The Power and The Cross

[whirlwind]

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of THE CROSS is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the POWER OF GOD.


Paul is addressing the "church of God" and "them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints." Therefore, I believe the subject is not only the "preaching of the cross" on which our Savior was crucified. We as Christians know His sacrifice gave us life. But, do we as Christians, those Paul was teaching, understand that we too must "take up our cross?" That, I believe, is the message Paul delivered...to those of us "which are saved."

• Matthew 16:24 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.
  
  Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

We receive power, knowledge of His Word, when the Holy Spirit "is come upon us." He is the Holy Spirit that abides in us, revealing the spirit of His written Word.

• John 14:26 But the Comforter, Which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (28-29) Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come (again) unto you. If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

He would "go away and come unto you." He will come and abide in us and He told us beforehand so that "when it is come to pass," when we receive His Spirit, we would "believe" it is indeed Him in us.

• Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first (month).

Former rain, the milk of the Word, brought us to Him but it is the latter rain, the strong meat, that strengthens us to grow into the "man child," the "very elect," the "children of Zion." It makes us strong enough to "carry our cross." He is the power of God.

• 1 Corinthians 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
  
  Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Is He making a distinction in the Scriptures and the Power or are they one and the same? He is the Word and He is the power. He abides in us and walks in us....He is the power of God in us and that power is the revealing of the Word, "the wisdom of God."

• Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

As He is the power of God what does this mean.....

• Luke 22:69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

 

[Steve76]

Hi there

In my case, I believe that the power given to me by Jesus and the Cross is to die to myself, as I was in a terrible place in my sin and was suicidal. When Jesus delivered me from my demonic influences I felt and still feel His presence and each day I take up the cross which gives me the strength to fight my fleshly lusts.
I was addicted to alcohol and drugs for many years and I was angry! Now, I am a new creation in Christ!

As Paul writes in Romans during the difficult time he was going through, he also felt the power from what the cross accomplished and will always accomplish in the believer's life.

Thank God for His grace, mercy and love for us.



http://getwiththeword.blogspot.com/

 

[whirlwind]

Hi there

In my case, I believe that the power given to me by Jesus and the Cross is to die to myself, as I was in a terrible place in my sin and was suicidal. When Jesus delivered me from my demonic influences I felt and still feel His presence and each day I take up the cross which gives me the strength to fight my fleshly lusts.
I was addicted to alcohol and drugs for many years and I was angry! Now, I am a new creation in Christ!

As Paul writes in Romans during the difficult time he was going through, he also felt the power from what the cross accomplished and will always accomplish in the believer's life.

Thank God for His grace, mercy and love for us.



http://getwiththeword.blogspot.com/

Oh Steve...I do love you! I feel his Spirit in you and you are a new creation. I'm so happy for you.

Yes, we are to die to self. We must so He can live in us.

 

[Steve76]

Oh Steve...I do love you! I feel his Spirit in you and you are a new creation. I'm so happy for you.

Yes, we are to die to self. We must so He can live in us.

Ha! Good and I love you too!

It is funny really, I was just going to kill myself and I ended up being profoundly saved in my bedroom and then I died, to myself!

Now, only the Cross can do such a miracle in a sinner like me!
:amen

 

[Steve76]

Romans 7:18-19 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

I feel the power of the cross and I battle with the flesh just as Paul states that in his flesh there is no good thing and he also states that the sin inside him is stronger than his human or mental will to overcome it.

For me to overcome my addictions of many years with no medicinal or so-called professional medical care (which failed so many times) proves what Christ can still do in people's lives with His indescribable act of love He expressed at Calvary!

I praise and thank the Lord daily.

http://getwiththeword.blogspot.com/

 

[Ret]

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of THE CROSS is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the POWER OF GOD.

• 1 Corinthians 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
  
  Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Is He making a distinction in the Scriptures and the Power or are they one and the same? He is the Word and He is the power. He abides in us and walks in us....He is the power of God in us and that power is the revealing of the Word, "the wisdom of God."

• Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

As He is the power of God what does this mean.....

• Luke 22:69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

• Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. KJV
  24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, ...KJV
  
  1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. KJV

The 'power of God' is bound up with His 'forgiveness' in the man Christ Jesus.
The 'wisdom of God' is bound up with His 'cleansing' us from all unrighteousness.