“²⁰ He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; ²¹ And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.

²² And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

²³ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

²⁴ But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; ²⁵ Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:20-25

For those who have freely chose to believe, our Lord Jesus Christ was delivered unto death (the Cross) for our offences.  Sin and sickness (Sickness is a result of sin in the world; not necessarily our sin but due to Adam’s original fall.) was paid in full and it’s power broken on the Cross of Christ.  Jesus was delivered unto death for our offences and was raised again for our justification.  Because Jesus Christ rose again, we know the penalty of EVERY sin was paid in full.  One does not have to be water baptized to be Saved…Jesus’ work was sufficient.  Neither does one does not have to be a member of a certain church to be saved…Jesus’ work was sufficient.

Knowing Who Jesus is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross, we are therefore “…buried with Him (Jesus) 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 6:4-6

There is a death which works life in the Child of God, the death of Christ Jesus on Calvary’s Cross.  When we turn from His death to “life” according to worldly statutes we are perishing.  No matter the crowds, the popularity or the appeal to our intellect; faith in the Cross of Christ requires and results in the destruction of our worldly wisdom and brings to naught the understanding of our sensibility (1 Cor. 1:19)…hence, the offense of the Cross.

¹¹ For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

¹² So then death works in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:11-12

This faith by which we who are Saved live will bring us daily to the Cross of Christ when led by the Holy Spirit and we stagger not at the promises of God.  At times the lusts of the flesh may hinder or distract but the rough seas point us back to the Christ Jesus as repentance is met with forgiveness.

At other times the rough seas occur even as we daily walk with the Lord and are led by the Spirit.  Others may judge theses rough seas and declare them “chastisement for disobedience”; to them I say “Job’s friends are a dime a dozen”.  When we stop “discerning” everyone else’s storms; we will realize the condition of our own skiff and humbly fall on our face in repentance.

Discern the death.  The death of Christ works life in the Believer and we walk in newness of life.  The “life” of the world works death in the Believer and we will walk in condemnation.  Life isn’t flowing from our inner most being; there is no joy of the Lord and peace beyond all understanding because this “life” we are seeking is according to worldly statutes and not God’s Will and God’s Ways.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

God’s Way is faith in His Plan for Redemption….Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Be determined to know nothing else.

-Donna Clark Warren