Living Sacrifice Lived Out

Chapter 12 is a turning point in the letter to the Romans it brings practical application how the believer can walk as a living sacrifice.

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Living Sacrifice Lived Out

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Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

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Last week we spent a lot of time hitting verses 1 and 2; we are not trying to cover the same ground; However there is a turning point in the letter to the Romans. It begins here in Romans 12:1. Paul has laid many foundational truths up to this point. The just shall live by faith, the object of your faith must ever be Jesus Christ and Him crucified, men are justified exclusively by faith in Jesus Christ, it is faith in Jesus Christ and not of works, One Man’s obedience is the source of all righteousness, one dies to sin when they come to Jesus, one must reckon himself dead to sin and alive unto God, true believers are slaves of righteousness, we are not under law but have been married to Jesus, there is a no condemnation, if God be for us no one can be against us, and many more lessons that teach us to rely upon the finished work of Christ. Romans 12 turning point begins to bring practical applications of truths we have learned.

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We have been called to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. Now we see Paul turning his attention to our calling. Because we have this free gift of righteousness we have been empowered to live for God. God’s divine influence causes us to look at things differently. Grace causes us to walk soberly with the measure of faith God has given to us. If you have grace to such a great degree that it causes you to walk with a high opinion of yourself; be careful you are on slippery ground. True grace causes us to lose the “me” mentality. If you are that living sacrifice you are ready to minister and care for the members of the body.

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Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

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We are one body! The head of this body is Jesus Christ Himself! Grace has been given so that we can function in the purpose God has set for us. An individual or group who isolate themselves has forgotten the head of the body is Christ.

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Proverbs 18:1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

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They may think they have some special understanding that the whole body of Christ needs, yet they find it necessary to separate themselves. This one is thinking more highly of themselves than they should. The fact that one is completely isolated is a sign that one is endanger of being disconnected from the head.

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Colossians 2:18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

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If someone is teaching Jesus Christ is not the exclusive source of righteousness and victory over sin has not been completely accomplished at the cross, they are not holding fast to the Head Jesus Christ. There is one body and Jesus Christ is the head! Staying connected to the head is all important. Being connected gives room for service to the body.

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Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

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When we are walking in grace we need to open our hearts to minister the grace given to us. If it is prophecy do it! If it is ministry do it! If it is teaching do it. Whatever the gift exhortation, giving, leading, or being merciful do it with the faith God has given. When one has truly comes to grace there is a care for the body of Christ that brings them into service.

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Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

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Here is more practical application of coming to Jesus through grace. One does not have to have a pretense of love. Let love be genuine! The command is so clear abhor what is evil! Some believers get caught up in a snare of sin simply because they don’t agree with God. If God calls it evil abhor it! If God calls it good cling to it. Abhor is a strong word. It is my prayer that the saints of God will hate and abhor the evil and cling to the good.

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Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

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This all flows from the grace that has been given. Grace brings you to practically care for the brethren preferring one another.

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Romans 12:11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

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Grace is so empowering it brings diligence and passion in serving the Lord. In grace presenting your body a living sacrifice becomes a desire and privilege because God’s mercy is in view. In religious practice it is drudgery and an inability to perform properly to obtain the favor of God. The difference is from the source of the connection. Are we connected to the Head Jesus Christ or has it become a list of do’s and don’t with the connection of performing under law? If you are connected to Jesus Christ you have the victory.

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1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

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Romans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

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Grace empowers us to serve in the kingdom of God . Steadfast in prayer, giving, hoping, blessing, rejoicing, caring. Being the living sacrifice is fulfilling; being the living sacrifice will cause you to complete the purpose and destiny God has called you to.

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Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."

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True grace teaches us to live Godly in Christ Jesus. We learn to live in the new creation God has created us to be. If we have truly grown in grace we give grace in the same strength we received it. Love when men hate; do good when other men have done evil. One knows they have been matured in the grace of God when they find their self doing good to those who have done them evil.

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Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

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When you are connected to the head you allow grace to teach you to deny and hate the evil and love and cling to the good. If you are connected your expectation is in Jesus Christ our Lord. True grace has you looking and longing for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Any doctrine that does not have you looking for the great appearing of Jesus is a false doctrine not founded in the grace that Jesus brought.

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2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

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True grace teaches us to live as that newly created being. Salvation brings us to living for the one who died and rose again. Renewing our soul with God’s truth allows us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. If we have come to the righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ, His love compels us to walk as a living sacrifice!

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His Mercies: Your Worship

God's Mercy enables us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice.

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God's Mercy, Your Act of Worship

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Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

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As we have worked our way through Romans Paul has kept us pointed to the mercies of God! In fact I want to show this verse in the NIV.

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Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

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In view of God’ mercy; before we can do the work God has called us to we must have a genuine view of God. Grace was bestowed for purpose. If we miss the purpose of grace we will not fulfill the destiny God has prepared for us.

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Romans 1:5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

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Grace is given for obedience to the faith. The divine influence of God calls us into obedience. Minus the mercies of God we can not offer our bodies to God. Before grace we are not qualified to come to God. In view of God’s mercy we can offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. Paul did not lightly call the believer to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice. The NKJ says “I beseech you”; the NIV says “I urge you”. Another translation says “I beg you” and yet another say “I implore you”!

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Until we understand the intensity Paul is preaching this truth we may have a hard time grasping this word. Many have misunderstood this word. Part “A” is salvation and part “B” is surrendering to be the living sacrifice. While this is the correct order it can not be disconnected. I got “A” that is good enough and one day I will get to “B” is a false understanding. The truth of the issue is if you have “A” salvation it will overflow into “B” the living sacrifice. If you have been created as a new creation in Christ Jesus, your view of His mercy leads you into presenting yourself as that living sacrifice.

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Paul put it so well, present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

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It is the will of God for us to learn to possess our own vessels in sanctification and honor. God does a perfected work in our spirit but there is an on going work he does in our soul and bodies. We have been called to walk in the holiness of which we have been birthed in. Those who say they know the grace of God and go on living in a sinful lifestyle have rejected God. Paul did not mince words. If you believe you have the salvation part and one day you will get around to possessing your vessel in holiness, you have yet to be born again. True salvation brings true change of the heart and life. In view of God’s mercy we can walk in holiness and righteousness.

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Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

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How do we come to knowing how to possess our vessel in sanctification? The short answer, it is by the renewing of the mind. I write it often, it is a perfected work in our spirit, a progressive work in our soul and then one day the final redemption of our body. We need to bring our emotions, intellect, and desires (our soul) in line with what God has done in our spirit. Learning to posses our vessel in sanctification is learning to live by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.

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Transformation is the working of God as we submit to the Word of God.

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1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

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Our minds can only be renewed God’s way with the Word of God. This is not an intellectual exercise; it is allowing God to speak into our heart. It is allowing God to teach us how to live.

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James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

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Many have made spiritual warfare a mystery; however arguments that exalt their self against the knowledge of God need to be brought down in the believers life. This is the true beginning of spiritual warfare.

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2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

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The renewing of our mind is a changing of our thought life. Your thoughts need to be renewed by the Word of God. Mindsets that disagree with God inhibit the believer from walking in obedience. The Word of God exalted will pull down strongholds in our life! Let me give a practical example from the Word.

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1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

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If the believer makes his company with those practicing evil, the believer will be corrupted. Believer’s who excuse themselves from this truth will fall prey to failure. No matter what the argument is for hanging out with the evil doer the practice is exalting itself against the knowledge of God. The pretentious argument must be pulled down if the believer is going to walk in victory.

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Acts 20:32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

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God and the word of His grace is able to build you up and make you a partaker of the inheritance among the saints of God.

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Psalm 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!

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If our soul is to ever come in line with what God has done in our spirit we must learn to love and hunger for God’s word. The Word of God written in our heart brings victory. Specifically the word of His grace brings us to victory over sin. Our victory over sin is found exclusively in Jesus! One of the last things Jesus told the disciple to preach was, repentance and remission of sin is found in Jesus. Any message that take us away from this truth is an argument that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Every thought needs to be brought into captivity unto the obedience of Jesus Christ.

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Ephesians 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

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We must reckon ourselves dead indeed to sin and alive unto God. Putting off the old man is clearly defined in Romans 6. Before our mind can be renewed we must understand the truths of dying to sin.

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Rom 6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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When we came to Jesus our old man was crucified; we died to sin. From there forward we must reckon ourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God. That is the putting off of the old man.

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Ephesians 4:23 tells us to be renewed in the spirit of our mind. The grace that Jesus Christ brings is the exclusive truth to renew our mind with. Without the renewing of the mind we will not be able to put on the new man which was created in true righteousness and holiness. Jesus Christ lifted the veil that kept men separated from God.

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In Christ alone I place my trust. I will glory in the power of the cross! He who knew no sin…

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2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

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We are changed from glory to glory. Looking fully in the face of Jesus and all that he has accomplished at the cross is the power of transformation. When one turns fully to the Lord Jesus Christ the veil is removed.

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Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

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But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory. I have just seen Jesus and I will never be the same again! The greater glory is found in Christ alone. God’s mercy brings me opportunity to present my body as a living sacrifice; it is the act of worship that is left for me to do. Walk worthy of the calling; turn your eyes on Jesus!

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God’s Mercy Is For All

God's Mercy Is For All! God is working out His plan; I want to learn to surrender completely to it!

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God’s Mercy Is For All

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Romans 11:7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day." 9 And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their back always." 11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

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The Jews as a people and nation missed their time of visitation from God; however, God still had a plan! If the Jews not believing in Jesus as the Messiah brought repentance and salvation to the Gentiles, what will their restoration bring. Paul clearly taught there would come a time of fullness for the Jewish people. Their fall opened the door of the gospel of Jesus to the world. The apostle Paul calls himself the apostle to the Gentile. God’s plan in part is to provoke the Jews into jealousy when they see how the Gentiles can walk in such sweet fellowship with God. When the Jews can see that man can be justified by faith in Jesus apart from the works of the law a jealousy can be birthed.

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Luke 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 "For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 "and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

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Mat 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? 43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.

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Because the Jews missed their time of visitation from the Messiah the kingdom was taken and given to those who would believe on Jesus.

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Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

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Paul is clearly preaching that one day the Jewish nation will repent. The nation of Israel returning to God will bring revival; as Paul called it life from the dead!

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Zechariah 12:10 "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

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The prophet Zechariah spoke of the day the nation Israel would repent for the One they pierced. We now know it is Jesus whom the pierced. God is not done with Israel and one day all will see this truth.

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Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

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The first fruit is Jesus Christ; He is the root! The Jewish non-believers were broke off the olive tree and we Gentile believers were grafted in. Holiness can only come from Jesus the olive tree! We as believers don’t support the Root; the Root support us the branch. As a believers we are righteous and holy; we must never forget the only and exclusive source to this righteousness and holiness is the Root Jesus Christ! Abiding in the root is imperative!

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Romans 11:19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.

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Paul has never left the theme of all of Romans, the just shall live by faith! We are told over and over to hold on to the confession of our faith. God has clearly shown through His Word that a man can depart from the faith (the object of your faith being in Jesus exclusively). The last phrase is a strong warning to all believers… He may not spare you either. Is it about our performance? No! However, what a man truly believes is what he acts upon! A sinner is going to sin; a righteous man will live righteously. If one has never been grafted into the olive tree there is no holiness or righteousness in them! If one has been grafted in there is a new creation within that loves righteousness and holiness’ It is truly Christ in you the hope of glory.

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Romans 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

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I have heard “once saved always saved’ folks say there are no “ifs” about eternal life. They have chosen to turn a blind eye to the Word of God. By the authority of the Word there are “ifs”. This passage is one and let me give a few more.

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Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight; 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul , became a minister.

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Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him,…

Hebrews 3:5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

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Matthew 24:11 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

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I love talking about the goodness of God and indeed it can lead to repentance; however it would be less than the full counsel of God if we leave out His severity. Our faith in Jesus must endure to the end! We must hold on to our confession of Jesus; we must ever make sure the object of our faith is ever in Jesus Christ and Him crucified! We must be aware that the root supports us! Keep our eyes upon Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.

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Romans 11:23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

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God is able to graft in the Jew again! If He can graft in a wild branch like you and me, He certainly can graft back in the natural branches that were broken off. Their blindness has happened until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in! This is a mystery revealed that the Gentile would be brought in. Now the Gentiles need to know of the mystery that the Israel will be grafted back into the olive tree!

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Romans 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion , And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins." 28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

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The Jewish people and indeed Israel still have promises from the Father. Although as a whole they are not apart of this covenant of grace and truth brought through Jesus Christ, God will turn His attention to them one day. Paul called them enemies of the gospel because of their unbelief; but according to the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). Here is such a great truth about God revealed! His gifts and calling are irrevocable. Assurance coming from God to us; a continuing in the faith until the end on the believer’s part.

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Romans 11:30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

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God is a merciful God! His intent and will is to have mercy on all. It is not His will that any should perish but all come to repentance.

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Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 "For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?" 35 "Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?" 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

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It is not all about you and me! It indeed is all about a merciful kind God! Such a mighty all knowing God and yet he made a way of escape from sin, shame, and condemnation. What a wonder that He would qualify man to be brought into His kingdom. How marvelous that He bestowed such great love that we can be called the children of God. His ways are past finding out; however, we can enjoy His mercy and abundant pardon found only in Jesus Christ. Repentance and remission of sin is found exclusively in Jesus. You and I were created for God and for His glory. Jesus says come…

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Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

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The Gospel, Jesus Christ and Him Crucified

Jesus Christ and Him Cricified is the gospel; it must ever remain the center piece of our preaching, teachings, and exhortations

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The Gospel, Jesus Christ and Him Crucified

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Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

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The message Paul is preaching here in Romans is the message that needs preached! The gospel of peace, the gospel of reconciliation, the gospel of faith, the gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Remember the old Hymn “At The Cross, At the Cross..” A gospel that skips over the cross of Jesus is no gospel. A gospel that brings less value to the cross of Jesus Christ is no gospel.

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Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

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It time for the churches refrain to sound more like the apostle Paul ’s.

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1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

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1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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The message of the cross is the power of God. If anyone’s trust is in anything else it is a misplaced faith.

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1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

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Dare we stand up and preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the exclusive way to salvation and righteousness.

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Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

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Those who preach the way of the cross is not enough are walking in foolishness and at the worst self-righteousness which will not lead to salvation.

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Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

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Who are these many who have prophesied in Jesus name? Who are these many who cast out demons in Jesus name? Who are these many who have done many wonders in Jesus name. In spite of all their doing Jesus tells them depart from me. Jesus words not mine, “I never knew you.” The cross of Jesus Christ is the exclusive and only way man can be joined back to God. Any other message is a false message!

Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

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The way of the cross is to forsake all and acknowledge that Jesus and Him crucified is the only hope of salvation. The whole church is built upon the confession that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God.

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2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted; you may well put up with it!

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The enemy satan has desire to remove us from the simplicity that is in Christ. He would that the church take down the blood stained banner of the cross. The enemy wants to minimize the cross and call it just a milestone passed on the day of salvation.

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Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: "Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world."

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The apostle Paul was referring back to the prophet Isaiah 53

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Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

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Jesus is the man Isaiah writes about. Jesus going to the cross was the event Isaiah is writing about. Jesus bore the sorrow and grief. Jesus is the one smitten by God. Jesus wounds are for our transgressions and His bruises were for our iniquities. The punishment that has power to bring us peace was completely and totally upon Jesus. By the stripes taken upon Jesus we are healed. God laid upon Jesus the iniquity of us all!

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Jesus paid all the sin debt! My punishment, your punishment was completely upon Jesus. The punishment Jesus bore is the exclusive way to reconciliation to God. There is no other way. Any other way preached is a false message and a perverted gospel. The prophet Isaiah asked who would believe such good news?

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Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

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It pleased God to bruise Jesus. It pleased God to make Jesus soul an offering for sin. When the Father saw the labor of Jesus soul He accepted His sacrifice and was satisfied! We have sung the song is God satisfied with me?; it has become our distraction. Is God satisfied with the sacrifice? Now that is the question! Even under the law of Moses the sinner came and the offering or lamb was examined to see if it was good enough for atonement. Turn your eyes upon Jesus Christ because His soul poured out upon the alter is the only offering needed to reconcile you back to God.

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Romans 10:19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation." 20 But Isaiah is very bold and says: "I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me." 21 But to Israel he says: "All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people." 11:1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel , saying, 3 "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

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One of the secrets of God is revealed in this passage. Many did not understand that for a time the Kingdom of God was and has been taken away from the Jewish people. Even so there is a remnant of Jewish believers. The apostle Paul was one of these that came to salvation in the covenant of grace. Jesus came with the covenant of grace and truth; it has been referred to as the time of the Gentiles. It is the building blocks Paul has been writing all along; the just shall live by faith.

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Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

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It is by grace and grace alone that men can have a relationship with God. It is not of works and when men claim that it is, they have gone back to bringing men under the law. You can not say it is of grace and of works. If it is of works than it is no longer grace. If it is of grace that it can not be works. The covenant of Moses was of works and the covenant of grace and truth came exclusively through Jesus Christ our Lord. By way of reminder lets go to Romans 4.

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Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 Butto him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."

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Those preaching salvation by works are preaching a different gospel than the Jesus Christ and the cross. Righteousness can’t be obtained by works. Reject that preaching! Paul called them accursed!

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Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

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Deliverance from sin and reconciliation to God are found exclusively in Jesus Christ and His finished work at the cross.

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