The Cross of Christ  

In Galatians 2:16, the Holy Spirit through Paul makes a bold statement about what Salvation and Sanctification really are. "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." The Holy Spirit emphatically states that "a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ". "The faith of Jesus Christ" refers to what Christ did at the Cross. If a person does not accept that, then they are trying to justify themselves by "works of the law". When a person comes to Christ, the broken law of which all are guilty, is set aside as paid in full, done so by what Christ did at the Cross (Col. 2:14-15). Now the Christian has the privilege of living under "Grace" (Romans 6:14). The Christian must also understand the Cross as it refers to Sanctification, meaning that we live a sanctified life strictly by faith in Christ and what He did for us at the Cross, which then gives the Holy Spirit the latitude to work within our lives, bringing about His Fruit (Gal. 5: 22-23). As Salvation comes by faith in Christ and what Christ did at the Cross, likewise, Sanctification comes by faith in Christ and what He did at the Cross. The Cross is the only way!