Posts Tagged ‘John 3:16’

15 Apr

THE LOVE OF JESUS

Posted by AgapeFocus in Love, THE LOVE OF JESUS. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 2 Corinthians 5:14 Christ as our substitute and representative died in our stead. When Christ was flogged at the whipping post, he took my punishment; and my diseases and weaknesses were laid upon him. He took our sins and guilt and broke the grip and power of sin over us. He destroyed the power of sin. He destroyed the power of Satan and death over us. He stood in our stead as substitute.

When Jesus died on the cross, I died! So did all true believers in Christ. We died to sin and all its woes. We died to the works of the flesh. Sin shall have no more grip or hold upon me and you. He hung on the cross carrying the sin of all mankind, right from Adam and Eve, including that of Mary his mother, till the last baby ever to be born in human history. What a great feat! Thanks be to God.

We have been set free. Sin has no more dominion over us. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is relatively quite easy for a person to suffer or even to die for a well behaved and kind person in the community. It is difficult to do so for a wicked and hardened criminal. But God demonstrated his love to us all in that while we were yet sinners; in the most despeakable and repulsive state, he sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for us.

(Romans 5: 6-8).

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through him the world might be saved. (John 3:17).

Truly, Jesus Christ died over two thousand years ago for the sin of mankind. It was very necessary and inevitable that the anger of the Holy and just God be pacified. His eyes are too holy to behold sin. Therefore God took the bold initiative to effect reconciliation between himself, who was offended, and mankind, who are the offenders!

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that anyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3:14-15).

Jesus Christ offered himself as the sacrifice. He was arrested and he went through series of unjust trials before the religious leaders of his days, king Herod and Pilate, the governor. He was assaulted, slapped, flogged and spat upon.

That was to fulfil the prophecy: Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6).

Jesus was crucified on a rugged cross, where his blood was shed by piercings through his hands, feet and ribcage. Earlier on, his brow was severely bruised with a crown of thorns! His entire look was marred beyond recognition! Such was the treatment meted out to the Saviour of the world. Despite all the cruel treatment, Jesus did not complain, neither did he resist the maltreatment. “As a sheep is dumb before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.”

So did Jesus go all the way to die on the cross for my sins and those of the rest of mankind. Thanks be to God.

The conclusion of the message is that: Jesus died on the cross. His shed blood washes us clean from sin. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. The third day he arose from the grave and remains alive for evermore. “The taste of the pudding is in the eating.” Jesus Christ, who never sinned, became sin; died for you and me in our stead.

If you shall confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth, and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

For with your heart you believe and are made righteous. And with your mouth you confess and you are saved.

The LORD makes good his promises to all those who come to him, even those who call upon him. Whether young or old, whether Jew or gentile, whether rich or poor. There is no discrimination. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:8-13).

Come to Jesus today. Call upon him now.

18 Dec

GOD LOVES YOU ABSOLUTELY:

Posted by AgapeFocus in THE LOVE OF GOD. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Imagine being asked to die for a condemned armed robber, a terrorist, or a morally corrupt person in your community; would you oblige or voluntarily rush out to do so? Certainly not; judging by general human standards. For a good man or woman in society, some people may agree reluctantly or hardly opt to die in their places or stead. 

However, that unpopular and unlikely line of action was what God took. Read how the Holy Bible tells us: 

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were  reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Romans 5:6-10. 

Our first parents sinned by deliberate disobedience to God. Being our foundational and therefore representative parents, Adam and Eve. ushered sin into the world with the deception by Satan. The choice was theirs to obey God or Satan. Their choice had severe spiritual and physical implications. As forewarned by God, death was the result. Man died spiritually by being cut off and out of fellowship with God. This effect passed on to all mankind. 

However, the reconciliatory initiative made by God through the death of his Son Jesus Christ removed the curse and judgment of death from us all. We have been reconciled to God by the death of Jesus Christ. We are saved by his life because he died, was buried but arose from the grave on the third day according to prophecies of the Scriptures. We can rejoice in victorious celebration. The Bible states:

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have  now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Romans 5:11-12. 

The whole of mankind was hopelessly under the grip of sin and death. Before the law came by way of the Ten Commandments given to Moses, no man could be legally accused of sin, even though all sinned through Adam and Eve. The partaking in the failure of Adam and Eve was the inheritance of death which passed on to all mankind. That death was pronounced upon us conditionally by God. We entered into it by the choice of our foreparents. We therefore inherited the death as well.

Jesus Christ came as the second Adam. He was perfect all the way. He obeyed God all the way. Greater still, Jesus Christ died for our sins in stead of us all. He became sin for us, took our sin away. He died our death. Arose from the grave and freely offers and gives his life to all who would receive him! That is Love that is indescribable! It is such a great and wondrous love. 

At this time of Christmas celebration, we remember that God sent his own begotten Son Jesus into the world. He was born in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem in Judeae. Jesus Christ came on a rescue mission. He came to rescue mankind from sin and death. That rescue mission has been completed. Jesus came, born as a baby. He grew up and became a carpenter in Nazareth. He ministered across Jerusalem, towns and villages in Judeae and Samaria in Palestine. He surrendered himself to be crucified after a torturing flogging with whips at the whipping post by fierce, cruel Roman soldiers. He died on the cross. He was buried and the tomb securely sealed. On the third day he arose from the grave and came out alive after a powerful earthquake broke through the sealed entrance to the tomb! By his life, Jesus Christ offers and gives new life to anyone who would listen, trust and obey him. Dear friend, you can be one of that great company as you read this message. 

Come to God through Jesus Christ today, so you read this message. If you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. And believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures. You shall be saved. With your heart you believe and you are made righteous. With your mouth you confess and you are saved. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Romans 10: 9-13.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE REASON BEHIND THIS SEASON OF CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS. COME TO HIM WITHOUT ANY DELAY. HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. SHALOM. 

30 May

AGAPE NUGGETS

Posted by AgapeFocus in AGAPE NUGGETS, Jesus Died For Everybody. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

As Christians we can glory and make boast in the LORD. This is not because we are good or better off than others but that God Almighty, through Jesus Christ, has chosen to rescue people who once were wretched because of sins; and transformed them into his own goodness and righteousness.
Truly, here is God, reconciling the world unto himself; not treating them as sinners but through Christ, making them new creatures. People who have been forgiven and given a new nature that overcomes sin and every resemblance of evil and  wickedness.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away and all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Having reconciled us to himself, God now encourages, empowers and emboldenes us to go all out to bring back people around the world to himself. God sends us out as ambassadors of reconciliation, urging people to become reconciled unto him. We are ambassadors for Christ.
Jesus Christ, the means of reconciliation, died on the cross for everyone who ever lived and who is yet to be born. As a result of his death, Jesus paid the price for human sin. He who never sinned, died as the worst of sinners. He took my place and  yours and died instead of me and you on the cross. His blood shed on the cross made peace between sinful mankind and our offended Creator; the Almighty God!
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16.
Therefore now, we urge you with great boldness, confidence and urgency: Be reconciled to God. Do so quickly. Do so consciously. Do so with your  whole heart, appreciatively. Do so today, even now.
Here is the Good news. Having judged and punished sin in the substitutional sacrifice for sin  (His only begotten Son Jesus Christ), God offers pardon to all of mankind. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but that through his Son the world might be saved. John 3:17.
Practically you can experience the salvation from God now. If you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, you shall be saved. With your heart you believe and you are justified and with your mouth you confess and you are saved. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10: 9-13.
Call upon Jesus as you are. Call wherever you may be. God bless you.

1 Sep

COURAGE

Posted by AgapeFocus in COURAGE, Problems in our world today. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Courage is the power or quality of life that makes a person able to meet threats or deal with dangers to life without fear. Courage is needed by all; needed by young and old; needed in the battles and struggles of life. At home, at work, in the school, in the church and in the community, courage is needed. Courage is needed to break new grounds. Courage is needed to maintain the old paths and qualitative standards of good and strong moral conduct. Courage is needed to ignore all distractions, face oppositions positively and learn from antagonists and their antagonisms. Courage is needed in marriage and all human relationships. Courage is needed at the battle field in order to fight; keep alive, and stay on to win. Courage is needed when wrong to say “I am sorry”. Courage is needed when wronged to be willing and accommodating enough to forgive. Anyone who uses courage negatively to perpetrate evil is the enemy of human society in any generation. Courage is needed with hope when faced with bereavement; and for the Christian, there is the hope of a better future dawn at the resurrection. Courage is needed to know, think and change location in order to experience freshness and guidance from God! When at the crossroads of life, needing to take decisions, courage is needed to see it through. Each person is divinely imbued with varying degrees of courage to face the problems or challenges of life. Several examples do abound of persons who faced problems, misfortunes, and hardships in many human generations, who with fortitude overcame those challenges.

Moses needed courage with his faith in the LORD to stand before Pharaoh in Egypt and through all insults and provocations, he stood his ground before leading out the Israelites out of bondage! God spoke to Joshua, the assistant of Moses, as he stepped on to continue in his new role as leader of Israel, after the death of Moses. “Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you, do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful”. (Joshua 1: 7&8).
David needed courage in addition to his faith in God to kill a lion and a bear and eventually defeat the intimidating giant, called Goliath of Gath! (1 Samuel 17:33-51). Elijah had courage which he applied to his faith in the LORD as he confronted and defeated the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who ate at Jezebel’s table, on Mount Carmel! (1 Kings 15:19-46). Call it various names. Call it boldness, heroism, bravery, valour, fortitude, confidence or fearlessness; you are referring to the same thing; courage!
The greatest example of human courage is seen in Jesus Christ. Jesus showed the greatest act of courage in history when he left his glory in Heaven to volunteer to come into this world in order to die for the sins of every person ever born and every person yet to be born! The best action any living person can take is to respond to the love move of Jesus by making a U-turn to God. The Almighty God says: “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:22). Demonstrate true courage by looking unto God. Ignore liars, deceivers and oppressors. Trust God who truly loves you. Jesus has already paid the price for your condemnation and death. He died instead of you. “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)
In these days, commonly referred to as the last days, courage is needed more than ever before. Courage is needed by the Church in order to face many challenging and intimidating counterfeits in the world today! There are the counterfeits of Al-Qaida, Boko Haram and Isis! The frequent abuses by these and other similar violent religious fanatics and extremists continue to pose threats to the peace and security of nations across the world, especially in Africa and the Western world! There are cases of renewed slavery and women oppression! There is the counterfeit of re-emergence of oppressive regimes as in Russia, Syria, Iran and North Korea! Mere economic sanctions have not been effective enough to stop these regimes! The ploy of Islamic fanatics and extremists to lure the United Kingdom into gradual Sharia law practice; soon to be compelling on the entire nation, is being viewed as harmless by the innocently spiritually-ignorant, unsuspecting leadership! The accommodating stance of secularism does not imply that Britain is no longer a Christian country statutorily! HAVE THE STATUTES BEEN CHANGED? No Christian dares to practice openly in Saudi Arabia or Iran as these Islamic fanatics and extremists are doing in the United Kingdom, with reckless abandon! A peace-loving and accommodating society is being taken for granted and used as a training ground for Islamic extremism and terrorism! God Almighty shall judge these acts of ingratitude, intolerance, unpatriotism and inhumanity! The frequent and recent barbaric acts of killings, kidnappings, raping, forced marriages and decapitations of fellow human beings clearly demonstrate that those perpetrators do not love humanity, do not know God and therefore cannot truly claim to be serving God! The LORD who made Heaven and the Earth shall expose these ruffians and they shall have no hiding place. All nations who fund these vicious activities shall continually experience the judgement of God. The financiers of terrorism across the globe shall not escape the punishment of God; unless they repent quickly and make a U-turn to God!
The Church should continue to pray for the innocent majority in society and governments for wisdom and alertness! The Church does not use or need physical weapons to overcome these challenging counterfeits! The Bible states: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us go on to follow the LORD fully! Let us follow the LORD in obedience, in love, in unity and with courage! Let nothing be found within that exalts itself against the knowledge and the will of God. Let nothing be done through strives and vain glories! Let us build up one another in love and humility. Let the combined resources of the Corporate gifts and Anointing be made available to strengthen the people of God at such a time as this. No more of back- biting and back- stabbing should be found in the house of God! If a brother or sister makes a mistake or sins, the Church should not start a celebration party along with the world and Satan! Let there be a distinction! Let us make a difference! Let us throw strong long rope to a brother or sister who fell into a pit or ditch! Let us stop throwing stones of condemnation. (Ecclesiastes 4:10). With love and compassion; faith, hope and courage; let us put on the WHOLE armour of God to fight the intimidating, challenging counterfeits of our generation! Let us go on to win. On our knees praying; we shall win! On our feet standing, watching and praying; we shall win. With our wills and mouths reducing delicacies and meats; we shall win. In the powerful name of Jesus, we shall win. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; we shall win. Ministers of the Church have been appointed as watchmen and women! Indeed, all true Christians are watchmen.
In conclusion, we should remember that we do not fight or battle against flesh and blood! We are drawn in battle against rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world; we are confronting the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. That is why we need the whole might of God in us to be at work against these agents of evil in society and our contemporary world, this Century! Finally, brothers and sisters, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.(Ephesians 6:10-18). To stand properly in these evil days we must not toy with sin and worldliness! We ought also to watch our brothers’ backs! We should not ask the foolish question of Cain again, who asked God: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The answer comes quickly to you and me. Yes indeed, you and I are our brothers’ keepers! BE COURAGEOUS! Shalom. Grace be with you.

4 Feb

Travel Light Please

Posted by AgapeFocus in Travel Light Please. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

You have made up your mind to travel. Have you made adequate provision for your journey? Have you packed your luggage? Do you remember the contents in your bag or suit case? Will your luggage pass through security checks without problems? Unnecessary excess weight should be laid aside or discarded. Whatever your means of transport, you are strongly advised to travel light. It is unwise and unnecessary to take along what you would not need for your journey. The story was told of an old lady who boarded a coach traveling from one city to the next. She paid her fares, got the very heavy suitcase placed in the luggage compartment, but insisted on placing a medium-sized bag on her lap. She ignored the advice to place the smaller luggage underneath the seat or overhead space provided. She was most uncomfortable throughout the journey because she ignored the provision made for her comfort and convenience. We are all on the journey of life. We move along day by day. We carry some materials and drop some. In addition we do carry other issues which are much heavier than luggage. Issues such as anger, anxieties, hatred, pride, vain glory, unforgiving attitude, tyranny, greed; inclusive of other vices all of which we would describe as PSYCHO-TOXIC and therefore poisonous to the mind. Severe sicknesses of the mind develop in a prevailing psycho-toxic situation. These would lead to physical death and with stubborn neglect, these could lead to eternal or everlasting death. You are of three parts namely spirit, mind and body. The spirit is the real you and links you more closely to God , your Maker or negatively to Satan, the arch enemy of mankind. Your mind is centered in your brain and helps you to think, learn and respond to the intellectual realm. Your body helps you to respond to the physical realm. Anything or power which brings your spirit under the control of your mind or body is not good for you; it is sin and therefore makes you estranged to God. These vices are only being managed by human efforts, with limited success. If you must get rid of a bad tree, it is best to attack it at the roots. Clipping off the leaves periodically cannot do. Depending on human efforts alone leads to intermittent frustrations. The power of God through faith in Jesus Christ alone is able to help mankind to overcome these vices. It is tragic to travel through life with avoidable heavy burdens. Unfortunately many travel through life like the old lady in the story, ignoring the safe provisions made for comfortable travel. God has made adequate provision for you through Jesus Christ. Each person travels through life daily and at the end of all life’s journeys he or she would meet his or her Maker. At last, it would be payback or accountability time; when you would render to God how you spent your life on earth. Whether you accept this or not, it is very true. It could be disastrous to wait until the last minute before embracing God’s provision. The reason is that you do not know if you would be conscious enough to make any useful decision during your last few days, or hours in this world! For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son Jesus Christ, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). All who receive Jesus , he gives to them the power to become children of God(John 1:10-12). Receive freedom today through Jesus Christ. Go Free. Travel smooth and Light.
Jesus said: Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light(Matthew11:28 -30). Jesus Christ is the burden and sin bearer for you and all other human beings. No one can afford to ignore him,because God has so appointed him. The Bible states: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Peter 5:6-7). For prayers or counselling, contact us at Agape Focus. All private questions are treated confidentially. God bless you.