Towering O’er the Wrecks - Lee Brainard

A grand old hymn opens with the profound observation, “In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o’er the wrecks of time.” What does this mean? It means that the cross is the only effectual solution to man’s age-old problem with sin.

Over the centuries man has tried hundreds of philosophies, moral codes, and religions. While some help them feel better about themselves and others help them put a coat of paint on their outside, none fix the sin problem. None can free men from bondage to sin. None can free them from the law of sin and death. None can change their legal status before God — guilty sinners, condemned to spend eternity in hell for their sin.

In stark contrast, when a man embraces Christ and his cross, all three things change. First of all, his legal status is changed. He goes from condemned to pardoned. He is no longer a criminal but reconciled to God (Rom. 5:1, 8-10). Secondly, he receives the Spirit of adoption which places him in the family of God (Rom. 8:9-16) and frees him from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2). Thirdly, the power of the Spirit breaks the power of sin in his life. He is enabled to walk in newness of life, no longer a servant of sin, but rather a servant of God and a servant of righteousness (Rom. 6:3-23).

~Lee Brainard, March 14, 2015