Christ's Cross

Part I
For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,  and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1:19,20

Here’s the truth – can’t destroy it, can’t do anything to annihilate it.  The only thing that has been done against it is Satan’s scheme to cover it up, distort it, and keep us from really understanding it.

God has so settled everything in His Son, Jesus Christ.  Our first priority in all of this life is simply to believe God’s Word.  God’s peace is real.  The Scriptures clearly tell us that God reconciled all things to Himself through the blood of His Son’s cross.  There is much to be learned of this Christ.

Anyone can enjoy the peace of God by simply believing the message of the TRUTH that Christ died, was buried, risen, ascended and now seated ALL on our behalf!  In Him dwells ALL the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  In Him, we ARE complete.  In Him, we are MADE sons and daughters of the living God.  In Him, we are MADE SAINTS.  The Word clearly states that in Him we are above reproach and blameless before Him. 

This is true all because of Jesus Christ alone.  We have received Him.  Now we learn Him – we discover the riches of His grace and mercies ever flowing from the Father.  We are NOT on trial OR probation.

The more we simply absorb the TRUTH of the epistles written to the CHURCH – who are also members of the Lord’s body AND in the NEW MAN, the NEW CREATION, we will be FILLED with joy and peace (Romans 15:13).

The Holy Spirit within us woos us to believe ONLY the TRUTH as it is and sets off within us discomfort, alarms, and disturbances when we are OFF BASE or tormented by some stupid stuff that floats around as truth.  We are warned constantly of false knowledge that wants to permeate the minds of those who have entrusted themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We DO NOT have to turn cartwheels before God in order to get HIM to do anything on our behalf.  The work’s been DONE!  We are to CHANGE our thinking according to the TRUTH.  Then our prayers, our walk, our time left here on this planet will be different.  We will not be a bunch of religious fanatics, but those who enjoy the fruits of God.

One of the great things I have truly discovered about God is HE IS THE INIATOR.  We are the responders.  God Himself initiated salvation, the work, and the plan of Christ.  No where can we find in Scriptures where man contributed to God’s purpose and actions.  Nowhere.

So why do we think we our contributing now?  Why do we behave as though our ideas contribute to the LIFE of God’s Son in and through us?  We were and are always RECEIVERS of our Lord – receiving HIS LIFE, RECEIVING GOD’s GRACE – RECEIVING the THOUGHTS OF THE LIVING LORD WITHIN – RECEIVING God’s Word, RECEIVING God’s revelations and insights to TRUTH – RECEIVING, RECEIVING, RECEIVING.

Part II

 Merit is a killer, an absolute killer.

Kill that thing! 

If you saw a POISONOUS snake in your house would you get it out?  Well merit is a snake from Satan – poisonous to the Christian walk and fruitfulness – it’s come into the CAMP of CHRIST.

If there is anywhere in our thinking consciously or not that we, in our flesh, are making ourselves something before God, we in the Galatians syndrome.

The life we now live is lived by the fullness of the GRACE of God through faith in the Son of God. Grace through faith in Him.  Who HE IS can be FLESHED OUT in and THROUGH US – but it is ONLY WHO HE IS!  The life of Christ within is SELF CONTAINED (HIS self) – this is why it is written – the fruit of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, faithfulness…

We WERE DEAD in Adam, in sin and trespasses – NOW we were made to be ALIVE in Christ Jesus.  It is God WHO RAISED us up and seated us with His Son in the heavenly places.  God and God alone.  All the GIFT of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.  Gift, Gift, Gift! The GIFT OF CHRIST LIVES IN YOU AND ME!

 I laugh when I think just how helpless, how nothing one can be as a dead person.  But how glorious one can be to have another who is life raise them up.  Does the corpse boast then? I don’t think so – they are ever indebted and bonded to the ONE who raised them up, only discovering the WONDERS of that LIFE Who raised them up! 

Well duh…that’s us – raised up in the newness of LIFE in CHRIST JESUS!

What a life – what a God – what a GREAT SALVATION.

Therefore, on planet earth, I am to WALK in TRUTH – even my mind is schooled by the Lord – and I am to hold HIS THOUGHTS, HIS TRUTH tightly in my mind daily.  “Having your loins GIRDED about with TRUTH…putting on the breastplate of righteousness….”  Ephesians 6.  We will not need this whole armor of God in eternity – we need it on planet earth.

Therefore we are to stimulate one another in the TRUTH – not false notions, some religious fancies, and things that exalt itself against the TRUE KNOWLEDGE of God.  We are to be careful as to what we are saying and believing because TRUTH so edifies and builds up the saints in Christ – TRUTH alone.

Thank you God, for your Son – for HIS work and for perfecting our faith in the TRUTH of Christ.

Amen and amen,

Sue Gaither