The Word of God is the only revealed Truth in the World. It speaks of the creation of man (Genesis 1 and 2), the fall of man (Genesis 3) and the redemption of man (Genesis 4 – Revelation 22:21). The Blood of Jesus has always been God’s Plan for redeeming mankind.
At the Cross, the righteousness of the Law was fulfilled in its entirety by Jesus’ perfect life (Matthew 5:17). It is to HIM that the porter (the Law) opens the door to righteousness, not climbing up another way. The porter does not open the door to our feasts and our festivals that are mere symbols.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he who enters in by the door is the Shepherd of the Sheep.
3 To Him the porter opens; and the sheep hear His Voice: and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out.
4 And when He puts forth His own sheep, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His Voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” John 10:1-5.
Jesus as well satisfied the demands of the Law at Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe. The penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and sin is the means by which satan holds us captive.
Furthermore, at the Cross, Jesus gave the Believer dominion over sin for daily living (Romans 6:14). The Cross was a place of great suffering for Jesus, but for us it is a place of great blessing.
“And He (Jesus) said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
We cannot follow Jesus Christ until we take up our cross…our blessings, and we cannot take up our blessings until we deny ourselves. Such is why self efforts and self will cannot suffice. Self control (temperance) is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and can only be obtained by denying ourselves, picking up our cross and following Jesus, not by merely changing one’s mind.
Now let us talk about what Jesus DID NOT do at the Cross that is rampant in the word of faith doctrine.
- Jesus DID NOT die spiritually on the Cross.
“For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death IN THE FLESH, but quickened by the Spirit:” 1 Peter 3:18 (emphasis added). To be spiritually dead is to be separated from God, just as all are before Salvation.
2. Jesus DID NOT become a sinner on the Cross.
“For such an High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” Hebrews 7:26
3. Most importantly, Jesus WAS NOT defeated at the Cross. It was His Blood shed at the Cross that washed our sins away (Revelation 1:5). We are washed because we are loved…not loved because we are washed. The word of faith’s claim of defeat at the Cross is blasphemy.
“14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:14-15
This is the problem with the word of faith doctrine. One cannot be saved believing in this doctrine. When we get the Atonement wrong, we get God’s entire redemption plan wrong. Knowing Who Jesus is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross to redeem fallen man to God, there is no doubt as to His Resurrection. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is proof that every sin, past, present and future was paid in full…it is finished.
“Beloved, when I (Jude) gave all diligence to write unto you of the common Salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints.” Jude 1:3
Contend for the faith. Defend the doctrines of Christianity according to the Word of God…not man made doctrines. Study to show thyself approved. Try the spirits…search the Scriptures daily.
In Him,
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 