Is there a way of escape

With the world being under such a huge deception and Christianity has become so commercialized, it is hard to separate the sheep from the goats.

Some believers are not even expecting deliverance from the calamities that will definitely be affecting the earth because of man’s refusal to turn from their evil ways. The crux of the matter therefore is, should God's people suffer the same fate as with the unbeliever?

Recall that some people came to Jesus Christ and told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices and the eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed. The reply Jesus gave on both accounts were exactly the same: He said, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners that all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke.13:2-3).

And with reference to the eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed He said, "Do you think that they were worse sinners that all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish"(Luke 13:4-5).

Judging from Jesus 'response on both accounts one can safely say that, the one who repents, the one who stop living his own way, and begins to live the way of Jesus Christ, will not suffer the same fate as others who have not repented.

I believe firmly that, there is definitely a way of escape to those who has turned to the Lord. Those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus are admonished saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues"(Revelations 18:4).

They are asked to, "watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).

These two admonitions are in collaboration with an assurance of safety which is recorded in the 91st Psalm which states; "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the almighty. I will say to the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge: His truth shall be your shield and buckler, you shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrows that fly by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked"(Psalms 91:1-8).

One thing is of paramount importance, and we need to note it carefully. Whilst the love and goodness of God is unconditional; for it is written; "He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Nevertheless, His blessings and protection are conditional.  The assurance of our safety comes as a result of, "Making the Lord our refuge and the Most High our habitation.

It is because of this we are told that, "No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot" (Psalms 91:9-13).

So I beg to ask the question, with all these assurances why do some Christians still have the notion that they are apt to suffer the same fate as the unbeliever? Why should some be still anxious of what shall they eat, drink and wear, when it is said that, "After all these things the Gentiles (those who do not know God) seek, for your heavenly Father knows that you need these things: But seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

The reason why believers suffer the same calamities with the wicked, it is because they have not made the Lord, even the Most High their habitation, and unfortunately may not even know how to abide in the Lord, and make Him their habitation, and because of the weakness of their faith.

To abide in the Lord and make Him one’s habitation, one is required to:-

a. Acknowledging and confessing that Jesus is the Son of God (1John 4:15).

b. Love Him, and one another which is tantamount to keeping of His commandments (1John 3; 24; John 14:15-16, 23; 1John 4:16).

c. Having the Holy Spirit which is given to those who obey Him (1John 4:12; Acts 5:32).

d. By partaking of His flesh and blood [communion] (John 6:53-58).

e. By abiding in the doctrine of Christ, which is tantamount to abiding in the truth (1John 4:16; John 14:23; 2 John 9).

On the Lord's part He said, "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation" (Psalms 91:14-16).

For one to escape the impending disasters that will surely befall this world, one must be ascertain that he/she abides under the shadow of God's wings, and that he/she has made the Lord his/her habitation. Only those who are far from God perishes.

David said, "For lo, those who are far from thee shall perish; thou dost put an end to those who are false to thee. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all thy works" (Psalms 73:27-28).

The Almighty God is in full control over His creation, and nothing happens without His express permission. Not even a sparrow which worth only a copper coin falls to the ground apart from the Father's will.

For Satan to inflict any punishment over a child of God he must first seek permission from God as he did in the case of Job. Those whom God has redeemed should not live in fear as He promised to Jacob saying, "Thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.

When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God: the Holy One of Israel your Savior" (Isaiah 43:1-3).

The redeemed are God's witnesses to declare the wondrous works of God. To the redeemed the Lord says, "You are My witnesses, and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no god formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, I am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange gods among you; and you are My witnesses," says the Lord. I am God, and also henceforth I am He; there is none who can deliver from My hand; I work and who can hinder it? (Isaiah 43:10-13).

This promise is applicable to believers to day who are said to be, "A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, called to declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. Who once were not a people, but now are the people of God; who once had not received mercy, but now have received mercy" (1Peter 2:9).

Day and night at the time of the regular daily offering, Satan goes before the throne of God and accuses the brethren; It would be an ideal thing if Christians would also learn to appear before God at that same time, presenting their offerings to the High Priest, and Advocate Jesus Christ in order for Him to make intercession to the Father on their behalf: and not giving Satan any opportunity to lay and have any legitimate claim against them.

As long as Satan holds any claim over a child of God because of sins which has not been paid and settled in full by the redemptive blood of Christ, it is within his rights, and prerogative in a court of justice to seek retribution. Hence the reason why Jesus said to Peter: "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat" (Luke 22:31).

Allowing sins to remain for days, weeks, months, and years before confessing them, and having them cleansed by the cup of the new covenant of Christ's blood, gives the accuser the right to make his claim against the individual.

Hence the reason why we have been admonished saying, “In you anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians .4:26-27).

Therefore, it would be a wise thing for Christians to learn and practice, "Giving thanks to the Lord, and sing praises to the name of the most High, and declare His loving-kindness in the morning; and His faithfulness every night" (Psalms 92:1-2).

At the same time, remembering to present to our High priest and Advocate, His perfect offering for our sins.

It is God's desire that the righteous flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is their Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Let us all who are called by the name of Christ, depart from iniquity and stop limiting the powers of the Almighty. He works, and no one can hinder Him. What he has promised He is able to fulfill. Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear.

Let us not suffer the same fate with the unbeliever.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The duties of God's chosen people

The chosen people of God are chosen from both Jews and Gentiles, and are called for specific purposes. For thus says the Lord: “What if God, wanting to make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who were not beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place where it is said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there they will be called sons of the living God” (Romans 9:23-26).

The main objective for being called and chosen by God is to obtain the glory of the Lord. For according to the apostle Paul, “We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

God's chosen people are regarded as, “Living stones being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Peter 2:5).

Most people stumble because they disobey the message, which is also what they were destined for. The church is destined and has the responsibility to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings. This is made very clear by the apostle Paul who unveiled to us his insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

He said, “This mystery is that through the gospel (which is Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that, He was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures; and that we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus) the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and shares together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).

The apostle Paul continued to express his authority with regards to this mystery by saying; “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration (application) of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.’

The church is consecrated by God, and its members are a chosen people, a holy 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. This is God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 2:7-8).

As a nation of priests the number one responsibility of the church is to strive to obtain the glory of the Lord, until Christ is formed in us, and until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

It is said that; “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The way the church can attain the glory of the Lord is by walking in unity of the Spirit, and by being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, as alluded to by the apostle Paul who wrote saying; “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.'

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

The apostle Paul also admonished the church saying; “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1: 1-6; Colossians 1:10-14).

The power of the church, and the means by which it is glorified, is through the redemption which is in the blood of Jesus Christ, and therefore the church is required to carry out its functions as a nation of priests.

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Copyright © 2012 by Lucius Joseph

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Is Satan the object of our worship

It is no hidden secret that Satan the devil is being worshiped just as God is worshiped, and even more than God for this matter. Because the apostle John wrote saying; “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they (all the world) worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

Since we now have a clearer, and better understanding of the meaning of the different symbols mentioned in the book of revelation, let us now translate this passage, for a better understanding, to see the profoundness of this message.

What is observed in this passage is that, the apostle John in a vision saw himself standing on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast (kingdom), rising up out of multitudes of peoples, nations, and languages, having seven heads ( revivals), and ten horns ( nations), and on the heads of these nations ten crowns (signifying the sovereignty of these nations), and on the heads of these nations a blasphemous name. (Now please note that blasphemy, is directed only against the true Eternal God. It is to speak about God or His sacred things with abuse or contempt. It is any speech or action that is contemptuous of something deemed sacred). 

 Now the beast (kingdom) which John saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. (the leopard depicts the swiftness of the kingdom of the Grecian Macedonian Empire, the feet of the bear depicts the Persian Empire, and the mouth of the lion depicts the Chaldean or the Babylonian Empire.

Therefore, the fourth beast ( kingdom), which is the Roman Empire, has the characteristics of all the three previous kingdoms.  It was different from all the kingdoms (beasts) that were before it, and it had ten nations (horns). Now Satan (the dragon), gave this kingdom, his power, his throne, and great authority. And John saw one of the revivals (heads) of this kingdom, as if it had been mortally wounded (weak and feeble), and his deadly wound was healed (he revived and became strong again). And all the world marveled and followed the beast (the Roman Empire). So they (meaning the whole world), worshiped the devil (dragon) who gave authority to the kingdom (beast); and they worshiped the kingdom (beast) saying; “Who is like the Roman Empire? Who is able to make war with him?”

 

So it is no secret that the whole world is worshiping the devil. But how was this made possible?

 

The first thing one has to consider is the fact that, there is first and foremost, a rationale, or a logical reason for worship, and this rationale is substantiated by observing the day on which the event occurs. It is not simply a matter of singing, praising, praying, because you believe in a higher power. Worship is an expression of one's appreciation and gratitude, giving reverence and respect to God, for who He is, and what He has done.

 Take example of the four living creatures, the twenty-four elders, and the angels, of whom it is said; “ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever,  and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: " You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."

Also, “When He (the Lamb) had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: " You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.'

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: " Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5: 8-12).

The rationale for their worship, is because the Lord created all things, and by His will they exist and were created, and the Lamb's worthiness to take up the scroll, and to open its seals, because He was slain, and have redeemed them to God.

Our rationale for worshiping God here on earth, it is because of He being God, and the things He did for the salvation of mankind, as explained in the proclamation of one of the three angels which reads; “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth --- to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people --- saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water" (Revelation 14:6-7).

Now the symbol which is affiliated with the worship of the Eternal God, is the specific day on which the event transpired, and they are being celebrated as commemorations.

But what is the rationale for worshiping Satan? There is absolutely no rationale for Satan to be worshiped, and by the whole world for that matter. So in his subtlety, he chose the day which reflects his former glory, when he was known as Lucifer the son of the morning, when he used to illuminate the earth with his beauty. As it is written; “ How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ' I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12- 14).'

It has always been Satan's ambition to “sit on the mount of the congregation” and to be worshiped as god. So he chose Sunday, which most people now refer to as the “Lord's day.” In fact it is said by the authorities who worship on Sundays, that one of the reasons why they choose Sunday above Saturday, it is because of the day of the sun, and this is what we read;+

“SUN-WORSHIP AND THE ORIGIN OF SUNDAY” Chapter 8 by Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D., Andrews University” which states; “…Though Christ is often referred to by earlier Fathers as "True Light" and "Sun of Justices"83 no deliberate attempt was made prior to Eusebius to justify Sunday observance by means of the symbology of the day of the Sun. On the other hand Eusebius several times refers explicitly to the motifs of the light, of the sun and of the day of the Sun, to explain the substitution of the Christian Sunday for the Jewish Sabbath.’

“For example, in his Commentary on Psalm 91 he writes: "The Logos has transferred by the New Alliance the celebration of the Sabbath to the rising of the light. He has given us a type of the true rest in the saving day of the Lord, the first day of light. . . . In this day of light, first day and true day of the sun, when we gather after the interval of six days, we celebrate the holy and spiritual Sabbaths. . . . All things whatsoever that were prescribed for the Sabbath, we have transferred them to the Lord’s day, as being more authoritative and more highly regarded and first in rank, and more honorable than the Jewish Sabbath. In fact, it is on this day of the creation of the world that God said: ‘Let there be light and there was light.’ It is also on this day that the Sun of Justice has risen for our souls."

Satan is being worshiped by having a counterfeit to all that is worshiped. For example; God is worshiped on the seventh day of the week (Saturday), because the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Satan counterfeited it by instituting Sunday to honor and glorify him in his former glory, and he used the beast power, the Roman Empire, and a universal church to accomplish his objective, which is to worship him as god.

For it is written; “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot (False church) who sits on many waters (Peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues), with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk (deceived) with the wine (doctrine) of her fornication (political and religious intimate relationship)" (Revelation 17:1-2).

The crux of the matter is, the Roman Empire, is the fourth beast or kingdom, mentioned in the book of Revelation 13, by the apostle John, and by Daniel in the book of Daniel chapter seven, which corresponds with the two legs ,with two feet, and ten toes, of the great image seen by king Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter two. This kingdom we are told ascended from the bottomless pit, denoting that it ascended from the domain of Satan, and Satan the dragon, gave this kingdom his power, his throne, and great authority.

Therefore, since it is the Roman Empire, who, in collaboration with this universal church that changed the Lord's day of worship from Saturday to Sunday, hence the reason why they (all who dwell on the earth) worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" And therefore; “ All who dwell on the earth will worship him (the kingdom being controlled by the universal church), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

The bottom line is, we are all free moral agents, and therefore have the prerogative to choose whether we want to worship the God who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water,, and has sanctified, and made holy the seventh day of the week in honor of the work of creation which He has done; Or, The choice to worship Satan the dragon, who instituted Sunday, the first day of the week, to honor him, and reflecting on his former glory, when he used to be the son of the morning, and illuminated the earth with his splendor. The choice is ours.

This however does not mean that all worship festivals that falls on a Sunday is of the devil. Because God has ordained annual festivals, with specific dates, and will in some instances fall on a Sunday. As a matter of fact, there are two of God's festivals that are designated to to fall on a Sunday, and they are;

• The feast of first fruits

Which is the Sunday that falls during the days of Unleavened Bread, the day on which the Lord presented Himself to the Father on our behalf after His resurrection, known as the “Wave Sheaf offering”, And this is what is written concerning this offering; “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.” The day after the Sabbath is obviously Sunday (Leviticus 23: 10-11).

• The Feast of Pentecost

The day on which the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, fifty (50) days after the feast of first fruits, or the wave sheaf offering; and the beginning of the new testament church. And this is what we find written in the scriptures; “'And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:15-16).

So it was no co-incidence that the disciples we are told, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).

Therefore, there is absolutely no justification to even suggest, that these events are the rationale for changing the Lord's seventh day Sabbath to Satan's Sunday Sabbath; because these two events which are designated to be celebrated on a Sunday, were observed simultaneously with the seventh Sabbath, and are all part and parcel of the Lord's Feasts, which honors Him as the Lord.

Truly, God has overlooked these times of ignorance, 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.

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Copyright © 2014 by Lucius Joseph

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The process of drawing near to God

The process of drawing people to God was made possible by three inseparable links.

  1. Jesus Christ had to be God

 Only as God was Christ able to claim and redeemed the lives of every human being. He was and is the Word Who was in the beginning with God, and Who Himself was God, through whom all things were created, and without Him was nothing made that was made. He is the very image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation.

For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. God the Father was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. But as God it was impossible for Him to die, so the next obvious chain of event had to occur.

  2. God became flesh

 The Word Who was God, and by whom all things were created, divested Himself of His glory and became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Since as God He could not die to pay the penalty of sin in man’s place which is death, He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, that He by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both the One Who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says; “I will declare Your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in Him.” And again He says, “Here am I, and the children God has given Me” (Hebrews 2:12-13).

Now since the children whom God has given Him have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.

He was tempted in all points as we are being tempted, but did not sin, and because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Because, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered: Thus, setting us an example that we should follow His steps.

  3. Redemption through His blood

 It should be an indisputable fact, that the law requires nearly everything be purified with blood: for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore in order that our sins could be forgiven, it was imperative that Jesus Christ shed His blood. For the life of every creature is in the blood, and God has given it to make atonement for the soul on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. It is through the process of these three inseparable chains of events that God the Father drew man to Christ, like He said; “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” He said this to show the kind of death He was going to die. (John 12:32-33).

 It is also by a similar process that Christ draws man to the Father, for He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The way to the Father is through the flesh of Jesus Christ, represented by the unleavened bread, the truth is Jesus Christ Himself, Who is the word of God and now officiating as our High Priest, and the life is the blood of Jesus Christ represented by the wine, for we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

The apostle Paul stated it quite clearly when he 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).

This is our only pass word to the throne of Grace, to the most holy place in the inner court. God has overlooked this time of ignorance and now commands all men everywhere to repent. It is time that professing Christians understand that the life which is in accordance to the Spirit is as literal and practical as that of living in accordance to the flesh.

Hence the reason we have been duly admonished saying, "And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness" (Romans 6:18-19).

Our ultimate goal is to be holy and to obtain everlasting life, which is not the same as eternal life. Eternal life is a gift from God, but everlasting life, or immortality is a reward which one has to work for. Therefore, he who sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit, will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Copyright © 2017 by Lucius Joseph

All rights reserved

CRUCIFIXION WAS IT ON A FRIDAY?

Good Friday the Friday before Easter Sunday is celebrated worldwide among Christians as the anniversary of Christ’s death on the cross. This day was set apart as a holy day as far as the 300’s, in the time of Constantine. But the big question is: Was Christ crucified on a Friday?

In predicting His death Jesus Christ said to His disciples, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be turned over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him, insult Him, spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him. On the third day He will rise again” (Luke 18: 31-34).

On the day of Christ’s resurrection; the women who came to anoint the body of Jesus, were reminded of Christ’s predictions concerning His death by two angels who said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again. Then they remembered His words” (Luke 24: 5-8).

To confirm whether Christ was crucified on a Friday and on the third day to be raised from the dead, let us begin with the day of His resurrection to prove whether He spent three days and three nights as He predicted and the only sign He gave to prove His Messiahship.

What day was Christ resurrected from the dead?

Scriptures confirmed that, “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:1-3; John 20:1).

So the other important question is, at what time on the first day of the week was Christ resurrected from the dead?

The scriptures again confirmed that, “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.” Then the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here: He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay” (Matthew 28:1-6).

The four gospels confirmed that it was very early on the first day of the week(Sunday), while it was still dark and at the dawn of the first day of the week that the women went to the tomb with their ointment to anoint the body of Jesus, so the question is, what time is the dawn of a new day?

The dawn of a new day is the beginning of day, the fist light in the east, day break or sunrise and according to the gospel of Matthew, it was as the first day of the week began to dawn towards the first day of the week, that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. Meaning that, the first day of the week had not yet begin, it was just about to begin, and it was after the Sabbath” (Matthew 28:1).

It is therefore conclusive that Our Lord Jesus was resurrected after the Sabbath (Saturday) and before the beginning of the first day of the week (Sunday). Now, another important question is how long is a day?

There is no shadow of a doubt that, a day consists of twenty four (24) hours. For we have all learnt that, there are twenty four (24) hours in a day. Jesus Himself said, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of the world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." Thus indicating that, a day consists of twelve hours day light time, and twelve hours of darkness (John11:9-10).

Now how long did Christ predict He would have stayed in the grave?

Remember, the scribes and Pharisees wanted a sign from Jesus Christ to prove that He was indeed the true Messiah. The proof which Jesus gave to them was, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it (His Messiah-ship) except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39-40).

I have heard so many different interpretations to the meaning of this three days and three nights and in the heart of the earth that it makes me wonder where are these people getting these interpretations from. 

Let us study the scriptures to find the true meaning and fulfillment of the three days and three nights which the Lord spent in the heart of the earth. Let us begin with the time Jesus Christ was placed in the tomb. The scriptures confirmed that, “When evening had come, because it was the preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus” (Mark 15:42-43; Matthew 27: 57-61).

The scriptures reveals clearly that, Jesus Christ’s body was placed in the tomb at evening (sunset), the day before the Sabbath". But the question is, which Sabbath was it? Was it the weekly Sabbath which would automatically be on a Friday! Or was it the day before a High Day Sabbath? 

The scriptures says clearly, "Therefore, 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).

So the question now is, when, and what was this High Day Sabbath? This High Day Sabbath was the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread which followed the Passover, the exact day on which Jesus Christ was crucified for us. As we have been duly admonished saying, "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 Corinthian 5:7-8).

Now that we have proved that the day before the Sabbath on which Christ died was not the weekly Sabbath, but it was the Passover the day before the first day of Unleavened bread, let us see how ridiculous is the popular teaching of a Friday or Thursday crucifixion to a Sunday resurrection is.

If the preparation Day which preceded the High Day Sabbath was Thursday or Friday, and the High day Sabbath was Saturday the weekly Sabbath, then please explain:-

1. How much time did the women who followed Jesus Christ and observed the tomb and how His body was laid had, to return, prepare spices and fragrant oils, and then rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment, when it was already evening when the body was laid in the tomb? (Luke 23:54-56; Mark 15:42)
2. If the day which followed the Preparation Day was Saturday the weekly Sabbath, would the chief priests and Pharisees who were strict adherents to the Sabbath law gather together to Pilate on the Sabbath? Saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, after three days I will rise. Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day” (Matthew 27:62-66).
3. If they did gather with Pilate on the Sabbath it would have to be after the Sabbath, and Christ would have already been raised from the dead.

Therefore, the Preparation Day for the High Day Sabbath was neither on a Thursday or a Friday but it was on a Wednesday. The preparation was the Passover meal which was eaten between the two evenings. It is written: “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” (Exodus 12:14) 

This unleavened bread was to be eaten along with the Passover lamb which was sacrificed at twilight, at the going down of the sun because no leavened bread was supposed to be eaten with it. (Deuteronomy 16:3,6)

The Thursday was the Feast of Unleavened Bread which we are asked to observe in the New Testament. The Jews and the women who followed Christ rested on that day, because it was a High Day Sabbath.

Friday was the preparation day for the weekly Sabbath, the women brought and prepared spices and fragrant oils, they then rested on the weekly Sabbath according to the commandments, and at the end of the Sabbath as the first day of the Week (Sunday) began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb, bringing the spices with them, but Christ had already risen from the dead. (Matthew 28:1-8).

If Christ was buried on Thursday or Friday evening, and rose on Saturday Evening or Sunday Morning, I now beg the question, where are the three days and the three nights that proves His Messiah-ship? And the other question is, did not the prophet Daniel prophesied saying; "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering" (Daniel 9:27)?

I therefore beg to ask the question, what day is the middle of the week?

The question is, who will you believe? The choice is yours.

Love in Jesus’ name

Lucius Joseph