THE SUBSTITUTE

“What’s that?”

Oh it means a replacement. Your substitute stands in for you to do what you could not do. He takes your place and brings you the results; what your substitute does is regarded as what you did (2Co5:14). This is the difference between the gospel of Jesus and other faiths. Some teach that the law of retribution always comes on you or your family, some that you keep reincarnating and suffering for the sins of a past life; but Jesus is our substitute.

 “Don’t we all bear the consequences of our actions? Does God allow that?”

God allows it. In fact He instituted the law. Long ago in Egypt when the angel of death was to come into the whole land God asked Israel to kill a lamb for each household. Moses called for all the leaders of Israel and said to them, "Each of you is to choose a lamb or a young goat and kill it, so that your families can celebrate Passover. When the LORD goes through Egypt to kill the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the beams and the doorposts and will not let the Angel of Death enter your houses and kill you Ex 12:21, 23(GNB).

 “This is not talking about Jesus but Israel, how are they connected?”

This actually was a picture of what Jesus does. The next day John sees Jesus coming to him and says, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Jn 1:29(MKJV).

 “Why is it Jesus, why not any other person?”

A substitute for our sin must be sinless. Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie 1Pt 2:22(CEV).

“How does he do it?”

Christ carried our sins in His body on the cross so that freed from our sins, we could live a life that has God's approval 1Pt 2:24(GW).   Some people are inaccurate as to why Jesus Christ died. You may think He died because the Jews and Romans were so sinful; He actually died for our sins.

 “I don’t get the difference”.

If I take a knife and stab a man to death he dies because of my wickedness, Jesus on the other hand died the death we should have died for our sins. All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the LORD made the punishment fall on Him, the punishment all of us deserved Is 53:6(GNB). “Is that so?” Yes: The payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord Rm 6:23(GW).

 “How am I sure his death applies to me?” God says so: He is Jesus, who is crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might experience death for everyone Heb 2:9(ISV).

APPEARED IN THE CHURCH BULLETIN WEEK 19, 2009 

Any hope in hell

“No sweat; I’ll just enjoy life and say my last prayers before I die to avoid hell. If I miss it by a little, folks will just pray me over to heaven; the bishop’s son does not go to hell!”

Perhaps you have not heard of the son of Abraham in hell Lk 16:19, 20(GW)  "There was a rich man who wore expensive clothes. Every day was like a party to him. There was also a beggar named Lazarus who was regularly brought to the gate of the rich man's house.

“It is but a parable, don’t interpret it literally.”  

I doubt it: Jesus didn’t mention names in other stories.  Here he mentions 2; including Abraham who we all know. Lk 16:22, 23, 25(MKJV) And it happened that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich one also died and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now he is comforted and you are tormented.

 Jesus never tells lies; even in stories. Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully.1Pe 2:22(GW)   

“ I don’t care if it’s a parable or not. What is wrong with being rich? Are you saying the rich all go to hell?” 

Of course not: Abraham was very rich and he is in paradise.  

“So what’s your point in this story?” 

And besides all this, there is a great chasm fixed between you and us; so that they desiring to pass from here to you cannot, nor can they pass over to us from there. Lk 16:26 (MKJV) Dead saints can’t help those in hell; indeed when a man is dead in hell there is no more hope for him. Acknowledging Abraham as father then (and Abraham calling him son) won’t change matters. His bid to help his brothers was denied; every prayer made in hell was turned down.

 “Hell can’t be forever. There must be an end sometime.” 

Jesus spoke of hell at least 16 times: this is how He describes it: It is better for you to enter into life maimed than to have two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. Mar 9:43, 44(MKJV)    

Then He also shall say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. Mat 25:41(MKJV) If you die unprepared you are forever lost. Forever!

APPEARED IN THE CHURCH BULLETIN WEEK 18, 2009

WHERE IS YOUR EVIDENCE

Don’t you remember Zacchaeus: The short man who climbed a tree to see Jesus? “Eh hehn? What about him?” 

His repentance… 

“You and this matter; what’s so special about his?

Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated." Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "Today you and your family have been saved …” Luk 19:8-9(CEV)  Jesus said nothing to him in the house about his money, but his repentance was shown in the way he sought to return stolen property; restitution we call it. If you genuinely repent you return stolen things.

“Return what you stole or seized, what you were supposed to take care of, the lost item you found, or whatever it was that you swore falsely about. Pay it back in full plus one-fifth more. Give it back to its owner on the day you bring your guilt offering. Then you will be forgiven for whatever you did that made you guilty." Lev 6:4-7(GW) 

“Are you suggesting we pay for our sins? I thought Christ died for our sins and we do not need to pay for them. We are not saved by works are we?”

If you were to pay for your sins you would be dead in hell right now (Rom 6:23). “But this Leviticus is an Old Testament teaching.” 

The New Testament demands evidence of repentance too: Act 26:20(GNB) I preached that they must repent of their sins and turn to God and do the things that would show they had repented. Returning stolen things really shows repentance. If you keep them you haven’t repented yet. Restitution is in Onesimus’ story: I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.  I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel. If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account. Phm 1:12-13, 18(ISV)  Paul not only sent Onesimus back to his former master, he offered to pay back what Onesimus stole. The prodigal son offered to work for his father and Zacchaeus offered to return his stolen goods with interest! Where is your evidence?

“Are you suggesting we use Zacchaeus’ formula? Besides suppose we cannot find those we stole from? Does it mean no forgiveness for me?” Not at all! Give to the poor; God will accept it. Eph 4:28(EMTV)   Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labour, working that which is good with his hands, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need. 

APPERED ON THE CHURCH BULLETIN IN WEEK 17, 2009

WHO WAS FIRST TO RISE FROM THE DEAD

Jesus Christ of course Col 1:18  He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that He would be above all others.

” Why do you say this? Was Lazarus not raised from death before the resurrection of Jesus?” 

The resurrection of Jesus is not the same as that of Lazarus. There is quite a lot of difference between them. 

“What differences?”

The stone over Lazarus’ tomb had to be rolled away before he could come out. Jesus came out of the tomb with the stone intact. The stone was rolled away to allow people see He was no longer there. Remember Lazarus came out bound by the grave clothes but Jesus left the grave clothes behind.

 “It still does not make Jesus the first.”

Lazarus and all others after being raised could still fall sick, have accidents, and all died again and were buried. Jesus having been raised from the dead never died again Rom 6:9  We know that Christ, who was brought back to life, will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. No religious leader in all of the world’s religion has a claim to this resurrection: only the Lord Jesus does.  In addition the body He rose with is no longer held back by locked doors. It is a glorious body. Jesus Christ is the first to have this kind of resurrection and when He comes we shall be changed to have that kind of body! We, however, are citizens of heaven. We look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven as our Savior.  Through His power to bring everything under his authority, He will change our humble bodies and make them like His glorified body. Phil 3:20-21

“Why did He have to rise then? Could he not have waited until the end of time when all of us will then rise?” 

His rising again is part of God’s plan for our salvation. Rom 4:25  God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and He raised Him to life, so that we would be made acceptable to God. The risen Christ presented the sacrifice to God. But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that was not made by human hands and that is not a part of this creation.  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood he went into the Holy of Holies once for all and secured our eternal redemption. Heb 9:11-12 

“Is it all true?” 

Yes; our faith is based on this fact.

APPEARED ON THE CHURCH BULLETIN WEEK 15 2009

IT IS HER FAULT

                                  

I thought you believe it is wrong to beat your wife. 

“I do, but I just needed to let her realize I am in charge. I am sorry that I beat her, but that woman shows me no respect.” 

So you have not repented of it. 

“No I have. I feel very bad about it, but she pushed me.”

Feeling bad about it does not necessarily mean repentance. 2Cor 7:9-10  Now I rejoice, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance; for you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, without regret; but worldly sorrow produces death.

Judas felt sorry for what he did. Instead of turning to God he committed suicide, but when David was sorry for his sin with Bathsheba he turned to God (Ps51).

“That woman’s tongue needs to be cut! When she speaks, you just get provoked.”

For as long as you blame another person for your sin; as long as you believe you were justified to any degree in what you did you have not repented. When someone repents he sees the deed as being only evil, as wickedness. Gen 6:5-6 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD repented that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. See your deeds as only evil and you will then change.

“Does God repent?”

Not in that sense you think, He has no sin.

 “Please talk to her o!” 

Friend, repent like the prodigal son. 

“How?”

Lk 15:17-19  And when he came to himself, he said, I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you and am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants. He saw his sin as something bringing him to death. He did not blame his employer for his calamity.  He was unworthy of his position as a son in his eyes. If you do not see your lack of self control as the root of this sin and blame your wife’s tongue, beware: you will beat her again.

“What of my dignity? I’m a man and the head of this house.” 

Why don’t we leave God to reveal that to her as you show her love? Sin can never bring any good, but repentance shall. 

Appeared in the church bulletin on WEEK 14, 2009

Confirmed dead yet born alive Week 19,2013

It was a routine antenatal visit at UNTH in my 3^rd trimester last year, but the nurse ushered me in hurriedly to see the consultant ahead of the women before me. A blood pressure up to 150mmHg which she rechecked now reading 170mmHg alarmed her. The doctor joked with me, but the resident got an even higher reading of 200mmHg. When he got 220mmHg he insisted on my immediate admission refusing even that I stand; I was promptly wheeled into the ward.

And so began the battle with hypertension, swollen legs and proteinuria. Despite medication for over a week on bed rest it hardly went down, and when Christmas was approaching my husband requested a transfer to Prof Ikeme’s private facility. About my 37^th week when we met him he wondered why no one had assessed the baby by ultrasound and sent me off to a scan centre in New Haven. Surprisingly the scan lasted well over 30minutes. My curiosity was aroused. I peeped at the report which said the fetal heart rate was zero and the liquor scanty. My husband is a doctor in UNTH; I knew that was bad news. Ikeme received the report, re-examined me and informed us the baby was indeed dead and a caesarian section was urgently needed. Oh God! I had dreamt where I didn’t awake from surgery had in this pregnancy!

My husband sent prayer requests by texts as I was prepared for surgery for 2pm; a woman having already been taken in for surgery. “Baby!” my husband called me. A sister in reply to his text said God revealed to her I must avoid the surgery; that the baby was alive. Acting on faith we fled to her place with me still in the theatre wrapper. “This baby shall be born in due time without need for intervention.” She said.  Over the next few days my faith was on a roller coaster. Memories of women who lost their babies and lives in such circumstances troubled me, and my sister vainly sought to persuade me to return to hospital, yet as I heard His word my faith would rise. My husband refused to pick Ikeme’s calls. What would he say to him? He kept treating my blood pressure with drugs at home.

After some days I requested my husband to induce labour, feeling the baby was now very weak.  He did and the pains came on strongly and frequently by 10pm. He confirmed I was dilating and wanted us to go to Annunciation hospital Emene. I felt the baby would come on the way and requested we return to Ikeme’s place. It was pitch dark when we arrived, and who would meet us but the nurse on duty when I fled from surgery! My husband asked her help. "My wife is in labour!" "Labour?" she exclaimed.Dumbstruck she simply shone her torch up and down at me: swollen legs and all.  Following us she said not a word as I was wheeled into the labour room. The pains were intense; my husband carried me unto the delivery couch. Taking her time to examine me after my husband she was unconvinced and requested to rupture the membranes. My fears returned when she brought the sphyg to measure my blood pressure. “Baby believe God!” my husband urged. I turned my arm to have the pressure gauged, and out came the baby. She was white, but suddenly the nurse saw her move. The nurse screamed and took over. After much maneuvers and prayers she began to cry weakly. The placenta came out looking really bad. in excitement the nursecalled Prof Ikeme who urged her to chase everyone out of my room and quickly give me medication. "She will fit any moment from now", he said. But thank God I didn't. When Ikeme saw me the following day he said “This is a miracle. In 47 years of practice I have never seen this.” Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? Jer 32:27(KJV)                                                            Esther works in the records department of UNTH

The missing pregnancy Week 18, 2013

I knew I was pregnant last year. It was not my first baby and having missed my period I went to have a laboratory test to confirm it. I did the test in a brother’s lab and it was positive so I rejoiced. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward Ps 127:3(ESV). I had two lovely boys and wished for a girl. It was therefore strange to me when the doctors informed me that my womb was empty; that the ultrasound scan revealed no gestational sac.

I had been involved in an accident in the trimester whilst driving the Toyota Sienna and could not move my legs. Actually after the accident I came out of the car myself but after a while had no feelings from the waist down. The doctors at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital asked me if there was any information I wanted to give them and I remembered and told them I was pregnant. They exclaimed, as I had already been to do x-ray investigations, and so the surgeon ordered an ultrasound scan to know the status of the baby. Two scans were done, and they were by senior residents (I still have the reports with me), each indicating I was not pregnant. I was confused since I never bled or expelled anything but my husband urged me to forget about that. My getting well he said was more important.

We had been praying and believing God for my condition, but the investigations were very expensive.  The neurosurgeon ordered an MRI scan and when my husband balked at the cost he rebuked him: “Don’t you love your wife?” Oh, because of the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; I will set him in the safety he panteth for Ps 12:5 (ASV).  I had been warned not to stand on my feet but I was convinced in my heart God would intervene and so with some assistance I put my feet on the ground. I was shaky at first but with my feet on the ground the feelings slowly returned. I now insisted on being discharged. My neurosurgeon is a brother; he obliged.

At home the signs of pregnancy kept coming and my body was changing, how could I not be pregnant? Some suggested the earlier test was a mistake; that some labs are fraudulent. I called on that brother and he invited me over to the lab. Assuring me he was no fraud he offered to repeat the blood test without charge. When the result came out positive he called my husband over and told us God had plans for and would protect the baby and prayed with us for the girl child I desired. Worried I might have a “blighted Ovum” – a cancerous condition- the gynaecologist sent me off to a well trusted radiology centre in town. I was now in the 12^th week. The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it Prov 10:22(ESV). Dr Mgbor himself did the test with a colour scanner after reading the note and taking my history. The attending nurse gasped at a point in the scan but Mgbor silenced her with a look. “Call your husband over to come here” he said, “I see the evidence of his work and want to congratulate him.” My baby was there! 

Esther works in the records department of UNTH