But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.  And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6, 14-16

This is the royal road to the glory of new creation. There is no other way given by God for us to enter into the world of the new creation.

It is the rugged cross of Calvary that opens the door into the glory of God.

This is the road that very few travel, it is a road that very few even desire to travel.

This road is devastating to the humanity of Adam. Everything that Adam represents is excluded on the road to Calvary.

On this road the life of our old humanity is poured out unto death.

The cross of Calvary is very hostile to everything that the humanity of Adam loves.

When one enters the road of Calvary the humanity of Adam gets exposed, and ruthlessly put to death. There is no mercy for the life of Adam on this journey.

For the life Christ to live in us, Adam must go to Calvary.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves; we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; ⁹ pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;  always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4, 7-12

Calvary is the journey of the end of the humanity of Adam, but at the same time, it is also the beginning of the journey of the new creation in Christ.

Before the life of Christ is poured in, the life of Adam must be poured out unto death.

Adams death in us is a devastating event, but there is a glory to be found in it.

The end of the journey of the death of Adam, the glory of God waits to be revealed in us, and through us.

Paul learned to glory in the cross. The cross to Paul was a glorious event. To Paul the cross was the gospel of grace.

Paul more than any other portrayed how the christian life was to be lived in this world.

The cross is what keeps us safe from heresy, it keeps us spiritually alive in Christ.

If one chooses to leave the pathway of the cross, then see how fast one gets into confusion and trouble.

The cross keeps all the unreality out of our lives. It reveals the dark places in us. It exposes all the things that are hostile to the glory of God. The cross has very little pity on our old humanity.

The cross reveals the depth of our union with this dark world. It reveals how attached we are to this world, and also the things of this world.

It is a devastating and exposing event, when we see as God sees, the truth of the reality of our real condition.

The cross of Calvary is the revelation of the true condition, of what is in man.

Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;  while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4, 16- 18

I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep;  in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my  countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness. 2 Corinthians 11, 23-30

And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12, 9–10

We need to see the glory of the cross.

We need to say yes to the cross.

We need to choose the cross.

For there and only there will we see the glory of God, who is revealed in the face of the crucified Christ.