Victory Over Sin (page 4)

STUDY INDEX

Page 1 - Introduction; An Old Testament Type
Page 2 - The Two Questions of Paul in Romans 6
Page 3 - Two Questions, continued
Page 4 - Conclusion

Conclusion

The Preaching of the Cross

The foundation of all preaching, in other words, the foundation on which every message is based, must be the Cross of Christ. We must preach the Cross. Paul said, "For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).

And then Paul said, and we must remember he is speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching (preaching the Cross) to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).

And then, "But we preach Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:23). And then finally, "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2).

If we understand Paul at all, we understand that his message was the Cross of Christ. That's what he preached, and that's what he preached continually. The Word of God cannot be properly understood without one first having a proper understanding of the Cross. This is absolutely imperative!

Whenever the Cross of Christ is preached, the Holy Spirit brings men to a decision. They either have to accept it and be saved, or reject it and be lost. This pertains not only to unbelievers, but it pertains to the Church as well. The Cross must preached to the Church, i.e., "unto us which are saved", if they are going to walk in victory. But here's where the problem comes in.

The Cross of Christ is not a new message. It is actually the story of the Bible. It is the foundation of all that we are in Christ Jesus. That's the reason that Paul said, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Galatians 6:14).

In this one scripture, the Holy Spirit through Paul tells us that the only way we can overcome the world is by appropriating that which Jesus did for us at the Cross, and continually having faith in the finished work.

The work of Christ at the Cross is called a "Finished Work," which is portrayed by Paul in Hebrews 1:3 by Jesus being "sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." As well, Paul referred to this great work as "the Everlasting Covenant" (Hebrews 13:20). Our Savior cried out from the Cross before His death, "It is finished."

Carpenters in Jesus' day, as well as in modern times, kept a handkerchief, napkin, or towel upon which they wiped their hands, brushed away sawdust, etc., as they worked. However in Jesus' day, carpenters had a tradition. When they finished their work, they would take this handkerchief, fold it neatly, and then lay it upon the top of the piece as a symbol that their work was complete. Knowing this, follow me to the tomb on Resurrection Day as Peter and John run to the tomb. John peeks in first, then Peter, "went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. This symbol, the napkin laying by itself, was a symbolic from the Jewish Carpenter that His work was complete.

The Scriptures tell us clearly - The Work of Christ is complete! You don't have to be baptized to be saved. You don't have to speak in tongues to be saved. You don't have to confess to a priest, join a church, or anything else to be saved. Likewise for the Christian, you don't have to attend counseling to have victory over sin. You don't have to see a psychologist. You don't have to travel from preacher to preacher having them lay hands on you. You don't have to perform works to be made righteous, go to counseling sessions or follow a 10-step plan, nor do you have to beat yourself with sticks. No, your victory over sin has been obtained at the Cross and there is nothing else to be done. The Work is complete! Trust in the Cross of Christ completely, totally, 100 percent, and you will be saved and you will have victory!

The Church is presently entering into the last great apostasy, actually that which was foretold by the apostle Paul, and which will lead up the Rapture of the Church, the rise of the Antichrist, and the great Tribulation period (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 3:13-20). At this time, the Cross is going to be the dividing line between the True Church and the Apostate Church.

The only way for the Christian to walk in victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil, is that the Christian properly understand the part the Cross plays in his everyday experience. The Christian without fail must place his faith squarely in the Cross of Christ, not allowing it to be moved from this all-important work, which will then guarantee the help of the Holy Spirit on his behalf. God has provided no other source or means of victory, because no other source or means are necessary.

Little knowing this great Truth, the Church has cast about in all directions, jumping from one fad to the other, attempting to find victory. In the mid-1950s, preachers were advocating the idea that all problems were caused by demon spirits, and that the Christian must have these spirits cast out of them. Consequently, many churches had long lines of people trying to get some preacher to cast out of them the demon of lust, gossip, etc.

In the 1970s, the Church embraced humanistic psychology, which led to the "buddy system" fad. Each Christian was to have a friend with whom they could reveal their problems and difficulties, and supposedly, both of these people together could bring about a solution.

This led to the Faith doctrine which swept the Church in the 1980s. This faith message seemed like music to the ears of the Church. However, it was, and still is, unscriptural. The reason is simple: the faith which is advocated is not faith in the Cross of Christ, but something else altogether. Consequently, this message has degenerated basically into the "greed gospel" where the focus is money.

In the 1990s, the laughter phenomenon swept the church world. If everyone could be touched, supposedly, by the Holy Spirit thereby going into convulsions of laughter which would last for great periods of time, this would be the answer to all problems. But it hasn't been. At the same time, people would travel hundreds of miles to be touched by a preacher who claimed to turn dental work into gold, and have gold dust fall upon the congregation.

Throughout all these time periods, especially in Pentecostal and charismatic camps, "being slain in the Spirit" has been held up as the great manifestation. If this could happen to you, it would supposedly solve all your problems.

To be sure, the Lord definitely does move upon people at times with them being "slain in the Spirit". But it is not a part of a side show. If it does happen to a person, and the person does not know the Truth, unfortunately he or she is going to get off the floor exactly as they went down - defeated.

There is only one way and means of victory for the child of God, and that is the victory provided by Christ by the work which He carried out at the Cross and in His resurrection.

I do not give you the latest fad sweeping the church. I do not give you a 10-Step plan. I do not tell you to try harder. I tell you that your victory has already been won. I take you to Calvary, where Christ's blood flowed down that horrible hill. Jesus Christ paid sin's debt and broke sin's dominion. The Cross of Christ is your answer. It has always been your answer, and it will always be your answer.

Jesus invites you today to come to Him, all of you who have been laboring, and have been heavily laden with burdens - heavily laden with laws and rituals trying to overcome sin - laboring in performing works trying to become righteous. Come to Him and find sweet rest for your souls, for His yoke and easy, and His burden is light.

Conclusion contains excerpts from the Jimmy Swaggart Commentary on Hebrews

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