“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
Let me start off by saying that if the preaching of the Cross of Christ is foolishness to you then you are perishing my friend. We must recognize how we receive the preaching of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and that alone will reveal much about the condition of our heart.
“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.” Romans 6:3-4
At Salvation, when the believing sinner comes to Christ, we are baptized into HIS Death…HIS Finished Work at Calvary. Why? Because that is where the penalty of sin was paid AND the power of sin broken. Most of those who believe that the preaching of the Cross of Christ is foolishness do not understand that the power of sin was broken at Calvary as well. Sadly, the new Believer gets led down multiple paths that all lead to destruction. 40 days of purpose, 21 days of fasting and every other self help method cloaked in Scripture all lead to the destruction of one’s faith. That is their very purpose actually. They are nothing more than philosophies of man being taught as Biblical doctrine and because they are cloaked in Scripture the unknowing Believer equate such with the Truth. Not so. Instead these doctrines corrupt the Truth and make it of no effect on the Believer. Before they know it, the Believer is actually believing another Jesus and another gospel. If you don’t believe this can happen, read Matthew 15:9 (in context) and Galatians (the entire Book which warns of false preaching).
“1 Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
2 For the woman which has an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.” Romans 7:1-2
When the believing sinner is baptized into Jesus’ Death, we are DEAD to the law and it no longer has dominion over us. To be sure, the law is not dead but IN Christ we are dead to it. The lost are married to the law but the Saved are married to Jesus through HIS Death and AS LONG as we keep believing the Cross of Christ (His Death) is sufficient to break the power of sin, God’s Divine Grace continues to flow uninterrupted in our hearts and lives. I did not just say there will be no troubles or heartaches along the way but I did say that no matter the circumstances, His Grace is sufficient. His Arm is not shortened and He is perfectly willing and able to take us through the storm we are facing.
IN Christ Jesus, our sin nature no longer has dominion. The Holy Spirit, the only One Who is greater, dethrones and isolates the sin nature which is so easily seduced by the law.
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for yo are not under the law, but under Grace.” Romans 6:14
Looking unto Jesus, Who He is and what He has done for whosoever will believe, sin no longer has dominion. We are under Grace and not law because IN Christ we are dead to the law.
“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
IN Christ Jesus, we are made free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Spirit of Life (the Holy Spirit). We cannot obtain this liberty by and through the vain philosophies religion presents for victorious Christian living and if such were so then the Cross of Christ was in vain. God forbid NO!!
The preaching of the Cross of Christ IS power to us who are Saved. It points us too He Who broke sin’s power; He Who made a show of every demon in hell when He gave up the Ghost at Calvary. It was and is and will forever be FINISHED. The penalty of sin is paid and it’s power broken by the Blood of Christ. This is why we get excited when we hear the preaching of the Cross of Christ. We are Redeemed by His precious Blood. We have been bought and lay prostrate at Calvary declaring “Here am I, send me!”.
The eyes of the Lord are searching to and fro for those whose hearts are perfect toward Him to show Himself strong in their weakness. The Cross is sufficient for victorious Christian living because that is the ONLY place the Holy Spirit is commissioned to work in the heart of the Believer. The Holy Spirit will not superintend the work of God in our lives if we look unto vain philosophies cloaked with Scripture. Jesus is the Source and His Cross the means by which we receive from God. Look unto Him…look and live.
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 