying, he laid hold on the blood of Christ, and said, "It lifts me up; it lifts me, it lifts me; it lifts me." - Bible Museum. So may if lift us all into light and life.

JOHN NEWTON, in commenting upon Paul's statement to the Corinthians concerning himself (1 Cor. xv. 10), says: "I am not what I OUGHT to be; I am not what I WISH to be; I am not what I HOPE to be. Yet though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I AM NOT WHAT I ONCE WAS, and 'by the grace of God I am what I am.'" How much of truth, thought, and experience in these few words!