The Path of the Cross

     Over the past few years I have become increasingly more aware of the different ways that people present the Gospel. Some preach a twisted, perverted form of the Gospel which I have addressed in past blogs, but other present the true Gospel in partial form. (And there are several who present the True Gospel in complete form) What do I mean by this partial form? Well, this happens in several different ways and I am not condemning them. The potential problem is though that when we don't present the complete gospel then we can set the listeners up for failure. Now I know philosophically we can say that we should do the best we can and God will take care of the rest. I agree with that to a point, but the scriptures are very clear in the way that Jesus and the Apostles presented the Gospel...so why shouldn't we do the same?
     There are two aspects biblically to the Gospel. There is the definition and the presentation. The definition is simply that Christ died for our sins and was buried. He rose again on the third day and then ascended to heaven to the Father's right Hand where he waits for his return. So we know that these are the obvious facts of the Gospel, but how do we make the Gospel real in our lives? How do we share with others how they can have their sins forgiven. Now make no mistake that there is a distinction between us having our sins forgiven and the Gospel. Having our sins forgiven is the outcome of making the Gospel real in our lives. It is like taking a pill and getting better. We don't go to the bottle and ask it to make us better, we simply submit and commit to the instructions by obeying them and trusting that it will work. If we don't submit and commit to the instructions and only take one out of the four pills we were supposed to take then the medicine doesn't work.
    So how do we make it real in our lives and share it with others. The instructions are simple... submit and commit to Christ. We submit by taking up our cross which is true repentance and commit our trust and lives to him by crying out for him to save and lead us. The problem I see with some who do the partial approach is they speak about it as a temporary decision. In other words they get the definition right but they leave out certain facts in the presentation. They focus on the solution (Forgiveness of sins) rather than the instructions. Paul says that he preached the gospel by testifying about repentance toward God and Faith in Jesus Christ.  This is a lifelong decision as Jesus said in Luke 14. This isn't about God forgiving our sins so that we can ensure our place in heaven... again that is the Blessed Reward. But we must focus just as intently on the understanding that we must repent and commit our lives to Jesus.
    Now we know the Holy Spirit plays a large role in this. He convicts us of our sins and brings us into all truth. But that fact did not change the apostle's approach in the way they presented the Gospel. We know that the Holy Spirit is convicting everyone of their sin and God's Righteousness so that is why we must make sure to present the Gospel in the accurate way. We must make sure to tell the individual that we are sharing the "Medicine" with the correct instructions lest they don't understand and never get better. I continue to see people who claim to be Christians (and some of these may be) but their idea of the Christian life is what God is going to do for them. They continue in their life seeking out ways that God can bless them and give them their desires rather then making the cross of Christ real in their lives.
    Here is the Path of the Cross: Be crucified with Christ and let Christ live in you. We have to understand that if someone does not make the Cross of Christ real in their lives than they have not been redeemed. This is not my thoughts but the Word of God. If I could give in to my compassion and have my way then I would say anybody that simply says a prayer will be redeemed. Anybody that says a certain set of words will be miraculously saved. But that is not God's way, it cheapens what Christ did for us. Christ came to save the sinners that they would have life, but they cannot have new life if they don't experience the death of the old. Yes, it is God's power that accomplishes all of this but do not let that become a false loophole for us to do nothing. Again The Medicine is there we simply need to heed the instructions. Yet, for those of us who are redeemed saints we must stop putting down the cross so we can go do what we want to do. We must realize that our desires...our ambitions are inconsequential to the Kingdom. This is something we all struggle with everyday, but it is in that struggle that we find success. It is in the denying of ourselves COMPLETELY that we have victory. It is in our failures that we have to go back and repent toward God. We continue picking up the cross and moving forward. A cross carrier will endure to the end. A cross carrier will examine his faith as to assure that they are doing right. Let your belief not be mistaken for faith. There are many who believe but do not have faith. There are many who know but will not take up their cross.