The Cross: The Basis And Way For Man To Get Into Communion With God

Servants, be subject to your masters

with all your fear; not only to the

good and gentle, but also to the

froward.  For this is thankworthy,

if a man for conscience toward God

endure brief, suffering wrongfully.

For what glory is it, if, when ye be

buffeted for your faults, ye  shall

take it patiently, this is acceptable

with God.  For even hereunto were

ye called: because Christ also

suffered for us, leaving us an example, 

that ye should follow His steps: who

did no sin, neither was guile found in

His mouth: who, when He suffered,

He threatened not; but committed

Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:

who his own self bare our sins in His

own body on the tree, that we,

being dead to sins, should live unto

righteousness: by whose stripes ye

were healed.  For ye were as sheep

going astray; but are now returned 

unto the Shepherd and Bishop

of your souls.

I Peter 2:18 -- 25

     The word "froward" is the Greek word where we get scoliosis a disease where the spine is crooked, curved and this is the meaning of the Greek word: "crooked." Peter under the direction of the Holy Spirit has given us how we are to react and act then others come against us to harm us in some way.  No level of income, status, is left untouched by Peter to tell us that in no matter what ever our situation is we are to be in subjection.  This subjection is to bring glory to God and not to ourselves for having been under subjection as though we have done something spectacular.  To be in subjection as Peter has outlined for us is to simply be doing what God requires of His children. It is like a person doing the secular work and has done what the supervisor has asked is one who has done nothing more than what was required, therefore there is nothing spectacular and that exercise of subjection.  Jesus Christ left us an example for he was patient under all the trials even going to the cross to die an innocent man for us to follow.  That term "in His steps" reminds me of the book entitled "In His Steps" and I would suggest reading it for you will be touched to do what has been asked of us and that is to do what is acceptable to God which means to be in subjection.  We are not too retaliate or threaten others because of what they are doing to us, rather we are to be in subjection and this does not mean to just allow atrocities, but when there is no other way we are to be in subjection. we must never forget that Jesus is God, albeit, He was also The Son of God, the Wisdom of God sent to die on the cross for sin.

     When you see the cross of Jesus you are seeing God's revelation and judgment on sin.  The death of Jesus was not one of martyrdom and we are never to think of the crucifixion in this way.  The cross of Jesus was an example of a superb triumph over sin.  By means of the cross of Jesus there is nothing more certain in time or an eternity than what Jesus did on the cross for He switched the whole human race back into a right relationship with God. No, this does not mean that all men are saved so that they have eternity without actually believing upon the Lord Jesus Christ.  What this means is the sin that besets the human race from the fall of Adam until the return of Jesus Christ on the last day, a sin that no man can pay has been paid by God Himself, now by means of the Holy Spirit teaching that gospel man has the ability to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is not that man can work in any way to earn salvation, but by the hearing of the Word of God and of faith that comes by actually hearing, having ears to hear, they can place this faith upon the sheer fact of the redemption paid for by Jesus Christ.

     Think of this: by the cross man can come into a right relationship with God for Jesus made the redemption the basis of human life and what this means is that He paved the way for every man to get into communion with God. unfortunately many men will not choose to believe even after hearing the gospel.

     Do not be one who misunderstands the cross for it did not just happen to Jesus for the cross was the purpose for why He came. Do not be as those who teach in theology that Jesus is a created being formed by God, and Angel, even some calling Michael the Archangel, for this is incorrect and they must be aware to separate God manifested in the flesh from the Son becoming sin. Remember the incarnation was for the purpose of redemption.  God did not put away our sins so that we can have some sort of self-realization. No, the cross is the center of time and eternity and is the answer for both.

     The cross is not the cross of a man at the cross of God, and the cross of God cannot be realized in human experience.  Do not forget this one very important fact; the cross is God exhibiting His nature, and it is the gateway whereby any person of the human race can enter into a union with God.  Coming to the cross we do not go through the cross, that is, it is not something esoteric, which means to understand that it is only for a select few have special knowledge or interest, but it is for man.

     The cross of Jesus is the very center of salvation, and is the reason that one can obtain salvation.  The cross of Jesus cost God much for He became the bearer of sin, our sin.  The cross of God is the very point were sinful man can merge into a way of life and that way of life is the heart of God. The question for each of us to answer is: Will we after hearing the gospel and receiving the faith that comes by this hearing follow God?

 Though He slay me, yet will I
     hope in Him.  I will surely
defend my ways to His face.
     Indeed, this will turn out
for my deliverance, for no
     godless man would dare
come before Him.  
            Job 13: 15 -- 16

Exhibit and your life the Cross

Richard L. Crumb 

Learning How To Follow The Command Of Submission

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man

for the Lords sake: whether it be to the king,

as supreme; or to governors, as unto them 

that are sent by Him for the punishment of

evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

For so is the will of God, that with well doing

ye may put to silence the ignorance of

 foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty

for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the

servants of God.  Honor all men.  Love the

brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honor the king.

I Peter 2: 13 -- 17

     To submit means to be in subjection and this is exactly what the Greek word means in literal translation.  Submission has come to have a negative connotation and people do not want to be under submission for they would rather be autonomous and control their own lives.  This is what is being taught by television through talk shows with supposed psychiatrist and doctors, etc., and is promoted to the media whether it be television, movies, or any other way to teach that man must control their own destiny.  To a point they are correct.  There are times when we are not to submit.  We are to be inclined or to be ready to submit without resistance and to be humbly obedient.  We are to submit or be submissive and humbly obedient to Jesus Christ.  We are to have a conduct or an attitude of submission.  We are to have an agreement between other parties to abide by the decision.  We are to give over and to yield power or authority to another.  Oh!  How we hate this idea!  Yet, we are being told that we are to be in submission.  The Greek for this word to be under submission is plural and it is imperative, in other words it is a command to start doing what you are not going and it is speaking to you and me for it is imperative and an aorist, and it is plural for it is for all of us who claim to be Christian. in other words it is your responsibility to be in submission.

     Does submission mean that we are to just turn the other cheek and allow another to do what ever they so desire to us?  No!  If you will remember that when the 70 men went out as Jesus commanded they took with them swords.  They did not take those sorts just a cut their meat or to slice butter.  They took those swords to protect themselves.  To use force to protect oneself is not wrong if it is done for the right reason.  Furthermore as Christians we are to be in submissive to every ordinance of Jesus Christ.  Do you understand that we do not have a choice in this matter?  Oh, yes you can ignore this command but if you do you're going against the command of your savior Jesus Christ.  Read Romans Chapter 13 and you will find that Paul speaks about this very same thing.

     I hear often Christians complaining about the government, about abortion, about homosexuality, and now the transgender effort so that anyone can use a bathroom whether it be man or woman and whether or not they be man or woman.  It is compliant, compliant, compliant, compliant with little if any action to correct the problem.  It is as though nothing is being done but for the majority of people who go to church and call themselves Christians be will not do anything that will ruffle their feathers or cause them any kind of effort or discomfort.  In fact, as Christians we have the power in our voting, and in our choosing to whom to vote for if we choose to do so and that choosing has the power to cause those things that are simple: i.e., abortion, homosexuality in all of its forms and uses, even to choose men who will make decisions according to the will of God and not by their own suppositions. Our responsibility, for the Lord's sake is to be in subjection to the King, in our case here in the United States it is to the president and to the governors of the states in which we reside in other men and women who are governing city, states, and the country.

     As Christians taking our responsibility to ensure that the justice of God is that which is ruining our nation according to men who follow the will of God then this will bring praise to those who are doing well things.  Government was set up by God to control those who are evil doers and not to control those who are not evil doers, why control people who are not evil doers for a day are not causing a problem.  When we take charge of our responsibility to uphold the justice of God we are putting to silence the ignorance of those foolish men and women who are making decisions, laws, and bringing onto our nation if not the world as a whole sinfulness.  As three men and women we are to put this silence those people.  We must remember that we are to not use our liberty in some malicious manner for we are servants of God.

     Honor God, honor all men, love the brotherhood, honor the king. 

When a country is rebellious,

     it has many rulers, but

a man of understanding and

     knowledge maintains order.

A ruler who oppresses the poor

     is like a driving rain that

leaves no crops.  Those who forsake

     the law praise the wicked, but

those who keep the law resists them.

     Evil man do not understand justice,

but those who seek the LORD

     understand it fully.

                Proverbs 28: 2 -- 5

As a Christian be involved

Richard L. Crumb

Learning To Live What We Are: Strangers And :Pilgrims

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers

and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts,

which war against the soul; having your

conversation honest among the Gentiles:

that, whereas they speak against you

as evildoers, they may by your good works,

 which they shall behold, glorify God

in the day of visitation.

I Peter 2: 11 -- 12

     A question: Do you see yourself as a stranger and as a pilgrim? An old song entitled: "This World Is Not My Home," and it further states that we are just passing through for our treasures are laid up somewhere in the blue.  Is this how you see yourself?  If not, why not?  You may not have been displaced from their homes, country, and had active persecution, but you are involved in a war.  This war is not for your possessions, it is for your soul.  One of the major ways that we fight this war is to abstain from fleshly desires, that which we would call lust. Are you seeking to gather all the toys, implements, bigger and better homes, the latest and greatest new car or pick up?  Are you going into debt to achieve what you desire?  Are you looking for more money, or fame or fortune that the world would see you as someone special?  If so, your faith, your understanding of who you are is askew.  There is a problem because you are not actually fighting this war you're joining the enemy.

     Question: What about your conversation, your language, is it vulgar, is it filled with things other than speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel?  It is not that we could not talk about other things but we must be in control of our conversation that it is an honest conversation so that you or I will not come into condemnation by a non-Christian, at least over our conversation.  If your conversation is more like the conversation of this world the Gentiles, that is the non-Christians, will know that you are not actually acting like Christian.  They see you, that is the non-Christians, as a hypocrite.  They believe they have an honest reason to war against you for as a hypocrite you are seen as an evil doer and name may not be far from wrong.  Does the world see you as a person who lives your faith and that faith is seen in your works?  I don't mean just teaching Sunday school, going to church, going to various functions, I mean do they see you mowing your lawn keeping your house clean caring for your children and wife properly and that you are not in debt so that you are unable to keep a good report.  How will they glorify God if they cannot see God in you?  They can't!  When Jesus Christ comes for his church, his day of visitation, will they be able to glorify Jesus Christ?

     God uses the means to accomplish His will.  You are the means to bring the Gospel to the world.  There are many and various avenues by which this Gospel can be supported into the world but it will not be spread unless a person is intentionally taking the Gospel to their world.  Notice the word intentional; that means you are taking time to plan and then to do and not just simply speak about what others are doing, rather exercise your faith and you will not have to speak about it for others to see it.

     We speak about the love of God in His mercy and we want it, but, are we giving back truelove to God?  You see when we love we give Whether it be our wives or our children, loving care for our cars by washing and waxing it because in some way we love that vehicle.  If we are willing it to do loving godly things upon this earth and are we willing to give love to God who loves us unconditionally and has shown that fact by coming to earth as the Son of God so that we, you, others, can be saved. 

     Our blessings are so great for we are blessed to have eternal life and that life began when we put our faith, trust, belief, and have converted to the Lord Jesus Christ. a great joy is yours and mine when we follow the commands and do the will of God.  It is there for us to grab hold of still the question is will we actually reach out to obtain it.  It is up to us?

In that day, declares the LORD Almighty,

     I will break the yoke off their necks

and will tear off their bonds; no longer

     Will foreigners in slave them.

                       Jeremiah 30: 8

Reach out and do the will of God

Richard L. Crumb