The Two Questions of Paul

Paul opens Romans chapter 6 with this statement, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?... What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." (Romans 6:1-2, 15).

Chapter 6 actually consists of two questions asked by Paul along with their answers. In verses 1-2, the word sin is used here as a noun. It refers to the sin nature, or the nature of Adam which imprisoned man when Adam fell, and has been passed down through the human race. At Calvary, Jesus Christ broke the yoke of sin upon mankind. The sin nature of man still remains in place, but it has been rendered powerless. As long as the Christian follows Christ and remains in the vine, the sin nature does not cause any problems. But if we yield to temptation and sin, and then try to overcome within our own flesh, the sin nature then comes alive with disastrous consequences.

In verse 15, Paul asked "shall we sin." The word sin here is used as a verb and denotes action. This verse could be rendered as, "Shall we commit acts of sin because we are under grace?" So Paul examines two questions here: 1) Shall we continue living under the influence of our sin nature? and 2) Shall we commit acts of sin?

Paul's first question

"Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2).

Paul's response to his question is "God forbid." He is saying, "Don't even entertain such a thought." Paul then asks a rhetorical question, not only designed to show the impossibility of the believer continuing in sin, but to also show the believer's position in Christ. As a believer, we are dead to sin. Sin has no dominion over us, and no life within us. If the sin nature is dead within us and has been rendered powerless, how could we possibly be under its influence?

Paul wrote in Romans 6:6, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin (the sin nature) might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." To the church at Ephesus, Paul wrote, "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24).

"The apostle is very full in pressing the necessity of holiness. He does not explain away the free grace of the gospel, but he shows that connection between justification and holiness are inseparable. Let the thought be abhorred, of continuing in sin that grace may abound. True believers are dead to sin, therefore they ought not to follow it. No man can at the same time be both dead and alive. He is a fool who, desiring to be dead unto sin, thinks he may live in it." (Henry).

The moment the sinner comes to Christ, he is "washed (made clean), sanctified (separated), and justified (made righteous)" (1 Corinthians 6:11). The new Christian is dead to sin, and through the grace of God has been separated from his sin nature. The sin nature is still within the believer, but it has been rendered powerless. And Paul states, "he that is dead is FREE from sin." In his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul wrote, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17).

"Someone has described the 'sin nature' in the life of the unbeliever as a roaring conflagration, which it is. In other words, the unbeliever cannot help but commit sin because that's what he is - a sinner.

"However, when the sinner comes to Christ, he is made a new creation in Christ Jesus. At that time the 'sin nature' is extinguished as far as its power is concerned. However, it is still present, somewhat like glowing embers, which cause no trouble unless fuel is applied to those embers.

"So it is not really the sin nature that is the cause of our problems, and actually it should do us no harm or cause any problem whatsoever - that is, if we properly understand our place and position in Christ.

"If we are honest with ourselves, we begin to realize that to maintain the victory that Jesus Christ has won for us, and it is won totally and completely, one has to remain on one's face before God continually, seeking Him for guidance, leading, and strength. This is a disciplinary measure which every believer needs, even one as close to God as the apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 12:1-12).

"So the potential danger of the 'sin nature' resident in all believers keeps the believer on his face before God, leaning on the Lord, looking to Him for leading and guidance, trusting Him, and knowing that we must have His strength and power, if we are to be the overcomer expected of us. As well, we learn the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and His working within our lives. Little by little, we also learn how to give complete control to Him in all that we do. These things do not come easily, neither do they come quickly, and most of the time, sad to say, they come about as a result of failure on our part, and then us seeking the Lord as to the reason why. This is the exact manner which Paul came to these truths." (Swaggart)

Jesus Christ has provided for us the victory through His atoning work on the Cross. But many Christians continue to live in slavery to sin, even though they have been set free. Before Paul learned this truth, he too was entangled in this very situation as was referred to in the introduction of this study. Paul stated in Romans 7:14, "I am carnal, sold under sin." The word "carnal" in this verse, translated from the Greek word sarkikos, means "having the nature of flesh, under the control of animal appetites, governed by human nature", and conveys with it the idea of depravity.

Paul, at this time in his Christian life, did not understand that victory which Christ had attained upon the Cross. He seemed driven by sin and out of control. He wished to do good, but did not understand how to perform that which was good. On the other hand, he did those things which were evil, the very things he wished not to do. In Paul, there was a struggle in which he was trying to do those things which were good and stop doing those things which were evil. And he was failing. Paul stated, "For that which I do I allow (understand) not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I." (Romans 7:15).

We are dead to sin

But the truths expounded upon by Paul in Romans 6 enables the Christian to gain consistent victory over the indwelling sin nature. The sin nature had its power over the believer broken and rendered powerless. Before salvation, the person was the slave to sin. But now, through Christ, he is free from sin.

What does this statement mean - "we are dead to sin"? As we have already discussed, the sin nature within man is dead, and has been rendered powerless. It no longs hold influence over him and he need not obey it. When the person comes to saving faith in Christ Jesus, the sin nature still remains, but it is now lifeless. The apostle John wrote in his first epistle, "If we say that we have no sin (sin nature), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8).

When Paul says we are dead to sin, he is referring to the separation of the sin nature from the Christian; that is, the sin nature, though still existent, is now powerless and holds no influence over us. We have been made a new creation in Christ Jesus. While we are still free moral agents to choose between right and wrong, between choosing to obey the sin nature or the divine nature, our choices are now centered on God, and not own fulfilling our own lusts. Paul states that it is now impossible for a Christian to habitually obey the sin nature as he once did before his conversion.

"Even though the Christian at times will yield to the sin nature and sin, the fact that he doesn't have to do so, and if he truly understands his place and position in Christ, he will learn not to do so. No, that does not teach sinless perfection, for such cannot be reached this side of the Resurrection. But it does teach us victory over sin.

"The point is, God has so constituted the believer that he need not fail. He has imparted the divine nature which the gives the Christian a hatred of sin and a love for righteousness.

"In addition to this, the Holy Spirit has been caused to take up His permanent residence in him and to aid him in this good fight of faith, and in his effort to live the quality Christian life which every believer can have." (Swaggart).

To quote Paul's question again, "Shall we continue in sin?", we see he is stating in effect, "How can it be possible for us who have been separated from our sin nature and its influence to live any longer under its power?" Before salvation, the sin nature had absolute power over the sinner. But since salvation, we now have absolute dominion over it. Our sin nature is a dethroned monarch. Paul states in Romans 6:14,18, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace... Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

Paul clearly teaches in Romans 6 our current position in Christ - we must believe it to be true. Sin does not have dominion over us. We are not the slaves of sin. We are dead to sin. We are free from sin. Our sin nature is powerless - we cannot continue in sin and be influenced by it. And God has imparted to us His divine nature. We walk in newness of life, dead to sin but alive unto God, and being free from sin we are now the servants of righteousness. The old man has been crucified with Christ, and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us! (Galatians 2:20).

Paul's second question

Paul wrote in Romans 6:15, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Paul now changes his focus. He is not talking about the sin nature, but committing acts of sin. This verse could read, "Shall we commit acts of sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?"

By the term "law", Paul here is speaking of the Law of Moses. This law was given by God and is perfect. And it is through the law that we are made aware of our sinful condition. In Romans 7:7,12, Paul wrote, "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet... Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good."

"There is no way of coming to that knowledge of sin, which is necessary to repentance, and therefore to peace and pardon, but by trying our hearts and lives by the law. In his own case the apostle would not have known the sinfulness of his thoughts, motives, and actions, but by the law. That perfect standard showed how wrong his heart and life were, proving his sins to be more numerous than he had before thought, but it did not contain any provision of mercy or grace for his relief. He is ignorant of human nature and the perverseness of his own heart, who does not perceive in himself a readiness to fancy there is something desirable in what is out of reach. We may perceive this in our children, though self-love makes us blind to it in ourselves. The more humble and spiritual any Christian is, the more clearly will he perceive that the apostle describes the true believer, from his first convictions of sin to his greatest progress in grace, during this present imperfect state.

"St. Paul was once a Pharisee, ignorant of the spirituality of the law, having some correctness of character, without knowing his inward depravity. When the commandment came to his conscience by the convictions of the Holy Spirit, and he saw what it demanded, he found his sinful mind rise against it. He felt at the same time the evil of sin, his own sinful state, that he was unable to fulfil the law, and was like a criminal when condemned. But though the evil principle in the human heart produces sinful motions, and the more by taking occasion of the commandment; yet the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good. It is not favourable to sin, which it pursues into the heart, and discovers and reproves in the inward motions thereof. Nothing is so good but a corrupt and vicious nature will pervert it. The same heat that softens wax, hardens clay. Food or medicine when taken wrong, may cause death, though its nature is to nourish or to heal. The law may cause death through man's depravity, but sin is the poison that brings death. Not the law, but sin discovered by the law, was made death to the apostle. The ruinous nature of sin, and the sinfulness of the human heart, are here clearly shown." (Henry).

The law, however, can also refer to laws which the believer, church or denomination institutes, with the intent of bringing about a righteous life. When the Christian faces sin and fails, if he does not understand the Word of God, he will in response institute a series of laws of his own making or the making of someone else. And by keeping these laws, such as praying more, fasting more, reading the Bible more, becoming more involved in church work, etc., he believes he will attain ultimate victory. Now these activities are good and commendable, but they do not lead to victory. Why?

First of all, the law cannot set anyone free. The Law of Moses never affected any type of salvation or victory but only exposed man's sinful heart and condition. In chapter 7, Paul wrote, "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God... But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:4,6).

Paul further added in his letter to the church at Galatia, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified... I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:16,21).

Secondly, by instituting our own series of laws, we are ultimately saying that what Christ did at Calvary was not enough, and it needs our contribution of good works to make it effective. While that may not be what we are thinking, it is ultimately what we are saying. To quote again Paul's statement above, "if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Jesus paid the full price for our sin, and as well, He has paid the full price that sin may not have dominion over us. Paul wrote in Colossians 2:9-10, "For in Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him."

Looking back to Paul's second question, he gives the same answer which he did to his first question. "God forbid. Don't even entertain the thought." Perhaps a more modern saying might be, "Don't even go there!"

Because we are under grace, this does not give us a license to sin. "God forbid," Paul states. In fact, because of the presence of Christ and the Spirit of the Lord who dwells with us, this age of grace we live in is a greater deterrent to sin that the law. For example, for those of you who like to speed on the highway, the presence of a policeman is a greater deterrent to you speeding than the speed limit sign could ever be. Likewise, the Law shows us our sinful condition, but the Holy Spirit has come to reprove and convict us of sin.

Paul stated in Galatians, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage... For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." (Galatian 5:1,13).

"There is strength in the covenant of grace for us. Sin shall not have dominion. God's promises to us are more powerful and effectual for mortifying sin, than our promises to God. Sin may struggle in a real believer, and create him a great deal of trouble, but it shall not have dominion; it may vex him, but it shall not rule over him. Shall any take occasion from this encouraging doctrine to allow themselves in the practice of any sin? Far be such abominable thoughts, so contrary to the perfections of God, and the design of his gospel, so opposed to being under grace. What can be a stronger motive against sin than the love of Christ? Shall we sin against so much goodness, and such love?" (Henry).

Paul wrote in Romans 6:13, 16-18,"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God... 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? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

The word "servant" used in this passage, translated from the Greek word doulos, means "a slave, bondman, man of servile condition, one who gives himself up to another's will or is devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests." The Christian was a slave to Satan and to his sin nature before salvation. But now he is a slave to righteousness and to Christ. The believer has changed masters, and is now compelled to follow the divine nature for the sin nature is now powerless.

"In the various meanings of this word "doulos", we will trace Paul's argument to the effect that it is an impossibility for the believer to live a life of planned occasional sin. While the believer does occasionally sin, he does not provide in his life's plan for occasional acts of sin of any nature. He hates sin and endeavors to keep it out of his life, and in the event that he does commit an act of sin, he deals with it in confession to the Lord Jesus, putting it out of his life and receiving the cleansing the Blood of our Lord Jesus offers (1 John 1:9).

"The word "doulos" refers to one who is born into a condition of slavery. As we were born by natural generation, we inherited a total depraved nature through our parents from Adam, a nature which made us love sin and compelled us to serve it habitually. Now, being born again by the act of regeneration through the agency of the Holy Spirit, we are given a new nature, the divine, which gives us both the desire and power to do God's will. With our liberation from the compelling power of the evil nature and our acquisition of the divine nature, we have changed masters, from Satan to our Lord.

"Paul argues that the believer does not want to live even a life of occasional sin because, in the first place, he does not have to since the power of the evil nature over him is broken. And in the second place, he does not desire to do so, since his new nature causes him to hate sin and love righteousness, and when a person does not have to do what he does not want to do, he simply does not do it." (Swaggart).

The same meanings of the word "doulos" as applied to the unbeliever can also be applied to the Christian. He is now a slave to righteousness and to Jesus Christ. He gives himself up to God's will, and is devoted to Him, regardless of his own interests or desires. The believer is bound to Christ and can never be bound again to the sin nature and be a slave to sin, except he willfully remove the bands and "depart from the living God."

Those who are slaves to sin lead hard lives, driven to do wrong, and do not have control over their own actions. Their sin nature is enthroned and in full control. But Jesus said of those who are slaves to righteousness, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30). To serve Christ is a pleasure, not a hardship, and to give one's life for Him is a privilege.

"Every man is the servant of the master to whose commands he yields himself; whether it be the sinful dispositions of his heart, in actions which lead to death, or the new and spiritual obedience implanted by regeneration. The apostle rejoiced now they obeyed from the heart the gospel, into which they were delivered as into a mould. As the same metal becomes a new vessel, when melted and recast in another mould, so the believer has become a new creature. And there is great difference in the liberty of mind and spirit, so opposite to the state of slavery, which the true Christian has in the service of his rightful Lord, whom he is enabled to consider as his Father, and himself as his son and heir, by the adoption of grace. The dominion of sin consists in being willingly slaves thereto, not in being harassed by it as a hated power, struggling for victory. Those who now are the servants of God, once were the slaves of sin." (Henry).

"What Paul is now explaining is so beautiful as to defy description. It presents that which automatically comes with the born-again experience, providing the believer understands his proper place in Christ, and what Christ did for him at Calvary and the resurrection. The whole wicked process of the Fall is now reversed.

"The tragedy about the Fall is that the Fall never reaches a stopping place. In other words, despite all the centuries of education, technological advancement, and higher learning, the Fall continues even unto this hour, and will continue to continue. The actual truth is that man is experiencing the very opposite of the erroneous teaching of evolution. He is not gradually getting better, but getting worse, and that despite all he can do otherwise.

"As we have already stated, the 20th Century, which has been the century of the greatest education and advancement ever known to humanity, at the same time has seen the greatest bloodletting of any century in history. In stark reality, the ever-deepening horror of the Fall is made obvious to all who care to see, and I state again, that it is not possible for man to stop this downward slide within his own power or ability. Only God can stop this process, only God can reverse the direction, and He does it exclusively through His Son Jesus Christ. Any other hope is a fool's hope and any other way is a fool's way." (Swaggart).

Paul wrote in closing chapter 6 of Romans, "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The phrase, "Being made free from sin" tells us two things: 1) The great work of Christ is finished and complete. When Christ died on Calvary for the lost, He did so for every single human being who had every lived, was alive at that time, and who would ever live in the future. When Jesus died, He died for the entire world, and He invites all to come and take the water of life freely. Likewise, respecting the Christian, when Christ died on Calvary, He not only satisfied the debt of sin, but He also broke the dominion of the sin nature within the Christian's life. And He done this for every single believer - each one of us is free from sin and can live in victory.

2) The believer is free NOW. He does not have to follow a 10-Step plan, nor does he have to engage in works of righteousness nor impose upon himself a series of laws or rules. The terrible struggle which many Christians, and perhaps you, are facing can be ended now. Paul stated in Romans 8:1, "There is therefore NOW no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Paul stated that the wages of sin is death. Wages are something which a person earns in exchange for services or labor. The sinner earns his wages - death. But eternal life is a gift, and there is nothing we can do to earn it. As part of the new birth, the believer has been baptized with Christ and associates with His death. The believer does not have to work toward living in victory. The Bible says that you have victory NOW. You are dead to sin, now. You are free from sin, now. You are no longer servants of sin, now. You have been liberated from your old master, and now have a new master and a new life, now.

"Here, in his own person, the apostle describes the spiritual or hidden life of a believer. The old man is crucified, but the new man is living; sin is mortified, and grace is quickened. He has the comforts and the triumphs of grace; yet that grace is not from himself, but from another. Believers see themselves living in a state of dependence on Christ. Hence it is, that though he lives in the flesh, yet he does not live after the flesh. Those who have true faith, live by that faith; and faith fastens upon Christ's giving himself for us. He loved me, and gave himself for me. As if the apostle said, The Lord saw me fleeing from him more and more. Such wickedness, error, and ignorance were in my will and understanding, that it was not possible for me to be ransomed by any other means than by such a price.

"Consider well this price. Here notice the false faith of many. And their profession is accordingly; they have the form of godliness without the power of it. They think they believe the articles of faith aright, but they are deceived. For to believe in Christ crucified, is not only to believe that he was crucified, but also to believe that I am crucified with him. And this is to know Christ crucified. Hence we learn what is the nature of grace. God's grace cannot stand with man's merit. Grace is no grace unless it is freely given every way. The more simply the believer relies on Christ for every thing, the more devotedly does he walk before Him in all his ordinances and commandments. Christ lives and reigns in him, and he lives here on earth by faith in the Son of God, which works by love, causes obedience, and changes into his holy image. Thus he neither abuses the grace of God, nor makes it in vain." (Henry).

"I am crucified with Christ," Paul wrote, "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. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:20).

Paul said in effect that he has died. He no longer lives, but Christ lives in him. "There is nothing I can do," Paul said, "to make myself righteous or to keep the commandments. If there was anything I could do, if there was any work I could peform, if it were possible for me to keep the law, then Christ died in vain."

This sentiment echoes the prophecy in Ezekiel, "And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezekiel 36:27). God was saying here, "You cannot keep my statutes and commandments on your own. I will put my spirit in you and I will cause you to do them."

This is the key to victory. The battle is not ours to win. Our armor, our weapons, our methods are useless against the giants we face. David, with the Spirit of the Lord upon him, came against his giant clothed only in the armor of God. The battle is the Lord's and He will deliver the enemy into our hands! The sooner we lay our weapons and methods down, and trust in the Lord 100 percent and what He has already done for us at Calvary, the sooner we will walk in victory, and keep the victory.

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.