Message of the cross

1 Corinthians 1:18

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” NIV

In our meditations we have been looking at the message of the cross and its implication in the life of the believer. I want to bring to you by the help of the Holy Spirit how you can by faith work these things out in your life for these things are also by faith. Remember what was said of Moses?

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.” Hebrews 11:24 KJV

“[Aroused] by faith Moses, when he had grown

to maturity and become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.” AMP

So Moses walked that path of the crucified life by faith, so you too can live it by faith. Some words Paul by the Holy Ghost used give us an understanding how to live this out by faith.

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11 KJV

“So look upon your old sin nature as dead and unresponsive to sin, and instead be alive to God, alert to him, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” TLB

“Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.” AMP

Firstly, the word “reckon” as it is used means count it as so. What does it mean count it as so? It means call the things that be not as though they were(which by the way is a faith language). This means even though you feel as though sin still has you in it’s grip, count your body dead to those desires, declare that you are dead to those desires and unresponsive to the pull of sin upon your flesh. Then you also do this:

“Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members [and faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] life, and your bodily members [and faculties] to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness.” Romans 6:13 AMP

You keep at doing these two things everyday and before long, you will have the reality of the victory that Jesus won for you on the cross.