“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

The devil has access to the Believer’s emotions.  Regrettably, many have mistaken participating in spiritual things as walking after the Spirit when in reality the devil himself is leading them around by their emotions.  The unbeliever can go to a rock concert and be brought to tears or worked up into a frenzy.  The lost can do many good things that soothe their conscience for a time.  So too can the religious attend seminars, “Christian” concerts, attend religious ceremonies and do many good works that are in fact as spiritual as those who don’t go under the banner of “Christianity”.

“²¹ Not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the Will of My Father which is in Heaven.

²² Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name? and in Your Name have cast out devils? and in Your Name done many wonderful works?

²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23.

Friend, just because someone is doing many spiritual things…even if they are in fact Scriptural (praying, fasting, reading the Bible – all of which every Believer should be doing), does not mean they are necessarily walking after the Spirit of God.  Please allow me to explain; if the Believer has placed their faith in their part, their “activity” if you will, to obtain righteousness they have in reality attempted to pay for their righteousness through works…good works, Scriptural ordinances of every Believer – yet they were used as penance.  Consecration quickly turns to ambition and faith turns to greed.

Prophesying in the name of Jesus, casting out devils in the name of Jesus and doing many wonderful works in the name of Jesus are not requirements to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.   Faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, solely and exclusively, is the only requirement to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under Grace.” Romans 6:14

Faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, solely and exclusively, is also the only requirement for dominion over sin.  Jesus Christ came to pay the penalty of sin for the lost AND to break the power of sin for the Believer.  The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to free us from the law of sin and death when our faith is placed in our “consecration”…our good works, no matter how Scriptural. If our consecration is about “us”, it is ambition.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

Please do not walk away from this thinking I just said Believers do not have to read their Bible, pray, etc..  God forbid no!  If that is your understanding from this writing, then I have poorly said what I feel like the Lord has put on my heart.  Righteousness is not an activity but a Man, The Man – Jesus Christ.  In Him and only in Him are we free from the law of sin and death and able to walk after the Spirit.

Don’t mistake the doing of spiritual things as walking after the Spirit.  Even the lost can partake in spiritual activities.  However, only the Redeemed of the Lord can walk after the Spirit of the Lord.  Discern the fruit…not the spiritual activity, righteousness is not an activity.

Prayerfully consider.

-Donna Clark Warren

^“6 Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believes on Him shall not be confounded.

⁷ Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the Corner,

⁸ And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a Royal Priesthood, an holy nation, a Peculiar People; that you should show forth the praises of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light;

¹⁰ Which in time past were not a people, but are now the People of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:6-10

The atoning work of Jesus Christ to pay the penalty of sin for lost and break the power of sin for the Believer is not a “doctrine” but is the Foundation, the “Chief Cornerstone” of all doctrine.  Most would agree in the Atonement for Salvation…at least I would surely hope.  However, it is the double cure where most stumble.  The atoning work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross to break the power of sin in the Believer’s life is too often rejected and other methods embraced, namely humanistic psychology, to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.

The Cross of Christ is the means by which God reaches man and man reaches God.  To seek another method after Salvation to break the power of sin in our life, we are in fact leaving our first love, Jesus Christ, and have become double minded.

“⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.” James 4:7-8

Many have stumbled and are disobedient. They have been deceived by the double minded and have now become double minded themselves.  Just as the serpent beguiled Eve, so too have many hearts been corrupted by another gospel and another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:3-4) who points them to self.

Until the Believer submits to God through the Blood of Jesus Christ, we cannot resist the devil…and make no mistake, the devil will not flee unless we are fully submitted to God.  The double minded constantly fight satan in the flesh yet “...the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Cor. 10:4).

Purify your heart ye double minded…submit to God.  The Lord has called us to be a Peculiar People, a chosen generation to show forth the praises of HIM, Who HE is and what HE has done for whosoever will believe.  Lift Jesus Christ up….He is worthy to be praised!!  Forsake philosophies of man to conjure up faith, look to Jesus – the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Choose THIS day, while it is today in Whom you will serve.

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

Prayerfully consider.

-Donna Clark Warren

“⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water (natural child birth, not water baptism) and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Marvel not that I said unto you, Ye must be born again. ⁸ The wind blows where it listeth, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell from where it comes, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8

The born again experience cannot be explained through intellect. Jesus likens it to the wind which comes and goes; we feel the wind, hear the wind but we don’t know from where it comes.

When the modern church attempts to draw others to God through civic events and community festivals, the result is a church full of unconverted people attempting in vain to do what is right.  They are sincere in their efforts, please don’t misunderstand.  Furthermore, most preachers would love for the lost to fill the pews AND BE CONVERTED.

Sadly however, what we are seeing in the seeker sensitive churches is humanistic psychology being lifted up from behind the pulpit teaching the unconverted that they are inherently good and if they are bad it is the fault of others.  This prick of the flesh and tickling of the ear seduces the lost and unconverted to come hear more about why they are what they are.  Never mind the Word of God plainly states that “There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10.

Unless the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Who HE is and what HE has done, is proclaimed to the lost, the lost cannot be born again.  It is not the job of the Believer to attempt to intellectually explain the reason the unconverted are…well unconverted.  The unconverted are not unconverted because they reject Jesus.  They reject Jesus because they are unconverted.  Everyone is responsible for their own actions and will one day give an account (Rev. 20:11-15).

When Jesus Christ is lifted up to the lost and dying world, and by that I mean the Jesus of the Bible, not the psychology Jesus or the “new age” Jesus, the Holy and Righteous Jesus that came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for whosoever will believe and break the power of sin for Believer’s, the Lamb of God Who takes away our sins…when HE is lifted up to the people, the Word is anointed and the Holy Spirit convicts.  Again, this cannot be intellectually explained. Only then, when the power and the weight of the conviction of the Holy Spirit is upon “whosoever”, if they choose or “will” to believe, the Holy Spirit gives them the faith to believe.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hear say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”  Revelations 22:17

The Word of God says whosoever wills to come…to come and take of the water of life freely.  If it is your will to come and be born again, God will give you the faith to believe. The faith of a mustard seed is all it takes for faith to grow into a great tree of righteousness when Jesus Christ authors and finishes our faith!  This is not something we conjure up.  This faith is built on a sure Foundation, Jesus Christ and HIS atoning work.  Will you come?

“²⁸ Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹ Take My Yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.

³⁰ For My Yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

If you are ready to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, please repeat this prayer. Please understand, repeating this prayer will not save you. You must believe in your heart on Jesus Christ and you are instantly saved. Won’t you come?
“DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN, I COME TO YOU TODAY AS A LOST SINNER.”
“I AM ASKING YOU THAT YOU SAVE MY SOUL AND CLEANSE ME FROM ALL SIN.”
“I REALIZE IN MY HEART MY NEED OF SALVATION, WHICH CAN ONLY COME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.”
“I AM ACCEPTING CHRIST INTO MY HEART AND WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS IN ORDER TO PURCHASE MY REDEMPTION.”
“IN OBEDIENCE TO YOUR WORD, I CONFESS WITH MY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.”
“YOU HAVE SAID IN YOUR WORD WHICH CANNOT LIE, ‘FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED’ (ROM.10:13).”
“I HAVE CALLED UPON YOUR NAME EXACTLY AS YOU HAVE SAID, AND I BELIEVE THAT RIGHT NOW, I AM SAVED.”
If you have just repeated this prayer and believed in your heart these words congratulations!!  Read your Bible, preferably KJV translation, make sure everything you hear lines up with what the Word of God says.  The Word of God is the only revealed Truth in this world.  Men (and women) are fallible, we make mistakes.  Do not put your faith in a preacher or a church but in Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done for you.  The Word of God is alive, therefore it is inexhaustible.

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord your God, He it is that does go with you; He will not fail you, nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

-Donna Clark Warren

“² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; ³ Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:2-3

There are two types of unity: man made unity and unity of the Holy Spirit which will always have the Cross as its Foundation.

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.” John 16:13

“…whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak…” does not refer to lack of knowledge.  The Holy Spirit is God.  The Holy Spirit will declare the atoning work of Jesus Christ only.  He will unite the Body of Christ under the Banner of Christ alone…not Christ plus traditions, ceremonies or humanistic psychology.  When this Scripture was given by the Holy Spirit to the Apostle John, the “things to come” referred to the New Covenant which would soon be given.

This unity of the Spirit with the Cross of Christ as it’s sure foundation is not a mere doctrine.  The shed Blood of Jesus Christ is not one of many doctrines to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil…it is the ONLY Way, Truth and Life for those who believe. God does not look at His plan for Salvation and daily living (Sanctification) as different denominations and attempt to unite them regardless of their “doctrine”.  Again, the Cross of Christ is not a “doctrine”.  It is not one of many.  HE is life and life more abundantly for those of us who believe.

There is no unity in the Spirit with those who attempt to unite the flesh with the Spirit all in the name of peace.  The Word of God is a TWO edged sword.  That which it severs with one edge, it is perfectly able and willing to heal with the other edge…if we just trust and believe.

If someone claims to be a Christian but lacks fidelity to the Word of God, and by that I mean the full counsel, rightly divided Word of God…not according to man’s opinion or denomination but according to the Word of God, there is no unity in the Spirit.  We should all be growing in the Grace and knowledge of the Lord daily.  There is no graduating class.  However, sadly many, in their vain attempt to preserve their denominational rules or personal opinions reject growth…they unknowingly reject the increase God is wanting to give.

“So then neither is he that plant any thing, neither he that water; but God that give the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:7

There are untold thousands who have rejected God’s increase and followed the ways of the world to overcome the world.  Their hearts are hardened to the Truth as they continue in vain to unite the flesh and the Spirit.  I’m not saying they are not saved but I am saying they have rebelled against Truth when they turned to philosophies of man and therefore we are no longer united.  To be plain and honest, they are adulterers and adulteresses.

“⁴ You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. ⁵ Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy? ⁶ But He gives more Grace. Wherefore He says, God resists the proud, but gives Grace unto the humble.” James 4:4-6

Recognize the banner of the unity.  Is it man made for the sake of peace?  Jesus did not come to bring peace…He IS peace and His Word will divide asunder the soul and spirit and discern our thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The Holy Spirit “lusts to envy”, He is jealous of the those areas in our life that we have turned over to vain philosophies.  The Lord wants to give more Grace but the Holy Spirit is not commissioned to give increase to those who have placed their belief in methods of man and not the atoning work of Jesus Christ to address every problem of mankind.

The Holy Spirit will guide us into ALL Truth…not some.  We have the Word of God and the Spirit of God dwelling in us and they will never contradict one another.  The Lord did not leave us here to wonder, He left us here to occupy and glorify Him under ONE Banner…Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

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

-Donna Clark Warren

“You did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the Truth?  This persuasion comes not of Him Who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Galatians 5:7-9

We either believe that Jesus Christ addressed every problem in the Atonement or else we don’t believe and need to turn to worldly methods to overcome the problem, namely humanistic psychology.

The modern church has so readily embraced humanistic psychology to heal the broken spirit of mankind and have utterly forsaken the Cross of Christ to address the problems that occur in the Believer’s daily life and living that the Jesus the pulpit presents is another Jesus.  We cannot separate Jesus from the Cross after Salvation.  No, Jesus is certainly still not on the Cross.  That is foolishness.  The Lord is sitting at the Right Hand of God searching to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).  However, when we separate Jesus from His atoning work after Salvation and seek other methods to address the problems of mankind, we are committing spiritual adultery.  Most of the modern churches wave 2 banners; one banner is the Atonement for Salvation and the other banner is humanistic psychology for daily living.

Let me be clear, humanistic psychology is the world’s method of overcoming and will always fall out to destruction.  We as Believers in Jesus Christ and His atoning work cannot believe in both the Atonement to address every problem and humanistic psychology.  We either believe the report of the Lord or we believe the report of Freud, Maslow and the other founding fathers of humanistic psychology.

If we could overcome the world, the flesh and the devil through psychology, the Cross of Christ was in vain.  God forbid no.  If our denomination is embracing humanistic psychology, we are all going to have to ask ourselves if we can support that particular denomination.  If we come down on the side of the Cross, by default we are directly opposed to any other methods besides the Cross of Christ to address problems in our daily living.  There is no neutral ground.  One or the other has to go!

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

-Donna Clark Warren

“³ But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.

⁴ And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die:

⁵ For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:3-5

Sadly there are untold thousands who sit among the congregation on Sunday morning who believe themselves to be rich, increased with goods and have need of nothing.  Seeing they see not that they are wretched, miserable, poor and naked (Revelation 3:17).

“¹⁵ I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of My mouth.”  Revelation 3:15-16.

They are neither hot nor cold.  In spite of their zeal and sincerity they are in fact lukewarm.  Jesus says He would rather them be hot.  That is understandable, right?

However, the Lord also said He would rather them be cold instead of lukewarm.  The lukewarm sit in their pews, sincere but sincerely wrong.  They do many spiritual things yet walk not in the Spirit.  In need of  nothing, they have devised their own philosophies and methods to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.  The sanctimonious ceremonies and long held religious traditions appeal to the flesh of man.

In short, the lukewarm bring reproach to God because they attach their worldly methods to the work of God.  They go under the guise of Christianity just to soothe their conscience.  You will probably see many of them dressed in their best Halloween attire in a couple of weeks.  At least the cold do not claim Christianity, therefore their deeds, albeit “good” deeds, do not bring reproach to God.

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3.

Poison, when accidentally ingested, remains poisonous.  Eve was deceived by satan.  “You shall not surely die” satan declared to her.  “Your eyes will be open and you shall be as little gods” said satan (and Kenneth Copeland by the way) in his plan to deceive Eve and she ingested the poison fruit that separated her from God.  She was not longer spiritually alive unto God but dead in her sin and trespasses through deceit.

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15.

Please allow me to say it again, sadly there are untold thousand who sit in the church pews every Sunday morning who are zealous for God.  They sincerely love the Lord.  However, week after week satan’s ministers, who have been transformed as ministers of righteousness, are ministering seeds of death to the congregation.  They are ingesting poison, albeit unknowingly, and they are spiritually decaying and lethargic.

“The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10.

There is life and life more abundantly in the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His redeeming work on Calvary’s Cross.

Recognize the seeds that are being planted in your spirit.  Is it Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done to break the power of sin in the Believer’s life or is it another gospel and another Jesus that goes under the banner of Christianity yet presents humanistic psychology as another method to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.

Prayerfully consider.

-Donna Clark Warren

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

When we are born again, we are a new creature in Christ Jesus.  Old things pass away and all things become new when are faith is placed solely and exclusively in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.  The Spirit of regeneration (the Holy Spirit) we receive upon Salvation does not rehabilitate the old creature but regenerates a new creature.

The outward circumstances of the regenerated Believer may or may not change.  Our circumstances are not the fruit of the Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Job’s friends are a dime a dozen.  Be certain to never judge the circumstances of a Brother or Sister and consider that their “fruit”.

“² For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

³ And you have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit you here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand you there, or sit here under my footstool:

⁴ Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” James 2:2-4

One thing is for certain when we are born again, there is a change on the inside…regardless of our outward circumstance.  Discern the new creature. Recognize the fruit when the circumstances are not pleasing.  Look for the out of season fruit…THAT is the new creature in Christ Jesus bearing the fruit of the Spirit.

-Donna Clark Warren

“¹⁹ What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?

²⁰ For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We were created by God in His image.  With the first man, Adam, the fall of man came.  By the Second Man, Jesus Christ, came God’s Redemption Plan for mankind. Adam was created God conscious and freely communed with God.  However, once Adam willingly ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he lost God consciousness and gained self consciousness.

Throughout the Old Testament we see the types and shadows of the coming Messiah as the blood of bulls and goats was shed to restore communion with God.  The sin offering of bulls and goats could not redeem mankind to God. The penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  Jesus Christ came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for mankind.  As awesome and wonderful as His miracles and healings were (and are) during our Lord’s earthly ministry,  they did not redeem mankind to God.

The Child of God was bought with a price.  Our Redeemer lives and He has the power to possess that which He has redeemed, namely us (Believers). However, when we separate Jesus from His redeeming work on Calvary’s Cross, simply stated, we have another Jesus.

“For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:4.

The psychological Jesus that so many modern churches have embraced presents many vain philosophies to overcome oppression, none of which includes preaching the Gospel to the poor, healing the brokenhearted or preaching deliverance to the captives which points the lost and bound to their Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and gives the Holy Spirit latitude to deliver that which our Lord has redeemed with His precious Blood. This psychological Jesus offers other methods to overcome but the Jesus of the Word of God was offered up once and for all for sin and His redeeming work is the only answer to man’s problem…which is sin.

“¹⁸ The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

¹⁹ To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19

The Lord cannot anoint another gospel preaching another Jesus. In turn, the captives remain bound, the brokenhearted remain sick and the blind remain blind.  They are just temporarily distracted from the ties that bind as the self righteous sincerely attempt to deliver through their kind words.  These words have NO power…zero, zilch, none.  When the bound look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of their faith, the POWER of the Holy Spirit, comes to possess that which Jesus Christ redeemed.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ violently took sin’s dominion away from satan.  The price was paid in full.

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy;” Psalm 107:1-2.

Say so Saints!  Say so! Believe in the power of God forcefully take sin’s dominion from satan.

“¹⁸ Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

¹⁹ But with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:18-19

-Donna Clark Warren

“¹⁵ Wherefore I (Apostle Paul) 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 you 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,”  Ephesians 1:15-20

With our faith placed in Jesus Christ and the price He paid for our redemption, we give the Holy Spirit latitude to do what He is commissioned to do in the hearts and lives of the Child of God…free us from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  Through the eyes of our understanding illuminated by the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation because of our faith properly placed in the price of our redemption (Jesus Christ and Him crucified), we will see, know and understand the power of God to possess that which He has redeemed by His Blood.  We will indeed know what the hope of His calling and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance is in us by the exceeding greatness of His power.

This understanding does not come by might, nor by power of our efforts, philosophy or intellect but by the power of God alone (Zechariah 4:6) through our faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

Many Believers attempt to separate Christ  from His atoning work on the Cross after Salvation to seek after vain philosophies.  Jesus, The Man, becomes the example of how to live with our source being our self efforts; while Jesus Christ and Him crucified is merely something that happened 2000 + years ago.  We are expected to live according to Jesus’ example because the Holy Spirit is now living in us.  However, if our faith is in our self efforts to achieve this “level” of righteousness, the Holy Spirit is not involved in these vain philosophies.

We all tend to easily forget our weaknesses but will quickly remember our sin that God has forgiven and forgotten.   If only we remembered our weaknesses and allowed the power of God to rest upon us through faith in Jesus Christ, the Jesus Christ that is alive and sitting at the Right Hand of God Who paid in full redemptions price and has the power to possess that in which He has so greatly redeemed to the uttermost.

“²⁴ But this Man, because He continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

²⁵ Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.”  Hebrews 7:24-25

-Donna Clark Warren

“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