"The history of the Christian Church is marred by groups who have ripped the heart out of faith by making it a dry, formal intellectual assent to certain truths. Paul prevents us from doing that by the way he ends his letter. The mindset of the new creation does not just agree that Christ died for sinners; it glories in the cross. It boasts in the wonder of the cross. It cherishes the benefits of the cross. The cross is the pride and joy of the new creation. It's the present you show off first when friends come over..."
The cross is the most beautiful of all symbols in our world but, it is only an example of the begining or the precursor to salvation.
St. Paul aslo reminded us that:
13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 1 Corinthians 15: 13-19
Yes the Wondeful Cross! But the cross only forgives, it is the resurrection that saves and gives eternal life!
Amen Coconut. People fail to see that the power of the flesh as directed by the intellect or the lusts of the physical are equally unable to please God.
It was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that Adam ate the fruit of. He went from being led and empowered by God to following his own will. This can be manifested in base people who follow only the lusts of the physical, intellectual folks who follow the mandates of their minds and any combination of the above.
What is born of the flesh is sadly still only flesh, only what is empowered and led of the Holy Spirit can ever please God, can ever understand His heart and way.
