The evidence that we have accepted the cross of Christ as the revelation of our redemption is that our life (the life of Christ) must be manifested in our mortal flesh. We are, and must not be, the same person we were before. We are redeemed, we are another person, and we follow the command of our Master …  

Matt 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ESV

Taking up the cross is Jesus’ gift to us, and it can mean only one thing. As His bride “we are not our own.” We have given up all our right to ourselves. But the problem with many in the church today is that while they don’t mind being saved from hell and receiving the Holy Spirit, they do not want to give up their right to themselves to Jesus. They do not want to give up their manhood, or their womanhood, or all their ambitions in this life. Jesus made it clear that was not an option for His bride …  

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ESV

When we come to the cross, we cannot stay there. It is the gateway to abiding in the life of Christ that we have been given. It is a life that we continue to sacrifice to God alone. The problem with many is their focus on social service and works that are self-centered and not based on the cross of Christ. It is the civilized life that is focused away from God because it denies what He has done on the cross and puts human effort as the only way whereby the world will be redeemed.  

The world is only redeemed by the Life of Christ … the life that we are commanded to live as a testament to those around us …

Rom 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. ESV

We are His Image …  the “Evidence of The Cross”