Christ Crucified
The Preaching Of The Cross - Part Two
The Holy Spirit will not help us overcome the flesh, the world and the devil outside the legal confines of Calvary. In other words, He functions solely on the Sacrifice of that occasion. Paul gave us these legal parameters in Romans 8:2-3. The New Covenant call to all believers is to be crucified with Christ and identify ourselves with Him. It is in this identification that the power of His death becomes real in our lives and sin no longer has dominion over us. This union is the key to Christian victory. It is such a close reunion that we see that everything that happened to Jesus is considered to have happened to us.
By Chris McDonald
TEXT: 1 Cor. 1:17-18 - For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Cor. 1:23-24
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto
the Greeks foolishness; [24] But unto them which are called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1 Cor. 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified.
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
As we continue our thoughts on the finished work of Christ this Passover season, I want to take a look at the Christian's identification with Christ. We have an in-depth lesson on being "crucified with Christ," in the section, "The Finished Work of Christ," study. The execution of Jesus on the Cross is a historical event. There is debate in many circles (including a few Spirit Journal visitors!) on the exact configuration of the cross, whether it was actually a tree, and even the precise location of Jerusalem's public execution grounds. There is NO debate however, about the meaning of the Cross in God's plans and in our lives today. We all have the call to follow Him, take up our cross and DAILY be crucified with Him. That so many Christians continue to struggle with sin on an on-going basis tells us that many have not embraced this call!
Luke 9:23 - And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
The story of the crucifixion is told in all of the Gospels - Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23 and John 19. What at first seemed to the Disciples to be a tragedy was recognized after the Resurrection as the source of all mankind's Hope and Salvation. In fact, it was Peter, who sought to keep the Lord from going through suffering rebuking Him at times even for predicting His decease in Jerusalem.
The call to follow closely connected closely with Jesus’ prediction of His passion. Jesus Christ must SUFFER and be rejected. This “MUST” is inherent in the promise of God – the Scripture must be fulfilled. There is a distinction here between suffering and rejection. Had he only suffered, Jesus might still have been applauded as the Messiah. All the sympathy and admiration of the world might have been focused on just his passion. It could have been viewed as a tragedy with its own intrinsic value, dignity and honor. But in the passion of Christ is a rejected Messiah. His rejection robs the passion of its halo of glory. It must be a passion without honor. Suffering and rejection sum up the whole cross of Christ. To die on the cross means to die despised and rejected of men. Suffering and rejection are laid upon Jesus as a divine necessity, and every attempt to prevent it is the work of the devil, especially when it comes from his own disciples; for it is in fact an attempt to prevent Christ from being Christ.
It is Peter, the rock of the church, who commits that sin, immediately after he confessed Jesus as the Messiah and has been appointed to the primacy. That shows that a suffering Messiah was a scandal to the church even in its earliest days. That is not the kind of Lord it wants, and as the church of Christ it does not like to have the law of suffering imposed upon it by its Lord. Peter’s protest displays his own unwillingness to suffer, and that means that Satan has gained entry into the church, and is trying to tear it away from the cross of its Lord and Master. (2 Cor. 11:1-4)
2 Cor. 11:1-4 -
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with
me. [2] For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you
to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. [3] But I
fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so
your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [4] For if
he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye
receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye
have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Jesus must therefore make it clear beyond ALL doubt that the “MUST” of suffering applies to his disciples no less than to himself. And that "MUST" applies to us - even in this high-tech modern day institutional mess we call "church." Just as Christ only in virtue of his suffering and rejection, so the disciple is a disciple only in so far as he shares his Lord’s suffering and rejection and crucifixion. Discipleship means adherence to the person of Christ and there submission to the law of Christ which is the law of the CROSS. It's a law of death so that true life can come forth.
Surprisingly enough, when Jesus begins to unfold this inescapable truth to his disciples, he once more sets them free to choose or reject him. “IN ANY MAN WOULD COME AFTER ME,” He says. For it is not a matter of course, not even among the disciples. Nobody can be forced, nobody can even be expected to come. He says rather, “IF,” any man is prepared to spurn ALL other offers which come his way in order to follow him.
It's interesting to note that is was PETER, the one demanding the Lord NOT to suffer, that first presented Jesus' Crucifixion as something determined "by God's set purpose and foreknowledge."
Acts 2:23
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye
have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Forgiveness and victory over sin can
be found only in the CRUCIFIED CHRIST and Risen Lord of Glory!
Acts 2:38-39
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost. [39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all
that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Acts 4:10-12
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even
by him doth this man stand here before you whole. [11] This is the stone which
was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. [12]
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
That first Message called on the
people of Jerusalem to put their trust in the person of the Crucified and risen
Saviour. Later Paul explained that the Cross of Christ is God's means for
reconciling "all things," unto Himself:
Col. 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all
things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things
in heaven.
Through the Crucifixion, we have been
offered life, and those who put their trust in Christ have been forgiven for all
their sins. All that could condemn us was washed away at Calvary.
Col. 2:13-17
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us,
and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled
principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them
in it. [16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect
of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: [17] Which are a
shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
In addition, the barriers that divide
humanity and create hostilities were abolished, for people of every culture are
brought to God through the Cross. Because of the finished work of Christ we have
peace with God and access to the Father and have become members of God's own
household - the commonwealth of Israel.
Ephes. 2:16-19
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain
the enmity thereby: [17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off,
and to them that were nigh. [18] For through him we both have access by one
Spirit unto the Father. [19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
The finished work of Christ on the
cross were God's only way to bring all these benefits to humanity. In view of
all that He accomplished, it is no wonder that the writer of Hebrews confronts
those who were tempted to turn back to Old Covenant faith in seeking the Old
Covenant Law to complete their salvation. Law cannot save you friend. That does
not mean the Law is evil. It is JUST, HOLY and RIGHTEOUS. It's the standard of
God whereby He will judge those who refuse His way of Salvation and atonement.
But what the Law could not do - THAT IS SAVE MAN - the grace of God DID DO - it
set man free from the shackles and chains and burden and power of sin. By
putting their faith once again in the Law, the Hebrews were implying that the
finished work of Yeshua did not accomplish all that God says it has.
Hebrews 6:6
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Those who perish will think the Cross
foolish! Those who are saved will recognize it as the Message that bears the
stamp of God's OWN authority!
1 Cor. 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us
which are saved it is the power of God.
Paul's evangelism techniques would
not have went over too well in our modern church world. He refused to rely on
his training, education and/or rhetoric skills. He preached the GOSPEL simply
and plainly and relied on the Divine Power inherent in the MESSAGE OF THE CROSS.
As this journal's theme screams to you through these pages - "THE PREACHING OF
THE CROSS IS THE POWER OF GOD!!!!'
1 Cor. 1:17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of
words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Because the Cross of Yeshua is
central to the Gospel, Paul often uses "the cross," as a term for the Gospel
itself:
Galatians 5:11
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution?
then is the offence of the cross ceased.
1 Cor. 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us
which are saved it is the power of God.
Galatians 6:12
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be
circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
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.
Philip. 3:18
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping,
that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Our Crucifixion With Christ
Galatians
2:20-21
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in
me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of
God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
The New Covenant speaks of our
Crucifixion with Yeshua:
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in
me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 5:24
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and
lusts.
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.
Romans 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might
be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
The key to understanding the
reference is the concept of Identification. The union that each believer has
with Yeshua is so close that everything that happened to Yeshua is considered to
have happened with us. Through our union with Yeshua and by the Divine Power
that raised Yeshua from the dead, we experience not only Crucifixion but also
renewal and keeping power!
Romans 6:1-4
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God
forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? [3] Know ye
not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into
his death? [4] 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.
Romans 8:1-4
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. [3] For
what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending
his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the
flesh: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Marriage provides an illustration of Identification. A poverty-stricken woman who marries a millionaire becomes a millionaire when the wedding takes place. Even if the couple is divorced later, the law treats his millions as though she had participated in earning them, and that participation will be reflected in the divorce settlement. But God will never divorce us! All that Christ has done and all that He is now, are ours through our relationship with Him because of HIS BLOOD! Oh, Glory to God.
Our Daily Cross
Matthew 10:38
And he that takes not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
All three Gospels report Jesus' encouragement to His Disciples to take up their Cross and follow Him.
Matthew 10:38
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Matthew 16:24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mark 8:34
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto
them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,
and follow me.
Luke 9:23
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 14:27
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
In all of these reports the word "cross," is used symbolically. When Jesus was faced with imminent Crucifixion, He prayed in Gethsemane, "Father, take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will but what YOU will." (Mark 14:36).
Mark 14:36
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup
from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Here the Cross is the ultimate symbol
of Jesus' commitment to do the Will of God, whatever suffering that might bring
for Him. Taking up our Cross to follow Jesus simply means that we are to imitate
daily Jesus' total willingness to do the Will of the Father, whatever that Will
may hold for us. IT is far easier to know the will of God, 'tis another issue to
obey it. Friend, hear me when I say to you. That all of eternity hangs in the
balance on the obedience to His will for us. Our will must be crucified and
placed in the finished work of Calvary. When we do, we receive the afforded
victory paid for by Christ.
The world little believes this great Truth and sadly much of the modern Church world follows suit. It is a reproach in their eyes for one to trust solely in the Cross for life and victory; nevertheless, this is the only thing in history that affords life and victory!!!! Such comes from no other source. "No other name, but Jesus, no other name I know. No other name, is so beautiful to me, that's why I love Him so,...." I can hear the words to that beautiful hymn.
Nevertheless I Live....
The phrase "nevertheless I live," presents Saul, the self-righteous Pharisee as having died, at least in Christ, but Paul the Great Apostle, lives. The counterpart of death with Christ is always Resurrection and a new life with HIM>. The man of faith walks in "newless of life," in the "likeness of His resurrection," and "lives unto God;" he "brings forth fruit unto God,' and serves Him in "newness of Spirit."
Romans 6:4
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.
Romans 6:5
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be
also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Romans 6:11
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,
but alive unto God through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
Romans 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of
Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the
dead, that we should bring forth fruit
unto God.
Romans 7:6
But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held;
that we
should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
It is vital to grasp the full impact
of this great Truth. Death to sin is only half the process. But death to sin is
mandatory to make new life possible. Deliverance from sin is the opening of the
door to a glorious new life in Christ. As we stated in part one of this journal,
the corn of wheat must fall on the ground and DIE for it to bring forth fruit:
John 12:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and
die, it abides alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Yet Not I
The phrase, "yet not I," presents a life that is no longer self-centered, which characterizes ALL unbelievers, but a Christ-centered one. His new life is a PERSON, the Lord Jesus, living in Paul. And through the Ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus is manifest in His life. The new life is no longer, like the former one, dependant upon the ineffectual efforts of a man attempting to draw near to God in his own Righteousness. The new life is a Person within a person, living out His life in that prison.
Instead of attempting to live his life in obedience to a set of rules in the
form of the legal enactments of the Mosaic Law, Paul now yields to the
indwelling Holy Spirit and cooperates with Him in the production of a life
pleasing to God, energized by a Divine life resident in him through the
regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Instead of a sinner with a totally
depraved nature attempting to find acceptance with God by attempted to find
acceptance with God by attempted obedience to a set of outward laws, it is now
the Saint living his life on a new principle, that of the indwelling Holy Spirit
manifesting forth the Lord Jesus (Wuest).
Friend, the problem with us ALL is
the middle letter of SIN!!!!!! It's not a great need in the church today to find
a self-help program to get us through our struggles. It's not important to even
find our "purpose-driven" life and church. Friend, sin is the problem that makes
many of us "miserably saved!"
Christ Lives In Me
The phrase "Christ lives in me," presents Christ as the source of all the life now enjoyed. Of course, Christ does not physically dwell in the believer as should be obvious. However, this of which Paul says is a greater dimension of living than a mere philosophic idea. The truth is that when Jesus hung on the tree and died, the believing sinner died with Him, which means Yeshua became our substitute. Our identification with Him through Faith, grants us all the privileges which the finished work affords, which speaks of both Salvation AND of victory after Salvation.
When that is done, the Believer exhibits Faith in the cross, in turn Jesus comes to live in the person through the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The idea is, as the believing sinner was in Christ when He died, at least in the mind of God, upon CONTINUED faith by the believer, Yeshua NOW lives in the believer. The Holy Spirit is given to the believer to guarantee the full effects and power of the Lord's work on Calvary.
Many believers have accepted the finished work for Salvation without much difficulty. It's continuing in faith in that finished work for complete victory over sin that is a bit more of a struggle. Most of us try to maintain a life of victory after Salvation by reverting back to works. Consequently, Christ is made of no effect and we no longer live under grace but under LAW. That being the case, let it be clear, that the Holy Spirit will not function, and the believer is doomed to failure. That is the plight of many. But more important than the failure is what the failure produces through frustration, hopelessness and a sense in many that they will never overcome this sin that is so easily besetting them. For each person reading this journal, that sin is different for each one.
I have stated this many times in journals prior that I firmly believe in the doctrine of laying on of hands. I believe we are to pray for the sick as the Word tells us to do, praying the prayer of faith declaring healing to those with infirmities. But many falsely believe that laying on of hands is also the formula and remedy for sin problems - it's NOT. You can't overcome sin with a formula. You can't overcome sin even with your pastor screaming at the devil over you. Our demons are not going away because someone screams. That's not authority as some wrongly believe it is.
Other Christians search high and low looking for victory by trying to determine what generational curse they have inherited from their daddy or granddaddy. They too go forward many times having people rebuke the enemy's work over them thinking that somehow someway a magic formula or magic catch phrase will end this struggle. Friend, I'm not making light of this or poking fun at this - this is serious and it is eternal in scope. People are in hell today because they one day got to the place of utter helplessness and despair and said "I can't do this anymore," then put a bullet in their head. It's that serious. We find out really quick that all the screaming, all the chanting, all the laying on of hands, all the pouring on of oil doesn't cure our sinful ways.
Sin was dealt with at Calvary and no where else. The secret for a believing Christian to walk in overcoming power and victory is to keep their trust in the work of Christ on Calvary, believing that this finished work of Christ crucified, not only afforded our Salvation 'born again' experience, but provides both the POWER and STRENGTH for our daily walk before God, guaranteeing continual victory. Failure in sin usually rests in the fact we have struggled with temptation and instead of anchoring our faith in the right source we have placed it in quicksand through the foolish teaching of formulas and everything else. Sin was destroyed by the blood of Jesus! Demon spirits were destroyed by the blood of Christ. Notice, I said WERE, it's a PAST work, FINISHED< COMPLETED<ALL DONE<CRUCIFIED, DELIVERED, SET FREE, TOTAL, ACCOMPLISHED!!!!! My Lord, I'm about to shout here. SIN SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU ANY LONGER saint of God.
And before you ask, NO NO NO NO and a thousand times NO - we are not teaching sinless perfection. We are teaching MATURITY and growing up unto Christ, leaving the dead works of repentances behind, moving on into the fullness of our walk with God. We're teaching you something that if you will embrace it in genuine faith it will cause you to get off the milk bottle and move on to the meat of the word of God. CHRIST LIVES IN YOU! CHRIST LIVES IN YOU! And the power of His resurrection LIVES IN YOU THROUGH HIM BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST> Paul said, "if the same SPIRIT, that raised Christ up from the dead DWELL IN YOU (WHICH IS DOES), it shall QUICKEN your mortal bodies." Glory to God. It will set you free from the power and shackles and chains of sin neighbor. You can be free today. You can be, instead of "miserably saved, " "gloriously saved!"
"Liveth," in the Greek is "zao," and means "to live," or literally "to live a life." Jesus is in us in order to live through us the kind of life and desire to live. He is not there as an idle bystander, but sadly, is reduced at times by our lack of Faith in His finished work.
The Life Which I Now Live
The phrase, "and the life which I now live in the flesh," refers to being in the flesh because that's what we are, but not living according to the flesh, but according to Christ.
Between the old life under sin and the new way of living, there is the "no-man's land" of life under self. Although the believer has been freed from the grip of sin, he is still lord of his own life. We have free-will. We can choose which person we love and which we don't. This issue of surrender and sovereignty goes back to the Garden of Eden when man usurped God's sovereignty for his own. When we allow Christ to live through us and crucify our own ambitions and desires at His cross, we become what is known as a "love slave" presenting ourselves voluntarily to our master, and as a PRIEST presenting his sacrifice on the altar.
Romans 6:19
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as
ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto
iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto
holiness.
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service.
In the Old Covenant, the priest brought the sacrifice, under the New Covenant we ARE the sacrifice. The implications of this crisis must be lived out in a lifelong process, which Paul often refers to as walking or marching in the Spirit. The new life under the Spirit is lived in the flesh, which here means in the present, earthly body - we all have one! This earthly body has temptations, weaknesses and limitations but despite that, we can have victory because we don't walk in the realm of the natural - we walk and war in the realm of the SPIRIT! And the Spirit of God has come to bring "CHRIST CRUCIFIED," into our hearts so His death, burial and resurrection can become the power of His glory in us.
I Live This Life By The Faith OF the Son of God
Paul declares we are justified by faith, so he lives the new life of the Spirit BY faith in the Son of God as well. Our heart surrender to His sovereignty must not be confused with the sinner's death with Christ. Paul never uses crucifixion as a metaphor of destruction of man's God-given self-hood and will. Man's will does not die, but is surrendered and presented to God!! (Romans 12:1). All the way the Believer's life must be one of total dependence upon Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us.
It was by Faith in Christ we first partook of this life and friend, it is faith in CHRIST by which we will STAY partakers of His divine nature. Letting go of faith in Christ and placing it somewhere else - even if it's something "good," we then instantly lose HIS life and seek to find victory through own own life. That is a recipe for death.
Who Loved Me...
It was Yeshua's love that caused Him to die. EVERYTHING we have in this walk with Him finds it source in HIS LOVE. There is absolutely no other motivation for Grace than that. I remember a recent prophetic testimony from Bob Jones who had died and went to heaven to see those who were born again be welcomed into the Kingdom. Yeshua met each one at the gate and asked everyone the same question, "did you learn how to love on the earth." Those words girdle eternity. You say, "impossible, how can love girdle hell?" Because those who missed spending eternity with God stumbled over His love in choosing another God other than Yahweh. He personally gave Himself to each one of us reading this journal despite our sinfulness, wickedness and failure. Thank God, through HIM and HIS WORK, we no longer are but are redeemed and set free by His grace today.
In closing, let me state three keys to victory for you as a believer. Victory over sin is the message of this Passover season. Yeshua's sacrifice has made that possible.
One, we must understand the cross of Yeshua was not only for our salvation, but for our continued victory as well through the work of the Holy Spirit on our behalf. Two, we must appropriate the benefits of the finished work of Christ on a "daily" basis, trusting in what the Lord done there each day. Three, we must have FAITH on a continuing basis, that this which Yeshua did, in fact, has a present result in our life NOW, not a past experience, and will overcome every power of darkness. This is not automatic, it requires FAITH!
Yeshua IS the son of God and the son of Man. He redeemed us as the son of Man, and calls us today to become sons of God through His death, burial and resurrection. Why we as ministers of this great gospel would seek to chase after anything else or preach another gospel is quite beyond me. Some say, well Brother Chris, we can't "stay on the cross forever, we got to go beyond the cross and move onto other things." I ask you friend, "move on to what??" When you leave Calvary, you apostatize. When you leave the preaching of the cross, you desert the TRUE power of God. Paul states it, not me, as clear as can be - "the preaching of the cross IS the power of God to those who BELIEVE." He died because of His great love which to be frank is beyond any of our comprehension. This love has spawned GRACE today for those who will accept it and walk in it.
Do you know Yeshua today? I never end a journal without asking that question. He paid an awful price for your freedom from sin sir. He paid an awful price that ALL come to repentance today, and NONE should perish. For God so loved the world, that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but HAVE everlasting LIFE. Life, life, life, life, life - oh matchless grace and charity divine as John Wesley once wrote which seems like ages ago now. Men of God who are called to preach - you have a mandate on you to preach the cross. Preach Jesus saves, Jesus heals and Jesus baptizes in the HOLY GHOST. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus - He is crucified Lamb we celebrate during Passover. We preach Christ crucified.
Let's pray:
Heavenly Father, we love You today. We thank You for Your deep penetrating love and Grace for this hell-bound human race. Adam's race lies in sin at this moment Lord. We have sinned against heaven and against You. We ask and plead for forgiveness for our sin. Lord, forgive Your church for abandoning this great message in lieu of self-help philosophies and prosperity seeking motives. Father, forbid us to never leave the preaching of the true gospel message that sets men free and changes society. We need the HOLY SPIRIT among us today oh, Lord. Send another Pentecost. Send the fire of Your grace into our hearts today. In Yeshua's name we pray Amen.
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