Saturday, May 23, 2026

A living sacrifice (part 2)

It is very tragic that many people still view themselves as the old man before the redemption of Jesus Christ for it is written; “For if, by the trespass of the one man (first Adam), death reigned (heredity) through that one man how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life (heredity) through the One Man., Jesus Christ.

Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For as through the disobedience of the one man (first Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One Man (last Adam) the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5: 17-19).

Provisions have been made for us through God who, “Has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1:9).

We therefore have to: Have a walk worthy of the calling with which we were called (Ephesians 4:1).

That calling is a holy calling; as it is written; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:3-4).

• We are to live before God our Father, “As obedient children, not conforming ourselves to the former lusts, as in our ignorance (not knowing our new status in life); but as He who called us is holy, we also be holy in all our conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1Peter 1:14-16).

Have our conscience purge from dead works to serve the living God Because light has no fellowship with darkness (Hebrews 9:14)

This act of service can only be performed by the High priest who is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins (Hebrews 5:1, 8:3).

Now, “Since we have a great High priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:14-15).

And since we have such a High Priest, who Himself is perfect, and has something acceptable to offer as a propitiation or on behalf of our sins— His body and blood in the form of the bread and wine, we can daily approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. This act of worship is to be performed with boldness without fear in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives, in a worthy manner. For whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” (Hebrews 4:15-16; 10:19-22; Luke.1:74-77; 1Corinthians 11:27-30).

God’s good, acceptable and perfect will is, “His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:11).

When Christ came into the world He said, “Behold I have come to do your will, O God,” He takes away the first that He might establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” By this “One sacrifice He has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10: 9-10, 14).

God’s will is the sanctification (holiness), the immortality of our human body which is synonymous to everlasting life. It is written: “Now that we have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God (practical righteousness), the benefit we reap leads to holiness, and the result is everlasting life” (Romans 6:22; 1John 3:7).

For God’s will to be fulfilled, which is, “To be holy,” the following provisions were made:

The Father had Jesus Christ who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2Corinthians 5:21).

Christ instituted the ordinance of communion for the forgiveness of sin For, “Where there is remission of sins, there is no longer an offering for sins’ (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews10:18).

Our bodies are presented a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God by living for God as Jesus Christ did. We are admonished saying; “Since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourself also with the same attitude: because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God” (1Peter 4:1-2).

Those who fulfill the will of the Father in heaven are those who have communion and fellowship with Jesus Christ (Matthew12:50).

Let us therefore, not allow ignorance and hardening of the heart to separate us from the life of God, nor having His will fulfilled in us (Ephesians 4:18).

May the eyes of our hearts be enlightened, that we may know what is the hope to which He has called us. “The Lord is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (Ephesians. 1:17-18; 2 Peter 3:9).

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Friday, May 22, 2026

A living sacrifice

A Living Sacrifice

We are admonished by the Apostle Paul saying, “I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12: 1-2).

This is a profound statement. How can man who is regarded as having a heart which is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” and with a mind that is enmity against God, and which is not subject to God’s law, and neither could it ever be” present his body a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 8:7)?

With regards to man’s status, the Apostle Paul said, “I know in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me” (Romans 7:18-20).

At one point in time in man’s history the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever,” the Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” He also saw that, “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 6:3,5; 8:21).

So, the big question is, how can one present this body of sin to God in a holy, acceptable manner?

The good news is, “God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so, He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4).

At Christ’s death, He created in Himself a new man from both Jews and Gentiles so that, “He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. He made peace through the blood of His cross, and reconciled us in the body of His flesh through death, so as to present us holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in God’s sight” (Ephesians 2:15-16; Colossians. 1: 19-20).

We were begotten by Him at His resurrection as children of the last Adam, the spirit man from heaven in righteousness and true holiness, with a new heart and mind which is now subject to His law. Spiritual life begins at conception just like physical life. The spiritual conception took place at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, when He became the begotten Son of God (1Peter 1:3; 1Corinthians. 15: 45; Acts 17:28-29; Ephesians. 4:24; Ezekiel. 36:26-27).

We no longer need to be so hostile to God. “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

To be continued

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

The process of spiritual growth (part 3)

Spiritual life originates from Jesus Christ Who is the resurrection and the life. He is the vine we are the branches. We extract spiritual life from Christ in Whom we stand. Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

However, faith is insufficient of itself to help us grow in the nature of God, because faith by itself if it has no works is dead.

Therefore, faith has to be supplemented with virtue, and virtue with knowledge. Because the new nature is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator; for we all with unveiled face, are beholding the glory of the Lord, and are being changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Then knowledge because it makes one arrogant, has to be supplemented with temperance or self-control. And temperance supplemented with perseverance, in order to have the tenacity to stick to the task ahead.

Perseverance must be supplemented with godliness, which is to live holy lives;

And godliness supplemented with brotherly kindness which is to demonstrate the second of the great commandment, which is to love your neighbor as yourself.

And finally, brotherly kindness supplemented with love which is the very nature of God.

We are told that, "If these things are ours and abound, they will keep us from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the other hand, "Whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins."

We are admonished therefore to, "Be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall: so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Peter 1:10-11).

It is imperative that we all know these things, because faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ. But how are men to call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent?

As of today, you are without excuse. Will you believe?

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

With brotherly love

Friday, May 15, 2026

The process of spiritual growth (part 2)

The same way Ishmael who was born according to the flesh persecuted Isaac who was born according to the Spirit, even so now, the life in the flesh is opposing and persecuting the life in the Spirit and so, we have been duly admonished saying; “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5: 16-17).

The life in the flesh stems from the works of the flesh, through the passion and lust of the flesh. It is sustained by the breath of life, and God's goodness who supplies it with food and drink.

The life in the Spirit however, stems from Jesus Christ who is the resurrection and the life, and in whom we live and move and have our existence. He is the vine and we are the branches.

Spiritual life is extracted from Jesus Christ through faith, and it is being sustained and developed by the grace of God, which is defined as God's unmerited favor, and comprise of:

(a) God's favor,

Which is His great love in giving us His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

(b) His gifts, talents, and abilities,

Which makes everyone unique, and it is given to the honor and glory of God and to serve one another.

Which is the means by which we can have our sins forgiven, in order to maintain our relationship with Him.

(d) His Gospel –

The good news of His salvation, the medium by which we can grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Spiritual growth begins with the activation of faith in the grace which we have all received according to the measure of Christ's gift.

We are told that, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called to the one hope that belongs to our call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift" (Ephesians 4:4-7).

It is written, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not our own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast."

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

The faith that is required for salvation is not our faith, but faith in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who has given us a new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

As it is written: "As one man's trespass led to condemnation of all men so one man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. For, as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners; so, by one man's obedience many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:18-19).

This is the gospel which, "Those who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation, and have believed in Him, are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians1:13-14).

Then the Holy Spirit "As God's divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, that through these [His divine power and promises} we may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature"(2 Peter 1:3-4).

To grow in the nature of God, and have dominion over His creation, is God's original and ultimate plan for man. For, from the beginning He said, "Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth" (Genesis 1;26).

For this reason, we are admonished to, "Let no one glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come - all are ours; and we are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (1Corinthians 3:21-23).

We should at no time lose focus of the main objective of our human life for, we have been admonished saying, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

He destined us in love to be His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace which He freely bestowed on us in [Jesus Christ] the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:3-6).

However, faith is insufficient of itself to help us grow in the nature of God, because faith by itself if it has no works is dead.

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Then knowledge because it makes one arrogant, has to be supplemented with te

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

The process of spiritual growth

Man's duality is symbolic to Abraham's two sons Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was born from Hagar a bond woman, and he was born according to the flesh. Signifying that, his birth was orchestrated and carried out by the will and passion of the flesh.

On the other hand, Isaac's birth was from Sarah a free woman and came as the result of Abraham's faith in the promise of God. Abraham, "Not being weak in faith, did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what God had promised, He was also able to perform" (Romans 4:11-12).

The same way Ishmael who was born according to the flesh persecuted Isaac who was born according to the Spirit, even so now, the life in the flesh is opposing and persecuting the life in the Spirit.

Comparing the Life in the Spirit with that of the Flesh

Living in the spirit to some people is something vague and nebulous: they see it as something figurative, a metaphor and not something that is real and literal. We have been told however that, what may be known about God is plain, because God has made it plain. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities His eternal power and divine nature… have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

Therefore, exactly what is seen and known about the life in the flesh, reveals what is taking place in the life in the Spirit. The only difference is that they move in opposite directions, they are in constant conflict with each other, and the end result is in contrast to each other. The comparison between the two natures, are like two different trees and each bearing its own fruit and so, we have been duly admonished saying; “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish…And, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16-17;25).

For example, the practicality of the life in the spirit in comparison to the life in the flesh is as follows:

Life in the Flesh Life in the Spirit

1. Breath of Air 1. Jesus Christ the life-giving Spirit

2. Water 2. The Blood of Jesus Christ

3. Food 3. The Body of Jesus Christ

4. Exercise 4. Renewing the Mind (Study the word)

5. Sleep and Rest 5. Prayer and Fasting

6. Recreation 6. Rejoice before the Lord

7. The End result 7. The End result

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Differentiating the children of God from those of the devil (part 4)

2. The second identifying sign is “He who does not love his brother is not of God”

Loving one’s brother is not so difficult to understand as practicing righteousness, for it is clearly defined saying; “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us, we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed (action) and in truth” (1John 3:16-18).

One important admonition we have regarding the poor is; “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need whatever he needs,” For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 11).

These are the two outward signs or hallmarks that differentiates and identifies the children of God from the children of the devil, the question is, are we able to identify ourselves with them? For in the scripture it states: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” and, ‘A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for” (1Peter 2:6-7).

The message or word which they were destined to do, but stumbled because of disobedience is no other than the message of the cross and of Course its practical application. To the Jews a stumbling block: and to the Gentiles and those who are perishing foolishness, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God.

Jesus Christ plainly stated; “I am the way (representing His body depicted by the unleavened bread), the truth(representing Jesus Christ Himself the Word of God sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf) and the life (representing the blood of Jesus Christ for the life of every creature is in the blood, depicted by the wine). No one comes to the Father except through Me.

And so, we have been duly forewarned saying; “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (fellowship) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion (fellowship) of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1Corinthians 10:14-17).

It is the lack of understanding and proper application of this very important message of the cross that many believers perish as we have been duly instructed saying; “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep” (1 Corinthians 11:27-30).

It is the improper discernment of the message of the cross and its application as to when and how to apply it that is the main downfall of the Christian community despite the fact that we have been duly instructed saying; “Command the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time” (Numbers 28:2).

And the appointed time to offer the Lord the food for His offerings is clearly defined in scriptures. These times of ignorance God has winked at and now commands every man everywhere to repent.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Monday, May 4, 2026

Differentiating the children of God from those of the devil (part 3)

Observing the Lord’s Sabbaths is also part and parcel of this act of righteousness which differentiates the people of God from those of the devil. Although, “by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” and we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:20; 28).

Nevertheless, observing the Lord’s Sabbath/s is part and parcel of the sign which distinguishes the people of God from those of the devil although not legally imposed as stipulated by the apostle Paul saying; “4Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks” (Romans 14: 4-6).

The crux of the matter however is, the Sabbaths were designated specifically by the Lord as the time to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings as clearly stated saying; “These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day ---besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:37-38).

As one can clearly see, offering the Lord the food for His offerings is the main objective for having a holy convocation, it is besides or in addition to observing the day and besides or in addition to all vows and freewill offerings which one gives to the Lord.

Observing the Sabbaths, not just the weekly Seventh Day Sabbath but also the annual Sabbaths is part and parcel of the sign which identifies the children of God from those of the devil, For the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.”

“You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore, the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed” (Exodus 31:12-17).

To the prophet Ezekiel the Lord also said; “Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” Also, “I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God” (Ezekiel 20:12;19-20).

The Sabbaths (plural) in conjunction with offering the Lord the food for His offerings is the visual sign that differentiates the children of God from the children of the devil.

"It is this act of righteousness that when practice produces holiness, and ultimately everlasting life. It is this same act of righteousness that when practice, one becomes righteous even as Christ Himself is righteous. Therefore, we have been warned saying; “Dear children, do not let anyone deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous” (1John 3:7).

The same way Abel was commended as being a righteous man because he offered the Lord the offering which was pleasing to Him, in like manner, righteousness is attained by faith in offering the Lord His offering, His food for His offerings, His pleasing aroma at their appointed time.

The children of God are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, in order that they may declare the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. They are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. They come to Mount Zion (the Church) and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in joyful assembly, and to the assembly of the first born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a Judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better things than that of Abel.

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