1.When you in faith asked Christ to save you, because of what Jesus did on the Cross of Calvary, you were saved.That is past tense. You were saved from the penalty of sin.
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
2.As you live each day as a Christian, you are being saved.This is called Sanctification. You start out as a baby Christian and grow into a mature Christian.Sanctification is becoming more like Jesus everyday.But you in your own power can not do this.You must walk in the Spirit.When you were saved, you were indwelt by the Spirit of God.Only in the power of the Spirit can you grow and become a mature Christian.This is the present tense and you are being saved from the power of sin.
"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
Christ must live in you for there to be growth.
3.Now the future tense.One day Jesus will call His church home. When this happens, you will go to be with Jesus in Heaven. You will be saved from the presence of sin. In heaven there will be no sin. This is called glorification.
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.For the Lord himself shall descend from heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Past, present, and future are the three tenses of Salvation.Salvation from the penalty, power, and presence of sin.
Christ's sacrifice gave us a complete salvation.
May God bless you in 2010.Let this be your best year yet and grow more like Jesus everyday.
God bless,
Gerald English
“One Thing”
The Apostle Paul had an amazing capacity for simplicity. He said, “this one thing I do;”. Don't you wish life boiled down to this one thing? But in a way it does! What was the one thing he did?
“Forgetting what lies behind, and reaching forward to what lies ahead,” (Philippians 3:13). What a worthy goal for this new year. Forgetting the past, living for the future. What better way to live?
Someone has said, “Many of us are crucifying ourselves on a cross between two thieves; regrets of the past and worries for the future.
God wants us to live lives free of the regrets and pain of the past. There is forgiveness for that. And if you need, get some Christian counseling.
He also wants us to be free of the fear of the future. What worry really is, is fear!
Just this morning I read, “The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” (Proverbs 29:25)
So it seems to me we have a choice, fear or faith. I don't know about you … but I'd rather choose faith! I hope you will too.
Remember, “this one thing I do.” Will you say that in January 2010? Will you do that? Forget the past and reach forward in faith.
*Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. *He can live anywhere in the universe, but He chose your heart. *If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. *He sends you flowers every Spring and a sunrise every morning. *If He had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. *What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem; not to mention that Friday at Calvary.
Are you crazy about Him? Tassel Chrystal Daley
Growing in Grace
I am positive we must grow in the knowledge of Grace to mature as a Christian. Realizing, we do nothing with Grace in our own strength, but by the power of God. At the day of Salvation, God gave us everything that we needed to mature as a Christian. He gave us His strength, His power, His love and basically His victory! However, we as Christians find it so hard to grow, wonder why? Maturity as a Christian is directly tied to a personal relationship with Christ but cannot be found without the receiving of Grace and then, the returning of Grace to others. Grace is something that is given freely. We must also be willing to accept that Grace for us to mature in our Spirit-man.
Humility is a huge component to Grace. We must humble our self to accept Grace. Many times, we want to skip the humility part. We do not want to humble ourselves before God and say, I am wrong God, please forgive ME! No Excuses given, no justifications offered just, I sinned! Humility must start between you and God alone. God doesn’t proceed to beating you up. I believe that is Satan that offers condemnation. At least my experience has been, He only loves. He wraps His loving arms around us and says, I am so glad you gave up so I can bless you .
Grace forces us to accept who God says we are. We are His children. He says we are the apple of His eye! He says we are saints. Saints justified not through our own actions, but by Jesus Himself. We are redeemed through Him. Let’s give up own lives to Him and live by Grace and give freely that Grace to others.
To mature as Christians, we must also be willing to bestow that Grace onto other people. Funny thing, we like the Grace that Christ affords us, but we hold others to a standard that is far from Grace. We all grow at different times and seasons. We expect that God is patient with us, but we want others to instantaneously mature. It is a double standard that most of us are all too familiar with, don’t you agree?
I love Grace because it is the total foundation of the Word of God! It is why Jesus came to Earth, to give us His Grace. Let’s remember we are all special in His sight and He loves us all the same. He does not love one more than another. He doesn’t love us more if we are the best or the worst at this maturing thing. He just Loves. Let’s be more like the Son.
In Jesus name,
Traci Holloman
The Entrepreneurs Prayer for the New Year!
As I awaken with the gift of yet another day and prepare for the tasks at hand, I offer up this most ardent prayer:
I pray for continued clarity of purpose so that I may hold my vision steady and keep my focus on the needs and success of others, which in turn shall bring me my success.
I pray for the wisdom to expect abundance in my life, that it surrounds me and is available for the taking and to be shameless and unapologetic upon its receipt, for I deserve abundance.
I pray for a cheerful countenance, be it clear or cloudy skies and that I may radiate and infect others with my positive attitude.
I pray for the trust of others that they may recognize my sincerity and true intentions so that we may move forward together.
I pray for the strength to fend off adversity and use my desire and determination as both weapon and shield.
I pray for the courage to carry forth my convictions during the battle of business and to resist temptation to a quicker monetary result when such temptation compromises these things for which I stand.
I pray that I may be used as a lightning rod to collect the amazing ideas already present in the universe and when blessed with such inspiration, that I may be able to apply my talents and abilities to turn the power of thought into measurable advancement of my goals.
I pray to retain my childhood wonder so that I can recognize and revel in the small miracles of each day that others may miss.
I pray for an infinite supply of self-confidence for it alone fortifies faith, strengthens my resolve and conquers the largest enemy I will ever face – fear.
I pray for a compassionate spirit and the patience to offer those who seek my advice and my help, my full and undivided attention.
I pray for good health and a feeling of well being, and the continued desire to those areas of my physical life I may be neglecting in the name of my spiritual and entrepreneurial advancement.
I pray that today is a day of excellence and at its conclusion I can acknowledge and be grateful for the forward motion I have made and the growth I have experienced.
I pray most of all for the understanding and support of those closest to my heart, my family, that they will equate what may seem like endless hours of apparent pre-occupation with affairs of business to what is at the very core of my being, that which drives me, for once I achieve what I have set out in its fullest, I will become that more complete being I strive to be.
It is for these things that I pray, for I am an entrepreneur.
As we end the year 2009...
Top 10 Predictions for 2010
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth..
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still honor the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.
Isn't It Great to remember Who Is Really In Control,and that; "the Word of the Lord endures forever." 1 Peter 1:25
This was given to me by my good friend, Charles Odom.
We are so excited to share with you By Way of the Cross Magazine Toolbar.
It will serve as a new way to generate revenue along with the By Way of the Cross Magazine Mall.
With this Toolbar we will raise much needed funds for the ministries on this magazine without you writing a check or selling a product!
This Toolbar will not replace your existing toolbar.
The features on the Toolbar are all designed to help us raise funds in a non-intrusive way.
THERE IS NO COST TO YOU
There are no pop-ups, adware, spyware or tracking and we also respect the user’s privacy It is easy to download to Internet Explorer or Firefox just click the banner below.
Performing 2-5 searches a day on something you are interested in and clicking on sponsored links, will help us reach our goals faster!
This should only take 5 minutes to install.
You will acquire the same information you receive using your current search engine.
Thank you for your support and God bless.
By Way of the Cross staff
Dr. Joey Faucette
"What's your wish for the new year?"
I sat with a group of mostly college students, all of them women, as they talked about what was going on in their lives. One’s boyfriend was due home from Iraq in a couple of weeks. Another was trying to make her life more purposeful. And another had quit smoking.
“I just decided to quit,” she said. “I quit cold turkey—no patch, no pills, no gum. I just quit. And it was hard,” she said, “I mean I’ve been smoking for seven years. It’s what I do. I smoke. I’m a smoker. And my friends don’t understand. They ask me for my lighter and I say, ‘I quit.’ And they say, ‘What?’ They ask to bum a cigarette and I say, ‘I quit.’ And they say, ‘Why?’”
She went on to say, “I know I’m doing the right thing, but it sure is hard.”
Doing the right thing is hard, isn’t it? Even if your old behaviors are killing you or make you miserable, they’re still familiar, aren’t they? And the people around still expect you to be that way, don’t they?
Yes, doing the right thing is hard, but it’s well worth the effort. Resolve to do the right thing in 2010 as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living.
A simple prayer of faith is all you need to pray for Jesus to save you.
If in your heart you believe by faith that Christ died for your sins on the cross, and that He arose, and He is a living Savior today, then that faith can save you.
Here is the prayer you must mean in your heart:
"Dear Jesus I need you to save me. Please forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart. Amen
This is what happens when you pray that prayer and mean it.
1.Eternal life is yours.
2. Your sins are forgiven.
3.Personal relationship with Jesus orever
4. He will never leave you.
Why not ask Jesus to save you today?
Brenda House
As White as Snow
As white as snow our sins are forgiven,
A new day with Jesus makes life worth living.
He takes all our sins and casts them into the sea,
So that His children can have peace and forever be free.
A new year has begun and who will we tell,
That Jesus is the ONLY way to be saved from Hell?
Does it really matter to us that others are lost?
Are we willing to share the gospel, no matter the cost?
May God give us the boldness to share the love of His Son,
As we wait for our Father to say to us. “My child, well done”.
Brenda House
January, 2010
An Article from
Pastor Richard Walker
JESUS IS ALL WE NEED
Well, we have entered a new calendar year. Most people are praying that this year will be “better” than the last. Some are praying to get a job, some are praying to get well (or to not get sick), and some are praying for financial help, for another automobile, or for a new home. In order to help their chances of getting these prayers answered, some have made a resolution to go to church more, to read their Bible more, and to pray more. The question is this: What if you do go to church, read your Bible and pray, but there is no job, you don’t get well or you get sick, and you don’t get that financial help or that automobile or home. What then?
In John 6 we have an account of people who followed Jesus for those types of things. I call them SEEKERS. In the first part of the chapter, Jesus had fed the five thousand and they followed Him. However, Jesus says in verse 26, “You seek Me . . . because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” There are many people today who seek Jesus for selfish reasons, for those other things. John Piper has stated that “the desire for these other things” is a real problem. He says, “The weakness of our hunger for God is not because He is unsavory, but because we keep ourselves stuffed with other things. . . . When God is the supreme hunger of our hearts, He will be supreme in everything.”
Like many today, the people in John 6 were fascinated with sensationalism. People still love excitement, the spectacular, and the impressive. It seems to me that there are still many people who care very little about Jesus actually, but they seek Him for what they can get out of Him.
It is said that people are always looking for something for nothing, no cost, or no sacrifice. However, when Jesus starts talking about SACRFICE, many of these “disciples” began to back off. Verse 66 even says that many “went back and walked with Him no more.” When Jesus started asking something of them; making references to the cross and death, and how one becomes a true disciple, they left. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who died in a Nazi concentration camp, wrote “The Cost of Discipleship.” He stated profoundly, and prophetically of his own life, that when Jesus calls a man to follow Him, He bids that man to come and die.”
Sensationalism can still draw a crowd. I am concerned that many today are looking for that kind of church. Let me remind you that we do not see Jesus going after that crowd or begging them to stay. He does not make deals; He does not promise us a job, wealth or health, in order to convince us to follow Him.
What we need to realize is the SUFFICIENCY of Jesus alone. Jesus even gave His inner group of disciples the opportunity to leave, but Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” and “we believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (vv. 68-69). Anne Graham Lotz wrote, “JUST GIVE ME JESUS!”
It’s not evil for us to want a job, health, and financial stability, but only Jesus is sufficient for what is ultimately necessary. Reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew 16:26, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Follow Jesus because of who He is; you will not be disappointed!
Scripture of the Month
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Galatians 2:16
The formula for your Salvation is:
Faith + Nothing = A Right Standing with God
You can do nothing to save yourself.
HIS MANSION MINISTRIES
His Mansion is a Christ-centered residential care recovery program, located in Deering, NH. We help men and women between 18 and 35 years of age that have difficult life.
His Mansion Ministries.
Appalachian Church Planting
"...it is our dream to plant indigenous churches in the Appalachian Region from North Georgia to New York! "
We at the Way of the Cross believe that the Bible is the complete inerrant Word of God. It was written by the Spirit of God with man only as the vessel that was used.
Also we believe that the Bible is the story of God's Son, Jesus Christ, and that He is the only way to the Father.
If you believe this, then you are welcome to submit articles to the magazine staff for publication.
If you or your church would like to submit Articles that would be considered for future magazines please submit them here:
Doug Tidwell
