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The Cross

The Great Plan of God is the New Covenant or the Cross of Jesus Christ with the Cross being the essence of that Covenant.

We are Justified solely on the basis of the Shed Blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John. 1:9)

1. Jesus Christ is the beginning and the place of origin of all things that we receive from God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John1:14) The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3) 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.(John 3:16) Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 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; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:10-15)

2. The Cross of Jesus Christ is the only way or method that causes and produces these good things that are given to us.

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. 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 1:17-18)

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (1 Corinthians 1:23)

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2) 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)

3. The Cross of Christ must always (that is forever) be the focus of our Faith as it is the way all things are given.

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? Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he lives, he lives unto God. Likewise reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 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. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:1-14

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2

4. The Holy Spirit works wholly and exclusively within the parameters of the finished work of Christ. He will not work outside of those boundaries of the Cross. He is the only one that can Sanctify and make the believer Holy.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sina, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. (Romans 8: l-11)

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:13-18)

Boiling all of the above down it is only ones Faith in the Shed Blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary that Justifies and Sanctifies.




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How can I be Saved? - Salvation

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Congregation Conversation is a commentary from one who sits in the Congregation of the Redeemed. We claim no great inspiration or Word from the Lord but reflect on what those who claim to be inspired and anointed by the Holy Spirit. There are many voices that say they speak for and under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. Congregation Conversation sits in no condemnation or judgment of those who make such claims. We are just reflecting on what we perceive those voices are saying. We would like to say with the Apostle Paul:

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. - 1 Corinthians 2:2.

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God! 1 Corinthians 1:22-24

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8











It is settled - we believe:

The verbal inspired Word of God both Old and New Testament.

The Deity and Incarnation of Jesus Christ and his Virgin Birth.

The atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of Jesus blood on the Cross.

Justification by the Cross.

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ body from the grave.

The imminent return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the saints.

The Baptism in the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues.

Sanctification by the Cross and progressive by the Word of God.