‘All have sinned and come short of the glory of God’. Romans 3:23. ‘The wages of sin is death’. Romans 6:23. In view of man’s inability to justify himself in the sight of God’s law, God made available a wonderful provision. ‘Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life’. Romans 5:18.

Of all the glorious works of our Saviour, Christ death on the cross in place of mankind is of supreme importance. In one singular act, Christ wiped out the handwriting (certificate of debt) of requirement that was against us which was contrary to us. Colossians 2:14-15

Salvation in its simplest definition or meaning is to be completely delivered from sin, saved for Christ and worthy of the kingdom of God. At the fall of man in the beginning, there was sort of depravity and lost of privileges as a result of sin committed.

How sadly man was marred by sin?

1. His understanding is darkened. ‘Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them. Ephesians 4:18.
2. His heart is full of evil. ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it’ Jeremiah 17:9.
3. His conscience is defiled. ‘Unto the ……unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled’ Titus 1:15.
4. He is spiritually dead. ‘You being dead in your sins’ Colossians 2:13.

God demonstrated His desire to restore man to fellowship with Himself. ’ ……Yet doth He devise means, that His banished be not expelled from Him’. 2 Sam. 14:14. He made possible the restoration of mankind through His son. ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

‘All the heathen religious teach men to work their way up to God; but the religion of Jesus Christ is God coming down to men to save them, and lift them up out of the pit of sin’ – D.L Moody

The Scripture gives four names to a Christian, taken from the four cardinal graces so essential to man’s salvation.

‘Grace is not simply a kindly feeling on the part of God, but a positive benefit conferred on man as an active force for illuminating the intellect, warming the heart, strengthening the will of redeemed humanity. And God gives grace in this world as a preparation for glory and glory in the other world as perfection of grace.

Therefore, each Christian is expected to bear all the names as well as manifesting these four cardinal graces:

• Saint – for their holiness.
• Believer – for their faith.
• Brethren – for their love.
• Disciple – for their knowledge.

Holiness: God demands holiness from every acclaimed Christian. Beside His perfect love and omnipotent power, other fundamental attributes of God are righteousness and holiness. ‘The Lord is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works. Psalms 145:17. God therefore placed it as an absolute essential qualification to associate with Him. ‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:’ Hebrews 12:14.

God made promise of restoration to those who will respond to His plan of mercy. ‘Ye shall be holy; for I Lord your God am holy’ Leviticus 19:2 (See also 1 Peter 1:16)

NOTE: The condition of eternal life, under grace, are just what they were in Eden – perfect righteousness, harmony with God, perfect conformity to the principles of His law…… God has made provision that we may become like Him, and He will accomplish this for all who do not interpose a perverse will, and thus frustrate His grace – E.G. White in Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, page 116.

‘Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference’. Romans 3:22.

Faith: ‘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 11:6.

‘Thou believest that there is one God: thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble’. James 2:19. A mere intellectual believe in God is not faith. It is not merely belief in, but associated confidence in and complete reliance upon God. Faith is not our righteousness. It is accounted to us for righteousness. Faith comes through hearing the word of God and testimonies of others. Romans 10:17.

Love: Love is the Alpha and Omega of redemption. Beginning from the journey of the mediator from heaven to earth, His pilgrimage on earth and how He was shamefully nailed to the cross, the reason is LOVE. The moment a man’s heart touches the heart of Christ in living faith, he becomes (whether he knows it or not) the brother of every other, in heaven or on earth who has come into the same relationship with Christ. Whoever is united to Christ is brother or sister to every else that is united to HIM.

A new commandment I give unto you. That ye love one another: as I have loved you. That ye also love one another. John 13:34.

He whose heart is not filled with love for God and his fellowmen is not a true disciple of Christ.

Knowledge: ‘But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witness unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth’. Acts 1:8. All who are ordained unto the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellowmen. Of the missionary zeal of the early Christians we are told, every congregation was a missionary inflamed by the love of Christ to convert his fellow men. Mark 16:15.

‘The only knowledge which is of any avail to eternity is a personal, intimate knowledge of God. Christianity is not merely belief in certain facts about a person, it is rather knowledge of that person; only this can transform lives and solve the problem of humanity’.

‘Christianity is not a philosophy, but a life; not knowledge of abstract principles, but a personal knowledge of faith and love of God in Christ’.

Conclusion: Obedience is the test of discipleship. It is the keeping of the commandment that proves the sincerity of your profession of Love; When the doctrine we accept (by Faith) kills sin in the heart, purifies the soul from defilement, bear fruits unto holiness, we may know that it is the truth of God. – E.G. White in The Mount of Blessing, page 210.

Deacon Wole Bodunde

“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end” (Prov. 19:20)

Last Week, we considered “the wise and the foolish in the use of the mouth”. I am certain that the Lord has spoken to you.

Today, we shall briefly look at how to be Wise the rest of our days.

Are you wiser today than last year? Than ten years ago? These are important questions to answer. How wise will you be later in life? A godly man greatly desires to grow in wisdom. And the way to increase wisdom is easy – you need to hear the counsel of wise men and accept their teachings. You need to appreciate and apply instruction from others.

 Today is your opportunity to change your latter end. Will you be an older wise man, sought by family and others for sage advice? Or will you be an old fool, more a burden than a blessing? What you do today determines what you are tomorrow. You are not too young, and you are not too old. Consider your latter end, and receive instruction today.  Purse and ask yourself, as a dependable parent what instruction did I receive during the Family Weekend especially on Sunday service?

 The children of God were adopted by grace. But they were not adopted to squander their lives in folly. They were adopted to grow up and live as the sons of God in a crooked and perverse world (Matt 5:43-48; Rom 8:29; Eph 5:1-2; Phil 2:14-16). You can waste the grace of God, or you can use it to be great for Him (“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me”- I Cor 15:10) ; (“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain”- II Cor 6:1) ; ( ^“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen”.- II Pet 3:18).

 How much do you love the private counsel of holy and sober saints? How much do you crave the public preaching of God’s word? Noble men and women receive it with a ready mind (“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”- Acts 17:11). A eunuch, a centurion, a businesswoman, and a preacher  were all very thankful for teaching they received (Acts 8:26-40; 10:33-48; 16:14-15; 18:24-28).

 Brethren, examine yourself! Are you truly wiser than last year or ten years ago? Have you grown in graciousness, so that you have more godly friends? Are you in better financial condition by learning and applying the rules of Bible economics? Do you know Jesus Christ and His doctrine better? Are you sought out by more saints to obtain your counsel? Can people confide in you?

Examine yourself! Does your spouse rejoice at the changes in recent years? Is your employer thankful for many work improvements? Do you handle adversity better than in times past? Can you answer the words of truth to those that ask? Do your parents and children esteem you more? Are you able to give God’s answers for modern dilemmas? Is your pastor thankful for the visible progress and contribution you have made in the Church of God? Could you run for office and win? 

Life is short. What can you do? “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Ps 90:12). When? “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Pr 8:17). Why? “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Pr 4:7). How? “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom” (Pr 18:1).

 What do you think of preaching? Paul knew that Christians would stop enduring it (II Tim 4:3-4). Churches today prefer rock and roll music with lyrics about an effeminate hippie guru – they call it contemporary Christian music. If you want a wise latter end, then you will reject fables and demand intense preaching of God’s word (II Tim 4:1-2). God sends preachers to teach knowledge and understanding (Jer 3:15). Listen to them!

 What do you do with preaching? Peter told his readers to desire the sincere milk of the word to grow by it (I Pet 2:1-3). He exhorted them to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (II Pet 3:18). And Paul rebuked the Hebrew Christians for not developing into teachers (Heb 5:12-14). Make sure you pray, prepare, pay attention, and apply what you hear (Luke 8:4-18; Jas 1:21-25). Hear and receive teaching that you might be wise.

Finally, talk to someone about Jesus today, advertise the Holy Ghost Congress. Daddy G. O said let’s use every means to publicize the program. (Evangelism is the heart beat of God). How many people did you call and encourage to come to Church last week? God sees the effort you are making. Ask yourself this noble question, if everyone is like me how will the Church of God look like?

God bless you real good for taking out time to read this piece.

Dcn. Mike Ben