This week, Michael writes: The beauty of the Word of God is that it is fresh and new every day. Morning by morning new mercies I see. The light of the Word of God reflects God’s glory like a diamond ... a multi-faceted prism that refracts, separates, and reflects the light of God’s truth into the colors of the rainbow... a spectacular display of beauty to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Many Christians have memorized Galatians 2:20. This foundational verse says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” It’s important to unpack this verse to understand the great gems hidden beneath its surface. This meaning of this verse separates Jesus of Secular Society, California from Jesus of Nazareth.
People called to the ministry are told by God: “Preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified... then let the chips fall where they may.” Jesus Christ has to be the aim, the goal, the purpose, the application, and the first and last reason for living. Why? It’s because our old nature of the flesh was crucified with Christ and our new nature of the spirit of life in Christ was resurrected when God raised Jesus from the dead.
What is the significance of the crucifixion? As a nation forgets God, a false god takes His place in the minds of a self-absorbed society. The darkness of doubt and unbelief introduces a harmless counterfeit version to fill the void, which is an impotent substitute that fits their egocentric sin nature as they turn their backs on their Maker, Savior, and lord – the One True God. This Jesus of Secular Society is an uncrucified Christ. There is no cost in following an uncrucified Christ, nor is there salvation. The Jesus of Secular Society says, "everyone will go to heaven and there is no such thing as sin." The Jesus of Secular Society stresses egalitarianism and especially material prosperity. The emphasis is in equality of outcome and all-inclusiveness for material riches, the so-called blessings of this world. Yet, this false savior is a fabrication of evil.
Jesus of Nazareth said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No man comes unto the Father [Creator God in Heaven] but by me.” Jesus of Secular Society says that I can come to God on my own terms not His. Jesus of the Secular Society says, it’s not about Christ, it’s about you. He says to worship yourself ... God is here to bless me and to give me the abundant life, like a servant. Jesus of Nazareth says, “Come unto me. In your confession that I am your Lord, you will be reconciled to God.”
Jesus of Nazareth focuses on our walking in fellowship with Him and our Heavenly Father. Colossians 2:6-7says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” After a person is executed for a capital crime, the law has no more control and penalty over him. Likewise, when we were crucified with Christ, the law of sin and death had no longer any control and penalty over us.
To crucify is to destroy the power of sin and death. When Satan’s minions crucified Jesus, they thought that they had destroyed the power of God. During Hitler’s regime in Germany, Bonhoeffer said, “When Jesus bids a man come, he bids him come and die.” We must die to self in order to live unto Him. In Matthew 10:39 Jesus said, “He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.” According to Philippians 2:11, “Let nothing be done through vain glory and selfish conceit.” In order to approach God’s throne of grace, we must leave our selfish pride behind. Humility and meekness is the prerequisite to enter the presence of the one true and holy God.
According to 2 Chronicles 7:14, before God can heal the land, the people must first do four things: They must humble themselves before God, pray, seek his face, and turn from their wicked ways. The promises of God depend on obedience. When God’s people obey these four conditions, then God will honor his three promises: he will speak from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land. When we approach God according to His terms, the battle belongs to the Lord. Our responsibility in the spiritual battle is to put on the whole armor of God. As a man or woman of God, absolutely, we know whom we have believed and are persuaded that He is able to keep that (Holy Spirit) which He’s committed unto us against that day of righteous judgement. As the apostle Paul said, we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. To those who are saved the preaching of Christ is a sweet-smelling fragrance unto God.
Let's continue Michael's message on crucifying our sinful life with Christ in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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