HIS DWELLING PLACE

A Christian is a man or woman who has been begotten by God to a new kind of life. When someone is begotten of God, there comes into his life a change so radical that the only thing that can be said is that life has begun all over again for him. In His dwelling place, there's regeneration. This is called the new birth, and it happens by the will and by the purpose of God (John 1:13). It is not something that a man achieves by his physical birth. This is the work of the Holy Spirit of God.

OUR REDEMPTION BY CHRIST’S BLOOD

Adam and Eve though still physically in the Garden of Eden after eating the forbidden fruit,were consequently spiritual dead and become alienated from God and from the commonwealth of His kingdom. This verdict they could not set aside which emphasizes the insufficiency of man’s works and personal endeavor in gaining salvation,except he’s born again (John 3:3). It needed a Messiah one qualified, sure and a high integrity to meet the divine standard and thus satisfy God’s imperative judgement.

Christ, therefore become the sin bearer, based on the fact of God’s provision and what the scripture says, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God…And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.For where a testament is,there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth” (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:15-17). God’s covenant demanded that someone would die in our place. Christ surrendered His life and died for us so that we could ‘receive the promise of eternal inheritance’.

From the time of the fall of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, it has been practiced repeatedly that an innocent one must bear our guilt of sin and punishment before we could be pardoned from sin and set free. Redemption alone never brought forgiveness;there must be atonement through the blood. The sacrifices with the blood of animals of the Old Covenant were in practiced until Christ came. Jesus came as the final “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the whole world” His blood cleanses us from all sin. Remissions of sins and the provisions of the New Covenant are now ours through the Blood of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.He has certified the New Covenant with His own Blood, just as the Old Covenant was certified by Moses with the blood of animals. “And without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).Although Christ’s atonement on the cross guarantees universal provision of salvation for all mankind, but could be appropriated only on a personal basis, there is yet a needful element for it to vail one through faith in Christ Jesus.

The sinner who seeks salvation must take the necessary step of faith in the blood of Jesus Christ for atonement.We were to face the judgement of God for the sin we had committed. Through faith in Christ, our sins are forgiven and will never be remembered, our hearts are cleansed and we are made righteous. We have passed from judgement unto life. Christ, through His dead and blood has obtained redemption, remission of sins and righteousness for us. Believe in Christ and be made righteous today.

CONSECRATION AND SANCTIFICATION

God is a holy God. He requires that everyone called by His name to be holy. That means, a holy God with His holy children in a holy relationship. O yes, holiness of life is possible. Otherwise, God in His infinite knowledge and mercy would not require it from His children; He also made provisions for every Christian to live a holy life in our personal relationship with each other on the surface of earth. The book of Hebrews 12:14 declared, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”. Holiness of sanctification experience is clearly taught in the scriptures, even though many are confused about what Sanctification really means and would not want to bother themselves.

It is a very precious Christian experience, not only to be obtained, but to be kept and maintained for the glory of God. The sanctified life is a shining life here on earth made fit for the glorious abode in heaven. It is the essence and object of God’s calling for us all. “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it (1Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Also, Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed for the sanctification of the disciples who were already saved and following him in John 17:14-17.

The disciples, though saved, manifested many times the unsanctified attitudes against one another and the people around them. Generally, the character of the saved but unsanctified included desire to have self-honor, enlarged sense of one’s importance, hypersensitivities to injuries, tendency to magnify the fault of others, inordinate affection of one’s desire, will and plans, sullenness and moodiness, instability, self-seeking, excuse making, suspicion etc.However, sanctification is commanded by God. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy (1 Peter 1:15-16; read Genesis 17:1; Matthew 4:48).We should be sanctified because God commanded it and Jesus died for it.“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate” (Hebrews 13:12). And without sanctification, we cannot see God.

To receive the experience, there must be; personal dissatisfaction with self’s unsanctified state, great desire for the sanctification experience, persistent in prayer till the experience is secured, confidence in God’s ability and Christ’s atoning blood to do it, and complete consecration unto God (Romans 12:1-).Sanctification is nothing more or less than perfect love for God and man in a clean heart. If we love God with all our hearts, we will gladly keep His commandments and do all His will as He makes it known unto us.

A sanctified person is is rooted and grounded in love and knit together in love with other believers. Nothing is too precious to offer to the Lord by the sanctified. The sanctified is humble (Philippians 2:3-10), Patient in misunderstanding (Romans 12:12), peaceful during trials, prayerful and meditative (Proverbs 15:8), pitiful to the enemies (Luke 23:34), always blessing people in all sorts of ways without at any time knowing it, does not seek great things for himself, not critical purposeful in mind (Daniel 1:8), perfect in motive does not murmur in adverse conditions, evaluates other people’s action positively (Genesis 45:1-8), share and care without ulterior motive, thinks purely (Philippians 4:8), and is selfless ( 2 Corinthians 12:15).Sanctification experience is like being very healthy. It’s possible to remain healthy despite situations around.

A sanctified believer should abstain from evil and corrupting environment in order to retain his sanctification experience. He should avoid unnecessary care and anxiety, Regular prayer and fasting, deep humility before the Lord, Constant reading and meditation on God’s word, There must e sobriety and watchfulness (Ephesians 4:1-3; Philippians 4:8), self-examination in the light of God’s word (Hebrews 2:1), and absolute trust in God.

DEFINITIONS AND FUNCTIONS OF FAITH

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.For by it the elders obtained a good eport.Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:1-6).

Faith is indispensable to every aspect of our spiritual transaction and relationship with God as Christians. Faith is fundamental to the Christian creed and conduct. From the Old Testament period down to the New Testament, all those who walked with God and served faithfully have been men and women of faith. Faith is vital to beginning,benefiting from and benefiting others through the Christian life. As Christ interacted with people to save, heal and deliver them during His earthly ministry, the singular thing He sought for was faith. The condition is still the same for believers in this end time.Faith is absolute trust in God which leads to believing His Word.

The Greek word translated as faith is.The verb form of it is, is most of the time translated as “believe”. The word faith means “to believe”, to be persuaded of” and hence, “to place confidence in”, “to trust”, “to rely upon”. Lexically, therefore, the dictionary defines faith as “belief,confidence, fidelity, or loyalty to God.The scriptural faith is more than natural faith. The Natural faith is the inmate ability of man to trust or confide in himself, another person or object, etc. The unique elements of scriptural faith which distinguish it from natural faith is its object, its source and basis. The object of scriptural faith is God while the source of it is His unchanging Word “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world” (Romans 10:17-18). Scriptural faith is equally distinct from head knowledge or mental assent to Biblical facts or to the truth of Bible records without practical commitment. Hence, in the epistle of James in Chapter 2:19-20, it stated; “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead”.

Consequently, scriptural faith is different from emotional faith which does not last beyond the spur of the moment (Matthew 13:20-21; John 2: 23-25). Scriptural faith is defined as follows: It's the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of the things not seen (Hebrews 11:1, 7, 13, 27). Faith gives form and present reality to future hopes and expectations. It is the receipt that assures the delivery of the goods paid for faith peeps into the future, visualizes the unseen and guarantees the reality of invisible things. Faith is the confidence we have in the veracity and immutability of God’s word and promises like Abraham.And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform (Romans 4:21). Faith is unwavering courage and patience to persevere, in adverse conditions while waiting for and insisting on the fulfillment of God’s promises. It also the positive confession of the promises of God believed in the heart Psalm 118:17; Romans 10:10-11; 2 Corinthians 4:13;Philippians 4:13).

Faith embraces and cleaves to the promises of God.The Scriptural faith is active and not passive. It is viable, and productive and not sterile or unproductive. True faith always achieves, and accomplishes definite, tangible things in the lives and surroundings of its possessors. Faith enables us to please God in our Christian lives and ministries. It enhances our profitability from God’s word. “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Hebrews 4:2). It is through faith that Christian experiences are bestowed (John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8). Faith enables us to do the impossible (Mark 9:23), mountains can be moved and exploits done only by faith. All the promises of God can be received by faith, Healing, deliverance, provisions,Grace, power, protection etc. are produced for us through faith (Hebrews 6:12).Faith enables us to endure persecutions and trials courageously like Daniel,Prophets and Apostles did. We are kept and preserved by faith (1 Peter 1:5).

Faith grants us access to God and answers to all our prayers. Through faith, we are able to consecrate and submit to God’s will very easily (Romans 1:5). And faith guarantees a triumphant death and a place in heaven for us.The entire chapter eleven of Hebrews provides us with various men and women of faith. These heroes and heroines of faith have demonstrated the various forms and functions of faith. People like Enoch, Noah,Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, Hanna, etc. are some of the examples of faith. The consistency, constancy and conquests of their faith are worthy of emulation. Above all, the Lord Jesus Christ is our perfect example. We are to look unto Him continually.

PROFITABLE QUIET TIME AND DAILY DEVOTIONAL LIFE

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior is the perfect example for all believers to emulate in everything. He demonstrated to all the importance of quiet time and devotional life with His Father in earthly ministry. Therefore, we need to follow His steps to order our steps in our Christian pilgrimage on earth as well. Quiet time and devotional life is a period set aside by the believer every day to fellowship personally with God through prayer, study, and meditation, on the word of God. It is therefore important to note that, no matter the level we have attained spiritually and the number of years we had been in the Lord, quiet time and devotion should be part of our daily Christian life. The word of God is the food for the regenerated.

The Psalmist understood the importance of daily quiet time and family devotion, and stated; “So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows” (Psalm 61:8). From this point of view, it’s important to know that the practice of individual quiet time and devotion cannot be overemphasized. It is important because God demands and wants all men (including women and children) to be in fellowship with Him (Genesis 3:9; Jeremiah 33:3). It is through the quiet time that we come into the presence of God (Please read John 14:15-21). The promise of Christ for all believers is that He will be with us always. This is not an abstract promise but a reality which can attained through relationship via quiet time and devotion. Beside this, it is the pivot for growth for the believers (1 Peter 2:1-2). A Christian cannot grow without spiritual food (Matthew 4:4). Therefore, the need for reading and studying God’s word, write the lesson down and pray it in. God’s friendship need careful cultivation and this demand consistency. Prayer is very significant in our quiet and time and devotion. The profit of consistent quiet time and devotion is innumerable, because herein we obtain strength for the Christian’s daily tests, trials, and temptations, solution to the intimate problems of life and comfort in sorrow and grief. In addition, we enjoy fellowship with God-head by which we receive continual cleansing, grace and power to help oneself and others. It helps us to live a consistent ideal Christian life with daily testimonies.

Despite of great benefits in quiet time and devotion, there are scores of things that can hinder us from performing this spiritual exercise. These include: gluttony (proverbs 23:1); procrastination (Proverbs 6:9); fatigue, rowdy environment; a noisy heart (Proverbs 23:7); lack of concentration, lack of good study materials ( 1 Corinthians 9:25). For truly beneficial quiet time and devotion, a disciplined life should be cultivated and the hindrances avoided. This implies; making it a must daily to have your quiet time, mastering your body and discipline it for this daily spiritual exercise, meddling not with procrastination and make definite time for its observation. There are instruments that are needful for profitable quiet time and devotion. A Self-discipline attitude like that of Job is necessary. He stated, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

It is best to have our quiet time at the break of the day – such as early hours when the mind is still fresh like Jesus did (Mark 1:35). It must be consistent. “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up” (Psalm 5:3), and in a quiet and solitary environment (Genesis 32:24). You should possess some good study materials such as good study Bible, Bible dictionary, concordance booklets, and other commentaries. Pray before reading the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the word to your spirit, After reading through, study, meditate, and think through about what you have read for personal application and blessings, and finally close with prayers based on those things you have learned in addition to other prayer points.

THE WRITERS OF THE BIBLE

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it (Psalm 68:11). About forty authors of various occupations; Apostles, prophets, priests, prince, king, soldier, farmer, scribe, physician, tax collector, farmer, prime-minister, cupbearer, tentmaker etc. God used every usable vessel to convey His truth to the people. More than fifteen centuries elapsed between the writing of Genesis and Revelation. Nearly 400 years elapsed between the Old Testament which was written predominant in Hebrew (few verses in Aramaic) while the New Testament was written in the holy Bible is the word of God. Even though it is written by the agency of man, the Bible is the very word of God.

The evidences are:The amazing unity This unity is achieved in spite of the long period involved in the written and many authors of different occupations.It cannot be destroyed There were hammers of persecution, ridicule, higher criticisms, liberalism, and atheism but the mighty anvil of the scriptures stands unbroken, unshaken, and unchipped.Its Historical accuracy With the coming of archeology almost all the towns and places mentioned have been discovered.Its scientific accuracy. Although the Bible is a spiritual message from God and not specifically a scientific text-book, all scientific statements founds in the scriptures must nevertheless be taken literally and at face value.Its Prophetic accuracy. One of the acidic tests of any religion is its ability to predict the future. One fifth of the Bible is prophetical as at the time of writing, many have been fulfilled and others will still come to pass.It has universal influence upon civilization Western civilization is founded directly upon the Bible and its teachings.Its amazing circulation: It is the best seller among all books that are printed.Its absolute honesty.

The book did not spare men that seem to be close to God e.g. David, Moses, Elijah, Peter, etc. It exposed their sins, weakness, commitment, faithfulness and strength.Its life transforming power: The greatest proof of all that the Bible is indeed God’s word is its amazing ability to change corrupt humanity.Bible is not any book written by any man that can go for scripture. The term canon means a “reed” a “measure” or “rule” and suggests the testing of books to see if they meet the Divine standard.

The sixty-six books of the Bible is called Canon. By the year 300 B. C. (at the latest) all old Testament books had been written, collected, revered, and recognized as official canonical books. In A.D. 397, the twenty seven New Testament books were declared Canonical. There are some books in the Catholic Douay Bible which are known as Apocrypha (hidden) books, they are not recognized as inspired for the following reasons: They were not included in the Old Testament Canon, They were never quoted by Jew, Jesus or any New Testament writers. None of the claims divine inspiration. Some of them teach false doctrine such as praying for the dead. Lastly, some contain historical and geographical errors.

The central theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ and His redemption. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (John 5:39; Please read Luke 24:24-27, 44-45). Christ is in the Old Testament concealed and He is in the New Testament revealed. To fully understand the Bible and to rightly interpret its passage, we must first receive Jesus Christ as Savior and have a clear and definite experience of freedom from sin and its consequences.