“For the word of the cross is, to those who are perishing, foolishness, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Word of the Cross tells us that there is nothing worth preserving in us, that we are totally reprobate and there is no good thing in us at all. But the word of the Church tells us that the old man can be improved, that there are things that he can do to make himself acceptable to God. This is false; the word of the cross is that he must be broken to bits.
Church has become a refuge from the breaking that is necessary if we are to inherit salvation; but self must be broken; we either cast ourselves upon the Rock and be broken to pieces or judgement day will fall upon us and scatter us like dust. Sadly, Churches have become places of refuge from hearing these things, but we must face up to them.
There are many things that separate God from us; but amongst the many are three things that we are meant to recover; faithfulness, righteousness and holiness. These are qualities that typify God in His dealings with us and, if we are to be true sons, then we must acquire them and make them our own.
The faithfulness of God is astounding; He always inevitably does exactly what He says He will do; this is a blessing to those who truly seek to follow after Christ and a curse for those who don’t. If we learn to become disciples of Him, we too will learn to be faithful with the same simplicity and straightforwardness as God; with no dissembling or equivocating, but transparently and openly following after Him. What a joy it is to do that!
From such a foundation righteousness will grow and righteousness will bear its fruit of holiness; it is His fruit that grows but it grows from the root of faithfulness that we must plant and cultivate and nourish. This is our work, and it is a lifetime’s work; no retirement can ever be contemplated!
Until we know God for Who He is and What He is, rather than what he has done for us, our faith is a very pale imitation of what it is meant to be.
The only life that I have is the life of Christ Jesus in me and me in Him; for I was crucified with Him and if I was crucified with Him I can’t have my own life any longer. If I am not living in Christ then I am a dead man walking, until my body wears out and I must embrace eternal death.
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