Gospel of the Cross

          The entirety of the Bible shows us the gospel, and this work is an effort to reveal some of that gospel within the scriptures. The Gospel is simple – Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The object of our faith must solely rest in the cross of Christ, everything else is spiritual adultery and is carnal by nature. Most Christians agree on the cross of Christ for salvation, but afterward place their faith in their own abilities, understanding, and works (actions) when trying to live for God. It cannot be the cross and something else. The work is either finished or it is not.

          The bible from Genesis to Revelation reveals the gospel. The cross of Christ is simple to understand once understood. The cross of Christ is contrary to the natural man’s understanding and goes against our carnal mind. The offense of the cross voids all of humanity’s efforts. All our abilities, understanding, and works falls short when compared to the cross of Christ. Human pride and will of mind find the cross offensive because no matter how hard a person tries, they will fail. Once we submit to the cross of Christ, we can find success through the working of the Holy Spirit. 

We consider the cross as the gospel, but we are far removed from it and in action we prove the words of Jesus.

Matthew 15:8 (KJV)
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”  

          How long must we run around that proverbial mountain? When we try to set up righteousness within ourselves through our own “obedience to the law” we deny his righteousness. As it written, “Look up for our redemption draweth nigh,” and again, “Salvation is of the Lord.” Righteousness is of the Lord, and we can only gain that heavenly inheritance through his working. We must lay aside those things that easily trouble us and turn to him with all our hearts. We must look to him as the “author and finisher of our faith” because he will complete the work he began in us.

           Peace can only come when we have total faith in his finished work, because then it will not be what we have done but his work. Praying, praising, and fasting are all good, but these actions cannot bring peace, victory, and righteousness. If praying could have given us victory, then Christ would not had to die on the cross. If Praising God could chase away devils, then why did Jesus have to come and show us the way of the cross? Lifting our voices in praise would have brought us the victory. If fasting could have brought us into righteousness, then what is the purpose of the blood? The chorus of the beautiful song “Ole the blood of Jesus, it washes me white as snow” says it all, because it is the blood of Jesus that saves, sanctifies, and justifies!