"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God," - (1 Cor. 1:23-24)
"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. 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. 1:17-18)
"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. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." -(Gal. 6:14-15)
"As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ." -(Gal. 6:12)
"Jesus Christ and Him Crucified" (Christ and His Work on the Cross) is the only thing that separates a man from eternal hell and the lake of fire, the only Way for him to make heaven his home, and the only legal basis through which man can 1) have his sins forgiven (justification), 2) have the Holy Spirit move and operate in his life to give him victory over the sin nature in his daily walk with God (sanctification), and 3) have fellowship with God. It is the foundational doctrine of the Bible from Gen. 1:1 to Rev. 22:21, being called... the faith (Jude 3), one faith (Eph. 4:4), like precious faith (2 Pet. 1:1), mutual faith (Rom. 1:12), the same spirit of faith (2 Cor. 4:13), and the common salvation (Jude 3). This doctrine, through the wiles of Satan, is de-emphasized and rarely preached and taught now our modern era, to the peril of men. The Holy Spirit through Jude warns us to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints." -(Jude 3). Did you know ... that every time Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob built an "altar" and offered a burnt offering unto the LORD, that this typified Christ's working on the Cross? Or that virtually every detail of the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant... pointed to this great work? How about when God instructed Moses, in Numbers 21:8-9, to set up a pole (the Cross) with a bronze snake upon it (Christ made a curse for us), and that every one who had been bitten by a snake (demon spirit), when he gazed upon it (faith), would be healed? Or... when God instructed Moses, in Ex. 17:6, to smite a great Rock (Christ crucified), so that water would gush out of it (The Holy Spirit outpoured) to quench the thirst of the people? Again and again, in type, shadow, form, substance, and instruction, Christ and His Redemptive Work on the Cross is mentioned by the Holy Spirit as a common scarlet thread throughout scriptures; And why IS that? Because it is IMPORTANT TO GOD, and because this is THE.... "GOSPEL" (or "good news"). And how is it good news?
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (Cross):
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." -(Gal. 3:13-14)
You see, mankind, as the result of the fall of Adam in the garden of Eden, has been under a curse, under slavery to Satan, who works through "the SIN nature". Rom. 3:23 declares that "... all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." And that is a very grave problem, because God, Who is perfectly holy and pure, can only have fellowship with a man who is perfectly holy and pure. That obviously left everyone OUT, except (halellujah!) for One Who CAME, Who was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners..." -(Heb. 7:26)... the Man, Christ Jesus! ...That "Lamb of God, Who would take away the sin of the world... on ...THAT'S RIGHT- "THE CROSS". And here is the great beauty of it all: That "... whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting Life ." -(John 3:16). [Notice that it doesn't say "whosoever DOETH a certain thing". It is by FAITH.] And that "everlasting Life" is none other than THE HOLY SPIRIT, Who we receive and Who WE LIVE BY through faith in Christ and the Cross.... alone.
"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him, but the just shall live by his FAITH." (Hab. 2:4)
"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is IN CHRIST JESUS." -(Rom. 3:21-24)
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man whould boast. For we are His workmanship, created IN CHRIST JESUS unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." -(Eph. 2:8-10) (Notice that faith "in Christ Jesus" comes BEFORE -and actually PRODUCES- the good works)
And even though this is a marvellous offer to man, to be saved by grace through faith in the Cross alone, yet sinful man and many professing Christians STILL retain a serious problem of the heart: Through pride, they INSIST on justifying themselves for their sins, and they try to earn favor with God (or to be better spiritually) through their own righteousness!
"And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided Him. And He said unto them, 'Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts':..." -(Lk. 16:14-15)
"For they (those under self-works/"law" for justification), being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." -(Rom. 10:3)
However, GOD insists on a DIFFERENT "Way":
"Jesus saith unto him, 'I am the Way.... " -(John 14:6)
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." -(Rom. 4:5)
"Much more then, being now justified by HIS BLOOD (The Cross), we shall be saved from wrath through Him." -(Rom. 5:9)
You see, this is a very hard thing for a man to do: Admit that he's ungodly (especially when he does a lot of good, sacrificial things!) and then rely upon God and His Way (and Means: The Cross) ALONE to justify him. And this problem persists even after a person gets saved, because he then tends to drift once again towards justifying himself through the things that he does, whether it be prayer, Bible study, fasting, tithing, giving to the poor... you name it! These things are all good and helpful in their proper place, but they WILL NOT make a person closer to God, nor will they give him victory over the sin nature! The modern Church is now FILLED with people- many of them unsaved, but also many of the saved- who do not trust solely in Christ and the Cross, but who justify themselves (at least partly) on the basis of SELF righteousness: the things they do or do not do.
"The true Christian life does not hinge on what the person DOES OR DOES NOT DO, but on WHO HE IS as the result of his OBJECT OF FAITH (which needs to be Christ and the Cross)"
Now some would get very angry at what I just said, and they would reply... "NOOOO! If it doesn't matter what a person does or does not do, then that just gives him a license to SIN! It will promote greasy grace and loose living! HERESY! But actually, the exact opposite occurs, as the Holy Spirit supernaturally changes the person from the inside-out! Then... prayer, Bible study, witnessing, etc. are no longer duty and discipline, but they become a (super)natural out-flowing of who the person IS, from their HEART. This process was prophesied long long ago, and is found in the Word of God:
"And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear Me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me." -(Jer. 32:39-40)
"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God." -(Ezek. 11:19-20)
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU (see John 14:16-17; Eph. 2:22), and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them." -(Ezek. 36:26-27)
So... rather than the focus being on "me and what I need to DO", the focus is now placed upon "JESUS and what He has already done on the Cross for me", and how lovely He is! Halellujah! As you can see, these are two vastly different ways of Christian living: The one is... "striving, struggle, and work to maintain your Christian walk (which engenders defeat, lukewarmness and worldliness- albeit religious zeal); The other is... RESTING IN JESUS (which engenders victory, hot spiritual fire, and separation from the world), period! And those in the first category always persecute the ones in the second category, at least partly because of jealousy; Down through the centuries, this has always taken place, ever since "Cain and Abel, "Ishmael and Isaac", etc., down through "the Pharisees and Jesus", and even to the present!
"But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now." -(Gal. 4:29)
The strong tendency for Christians to drift towards works/law/legalism was an issue that Paul the Apostle dealt with in the churches that were under his care. Read this stern warning that he gives to those of the church at Galatia, who had fallen into this error:
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law (self-works); ye are fallen from grace." -(Gal. 5:4)
Paul was basically telling them... "Hey, if you continue on this course, you may end up losing your salvation!" And prior to that, in the same epistle, he tells them that one needs to be "crucified with Christ", that we are not to "frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." -(Gal. 2:21). So from this, we can ascertain that... 1) a Christian can "frustrate the grace of God" in his life by living according to the works of the law, and 2) if he continues on that path, Christ will be of "no effect" to him, causing him to FALL from grace!
So why, pray tell, has the modern Church been so weak, anemic, and powerless? Why is it so filled with sin and scandals? Why is the Holy Spirit not moving, confirming the preached Word with signs and wonders? The answer is very clear, but yet not readily received:
"The CROSS OF CHRIST is NOT being preached, having been replaced by man's own methods, programs, and works of SELF-righteousness. (What must I do?)" Therefore... Christ has become of no effect, and God's grace has been frustrated... quenching the Holy Spirit.
Man needs to stop justifying himself for his sins, humble himself, stop insisting on his own ways, turn from his own ways, and turn back to God's Way, which is... FAITH IN CHRIST AND HIS BLOOD SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS (ie: JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED).
Although, obviously, this has never been a popular Way (Jesus said that narrow is the Way which leads to Life, and few there be who find it- Matt. 7:14), it is God's only prescribed order for victory over (the) SIN (nature).
"For the law of the Spirit of Life IN CHRIST JESUS (ie: Faith in the CROSS) hath made me free from the law of sin and death (ie: the sin nature)." -(Rom. 8:2)
And to deny that we (Christians included) have a sin nature does not discount it's reality and effects; Just as denying that there is no law of gravity will not discount it's reality and effects (If we jump off a cliff, we will fall and die!).
"If we say we have no SIN (nature), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." -(1 Jhn. 1:8)
The whole sixth chapter of Romans deals with the sin nature (or the "evil" nature) and how the Christian is to deal with it. We can just pretend that chapter is not there, like many do (to their peril), or we can honestly look at it and apply it to our lives!
To walk according to the sin nature is to walk after the "flesh", which is to walk after works/ "law"/ legalism as a means to be "good", to be "righteous", and/or to be spiritual and "right with God". This is the default condition of natural man; All that one has to do is to ignore (or to not know about) faith in the Cross, and this in turn will place the emphasis upon "self" and "works". The result will then be (the) SIN (nature) having dominion. The fruit of the sin nature is called "the works of the flesh : adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like." -(Gal. 5:19-21). A person who walks "in the flesh" may not have all of these characteristics manifested, but because he is of this evil tree, there will be certain of these fruits. Of course, the sexual sins (resulting in scandals, etc.) will be the most obvious ones; However, some of the other ones may not be as conspicuous, and may even be discounted by people; Things such as envy, gossip, pride, anger outbursts, etc.. But rest assured though, that GOD does NOT discount them, and they are wicked in His sight!
The sin nature/evil nature/ principle of "SIN", as stated, is present automatically in natural man. Every person is born with it due to the fall of Adam, and as the result of it being passed down to him through Adam's pure blood-line; However, ...
When Christ died on the Cross, was buried, was raised again, and exalted, He started a new PURE Blood-line, a NEW race of people "IN HIM", who identify with Him in His death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation.
IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST:
DEATH (Gal. 2:19-20; 5:24; 6:14; Rom. 6:6; Eph. 2:22; 1 Jhn. 4:13; 3:24; Col. 3:5-9; 1 Cor. 15:31; 1 Pet. 2:24),
BURIAL (Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; 3:3; 2:20; Rom. 7:4,6; Gal. 2:19; 1 Cor. 15:36-38; John 12:24-25),
RESURRECTION (Col. 2:12-13; 3:1; Rom. 6:5; Eph. 2:4-5; 2 Cor. 5:17), and
EXALTATION (Mk. 16:19; Eph. 1:19-23; Psa. 110:1-2; Eph. 2:1,6; Col. 2:10; Matt. 28:18; Lk. 10:19-20; Acts 28:3-5).
Those who are of this new race "abide IN CHRIST" (John 15:1-8), live as "A NEW CREATURE" (2 Cor. 5:17); They have a NEW HEART (Ezek. 11:19-20; 36:26-27), and are in "GOD'S EVERLASTING COVENANT" (Heb. 13:20; 8:6-13). Halellujah!!!! And this all takes place by simple child-like faith in Christ's finished work on the Cross, in His shed BLOOD. In God's eyes, the believer is then declared "NOT GUILTY" of his former sins, and is given (or "imputed") GOD'S perfect spotless Righteousness (Much like one puts on a WHITE ROBE).
"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with THE GARMENTS OF SALVATION, he has covered me with THE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels." -(Isa. 61:10)
And then (halellujah) he is qualified to receive and to be indwelt by the HOLY SPIRIT, Who gives... ABUNDANT LIFE (see Jhn. 10:10)! This is "the gospel" , or "good news": that God can take a repentant believing SINNER, bear his sins on the Cross, forgive his sins, cleanse him by His Blood, and then indwell him by His Holy Spirit. Wow! What a deal!
THE OVER-COMING CHRISTIAN LIFE
Seven times in the book of Revelation, Jesus mentions the rewards that will be given to the "overcomer" (2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; and 3:21). Have you ever wondered what this means to be an "overcomer"? It means to live a victorious overcoming Christian life where (the) SIN (nature) does not have dominion over you. Many Christians, including Pastors, believe this is an automatic thing; That once a person is saved at conversion, he automatically (through will-power) should just be able, every time, to say "NO" to sinning. But, if that is so, then why does Jesus say here in Revelation, seven times, ... "to him who overcomes", if it is possible to NOT overcome? That just doesn't make any sense! Nor does it make sense when all one has to do is simply look around at all the Christians and Christian leaders who are strugggling with bondages of sin! So then, operating from a Biblical, common-sense perspective, let us now look at...
THE PROBLEM OF THE SIN NATURE IN A BELIEVER ("CHRISTIAN") :
Upon becoming saved/ born-again/ "a new creature in Christ", the believer receives "the Divine nature" which enables him to have victory over his former sin nature (which is not removed from him, but rather, is made "dormant"- much like grass during the winter.)
The object of our faith (not "tinkering with sin) determines whether that sin nature remains dormant, or whether it springs back to life. If the object of our faith remains on Christ and Him Crucified (His Work on the Cross), then we are "under GRACE", THE HOLY SPIRIT moves in our life, and (the) sin (nature) will not have dominion in our life (because it remains dormant).
But... if the object of our faith becomes "us": our self-effort in keeping some sort of "laws" (whether it be God's law- the ten commandments, or laws that we, our church, a denomination, etc. devise/formulate) as a means of righteousness (to be "good", or to be right with God to please Him), then we are "under LAW", the Holy Spirit is quenched from working in our life, and (the) sin (nature) will once again have dominion in our life. Certain bondages of sin will develop, habitual vices that the Christian cannot overcome.
THE PROCESS OF BEING AN "OVERCOMER" (Rev. 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21): OF DAILY LIVING THE "ABUNDANT LIFE" (John 10:10) BY HAVING VICTORY OVER THE SIN NATURE:
1) Admit that you indeed have a "sin nature" (1 John 1:8) and that you need Christ as your Savior every day. (John 15:4-5)
2) Always remember that you cannot effect righteousness, holiness, goodness, greater spirituality on your own through what you DO. (Titus 3:5; Eph. 2:8-10; Phil. 3:9)
3) Realize that only the HOLY SPIRIT can make and keep you righteous, holy, good, spiritual (Gal. 5:4-5; 2 Cor. 3:5-6); And that......
4) The Holy Spirit functions totally & completely within the finished Work of Christ (ie: the CROSS: His death, burial, resurrection). That is what gives Him the legal right & means to do all that He does (see Rom. 8:1-2).
5) KNOW that the focal point of your faith ("Fight the good fight of FAITH"- 1 Tim. 6:12) must be the CROSS; Not the Holy Spirit, and not in the things that you DO, or else you will be in a state of "spiritual adultery" (see Rom. 7:1-4). You must look to, and depend on (trust) CHRIST to meet your every need!
6) When you fail (sin), you must ask God to forgive you (1 Jhn. 1:9), and then look exclusively to Christ (your Source) and the CROSS (your Means) to overcome the desire to do that thing again.
7) This must be a DAILY thing. (every/each day!). (Lk. 9:23; 14:27)
"FOR SIN (The sin nature) SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU (the sin nature will not have dominion over us if we as believers continue to exercise faith in the Cross of Christ; otherwise, the sin nature most definitely will have dominion over the believer): FOR YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW (means that if we try to live this life by any type of law, no matter how good that law might be in it's own right, we will conlude by the sin nature having dominion over us), BUT UNDER GRACE (The grace of God flows to the believer on an unending basis only as long as the believer exercises faith in Christ and what He did at the Cross; Grace is merely the Goodness of God exercised by and through the Holy Spirit.)."
- (Rom. 6:14)
Now... in closing, I would like to speak to you by commandment of the Holy Spirit:
"You have heard the Truth of the Gospel. Consequently, you have THREE CHOICES and AN ULTIMATUM."
THE THREE CHOICES:
1) To be an all-out, un-saved sinner (cold).
2) To be a "Christian" in name only: trusting in your own works and conformed to "the world" (lukewarm).
3) To be an overcoming on-fire Christian, whose faith is solely in CHRIST AND THE CROSS (hot).
THE ULTIMATUM:
If you do not choose #3, you will avoid persecution, BUT you will be held accountable to GOD (the Judge of your soul), Who will NOT be very pleased with your decision!
I then, as a servant of God, leave you in His Hands.
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God." -(Heb. 10:31)
"Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: Otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off." -(Rom. 11:22)
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