THE CROSS – THE START AND FINISH… THE BEGINNING AND THE END

The gospel of Roman Catholicism says that Jesus died on the cross, opening the door to salvation. However, in order to access salvation, you must go through the Roman Catholic church, their traditions, rites, and rituals. In order to access the grace of God, one must be baptized as an infant and weekly attend their church, often called the sacrifice of the mass. God’s “grace” is said to be supernaturally and mysteriously dispensed, both at infant baptism and in partial payments through the Eucharist.

The gospel of Calvinism says Jesus died on the cross, opening the door to salvation. However, salvation is only available to those whom God has given mysterious and irresistible power, forcing what Calvinism would call “grace” upon a select few sinners, while withholding this mystical force from billions. This irresistible “grace” is consistently and dogmatically presented through a variety of philosophies found in their pulpits, teachings, and writings.

The Gospel of God says that Jesus died on the cross, not merely opening the door to salvation but also closing it. In other words, the entire focus is on the cross of Christ and His finished work and nothing else. Neither gnosticism nor the Eucharist have any business being added to the power of the Cross. The Gospel of God says that Jesus died on the cross for all sin for all time. The Gospel of God says all can come and be saved by humbly believing and receiving the truth of the Gospel found in Jesus Christ alone. The Gospel of God reveals the beauty of God’s forgiveness freely offered to all mankind because Jesus paid the price for all sin, once and for all, while on that cross!

Sadly, the wisdom of men, (Gnosticism) and the works of men, (Roman Catholicism, along with its traditions, rites, and rituals) only serve to pull our attention from the finished work of Christ upon the cross. The grace of God does not begin at the cross and end with man’s wisdom. Neither does it begin with man and his work his works and traditions. The grace of God does not begin at the cross and end with man’s work. The grace of God begins and ends with the cross of Christ and His finished work. Anything less is simply and sadly another gospel.

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romams 1:16

“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 1:18-19

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished.” John 19:30