The Cross Of Christ

Lesson Six - Faith, Patience And The Cross

TEXT: James 1:4 - But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.....

      The diagram is:

• If we continue to manifest faith, which will work our patience, maturity will definitely be developed in our hearts and lives.

• The words “perfect” and “entire,” refer to maturity and not sinless perfection.  The Bible doesn’t teach sinless perfection.

• The Holy Spirit will develop us totally if we will only allow Him to do so, hence, “wanting nothing.”

Faith's Perfect Work......Patience

      The phrase, “But let patience have her perfect work,” means that we must not grow discouraged as it regards the test or trial through which we are going.  The Lord has designed it all, and done so for our benefit.  If we don’t give up, the “perfect work” of maturity will definitely be developed, which is the intention of the Holy Spirit all along.

       The idea of all of this, which is very, very important, is that we realize and understand that God is superintending all things as it regards all Believers, and down to the minute detail.  Consequently, in this development of maturity, to which the Holy Spirit is taking us, we must not become discouraged and thereby flag in our duty.  We must be patient and understand that the length of time is not the fault of the Lord, but rather our fault.  In other words, whatever type of test or trial through which the Lord must put us, He is not being mean in doing so, but whatever is being done, is necessary, and this we must understand.  I’m concerned that many Christians live in a half-finished state, so to speak, simply because they have not allowed “patience to have her perfect work,” i.e., “the development of faith.”

        The Lord wants us literally "wanting nothing." The phrase in our text, “That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing,” refers to that which Faith will produce, providing we have patience, which means if perseverance is to “finish its work,” faith must not falter or give up.  The goal in view is that Believers “may be mature and complete.”  There are three reasons for understanding the word “perfect” as referring here to maturity:

       1.  Scripture does not indicate that Believers reach perfection in this life.

       2.  The statement that “perseverance must finish its work” indicates progress and development, the result of which may well be described as maturity.  Thus, perseverance in facing trials develops maturity of character and a balance of all the graces and strengths needed for the Christian life.

       3.  The indication is, maturity cannot be developed, if we do not work with the Holy Spirit.

       Unfortunately, in the last several decades, the Church has been led down a primrose path by the so-called modern faith message!  This particular message denies all “tests” and “trials,” and as well denigrates the Cross.  Actually, it refers to the Cross as “the greatest defeat in human history.”  Such thinking not only shows a total ignorance of the Word of God, but in fact, borders on blasphemy.  But that’s the teaching which has influenced much of the modern Church.
 

Faith And Patience Work Hand In Hand With Our Faith In The Finished Work Of Christ

       Even though James doesn’t mention the Cross, and possibly because this great Truth had not yet been revealed, the facts are that proper faith cannot be developed within our heart and life, unless our Faith is in the correct object, which must be the Cross of Christ.  This is the single most important thing as it respects the Believer — the correct object of Faith.

       Any other type of faith than Faith in the Cross is not recognized by God, which means that the Holy Spirit will have no part of such direction, which means as well, that there will be no spiritual development.  Everything with the Child of God is dependent totally and completely on the Cross of Christ, and our Faith in the Cross.  This alone makes it possible for the Holy Spirit to work within our hearts and lives (Rom. 8:1-2).

Romans 8:1-2
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

       The following is what the Holy Spirit gave to Paul, which is actually the meaning of the New Covenant. Even though the believing sinner doesn’t understand his Salvation experience at the time of conversion, he is definitely expected to understand it after conversion.  Romans Chapter 6 spells it out.

       First of all, Paul tells us that at the time of conversion we “were baptized into the Death of Christ” (Rom. 6:3).  This refers to His Crucifixion.  And let the Reader understand that it has nothing to do here with Water Baptism. Jesus came to this world as our Substitute and as our Representative Man, so to speak (I Cor. 15:45-50).  In other words, as our “Substitute (Last Adam),” He took our place, in effect taking the penalty for us, which He did at the Cross, and as our “Representative Man (Second Man),” He gave to us all the victory He purchased with His Own Blood.

Romans 6:3
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

1 Cor. 15:45-50
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. [46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. [47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. [48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

       We were then “buried with Him by Baptism into death”  (Rom. 6:4), which means that all we were before conversion was buried with Him, meaning that there was nothing there that was salvageable. And last of all, we were raised with Him “in the likeness of His Resurrection,” meaning that we should now “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4-5).

Romans 6:4-5
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

         Now of course, none of us were there when Jesus died on the Cross; however, when the believing sinner evidences faith in Christ and what He did at the Cross on our behalf, in the Mind of God, these things actually happened, and is referred to as the “born again” experience (Jn. 3:3-8).

John 3:3-8
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
 

           The Believer is to ever understand that all of this happened at the Cross, with Jesus dying there as our Substitute.  In other words, the Cross of Christ was absolutely necessary.  That’s the reason that Jesus came, and one might say, that’s the reason that “God became man.”  While everything that Christ did was of supreme significance, it was the Cross and the Cross alone, which redeemed fallen humanity.

The Cross And Our Sanctification

        Understanding this, the Believer must realize that because of what Jesus did at the Cross, and our Faith in that Finished Work, we are now “dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:11). Due to what Christ did at the Cross, each Believer must “reckon” ourselves in this fashion (Rom. 6:11).  “Reckon” in the Greek is “logizomai,” and means, “to take an inventory, to estimate, to conclude, to count, to number.”

Romans 6:11
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 

       To be “dead unto sin,” in effect actually says in the Greek, “to be dead indeed unto the sin.”  By using the term “the sin,” it is referring to the “sin nature.”

The Sin Nature

      The “sin nature” or the “evil nature,” or any terms that mean the same, is simply the nature that man is born with, which comes from original sin, which of course refers to Adam’s Fall.  People who aren’t Born-Again, perpetually and consistently sin, because that’s their nature.  Once the individual comes to Christ, we are to be dead unto this “sin nature.”

       Now if one will notice, it didn’t say the sin nature is dead, but rather that we are to be dead unto the sin nature.  So why does the Lord allow the sin nature to remain in the Christian?

       In fact, many Preachers deny that Believers have a sin nature.  However, we must understand that almost every time Paul uses the term “sin,” in Romans Chapter 6, in the Greek it actually says “the sin.” When he uses the term “sin” in this fashion, he’s not referring to particular acts of sin, but rather, as stated, to the “sin nature.” While the sin nature is dormant in the Believer so to speak, to be sure, it can quickly come to life.

        In fact, Paul also said, “that our old man is crucified with Him” (Rom. 6:6).  The “old man” refers to what we were before Salvation, actually to the “sin nature.”  He said that this was done “that the body of the sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve the sin.”  Please notice, the word “the” is added before sin, because that’s the way it is in the original Greek.  Once again, he’s talking about the sin nature.

        “Destroyed” means “to abolish, cease, do away, make of none effect.”  It doesn’t mean that it ceases to be, but that it has no more power over the Believer, that is, if the Believer continues to look to the Cross.

       The way it is made ineffective in our lives, is that we are made “dead unto the sin (sin nature),” through the Cross, and our Faith in that Finished Work.  Again I emphasize, if the sin nature is completely taken away as many Preachers claim, why is Paul continuing to give us instructions as to this problem.

       For instance, he said, “Let not the sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lust thereof” (Rom. 6:12).

Romans 6:12
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

       Once again, if something doesn’t exist as some Preachers teach, why is Paul telling us not to allow “the sin to reign in our mortal bodies”?  The idea is this:

       The sin nature dwells in both the unsaved and the saved. The difference is, in the unsaved it also “reigns,” while in the Believer it is dormant, or else it is supposed to be dormant.  The trouble is, the sin nature is reigning in the lives of many, if not most, Christians, simply because they do not know the victory of the Cross.

       If we properly understand that our victory is in the Cross, and that we, therefore, must continue to have Faith in that Finished Work, then we can be assured, that “sin shall not have dominion over us” (Rom. 6:14).  Once again, he’s not talking here about acts of sin, but rather “the sin,” which refers to the sin nature.  In other words, the sin nature will not dominate the Believer or “reign” in the life of the Believer, providing the Believer understands his place and position “in Christ.”

Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

In Christ

       The two words that more properly define the Believer’s position regarding the Lord than any other words are, “in Christ.”  Paul uses that term or one of its derivatives such as “in Him,” or “in Whom,” some 170 times in his fourteen Epistles.  These two words explain the Believer’s position as nothing else.  Once again, they have to do strictly with the Cross.

       When Jesus died on the Cross, His Death was not an accident, an incident, or an execution.  It was a planned demise, actually planned from before the foundation of the world (I Pet. 1:18-20).  God in His omniscience knew that man after he was created would fall, and as well, what it would take to redeem humanity, which was the Cross.  So, the Cross was ever the destination of the Lord Jesus Christ, and actually the very reason He came to this world (I Pet. 1:18-20).

1 Peter 1:18-20
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: [20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

       Some may think, that being the case, that God wouldn’t hold the Jews or the Romans responsible for their complicity in this brutal murder — and murder it was!  That is incorrect.

       Even though it was the Will of God for Jesus to go to the Cross, it definitely wasn’t God’s Will for Israel or the Romans to do what they did.  They did this out of the evil of their own hearts, and to be sure, suffered greatly for this vile act, and especially Israel.

The Death of Jesus was strictly a Sacrifice, which means that He offered up Himself (Gal. 1:4).  In fact, no one killed Him!  He rather breathed out His life, literally offering Himself in Sacrifice for sin and sinners (Jn. 3:16).

Galatians 1:4
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

       Simple Faith in what He did, gives the believing sinner, all the provisions which Calvary affords.  It is the only way that the sinner can be saved, and as well, the only way in which the Christian can have victory — Faith in the Cross.

       If one is to notice, all of Paul’s teaching is to Believers, telling them how to have victory and walk in victory before the Lord, and to do so constantly (Rom., Ch. 6, 8).  This is the “in Christ” experience (Eph. 1:3-4, 6-7, 10, 12, etc.)

Ephes. 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: [4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Ephes. 1:6-7
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. [7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephes. 1:10
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Ephes. 1:12
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
 

       As we’ve already stated, it was to Paul that the Lord gave the meaning of the New Covenant, which is actually the meaning of the Cross.  In fact, the entirety of his teaching as given to him by the Holy Spirit, is summed up totally and completely, in the Cross of Christ.  The Cross answers the need of the sinner for Salvation, as it does the need of the Christian for Sanctification.  In that and that alone can one find life and victory.

       Even though all fourteen of the Epistles of this man address this subject, the following will sum it up in order to provide a foundation for the Reader.

The Key To All Life And Victory

      1.  The solution to every problem, and the answer to every question, and the help for every need, are found totally and completely in the Cross of Christ.  It is to the Cross that the sinner must look for Salvation, and it is to the Cross that the Christian must look as it regards Sanctification.  Victory can be found in no other place.

       Every single problem that man has had, does have, or might have, is addressed in the Atonement, i.e., “the Cross of Christ.”

       2.  Understanding that, the Believer is to place his faith solidly and completely in the Cross of Christ, not allowing it to be deterred to anything else for any reason.

3.  With our faith placed steadily and completely in the Cross, i.e., “the Atonement,” the Holy Spirit can then work within our hearts and lives, doing what only He can do (Rom. 8:1-2, 11).

       The Believer placing his Faith in the Cross of Christ, in effect says that he knows that what Christ did there was strictly for him, and as well, that he cannot do it himself.  And that is the truth.

       Man can no more solve his own problems, than yesterday can become tomorrow.  The Scripture plainly says, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?  Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil” (Jer. 13:23).

Jeremiah 13:23
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

       But what man couldn’t do for himself, Jesus did it at the Cross.  Consequently, and as stated, our faith must ever rest in the Cross of Christ, understanding that from this Source all things come, and whatever, we must not allow our Faith to be moved to other things.  The correct object of faith is the single most important part of the Christian’s life and living.  That correct object is the Cross, and the Cross alone!

       Everything done for us by the Lord is always and without exception, brought about and perfected by the Holy Spirit.  This means that you as a Believer cannot sanctify yourself, cannot make yourself holy or righteous, etc.  These things are strictly under the domain of the Spirit of God.

       To show you how closely the Holy Spirit is tied to the Cross, we go to the vision of John the Beloved.  He said:

       “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the Throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the Elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth” (Rev. 5:6).

        This which John saw in his vision was actually in symbolic form; nevertheless, by the use of the phrase, “a Lamb as it had been slain,” we know that this was symbolic of Christ and Him crucified.

       John then saw “seven horns” on the Lamb, which represent total dominion, and “seven eyes,” which portray total and complete illumination.  This is said to be “the seven Spirits of God.”  Now we know that there aren’t seven Spirits of God as far as the number is concerned; however, the Lord is showing John that the work and power of the Holy Spirit is total and complete.  The Holy Spirit is God!  In fact, we are told in Isaiah 11:2 what these seven attributes of the Holy Spirit actually are.

       And yet, the point of this statement, and the point of John’s Vision, is that the Holy Spirit is so intertwined with the Cross of Christ that the two are looked at almost as one.  In fact, the Holy Spirit couldn’t even come in to dwell in the hearts and lives of Believers permanently before the Cross.  The Cross made it possible, for tremendous things to happen, certainly not the least of those things being the permanent abiding of the Spirit within our hearts and lives, which is a worth of incalculable proportions (Jn. 14:16-17).

John 14:16-17
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

       Inasmuch as the Holy Spirit works entirely within the parameters of the Finished Work of Christ, He demands that we have Faith in that Finished Work, which then gives Him the latitude to perform His Work.

The Source Of All Blessings - The Cross Of Christ

     The first two points concerning the Cross being the Source of all blessings, and that our Faith must be in the Cross, is not necessarily anything new.  In fact, that’s the very foundation of the Faith.  Actually, the great Atonement of Christ is inexhaustible.  That’s the reason that Paul referred to it as “the Everlasting Covenant” (Heb. 13:20) But at the same time, Satan has fought this great Truth of all Truths as nothing else; consequently, as simple as that is, the Church presently little knows and understands this of which we have just said, simply because in the last several decades, it has by and large been moved away from the Cross.

Hebrews 13:20
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
 

     However, as it concerns the manner and the way in which the Holy Spirit works, I believe the light that God has given me on this subject, is little known elsewhere.  In fact, I hope that’s not the case, but I fear it is.

     As someone has said, “Desperation precedes Revelation.”  I think that is borne out in the hearts and lives of most of the Faith worthies of the Bible.  And again, I know it was borne out in my life in exactly that manner..

     To know how the Holy Spirit works in our lives is the greatest blessing that any Believer could ever have.  And to be sure, what He can do is inexhaustible; however, we must always know and understand that what He does, is always done within the parameters of the Atonement of Christ.  As a result, we must evidence Faith in the great Sacrifice of Christ, and do so on an unending basis.  As stated, the Divine Spirit doesn’t require much of us, but He does require that. 

The Holy Spirit's Work In Our Lives As A Result Of Our Faith In The Cross

Galatians 6:14
But 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.


        That which I am about to give you will be brief, but it can be some of the most important words you have ever read. By God's Grace and according to His Word, I want to show you the path to total and complete victory within your heart and life. Nothing could be more important than that.
       
        In the last some fifty years, there has been so little preaching on the Cross, that the Church has lost sight of the single most important thing, actually the foundation of our Christian experience, the Cross of Christ. In fact, the situation has gotten so bad, that many do not even believe in the veracity of the Cross anymore as to what its benefits can do within our hearts and lives. In fact, many Charismatic, I trust in ignorance, openly denigrate the Cross, calling it "a place of weakness." Consequently, they will not sing any songs about the Cross or the Blood in their services, will not preach anything concerning this all-important work, which in effect, destroys the foundation of Christianity.

        When we look back in Church history, we find that every single time that God sent Revival, He always first of all moved the Church back to the Cross, square center. That has been and is an absolute necessity. I believe this is what the Lord is about to do again - at least for those who truly want to follow the Bible.

        Every person who has ever been saved, has been saved without fail, because they believed in Jesus Christ and what He did on the Cross, in essence purchasing their Redemption by the shedding of His Own Blood. Even though they may have understood very little about it, all have been saved by believing in this fundamental Doctrine (Jn. 3:16). (As well, please understand, when we mention the Cross, we are at the same time presupposing the Resurrection. Also, when we mention the Resurrection, we are at the same time presupposing the Cross.)

        However, after we come to Christ, oftentimes and tragically so, we lay the Cross aside, and proceed with the attempt to sanctify ourselves, in other words to overcome the flesh, the world, and the Devil, by means of our own self-help. It is a road to sure disaster, irrespective of our good intentions and sincerity.

        Let us never forget that the Cross is just as viable in the heart and life of the Believer as it regards our Sanctification, our everyday Victory in the Lord, our everyday walk before God, as it was in our initial Salvation process. I'll be frank with you, I am still growing in this revelation but I know it has brought a new freedom to my heart unlike anything in the past.

       I have been in church since I have been a child. I have heard message after message preached throughout the years (and I have preached a few myself) on the power of the Cross concerning man's salvation and rightly so. I have heard very little if NO amount of preaching on the cross and the victory we as believers' find when we anchor our faith there AFTER we are saved.

        The reason I know, is because of all the foolish efforts being made otherwise to deal with sin in our lives, to gain and keep victory, to be what we ought to be in Christ. The erroneous efforts being made today, hoping to bring about this process, tells me that most of the Church is totally ignorant of this of which I have just said. I will briefly name a few of these efforts in a moment.

"We Are Victims Of Our Past Teachings...."

        I remember a dear gentleman I served under in the mid 1990s who is much older now and in the twilight of his life. In 1994 He and I had the privilege of taking his final missions' trip together to Kampala, Uganda. While there, he shared with me his past experiences on the mission fields and some of the mistakes he had made over the years in ministering to those in other countries. He looked at me and with tears in his eyes said, "a lot of what we believe today in the church is error. Unfortunately, what we export from America to other parts of the world is not the gospel, but false doctrines that we ourselves have never gotten free from. We are victims of our past teachings." What a powerful statement coming from a man who had been in ministry for close to 60 years. Error will keep you in bondage friend. Error is sending millions to hell to boot and we need to take a serious look at what we are teaching and preaching in these final days before the Lord's return.

        As I mentioned earlier, in the last 50 years there has been so little preaching on the Cross as to be almost nonexistent. As a result, we are victims of this serious omission of Truth. To be frank, most of what we have heard has been right, but it simply did not go far enough. And Truth omitted, even ignorantly, is Truth not known, with its resultant difficulties.

        Without going into a lot of details, the following are just some of the ways the Church is attempting to address the problems of lack of victory in the lives of Christians:

1. Psychology: I suspect that many Pastors, simply not knowing what to tell defeated parishioners, have simply recommended psychology, at least thinking they are doing something that will help. The saddened regret is, psychology not only will not help, it will actually harm.

2. The laying on of hands: This is a viable, Scriptural Doctrine, and as far as it goes, is beneficial and helpful; however, there is no way that "laying on of hands" will gain one victory over the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Were that the case, Jesus would not have had to come down here and die on Calvary, which should be obvious.

3. The casting out of demons: This was big in the 1970's. To address problems in their lives, Believers were encouraged to get into prayer lines, where particular demons of pride, lust, temper, etc., were "cast out," or rebuked, etc. To be sure, anytime sin is involved, demons definitely get involved as well. However, once again, were this the answer, Jesus needlessly suffered on the Cross. No, that's not the answer!

4. Confession: In the 1980's, the great claim for victory was "confession." We are to merely confess our way to victory, etc. While confession is definitely important, and plays a viable part in the Christian experience, this is not an answer for the attacks of Satan.

5. Manifestations: I speak of people being "slain in the Spirit," or "holy laughter," or anything else one could think of. While these things at times are definitely from the Lord, and will be a great blessing to the individual involved, it will not bring any victory in this of which we speak.

        In fact, I suspect this is the reason that many Christians are going hither and yon attempting to find "the Blessing." They are seeking Victory within their lives, which means they don't have Victory, and they are trying to find it in this manner.

        While some of these things are definitely Scriptural and greatly helpful, and while the individual may definitely be blessed, the Truth is, once you get off the floor, or quit laughing, Satan is coming back, and if you don't know the Truth of the Word of God, despite the great blessing you have truly received from the Lord, you are going to find yourself right back in the same situation before all the blessing occurred - a place of defeat.

6. Spiritual confidants: In the 1980's, this was encouraged as well. I speak of every Believer finding someone they can trust, someone in whom they can confide, the idea being that the two together can help each other in their weaknesses, etc. While there is certainly some Truth in that, once again, this is not the answer for that of which we speak. It will afford no one any victory within their hearts and lives. It will not help anyone to have victory over sin. In fact, most of the efforts in this respect are a take-off on modern Psychology.

7. Generational curses: This is something that has played over big in the last few years. People are taught that if they have problems within their lives respecting some particular situation, that means there is a generational curse in their family. In other words, Demon Spirits which came into their family years ago, have now passed their problem down to the individual in question. They are then encouraged to have hands laid on them, and these generational curses rebuked, etc.

 

        First of all, this is blatantly unscriptural. To be honest, there is a curse on the entirety of the human race, and in every capacity. However, Salvation by the Blood of Jesus addresses that when a person gets saved.

        No, that's not the problem or the answer. The Christian can have all of these so-called curses rebuked that they desire, but they are going to find that their problem of uncontrollable temper, or immorality, or gambling, or jealousy, etc., is going to be just as pronounced as ever.

 

8. Punishment: Major Religious Denominations take the position that if their Preachers have some type of problem, they must be punished. I have no idea as to what they think this accomplishes, but it certainly isn't Scriptural, and it never has the effect of helping anyone, as ought to be obvious in the first place. Actually, it’s terribly detrimental because it is so unscriptural. But yet, it seems that most Christians think this tact is right and proper, unless it pertains to them personally.
 

9. Fasting: Fasting as well is a viable, Scriptural Doctrine, that is if used in the right way. However, despite what most people think, fasting is not the answer to sin within our lives. If that were so, again I emphasize that Jesus did not need to come down here and die on the Cross. While fasting will definitely help any Believer, the Truth is that you are going to have to eat after a certain period of time and then the problem is going to return, whatever the problem is.

THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS THE ONLY ANSWER
 

        It was at the Cross that Jesus paid it all. It was there that every single sin was addressed and atoned for. This terrible sin debt being paid, and sin being taken away, completely broke the stranglehold that Satan had on humanity. In other words, Satan's claims were destroyed and the grip of sin was totally broken.

        The Believer is to understand that, and to understand that this is just as viable in his everyday experience, and will be until he dies or the Trump sounds, as it was when he initially came to Christ. In fact, Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross daily, and follow me" (Lk. 9:23).

        Notice that He said "daily!"

        Many Christians have an erroneous conception as to what bearing the Cross actually means. They think that it refers to suffering or something of that nature. It doesn't!

        It refers to us trusting in what Jesus did at the Cross, and doing so on a daily basis, which will always bring Victory.

        That is a reproach, because the world hates the Cross, and sadly, it seems that most of the Church falls into the same category as well.

        The Cross shows how good God is, but at the same time, it also shows how evil and wicked man actually is. As well, it shows how helpless man is to address his condition, which in fact, can only be addressed by what Jesus did at the Cross. And that's where the rub comes in. The world does not want to admit that, and neither does most of the Church, hence casting about for other means other than Faith in the Cross.

        So, the Believer must continue to believe in the Cross, trust in the Cross, lean upon the Cross, look to the Cross, and by that I speak of its benefits, every single day of our lives.

Our Faith

        Let the reader get this next fact and dig it DEEP in their spirit - our Faith as a Believer must be in the Cross at all times.

        In fact, preaching and teaching on Faith has been the primary message in the last 40 or 50 years. Actually, it has taken the place of the Cross.

        When we speak of teaching on Faith, that would seem to be good, and in fact some of it has been very good. However, much, if not most, I think, has been erroneous, and for this reason:

        Faith improperly placed, is actually no faith at all, at least that God will recognize. People are taught today to have faith in themselves, faith in their faith, and of course the greatest statement is, "Have Faith in the Word of God." Of course, that is correct, that is if one properly understands what the statement means.

        The Truth is that most so-called Faith in the Word, has been perverted. And what do I mean by that?

The Word Of Faith And Error

        Whenever Believers grab Scriptures such as Mark 11:24, much of the time they pervert the Promise. In other words, they think they can take such Scriptures, that is if they have enough Faith, and get whatever it is that they want. That is basely incorrect.

        Satan tempted Jesus in the same manner. He encouraged Him to use His power to "command that these stones be made bread" (Mat. 4:3). While Jesus certainly had the power to do that, and considering He was hungry, why not use His power in such a manner? Had He done so, He would have been stepping outside of the revealed Will of God, and would have succumbed to Satan's temptation to pervert the Word of God.

        The idea is that Jesus did only what His Father wanted Him to do, and His Father had not told Him to turn those stones to bread.

        Most Christians today, erroneously taught as it regards Faith, are actually perverting the Word, by ignoring the Head Who is Jesus Christ and what He wants, in effect, attempting to use Faith solely for their own selfish desires with little regard for the Will of God. As stated, that is a perversion of the Word, a great sin, and that which God will never honor. So, what am I saying?

        I'm saying that most of the so-called Faith, which has been taught in the last several decades, has not actually been any Faith at all, at least that which God would recognize. The following is the reason:

OUR FAITH MUST BE ANCHORED IN THE CROSS

        As the sinner's Faith must be anchored in the Cross when he comes to Christ, likewise the Believer must continue to anchor his Faith in the Cross after he is saved. In other words, the Believer never outgrows the Cross. If we think we do, we have bypassed God's Plan of Salvation and Victory, and will bring upon ourselves sure hurt and even destruction.

        Faith that is placed in the Cross, and left in the Cross, shows that it is firmly anchored in the Finished Work of Christ. Nothing is more important than that.

        As well, Faith in the Cross guarantees all the great Victory that Jesus bought and purchased for us with His Blood. And, what is so very important, Faith in the Cross develops humility in the Believer. The very Cross itself speaks of humility as should be overly obvious. So, if we have Faith in anything else, no matter how spiritual it may seem, it will have a tendency to breed self-righteousness.

        So, the Believer's Faith must without fail be in the Cross and stay in the Cross. To be sure, Satan will do everything within his power to shove the Believer away from the Cross, because it was there that he (Satan) was defeated totally and completely. It is there in which the Christian finds victory in every capacity, and there alone!

The Holy Spirit

        Only when we understand the veracity and power of the Cross, properly placing our Faith in the Cross, and leaving it in the Cross, will the Holy Spirit then help us. The Holy Spirit always works within the legal confines of Calvary (Rom. 8:2). That means that He will not veer outside of the Finished Work of Christ. It is there that Jesus paid the price, and it is there in which and on which the Holy Spirit works.

        The idea is this: Whenever the Believer anchors his Faith in the Cross, thereby believing God for total and complete victory within his heart and life, the Holy Spirit then guarantees all the benefits of the Cross, which means victory over Satan in any and every capacity. He will not work otherwise!

        Every single Believer in the world has the Holy Spirit. It's impossible to be saved, without having the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit, even though present, little helps most Christians for the simple reason that their Faith is misplaced. They are ignoring the very Redemption Plan carried out by the Lord by the giving of Himself at Calvary's Cross. They may not think they are doing that, but that is exactly what is happening in many cases.

        To be sure, wrong direction in ignorance will bring the same results as wrong direction intentionally taken. Irrespective, it's wrong direction in either case.

        The entirety of the Eighth Chapter of Romans outlines the Power of the Holy Spirit in helping the Saint of God, at least when they are depending on Him and not the flesh. Depending on the flesh, which speaks of self-help, refers to any method that is used other than Faith in the Cross. That is the sure road to disaster no matter how sincere the person may be.

        If we follow after the Spirit, which we are commanded to do, the Holy Spirit will always lead us to Calvary, as Calvary will always lead us to the Holy Spirit. You can let the thief steal your victory if you so desire, or you can heed the Word of God and gain the Victory which Christ Alone can give. As I have stated, it is found only in the Cross, and of course, that speaks of the Resurrection as well.