Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 07 Cross Only By The Cross!!!
“Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name
under heaven
given among men,
whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
While many around us today proclaim a gospel of “self-righteousness” and multiple ways to God, the scriptures proclaim the exclusiveness of the CROSS—only One way that was provided by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ The Lord! We will all cross over that ‘vale of death’ and not to be trite, but as the realtors are known to say—it’s “location, location, location”! Where will YOU spend eternity? You can come by the cross and have life or you can refuse the cross and face the fires of hell. My only confidence is in the Cross of Jesus!
“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
Like Paul, we are to cling to the cross—we are to call others to the “only way” to God—not seek, find or claim that there are many “ways” to God! Jesus said there is only “one way” to The Father!
“Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way,
the truth,
and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.” John 14:6
And this “one way” who is Jesus, is GOD! And yes, HE claimed to be GOD! We must make a choice and either believe in Jesus and who HE claimed to be or deny Who HE IS and go our own way, or someone else’s way!
“My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them,
and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life;
and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me,
is greater than all;
and no man is able to pluck them
out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.” John 10:27-30
Are you HIS sheep? Have you heard HIS voice—HIS knock at your heart’s door, calling you to repent and believe in HIS sacrifice for your sin? He has come to give life to those who will follow HIM, yet there will be judgment on those who reject HIM!
“Then said Jesus unto them again,
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me
are thieves and robbers:
but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door:
by me if any man enter in,
he shall be saved,
and shall go in and out,
and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not,
but for to steal,
and to kill,
and to destroy:
I am come that they might have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd:
the good shepherd giveth his life
for the sheep.” John 10:7-11
Life or death, even as Moses called those whom he led, to choose God and life, or reject him and, in essence, choose death. It’s your choice, just as it was theirs—what will you choose. Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus, who came to Him seeking to know truth—Jesus gave it to him, and the message is the same to us today. What will you do with The Truth—Jesus IS Truth! Will you seek and know HIM, or will you default to condemnation?
“Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again,
he cannot see
the kingdom of God…
….5 Jesus answered,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter
into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh
is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit
is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,
Ye must be born again…
…..14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of man
be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him
should not perish,
but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world
to condemn the world;
but that the world through him
might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him
is not condemned:
but he that believeth not
is condemned already,
because he hath not believed
in the name
of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation,
that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness
rather than light,
because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil
hateth the light,
neither cometh to the light,
lest his deeds should be reproved.” Portions of John 3:3-20
What have you done with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross? Are you depending on ‘religion’ or ‘relationship’? Jesus longs to have a relationship with YOU! He died to prove it!
“Behold, I stand at the door,
and knock:
if any man hear my voice,
and open the door,
I will come in to him,
and will sup with him,
and he with me.” Revelation 3:20
Only the cross will bring “life”—but God has given each of us the choice. What will you do with Him when HE comes knocking at your heart’s door? I pray that you will hear HIS voice and come and let God bring you new birth?
“He was in the world,
and the world was made by him,
and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own,
and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him,
to them gave he power
to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe
on his name:
13 Which were born,
not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man,
but of God.” John 1:10-13
We come to Jesus just as we are, in humble repentance and faith, He makes us a new creature, and gives us new life “in Christ”! What is the world seeing in you? To whom have you chosen to align yourself? I pray that it’s Jesus—it’s your choice! But choose wisely, there is a test.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God,
who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ,
and hath given to us the ministry
of reconciliation;
19 To wit,
that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself,
not imputing their trespasses unto them;
and hath committed unto us
the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God did beseech you by us:
we pray you in Christ’s stead,
be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him
to be sin for us,
who knew no sin;
that we might be made
the righteousness of God
in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
He took our sin and imparts to us HIS righteousness! Are you letting HIM shine through you? May we ever bring glory to our Lord—bearing HIS holiness before a lost and dying world of darkness. Amen and Amen!!!
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober,
and hope to the end
for the grace that is to be brought
unto you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children,
not fashioning yourselves according
to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written,
Be ye holy;
for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16
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