“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).

The week before Easter provides us with a special opportunity to ponder the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ and a fuller understanding should bring us to an ever deeper reliance on and identification with Him.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

What is sin? Much is written in Scripture regarding sin, its nature, and effects. This has led to a wealth of discussions on the subject, and many shades of definition based on the numerous Scriptural passages have been offered.

“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:18).

The blindness mentioned in our text is the same word used to describe a kind of stone. In verb form, this word indicates a process and means “to make hard or to petrify.” Often the word is translated as hardness.

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (II Corinthians 5:20).

Christ has made each of us His ambassadors here on earth. He is no longer here in the flesh, and so now He expects us to faithfully and effectively represent Him. He has given us two basic tasks to perform.

“To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 1:4).