Crucified Hearts

The centrality of Christ–born of a woman, lived among us, crucified, and resurrected from the dead to sit at the right hand of God, coming a second time for the full redemption of humanity– is in God’s plan of salvation the most essential truth, the most essential reality, that gives meaning to all created things, whether in heaven or in earth.

Ignorance of or denial of this core reality, what is rooted in the very nature of the triune God and his purposes, is the cause of all sin and suffering in this world. It is this truth, the denial of Christ’s centrality in the purposes of God, that lives in the heart of Satan, and it is the identifying mark of all who follow him, what the Bible calls the Mark of the Beast. Those who bear this mark are those who refuse to worship Christ in his supremacy, revealed in the rejection of his law. And it is there rejection of the biblical Christ in his supremacy that results in their beastly, evil nature.

To reject the supremacy of Christ as Lord of heaven and earth is to debase the dignity of those created in his image, paradoxically lifting the creature above the Creator, separating what is created from the One who made us. To lose the consciousness of Christ’s supremacy and centrality is in effect, to lose ones soul, one’s mind, one’s purpose for existence.

Good and evil take their shape in reference to the centrality of Christ.

If you want to trace the lines of false teaching, of corrupt doctrine, of corrupt faith and practice, you will find those lines running opposition to this divine purpose, that all things of heaven and earth are to be centered in their consciousness, their essence, their right of existence by the person and work of Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God.

As Jesus said in his most sublime declaration of divinity, “before Abraham was, I AM”. (John 8:58)

Read with the apostle Paul had to say from his meditations on the glory of the Son of God:

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities⁠—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
— Colossians 1:13-20

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
— Ephesians 1:18-23