Friday, June 30, 2017

The Gospel of the Cross


Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 
 
1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Co 1:19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1Co 1:20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Co 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
 
 
I have had this verse, Romans 1:16 printed on a card for many years, where I can see it often. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.  It is not a gospel of good works, for our efforts will not save us. It is not a gospel of love, for love and feelings alone will not save us. It is not a gospel of God or many gods leading to salvation, for there is only one way for our sins to be removed. The way is by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came from spiritual heaven to become a human to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins. You cannot share the gospel without the cross where Jesus shed his blood to pay for all sins of those who will believe. By believing this we are adopted into the family of God. Remember this: Jesus is God who came in a flesh human body in order to legally justify the forgiveness of sins. The one God is Spirit; God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus came in a human body in order to shed his pure sinless blood in our place.
 
Peter who denied Christ three times, was converted and filled with the Holy Spirit who gave him boldness to witness for Jesus. The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus.
 
Act 4:10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Act 4:11  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
 
 

Salvation comes to us by faith in Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and by his own power, the power of God, he was raised from the grave. Because he lives we who trust in him live.


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