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April 05, 2006
Preaching of the Cross II
Hello all and thank you for attending today. Today's message is about the Cross.
1 Corinthians 1:17 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.
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.
I would like to show you today, as best I can, what this means. Why is the preaching of the cross to them that perish foolishness? When I listen to most preachers today they speak of the cross as a place where Christ died for our sins, and on that point I will agree. Let me ask you what is the foolishness to those who don't understand it?
The cross was a place the Lord died for us and our sins are forgiven - they believe in that. There is preaching today in the Kingdom message that speaks that the Lord was crucified and God hath raised Him up and while this is true, the same gospel that teaches that Mat, Mark, Luke and John, does not include forgiveness for your sins, instead preachers mix grace with the Kingdom Gospel and corrupt it. The Gospel Peter preached is that Peter and the 12 were looking for the Lord to be raised up to sit on the throne of David. I'll give the example.
After Christ's death, burial and resurrection, first ascension, then tarrying with the 12 for 40 days, right before Christ's ascension, what did the apostles ask Jesus?
What about all these gentiles you died on the cross for and what about the rapture? What about all these Gentiles you are going to save by grace and what about those idol worshipping Ephesians, are you going to save them too? What about this apostle called Paul you are going to call to preach another message? No, they didn't ask any of these things because it had not been revealed to them, instead what were they looking for?
Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?
Peter's message after Christ's ascension: Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof ye are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed for this which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucifiied, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(This message Peter was preaching was a murder indictment against the Nation Israel.)
Folks, I want to tell you today that this message does not have forgiveness in it as you have if you are saved by Grace. This message Peter preached was to the New Nation Israel and they were to be baptized as I have written before is an Old Testament ordinance, for Israel only. Yet, this message is still being preached in the Church today for your salvation. I know what I'm talking about. You are probably saying Michael, doesn't Acts 2:38 say that they have remission of sins? The answer is yes, they have remission, which means their sins are put on hold, or in a state of remission, UNTIL they are forgiven. When is that?
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
When is that and who is that to? Turn to Zechariah 12:1 IN THAT DAY THERE SHALL BE A FOUNTAIN OPENED TO THE HOUSE OF DAVID AND TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM FOR SIN AND UNCLEANNESS.
This is for the 12, The Nation Israel, it is not for you, this is a physical Kingdom and their sins will be taken away at the 2 coming from the Lord Jesus Christ.
All of this was prophesied in the Old testament, it is to Israel first last and always.
Mystery of the Faith or The Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.
This was to the Jew first and then to the Gentile, it was not known by Peter and the rest of the apostles until Paul told it them. It was prophesied to bring Jacob again to the Lord, But the second revelation Paul got in the Temple was to turn to the Gentiles that had NOT blessed the Nation Israel (Idol worshipping, pork eating, uncircumcised Gentiles who hated Israel).
After a period of time Paul turns to the Gentiles because the Jews were rejecting the message, Acts 28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear and not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing , and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and they will hear it.
Fellowship of the Mystery
Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known to unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in a few words) 4 Whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
I'm sorry, I didn't intend to get carried away on these things but once I start it is hard to explain some things without giving some background.
Why is the preaching of the cross to them that perish foolishness? The Cross was a cruel place, a place of Judgment for our sins; it was not a serene place and a peaceful death as some teach it today. It was a form of execution tantamount to today's electric chair. Christ was so closely associated with our sins, that he indeed became every bad thing we are and as such, God had to turn his back on Him because your and my sins were placed upon Him. That's why The Lord cried out, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me. The Cross means we are all guilty, and criminal, and as such we had to be put to death. Christ was the only sacrifice that could ever take away your sins; in short none of us are worth the powder it would take to send us into hell.
At the cross there is no big me little you, we are all the same. Glory in the Cross, not in your works as other denominations teach you that if you repent and clean up your act, then God will save you. You works of righteousness in the flesh or you denomination can't save you; everything was done that ever needed to be done for you when Christ died on the Cross for the transgression of our sins. The question is do you believe that? Do you put that to your account and say with me and the Prophet Isaiah, "that all our righteousness are as filthy rags" and we are indeed severely depraved, in total need of a Savior. Stop trying to be a Christian and start Trusting Christ, He did it all for us and there is nothing you can add to it.
And if you truly trust Christ and Him alone for your salvation, How is it you can still go to a denominational minded church week after week and listen to lies being told to you, a gospel that is not in effect today being preached to you for salvation, baptism unto repentance, works of the flesh and glory in the sight of mans eyes.
You are told to come out from among them and be ye separate, Saith the Lord, and also be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers. If a person is not saved the he is none of his and wrath of God abides upon them, I want you to understand today that if you are hanging out with "good" people and they are not saved, then they are the children of wrath and their father is the devil. I know these are harsh words but they are words for the time, this is the time of the last days and preachers should be preaching salvation by grace through faith and not any other means and if that offends your friends and your church then get out of it and stay away from them, mark them which caused divisions among you, mark them and stay away from them.
This world is being lulled asleep by preachers and teachers that are making tremendous sums of money to tell you stories and fables and let you know if you are a member there, then you are ok. If it doesn't line up with the Word of God the whole church may be on its way to hell. Stand up for yourself and be like the Bereans, they were more noble because they studied the scriptures daily to see whether was being told them was so or not, get off the baby bottle and get your bible, open it up to Romans through Philemon and study to show yourself approved. Read the whole Bible if that's what it takes.
Don't take my word or any other preacher's word for it, find out for yourself; your preacher is not going to be able to help you when the Lord says "depart from me you worker of iniquity, I NEVER KNEW you", then the angels will cast you into hell and you will burn in torment forever and ever and ever. You might say you don't believe that, doesn't make any difference, God is Righteous and he will do to you exactly what He has said. If God Almighty stood by and let people pull out the beard of His Precious Son, while they spit in His face, beat Him, shoved a crown of thorns down on His head, stripped Him naked and ridiculed Him, took Him outside the city and nailed Him to the cross that you deserve and let him die there while your sins were upon Him, then what, pray tell, will God do to you if you reject the Salvation Of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary after He died for your sins and in you self-righteous, pious, sanctimonious attitude toward God, reject that. What do you think He will do to you?
I pray this not be your fate, I really do. Get up and check yourself and make sure you are saved, this is the most serious decision you will ever make on this earth, because after you die, its eternity and it is going to come to pass.
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross, I cling.
Amen and Amen.
Posted by michael at 10:39 AM | Comments (9)