Is man deceived?

October 13th, 2017

1 Corinthians 15:17 (KJV):  “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”          Is man deceived?  

i suppose this will make some if not most angry with me.  But take time and do some research on what is written.  A whole lot more is spoken, written and sung of the cross.  Agreed the cross was necessary in part for salvation but not the end to salvation.  i’m willing to bet that 90% of the time spent, is spent on the observation and workings of the cross as being where ones focus should be; should it?

What is the foremost symbol of Christianity?  i believe it to be the cross.  Other symbols may include fish, angels etc.  But is the cross a good symbol to present for Christianity?  Where did it, the cross, originate from, how did it come about to be the Christian symbol?  i have my beliefs but would encourage one to seek out for themselves (2 Tim 2:15 w/ Phil 2:15) and be like unto the Bereaian’s of Acts 17:11.  

“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.”  Does John 3:16 give mention to the death, burial and resurrection as does Paul when writing: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”  1 Corinthians 15:1-4.  We looking back, because we have the whole scripture to read, see how that the giving of Jesus, the Christ was to be the sacrificial gift for our salvation.  But when His birth and life occurred they (Israel) had very little understanding.  God’s salvation plan has been revealed over time as He has revealed. “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Matthew 13:11.  “And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”  Luke 8:10. “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”  Deuteronomy 29:29.   Note it reads kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God: and yes they are different, they are not the same.   But to Paul was the mysteries revealed:  “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”Romans 16:25-26

Lets look at John 3:16.  “For God so loved the world”:   “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6  “that he gave his only begotten Son”  when did this occur?  “And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” Acts 13:32-33.  So at resurrection Christ Jesus was “begotten” of God, being raised.    Why is “only begotten” given by John (5x) and the writer of Hebrews once?  The mention of begotten was to the Jew and too their hopes:  “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:” Romans 15:8.   Begotten hasn’t any significance to Gentiles; Paul doesn’t use begotten when relating to Christ Jesus the same way the other Jewish writers do to Israel.  “that whosoever believeth in him”  what is to be believed of Him, Christ?  Is it not what Paul gave to us (by the Holy Spirit)  now in this time of the grace of God (Eph 3).  “should not perish”  be eternally separated from God (Rev 20:14) by continuing in death that was placed upon all mankind by being in Adam (1 Cor 15:22).  “but have everlasting life.”  Of special note:  is everlasting life and eternal life the same?  Are they interchangeable?  Do a word study and scripture reading of the two and see.  Just as mercy and grace are not the same so maybe eternal and everlasting life; you decide.

Is then the cross important? very much so.  For if Jesus had not been crucified how could of He been raised?  If blood had not been shed (“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”  Hebrews 9:22)  how would the debt of sin been paid.  And why blood, why was blood required?  (“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”  Leviticus 17:11 and else where).  But if no resurrection how would of we who believe be resurrected to newness of life.  Also then to consider; its not that we get our life back as being made new, but the life (His life that makes it a new life:  “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.” Galatians 2:20).  Then, upon belief of the gospel, Paul’s gospel, we receive at conversion (“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”  Corinthians 12:13) makes us, gives us a completely new (“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17) new life, the life of Christ now in us (“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”  Colossians 1:27). Giving us something we have never had before, that can never be lost because of the cross (sin was destroyed at the cross.  “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 shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:13-15)   Even Adam in all His created perfection lost that life by sin, but now for us who believe can never lose that life given by God being in Christ (2 Cor 5:17-21).  We who believe were dead and needed life, those who have yet to believe are still dead and need life.  Its all about life and not death, not just any life but the life given us by the only begotten of the Father, by then being in Christ Jesus.  We receive this life, His life only by faith and faith alone. “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians  2:5-10.  The moment one ensues, strives to attain, attempt to accomplish by merit (Gal 3:1-3); do anything even in ones mind to attain to Gods required perfection they become “the enemies of the cross of Christ” Philippians 3:18.  It goes back to what Paul wrote of the Galatians: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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. 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 1:6-9; this is serious and needs ones full attention. 

Does true Christianity really need a symbol, an image, an icon to hold, have or to follow?  “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4.   

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is 

written, The just shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:17.  

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall

have no pleasure in him.”  Hebrews 10:38

Ones sin is forgiven in Christ by His finished work on the cross, but if Jesus had not been raised we would not have been able to receive that resurrected life that is only in Him.  Also by not being in the risen Christ we would still be in sin.  The death, burial and resurrection are all necessary for salvation to be granted and through faith to be appropriated.  “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 1:18.

Thank You LORD Jesus for Your death for me, Your death for my sin.  Thank You for the burial by which i to by faith experience that same death being in You.  Thank You LORD God, Father for the resurrection that allows me also to be raised in newness of life to ever be with You and to be part of You for all eternity.  i understand sin was removed at the cross but the resurrection gives me life, Your life for all eternity.  Thank You; in Jesus’s name Amen. . . . . .