Is The Cross Of Christ The Most Important Part Of The Plan Of God?

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Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,274
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#21
If you leave the Cross, you enter death!
Romans 6:11
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:10
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

2 Timothy 1:10
but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who
abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,


1 Corinthians 15:45
So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL "
The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

John 17:3
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 6:57
"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.

John 8:12
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who
follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

John 10:28
and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

John 5:21
"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 4:9
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His
only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

Jude 1:21
keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.




 
Sep 3, 2016
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#22
Romans 6:11
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:10
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

2 Timothy 1:10
but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who
abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,


1 Corinthians 15:45
So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL "
The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.


John 17:3
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 6:57
"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.

John 8:12
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who
follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."


John 10:28
and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

John 5:21
"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 4:9
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His
only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.


Jude 1:21
keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
To be in Christ means that the Believer has been crucified with Christ (the new covenant). Therefore, sin can no longer attach itself to the Believer.

To Believe you must go beyond the Cross means you are not crucified with Christ. There remains no other sacrifice for this Believer. Therefore, this Believer enters into "THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH." Sin will have dominion over you just like Cain.


Galatians 2:20 King James Version (KJV)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.


If you go beyond the Cross you walk away from God and enter death! In other words, you are no longer crucified with Christ.
 
L

LordsHandmaiden

Guest
#24
Wow!

This must be an automated machine programmed to react to certain words or catch phrases to respond!

I feel no heart from it,no emotions.........

It's like the WIZARD OF OZ,
Show us the man or woman behind the curtain!

The veil was rent from top to bottom therefore we can enter into the Holy of Holies
by Jesus Himself!

Mt.27;51,Mk.15:38,Heb.10:20,
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,190
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#25
The cross is the expression of Gods Love toward us.

1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The cross is the means by which we call on Christ. Because we know He loves us we can ask for Salvation. We can ask for forgiveness. We can ask for Wisdom and Revelation.

It is Christ, Himself, who gives these things. You can ask the cross to give you those things but I don't think the cross can do it.

Isn't it weird how people seem to gravitate to symbols and "icons" instead of the person of Christ? I think there is a general danger/error when people put icons ahead of the actual person of Christ.
 
Mar 23, 2016
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#26
Isn't it weird how people seem to gravitate to symbols and "icons" instead of the person of Christ? I think there is a general danger/error when people put icons ahead of the actual person of Christ.
I believe God refers to that as idolatry.

When we come to our Lord Jesus Christ, we leave our sin and death (our shame and humiliation) at the cross.

Once we leave our sin/death, then we are free to walk in newness of life in our risen Lord and Savior ( ... 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 - Rom 6:4).

If we leave the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, where does that leave us as far was walking in newness of life? Does it leave us in sin and death (our shame and humiliation)?

The Lord Jesus Christ delivered us from the bondage of sin and death and He alone is to be our focus ... not the cross. The Lord Jesus Christ despised the shame of the cross (Heb 12:2).

His resurrection from the dead, His ascension into the heavenly Holy of holies, that is the exaltation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He sat down and remains seated at God's right hand in heavenly places ... far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come (Eph 1:21).

Let us come in all humility and lay our sin at the cross of Jesus. And let us move on to exalt our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ together and hold Him in highest esteem in our hearts!!!
 
Mar 23, 2016
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#27
If you go beyond the Cross you walk away from God and enter death! In other words, you are no longer crucified with Christ.
Where is this written in Scripture?

When we "go beyond the cross" in light of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and His ascension into heaven, we walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4 - Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life).

Paul prayed this prayer at the end of Ephesians 1:

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.


When we "go beyond the Cross" to see the resurrection and ascension, we are the recipients of the prayer of Paul as God gives us wisdom to understand and as God enlightens the eyes of our understanding so that we know the hope of His calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.



 
Jun 10, 2019
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#29
The cross is the expression of Gods Love toward us.

1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The cross is the means by which we call on Christ. Because we know He loves us we can ask for Salvation. We can ask for forgiveness. We can ask for Wisdom and Revelation.

It is Christ, Himself, who gives these things. You can ask the cross to give you those things but I don't think the cross can do it.

Isn't it weird how people seem to gravitate to symbols and "icons" instead of the person of Christ? I think there is a general danger/error when people put icons ahead of the actual person of Christ.
You make a good point about the icons symbols, the romans used the tee post for punishment and others ways too. But if the death was carried out in another way would that of been the icon of today probably so, I can’t see that it wouldn’t.

the romans practiced that form of punishment for 500 yrs it ended in the 4th century AD
 
Jun 10, 2019
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#30
from dug up artifacts of roman period crucifix it seems they used a type of tee post design, the upper board was across the upright board better supported the body weight hanging without coming apart. the title Pilate wrote and had placed above the back of the tee thus what makes the cross stand out among the 500 yrs of the practice IMO

John 19:19
Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#32
hmm the cross the crucifix He was placed on?
When the Apostle Paul said we preach Christ Crucified, he was talking about who Christ is and what Christ accomplished on the Cross; we are not speaking about the wooden beam. By placing your Faith and maintaining it in Christ and the Finished Work at Calvary Cross, the Believer receives all the benefits of the resurrection life (life more abundantly - the help of the Holy Spirit - Rom. 8:2). That is why Psalm 103:2 says, "DON'T FOGET ABOUT ALL HIS BENEFITS."

Ninety percent of Christians are proclaiming Christ but have forsaking the Cross; this is called spiritual adultery also lukewarm. They have change Gods prescribed order of victory for their lives, over sin, the world, the flesh, and the Devil. They have come up with a new way of victory which is called LAW. They are no longer abiding in Christ; the fruit becomes rotten! They are then removed from the body of Christ.

Notice, Jesus is talking about Christians:

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned (John 15:6). Jesus also said most people are going to hell (Matthew 7:14)

This is why your Faith must be exclusively in Christ and the Cross. This is why Paul says we preach Christ and Him Crucified. Paul also said I am determine to know nothing among you, save Christ and Him Crucified. He also said, “the message of the Cross is foolish to them whom are perishing, but to us being saved, it is the power of God.” Two subjects - Christ and the Cross, i.e., The Finished Work, i.e., The Blood of Jesus. Why would the Apostle Paul say this? Because this is the ONLY WAY!!!!!!!
 
Jun 10, 2019
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#33
When the Apostle Paul said we preach Christ Crucified, he was talking about who Christ is and what Christ accomplished on the Cross; we are not speaking about the wooden beam. By placing your Faith and maintaining it in Christ and the Finished Work at Calvary Cross, the Believer receives all the benefits of the resurrection life (life more abundantly - the help of the Holy Spirit - Rom. 8:2). That is why Psalm 103:2 says, "DON'T FOGET ABOUT ALL HIS BENEFITS."

Ninety percent of Christians are proclaiming Christ but have forsaking the Cross; this is called spiritual adultery also lukewarm. They have change Gods prescribed order of victory for their lives, over sin, the world, the flesh, and the Devil. They have come up with a new way of victory which is called LAW. They are no longer abiding in Christ; the fruit becomes rotten! They are then removed from the body of Christ.

Notice, Jesus is talking about Christians:

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned (John 15:6). Jesus also said most people are going to hell (Matthew 7:14)

This is why your Faith must be exclusively in Christ and the Cross. This is why Paul says we preach Christ and Him Crucified. Paul also said I am determine to know nothing among you, save Christ and Him Crucified. He also said, “the message of the Cross is foolish to them whom are perishing, but to us being saved, it is the power of God.” Two subjects - Christ and the Cross, i.e., The Finished Work, i.e., The Blood of Jesus. Why would the Apostle Paul say this? Because this is the ONLY WAY!!!!!!!
That’s how easily wording can get misconstrued best to keep it simple, is Christ the most important part
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#34
That’s how easily wording can get misconstrued best to keep it simple, is Christ the most important part
You can never separate Christ from His Finished Work at Calvary Cross. Therefore, Christ and the Cross is the most important part of the plan of God.

The Cross is the same as the Blood of Jesus.
 
Mar 23, 2016
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#35
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Gal. 5:4
Who in this thread has advocated justification by the law?

For the most part, the replies to your OP have pointed out the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You accused Nehemiah6 of "going in the way of Cain" when he pointed out God's plan of salvation included both the cross and the resurrection of Christ ... see Post #5 and Post #6.

When LordsHandmaiden indicated "there is so much more after the cross, the baptism in the Holy Ghost, spiritual gifts,operations according to His word and working and walking in His calling on a life" (Post #3), your response was "If you leave the Cross, you enter death!" (Post #10).


No one has stated that justification comes by the law. For the most part, all who have responded in this thread have pointed to the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. And you then claim that we have "gone beyond the Cross ... walk away from God and enter death!"

Do you realize that Christ was raised again for our justification (Rom 4:25)? That if we leave Christ on the cross, we are still in sin (1 Cor 15:15)?

So in reply to your use of Gal 5:4 as your justification of claiming that if "you go beyond the Cross you walk away from God and enter death! In other words, you are no longer crucified with Christ", you are completely without merit in claiming the believers who have replied to your OP in this thread have in any way, shape, or form pointed to the law as our means of justification before God.



 
Sep 3, 2016
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#36
Who in this thread has advocated justification by the law?

For the most part, the replies to your OP have pointed out the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You accused Nehemiah6 of "going in the way of Cain" when he pointed out God's plan of salvation included both the cross and the resurrection of Christ ... see Post #5 and Post #6.

When LordsHandmaiden indicated "there is so much more after the cross, the baptism in the Holy Ghost, spiritual gifts,operations according to His word and working and walking in His calling on a life" (Post #3), your response was "If you leave the Cross, you enter death!" (Post #10).


No one has stated that justification comes by the law. For the most part, all who have responded in this thread have pointed to the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. And you then claim that we have "gone beyond the Cross ... walk away from God and enter death!"

Do you realize that Christ was raised again for our justification (Rom 4:25)? That if we leave Christ on the cross, we are still in sin (1 Cor 15:15)?

So in reply to your use of Gal 5:4 as your justification of claiming that if "you go beyond the Cross you walk away from God and enter death! In other words, you are no longer crucified with Christ", you are completely without merit in claiming the believers who have replied to your OP in this thread have in any way, shape, or form pointed to the law as our means of justification before God.
“As it regards the Cross of Christ versus the Resurrection, the great Apostle said:

“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” (I Cor. 1:17). If it is to be noticed, he did not say, “lest the Resurrection of Christ should be made of none effect.”

He also said, “For the preaching (Word) of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness; but unto us which are Saved it is the Power of God” (I Cor. 1:18).” “He did not say, “For the preaching of the Resurrection is to them. . . .”

The great Apostle also said, “But we preach Christ Crucified” (I Cor. 1:23). He did not say, as it regards the Atonement, “We preach Christ Resurrected. . . .”

Of course, Paul preached the Resurrection of Christ, even as Chapter 15 of I Corinthians bears out, but not as the Atonement.

He also stated to the Church at Corinth and to all others as well, “For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified” (I Cor. 2:2). He did not say, “For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ, and Him Resurrected. . . .”

“He also stated, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .” (Gal. 6:14). He did not say, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . .”

As we have stated, while the Resurrection, and the Ascension, and the Exaltation of Christ were of extreme significance, these three tremendous attributes were the result of the Atonement, i.e., “the Cross,” instead of the cause.

Excerpt From
Brother Swaggart, Here Is My Question About The Cross
Jimmy Swaggart
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/br...my-question-about-the-cross/id917790228?mt=11
This material may be protected by copyright.
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#37
So in reply to your use of Gal 5:4 as your justification of claiming that if "you go beyond the Cross you walk away from God and enter death! In other words, you are no longer crucified with Christ", you are completely without merit in claiming the believers who have replied to your OP in this thread have in any way, shape, or form pointed to the law as our means of justification before God.
Any Believer whose Faith is not placed and maintained exclusively in Christ and the Finished Work at Calvary Cross, i.e., the Blood of Jesus ONLY for victory over sin, the world, the flesh, and the Devil, has now changed God's prescribed order of victory and made a law (a new way). It does not make a difference what those other things may be, including Christian disciplines! It is LAW.
 
Mar 23, 2016
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#38
“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” (I Cor. 1:17). If it is to be noticed, he did not say, “lest the Resurrection of Christ should be made of none effect.”
Here is the gospel Paul preached to the Corinthian believers:

1 Corinthians 15:

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures


What Paul is saying in 1 Cor 1:17 is that he did not teach man's wisdom ... he taught the crucifixion and the resurrection. That is the gospel. The cross of Christ becomes "of none effect" if we teach man's wisdom in place of the gospel (the crucifixion and resurrection).




MessageOfTheCross said:
He also said, “For the preaching (Word) of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness; but unto us which are Saved it is the Power of God” (I Cor. 1:18).” “He did not say, “For the preaching of the Resurrection is to them. . . .”
MessageOfTheCross ... you do understand that the "Power of God" is exhibited in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and His ascension into heaven, yes?

To those who are saved, the preaching of the cross is the power of God. The power of God is exhibited in the resurrection and the ascension (And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places - Eph 1:19-20),




MessageOfTheCross said:
He also stated to the Church at Corinth and to all others as well, “For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified” (I Cor. 2:2). He did not say, “For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ, and Him Resurrected. . . .”
1 Cor 2:2 is actually reproof to some of the believers in the church at Corinth because of their carnality. In 1 Cor 1:11-13 and in 1 Cor 3:1-4, Paul points out the cause of their carnality. They followed men rather than the Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1 Cor 2:6-16, Paul wrote that he was able to speak of more substantive matters with believers who were more mature. Paul taught the believers at levels that they could understand and benefit most from God's Word in order that all would grow and mature.




MessageOfTheCross said:
As we have stated, while the Resurrection, and the Ascension, and the Exaltation of Christ were of extreme significance, these three tremendous attributes were the result of the Atonement, i.e., “the Cross,” instead of the cause.
All believers begin their life in the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross. This is where our sins are laid and this is where we die to self. However, God calls us to walk in newness of life:

Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.


In order to walk in newness of life, we must begin at the cross. And then we begin our new life of abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ, holding out His fruit to those we come in contact with ... those who are in desperate need of deliverance from this present evil world. Bring others to the Lord Jesus Christ. God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1 Cor 1:21).

Those who are saved confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead.

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.




 
Mar 23, 2016
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#39
Any Believer whose Faith is not placed and maintained exclusively in Christ and the Finished Work at Calvary Cross, i.e., the Blood of Jesus ONLY for victory over sin, the world, the flesh, and the Devil, has now changed God's prescribed order of victory and made a law (a new way). It does not make a difference what those other things may be, including Christian disciplines! It is LAW.
Whatever ... your accusation is unfounded as it pertains to posts submitted in this thread wherein believers proclaim the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven.



 
Sep 3, 2016
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#40
Here is the gospel Paul preached to the Corinthian believers:

1 Corinthians 15:

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures


What Paul is saying in 1 Cor 1:17 is that he did not teach man's wisdom ... he taught the crucifixion and the resurrection. That is the gospel. The cross of Christ becomes "of none effect" if we teach man's wisdom in place of the gospel (the crucifixion and resurrection).





MessageOfTheCross ... you do understand that the "Power of God" is exhibited in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and His ascension into heaven, yes?

To those who are saved, the preaching of the cross is the power of God. The power of God is exhibited in the resurrection and the ascension (And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places - Eph 1:19-20),





1 Cor 2:2 is actually reproof to some of the believers in the church at Corinth because of their carnality. In 1 Cor 1:11-13 and in 1 Cor 3:1-4, Paul points out the cause of their carnality. They followed men rather than the Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1 Cor 2:6-16, Paul wrote that he was able to speak of more substantive matters with believers who were more mature. Paul taught the believers at levels that they could understand and benefit most from God's Word in order that all would grow and mature.





All believers begin their life in the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross. This is where our sins are laid and this is where we die to self. However, God calls us to walk in newness of life:

Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.


In order to walk in newness of life, we must begin at the cross. And then we begin our new life of abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ, holding out His fruit to those we come in contact with ... those who are in desperate need of deliverance from this present evil world. Bring others to the Lord Jesus Christ. God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1 Cor 1:21).

Those who are saved confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead.

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus and the Law of Sin and Death are the two most powerful Laws in the Universe (Rom. 8:2); 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, i.e, "The Finished Work", i.e., "The Blood of Jesus," they are doomed to failure.

If a Christians Faith is not maintain exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work, i.e., The Cross, i.e., The BLOOD of Jesus, the works of the flesh will manifest.

Paul tells us this in the 5th Chapter of Galatians. The entire Book of Galatians, but especially the 5th Chapter, is a warning from Paul to the Church at Galatia, which is also meant for us. The warning is that if they place their faith in anything except “Christ and Him Crucified,” that “Christ shall profit you nothing” (Gal. 5:2).

The Apostle goes on to say that if the Believer doesn’t adhere to the Way of the Spirit, which is the Way of the Cross, then works of the flesh will manifest themselves. He said:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).

Now let me say it again, because it is so very important:
If the Believer doesn’t understand the Cross of Christ, as it regards Sanctification, then, in some way, one or more of these “works of the flesh” are going to manifest themselves in his life. As stated, such is inevitable! The first four, “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, and lasciviousness,” are obvious and easily understood. But the modern Christian quickly dismisses “idolatry, witchcraft, and heresies,” thinking they do not really apply today.


JSM