Was Jesus Christ crucified on a Friday

 

When was Jesus Christ crucified

The majority of believers grew up with the perception that Jesus Christ was crucified on a Friday and resurrected on a Sunday and hence the reason why there is this Good Friday and Easter Sunday celebrations in the western world, but let us be realistic was Jesus Christ crucified on a Friday and resurrected on a Sunday?

We need not be deceived by any false teachings because we have been given the assurance saying; “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things”.  And, “These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (1 John 2:20, 26-27).

Now, with regards to exactly when was Jesus Christ crucified and how long He would be in the tomb He confirmed this on several occasions to the Jews who requested a sign from Him to prove that He was indeed the Messiah. On the first occasion after His first recorded miracle of turning water into wine, and soon afterwards driving out both men and animals from the temple, and over turning the tables; the Jews demanded a sign from Him saying, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove Your authority to do all this!”

Jesus’ reply to them was, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple He was referring to was His body (John 2:18-21).

On another occasion, some of the teachers of the law (Scribes) and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” Jesus answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:38-40).

 On another occasion some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go tell that fox, I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal (be perfected)” (Luke 13:31-32).

This He said in reference to what He would be doing during the three days and three nights He would spend in hell, as alluded to by Peter who wrote; “For Christ died for sin once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water’ (1 Peter 3:18-20).

 These spirits to whom the gospel was preached whilst in hell were judged according to men in regard to the body; and those who heard the voice of the Lord lived. As it is written: “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live”(1 Pet.er 4:6; John 5:25).

On many occasions Jesus Christ explained to His disciples saying, “He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew  16:21; 17:22-23; 20:19; Luke 24:46).

Therefore, there is no shadow of doubt that the length of time the Lord was prophesied to stay in the grave was three days and three nights and this is the sign to prove that He indeed is the Messiah So the logical question is, did Jesus say exactly how many hours constitute a day and how many hours constitute a night?

There was no ambiguity in the mind of Jesus Christ, as to how many hours constitute a day and a night; because, when he was told that Lazarus, the one whom He loved was sick, He replied, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

Then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” But His disciples replied, “Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone You, and You are going back there? Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light” (John 11:4-10).

In this context one has to conclude that, when Jesus said that He was going to spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, He literally meant seventy-two (72) hours, and not part of a day as a day, as it is commonly taught.

So then, when was Jesus Christ crucified and placed in the tomb was it on a Friday? The scriptures states clearly “that because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away” (John 19::31).

When Pilate gave permission to take down the body, Joseph and Nicodemus took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the customof the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby” (John 19:1-42).

It is absolutely clear that the day following the death and burial of Jesus Christ was a High Day Sabbath which was the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, so the people rested. Now, after resting on the day following the death and burial of Jesus Christ the scriptures state the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” (Luke 23:55-56).

Please note carefully that, it was after resting of the Sabbath that the women bought and prepared the spices and ointment as confirmed by the Gospel of Mark which reads; “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him” (Mark 16:1).

And after purchasing and preparing the spices and fragrant oils, they again rested according to the commandment which is the weekly Sabbath, so I therefore beg to ask the question, was Jesus Christ crucified and buried on a Friday?

And if He was crucified and buried on a Friday and after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, meaning that it was not yet the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb, but Jesus was not in the tomb He was already risen, what is this implying? Is it not implying that Jesus did not spend three days and three nights in the grave as He prophesied He would and this obviously would make Him an impostor because, He did not fulfill His one and only sign to prove that He is indeed the Messiah.

Please note again carefully what He said to the scribes and Pharisees who asked Him and said; “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” Jesus answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:38-40).

I therefore, beg to ask a question, are we worshiping the true Messiah! Or are we worshiping a false messiah an impostor who did not fulfill his one and only sign to prove that he is indeed the true Messiah? Let your conscience and the anointing which you have received be your teacher and guide.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Feast of Unleavened Bread current or obsolete!

 

Feast of Unleavened Bread current or obsolete!

I beg to ask the question, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is it current or obsolete?  Judging from how this feast is being perceived in our religious circle where the majority of professing Christians are not observing it or even know about it can lead one to the conclusion that this festival has been abolished or no longer important, but is it? Let us prove to see the status of this festival.

This festival was first introduced to the children of Israel when the Lord delivered them from the bondage of slavery in Egypt when the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron concerning the Passover and later said to them; “   'So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.”

“On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat --- that only may be prepared by you. So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance.”

“In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread." (Exodus 12:14-20).

Let us first and foremost note carefully the conditions that are associated with this ordinance and taking into consideration the fact that Jesus Christ who gave the instructions to Moses and Aaron is the same yesterday, today and forever.

1. . The Lord instructed Moses and Aaron  saying“' So this day shall be to you a memorial”

What is a memorial?  A memorial is something designed to preserve the memory of a person, event, etc., In this case, it is to preserve the memory of the children of Israel deliverance from their bondage of slavery in Egypt.

2.      It is a feast to the LORD throughout your generations.

What is a feast?  It is a day set aside for celebration, in this occasion, it is a day set aside to celebrate and to give honor and glory to the Lord for His deliverance of the children of Israel from the bondage of slavery and this is to be observed throughout their generations.

3.      It is an everlasting ordinance

An ordinance is a piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority, and this authority is no other than the Lord Himself who, on this same day brought the armies of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

4.      It is also a time to have a holy convocation

For thus says the Lord; “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it. But you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD for seven days. The seventh day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it.'" (Leviticus 23:4-8).

Please note carefully the instructions, “seven days you must eat unleavened bread.” I therefore beg to ask the question, why are we who claimed to be believers in Jesus Christ who Himself gave all these instructions to Moses and Aaron are so antagonistic, disrespectful and irreverent to the Lord’s instructions? Are these instructions insignificant, vain, useless or even made obsolete?’

Let us find out the truth of the matter, some people will have us to believe that these everlasting ordinance is applicable only to the children of Israel, but is it? Please, let us bear in mind the fact that, Passover and days of unleavened bread including the children of Israel deliverance from their captivity in Egypt was a shadow of the reality.

The reality is Jesus Christ as we have been duly admonished saying; “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).

The feast of Unleavened Bread therefore, has more of a profound meaning to believers today than what it means to the children of Israel. The children of Israel were delivered from the bondage of physical slavery, but we have been delivered from the bondage of sin and death. Let us therefore be honest with ourselves and ask ourselves this one very important question.

If the children of Israel because of their deliverance from physical slavery are to observe this period of time as a memorial, a feast, a holy convocation throughout their generations as an everlasting ordinance, should we not observe the day the Lord delivered us from sin and death as a memorial, a feast, a holy convocation throughout our life time as an everlasting ordinance?

The choice is left to each individual to decide for themselves; for we have been duly admonished saying; “Who 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” (Romans 14:4-6).

We should also bear in mind the fact that, this day has brought peace between both Jews and Gentiles as we have been duly instructed saying; “ For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:14-18).

So then, when it comes to the worship of the One and only true God, there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for we are all one in Christ Jesus. And if we are Christ's, then we are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” Also, we are in the situation, “where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, neither slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all” (Romans 10:12; Galatians 3:28-29; Colossi ans 3:11).

Therefore, observing or not observing the Lords ordained festivals is a matter of love, gratitude and expressing our appreciation for what the Lord has done for us. But when one considers the amount of time, resources and passion we are willing to exert in celebrating our birthdays, anniversaries, and other public holidays it is a shame to see how irreverent , disrespectful and ungrateful we are to the Lord, what a travesty!

But truly, these times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.. Again, let me emphasize the fact that, this is all a matter of expressing one’s love, gratitude, reverence and appreciation to the Lord for what He has done for humanity.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Freedom in Christ (part four)

1.                  Freedom in Christ liberated us from all men.

 The fourth form of freedom that we have in Jesus Christ is that of being liberated from all men, as it is written,; “You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. And like the apostle Paul said, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all that I might win the more” (1 Corinthians 7:23; 9:19).

Our freedom in Jesus Christ should not be used as a pretext for evil, or lawlessness; but to live as servants of God, obeying His commandments, and neither should this freedom be used as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love we are to serve one another ( 1 Peter r 2:16; Galatians 5:13).

Although as believers we are to obey those who are in authority for we have been instructed saying; “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bond servants of God” (1 Peter 2:13-16).

Nevertheless, our submission to every ordinance of man does not supersede our obedience to God; this applies only when it does not contravene the laws of God, because, "We ought to obey God rather than men.”

In short, our freedom in Jesus Christ does not invalidate the keeping of the first and great commandment which is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind” as demonstrated by the observance of the first four of the Ten Commandments; and neither the second great commandment, which is to love our neighbor as our selves, as demonstrated by the observance of the last six of the Ten Commandments.

Our liberty in Christ is to look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets, but a doer that acts, not under compulsion, coercion or by strict command, but a doer who acts by faith through love, he/she shall be blessed in all his/her doings (James 1:25).

The difference between fulfilling the law in the letter and fulfilling it in the spirit is application. One is applied through external regulations, and strict commands, while the other is applied by faith, through love as a form of gratitude. All we owe is a debt of love, for by the works of the law, shall no flesh be justified in His sight.

Observing the Sabbaths for example are all commemorations commemorating what the Lord did on that particular day and expressing our gratitude and thanksgiving to Him for what He did for us. There is absolutely no compulsion or coercion it is something from one´s own volition as we have been duly admonished saying; “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! (Romans 14:5-6).

This is a personal matter between each individual and God, for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of ourselves, but the crux of the matter is, it is by observing the Lord´s Sabbaths that one demonstrates his/her love towards God. Our liberty in Jesus Christ has liberated us from all men and therefore we are only enslaved to God and His righteousness.

Therefore, when it comes to worship, we ought not to set aside the commandments of God and follow the customs and traditions of men which is vain and useless, for we have been admonished saying; “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men --- the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:6-9).

We have been liberated from all men  and have received the consolation saying; “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5)..

Our loyalty, our subjection, our obedience is first and foremost to God and then to all those who are in authority as long as their commands does not contravene the laws and principles of God, but when for example we blatantly reject or disregard the days which the Lord has ordained to commemorate His plan of salvation for humanity and instead expressing our loyalty and gratitude to days which commemorates man’s achievements, this is making ourselves slaves of men instead of being a slave of God and His righteousness.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Freedom in Christ (part three)

 

Freedom in Christ liberated us from the bondage of sin and death 

Our liberty from the bondage of sin and death again did not invalidate the keeping of the commandments for this is what the apostle Paul wrote; “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness.” And, ‘Having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romans 6:18, 22). 

The bondage of sin and death from which we have been delivered is our independent sinful carnal nature, which is naturally hostile to God, and does not submit to God’s law, and neither can be. But with our new birth in the Spirit, we have received a new heart and a new spirit of adoption at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and when combined with the Holy Spirit, He will cause us to walk in His statutes and keep His judgments and do them. As we have been duly admonished saying: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26;: 11:19-20).

The natural carnal mind as we have been instructed is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God, but having been liberated from this disobedient nature we now have a nature that is compliable and obedient to the laws of God and so having been set free from this disobedient nature we now have become slaves of righteousness: For just as we presented our members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now we are to present our members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

Therefore, being free from sin does not negate us from obeying the laws of God as we have been duly admonished saying; “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not” (Romans 6:14-15)!

We should also establish the fact that sin is not imputed when there is no law and as one can clearly see from the scriptures; neither grace nor faith did away with the law, because the question is asked, “Do we then make void the law through faith? The answer is; “Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Therefore, the liberty we have from the bondage of sin does not give anyone the license to disobey the laws of God because; “He who sins (transgress the laws of God) is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8),

The liberty that we have in regards to the law of sin and death is that, according to the law of sin and death, the wages of sin is death, but the death of Jesus Christ perfects those who are sanctified as we have been duly instructed saying; “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:14-18).

The liberty we have is not that there is no sin, because; “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Neither can we say that we have not sinned, for if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (God) a liar, and His word is not in us” (1John 1:8-10).

And so the plea goes out saying; “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).

Since the plea to all believers by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, is that we all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among us, but that we be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, I beg to ask the question why are we so divided with regards to our liberty in Jesus Christ?

Why do the majority of those who profess to believe in Jesus Christ believe that they can disregard and disobey the laws of God when God has placed them in our hearts so that we can love them and wrote them in our minds so that we can remember them? When this is also the test by which we know that we know Him. For we have been duly instructed saying; “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1John 2:3-4).

Truly, these times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. Yes, we are indeed liberated from the law of sin and death but, we are not to use this freedom as a cloak for wickedness, nor as an opportunity for the flesh, but we are to use it as bondservants of God and through love serve one another, thus fulfilling the royal law of love.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Freedom in Christ (part two)

 

1.                  Freedom in Christ has liberated us from the letter of the law,

 The second freedom that we have in Jesus Christ is our liberation from the letter of the law but which has not invalidated keeping the spirit or the righteous requirements of the law. God has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life. We have been delivered from the ministry of death and condemnation, but have been installed in the ministry of the Spirit and righteousness. But how do we differentiate the letter of the law from the spirit of the law?

The letter of the law had to do with food and drink, various ceremonial washings and external regulations which were simply a type or a shadow of the reality as we have been admonished saying; “the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience ---concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:8-10).

Hence the reason why the apostle Paul instructed the Colossians saying; “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17).

The rationale or intent of all these external regulations as one can clearly see was to clear the conscience of the worshiper and make perfect those who draw near to worship which was not attainable through animal sacrifices as we have been admonished saying; “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins (Hebrews 10:1-4).

But what this freedom affords us is not a total abolition of offerings but rather a reformation on how we present ourselves in approaching the throne of grace. It basically has to do with the substance being offered and not the time appointed to offer the offerings. Instead of animal sacrifices which cannot present the worshiper perfect before God, we now have a perfect sacrifice by which we can now draw near to God as we have been duly admonished saying; “For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and un-profitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:18-19).

Therefore, what this freedom affords us is the freedom from animal sacrifices with food and drink offerings and instead, a better way by which we can now draw near to God as alluded to by the apostle Paul who wrote: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Notice also that we have also been admonished saying, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:2-25).

Freedom from the letter of the law therefore, does not negate the observance of the Lord`s Sabbaths and the keeping of His commandments. Keeping the law in Spirit is to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law by faith through love, without these external requirements, and a written code, because, “Love is the fulfillment of the law, and, it is “If you love Me, keep My commandments”. (Romans 13:8, 10; John 14:15).

For example, doing away with the letter of the law, and observing the law in the Spirit did not abolished the observance of the Feast of Passover/Unleavened Bread, because Paul’s admonition to the church is, “Purge out the old leaven (sin) that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us: Therefore, let us keep the Feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

Neither did observing the law in the Spirit abolished the observance of the feast of Pentecost. Because, not only were the disciples of Jesus Christ celebrating the feast of Pentecost when they assembled together fifty days after He ascended to the Father after His resurrection from the dead, and received the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul also made it his duty to keep the feast of Pentecost.

He said, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; and he sailed past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible on the Day of Pentecost.” On another occasion we are told that, “He stayed in Ephesus until Pentecost” (Acts 18:21; 20:16; 16:8).

It is of importance to note that the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles are interrelated as being ordained times of worship. For thus says the Lord; “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses; at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty handed” (Deuteronomy 16:16; Exodus 23:14-17; 34:18,22-23).

 The Establishment of the letter of the law also did not do away with the seventh day weekly Sabbath, nor changed it to another day. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, so the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

Now the way one shows reverence, respect, and adoration to the Son of Man as the Lord, is by observing His Sabbaths. The Lord said, “Observe My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary, I am the Lord” He also said, “Hallow my Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:30; 26:2; Exodus 31:13, 16-17; Ezekiel 20:20).

Here again we see that, our liberty from the letter of the law has not negated the observance of the Lord’s Sabbaths which is a perpetual sign between the Lord and His people because, it is a day which is holy or set apart both to the Lord and His people.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Freedom in Christ

 

One area that is causing much confusion and division in the church, the body of Christ is that of Christian liberty. The perception that most professing believers have in regards to our liberty in Christ is unfortunately very misleading. So let us analyze very carefully the liberty or freedom that we have in Christ. The apostle Paul gave instructions to the church in Galatia saying, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1).

The most important question we should be asking is: By what were the church enslaved? According to the context of Paul’s admonition, and other supporting scriptures, the church was enslaved to four distinctive things:

1.                  The law of circumcision

The law of circumcision was regarded as a yoke which neither the disciples nor the forefathers were able to bear, and the apostle Paul testified saying: “Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision avails anything, but faith working through love (Galatians 5:2-6).

Since circumcision requires one to obey the whole law which is rather impossible for we have been duly admonished saying; “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law (James 2:10-11).

However, freedom from the law of circumcision does not invalidate the obedience to the commandments of God as alluded to by the apostle Paul who said, “Circumcision is nothing and un-circumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters” (1 Corinthians 7:19).

 He also stated that, “Although I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. To the Jews I became a Jew, in order to win Jews; to those under the law I became as one under the law – though not being myself under the law – that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law – not being without law toward God but under the law of Christ – that I might win those outside the law” (1 Corinthians 9:19-21).

The apostle Paul was addressing the situation between the circumcised who were indebted to keep the law, and the uncircumcised who were without the law, and therefore the status now is, “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6).

Now the faith which is at work is not a blind nebulous faith, but a faith which comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, and applied through love. In other words what really counts is recognize the truth of God’s word, acknowledge it, apply it through love, and become a slave to it.

For example the psalmist David wrote; “Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. I will always obey your laws for ever and ever. I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. I revere thy commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on thy statutes” (Psalms 119:43-48).   

According to David, he walked about in freedom by always obeying God`s laws forever and ever. He also said; “Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth. Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, yet Your commandments are my delights. The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live. I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies” (Psalms 119:140-146)             

Furthermore, Jesus Christ at His circumcision fulfilled all the requirements of circumcision for it is written; “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the un-circumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:11-14). 

The rationale for circumcision was to become heirs of the covenant of promise which Jesus Christ fulfilled on our behalf as we have been admonished saying; “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh --- who are called Un-circumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands ---that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:11-13).

This is one of the four freedoms that we have in Jesus Christ which does in no way negate us from obeying the laws of God. God has overlooked these times of ignorance and has commanded all men everywhere to repent. 

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Corona Virus spiritual warfare (part four)

 

•           Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit

 Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons a believer has in his/her arsenal and are encouraged to be watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and have been instructed saying; “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (James 5:13-18).

The admonition to all believers in this time of pandemic is to; “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:. 4-7).

Believers should at all cost avoid placing their faith in the wisdom of men for we have been instructed saying: “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:18-21).

It is said that, action speaks louder than words this pandemic has clearly demonstrated that the majority of those who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ have made Him the last resort instead of having their faith in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. Most professing believers resort to Jesus Christ for their healing, protection and physical needs only when everything else has failed, or they themselves lacked the resources to pursue other avenues. What a shame! What a dilemma!

Unless one truly knows, understands and believes in the literal existence of the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness, or the life which is in accordance to the Spirit and the life which is in accordance to the flesh and that they are diametrically contrary to each other, they will not comprehend what is taking place around us, but God has overlooked this time of ignorance and has commanded all men everywhere to repent.

Corona Virus a spiritual warfare (part three)

 

The sixth spiritual weapon we have in our arsenal to help us fight our spiritual battles is that of :

•           The sword of the Spirit

The sword of the Spirit as the scripture clearly points out is the word of God which is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart: And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12-13).

And to the disciples Jesus Christ gave power and authority saying; "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:19-20).

Jesus Christ also gave authority to all those who believe in Him saying: And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:17-18).

He also rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith when they could not heal an epileptic and He said to them; “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, " Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" (Matthew 17:17-21).

On another occasion when the disciples noticed that the fig tree that Jesus Christ cursed for not having fruit was withered they said to Him "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." Jesus' reply was, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" (Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:21-24).

I therefore beg to ask the question, what happen to all these promises that Jesus Christ gave to all those who believe in Him, are they null and void? Are they weaker? Powerless and inferior to science and the wisdom of men, so as to necessitate placing our faith in the wisdom of men than in the power of God! If this is our perspective of life it is blasphemous and idolatrous to call ourselves believers.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Corona Virus a spiritual warfare (part two)

 

I have previously made mention of two out of the seven spiritual weapons we have to fight and conquer any battles we face as believers in Jesus Christ which are to Gird our waist with truth and  put on the breastplate of righteousness. Let us now look at three other weapons in our arsenal to help us gain the victory over all pandemics.

•           Shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Meaning, wherever we go we are to make peace with all men for we have been admonished saying; “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." Because, the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." And, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Hebrews 12:14; James 3:18; Romans 12:18).

•           Taking the shield of faith

Above all, taking the shield of faith with which we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a re-warder of those who diligently seek Him." And remember, that faith ought not to be in the wisdom of men but rather in the power of God, (Hebrews 11:6, 1 Corinthians 2:5).

Remember, we have been given the assurance by Jesus Christ who is the Creator of the entire universe and whose Spirit is dwelling in the believer saying: “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.” He said again, “For assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” ((Luke 17:6, Matthew 17: 20).

That faith is through the power of Christ who lives in us, as we have received the consolation saying: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me: For it is God living in us through the Holy who does the work If one truly knows, understands and believes that the world in which we live is like day and night, some people are of the day, whilst others are of the night. The armor we all need to fight any pandemic is the same, it is called  the shield of faith, it is either we have our faith in the wisdom of men or we have our faith in the power of God

The crux of the matter is, one demonstrates his/her faith in the wisdom of main by relying on a vaccine to save them from any pandemic on the other hand, one demonstrates his/her faith in the power of God by boosting one's immune system which God has given us as our body guard and placing our faith in the power of God, the main ingredient here is faith.

•           Taking the helmet of salvation

The helmet of salvation is the protection and assurance of our salvation which we have received by grace through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast and therefore, our faith ought not to be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph