THE CROSS: A SYMBOL OF TOTAL LIBERATION FROM THE LAW IV

One of the easiest ways to identify a fake prophet is if he requests for an animal for sacrifice. The cross of Christ remains a comprehensive sacrifice. It was at the cross that sin was crucified. Rom. 6:6-7, “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.” It is at the cross that the flesh is crucified. Flesh fuels sin. It is very necessary for us to visit the cross daily because that is where we crucify sin. It is at the cross that flesh is crucified. Flesh fuels sin. Remember that the snake in the Garden of Eden attacked three things – lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life.

When you throw away the cross, flesh takes over. Many things are being done in the flesh in the Church today. The Bible says nothing that is done in the flesh can please God. That is why it appears that the kingdom of darkness is having the upper hand. If you don’t live a crucified life, Mr flesh will take over and start producing the works of the flesh in your life. There is only one prescription for anyone who wants to live a life that is pleasing to God. There is only one prescription for restoration of everything that man lost in the Garden of Eden – that prescription is the Cross.

A perfect man in a perfect garden sinned with only one law; Jesus Christ was tempted on all the three fronts. He was tempted not in a perfect garden but in the wilderness of fallen men, a terrible environment. Remember that Jesus had already fasted for forty days before he was led into the wilderness. When you are busy feeding the flesh, the flesh will take over and you will not be able to withstand the snake when it comes. What you crave is what the serpent attacks the most; that is your banana peel. That is why we must not allow the flesh to have an upper hand in our lives. If you have not crucified your appetite, don’t aspire to be a minister of the gospel. It can become your waterloo. How active is Mr flesh in your life?

Gal. 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: 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.”

Rom. 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over me: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” The cross is the greatest display of grace.

Rom. 7:7, “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.” The law is not bad in itself, it was meant to prepare us for grace so that we can place value on grace and celebrate the grace of God in Christ. Grace is not a licence to sin as some present it to be. Grace is an empowerment to live above sin. It is an empowerment to do what ordinarily you are not capable of doing. It is supernatural empowerment by the Holy Spirit to say No to every appearance of evil, to love what God loves and hate what God hates. That is when you can be certain that you have dominion over sin and that is when you can confidently say, “sin shall not have dominion over me.”

Pray – 

• Dear Heavenly Father, I worship and adore you. I celebrate the finished work of Jesus Christ your dear son on the cross at Calvary. Through His death, burial and resurrection, all my sins are forgiven. I proclaim that henceforth, sin shall never have dominion over me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

TO BE CONTINUED…….