The necessity of resurrection Week 13, 2016

“What is so important about the resurrection? Why is it such a hot topic? I know Jesus gained victory over the grave but is there more to it than that?” And if the Messiah has not been raised, then our message means nothing and your faith means nothing1Cor 15:14(ISV). 

Oh yes, a whole lot more. In fact the whole plan of salvation would have failed if Jesus Christ didn’t rise from the dead: and if the Messiah has not been raised, your faith is worthless and you are still imprisoned by your sins1Cor15: 17 (ISV). The claim that sins are forgiven would be a fraud without His rising.

“I don’t understand that. Isn’t it enough that he died for our sins? In dying had Jesus not paid the penalty we owed for salvation?”

I see. Now who was the payment made to and where was the sacrifice presented?

“I know Satan held us captive and Jesus paid our ransom…”

Not to the devil, but to God. Do you remember that in the Old Testament the high priest had to bring the blood of atonement into the holy of holies in the temple when making the yearly sacrifices which only covered sins temporarily? All that was a picture of the real thing to come: a shadow dress rehearsal for real permanent salvation. Well the blood Jesus shed had to be presented in God’s presence, at the original holy of Holies made without hands so as to make it effective as our ransom.  For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf Heb 9:24(ESV). Jesus Christ needed to rise bodily and enter into heaven to present His blood of atonement right there before God for us. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption Heb 9:1, 12(ESV). That’s how eternal salvation was secured.

“Are you saying if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead He couldn’t have presented His sacrifice to God’s presence?”

Exactly. The sacrifice was made to God, not Satan. The price for our release was presented before God for us to be set free. Our salvation from sin depended on His rising from death. God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and he raised him to life, so that we would be made acceptable to God Rom 4:25(CEV). If Satan knew He would rise there is no way he would have had Jesus crucified. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory1Cor 2:8(ESV). 

“Is that so? I can now see why there’s such a fight to ignore or dispute Jesus rose”

Also it makes us know we shall rise too. But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life1Cor 15:20(CEV).

How to catch fish Week 12, 2016

It had been a long night of difficult and fruitless labour. The fishermen had toiled at the time you expect fish to swarm; darkness and silence are mandatory in getting the fish to gather. Simon answered, "Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing...” Lk 5:5(ISV).  Having done it the right way and gotten nothing someone like myself would have been fending off feelings of frustration. Many would be in no mood to indulge requests for help from anyone, stranger or friend. But that is exactly the circumstance we find Simon and his companions in on the morning of Jesus’ teaching by the lakeside. One day as the crowd was pressing in on him to listen to God's word, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret Lk 5:1(ISV).

Right in our loss we are called upon to meet another’s need. Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for him so that the crowd wouldn't crush him Mk 3:9(ISV). Son of God he was (is), yet the need for safety and assistance was marked. Notice how Simon responds. So Jesus got into one of the boats (the one that belonged to Simon) and asked him to push out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and began to teach the crowds from the boat Lk 5:3(ISV). No grumbling, no frustration vented, no rants about the need to pre inform for courtesy’s sake (am I talking to someone?). Remember this was happening before the call to discipleship.

In his need Simon with his crew stretch out a helping hand without negotiating what to get in return for this unscheduled and emergency rental. Give to everyone who asks you for something, and when someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back Lk 6:30(GNB). O how we exploit those who call upon us in business for an emergency! Special rates shall we charge and justify it. “It was an emergency”. What a reward we are missing! When next you have been frustrated in the course of legitimate hard work and a stranger (or friend) needs you, please help out. God has chosen you to bless you. Jesus could have gone elsewhere. Simon’s was not the only boat there. He saw two boats lying on the shore, but the fishermen had stepped out of them and were washing their nets. So Jesus got into one of the boats (the one that belonged to Simon) Lk 5:2-3(ISV).  If we refuse to help out, another will; and if no man does the stones are there to take up the mantle and get the job done – just as they stood by on Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus, "Teacher, tell your disciples to be quiet."  He replied, "I tell you, if they were quiet, the stones would cry out!" Lk19: 39, 40(ISV).  In effect the opportunities that present themselves to help when we need something ourselves are there simply to bless us.

Now God never uses without rewarding, and His pay is always far greater than we could ever imagine or negotiate. They were all amazed at the catch of fish Lk5:9

What is sin? Week 11, 2016

“Sin is deliberate disobedience to the revealed will of God; it is written in 1Jn 3:4 (ISV)  Everyone who keeps living in sin also practices disobedience. In fact, sin is disobedience. ”

Yes. I agree. But does it then mean when I am unaware of God’s word or a command and fall short of it I am not guilty? That I have no sin? Pharaoh was ignorant Sarai was Abram’s wife when he took her into his palace but God held him accountable: But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife Gen 12:17(ESV).

“Are you sure he didn’t know? Besides why did he take her? Had he no wife?”

He didn’t know. So Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Gen 12:18-19(ESV).  And that ignorance didn’t prevent the guilt or punishment.  Have you considered Jonathan’s case? Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people had tasted food. But Jonathan had not heard ... so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth1Sam 14:24, 27(ESV).  He was held guilty and would have died for his ignorant deed 1Sam 14:37-45.

“Was it not that when he knew he showed no remorse but faulted his father? These are all Old Testament examples.”

Consider the words of Jesus: But the servant who does not know what his master wants, and yet does something for which he deserves a whipping, will be punished Lk 12:48(GNB).  If being unaware makes me not a sinner why then would I still be punished? You know God is the just judge and if he says this, then sin cannot only be a deliberate disobedience to a known command.

“Some people may be unaware of a command but somehow their conscience pricks them when they do such things. I believe that is God speaking to them. What of when someone has a clear conscience? Conscience is God’s law written in the heart of man. So I say sin is a violation of one’s conscience” This proves that the conscience is like a law written in the human heart. Rom 2:15(CEV)  

A clear conscience is necessary. But sin isn’t necessarily a violation of one’s conscience: For my conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who examines me. 1Cor 4:4(ISV) 

“So far you have shot down my definitions. What is sin in your eyes?”

I just saw the answer in that same passage. Anything different from His pattern is deviant, is corrupt, is of the flesh. Anything different from the Lord’s will, either more or less, is sin. Have you sinned?

Victor's testimony Week 10, 2016

Though I had problems in passing some of my exams at a single sitting I passed my 5th MB resit examination in April 2012. I had spent 10 years on this 6 year course. I completed my clearances, paid for the Provisional License and awaited the induction which would allow me to begin housemanship when it was discovered that my name was not in the admission list of University of Nigeria for my admission year and because of this, I was denied. In short I had never been a student. Was 10 years of labour in vain? Incredible! At no time was my name not in the University’s list. Even though I had no copy of my JAMB letter I had seen it, I was never asked to withdraw throughout my stay; and my name had always been published with my colleagues for clinical postings, examinations and all that is expected for a student of the Faculty of Medical Sciences.

I went to JAMB National Office Abuja to inform them about the school's claimed loss of my Admission letter and they requested that the University should write them a formal letter of request for the re-printing of my admission letter but UNN never did that. I went to see that Faculty Officer who helped me get the admission, he told me that it was not a serious issue but that it could have been a case of an omission I should return to the Admission and Records Office and look for any junior staff there and do whatever they would ask me to do. He stressed that it has to be informal and that whatever the staff tells me to do should just be between that staff and myself-no one else should be privy to this even himself (that former faculty officer). I believe this will involve some crooked things like exchange of money or any other dubious way so I didn't go back to the Admission and Records Office as he asked me to. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent Prov 1:10(ISV).

In 2014 I wrote the JAMB examination and was offered Geology in the University of Ibadan. Before I resume there, I wrote a letter to the current UNN Vice Chancellor that the matter be brought to the University Senate but the letter took a long time before it could get to the VC. The provost college of medicine was appointed chairman of the committee to look into those who had completed their program in the university but for some issues bothering on ‘’incomplete file”, had not graduated. When we heard this, we rejoiced believing it was God’s arrangement to clear me. But the registrar said the school can’t help me because I wasn’t even a UNN student in the first place. He told the provost my case was impossible and said the same to my face in 2015 when I went to see him. I moved to Ibadan concluding that God would want me to forget about the past (i.e. the UNN issue) and focus on what I had started doing in Ibadan.

Few days to the resumption of a new semester in Ibadan a friend of my Dad told him that the same registrar called him and told him that I have been cleared to graduate from UNN. The committee was yet to meet; the registrar cleared me on the directives of the Vice Chancellor. Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jer 32:27(KJV).                                                    Victor Nnaji is a doctor, a graduate of UNN