“The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from Hell beneath.” Proverbs 15:24

How often have we sat and watched a horrible crime on the news and the media begins to evaluate the offender’s life.  If it is a mass shooting, the shooters life is examined from birth to present and they become a victim of their circumstances.  This is humanistic psychology the world applies in order to find the answer to man’s problem.

Sadly, the modern church has embraced the same method.  The problem, whatever the problem may be, is traced back to a situation (an event, a “soul tie”, family curse, etc.) so that the person has understanding as to why they are like they are.  Now they have an excuse; a reason for their “failure” and their failure is more readily condoned as they struggle to overcome by their own self will, self efforts, distraction methods, intellect, abilities, etc..

Some begin lying to themselves and God regarding their condition.  They will declare and decree lies denying their circumstances.  I remember a Sunday School teacher one Sunday morning who was terribly sick with flu like symptoms.  She sounded awful, felt awful and looked awful (sick) but stood square shouldered and declared she wasn’t claiming that sickness.  The fact of the matter is, it  didn’t matter if she claimed it or not…she was sick and she needed to be crying out to God for healing instead of lying to herself and God about her condition.  That is utter stupidity.

The religious will offer up Scriptural ordinances to overcome a Believer’s failure.  Fasting, the Lord’s Supper or memorizing Scripture are examples given to many to do when faced with failure.  The Believer consecrates themselves to these methods and all too often continue to struggle with their “problem”.

Allow me to be perfectly clear.  The problem is sin.  Man’s problem is sin.

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17

The church has embraced this silly psychological method to overcome sin and offered up everything but the Cross of Christ as the answer.  Fasting, communion and memorizing Scripture are as useful as jumping jacks when it comes to overcoming sin. There is ONE answer given by God to break the power of sin in the Believer’s life and that is Jesus Christ Who came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Believer…that’s it; there is no other answer. The Holy Spirit does not superintend the work of God to give the Believer victory over sin (Romans 6:14) when our faith is in our fasting, communion, etc. to overcome sin.

As long as the church calls sin by another name and continues to minimize sin’s power over mankind by suggesting our ability to overcome sin by something we can do; the church is rendering the Cross of Christ as insufficient and deeming memorizing Scripture as enough.  In other words, the implication is the Cross of Christ was in vain…it was not needed to overcome sin because we, being the little “gods” that we are, can do this ourselves.  Not so!

Man’s fallen condition is due to Adam’s fall.  The born again Believer who remains bound by sin hates their sin and desperately tries to quit/stop but sin has dominion over them because the modern church offers up “Christian Psychology” as the answer.  This endless cycle of defeat destroys one’s faith in the work of Jesus for Salvation and they too often walk away.  This is the devil’s purpose…to destroy the Believer’s faith.  This is why it is NOT ok to accept or condone the compromise of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  This leaven, leavens the lump.  It is another gospel and another Jesus.  It is not this writers purpose to make anyone angry but if this truth offends you, consider the offense.

“¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: ¹⁵ That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15

The way of life IS above to the wise.  Our help comes from above…everything else leads to hell beneath.  God is calling His Children out of the endtime apostate church.  He stands at the door knocking.  Will you let Him in?

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Cor. 6:17

-Donna Clark Warren

“⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles!

⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” James 3:5-6

The tongue is among our members and it defiles our entire body as it wars against the law in our mind to do good but evil remains with me.

“²¹ I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7:22-23

This member wishes good as we bless and wishes evil as we curse another.  We speak life with this member as we declare the Word of God and then turn around and speak death as we voice our doubt.

Some use this member to perform their witchcraft as they declare and decree incantations or “spells” referred to as “blessing” among the religious and superstitious.  Yes, we should pray blessings over others but in doing so we speak to them the Word of God or pray for them God’s Will.  There is no power in our words to create a blessing or a curse.  The prayers of the righteous availeth much (James 5:16) but the “righteous” have their faith in the Cross of Christ for those blessings and not in the declarations of their speaking of the blessing which is superstition.

Somebody said “Well, bless God my faith IS in the Cross of Christ!”  Ok then, praise the Lord.  However, when you go to cast that spell recognize the fear you have if that spell (prayer) is not declared or decreed in just the right manner.  Superstition provokes fear of a curse if the method of speaking is not decreed correctly.  Let me be clear, the fear of another’s curse upon one’s self renders the Cross of Christ as insufficient against man’s vernacular and is silliness to say the least.  This is the stupidity taught in the word of faith doctrine and has rendered God’s Children powerless against the wiles of satan because whether they realize it or not, their faith is in their vernacular; their words, declarations and decrees become the source and means of their blessings.  This is the corruption of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified presented from the pulpits all too often…the leaven which leavens the whole lump and produces super spiritual, self righteous professing Christians whose heart is far from God.

This member is our tongue and it is a world of iniquity.  If our tongue is not tamed it should be dealt with as all of the other members which war against the law of our mind…our good intentions which fail us daily.

“²⁴ O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:24-25

When our tongue serves the law of sin but our mind the law of God, the power of this sin is broken the same way the power of all sin is broken in the Believer’s life…by faith in the Cross of Christ.  Sin no longer has dominion over the Believer because we are not under law but under Grace (Romans 6:14).  With our faith placed solely and exclusively in the atoning work of Jesus, we give the Holy Spirit latitude to do that which He is commissioned to do in our life and we are freed from the law of sin and death.  It is this same law which is working against the law of God after the inward man which the Holy Spirit frees us from when we our faith is placed in the Cross of Christ for our deliverance.

“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

The tongue can be tamed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  If your tongue is performing that which is evil (gossip, slander, lies, blasphemy, etc.) repent and turn back to the Cross of Christ for deliverance.  The power of gossip was broken by Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross.

“⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” James 3:8-10

Man cannot tame the tongue but the Holy Spirit can when our faith is placed in the Cross of Christ.  Consider this small member which boasts great things whether they be good or evil.

-Donna Clark Warren

If water baptism is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.

If Baptism in the Holy Spirit is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.

If your church is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.

If your denomination is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.

If your religion is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.

If buddha is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.

If mohammed is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.

If your measure of proposed “goodness” is your savior, you are not saved and on your way to hell.

Any of these doctrines, although some Scriptural, added to the Cross of Christ for Salvation is not the Jesus of the Bible but another Jesus and another gospel and is accursed(Galatians 1:6-8).  It is satan’s purpose to corrupt the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and he uses the religious as his mouthpiece.

“¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

¹⁵ 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 11:13-15

No, there are not multiple ways to Heaven.  It is not ok to nod at the false salvation of others to avoid offending them.   That in and of itself is a religion called “political correctness”.  It is true, only God knows our hearts.  However, if one openly declares they are saved because they are water baptized, then water baptism is their savior.  If another believes they are saved because they are a member of a church or denomination as a child but lives like the devil, the church is their savior.  I truly believe when we get to Heaven we are going to truly be surprised at who is there and who is not.  Just because one is religious does not mean they are saved.

“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, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23

Prophesying, casting out demons and doing many wonderful works are not conditions of entering the Kingdom of Heaven.  Many profess to know the Lord but does He know you?  Many draw near to God with their mouths but their hearts are far from Him (Matthew 15:8). Even the demons believe that there is one God but they certainly are not saved.

“You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19

Jesus said unless a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).

“¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: ¹⁵ That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:14-16

Believing IN Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Who came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Believer, Who was Resurrected from the dead, ascended unto Heaven and now sits at the Right Hand of the Throne of God is not merely a mental acquiesce to Who Jesus is and what He did but, just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, when the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) is lifted up among the people, HE draws them with the convicting power of the Holy Spirit (John 12:32).  If the sinner chooses to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the Holy Spirit witnesses to his spirit that he is a Child of God (Romans 8:16) and they are born again.  The sinner is called to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and the Believer is called to follow Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23).

Last night as I sat and watched Pastor Carl Brown minister on “Stop, you’re on your way to hell”, I remembered so clearly the drawing of the Holy Spirit the night I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior on the 4th night of a 4 night revival.  Each night prior, I felt the drawing of the Holy Spirit but rejected the call and left the service unsaved because I rejected Jesus Christ.  I believed in Him but willingly chose to deny Him.  Life was indeed hard at the time but isn’t that how life is supposed to be …and then we die.  That was my creed anyway, albeit wrong.

As Brother Brown closed out the service with an altar call for Salvation, my heart was grieved.  Oh Lord, please don’t let them leave without submitting to your Salvation for their eternal soul.  How thankful I am for that preacher, Bro. Stanley Owensby, for being obedient to the Lord that night and not ending the altar call.  How thankful I am for Bro. Bill Clark for walking over to this lost sinner under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and asking if I wanted him to go up with me.

There is a lost and dying world out there who are on their way to hell.  I certainly don’t mean that in a mean spirited way but it is true.  They are caught up and bound up in religiosity but have no idea Who their Savior truly is.  Our flesh returns to dust but our spirit and soul are eternally conscious.

“⁸ For by Grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

-Donna Clark Warren

The Cross of Christ is an affront to sin.  The judgment deemed and penalty paid by Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross on behalf of the spiritually awakened sinner arouses our moral consciousness and becomes precious to the convicted conscience of the repentant.

” ¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.

¹³ Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under Grace.” Romans 6:12-14

Reckoning ourselves alive unto God through the shed Blood of Jesus, we no longer have to yield unto unrighteousness because we are no longer slaves to sin.  The fight of which the Believer fights is faith in the Son of God, Who He is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross to overcome death, hell and the grave.  Our fight is not against sin for sin has been defeated and it’s power broken.  The problem is sin but our fight is the fight of faith in the Cross of Christ where sin was laid waste.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

The unregenerate man cannot willingly yield unto righteousness.  In their mind they may indeed desire to yield unto righteousness and do that which is good but the unredeemed do not have the power within themselves to overcome evil.  If such were so, the Cross of Christ was in vain.  Any perceived “good” by the unredeemed man, if it is indeed morally correct according to the Word of God and not political correctness, comes for the Law of God written on the heart of man whose conscience has not yet been seared.

“²¹ I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7:21-23

The fight of faith in the Cross of Christ in which we fight gives the Holy Spirit latitude to do that which He is commissioned to do…free us from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  Religion’s attempt to seduce and incite our intellect, abilities and self efforts places the Believer back under law and we once again find ourselves warring against the law in our mind and desire to do that which is good.

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of God’s Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:4

Spiritually alive unto God, the Believer is no longer a slave to sin as they willingly choose to partake in God’s Divine Nature in order to escape the corruption of this world.  Submitted unto God, the devil can be resisted and he will flee (James 4:7).  Submitted unto religious philosophies, the devil cannot be resisted and he will not flee…no matter how hard we fight.  Fighting with him is exactly what satan wants the Believer to do.  This fight keeps the Believer engaged and distracted; swept to and fro with every wind of doctrine.

The Cross of Christ is the only answer to man’s problem.  The Cross of Christ is the answer to man’s financial problems, health problems, family problems…any and all other problems the devil throws at us.  The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy.  That’s his job; that’s what satan does.

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

We either believe that to be true or we believe it to be a lie. Fight the good fight of faith in the Cross of Christ…be determined to know nothing else among you.

-Donna Clark Warren

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.”  Galatians 6:1

If a Believer is overtaken in a fault, the fault is a result of legalism.  They have placed themselves or another under a moral law and when the party fails to meet said requirements of this moral law they quickly execute punishment.  The moral law may in fact be good, just as the Mosaic Law was good and holy, but as well…just as the Mosaic Law does not have the power to change mankind, neither does any other type of law.  Laws reveal error, if in fact the moral authority of such laws are the Word of God and not political correctness, but they do not correct error.

The rectifying of error may result in punishment, if correction is not heeded but this punishment is always for correction and is never vengeful or vindictive.

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

² And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that has done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

When our Brethren places themselves or others under law and they falter, no matter the unpleasant circumstances surrounding their failure, those who are spiritual should restore them in the spirit of meekness considering themselves lest we be tempted.  If correction is not heeded, it is not up to the spiritual to punish the fallen for their faults but to mourn the fact that they may be taken away from among us.

The failures of our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord should be mourned and their sins covered under our love for them…not exposed under the guise of vindication.  If one’s faith is destroyed because of our own unpleasant circumstances, even our own failures, our vindication becomes gossip and we too are caught in the snares of satan.

“⁷ But the end of all things is at hand: be you therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

⁸ And above all things have fervent charity (love) among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

⁹ Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

¹⁰ As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

¹¹ If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”  1 Peter 4:7-11

When other’s falter, consider both the ones who have and are faltering, as well as the ones casting the stones…and mourn them; pray for them lest you too be overtaken in fault. It is the devil’s purpose to destroy the faith of the Saints and he will use the Brethren to do such. When our faith is directed to a law and not the Cross of Christ, we fail to give the Holy Spirit latitude to do that which He is commissioned to do in our hearts and lives and we falter. We stumble and we need someone who is spiritual to point us back to the Cross of Christ.

Prayerfully consider.

-Donna Clark Warren

“¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you.

¹² Therefore, Brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

¹³ For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.

¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:11-14

Debtors to the flesh accept their abilities as the means by which they have life and life more abundantly.  This way to “life” seems right to the carnal mind but in reality it is the way of death.

“There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

The Child of God is a debtor to the Spirit of God for the mortification of the deeds of the flesh, not our own strengths or self will which religion inevitably incites for victory.  What the Believer must understand is the Holy Spirit is not commissioned to mortify those deeds of the flesh which lead to death when we live after that which He is wanting to mortify – our own abilities, intellect, willpower, etc..

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

The flesh tends after laws (rules, methods, philosophies) to break the power of sin,  while faith tends to the Cross of Christ to break the power of sin.  The Believer’s faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross gives the Holy Spirit latitude to do that which He is commissioned to do in the Believer’s life…mortify the deeds of the flesh, free us from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2) and give us dominion over sin.  We are a debtor to the Spirit of God for the mortification of the deeds of the flesh but the Spirit of God will not mortify those deeds when our faith is in Him (the Holy Spirit) or our flesh (abilities, intellect, etc.).

“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

The Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself but show us (reveal to us) the Cross of Christ which at the time of this Scripture was “to come”.  Jesus had not yet been crucified when the Holy Spirit gave John this Scripture.

The Holy Spirit which dwells in each and every Believer and raised Jesus from the dead, is perfectly capable of quickening our mortal bodies to do that which is the perfect Will of God for those who are seeking His perfect Will and looking unto Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of their faith.   God the Father commissioned the Holy Spirit to do His work in the heart and life of those whose faith is in the Cross of Christ for everything we receive from Him.

“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 the Lord Jesus Christ until we deny ourselves…deny our flesh and walk after the Spirit of God as He quickens our mortal flesh and orders our footsteps.  Precept upon precept and line upon line, we die daily for Jesus’ sake so Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh…for in us is no good thing.

“⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

⁸ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

¹⁰ Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

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 Cor. 4:7-12

-Donna Clark Warren

Many are ever learning but never come to the knowledge of the Truth (2 Timothy 3:7) because they are being led by their intellect, abilities, talent and education.  These commandments of men, their vain philosophies, are being taught as doctrine and appeal to one’s intellect, abilities, talent, etc..  Being cloaked in Scripture, the Believer is deceived as they equate these “doctrines” with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Sadly, they never understand they are being led by the flesh to the slaughter.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4

The quickening of the Believer’s intellect, abilities, talent, etc. become the law necessary for victory.  The questionnaires given to find one’s “natural abilities” are to incite those abilities for service in the Kingdom of God.  God does not need a questionnaire folks.  He does not rehabilitate the old man but creates a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17).  Seeking out our work in the Kingdom of God by a questionnaire which utilizes one’s talents, etc. does not require the help of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all Truths according to the Word of God because this vain philosophy being taught as doctrine usurps the ministry of the Holy Spirit and incites the flesh to do that which only the Holy Spirit can do.  The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to superintend the vain philosophies of man which are taught as doctrine.

The vain philosophies being taught as doctrine become a law of which the Holy Spirit does not superintend.  The Believer being led by the flesh is swept to and fro with every wind of doctrine.  Some look at them and say well at least they are Saved.    If indeed they are Saved, their faith is in serious danger of being destroyed.  It is the devil’s purpose to destroy the faith of Believers and he does so by corrupting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This is the leaven which leavens the lump; the poison in the pot which turns the Truth into a lie.

“¹¹ And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

¹² For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ:

¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

¹⁵ But speaking the Truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ:

¹⁶ From Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:11-16.

God gives the increase.  The Holy Spirit leads us into all Truth according to the Word of God when our faith is placed solely and exclusively in the Cross of Christ.  Then and only then are we led by the Spirit of God as He superintends that which He is commissioned to do…free us from the law of sin and death .  Don’t be deceived by the lies of the devil.  It is not our efforts, abilities or intellect which has overcome the world, the flesh and the devil but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Be determined to know nothing else.

-Donna Clark Warren

“There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

God’s Mighty Offensive against sin was and is the Cross of Christ.  Sin’s authority over man came with the fall of Adam.  It took God becoming flesh in the man of Jesus Christ.  The virgin birth of Jesus, His perfect life of obedience to the Mosaic Law and the laying down of His Life to pay the penalty of sin for whosoever will believe was and is solely for the purpose of redeeming whosoever will believe unto God.  Sin’s claim on those who were once lost is vanquished.  The lies of satan are of no effect unto those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and remain consecrated to God’s Word simply because they have freely chosen to believe God.  Death, hell and the grave are utterly defeated by Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ came to die on Calvary’s Cross to overcome sin and His Work is completed.  The Lord Jesus is Resurrected, Ascended unto Heaven and currently on His Throne sitting at the Right Hand of God.

THIS is God’s Offensive against sin.  God’s Redemption Plan to overcome sin is the Cross of Christ.  Sin is the problem in the world today because of Adam’s fall.  Sickness, death, wrinkles, gray hair, etc. are all the decay of our mortal flesh.  Those who believe they are sinless and perfect continue to decay; they age as we all do and aging (decay) is a result of sin.  Self righteousness and pride are just as wicked as sins of the flesh but are much more deceptive.  It has been said, and rightly so, that the bondage of religion, self righteousness and pride is worse than others because the one who is bound is utterly blind to their bondage.

“³ Know ye 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

The fight we as Believers must fight; the good fight we fight daily is the fight of faith in GOD’s Redemption Plan…the Cross of Christ. It is HIS glorious Offensive which overcame sin not vain commandments of men being declared as doctrine from behind the pulpit.  If it is not the Cross of Christ being lifted up, it is man’s vain attempt to offer up a redemption plan which was not so difficult.  The Simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is simple for the Believer to believe and understand if they so choose.  However, for our Lord, the price paid to redeem mankind to God was with great suffering.

Man’s redemption plan makes sin less powerful; as if God did not have to send His only begotten Son to overcome it’s horrible grip on humanity and offers to counsel or talk away a bondage which only be broken by the Power of the Crucified, Risen Christ Who is now sitting at the Right Hand of God looking for those whose heart is perfect toward Him to show Himself strong on their behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9).

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

If it is not the Cross of Christ being lifted up as the answer to sin, it may seem right to the carnal mind but it is the way of death.  Seek to understand and pray for discernment.

-Donna Clark Warren

“⁸ This people draw near unto Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. ⁹ But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:8-9

Seeing they see not; hearing they hear not…and neither do they understand (Matthew 3:13).  They do no receive the things of the Spirit of God because they are not spiritually discerned.  That which they do receive is not of God but commandments of men from the vanities of their own mind. The preaching of the Cross of Christ, Who He is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Saint, is foolishness to those whose heart is far from God.

“But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14

The preaching and teaching of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is rudimentary to those who are not spiritually discerned.  Regarding themselves as “super spiritual”, they believe the Cross of Christ is for the lost alone.  Yes, they lift up Jesus to the congregation but it is another Jesus and another gospel; a Jesus without His Cross (2 Cor. 11:4).

They lift up the miracle working Jesus, the philosophical Jesus, intellectual Jesus, water baptism Jesus, religious Jesus, well mannered Jesus, the good Jesus…all of these various attributes the religious prescribe to the Jesus they choose to preach on any given day in order to exalt the commandment of man they are declaring as doctrine.  To be clear, if it is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the Cross of Christ…a Jesus without His Work on the Cross; it is not the Gospel which delivers the bound, sets the captives free and breaks the power of sin in the Believers life.

You see friend, this Gospel which brought us in to the Kingdom of God is the same Gospel which gives us victory in our daily living for Christ.  Attaching the name of Jesus to humanistic psychology does not make humanistic psychology correct but deems Jesus as another Jesus and the Cross of Christ as insufficient. This is the leaven which leavens the whole lump that many with zero discernment willingly choose to overlook in order to keep from rocking their religious boat. Humanistic psychology appeals to the lusts of the flesh and is in direct contradiction to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified which requires faith in the Cross of Christ in order for the Holy Spirit to superintend the work of God in our hearts.  Old things pass away and all things become new to those who choose to believe.  We are a new creature in Christ Jesus because of this work the Holy Spirit is commissioned to do when our faith is place completely in the Cross of Christ to give us that which He has promised…a new heart.

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26.

The various Jesus’ in which those whose hearts are far from Jesus teach are examples of that which they must perform.  They are not spiritually discerned and receive not the things of the Spirit of God because their focus is on self as the source and their intellect, religious practices, abilities, etc. as the means by which they gain the various attributes of the Jesus’ which they were previously given as examples…the commandments of men given as doctrine.

“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

If the Jesus being lifted up on Sunday mornings is not Jesus Christ and Him crucified, it is another Jesus and another gospel which is accursed.  The worship may be emotional but is indeed in vain.

“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 Cor. 1:17-18

Commandments of men being preached as doctrines is cloaked with wisdom of words and make the Cross of Christ of no effect because they point the Believer to another way other than the Cross of Christ to receive from God.

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

-Donna Clark Warren