How can the Power of the Cross be voided out in the life of a Believer? Why is the Cross the power of God? How do I activate the power of the Cross?
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The Doctrine Of The Cross - Part 3
“THE MANNER IN WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS
Most so-called Christians ignore the Holy Spirit altogether. Even Pentecostals and Charismatics, at least for the most part, have little idea as to how the Holy Spirit Works. They think that whatever He does is automatic. Consider the following:
If the Holy Spirit, without our cooperation, automatically did whatever it is that needed to be done, this would mean that there would never again be another failure on the part of the Believer, never again a sin committed, etc. But we all know that’s not the case, don’t we?!
“The truth is, if the Believer doesn’t place his faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross, and maintain it exclusively in Christ and the Cross, the Holy Spirit will be greatly limited as to what He can do in us, by us, or for us. As we have stated, He Works strictly within the parameters of the Finished Work, i.e., “the Cross of Christ,” which demands that our Faith be exclusively in the Cross of Christ. The reason is simple, that’s where the price was paid, and the Victory was forever won (Rom. 6:1-14; I Cor. 2:2; Gal., Chpt. 5; 6:14; Eph. 2:13-18; Col. 2:14-15).
The Holy Spirit doesn’t require much of us, but He does require one thing, and without reservation. Our Faith must exclusively be in Christ and the Cross, understanding that this is God’s Prescribed Order of Victory.
“THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL DOCTRINE
The heading means that every doctrine in the Bible must be built on the Foundation of the Cross, or else in some way it will be spurious. An erroneous understanding of the Cross of Christ, or ignoring the Cross of Christ, or denying the Cross of Christ, presents the seedbed of all false doctrine. This is where we go astray, that is if we do not have a correct interpretation of the Cross of Christ. If our faith is in something other than the Cross of Christ, whatever is produced will be false.
As we have stated, the Cross of Christ is the Foundation on which all doctrine must be constructed.
How do we know that?
“Peter said:
“Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold (presents the fact that the most precious commodities [silver and gold] could not redeem fallen man) , from your vain conversation (vain lifestyle) received by tradition from your fathers (speaks of original sin that is passed on from father to child at conception);
“But with the Precious Blood of Christ (presents the payment, which proclaims the poured out Life of Christ on behalf of sinners) , as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot (speaks of the lambs offered as substitutes in the Old Jewish economy; the Death of Christ was not an execution or assassination, but rather a Sacrifice; the Offering of Himself presented a Perfect Sacrifice, for He was Perfect in every respect [Ex. 12:5]):
“Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world (refers to the fact that God, in His Omniscience, knew He would create man, man would Fall, and man would be redeemed by Christ going to the Cross; this was all done before the Universe was created; this means the Cross of Christ is the Foundation Doctrine of all Doctrine, referring to the fact that all Doctrine must be built upon that Foundation, or else it is specious) , but was manifest in these last times for you (refers to the invisible God Who, in the Person of the Son, was made visible to human eyesight by assuming a human body and human limitations)” (I Pet. 1:18-20).
The Cross of Christ is the Foundation of all doctrine, meaning that all doctrine must be built on this Foundation, simply because it was the first Doctrine formulated in the Mind of the Godhead, even before man was created, or even the world was created.
This means many things, of which the following two are a beginning:
1. The Cross of Christ is the dividing line between the Church and the Apostate Church. In fact, it has always been that way. We find the first account given to us in the Fourth Chapter of Genesis, as it regards Cain and Abel. Because we are nearing the end, however, I believe this dividing line of the Cross is more prominent than ever.
2. The Cross of Christ is the only answer for sin. There is no other, because there need be no other. The Message is ageless. It will never have to be amended in any form, simply because it is perfect (Heb. 13:20).”
JSM
con't
“THE MANNER IN WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS
Most so-called Christians ignore the Holy Spirit altogether. Even Pentecostals and Charismatics, at least for the most part, have little idea as to how the Holy Spirit Works. They think that whatever He does is automatic. Consider the following:
If the Holy Spirit, without our cooperation, automatically did whatever it is that needed to be done, this would mean that there would never again be another failure on the part of the Believer, never again a sin committed, etc. But we all know that’s not the case, don’t we?!
“The truth is, if the Believer doesn’t place his faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross, and maintain it exclusively in Christ and the Cross, the Holy Spirit will be greatly limited as to what He can do in us, by us, or for us. As we have stated, He Works strictly within the parameters of the Finished Work, i.e., “the Cross of Christ,” which demands that our Faith be exclusively in the Cross of Christ. The reason is simple, that’s where the price was paid, and the Victory was forever won (Rom. 6:1-14; I Cor. 2:2; Gal., Chpt. 5; 6:14; Eph. 2:13-18; Col. 2:14-15).
The Holy Spirit doesn’t require much of us, but He does require one thing, and without reservation. Our Faith must exclusively be in Christ and the Cross, understanding that this is God’s Prescribed Order of Victory.
“THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL DOCTRINE
The heading means that every doctrine in the Bible must be built on the Foundation of the Cross, or else in some way it will be spurious. An erroneous understanding of the Cross of Christ, or ignoring the Cross of Christ, or denying the Cross of Christ, presents the seedbed of all false doctrine. This is where we go astray, that is if we do not have a correct interpretation of the Cross of Christ. If our faith is in something other than the Cross of Christ, whatever is produced will be false.
As we have stated, the Cross of Christ is the Foundation on which all doctrine must be constructed.
How do we know that?
“Peter said:
“Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold (presents the fact that the most precious commodities [silver and gold] could not redeem fallen man) , from your vain conversation (vain lifestyle) received by tradition from your fathers (speaks of original sin that is passed on from father to child at conception);
“But with the Precious Blood of Christ (presents the payment, which proclaims the poured out Life of Christ on behalf of sinners) , as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot (speaks of the lambs offered as substitutes in the Old Jewish economy; the Death of Christ was not an execution or assassination, but rather a Sacrifice; the Offering of Himself presented a Perfect Sacrifice, for He was Perfect in every respect [Ex. 12:5]):
“Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world (refers to the fact that God, in His Omniscience, knew He would create man, man would Fall, and man would be redeemed by Christ going to the Cross; this was all done before the Universe was created; this means the Cross of Christ is the Foundation Doctrine of all Doctrine, referring to the fact that all Doctrine must be built upon that Foundation, or else it is specious) , but was manifest in these last times for you (refers to the invisible God Who, in the Person of the Son, was made visible to human eyesight by assuming a human body and human limitations)” (I Pet. 1:18-20).
The Cross of Christ is the Foundation of all doctrine, meaning that all doctrine must be built on this Foundation, simply because it was the first Doctrine formulated in the Mind of the Godhead, even before man was created, or even the world was created.
This means many things, of which the following two are a beginning:
1. The Cross of Christ is the dividing line between the Church and the Apostate Church. In fact, it has always been that way. We find the first account given to us in the Fourth Chapter of Genesis, as it regards Cain and Abel. Because we are nearing the end, however, I believe this dividing line of the Cross is more prominent than ever.
2. The Cross of Christ is the only answer for sin. There is no other, because there need be no other. The Message is ageless. It will never have to be amended in any form, simply because it is perfect (Heb. 13:20).”
JSM
con't
Stauros (σταυρός) is a Greek word which in the oldest forms in the sense of an upright stake or pole.
Talisman. The word "talisman" is from the Greek root teleo, meaning "to consecrate." A talisman is a man-made object endowed with magical power, often used for purposes of protection. A rosary, St. Christopher medal, or crucifix are all, in effect, talismans.
Stauros means stake or pole. The word "cross" is a late addition to scriptures.
Talisman. The word "talisman" is from the Greek root teleo, meaning "to consecrate." A talisman is a man-made object endowed with magical power, often used for purposes of protection. A rosary, St. Christopher medal, or crucifix are all, in effect, talismans.
Stauros means stake or pole. The word "cross" is a late addition to scriptures.
The Doctrine Of The Cross - Part 4
“THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS THE STORY OF THE BIBLE
One might say that “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified,” is the Story of the Word of God, even as the Word of God is the Story of “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.”
The very first example of the Cross is found immediately after the Fall. At that time, the Scripture says as it regards Adam and Eve:
“And the eyes of them both were opened (refers to the consciousness of guilt as a result of their sin) , and they knew that they were naked (refers to the fact that they had lost the enswathing light of purity, which previously had clothed their bodies) ; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons (sinners clothe themselves with morality, sacraments, and religious ceremonies; they are as worthless as Adam’s apron of fig leaves) ” (Gen. 3:7).”
“Concerning their nakedness, the Scripture says:
“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them (in the making of coats of skins, God, in effect, was telling Adam and Eve that their fig leaves were insufficient; as well, He was teaching them that without the shedding of blood, which pertained to the animals that gave their lives, which were Types of Christ, is no remission of sin; in this first sacrifice was laid the foundation of the entirety of the Plan of God as it regards Redemption; also, it must be noticed that it is the ‘LORD God’ Who furnished these coats, and not man himself; this tells us that Salvation is altogether of God and not at all of man; the Life of Christ given on the Cross, and given as our Substitute, provides the only covering for sin; everything else must be rejected) ” (Gen. 3:21).
The Fourth Chapter of Genesis proclaims in vivid detail the Substitute. The Lord had related to the First Family even though fallen, that they could have forgiveness of sin and fellowship with Him, and He gave the manner in which this could be done.
“They were to build an Altar, which was a Type of the Cross, and they were to kill a lamb, which was a Type of Christ, burn its little body on the Altar, a Type of the Judgment of God, which came upon our Lord, instead of upon us, with the blood poured out at the base of the Altar. The blood signified Him giving His Life. Hence, the principle of Redemption is spelled out, in the offering up of the slain lamb. Thus was the Sacrificial System introduced on the first page of human history, and continued through the centuries. When the Law of Moses was given, the Sacrificial System was the very heart of the Law. In fact, had it not been for the Sacrificial System, Israel would have been doomed, just as man is doomed now unless he takes hold of the Christ of the Cross.
All of this was a stopgap measure until Jesus would come, Who would be the literal Sacrifice.
His very purpose of coming to this Earth, of God becoming Man, the Man Christ Jesus, was to be a Sacrifice. The Apostle John outlines it perfectly in the great Gospel that bear his name. He said:
THE INCARNATION
“In the beginning (does not infer that Christ as God had a beginning, because as God He had no beginning, but rather refers to the time of Creation [Gen. 1:1]) was the Word (the Holy Spirit through John describes Jesus as ‘the Eternal Logos’) , and the Word was with God (‘was in relationship with God,’ and expresses the idea of the Trinity) , and the Word was God (meaning that He did not cease to be God during the Incarnation; He ‘was’ and ‘is’ God from eternity past to eternity future).
“The same was in the beginning with God (this very Person was in eternity with God; there’s only one God, but manifested in Three Persons — God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit).
“All things were made by Him (all things came into being through Him; it refers to every item of Creation one by one, rather than all things regarded in totality) ; and without Him was not any thing made that was made (nothing, not even one single thing, was made independently of His cooperation and volition).
“In Him was Life (presents Jesus, the Eternal Logos, as the first cause) ; and the Life was the Light of men (He Alone is the Life Source of Light; if one doesn’t know Christ, one is in darkness).
“And the Light shines in darkness (speaks of the Incarnation of Christ, and His coming into this world; His ‘Light,’ because it is derived from His Life, drives out ‘darkness’) ; and the darkness comprehended it not (should have been translated, ‘apprehended it not’; it means that Satan, even though he tried with all his might, could not stop ‘the Light’; today it shines all over the world, and one day soon, there will be nothing left but that ‘Light’) ” (Jn. 1:1-5).”
“JOHN THE BELOVED
Then John the Beloved said:
“And the Word was made flesh (refers to the Incarnation, ‘God becoming man’) , and dwelt among us (refers to Jesus, although Perfect, not holding Himself aloft from all others, but rather lived as all men, even a peasant) , (and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,) (speaks of His Deity, although hidden from the eyes of the merely curious; while Christ laid aside the expression of His Deity, He never lost the possession of His Deity) full of Grace and Truth (as ‘flesh,’ proclaimed His Humanity, ‘Grace and Truth’ His Deity) ” (Jn. 1:14).
And now John gives the reason for the Word being made flesh. He records the statement about Christ given by John the Baptist. He said:”
“The next day (refers to the day after John had been questioned by the emissaries from the Sanhedrin) John sees Jesus coming unto him (is, no doubt, after the baptism of Jesus, and the temptation in the wilderness) , and said, Behold the Lamb of God (proclaims Jesus as the Sacrifice for sin, in fact, the Sin-Offering, Whom all the multiple millions of offered lambs had represented) , which takes away the sin of the world (animal blood could only cover sin, it could not take it away; but Jesus offering Himself as the Perfect Sacrifice took away the sin of the world; He not only cleansed acts of sin but, as well, addressed the root cause [Col. 2:14-15]) ” (Jn. 1:29).”
JSM
con't
“THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS THE STORY OF THE BIBLE
One might say that “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified,” is the Story of the Word of God, even as the Word of God is the Story of “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.”
The very first example of the Cross is found immediately after the Fall. At that time, the Scripture says as it regards Adam and Eve:
“And the eyes of them both were opened (refers to the consciousness of guilt as a result of their sin) , and they knew that they were naked (refers to the fact that they had lost the enswathing light of purity, which previously had clothed their bodies) ; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons (sinners clothe themselves with morality, sacraments, and religious ceremonies; they are as worthless as Adam’s apron of fig leaves) ” (Gen. 3:7).”
“Concerning their nakedness, the Scripture says:
“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them (in the making of coats of skins, God, in effect, was telling Adam and Eve that their fig leaves were insufficient; as well, He was teaching them that without the shedding of blood, which pertained to the animals that gave their lives, which were Types of Christ, is no remission of sin; in this first sacrifice was laid the foundation of the entirety of the Plan of God as it regards Redemption; also, it must be noticed that it is the ‘LORD God’ Who furnished these coats, and not man himself; this tells us that Salvation is altogether of God and not at all of man; the Life of Christ given on the Cross, and given as our Substitute, provides the only covering for sin; everything else must be rejected) ” (Gen. 3:21).
The Fourth Chapter of Genesis proclaims in vivid detail the Substitute. The Lord had related to the First Family even though fallen, that they could have forgiveness of sin and fellowship with Him, and He gave the manner in which this could be done.
“They were to build an Altar, which was a Type of the Cross, and they were to kill a lamb, which was a Type of Christ, burn its little body on the Altar, a Type of the Judgment of God, which came upon our Lord, instead of upon us, with the blood poured out at the base of the Altar. The blood signified Him giving His Life. Hence, the principle of Redemption is spelled out, in the offering up of the slain lamb. Thus was the Sacrificial System introduced on the first page of human history, and continued through the centuries. When the Law of Moses was given, the Sacrificial System was the very heart of the Law. In fact, had it not been for the Sacrificial System, Israel would have been doomed, just as man is doomed now unless he takes hold of the Christ of the Cross.
All of this was a stopgap measure until Jesus would come, Who would be the literal Sacrifice.
His very purpose of coming to this Earth, of God becoming Man, the Man Christ Jesus, was to be a Sacrifice. The Apostle John outlines it perfectly in the great Gospel that bear his name. He said:
THE INCARNATION
“In the beginning (does not infer that Christ as God had a beginning, because as God He had no beginning, but rather refers to the time of Creation [Gen. 1:1]) was the Word (the Holy Spirit through John describes Jesus as ‘the Eternal Logos’) , and the Word was with God (‘was in relationship with God,’ and expresses the idea of the Trinity) , and the Word was God (meaning that He did not cease to be God during the Incarnation; He ‘was’ and ‘is’ God from eternity past to eternity future).
“The same was in the beginning with God (this very Person was in eternity with God; there’s only one God, but manifested in Three Persons — God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit).
“All things were made by Him (all things came into being through Him; it refers to every item of Creation one by one, rather than all things regarded in totality) ; and without Him was not any thing made that was made (nothing, not even one single thing, was made independently of His cooperation and volition).
“In Him was Life (presents Jesus, the Eternal Logos, as the first cause) ; and the Life was the Light of men (He Alone is the Life Source of Light; if one doesn’t know Christ, one is in darkness).
“And the Light shines in darkness (speaks of the Incarnation of Christ, and His coming into this world; His ‘Light,’ because it is derived from His Life, drives out ‘darkness’) ; and the darkness comprehended it not (should have been translated, ‘apprehended it not’; it means that Satan, even though he tried with all his might, could not stop ‘the Light’; today it shines all over the world, and one day soon, there will be nothing left but that ‘Light’) ” (Jn. 1:1-5).”
“JOHN THE BELOVED
Then John the Beloved said:
“And the Word was made flesh (refers to the Incarnation, ‘God becoming man’) , and dwelt among us (refers to Jesus, although Perfect, not holding Himself aloft from all others, but rather lived as all men, even a peasant) , (and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,) (speaks of His Deity, although hidden from the eyes of the merely curious; while Christ laid aside the expression of His Deity, He never lost the possession of His Deity) full of Grace and Truth (as ‘flesh,’ proclaimed His Humanity, ‘Grace and Truth’ His Deity) ” (Jn. 1:14).
And now John gives the reason for the Word being made flesh. He records the statement about Christ given by John the Baptist. He said:”
“The next day (refers to the day after John had been questioned by the emissaries from the Sanhedrin) John sees Jesus coming unto him (is, no doubt, after the baptism of Jesus, and the temptation in the wilderness) , and said, Behold the Lamb of God (proclaims Jesus as the Sacrifice for sin, in fact, the Sin-Offering, Whom all the multiple millions of offered lambs had represented) , which takes away the sin of the world (animal blood could only cover sin, it could not take it away; but Jesus offering Himself as the Perfect Sacrifice took away the sin of the world; He not only cleansed acts of sin but, as well, addressed the root cause [Col. 2:14-15]) ” (Jn. 1:29).”
JSM
con't
The Doctrine Of The Cross - Part 5
“GOD’S PRESCRIBED ORDER OF VICTORY
When we say “victory” we are speaking of Victory in every capacity, be it spiritual, financial, domestical, physical, etc. God’s Prescribed Order for this Victory is “the Cross of Christ.”
Of course, the primary victory of which the Bible addresses itself is Victory over sin. That properly handled and addressed, everything else will fall into place.
Paul said:
“But this Man (this Priest, Christ Jesus) , after He had offered One Sacrifice for sins forever (speaks of the Cross) , sat down on the Right Hand of God (refers to the great contrast with the Priests under the Levitical system, who never sat down because their work was never completed; the Work of Christ was a ‘Finished Work,’ and needed no repetition);
“From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. (These enemies are Satan and all the fallen Angels and demon spirits, plus all who follow Satan.)
“For by one Offering He has perfected forever them who are Sanctified. (Everything one needs is found in the Cross [Gal. 6:14]) ” (Heb. 10:12-14).
The first five Verses of Romans, Chapter 6 proclaim to us God’s Prescribed Order. Of course, the entirety of the Sixth Chapter of Romans opens up to us this great truth, and in every capacity; however, the first five Verses tell us what the Prescribed Order actually is.
THE PROBLEM IS SIN
More particularly as it regards the Believer, the problem is the sin nature.”
“The sin nature is that which happened to Adam and Eve at the Fall, and which passed down to all thereafter. It means that their very nature became one of sin, transgression, iniquity, disobedience, etc. It is the cause of all the difficulties, war, crime, man’s inhumanity to man, that’s in the world presently and, in fact, ever has been the cause. Every unbeliever is ruled by the sin nature 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When the believing sinner comes to Christ, at that moment, the sin nature, although not removed, is made dormant. But unfortunately, every single believing sinner, after coming to Christ, fails the Lord in some way. It happens to every one of us. Now, sin is abhorrent to the Believer. Now knowing God’s Prescribed Order of Victory, the Believer sets about to try not to commit the same sin again. Every time, he will place his Faith in something other than the Cross. While many other things may be very helpful in their own right, and very legitimate, still, the answer for sin, and the only answer, is the Cross of Christ. But inevitably, the flesh gravitates toward works, i.e., “law.”
“Now, the Believer doesn’t understand that he is placing his faith in that which God cannot bless, and it will be some time before he fully understands this. Regrettably, and because of a lack of teaching on this all-important subject, most Believers never come to a place of proper understanding; therefore, they remain in the Seventh Chapter of Romans all of their spiritual existence. That’s the reason the teaching of the Cross as it regards both Salvation and Sanctification is so very, very important. In fact, it is the single most important body of understanding that the Believer could have. The tragedy is, irrespective of its great significance, most Christians, even preachers, have no idea as to the part the Cross plays as it regards our Sanctification, i.e., “How we live for God on a daily basis.”
The only way to have victory over the sin nature, and we speak of perpetual Victory, even on a daily basis, is for the Believer to place his faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross, and maintain his Faith in Christ and the Cross. Then and only then can the Holy Spirit work within our lives, thereby bringing about the Fruit of the Spirit and, thereby, helping us to be what we ought to be in Christ. That is God’s Prescribed Order. Concerning this, Paul said:
THE SIN NATURE
“What shall we say then? (This is meant to direct attention to Rom. 5:20.) Shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound? (Just because Grace is greater than sin doesn’t mean that the Believer has a license to sin.)
“God forbid (presents Paul’s answer to the question, ‘Away with the thought, let not such a thing occur’) . How shall we, who are dead to sin (dead to the sin nature) , live any longer therein? (This portrays what the Believer is now in Christ) ” (Rom. 6:1-2).”
JSM
con't
“GOD’S PRESCRIBED ORDER OF VICTORY
When we say “victory” we are speaking of Victory in every capacity, be it spiritual, financial, domestical, physical, etc. God’s Prescribed Order for this Victory is “the Cross of Christ.”
Of course, the primary victory of which the Bible addresses itself is Victory over sin. That properly handled and addressed, everything else will fall into place.
Paul said:
“But this Man (this Priest, Christ Jesus) , after He had offered One Sacrifice for sins forever (speaks of the Cross) , sat down on the Right Hand of God (refers to the great contrast with the Priests under the Levitical system, who never sat down because their work was never completed; the Work of Christ was a ‘Finished Work,’ and needed no repetition);
“From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. (These enemies are Satan and all the fallen Angels and demon spirits, plus all who follow Satan.)
“For by one Offering He has perfected forever them who are Sanctified. (Everything one needs is found in the Cross [Gal. 6:14]) ” (Heb. 10:12-14).
The first five Verses of Romans, Chapter 6 proclaim to us God’s Prescribed Order. Of course, the entirety of the Sixth Chapter of Romans opens up to us this great truth, and in every capacity; however, the first five Verses tell us what the Prescribed Order actually is.
THE PROBLEM IS SIN
More particularly as it regards the Believer, the problem is the sin nature.”
“The sin nature is that which happened to Adam and Eve at the Fall, and which passed down to all thereafter. It means that their very nature became one of sin, transgression, iniquity, disobedience, etc. It is the cause of all the difficulties, war, crime, man’s inhumanity to man, that’s in the world presently and, in fact, ever has been the cause. Every unbeliever is ruled by the sin nature 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When the believing sinner comes to Christ, at that moment, the sin nature, although not removed, is made dormant. But unfortunately, every single believing sinner, after coming to Christ, fails the Lord in some way. It happens to every one of us. Now, sin is abhorrent to the Believer. Now knowing God’s Prescribed Order of Victory, the Believer sets about to try not to commit the same sin again. Every time, he will place his Faith in something other than the Cross. While many other things may be very helpful in their own right, and very legitimate, still, the answer for sin, and the only answer, is the Cross of Christ. But inevitably, the flesh gravitates toward works, i.e., “law.”
“Now, the Believer doesn’t understand that he is placing his faith in that which God cannot bless, and it will be some time before he fully understands this. Regrettably, and because of a lack of teaching on this all-important subject, most Believers never come to a place of proper understanding; therefore, they remain in the Seventh Chapter of Romans all of their spiritual existence. That’s the reason the teaching of the Cross as it regards both Salvation and Sanctification is so very, very important. In fact, it is the single most important body of understanding that the Believer could have. The tragedy is, irrespective of its great significance, most Christians, even preachers, have no idea as to the part the Cross plays as it regards our Sanctification, i.e., “How we live for God on a daily basis.”
The only way to have victory over the sin nature, and we speak of perpetual Victory, even on a daily basis, is for the Believer to place his faith exclusively in Christ and the Cross, and maintain his Faith in Christ and the Cross. Then and only then can the Holy Spirit work within our lives, thereby bringing about the Fruit of the Spirit and, thereby, helping us to be what we ought to be in Christ. That is God’s Prescribed Order. Concerning this, Paul said:
THE SIN NATURE
“What shall we say then? (This is meant to direct attention to Rom. 5:20.) Shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound? (Just because Grace is greater than sin doesn’t mean that the Believer has a license to sin.)
“God forbid (presents Paul’s answer to the question, ‘Away with the thought, let not such a thing occur’) . How shall we, who are dead to sin (dead to the sin nature) , live any longer therein? (This portrays what the Believer is now in Christ) ” (Rom. 6:1-2).”
JSM
con't
The Doctrine Of The Cross - Part 6
“THE CROSS OF CHRIST
Now the Apostle tells us the answer to the sin nature and, in fact, the only answer. He said:
“Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ (plainly says that this Baptism is into Christ and not water [I Cor. 1:17; 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:11-13]) were baptized into His Death? (When Christ died on the Cross, in the Mind of God, we died with Him; in other words, He became our Substitute, and our identification with Him in His Death gives us all the benefits for which He died; the idea is that He did it all for us!)
“Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death (not only did we die with Him, but we were buried with Him as well, which means that all the sin and transgression of the past were buried; when they put Him in the Tomb, they put all of our sins into that Tomb as well) : 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 (we died with Him, we were buried with Him, and His Resurrection was our Resurrection to a ‘Newness of Life’).
“For if we have been planted together (with Christ) in the likeness of His Death (Paul proclaims the Cross as the instrument through which all Blessings come; consequently, the Cross must ever be the Object of our Faith, which gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work within our lives) , we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection (we can have the ‘likeness of His Resurrection,’ i.e., ‘live this Resurrection Life,’ only as long as we understand the ‘likeness of His Death,’ which refers to the Cross as the means by which all of this is done) ” (Rom. 6:3-5).
Perhaps the following formula, as simple as it is, will help us to understand this all-important subject to a greater degree.
THE WAY OF THE SPIRIT”
“FOCUS: The Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6).
OBJECT OF FAITH: The Cross of Christ (Rom. 6:1-14).
POWER SOURCE: The Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:1-2, 11).
RESULTS: Victory (Rom. 6:14).
Now let’s use the same formula, but the manner in which it is being used by most Believers.
MAN’S WAY
FOCUS: Works.
OBJECT OF FAITH: Performance.
POWER SOURCE: Self.
RESULTS: Defeat!
Regrettably and sadly, the latter formula is the manner in which most Believers are attempting to live this life for the Lord. They aren’t doing it God’s Way, but rather man’s way, with the latter always leading to continued failure.”
“WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PREACH THE CROSS?
Paul said:
“For the preaching (Word) of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness (Spiritual things cannot be discerned by unredeemed people, but that doesn’t matter; the Cross must be preached just the same, even as we shall see) ; but unto us who are Saved it is the Power of God. (The Cross is the Power of God simply because it was there that the total sin debt was paid, giving the Holy Spirit, in Whom the Power resides, latitude to work mightily within our lives) ” (I Cor. 1:18).
Most preachers, at least those who claim to preach the Bible, preach the Cross of Christ for Salvation, and rightly so! However, most preachers have no idea whatsoever as to the part the Cross plays in our life and living as it regards Sanctification. That’s the reason that the church is constantly putting forth one scheme, one fad after the other, trying to address the problem of sin, in other words, failure in the lives of Believers. There is only one answer, and that is the Cross of Christ.”
If the Preacher is truly preaching the Cross, this means that he understands that the Cross of Christ pertains not only to our Salvation, where all sin was atoned, but, as well, to our daily life and living, in other words, our Sanctification.
And how does the Cross apply to our Sanctification?
When the Believing sinner comes to Christ, the truth is, he knows nothing about the Lord, and he certainly knows nothing about the Cross. He just simply calls on the Name of the Lord, means it in his heart, and he is Saved (Rom. 10:9-10, 13).
But after the believing sinner comes to Christ, is made a new creation, with old things passing away, and all things becoming new, in other words, he is truly Born-Again, he is to understand, that as his Salvation is in the Cross, his Sanctification is in the Cross also. This means that we are to place our Faith unreservedly in the Cross of Christ, in fact, ever making the Cross the Object of our Faith. This is to be done constantly, ever understanding, that all that we need, is found in what Jesus did at the Cross.”
“And please understand, when we speak of the Cross, we aren’t speaking of a wooden beam, but more particularly, the benefits of what Jesus did for us there. These benefits, upon Faith, will continue to come to us forever and forever.
The idea is this:
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BELIEVER
What we need to be in Christ, we cannot bring it about by our own machinations, strength, or power. This is what Jesus was talking about when He said, that if we were to come after Him, that we had to “deny ourselves” (Lk. 9:23). To be sure, He wasn’t speaking of asceticism, which refers to denying ourselves all things that were comfortable or pleasurable, but rather, denying our own ability, talent, education, motivation, strength, power, in other words, everything that is indicative of the human being. No matter how strong we are, no matter how much education we have, what we need to be in Christ, we cannot by our own machinations bring it about ourselves. And this is where the great problem begins. Now that we are Saved and even Spirit-filled, somehow, we think that whatever it takes we can do it. We can’t!”
“It is the Holy Spirit Alone, Who lives within our hearts and lives, and does so permanently, Who can bring about that which we need to have and need to be. And He works exclusively within the parameters of the Finished Work of Christ.
In other words, it is the Cross of Christ that has given the Holy Spirit the latitude, i.e., “the legal right,” to carry forth His Work within our lives. It is the Cross that has made it all possible. In fact the Scripture says: “The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, has made me free from the Law of Sin and Death” (Rom. 8:2).
Because this is so important, please allow me again to quote this Scripture from THE EXPOSITOR’S STUDY BIBLE:”
“THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS
“For the Law (that which we are about to give is a Law of God, devised by the Godhead in eternity past [I Pet. 1:18-20]; this Law, in fact, is ‘God’s Prescribed Order of Victory’) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit, i.e., ‘the way the Spirit works’) of Life (all life comes from Christ, but through the Holy Spirit [Jn. 16:13-14]) in Christ Jesus (any time Paul uses this term or one of its derivatives, he is, without fail, referring to what Christ did at the Cross, which makes this ‘life’ possible) has made me free (given me total Victory) from the Law of Sin and Death (these are the two most powerful Laws in the Universe; the ‘Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus’ alone is stronger than the ‘Law of Sin and Death’; this means that if the Believer attempts to live for God by any manner other than Faith in Christ and the Cross, he is doomed to failure) ” (Rom. 8:2).
While the Bible, as stated, does not teach sinless perfection, it most definitely does teach that “sin (i.e., the
sin nature) is not to have dominion over us” (Rom. 6:14).
The only way this can be achieved, the only way it can be brought about, which is God’s Way, is that we ever make the Cross of Christ the Object of our Faith. That and that alone, is the way of the Spirit.”
JSM
“THE CROSS OF CHRIST
Now the Apostle tells us the answer to the sin nature and, in fact, the only answer. He said:
“Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ (plainly says that this Baptism is into Christ and not water [I Cor. 1:17; 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:11-13]) were baptized into His Death? (When Christ died on the Cross, in the Mind of God, we died with Him; in other words, He became our Substitute, and our identification with Him in His Death gives us all the benefits for which He died; the idea is that He did it all for us!)
“Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death (not only did we die with Him, but we were buried with Him as well, which means that all the sin and transgression of the past were buried; when they put Him in the Tomb, they put all of our sins into that Tomb as well) : 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 (we died with Him, we were buried with Him, and His Resurrection was our Resurrection to a ‘Newness of Life’).
“For if we have been planted together (with Christ) in the likeness of His Death (Paul proclaims the Cross as the instrument through which all Blessings come; consequently, the Cross must ever be the Object of our Faith, which gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work within our lives) , we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection (we can have the ‘likeness of His Resurrection,’ i.e., ‘live this Resurrection Life,’ only as long as we understand the ‘likeness of His Death,’ which refers to the Cross as the means by which all of this is done) ” (Rom. 6:3-5).
Perhaps the following formula, as simple as it is, will help us to understand this all-important subject to a greater degree.
THE WAY OF THE SPIRIT”
“FOCUS: The Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6).
OBJECT OF FAITH: The Cross of Christ (Rom. 6:1-14).
POWER SOURCE: The Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:1-2, 11).
RESULTS: Victory (Rom. 6:14).
Now let’s use the same formula, but the manner in which it is being used by most Believers.
MAN’S WAY
FOCUS: Works.
OBJECT OF FAITH: Performance.
POWER SOURCE: Self.
RESULTS: Defeat!
Regrettably and sadly, the latter formula is the manner in which most Believers are attempting to live this life for the Lord. They aren’t doing it God’s Way, but rather man’s way, with the latter always leading to continued failure.”
“WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PREACH THE CROSS?
Paul said:
“For the preaching (Word) of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness (Spiritual things cannot be discerned by unredeemed people, but that doesn’t matter; the Cross must be preached just the same, even as we shall see) ; but unto us who are Saved it is the Power of God. (The Cross is the Power of God simply because it was there that the total sin debt was paid, giving the Holy Spirit, in Whom the Power resides, latitude to work mightily within our lives) ” (I Cor. 1:18).
Most preachers, at least those who claim to preach the Bible, preach the Cross of Christ for Salvation, and rightly so! However, most preachers have no idea whatsoever as to the part the Cross plays in our life and living as it regards Sanctification. That’s the reason that the church is constantly putting forth one scheme, one fad after the other, trying to address the problem of sin, in other words, failure in the lives of Believers. There is only one answer, and that is the Cross of Christ.”
If the Preacher is truly preaching the Cross, this means that he understands that the Cross of Christ pertains not only to our Salvation, where all sin was atoned, but, as well, to our daily life and living, in other words, our Sanctification.
And how does the Cross apply to our Sanctification?
When the Believing sinner comes to Christ, the truth is, he knows nothing about the Lord, and he certainly knows nothing about the Cross. He just simply calls on the Name of the Lord, means it in his heart, and he is Saved (Rom. 10:9-10, 13).
But after the believing sinner comes to Christ, is made a new creation, with old things passing away, and all things becoming new, in other words, he is truly Born-Again, he is to understand, that as his Salvation is in the Cross, his Sanctification is in the Cross also. This means that we are to place our Faith unreservedly in the Cross of Christ, in fact, ever making the Cross the Object of our Faith. This is to be done constantly, ever understanding, that all that we need, is found in what Jesus did at the Cross.”
“And please understand, when we speak of the Cross, we aren’t speaking of a wooden beam, but more particularly, the benefits of what Jesus did for us there. These benefits, upon Faith, will continue to come to us forever and forever.
The idea is this:
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BELIEVER
What we need to be in Christ, we cannot bring it about by our own machinations, strength, or power. This is what Jesus was talking about when He said, that if we were to come after Him, that we had to “deny ourselves” (Lk. 9:23). To be sure, He wasn’t speaking of asceticism, which refers to denying ourselves all things that were comfortable or pleasurable, but rather, denying our own ability, talent, education, motivation, strength, power, in other words, everything that is indicative of the human being. No matter how strong we are, no matter how much education we have, what we need to be in Christ, we cannot by our own machinations bring it about ourselves. And this is where the great problem begins. Now that we are Saved and even Spirit-filled, somehow, we think that whatever it takes we can do it. We can’t!”
“It is the Holy Spirit Alone, Who lives within our hearts and lives, and does so permanently, Who can bring about that which we need to have and need to be. And He works exclusively within the parameters of the Finished Work of Christ.
In other words, it is the Cross of Christ that has given the Holy Spirit the latitude, i.e., “the legal right,” to carry forth His Work within our lives. It is the Cross that has made it all possible. In fact the Scripture says: “The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, has made me free from the Law of Sin and Death” (Rom. 8:2).
Because this is so important, please allow me again to quote this Scripture from THE EXPOSITOR’S STUDY BIBLE:”
“THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS
“For the Law (that which we are about to give is a Law of God, devised by the Godhead in eternity past [I Pet. 1:18-20]; this Law, in fact, is ‘God’s Prescribed Order of Victory’) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit, i.e., ‘the way the Spirit works’) of Life (all life comes from Christ, but through the Holy Spirit [Jn. 16:13-14]) in Christ Jesus (any time Paul uses this term or one of its derivatives, he is, without fail, referring to what Christ did at the Cross, which makes this ‘life’ possible) has made me free (given me total Victory) from the Law of Sin and Death (these are the two most powerful Laws in the Universe; the ‘Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus’ alone is stronger than the ‘Law of Sin and Death’; this means that if the Believer attempts to live for God by any manner other than Faith in Christ and the Cross, he is doomed to failure) ” (Rom. 8:2).
While the Bible, as stated, does not teach sinless perfection, it most definitely does teach that “sin (i.e., the
sin nature) is not to have dominion over us” (Rom. 6:14).
The only way this can be achieved, the only way it can be brought about, which is God’s Way, is that we ever make the Cross of Christ the Object of our Faith. That and that alone, is the way of the Spirit.”
JSM
L
Good grief, semantics has become the firing line.
"The cross" is used as a rhetorical device to reference the completion of the earthly ministry of Jesus. "It is finished" he pronounced with his dying breath death was conquered in that moment and the curse of sin and death along with. So when people say the power of the cross they are referring to this moment this occasion where Jesus my Lord gained for us the victory. Not a literal wooden item .
"The cross" is used as a rhetorical device to reference the completion of the earthly ministry of Jesus. "It is finished" he pronounced with his dying breath death was conquered in that moment and the curse of sin and death along with. So when people say the power of the cross they are referring to this moment this occasion where Jesus my Lord gained for us the victory. Not a literal wooden item .
Jesus Explains the Purpose of Speaking in Parables
Matthew 13:10-14
10 And the Disciples came, and said unto Him (seems to pertain to a later time when they were alone), Why do you speak to them in Parables? (This portrays consternation on their part!)
11 He answered and said unto them (concerns the Lord's method of dealing with two different classes of people, those who really wanted to know God's way and those who were merely curious), Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given (two categories are here presented; in which category are you?).
12 For whosoever has (and wants more), to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance (if one wills Righteousness, the Lord wills more Righteousness to them): but whosoever has not (no interest for more), from him shall be taken away even that he has (he not only loses what he could have had, but even that which he has; to those who accept the Cross, they will have even more, and to those who reject the Cross, they will lose everything, even that which they previously had).
13 Therefore speak I to them in Parables (in order to separate those who hunger and thirst for Righteousness from those who don't): because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand (that is, they do not wish to see or hear or understand; and hence by a just judgment they lose this triple moral ability).
14 And in them (those who reject the Cross [1 Cor. 1:23]) is fulfilled the Prophecy of Isaiah, which says, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive (a willing deafness, a willful blindness, and a willful dullness; this Passage is quoted in one form or the other some seven times in the New Testament [Mat. 13:14-15; Mk. 4:12; LK. 8:10; Jn. 12:39-40; Acts 28:26-27; Rom. 11:8]):
JSM
Matthew 13:10-14
10 And the Disciples came, and said unto Him (seems to pertain to a later time when they were alone), Why do you speak to them in Parables? (This portrays consternation on their part!)
11 He answered and said unto them (concerns the Lord's method of dealing with two different classes of people, those who really wanted to know God's way and those who were merely curious), Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given (two categories are here presented; in which category are you?).
12 For whosoever has (and wants more), to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance (if one wills Righteousness, the Lord wills more Righteousness to them): but whosoever has not (no interest for more), from him shall be taken away even that he has (he not only loses what he could have had, but even that which he has; to those who accept the Cross, they will have even more, and to those who reject the Cross, they will lose everything, even that which they previously had).
13 Therefore speak I to them in Parables (in order to separate those who hunger and thirst for Righteousness from those who don't): because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand (that is, they do not wish to see or hear or understand; and hence by a just judgment they lose this triple moral ability).
14 And in them (those who reject the Cross [1 Cor. 1:23]) is fulfilled the Prophecy of Isaiah, which says, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive (a willing deafness, a willful blindness, and a willful dullness; this Passage is quoted in one form or the other some seven times in the New Testament [Mat. 13:14-15; Mk. 4:12; LK. 8:10; Jn. 12:39-40; Acts 28:26-27; Rom. 11:8]):
JSM
Philippians 3:17-21 King James Version (KJV)
ENEMIES OF THE CROSS DOCTRINE
17 Brethren, be followers together of me (be "Fellow-imitators"), and mark them which walk so as you have us for an ensample (observe intently).
18 (For many walk (speaks of those attempting to live for God outside of the victory and rudiments of the Cross of Christ), of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping (this is a most serious matter), that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ (those who do not look exclusively to the Cross of Christ must be labeled "enemies"):
19 Whose end is destruction (if the Cross is ignored, and continues to be ignored, the loss of the soul is the only ultimate conclusion), whose God is their belly (refers to those who attempt to pervert the Gospel for their own personal gain), and whose glory is in their shame (the material things they seek, God labels as "shame"), who mind earthly things.) (This means they have no interest in Heavenly things, which signifies they are using the Lord for their own personal gain.)
20 For our conversation (citizenship) is in Heaven (meaning the other ways will have no place in Heaven); from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (the Rapture):
21 Who (the Lord) shall change our vile body (the Resurrection), that it may be fashioned like unto his Glorious body (every Saint will have a Glorified Body), according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. ("All things" are done through the Cross.)
Faith in the Cross creates humility - Faith in ourselves or other things creates self-righteousness.
All things" are done through the Cross. If you leave the Cross, you enter death (Romans 8:1-2, 6, 13)
JSM
ENEMIES OF THE CROSS DOCTRINE
17 Brethren, be followers together of me (be "Fellow-imitators"), and mark them which walk so as you have us for an ensample (observe intently).
18 (For many walk (speaks of those attempting to live for God outside of the victory and rudiments of the Cross of Christ), of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping (this is a most serious matter), that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ (those who do not look exclusively to the Cross of Christ must be labeled "enemies"):
19 Whose end is destruction (if the Cross is ignored, and continues to be ignored, the loss of the soul is the only ultimate conclusion), whose God is their belly (refers to those who attempt to pervert the Gospel for their own personal gain), and whose glory is in their shame (the material things they seek, God labels as "shame"), who mind earthly things.) (This means they have no interest in Heavenly things, which signifies they are using the Lord for their own personal gain.)
20 For our conversation (citizenship) is in Heaven (meaning the other ways will have no place in Heaven); from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (the Rapture):
21 Who (the Lord) shall change our vile body (the Resurrection), that it may be fashioned like unto his Glorious body (every Saint will have a Glorified Body), according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. ("All things" are done through the Cross.)
Faith in the Cross creates humility - Faith in ourselves or other things creates self-righteousness.
All things" are done through the Cross. If you leave the Cross, you enter death (Romans 8:1-2, 6, 13)
JSM
Holiness
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14).
In the original language, the two words—holiness and sanctification—pretty well mean the same thing. If you are a child of God, and you really love the Lord, then you want to walk in holiness. But this particular position eludes us so very much because we do not properly understand it. Man—and I’m talking about Christian man now—has been trying to make himself holy I guess from the dawn of time, and it can’t be done. Let me say that again: Man tries to make himself holy by doing certain things or not doing certain other things.
We’ve got people who think that by wearing certain types of clothing, cutting their hair in a certain way, or ladies fixing their hair in a certain manner somehow makes them holy. But you cannot make yourself holy, I don’t care what you do.
Holy
There is only one way that you can be holy (sanctified as well) and that is to place your faith in Christ and what Christ did for you at the cross and maintain it there. Then automatically, not through stages but automatically, you are declared holy by God, understand that. Then the Holy Spirit, who works exclusively by and through the cross and what Jesus there did (which gives Him the legal means to do all that He does) will begin to work in your life. The Holy Spirit is God, and He’ll bring about things that He wants you to do as well as things that He doesn’t want you to do.
We try to do what only Christ can do. We are married to Him, understand that. We are married to Him, and if we are unfaithful to Him by putting our faith in anything other than Christ and the Cross, that constitutes spiritual adultery; we are being unfaithful to Christ.
Law
The very law itself showed that man was incapable of doing what needed to be done—simple commandments that he could not obey. Not a single, solitary human being other than the Lord Jesus Christ ever kept the law. And it was partly given to show us how inadequate we are, how we cannot do it, but yet we keep trying, don’t we? We just keep trying—I’m holy because I do this, or I don’t do that. No, you’re not. You can only be holy in one way, and that’s by doing it God’s way—placing your faith exclusively in Christ and what Jesus Christ did for you at the cross and maintaining it accordingly. Then you are declared holy instantly by the Lord. And then, as we’ve already stated, the Holy Spirit can go to work in your life, to bring about what He desires, which you cannot do; you never could do it; no one else ever has done it; and you can’t either. The law couldn’t save, all it could do was condemn. The Jews really believed in their efforts to keep the law, and they failed constantly. I think they tried to cover up their failures by denying the failures.
Self-Righteousness
There is something in a person, in all of us, that wants to contribute toward making ourselves holy—if we do this; if we don’t do that; I can do this better than you can—it always leads to pride and self-righteousness.
Even though it’s not so much said outright, the actions of the modern church prove what I’m about to say: they realize they can’t do it. And, they don’t want to admit it, but they’ve quit trying. In other words, holiness is a foreign word; they don’t know what you’re talking about. There is very little effort by the modern church today to try to be holy, even in the wrong way—wearing certain clothing or doing this or that or the other—has fallen by the wayside. They’re not even trying anymore; they don’t know how to walk that path.
I think right now, though, there is a vacuum, and the Holy Spirit has put the message of the cross into that vacuum. Now, whether they will accept it or not only the Lord knows, but people do not turn from old ways easily or quickly no matter how much they fail over and over again.
I remember Frances and I preached a meeting at a church in Ohio. Later we found out that they had had a ruling that a woman could not wear any jewelry if it cost more than $5. If it cost over $5, she couldn’t wear it, otherwise, she could. Just silly stuff. Whenever we try to start improving on what God has done, that’s all it is—silly.
You can be holy, ladies and gentlemen, and the moment, hear me—if the Spirit bears witness with your spirit, and you say, Lord, I want my faith to be exclusively in You, and I place it exclusively in You and what You did for us at the cross—at that moment, instantly, you are holy. I don’t mean over a process of time, I don’t mean that somebody inspects the situation. At that moment, because of your faith in Christ and what Christ did at the cross, you are holy. Understand that—because your faith is in Christ.
Faith In Christ
Was blind Bartimaeus engaging in works when he was told that Jesus of Nazareth was coming and he started hollering, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me”? No, his was a cry of faith.
Think about this, ladies and gentlemen: if we could do all of these things ourselves, Jesus Christ would not have had to come down here and die on the cross. He certainly didn’t do it to have pleasure; it was an awful, horrible thing. “Father if it be possible,” He said, “let this cup pass from Me.” but He had to do it if mankind was to be salvaged. It was the cross that made it possible for us to come into the very presence of God. It is the cross that cleanses us from all sin. At the cross, every bondage is broken. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Lk. 4:18-19). The Holy Spirit works exclusively within the parameters of the finished work of Christ.
Discipline
Consecration, discipline—it’s all very important. It doesn’t earn us anything, but it shows God that we are serious about what we’re doing, and we want Him; I want Him. I’d rather stay in bed another half an hour than come here to the office to seek the face of the Lord every morning before I come to the studio. I’d rather do that; the flesh would rather do that. But I know that I need several things: I need guidance; I need leading; I need direction; I need the moving of the Holy Spirit within my heart. I need that which sustains me, strengthens me, and helps me—seeking the face of the Lord. Consequently, when I go home at night, I do the same identical thing all over again. It’s not something I’m trying to do to be holy, that’s not it—I need direction.
Everything that’s taking place here now—this network, which goes out all over the world—it came about as a result of these disciplines—seeking the face of the Lord. In prayer that particular afternoon in 2010, I didn’t know anything about a network; it never entered my mind. But I went to praise the Lord, thank the Lord for His help and guidance when the Lord spoke to me and said what He was going to do. Now, would that have happened without those disciplines? I don’t think so.
Gratitude
I’m a human being; I’m not God, so I need guidance, I need leading, and I need to thank the Lord for what He’s done for me over and over. About two-thirds of my praying consists of me thanking Him, just blessing Him. David said, “I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps. 34:1). David wasn’t doing that to try to earn something from God. He was doing it because He was indebted to the Lord: “the Lord has been so good to me, I’m indebted to Him.”
We embrace holiness and effect holiness in our lives or else we don’t make it because he said, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb.12:14). That’s strong, my friend.
con't
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14).
In the original language, the two words—holiness and sanctification—pretty well mean the same thing. If you are a child of God, and you really love the Lord, then you want to walk in holiness. But this particular position eludes us so very much because we do not properly understand it. Man—and I’m talking about Christian man now—has been trying to make himself holy I guess from the dawn of time, and it can’t be done. Let me say that again: Man tries to make himself holy by doing certain things or not doing certain other things.
We’ve got people who think that by wearing certain types of clothing, cutting their hair in a certain way, or ladies fixing their hair in a certain manner somehow makes them holy. But you cannot make yourself holy, I don’t care what you do.
Holy
There is only one way that you can be holy (sanctified as well) and that is to place your faith in Christ and what Christ did for you at the cross and maintain it there. Then automatically, not through stages but automatically, you are declared holy by God, understand that. Then the Holy Spirit, who works exclusively by and through the cross and what Jesus there did (which gives Him the legal means to do all that He does) will begin to work in your life. The Holy Spirit is God, and He’ll bring about things that He wants you to do as well as things that He doesn’t want you to do.
We try to do what only Christ can do. We are married to Him, understand that. We are married to Him, and if we are unfaithful to Him by putting our faith in anything other than Christ and the Cross, that constitutes spiritual adultery; we are being unfaithful to Christ.
Law
The very law itself showed that man was incapable of doing what needed to be done—simple commandments that he could not obey. Not a single, solitary human being other than the Lord Jesus Christ ever kept the law. And it was partly given to show us how inadequate we are, how we cannot do it, but yet we keep trying, don’t we? We just keep trying—I’m holy because I do this, or I don’t do that. No, you’re not. You can only be holy in one way, and that’s by doing it God’s way—placing your faith exclusively in Christ and what Jesus Christ did for you at the cross and maintaining it accordingly. Then you are declared holy instantly by the Lord. And then, as we’ve already stated, the Holy Spirit can go to work in your life, to bring about what He desires, which you cannot do; you never could do it; no one else ever has done it; and you can’t either. The law couldn’t save, all it could do was condemn. The Jews really believed in their efforts to keep the law, and they failed constantly. I think they tried to cover up their failures by denying the failures.
Self-Righteousness
There is something in a person, in all of us, that wants to contribute toward making ourselves holy—if we do this; if we don’t do that; I can do this better than you can—it always leads to pride and self-righteousness.
Even though it’s not so much said outright, the actions of the modern church prove what I’m about to say: they realize they can’t do it. And, they don’t want to admit it, but they’ve quit trying. In other words, holiness is a foreign word; they don’t know what you’re talking about. There is very little effort by the modern church today to try to be holy, even in the wrong way—wearing certain clothing or doing this or that or the other—has fallen by the wayside. They’re not even trying anymore; they don’t know how to walk that path.
I think right now, though, there is a vacuum, and the Holy Spirit has put the message of the cross into that vacuum. Now, whether they will accept it or not only the Lord knows, but people do not turn from old ways easily or quickly no matter how much they fail over and over again.
I remember Frances and I preached a meeting at a church in Ohio. Later we found out that they had had a ruling that a woman could not wear any jewelry if it cost more than $5. If it cost over $5, she couldn’t wear it, otherwise, she could. Just silly stuff. Whenever we try to start improving on what God has done, that’s all it is—silly.
You can be holy, ladies and gentlemen, and the moment, hear me—if the Spirit bears witness with your spirit, and you say, Lord, I want my faith to be exclusively in You, and I place it exclusively in You and what You did for us at the cross—at that moment, instantly, you are holy. I don’t mean over a process of time, I don’t mean that somebody inspects the situation. At that moment, because of your faith in Christ and what Christ did at the cross, you are holy. Understand that—because your faith is in Christ.
Faith In Christ
Was blind Bartimaeus engaging in works when he was told that Jesus of Nazareth was coming and he started hollering, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me”? No, his was a cry of faith.
Think about this, ladies and gentlemen: if we could do all of these things ourselves, Jesus Christ would not have had to come down here and die on the cross. He certainly didn’t do it to have pleasure; it was an awful, horrible thing. “Father if it be possible,” He said, “let this cup pass from Me.” but He had to do it if mankind was to be salvaged. It was the cross that made it possible for us to come into the very presence of God. It is the cross that cleanses us from all sin. At the cross, every bondage is broken. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Lk. 4:18-19). The Holy Spirit works exclusively within the parameters of the finished work of Christ.
Discipline
Consecration, discipline—it’s all very important. It doesn’t earn us anything, but it shows God that we are serious about what we’re doing, and we want Him; I want Him. I’d rather stay in bed another half an hour than come here to the office to seek the face of the Lord every morning before I come to the studio. I’d rather do that; the flesh would rather do that. But I know that I need several things: I need guidance; I need leading; I need direction; I need the moving of the Holy Spirit within my heart. I need that which sustains me, strengthens me, and helps me—seeking the face of the Lord. Consequently, when I go home at night, I do the same identical thing all over again. It’s not something I’m trying to do to be holy, that’s not it—I need direction.
Everything that’s taking place here now—this network, which goes out all over the world—it came about as a result of these disciplines—seeking the face of the Lord. In prayer that particular afternoon in 2010, I didn’t know anything about a network; it never entered my mind. But I went to praise the Lord, thank the Lord for His help and guidance when the Lord spoke to me and said what He was going to do. Now, would that have happened without those disciplines? I don’t think so.
Gratitude
I’m a human being; I’m not God, so I need guidance, I need leading, and I need to thank the Lord for what He’s done for me over and over. About two-thirds of my praying consists of me thanking Him, just blessing Him. David said, “I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps. 34:1). David wasn’t doing that to try to earn something from God. He was doing it because He was indebted to the Lord: “the Lord has been so good to me, I’m indebted to Him.”
We embrace holiness and effect holiness in our lives or else we don’t make it because he said, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb.12:14). That’s strong, my friend.
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Faith In Christ
You might say, “The Lord expects too much of us.” Well, if He expected us to do it, then that would be correct; He would be expecting too much, but He does it Himself—it’s all done. It was done at Calvary’s cross, and all we have to do is exhibit faith in Christ and what Christ did at the cross and maintain that exclusively. That’s all that’s required of us. God can demand what He wants if He’s doing it Himself. It’s not a difficult thing, but we somehow want to do some things that make us feel holy. But I’m not holy because I feel holy; I’m holy because of my faith in Christ and the work He did at Calvary. That’s why I’m sanctified; that’s why I’m justified; that’s why I receive everything that I’ve received from God is because of Jesus Christ and what He did at the cross.
Now if God was demanding of us some far out thing—if He demanded $100,000—most of us couldn’t pay it. If He demanded that we walk 500 miles, we wouldn’t make it.
Works
I remember standing at the bottom of some stairs at the Vatican in Rome. Those stairs were supposed to have gone to a church that existed there some 300 years after Christ. Many believe that if you walk up those stairs, then all of your sins will be forgiven. I watched people crawl up those stairs, kissing the steps—and they were filthy from people tromping up and down them. Those poor souls were kissing those stairs thinking that by doing so, all of their sins would be forgiven and they would be made holy. I looked at that and thought, Lord this is ridiculous; this is awful (this was before the Lord had showed me this great message of the cross). But as I watched them there, the Holy Spirit convicted me and said, “Well, you’re doing the same thing.” Romans 1:17 says, “The just shall live by faith,” not by performing these foolish things.
You can be holy right now, simply by placing your faith in Christ and what He did for you at the cross and maintaining it there. Now don’t allow it to be moved elsewhere; keep it there. At the very moment you do that—I don’t mean after five minutes, five days, or five months—immediately, you are holy. And I know that goes against the grain because we like to feel that we’ve done something to merit such, but you can’t merit holiness—it’s impossible.
If you’re going to merit holiness, what is it that you’re going to do to merit it? Have you ever thought about that? And if you could merit holiness in some way, then Jesus Christ would not have had to pay the price that He paid at Calvary’s cross. Have you ever thought of that? But He did pay it, and He had to pay it because we could not. We couldn’t do it. He did it for us.
So what are you going to do? Are you going to go in there and wear your hair a certain way and stick it up like a rooster’s comb? Everything you can think of, somebody has already tried it a thousand times over. And it’s never worked because it won’t work because it can’t work. So, what are you going to do to be holy if you don’t do it God’s way? Answer that, please.
Pastor Jimmy Swaggart
You might say, “The Lord expects too much of us.” Well, if He expected us to do it, then that would be correct; He would be expecting too much, but He does it Himself—it’s all done. It was done at Calvary’s cross, and all we have to do is exhibit faith in Christ and what Christ did at the cross and maintain that exclusively. That’s all that’s required of us. God can demand what He wants if He’s doing it Himself. It’s not a difficult thing, but we somehow want to do some things that make us feel holy. But I’m not holy because I feel holy; I’m holy because of my faith in Christ and the work He did at Calvary. That’s why I’m sanctified; that’s why I’m justified; that’s why I receive everything that I’ve received from God is because of Jesus Christ and what He did at the cross.
Now if God was demanding of us some far out thing—if He demanded $100,000—most of us couldn’t pay it. If He demanded that we walk 500 miles, we wouldn’t make it.
Works
I remember standing at the bottom of some stairs at the Vatican in Rome. Those stairs were supposed to have gone to a church that existed there some 300 years after Christ. Many believe that if you walk up those stairs, then all of your sins will be forgiven. I watched people crawl up those stairs, kissing the steps—and they were filthy from people tromping up and down them. Those poor souls were kissing those stairs thinking that by doing so, all of their sins would be forgiven and they would be made holy. I looked at that and thought, Lord this is ridiculous; this is awful (this was before the Lord had showed me this great message of the cross). But as I watched them there, the Holy Spirit convicted me and said, “Well, you’re doing the same thing.” Romans 1:17 says, “The just shall live by faith,” not by performing these foolish things.
You can be holy right now, simply by placing your faith in Christ and what He did for you at the cross and maintaining it there. Now don’t allow it to be moved elsewhere; keep it there. At the very moment you do that—I don’t mean after five minutes, five days, or five months—immediately, you are holy. And I know that goes against the grain because we like to feel that we’ve done something to merit such, but you can’t merit holiness—it’s impossible.
If you’re going to merit holiness, what is it that you’re going to do to merit it? Have you ever thought about that? And if you could merit holiness in some way, then Jesus Christ would not have had to pay the price that He paid at Calvary’s cross. Have you ever thought of that? But He did pay it, and He had to pay it because we could not. We couldn’t do it. He did it for us.
So what are you going to do? Are you going to go in there and wear your hair a certain way and stick it up like a rooster’s comb? Everything you can think of, somebody has already tried it a thousand times over. And it’s never worked because it won’t work because it can’t work. So, what are you going to do to be holy if you don’t do it God’s way? Answer that, please.
Pastor Jimmy Swaggart
