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10 Commandments Abolished for Righteousness!

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Evidence that the Ten Commandments have been Abolished for Righteousness
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When referring to the law of commandments, the verses below use the same word for “Abolished”. Sabbatarians (those who strictly observe Saturday as the Sabbath, such as Seventh Day Adventists and other judaizers) say the latter verse is referring to the ceremonial law.

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Ephesians 2:15

The “commandments contained in ordinances” refers specifically to the Ten Commandments.

“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? or the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Romans 7:1-7

The following verses in Corinthians 3 clearly state that the Ten Commandments are abolished (four times) by using the same word for “Abolished” that was used in Ephesians 2:15.

“Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3

Adventists and other torah/law keeping heretics say that the whole book of Galatians deals only with the ceremonial law, but a simple reading Galatians 4 proves them wrong;

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” Galatians 4: 1-11

Colossians 2:14-16 clearly states that the weekly Sabbath is abolished. Adventists are at a loss as to know what to do with this verse!

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Colossians 2:14-16

The idea that the Ten Commandments are separate from the ceremonial law, as Adventists claim, is a false doctrine not found in the Bible!

The Sabbatarians say that the Ten Commandments are for all mankind and are God’s universal eternal law. In response to this assertion, we reply:

If keeping the Sabbath was a moral law intended for all mankind, then why did God NEVER charge the Gentiles with breaking it. God charges the Gentiles many times for breaking all of the nine moral commandments on the tablets of stone, but NEVER ONCE says anything about breaking the Sabbath! This proves that Sabbath keeping is not inherently moral, but was just another ceremonial law given ONLY TO THE Jews!

The very words of the Ten Commandments clearly tell us that they were for the Jewish people ONLY! God never brought me or my ancestors out of Egypt! (Ex 20:2) The Lord has not given me the promised land of Canaan! (Ex 20:12) The Sabbath is a sign between God and fleshly Israel. There is no requirement for non-Jews to keep it! (Ex 31:1, 17; Ezek 20:12, 20) If Sabbath keeping was intended for all mankind, then why does Holy Scripture specifically state “strangers within your gates”? Obviously, the Gentiles (strangers) were never required at any point in history to keep the Sabbath!

Imagine that the Ten Commandments were a postal letter with no mailing address. The post office could easily determine who the intended recipient of the letter was by identifying the people being addressed.

• People who sometimes had strangers within their gates. (Ex 20:10)
• People who assembled at the mount on which there was a cloud. (Ex 19:16; Deut 5:22
• People who were slaves in Egypt. (Deut 5:15)
• People who had been delivered from Egyptian bondage. (Deut 5:15)
• People who were on their way to posses the land of Canaan. (Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16)
• People that God made a covenant with at Horeb. (Deut 5:1-3; Neh 9:14)

It would be impossible for people living in the Arctic Circle to keep the Sabbath. How could they, from sunset to sunset? Obviously God never intended anyone but the Jews living in Palestine to keep the Sabbath.

Historical archives prove the common view between 150AD and 200AD was that the Patriarchs never kept the Sabbath!

JUSTIN (150 AD): Moreover, all those righteous men already mentioned [after mentioning Adam. Abel, Enoch, Lot, Noah, Melchizedek, and Abraham], though they kept no Sabbaths, were pleasing to God; and after them Abraham with all his descendants until Moses… And you [fleshly Jews] were commanded to keep Sabbaths, that you might retain the memorial of God. For His word makes this announcement, saying, “That you may know that I am God who redeemed you.” (Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, 150-165 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, page 204)

TERTULLIAN (200 AD): Let him who contends that the Sabbath is still to be observed a balm of salvation, and circumcision on the eighth day because of threat of death, teach us that in earliest times righteous men kept Sabbath or practiced circumcision, and so were made friends of God. .. …Therefore, since God originated Adam uncircumcised, and inobservant of the Sabbath, consequently his offspring also, Abel, offering Him sacrifices, uncircumcised and inobservant of the Sabbath, was by Him commended… Noah also, uncircumcised – yes, and inobservant of the Sabbath – God freed from the deluge. For Enoch, too, most righteous man, uncircumcised and inobservant of the Sabbath, He translated from this world… Melchizedek also, “the priest of most high God,” uncircumcised and inobservant of the Sabbath, was chosen to the priesthood of God.

The Ten Commandments are the Old Covenant. (Ex 34:27-28)

The Old Covenant was abolished. (Heb 8:13)

The Ten Commandments are therefore abolished!

Points to consider regarding the Sabbath

1. If every man from Adam to Moses kept the Sabbath, why is the Hebrew word for the weekly Sabbath found in the Ten Commandments and never in the book of Genesis?

2. Why was it that, before Moses, no one was told to keep the Sabbath and why are there no examples of anyone keeping the Sabbath?

4. Why were the Patriarchs never instructed about he Sabbath, but were instructed as to offerings (Gen 4:3-4), altars (Gen 8:20), priests (Gen 14:18), tithes (Gen 14:20), circumcision (Gen 17:10), and marriage (Gen 2:24, 34:9)?

5. Why was there no weekly Sabbath commandment given in the New Testament?

6. Why was the Sabbath the only one of the Ten Commandments that are said to be “throughout your generations”, the usual phrase that indicates it was a temporary ceremonial law only for the Jews?

7. Why is there no example of Christians exclusively coming together on the Sabbath day as a church or prayer meeting after the resurrection of Christ?

8. Why is there no command in the New Testament for Christians to keep the Sabbath holy? Paul taught in the synagogues as many as 84 times. Why does the Bible never say he kept the Sabbath?

9. How could Adam, Noah and Abraham keep the Sabbath, when Deuteronomy 5:2-4 says that the Ten Commandment covenant was not made with any of the fathers of Israel who lived before Moses?

10. If we must follow the example of Jesus in all things like keeping the Sabbath, then why do Sabbatarians not follow the example of Jesus in circumcision, animal sacrifices and keeping Passover?

11. If the Sabbath was for Gentiles, then why was the Sabbath a sign to remind the Jews of their exodus from Egypt? (Ex 16:23, 29; 31:13-18)
13. If the Sabbath law is still in force, then why do they not stone their own members when they break the Sabbath as the law said?

14. Ellen G. White, who is considered inspired by Seventh-day Adventists, said that the Pope changed the Sabbath in about 321 AD. Why do all Adventists today reject their inspired prophet and say the change of the Sabbath occurred in about 140 AD?

15. If White was wrong about this, was she wrong when she traveled to heaven and saw the 4th commandment glowing brighter than all the rest?

16. If the current position of the Seventh-day Adventist church is that the change from Saturday to Sunday took place in 140 AD, doesn’t that mean that they have come a long way from White’s claim that this occurred in 325 AD?

17. If the change from Saturday to Sunday actually happened, why is there absolutely no discussion of this for the first 600 years of church history? Merely calling Sunday the Sabbath doesn’t count!

19. If Sabbatarians reject White’s assertion that Constantine changed the Sabbath day to Sunday, why do they keep bringing him up as proof? If Constantine changed the Sabbath to Sunday, why does here merely legislate that work must stop on Sunday with no actual mention of the day being moved?

20. If the first/old covenant was abolished according to Hebrews 8:13, and the Ten Commandment law was that first covenant (Ex 34:27-28; 1 Kings 8:9, 21; Heb 9:1-4), then why do Sabbatarians want to keep the first/old covenant?

21. Why is the universal record of history (75-500AD) 100% in unanimous agreement that Christians never kept the Sabbath (7th day) and have always worshipped on Sunday?

22. Why is the universal record of history (75-500AD) 100% in unanimous agreement that Christians ate the Lord’s Supper every Sunday in the tradition of Acts 20:7?

23. Why is the universal record of history (75-500AD) 100% in unanimous agreement that Christians always called Sunday the Lord’s Day because this was the day Jesus rose from the dead?

24. Why has no Sabbatarian every produced even one historical quote (75-500AD) that states Christians kept the Sabbath?

25. If the Sabbath is not a ceremonial law, then why is it lumped into the same identical class of “holy convocations” as the rest of the Jewish feast days? (Lev 23:2; Ex 20:9; 31:17)

26. If the Ten Commandments remain, but the book of law was abolished, then why did God put two copies of the 10 commandments in the book of the law? (Ex 20; Deut 5)

27. How can there possibly be a difference between “The Law of God” and the “Law of Moses”, when God gave the Law of Moses (Ezra 7:6; Neh 8:1) and Moses gave the Law of God (Neh 10:29; 2 Chron 34:14)?

28. If there is a distinction between the moral and ceremonial laws, why are the Jewish feast days called part of the Law of the Lord? (2 Chron 31:3)

29. If there is a distinction between the moral and ceremonial laws, then why in a single chapter of Nehemiah 8 are the following phrases all used interchangeably: “book of the law of Moses” v1, “the law” v2, “book of the law” v3, “the law of god” v8, “book of the law of god” v18?

30. Why are the two most important commandments contained within the Law of Moses unrelated to Sabbath keeping? (Mat 22:36-40)

31. What did Jesus say about the law that Moses gave the Jews? (John 7:19)

32. If, according to the Adventists, the Sabbath cannot change because God cannot change (Mal 3:6), then what about all the other feast days and laws that changed (Heb 7:12), and why did Jesus give a new commandment in John 13:34?

33. If the Ten Commandments are going to be in heaven, what is the use of “thou shalt not commit adultery”, if there is no marriage in heaven? (Luke 20:34-35)

34. If the Sabbath was given to all men, why then were Gentiles called “strangers”. Why were Gentiles outside the gates not required to keep the Sabbath? (Ex 20:10)

35. How could the Sabbath be a sign between God and Israel if all nations were expected to keep it? (Ex 31:17)

36. Why did God send the Jews into Babylonian Captivity for breaking the Sabbath, but never ever criticized any Gentiles for never keeping the Sabbath?

37. Why did God often criticize the Gentiles via the prophets for moral violations, but never for breaking the Sabbath?

38. If the Gentiles were supposed to keep the Sabbath, why are they called “strangers of the Covenant” in Ephesians 2:12?

39. If the term “commandments” always means the Ten Commandments, then why are the laws that are not part of the Ten Commandments called commandments in Matthew 19:16-19 not also included?

40. If the term “commandments” always means the Ten Commandments, then what did Paul call the injunction for prophet’s wives to keep silent in the assemblies, a “commandment of the Lord” in 1 Corinthians 14:37?

41. If the term “keep my commandments” always means the Ten Commandments, then why is there a new commandment? (John 15:10-12, John 13:34)

42. If only the Ten Commandments are going to endure until heaven and earth pass away, why did Jesus say the law AND THE PROPHETS? (Mat 5:17-18)

43. When Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” why did Jesus NOT QUOTE from the Ten Commandments, but from the abolished ceremonial law of Moses? (Mat 22:36-40)

44. If the Ten Commandments are the highest and most complete expression of God’s will, then why did they lack the two most important commandments? (Mat 22:36-40) and where is the prohibition against drunkenness, homosexuality and fornication?

45. If the Ten Commandments are the highest and most complete expression of God’s will, then why did Jesus give a new commandment to “love one another, even as I have loved you”? (John 13:34) Where were the Jews told to love their neighbor as God loved them?

46. If Christians worshipping on Sunday is equal to Sun Worship, then is Messianic/Adventists worshipping on Saturday equal to Saturn worship?

47. If Sabbatarians will boldly quote “scholars” who are really Bible trashers and skeptics who claim “the origin of Sunday worship is entirely pagan”, like Arthur Weigall in his ridiculous little book, “the paganism in our Christianity”, will these same Sabbatarians turn a few pages later where these same authors say the origin of the Sabbath is also pagan? “I have, already mentioned that Sunday, too, was a pagan holy-day; and in this chapter I propose to discuss the origin of this custom of keeping one day in the week as a Sabbath, or “day of rest,’ and’ to show that the practice was forcefully opposed by Jesus Christ. The origin of the seven-day week which was used by the Jews and certain other peoples, but not till, later by the Greeks or Romans, is to be sought in some primitive worship of the moon (The Paganism in Our Christianity, Arthur Weigall, 1928, p209, 210-211)

48. If the Sabbath is a moral law, why did Jesus say that David, the priests, and a man with his donkey could all break the Sabbath without sin? (Mat 12:1-14; Mark 2:23, Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6 John 5:8-18; 7:19-24; 9:14-16)

49. If the Sabbath is a moral law, why did God grow tired of the Jews keeping it and told them to stop keeping the Sabbath? (Isa 1:13-14) Did God ever grow weary of anyone not committing adultery or murder, and tell them to be immoral and kill?

50. If the Sabbath is a moral law, how could Jesus break it without sinning? (John 5:18)

YES the whole 66 book canon of the Bible is for us and yet, IT reveals that a NEW covenant superseded the Old one. The book of Hebrews reveals to us that a “BETTER covenant” with “BETTER promises” made the old covenant obsolete “for righteousness.” (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6; Romans 10:4) The faith of the NEWWWW Testament saint, saved by grace, is not set upon trying to keep the law (“keeping Torah”) but rather set upon the only ONE to ever keep the law perfectly – then He. Christ, nailed it to the cross and “took it out of the way.” (Colossians 2:14-19) It’s over so repent and get over it, now! The infinitely inferior old was a mere shadow of the infinitely superior NEW Testament that was to come and HAS come with Christ! (Hebrews 10:1) Beware of the demonic judaizing devils in our midst. They are snakes!

Sabbath Blasting

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Parenting and the Eternal Destiny of Your Child [podcast]

There’s no such thing as a Christian who is a parent and isn’t teaching their child(ren) God’s Word.

So you programmed and indoctrinated your own child to “go get an education” from a commie university, with nothing but antichrist’s as “professors”, who merely read and teach marxist textbooks full of every evil known to mankind. And yet you still wonder why they turned from Christ? – if you even taught them the Bible in the first place. Time for you to get saved. God holds you personally accountable for allowing and inviting evil upon the minds and hearts of the child(ren) He gave you temporary stewardship over. Judgment Day is on the way. Time to repent – before it’s too late.

Are you teaching your children God’s Word? (Proverbs 22:6)

Are you teaching your child to study God’s Word and get a biblical education? (2 Timothy 2:15)

The LORD didn’t say to “go to church” or make yourself or your children good church members. No. Repent, put your whole faith in Christ for salvation – then deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus everyday to the end of your life. | Church Membership Exposed

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

No such thing as a Christian who doesn’t teach their own children God’s Word. No such thing. Anyone who claims to be a Christian and isn’t teaching their children the Word of God is an absolute fraud, 100% (Titus 1:16). Oh and teach them using the King James Bible – never mind your lame groundless excuses. That’s the whole problem (John 3:19-21).

Few things infuriate and evoke such indignation as this evil going on under the sun – and it’s going on in the lives of those who falsely claim to be saved. If such weren’t so pitiful, it’d be laughable.

Beloved of God, your child needs to see you worship and obey God… read His Word, pray, and minister to others – to serve God by serving others. Let them see Christ alive and working in you or you will simply produce another self-righteous religious pharisee. They will never forget how you served God with a pure heart and joy-filled spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

God didn’t give you those children so you could exploit, use them to think you are so amazing. No, sinner, He commanded you to teach them His Word every day of their life, and train them up in His holy ways. If you didn’t/aren’t, that’s clear proof you are a hell bound unsaved counterfeit and wouldn’t know Jesus if He stood in your face.

“And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 11:19

Read Deuteronoamy chapters 4, 6, 11.

“Ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law”

“And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 32:46

Read that again and notice that we are to set our hearts upon the words of God and command our children also to observe them.

“If you don’t train your child at a young age how they should act and live, then Satan will. Make no mistake about that! You will be judged and held accountable at the judgement seat of Christ. Proverbs 22:6 in the King James Bible.” Charles Pray

Those who do not attach pain, punishment with wrong doing, will reap wicked children and give account to God for not teaching them to obey authority. Repent now and train up your children in the right ways of the LORD.

ARE YOU training, correcting, guiding your children?

“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” Proverbs 29:17

Being a “good” parent doesn’t mean you are a God-fearing, a godly parent. In reality, you are not a good parent if you are not training your child(ren) up in the pure Word of God. You prove to be a lost soul if such is the case. Repent now sinner. The Almighty will bring you into full account for how you’ve brought up HIS children.

Parenting and Eternal Life are Connected

“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” Proverbs 23:13-14

Unless our children learn to submit to and obey our authority, they will very likely never submit to the authority of their Maker before whom they shall stand in judgment.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18

Obey God and do not trust your own wicked heart: If you are not obeying God it’s because you do not fear Him and are in utter need of truly repenting now – before it’s too late.

Is your child born again and walking with Jesus?

Obey God’s Word concerning your children and crucify your own feelings:

“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26

Chasten your child(ren) now – before it’s too late.

“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” Proverbs 19:18

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” Proverbs 22:15

“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” Proverbs 29:15

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

Some of the things children are to be taught be their parents in training them up in the right ways of the LORD …

Read and memorize God’s Word (Proverbs 4:4; Revelation 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-16; Colossians 3:16, etc.).
Know the books of the Bible – Genesis to Revelation.
That they are sinners. Give them the law, the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20: Romans 3).
To know the 10 Commandments by memory (Exodus 20). This is a basic structure of what the LORD requires and what He calls sin.
God requires that they obey – Him and their parents (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.).
How to be saved (Romans road; 3:10, 23; 6:23; 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
To love God and their neighbor – Golden Rule Living (Matthew 7:12).
If you cant say something good, don’t say anything at all (Proverbs 17:27-28; James 3).
Honor authority. Children learn this as they are taught to honor and obey their parents.
To walk in utter integrity and honesty (Proverbs 20:7; Luke 8:15).
To always be serving God and others ABS (Matthew 23:11; Acts 20:35)
To help the poor (Proverbs 19:17; Galatians 2:10; James 1:27, etc.).
To trust God no matter what the circumstances look like (Mark 10:27).
To pray (Matthew 6:6-13, etc.).
The beatitudes of Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
Eternal perspective (Proverbs 23:14; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:18; 1 Corinthians 2:9; John 14:1-6).
To praise the LORD with great joy. To praise and worship and sing to the LORD (Psalms 149; 150; Hebrews 13:15).
To give thanksgiving to the LORD for everything they already have and what’s to come (Ephesians 5:20; Hebrews 13:5).
That the joy of the LORD is their strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
Teach them to read (Revelation 1:3).
Teach them consistency – to finish what they start, to endure to the end (Matthew 10:22; 24:13, etc.).

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Articles

“The Cross”

Excerpt from the book I Die Daily

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14

“The cross” is all about relationship. “The blood of His cross” purchased us back to God from sin (Acts 20:28; Col. 1:20). Paul here says in essence that His love for the Savior, who bled for his sins, warranted his full allegiance to Him and crucifixion with Him. Nothing was more important to this servant apostle than knowing Christ and remaining in Him (1 Cor. 9:27; Phil. 3:7-10). All else was counted as “dung” compared to the supreme and surpassing importance of his relationship with Jesus Christ. This is the “mark” the apostle pressed “toward” with all of his being (Phil. 3:7-14). Paul knew the eternal danger of not keeping under the sins of his body and in the end becoming a “castaway.” (1 Cor. 9:27) He was fully aware of the five specific sins that kept God’s own people out of their promised land, and would keep him out of the promised land of Heaven if he allowed his sinful nature, which was at “enmity against God,” to rule in his life, bringing defilement in the eyes of a holy God (Mk. 7:20-23; Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 9:27-10:12; Heb. 12:14-16). God’s stated will is to bring people “out from” spiritual death and “in” to the place of His divine life, that He might preserve them alive (with His life—Deut. 6:23-24; Rom. 8:1-13).

The purpose and point of “the cross” is not that God is trying to deprive anyone of something valuable, but rather that He seeks relationship with that person—“for our good always.” (Deut. 6:23-24) It is by the blood of Christ’s cross that we are saved, and “through faith” in Him that we are “kept.” (1 Pet. 1:5) Those in Him must “endure to the end.” (Matt. 10:22; 24:13)

It is “the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” (Rom. 2:4) From the beginning, He made us for relationship with Him (Exod. 25:8). This is why Jesus came to the earth—“And this is life eternal (the reason for it), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

Since the LORD is holy, and the self-life or nature is sinful and at enmity with Him, it must be put to death because He who is “Holy, holy, holy” will not commune with a sinful vessel (Isa. 6:3; 59:2; 2 Cor. 6:14 -7:1; 1 Jn. 1:3-9; Rev. 4:8). Sin breaks that fellowship (Rom. 6:23). Like it or not, “the wages of sin is” still spiritual “death” and always will be, due to God’s eternal and unchangeable nature of holiness. The cross of Christ is the answer.

Holiness or pureness of heart and thought is of supreme importance in the eyes of the Almighty. His eyes are upon our hearts and the thoughts that we are dwelling upon (1 Sam. 16:7; Ps. 51:10; 139:23-24; Prov. 15:3; Matt. 5:8; Acts 15:9). The cross, which must be daily applied to the inner life by the disciple, is the implement of death to the sinfully self-loving, self-driven, self-willed, and self -consumed life. The fervent worship of Jesus, which always leads one to the application of the cross, brings the glorious liberty that only Christ can grant—to be fully filled, led, and made free by the Holy Ghost of God.

One manifests his love in relationship with the LORD when he chooses to obey Him in denying the iniquitous deeds of the sinful nature, in order that he might commune with and serve the Father and Savior, who died on the cross to reconcile him to the One who is “Holy, holy, holy.” (Isa. 6:3; 1 John 1:3-10; Rev. 4:8) Otherwise, sin will prevent his relationship with the LORD. Sin must be confessed to be cleansed (1 John 1:9). Saving faith will always drive one to obey Christ, which includes the premium He places on His people being “pure in heart.” (Matt. 5:8; 1 John 2:3-5; James 1:22) Christ told us that only the “pure in heart” will be blessed.” (Matt. 5:8) If one who has been saved goes back and ceases to obey Christ, it’s because he no longer loves Christ supremely, nor does he now possess saving faith (1 Tim. 5:12; 2 Tim. 4:10; James 2; 2 Pet. 2:20-21).

If a person does not want more of Jesus, he is not a part of the remnant of Christ’s elect (Rev. 17:14). If a person is always looking to circumvent the “daily” cross, and looking for doctrinal ways to justify not giving over his whole will and being to Christ, he is willingly lost (Rom. 12:1). Those who are truly His “depart from iniquity,” as they daily “present” their “bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.” (Rom. 12:1; 2 Tim. 2:19)

If one will guard his heart and be preserved to the end in his relationship with Christ, he must beware of the numerous cross-less and Calvinistic wolves who occupy positions of leadership and influence in the modern church world. Millions have already been deceived and will be shocked on Judgment Day (Matt. 7:15-23; Luke 13:27-28).

The LORD bless you richly today, and fill you with His Holy Ghost afresh to subdue your own self-life, that Jesus’ life might be manifested in your life (2 Cor. 4:10-12). God is able as we do things His way. His grace is fully sufficient for us (Rom. 6:14; 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 12:9-10).

In God’s economy, holiness in His people is a must, and it’s the blood of Christ that enables the recipient and possessor of His salvation to experience overcoming victory through the cross (Rom. 6; Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; Rev. 21:8, 27). His enabling grace was made possible through Christ’s redemption, and there is therefore no excuse for living in sin (Rom. 6). There can be no variance from such biblical truth in true Christian preaching. Sin separates and hell awaits all who die in sin—no matter what their previous relationship with God may have been (Rev. 21:8, 27; 22:11, 15). Relationship with Christ, personal holiness, the cross, overcoming sin, and repentance, go hand in hand; and today, none of these essentials can be found prevalent in the mouths of most so-called “Christian” pastors, writers, and leaders (Isa. 9:16; 1 Cor. 1:18; Phil. 3:18-19). By “the blood of his cross,” Christ made us holy in our position with God, and He commands each of us to take up our own cross and count ourselves crucified with Him in our daily lives, that His holiness might be manifest experientially in our lives (Rom. 6; 2 Cor. 4:10-11; Gal. 2:20).

David Kupelian, vice president and managing editor of WorldNetDaily.com, writes:

“‘I die daily’

In ages past, Christians dwelt a lot more on the concept of taking up the ‘cross’ than they do these days. Today, the phrase ‘it’s my cross to bear’ is usually a somewhat self-congratulatory reference to the fact that we have to put up with a vexing medical condition, or a child in trouble with the law, or perhaps an overbearing, live-in mother-in law.

Admonitions from the pulpit may not shed much more light. Oh sure, a well-intentioned minister will reverently read one of the scriptures cited above on ‘taking up the cross,’ and he might even briefly plug the ideal of self-denial. But too often this amounts to a polite nod to a notion that seems both archaic and almost irrelevant, or at least unattainable, and the pastor just moves on to more pleasant topics—like how grateful we are that we’re saved by Christ’s death and resurrection.

It wasn’t always so. Throughout past centuries, Christian philosophers and mystics dwelt at length on the crucial, life-and-death need for repentance, resignation, ‘mortification,’ the ‘crucifixion’ of sin in man, and the ‘death of the carnal man’ or of ‘the creaturely self’ and so on. The Apostle Paul said it most powerfully and succinctly when he wrote: ‘I die daily.’”

If they are not crucified on the cross we are instructed to “take up,” the deeds of the body will cause one to displease the LORD by the manifestation of the soul damning “works of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:19-21)

There is perhaps room to see Paul’s words “I die daily” both concerning our lives being laid down and subject to being martyred daily and also in dying daily to self that the Savior might reign (John 12:14; 2 Cor. 4:10-12). These two truths seem to dovetail together; Being dead to self is going to be essential to dying as a martyr.

The Two Cross Deaths

There are two kinds of dying seen in the Scriptures—positional and experiential.

Positional death speaks of our oneness with the death Christ experienced when He died on the cross, when he did “taste death for every man.” (Heb. 2:9) Positionally we are dead and buried with Him (Rom. 6:3-4).

Experiential death of the inner self-life = the willing crucifixion of the personal will out of a far surpassing love for and desire to see Christ reign supreme. When we love Him more than ourselves, we will die so He can live. Life can only spring out of death (Jn. 12:24). The problem is that most people who claim to be Christians love themselves more than Christ (2 Tim. 3:1-7). They have freely chosen to resist loving the LORD with all of their hearts, souls, minds, and strength (Matt. 22:37-40).

The Positional Cross

The word “baptized” is used in more than one way in the Bible. It is used to express both a literal and a figurative immersion. Immersion simply means being placed all the way into. In Romans 6, speaking figuratively of our baptism into Christ (not water), the apostle writes:

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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

We have been immersed (baptized) completely into Christ figuratively—“we are buried with him by baptism into death.”

Our justification and sanctification are wrapped up in being buried with Christ. We are then raised with Him and enabled to “walk in newness of life.” Our position—buried with and in Christ—enables the literally manifested life of Christ to be experienced in our daily lives.

We are united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The phrase “in Christ,” seen throughout New Testament Scripture, is short for our immersion into Him—His death, burial, and resurrection and our own death, burial, and resurrection with Him. Jesus died and was raised up once, and we died and are raised up with Him in type/proxy.

“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:5-7

THE LORD has “raised up” those He has found and saved out of their sinful state and into His eternal kingdom. They are “raised up” to “sit together” with Him—“in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” This He did for His eternal purposes. He “made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” so this is our positional standing with Him; yet His desire is that such a positional place become an experiential reality in our “daily” lives, as we “follow” Him. And how does such a translation happen? This manifested “newness of life” occurs as we lay down our self-will in full surrender to His Majesty, crying out “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) Victorious living in this “newness of life” happens when we follow His instructions to “deny” ourselves and “take up” the cross, and let His will and life reign in our mortal bodies in place of our own. This positional seating in Christ and with God in heavenly places becomes a reality in our daily experience as we sentence our lives to death, being rooted in Christ, as we “take root downward.” (Isa 37:31) He then raises us upward in “newness of life”—with His life to bear fruit to His pleasing.

Our positional place with Him means that we died with Him, and we are seated in heavenly places in Christ. Yet, we are still on earth and subject to temptations. This is why the experiential cross is so important.

The Experiential Cross

“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:5-6

The believer, who is buried with Christ and raised in “newness of life,” is told that he “should not serve sin.” Serving sin or the Savior is always going to be a choice as long as we are on the earth.

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

Paul told us that he had to keep under the sinful desires/deeds of his body so that he would not become a “castaway” from Christ in the end (1 Cor. 9:27). What can we learn from this? Our relationship with Christ is both positional and practical. It began in our past when we were born again, and exists now daily as we deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him. This is our personal participation with Christ as we take up the yoke and walk with our Master—His blessed Gospel—dying, being buried and then raised up daily with Him.

In studying the subject of dying daily and Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I die daily,” I have read a few commentaries which seemed to only acknowledge the positional death of the believer. This is because the misguided Calvinist wants no part of anything that might cost him the suffering of death to his own will. He wants to believe that God did it all, and subsequently ignores the commandments of the very same God for him to personally experience dying to self and self-will. The Calvinist is a moral coward who wants the crown without the cross, so he objects to and flees any notion of personal responsibility. In the face of a mountain of Scriptural commands and conditional blessings, he insists that there are no requirements placed upon him. If that were so, why were we then given the many commandments of Christ and His holy apostles? The diabolical dynamic of Calvinism is to escape and deny by any means possible, any teaching that calls for a personal cost. In contrast, the Bible teaches us that to lose is to gain (Matt. 10:3839; Jn. 12:24-26; Phil. 1:21). The spiritual coward wants to hide away in his false security zone, where he is protected from all that would cause him to suffer—the circumcising sword of the Word, persecutions, tribulations, dying to sin and self, purging, and the chastening of the LORD. This is why this theology always migrates to the line of least resistance to the flesh—no baptism in the Holy Spirit or lordship of Christ, due to the myth of ‘once saved always saved,’ and a pre-tribulation rapture. (Actually, although he holds no strong position on the exact timing of Christ’s return, this writer believes that there is the possibility of a pre-tribulation rapture. In the previous statement, I was just making a point.)

Some may despise the idea that people teach the Scripture “I die daily” as something that needs to be done by the individual recipient of salvation. The Calvinistically infected mindset believes that everything that needs to be done has already been done, and that man has no choice or accountability in the matter of participation. It’s true that Christ initiated and earned our salvation, and that without Him we are hopeless. It is also just as true that this same Jesus instructed those who would follow Him to be “daily” crucified with Him, by denying themselves and taking up their crosses. Romans 6 says “Our old man is crucified with him” (v 6), and yet it also says:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (v 1)—The question “Shall we” denotes volition, option, and choice.
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” (v 5)—The “if” here speaks of volition, option, and choice.
“Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (v 11)
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” (v 12)
“Neither yield ye 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.” (v 13)
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (v 16)

The honest student of the Bible, the one that refuses to allow himself to be infected with any predisposed notion, will see this.

The work of Christ to position us in heavenly places is a settled fact and truth (Eph. 2:6). As we are discovering from Holy Writ, the experiential cross of the individual must be taken up and died upon. Paul the apostle of Christ said, “I KEEP under my body.” (1 Cor. 9:27) The denial of the self-life and following Jesus is only accomplished by the enabling grace and Holy Spirit of the LORD, who is perfecting that which concerns us as He continues His good work in us—we who have been apprehended by Him for His purpose and glory (Ps. 138:8; Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13). This occurs as we “work out” our “salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:1213) It is “through the Spirit” that we are blessed and empowered to “mortify the deeds of the body.” (Rom. 8:13)

There are those who know only the positional application of the cross, where we “are dead” and buried with Christ, and raised up by the faith of the operation of

God, and seated together in heavenly places in Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:3). In spite of understanding that we are dead, buried, and raised up with Christ, men misunderstand or do not know about the doctrine of the daily cross—the keeping under or subduing of the sinful nature on a daily basis. The essential nature of such a biblical and vital truth is tragically seldom, if ever, spoken about in most “ministry” that transpires in the modern church world.

Love is a daily test.

Love is a daily choice.

That person who has a mere “form of godliness” and yet denies the power of Christ to reign in his life, will never experience the fellowship of His sufferings and the blessed “fruit” He desires to bring forth “upward” to His glory (Isa. 37:31; Rom. 8:11; 2 Tim. 3:5). Many seek to render rote adherence to the command of Christ while lacking the positional revelation of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Gospel. In contrast, the true disciple of Christ is that one who is driven by the greater desire and love that possesses his heart for Christ. His love for Jesus far surpasses his love for self and the pleasures of this world.

Throughout Holy Scripture, we are afforded the blessing of witnessing the joyful delight many had for the LORD. Here is a sampling:

“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Psalms 73:25

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death … Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:10, 13-14

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalms 27:4

The “one thing” that most deeply and profoundly moved these men and women was knowing Him more and more, seeking His face in earnest as they experienced Him daily.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” 1 John 3:1

The love we are blessed to possess of Him, and the cross, go hand in hand. Because of His love in us, and our own decision to reciprocate that love, we make a daily choice to experience the cross. The daily cross is the application of death applied into our life and will in order that Christ’s will and life might be in control and reign in our mortal bodies (2 Cor. 4:10-12).

God made man with a choice (Deut. 30:19; Josh. 24:15; Gal. 6:7-9). Firstly, it makes no sense at all biblically speaking, to say that the person and volitional will of the individual believer plays no part in his decisions. That is a diabolical and Calvinistic heresy that has no biblical ground beneath it. Those in denial of the cross Jesus commanded us to “daily” take up, simply do not wish to deny self and sin as Christ commanded. Many of them have placed the teachings of mere men—who were heretics—above God’s Word. Instead of setting aside the “doctrines of men” for Christ’s teachings, they set the teachings of the Son of God aside for the teachings of mere men (like John Calvin). Like the Pharisees of Christ’s day, these men love their traditions more than the LORD and His Word (Mark 7:6-9). Every generation in history has its pseudo-theologians, who cast away the Word of God for their own traditions of mere men. Every day also has a remnant, which says, “Let God be true and every man a liar.” (Rom. 3:4)

Letting “God be true” in our personal lives includes silencing the call of the sinful nature, Satan, and the voices of the myriad of cross-denying wolves, who come in Christ’s name yet do not preach His original Gospel.

“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

Throughout His teachings, the Son of God taught us that following Him was a “daily” experience and not a onetime event. He made it abundantly clear that this “daily” experience of His life was only possible in conjunction with the disciple’s self-denial, and his choosing to prefer the Savior above himself (Matt. 16:24-26; Luke 9:23-24; John 12:23-26).

“Many admit the positional death (at initial salvation), but there is also a present salvation (progressive sanctification or transformation) that is experiential, the daily death, burial and resurrection. The Leviticus 1 burnt offering occurred daily. The first thing the invader always did at the Temple was to do away with the daily sacrifice. This will also be 1st order of business for the antichrist, and for those who possess the spirit of antichrist today.”

Christ told us that if we would follow Him, we must “daily” take up the cross and follow (Luke. 9:23-24). As one writer has pointed out here, the daily sacrifice is attacked by the invader and enemy of our souls, and this is seen in the absence of such preaching in that which calls itself the church today. The Bible tells us that “Satan” has his “ministers,” and these men are “deceitful workers” who have infiltrated the modern church and so-called higher learning institutions (seminaries, etc.). See 2 Cor. 11:12-15. These “false apostles,” who are imposters, have hi-jacked the pulpits and publishing houses of this last hour with a message that is void of the cross and is sending many to eternal darkness (2 Pet. 2:1-3). They can be identified as the “enemies of the cross of Christ,” who do not take up their own crosses daily, and therefore do not preach the cross as a daily implement of death to self and self denial (2 Cor. 11:12-15; Phil. 3:18-19). Instead, they “mind earthly things,” even using Scripture to justify their misplaced affections (Phil. 3:18-19).

The “adversary, the devil,” can “devour” us by drawing and seducing us out from our daily and experiential death and burial with Christ, where we are “hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3) When the enemy is able to draw one out into the open, he is then vulnerable as a deer that comes out of the forest and is no longer hidden and protected by the camouflage of the trees. When a deer is out in the open and in a prairie clearing, he is then prey for predators. The lions can then see and smell him, and will seek to devour him.

Taking up the daily cross and experiencing knowing Him in “the fellowship of his sufferings” demonstrates our agreement with God that we are utterly depraved in our Adamic nature, and wholly in need of His righteousness and life to reign in our “mortal” bodies (Rom. 6; 2 Cor. 4:10-11; Phil. 3:10).

In this following passage, watch for the daily experiential cross to be practiced by every true disciple of Jesus:

“Always (daily) bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest (a reality) in our body. For we which live are alway (daily) delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-11

As we related earlier in this chapter, the removal of the “daily” cross is the work of our “adversary.” The same vulnerability (removal of the daily cross) exists today wherever the redeemed saint allows for the “daily” sacrifice to be stolen from his life. The daily presenting of ourselves to Him as “a living sacrifice” is our “reasonable service” in light of what He has done for us (Rom. 12:1).

Because He loves us as His own, Christ instructs those He saves to “daily” deny themselves and take up their crosses to follow Him (Luke. 9:23-24). It is only in being

“dead” to sin and self that our lives “are hid with Christ in God.”

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

“Precious Things” Stolen

“There is a conspiracy of her prophets (leaders)in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.” Ezekiel 22:25

Ezekiel the prophet of God is writing here concerning the leaders of the very nation of Israel. This “conspiracy” he speaks of is a reality and not a theory. We have the divine word on it here. The Bible tells us definitively here that “There is a conspiracy of her prophets” or leaders who claim to be representing the LORD. We are also informed here that these beguilers “have taken the treasure and precious things.” They have stolen away those things which are most important for believers to be aware of, believe, dwell upon, and do.

The enemy invader is now empowering his agents in the pulpits and those who hold the pens of modern publishing. This is seen in the deafening silence of the modern messages we hear. There is a gross lack of hearing the essential truths of Holy Writ spoken or written by men who have positions of influence. In fact, in fulfillment of last day’s prophecy, hoards of self-serving people (who claim to be Christians) are heaping these smooth and deceitful messages, and the messengers who give them, to themselves. Their un-crucified sinful nature seeks out ear-tickling messages that feed their sinful nature instead of beckoning them to crucify it (Rom. 6; 12:1).

In his messages, the beguiling leader feeds the sinful nature, while the leader who is a true servant of Christ calls for the denial of and death of it (Rom. 16:17-18; Phil. 3:1-3; 18-21; 2 Pet. 2:1-3).

Many who love the truth, and therefore deeply desire more of Christ, are coming out of the cross-less and apostate modern church system. Like Paul, their deep desire is “to know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” (Phil. 3:10) They have seen the folly and the “famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.” (Amos 8:11)

Where We Stand

In a passage often referred to as defining the true Gospel, the apostle Paul reveals that this “gospel” is that “wherein ye stand.”

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

As those found and regenerated by Him who first loved us, we “stand” in the Gospel of Christ—both positionally and experientially. In fact, the very next words speak to the essential responsibility of personal participation of the individual recipient of His “so great salvation.” (Heb. 2:3)

“By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:2

The “if” here clearly denotes condition. Our salvation is contingent upon “if” we “keep in memory” the original “gospel” the apostle Paul preached, “unless ye have believed in vain.” Our initial salvation becomes ineffectual if we do not “continue” in Christ or “endure to the end.” (Matt. 10:22; Col. 1:23; Heb. 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-39; 2 Pet. 2:20-21)

Daily experiencing death to self and the raised up life of Christ, is essential to keeping in memory the work of Christ, the coming King.

See if you can identify both the positional and the experiential standing of the believer in this Colossians 3 passage:

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

He has accomplished salvation for us and we are thereby “risen with Christ,” positionally. In light of this, we should then follow suit in seeking “those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” This includes setting our “affection(s) on things above, not on things on the earth.” Positionally, we are to count ourselves “dead,” and consider that our lives are “hid with Christ in God.”

Some erroneously teach that the believer’s positional place with Christ is irreversible, but the Bible tells us differently in a myriad of places. Only when we keep our place or position “with Christ” are we “hid with Christ in God.” Otherwise we are not hidden away from the wrath of God and the enemy. Such a place of being “hid with Christ in God” is conditional upon the recipient of His salvation remaining in Him. One’s place with God is reversible if one does not “abide” or remain “in Christ.” Jesus told us that “If a man abide (remain) not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (Jn. 15:6) Our LORD also told us that there are those “which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” (Luke. 8:13) It should be more than obvious that someone could not possibly “fall away” from something he has not previously possessed. Also, the basic fact that Jesus invented the term “fall away” plainly reveals that such is possible.

That positional standing He purchased for us is ours only as we remain “with Christ,” and “if” a redeemed person chooses to cease following Christ, he is no longer “in Christ” or “with Christ,” and is therefore no longer the recipient of any of His blessings. The Father told us on several occasions that it is only in His only begotten Son that He is “well pleased,” so anyone presently outside of Him is not pleasing to God (Matt. 3:17).

The sacrifice of Christ is a fixed reality. He is invariable and unchanging (Mal. 3:6; Jn. 19:30; James 1:17). But the experiencing of the cross of Christ in the daily life of the recipient of His salvation is volitional. One must count all else “dung” compared to knowing Christ, and in order to “know him,” one must be willing to experience “the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” (Phil. 3:7-10).

All of Holy Scripture testifies to the truth that God’s blessings to individuals are conditional (Deut. 11:26-28; 28:1-67; 30:19-20). The fulfillment of His promises and blessings are contingent upon the obedience of the individual (Gal. 6:7-9; Heb. 6:11-12). The recipient of His free gift of eternal life must by faith “abide” or remain in Him, or he will be “cut off.” (Ezek. 33:12-13; Matt.

10:22; Luke 8:13; Rom. 11:19-22; 1 Cor. 15:2; Col. 1:23; Heb. 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-39; 2 Jn. 9; Rev. 2-3) This important subject is covered extensively in the book titled Lie of the Ages, which can be ordered on this site.

“Many of His Disciples Went Back”

In the record of John 6, we read of “disciples” who continued not with Christ after He taught them. They chose not to partake in His death and life. They did not want to suffer for His sake, and therefore “many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” John 6:66

These people forfeited their place with Christ and all the associated benefits, both here and eternally (Ezek. 33:12 -13). Suffering is part of following Christ, and those who “draw back,” not esteeming Christ and being unwilling to suffer for His sake, will lose out (Rom. 8:17; Phil. 1:29; Heb. 10:38-39; 1 Pet. 4:1-14; Rev. 2-3).

According to God’s Word, those who refuse to follow up in their daily lives with experiential living with Christ, partaking of His blessed sufferings and the associated benefits, will lose out on their positional place they once had with Him (2 Pet. 2:20-21). Those who after being bought by His blood, “deny him,” will also be denied by Him for having “trodden under foot the Son of God.” (2 Tim. 2:12; Heb. 10:29)

One will not experience His resurrection life if he refuses to experience a dying with Him—to self, sin, Satan, and this world.

Many today are seeking to gain, but they are trying to go around the cross. These people do not yet realize that it’s only in dying to self that God’s “gain” will come to them. It’s only in dying that they can live by the resurrecting power of God in Christ, who is “the resurrection and the life.” (Jn. 11:25) He promised to raise up by the power of His Holy Spirit those that be bowed down in death to self and sin (Ps. 145:15; Rom. 8:11). The LORD promises to raise upward in fruitfulness those that “take root downward.” (Isa. 37:31)

The cross is the place of safety—being in the center of God’s will. We are safe on the cross, buried, sunk down, and hidden in Christ while being “raised up” by His power and to His glory (Rom. 6:3-4; 8:11; Col. 2:11-12; 3:3). Beware of the wiles of Satan, who seeks to lure us off the cross where we are “hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3) The enemy’s design is to keep you ignorant of the necessity of the cross—to keep you from experiencing Christ’s resurrection power. When you do choose to learn of Christ to get on the cross, the enemy’s scheme will be to get you to come down from that cross—to keep you from dying that Christ’s life might reign in you and over the enemy (Luke 10:18). Is this not what he did to our LORD? (Matt. 27:42)

The only way to have upward mobility—divine resurrection power—is to plant yourself deep into the death of Christ. The further down one descends, the more powerful the raising up will be (2 Cor. 4:10-12).

Jesus told us that we must lose our lives to gain His life and eternal life.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:24-25

PRAYER: Father, not my will but Thine be done. You must increase and I must decrease. I now this moment, choose to lay my life down—to die to self and all of its fleshly facets. I honor You, LORD Jesus and Father, and joyfully bow in humility before Your Majesty. Grant Your enabling grace to my life, so I might please You in all things. I am crucified with Christ. I am dead, and my life is hid with Christ in God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Capture Points

Discuss John 12:24-26 and what it means to “fall into the ground and die,” as pertains to Christ and also all of those who would follow Him.
According to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, what is “the gospel” that we stand in defined as? (KJV recommended)
What did Jesus tell us was the purpose for which He came? John 17:3

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