Refusing to recognize our condition does not change our condition. The Believer’s position in Christ is secure as our faith remains in the Finished Work of Christ Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. To be sure, ‘knowing’ the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified does not constitute Salvation.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be Born Again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3

The believing sinner who chooses to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour…the ONLY Saviour God will accept, is Born Again; a new creature in Christ Jesus. We are baptized into His Death and the penalty of our sin is paid in full. (Romans 6:3-5) Glory be to God, we are now free to live unto God!!

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.” Romans 6:3-4

Then comes the religious with their vain philosophies taught as Biblical doctrine in order for the ‘new creature’ to break the power of sin. The problem is, their doctrines are doctrines of the devil birthed in the pits of hell which produce fruit unto death because they are ministering to the old man; seducing the lusts of our flesh to depend upon self. Sure, they will put a religious face on their erroneous direction but nonetheless it is error.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:5-7

These vain philosophies being taught, even though they are draped in Scripture and presented as Biblical, does not quicken our spirit to the things of God but feeds our flesh to the things of the old man; the one who was bound by sin. Our old man is not crucified with Christ in our daily walk with the Lord so that the body of sin might be destroyed but is instead fed by our utter dependence on self will, will power, talents, abilities, intellect, etc..

“And He 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

The Believer cannot follow Christ unless self is denied…DAILY. While our position in Christ as a Born Again Believer remains the same, when we go about depending on our own strengths to live this Christian life, our condition is deteriorating. The spiritual defeat which is the result of such daily living is a heavy yoke to bear…such is the devil’s design. Satan wants us to throw off the heavy yoke and deny Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Sadly, we all know those who have said they “tried that Christian thing”. No, no they didn’t. They tried that religious thing which caused their hearts to harden towards the Lord. Regrettably, the fruit unto death they were eating, did what it was intended to do and caused their faith in Christ to be destroyed.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified cannot be corrupted. It is a fact and reality that Jesus Christ is the ONLY Way, the ONLY Truth and the ONLY Life. However, our faith in Jesus and His finished work alone can be corrupted. Evil corrupts righteousness but righteousness expels evil.

“But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into Everlasting Life.” John 4:14

Cast away the religious rites that have been feeding the old man and come drink of the Water of Life. There is freedom in the Cross of Christ. The new creature created in you so long ago needs to be fed. Walk by faith and not by sight.

-Donna Clark Warren