<

Eric Casagrande / Genelyn Novabos

More Than Overcomers!

A few weeks ago, I happened to read an article from another website, in which the author – who shall remain nameless for privacy issues - made the following statement:

“Yes, Christ died for our salvation, but we also

have a responsibility to overcome.“

Unfortunately, this comment is not only dangerously false, but also highly misleading. Allow me to explain the issues at hand.

The first part of the statement – ‘Christ died for our salvation‘ – rightfully informs the reader that Jesus Christ did everything that was necessary at the cross, and the task is complete. Nothing more remains to be done. We are secure in Him.

The second part of his comment - ‘but we also have a responsibility to overcome‘ – is quite wrongfully telling us that Christ didn’t quite do it all at the cross - and there remains a further work for us to perform, in order to finish off the process.

In the age-old language of legalism, it’s called: ‘Proving yourself worthy’, or ‘Completing your salvation’.

My friends, this is something which I run into all the time, as an evangelist. So many people in the Body of Christ just don’t grasp the fullness of what happened at the cross. The light simply doesn’t ‘click on’ for them, and for whatever reason – whether due to intentionally ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit or not – they seem to have very little personal revelation as to who they are in Christ, and who He is inside them.

The apostle Paul had experienced the same frustration with the Church in Galatia. Read his letter to them sometime. He went absolutely ‘postal’, upon learning they went from being fully dependent on Christ – to partly trusting Christ, and partly trusting in themselves and what they could do.

You know - given his response – if Paul had been the pastor of your local Church today, you’d get right up and walk out the door. You’d say: “I feel the Lord is leading me to fellowship elsewhere!”

Do you know what Paul said to the believers in the Church of Galatia?

He told them that even if an angel were to come straight from heaven, and preach a gospel other than the Gospel of Grace (complete dependence on the finished work of Christ at the cross), that angel should be ‘accursed‘.

My friends, the word ‘accursed’ means to be eternally damned.

In other words, Paul is saying that if anyone comes and presents a gospel other than the Gospel of Grace: ‘Let him go straight to hell!’

Then - as if to stress his point - Paul adds: ‘If you didn’t hear me right the first time, then let me say it a second time. If anyone preaches a gospel other than the Gospel of Grace – Let him go straight to hell!’

I’m not making this up, folks! Read Galatians 1: 1-9, and see for yourself!

Now friends, as it relates to ‘overcoming’ - exactly what do the scriptures teach us in this regard?

Well for one thing, it teaches that if you are born-again, you have the One who overcame everything (Jesus Christ), living inside of you! Take a look at what John 16: 33 has to say:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may

have peace. In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world.“

Please take note that we are not instructed to take heart in our own ability to overcome – but rather to take heart because Jesus is the One who has already overcome, and He lives inside us!

It’s not through our own self-effort that we transform into ’overcomers’. But rather, it’s by faith alone. Faith in the shed blood, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When He comes to dwell inside of us, and gives His life to us … He makes us ‘overcomers’.

This is confirmed in 1 John 5: 3-4, where it says:

“For everyone born of God overcomes the

world. This is the victory that overcomes

the world, even our faith.“

But it doesn’t stop there. See what the next verse (1 John 5: 5), tells us:

“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he

who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.“

My friends, there is only one thing we are actually called to do, and that is to go into all the world, and tell people everywhere about the fantastic news of how much God loves everyone – of all cultures and all tongues – without discrimination, as shown in the person of Jesus Christ, and His finished work at the cross!

He didn’t say: “It is almost finished!” — Jesus said: “IT IS FINISHED!“

Oh hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus!

HOME

Eric Casagrande / Genelyn Novabos

More Than Overcomers!

A few weeks ago, I happened to read an article from another website, in which the author – who shall remain nameless for privacy issues - made the following statement:

“Yes, Christ died for our salvation, but we also

have a responsibility to overcome.“

Unfortunately, this comment is not only dangerously false, but also highly misleading. Allow me to explain the issues at hand.

The first part of the statement – ‘Christ died for our salvation‘ – rightfully informs the reader that Jesus Christ did everything that was necessary at the cross, and the task is complete. Nothing more remains to be done. We are secure in Him.

The second part of his comment - ‘but we also have a responsibility to overcome‘ – is quite wrongfully telling us that Christ didn’t quite do it all at the cross - and there remains a further work for us to perform, in order to finish off the process.

In the age-old language of legalism, it’s called: ‘Proving yourself worthy’, or ‘Completing your salvation’.

The apostle Paul had experienced the same frustration with the Church in Galatia. Read his letter to them sometime. He went absolutely ‘postal’, upon learning they went from being fully dependent on Christ – to partly trusting Christ, and partly trusting in themselves and what they could do.

You know - given his response – if Paul had been the pastor of your local Church today, you’d get right up and walk out the door. You’d say: “I feel the Lord is leading me to fellowship elsewhere!”

Do you know what Paul said to the believers in the Church of Galatia?

He told them that even if an angel were to come straight from heaven, and preach a gospel other than the Gospel of Grace (complete dependence on the finished work of Christ at the cross), that angel should be ‘accursed‘.

My friends, the word ‘accursed’ means to be eternally damned.

In other words, Paul is saying that if anyone comes and presents a gospel other than the Gospel of Grace: ‘Let him go straight to hell!’

Then - as if to stress his point - Paul adds: ‘If you didn’t hear me right the first time, then let me say it a second time. If anyone preaches a gospel other than the Gospel of Grace – Let him go straight to hell!’

I’m not making this up, folks! Read Galatians 1: 1-9, and see for yourself!

Now friends, as it relates to ‘overcoming’ - exactly what do the scriptures teach us in this regard?

Well for one thing, it teaches that if you are born-again, you have the One who overcame everything (Jesus Christ), living inside of you! Take a look at what John 16: 33 has to say:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may

have peace. In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world.“

Please take note that we are not instructed to take heart in our own ability to overcome – but rather to take heart because Jesus is the One who has already overcome, and He lives inside us!

It’s not through our own self-effort that we transform into ’overcomers’. But rather, it’s by faith alone. Faith in the shed blood, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When He comes to dwell inside of us, and gives His life to us … He makes us ‘overcomers’.

This is confirmed in 1 John 5: 3-4, where it says:

“For everyone born of God overcomes the

world. This is the victory that overcomes

the world, even our faith.“

But it doesn’t stop there. See what the next verse (1 John 5: 5), tells us:

“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he

who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.“

He didn’t say: “It is almost finished!” — Jesus said: “IT IS FINISHED!“

Oh hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus!

HOME