The Message of the Cross – Part 1

This week, Michael writes: It's one thing to intellectually assent to the doctrines of Christ but it's another thing altogether to live the life to which He called us. As a living epistle for Christ, disciples understand that they are God's workmanship, God's magnum opus, created in Christ Jesus unto the good works which God had foreordained for them to walk. In fulfilling God's call, they teach us how to "tune our hearts to sing thy praise." A man or woman of God is a true Christian. To confess Jesus is Lord, means that Jesus is their lord or owner.  A man of God is God's man. A woman of God is God's woman. Grammatically speaking, the phrase "man or woman of God" is the "genitive of possession." Christianity is not who we are, but whose we are.

According to Ephesians 21-3, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now working in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

The gospel message is both good news and bad news. The bad news is that All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death.  However, where sin abounded grace did much more abound.  According to Romans 5:8, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Without the gospel of grace, false religions attempt to perfect the sinful flesh. The Pharisees thought that they would get into heaven by their own good works. However, to come to repentance we must first acknowledge that "in my flesh dwells no good thing." Repentance is to turn from self and unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

Continuing in Ephesians 2:4-7 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;). And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Our salvation is to the glory of God. It's not about us, it's about Him. God chose us before the foundations of the world according to Ephesians 1 for one purpose: that we might be to the praise of the glory of His grace. Similarly God called his prophet Jeremiah.  According to Jeremiah 1:4-8, “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for you shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatsoever I command thee you shall speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.”

The Lord is our strength and our salvation.  In whom shall we be afraid?  The arm of flesh shall fail you...ye dare not trust your own.  He is our sufficiency unto all things..he is our all in all.  Therefore, be not afraid of their faces.  When we don't know how to answer, God will put the words in our mouths. 

When God looks at His children, He see's what He's made us in Christ. We were formerly dead in trespasses and sins. However, Jesus Christ who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Let's continue Michael's message in the next post.
In Christ, Brian