“³ Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?

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.

⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection:

⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:3-6

When the Cross of Christ is merely incidental, we do not understand the Atonement afforded whosoever will believe by the Blood of Jesus Christ.  I am sure the horrible suffering of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross is considered more than a “doctrine” in the eyes of God.  The price paid by the Lord to redeem mankind to God is not merely “incidental”.  It is life to the Believer.

“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.”  Galatians 2:20

Now, if there be no power to redeem…to resurrect and take possession of that which has been paid, the Cross of Christ was in vain.  God forbid no!  On the other hand, if there be power but no price paid for Redemption, that would be unrighteous.  Both the price (Jesus Christ and Him crucified) and the power (Power of God) are necessary for Redemption.

Many will give a nod to the price paid for our Redemption, and turn right around and attempt to pay the price through good intentions. They are sincere but sincerely wrong. For some religions it is sacraments, others it is 40 days of purpose, 100 ways of favor, speaking things into existence, fasting 21 days, celebrating Jewish feasts, wearing prayers shawls and yamachas and the list goes on and on.  Allow me to be perfectly clear, none of these activities produce righteousness.  Righteousness is imputed to the Believer when we are redeemed…redeemed with a price; Jesus Christ and HIS atoning work on Calvary’s Cross.

“¹⁷ 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.

¹⁸ For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

Without the price paid for our Redemption properly understood, the power of God that raised Jesus Christ up from the dead…God’s Resurrecting power the Believer needs for newness of life and dominion over sin is made of none effect.

Let me say it again, when the Atonement is not properly understood by the Believer, Who Jesus Christ is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe, the price He paid for our Redemption, the Power of God that allows us to walk in the newness of life is of no effect.  The power of God to possess the Redeemed cannot be utilized without the price of their Redemption being understood.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2.

Walking in the Spirit is not “doing” spiritual things.  It is the understanding of the Cross of Christ for our Redemption and allowing the Power of God to take possession of that which His Son has Redeemed (the Believer) through faith…not works, lest the Cross of Christ be made of none effect.

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2

-Donna Clark Warren