AgapeFocus APPLYING GOD'S SOLUTIONS TO HUMAN PROBLEMS

Before Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem he pre-existed with his Father, the Almighty God. Part of this is revealed in the Intercessory prayers he made as recorded by John(John 17: 1-5). Jesus speaks of his pre-incarnation glory before the world was made! His birth in human form was prophesied and fulfilled. His ministry, betrayal, trial, flogging with stripes, the mockery of a trial given to him by the Jewish leaders and the Roman governor called Pilate; his crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven were all prophesied and literally fulfilled. Jesus Christ died for every human being, without exception. His coming back again into this world has been prophesied. My friend, only a fool would wish away the literal fulfilment of the second coming of Jesus Christ! I advice you; please do not be foolish. By written records, by traditional narratives, through authentic archaeological discoveries, the historical, scholarly, legal and factual reality of the imposing presence of Jesus Christ in human and world history cannot be denied! The only empty tomb(not a cenotaph) in history is that of Jesus of Nazareth! The other similitude of an empty tomb is that of Joseph. In Egypt, the tomb of Joseph, the Hebrew Governor of all Egypt, became empty because by his special, prophetic instruction and request. His bones were removed for reburial when the Hebrew nation was set free from Egyptian slavery through the ministry of Moses and Aaron! Those bones were reburied in the Cave of Machpelah. It is the same tomb which houses the remains of Jewish Patriarchs and Matriarchs as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob(called Israel), other sons of Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah and Leah. Therefore, in reality, the only empty tomb is that of Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. He rose again the third day according to the scriptures. He was seen by Mary of Magdala, Peter, the 11 remaining disciples and by over 500 brethren at once. Paul saw the risen Christ later. Some Christians in modern times have testified to seeing Jesus Christ. These are true witnesses, because the testimonies of the lives of these men and women ring true and powerful; bring glory to God and were and still are blessings to their generations! Jesus Christ commanded and commissioned his followers to preach and teach the good news of salvation to all the people of the world. The Holy Spirit was promised to come upon the followers and help them to fulfil the great commission. Truly the Holy Spirit came 50 days after on the Jewish festival of Pentecost. All these were literally fulfilled. Jesus Christ humbled himself to the lowest depth. As the Son of God, he emptied himself of all glory of his divinity. He left heaven and came to the earth. He became a man in order to rescue all human beings from eternal ruin! He subjected himself to human control under his mother Mary and Joseph, his adopted earthly father. He was obedient to his parents as well as to the laws of the land where he lived. He paid tax. He subjected himself to inhumane treatment,insults,beating with stripes and unjust trials. He was crucified; he died and was buried. The death on the cross was the worst way to die in those days! It was meant for great criminals! It was and still is a curse for anyone to die on the cross! By his death on the cross, Jesus Christ fulfilled the demands of the law of God! The law was given in order to expose the sinfulness and wickedness of sin. Without the law, there would have been no sin! No man was able to meet up to the expectations of the law. If a man complied with nine out of the Ten Commandments, but failed in one; he was still guilty of death! Who then could satisfy the Holy Almighty God? Nobody! God himself had to come down to this earth on the mission to rescue man from sin and eternal death! God came in the person of Jesus Christ, who did fulfil the demands of the law and pacified the offended God! The Bible states that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Anyone; whether Jew or Gentile who trusts and obeys God is counted along as children of Abraham. Anyone who depends on his ability to keep the law or on his own self righteousness is under the curse. The reason for the curse is that no one is able to keep the whole law; since its partial fulfilment was and still is unacceptable to God. The good news is that Christ has done it for all of mankind! It is written: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.(Galatians 3:6-14). As a result of what Jesus did, the Almighty God gave all the powers in heaven, on earth and under the earth to be under the authority of that name. God gave Jesus a name that is above every name. Jesus stooped down to the lowest level, but God in return raised Jesus to the highest heights! God highly exalted Jesus Christ and gave him that highly honoured, respected and respectable name! God Almighty wills it and commands it that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE should bow, of THINGS IN HEAVEN AND THINGS IN EARTH; And that EVERY TONGUE should confess that JESUS IS LORD TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. (Emphasis is ours). Before his ascension into heaven Jesus Christ emphasised the power and authority in his name. He said: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. In obedience to our Lord’s command, the early disciples went out to preach the gospel. The Lord worked with them. They were proof producers, because The Lord confirmed their words with signs following. Today the name of Jesus has not lost the power. Every Christian is called, cleansed,commissioned,empowered and authorised. Perhaps you are not sure of your relationship with Jesus Christ yet. There is present grace for you if you would call upon the name of Jesus; that wonderful and powerful name. The Bible states: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth The Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” My friend, there is no discrimination. Both Jews and Gentiles are welcome by God Almighty. Anyone who comes to God, trusting and obeying God shall not be ashamed. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of The Lord shall be saved.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall nor perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. The blood of Jesus was shed on the cross. That was the giving of the life of Jesus; because the life of the soul is in the blood! There is power in the blood of Jesus! There is power in the name of Jesus. There is healing in the name of Jesus. There is restoration of relationships and marriages in the name of Jesus. There is salvation in the name of Jesus! Jesus said that he is in union with his Father God. Both his words and works originate from God the Father. He then said these words: Verily, verily I say unto you; He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. Call upon Jesus now. Have you done your asking? Please do. (Please read Genesis 1: 26-31; 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 2:19-25; 23:1-20; 25: 7-10; Numbers 21:5-9; John 3:14-17; Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 53:1-12; Psalms 22:1,18, 69:21; Matthew 27:34,35,46,48; Matthew 28: 1-20; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-58; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 16:15-20; Romans 10:9-13; John 14: 10-14).