Summary: DEALS WITH SELF-DENIAL; ALSO BRINGS SOME UNDERSTANDING TO "WORKS"

ENEMIES OF THE CROSS

7/22/2007

Gal 5:24

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

(KJV)

Gal 5:24-25

24 Those who belong to Christ have nailed their natural evil desires to his cross and crucified them there.

25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit’s power, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

(TLB)

Rom 6:5-8

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

(KJV)

*** Walking in the spirit is self denial.

*** Love is works- God could have just spoke salvation…but He brought salvation.

*** THE APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE IS THE BALANCING ACT OF THE DOCTRINE OF WORKS.

*** THE ACT OF PRAYING EVERY DAY, FASTING, ETC, IS NOT WHAT SAVES YOU BUT IT IS(SACRIFICE), WHAT INVOKES THE POWER OF THE CROSS.

*** AND IF YOU INVOKE THE POWER OF THE CROSS YOU INVOKE THE RESULTS OF THE CROSS-DELIVERANCE!

*** SALVATION --

DEATH--

BURIAL--

RESURRECTION--

*** REPENTANCE-- CEASING FROM DEAD WORKS…ALIVE TO GOOD WORKS.

Heb 6:1

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (KJV)

Matt 5:16

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)

Eph 2:10

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

(KJV)

Titus 2:14

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

(KJV)

Titus 3:8

8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

(KJV)

*** WORKS OF INVOLVEMENT, WORKS OF PARTICIPATION; NOT MERIT.

Gal 2:20

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Phil 3:18

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

(KJV)

Phil 3:18-19

18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again now with tears in my eyes, there are many who walk along the Christian road who are really enemies of the cross of Christ.

19 Their future is eternal loss, for their god is their appetite: they are proud of what they should be ashamed of; and all they think about is this life here on earth.

(TLB)

*** No self denial!!

*** They make the cross of Christ a pretty thing so that their cross can be a pretty thing.

*** They cheapen it! Wear it on their lapel or on a necklace and don’t even consider it’s cost.

Above all powers, above all things, above all nature and created things, above all wisdom & all the ways of man, You were here before the world began, above all kingdoms, above all thrones, above all wonders the world has ever known, above all wealth & treasures of the earth, there’s no way to measure

what You’re worth

Crucified & laid behind the stone, You lived to die rejected alone like a rose trampled on the ground, You took the fall and thought of me, above all

1 Cor 1:17

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

(KJV)

1 Cor 1:18

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.

(KJV)

Matt 10:38

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

(KJV)

Matt 16:24

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

(KJV)

Mark 8:34

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

(KJV)

Luke 9:23

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

(KJV)

Luke 14:27

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

(KJV)

*** There has to be a crucifixion before there can be a resurrection.

*** ONE MAIN THING THAT MAKES YOU AN ENEMY TO THE CROSS IS SELF.

*** SELF--AT THE ROOT OF EVERY SIN CAN BE FOUND; SELFISHNESS.

WHEN SELF IS INVOLVED WITH SALVATION IT PRODUCES TWO OFFSPRING--LEGALISM AND JUSTIFICATION.

SELF= <>LEGALISM

<>JUSTIFICATION

<>LEGALISM

1 Cor 1:17

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

(KJV)

1 Cor 1:18

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.

(KJV)

Gal 5:11

11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

(KJV)

Gal 5:11

11 Some people even say that I myself am preaching that circumcision and Jewish laws are necessary to the plan of salvation. Well, if I preached that, I would be persecuted no more-- for that message doesn’t offend anyone. The fact that I am still being persecuted proves that I am still preaching salvation through faith in the cross of Christ alone.

(TLB)

Gal 6:12

12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

(KJV)

Col 2:14

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

(KJV)

Eph 2:16

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

(KJV)

Phil 2:8

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

(KJV)

Col 1:20

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

(KJV)

Heb 12:2

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(KJV)

*** JUSTIFICATION--

1347 dikaiosis (dik-ah’-yo-sis);

from 1344; aquittal (for Christ’s sake):

KJV-- justification.

1. (n.) The act or an instance of pronouncing clear of blame or guilt:

• exoneration

• exculpation

• absolution

• vindication

• condemnation (antonym)

Rom 2:5-11

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

• 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

• 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

• 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

• 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

• 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

• 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

• Luke 10:29

• 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

• (KJV)

Luke 16:15

15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.(KJV)

Rom 5:9

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

(KJV)

• Rom 3:23-25

• 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

• 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

• 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

• (KJV)

Rom 5:1

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:(KJV)

IV. MAN’S PART IN JUSTIFICATION

Obedience

Rom 6:16

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

(KJV)

• 1 Pet 3:21

• 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

• (KJV)

1 Cor 6:11

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

(KJV)

• James 2:20-24

• 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

• 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

• 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

• 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

• 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.(KJV)