“And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.” (Exodus28:2)

Everywhere we look in our world, the effects of sin inundate us. Whether it’s war (cultural or physical), famine, sickness, or poverty, it is difficult to conceive that there was once a Genesis 1:31 moment when “… God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”

As Bible-believing Christians, unconsciously, we can easily get lost in the world’s brokenness to the extent that we forget to fully savour all the attributes of God as revealed to us in the Bible. God is like a diamond prism; as we behold him, not only do we see his attributes of holiness and justice, but we also see his beauty, majesty and glory. Only when we behold God in all his multifaceted character, as revealed in the Bible, can we fully enjoy who he is.

Our opening text gives us an insight into an attribute we rarely or often do not associate with God. For many of us, beauty is not the first attribute that comes to mind when we think of God. Perhaps, his holiness, justice, power, or wrath against sin are some of the main ones that quickly come to the fore. But in this text, we see a God who cares about beauty.

In Exodus 24:12, God called Moses to the mountain to give him specific instructions on how to build the items the Israelites were to use in their worship of him. These included the Ark of the Covenant, tabernacle, and altar. As you read this account in Exodus, it quickly becomes clear that Israel didn’t get to choose or decide how they wanted to worship God. The precision of the instructions should be an admonishment to the church today that God cannot be worshipped based on our own whims. We must always search the Scriptures to know how God wants us to approach him in worship.

One of the items mentioned was the priestly garments of Aaron in Exodus 28. As you read the rest of the chapter, God provides more details of what each aspect of the robe represented. However, in verse 2, he tells us that the garment was to be made for glory and beauty. He very much cared about the beauty and glory of the garment as much as its utility. There are three truths that this text convey to us.

He is Not a Dull God

The world often paints God as a dull old man who is against every creative and beautiful expression of ourselves as humans. But nothing can be further from the truth. If humans are created in the image of God, and the Bible says we are, then every expression of creativity and beauty we exhibit and display is because of God’s image and likeness in us. The most beautiful landscape you’ve ever seen, the most amazing beach you’ve ever relaxed on, the most creative and beautiful invention of man exists because the God of beauty exists. It is when we decide to express our creativity and beauty outside of God’s design that we often run into trouble.

Think of the most excellent fashion designer the world has ever known. This designer designs a pattern and instructs the apprentices to sow that dress. But then comes back and realises that the apprentice has sown something totally different from the pattern. What do you think would happen? Unfortunately, that’s what we do with God. He designed a world of beauty (Genesis 1:31); and gave it to Adam and Eve to live it out (Genesis 1:26). But these two, who perfectly describe all of us, had other ideas. They chose to live a different life than what the Maker had designed.

Ever since then, the beautiful design of the Master Designer has been ruined. No amount of alterations we make as apprentices can restore the design God originally had in mind. That’s why the flowers on the most beautiful landscape fade and wither; the greatest beaches are now threatened by climate change, and the most creative and beautiful inventions never satisfy the greatest human need for happiness. The only way to restore the lost beauty in our world is to return to the original pattern of its Master Designer.

Unfortunately, the copy Adam saw in the Garden of Eden has become so blurred that God decided to send us the pattern itself in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ. Only when we behold Jesus can we see God’s true beauty as he designed it. Paul tells us in Colossians 1:16-17, “for by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him,all things hold together.” Jesus is the pattern; it is only through him that we see the world’s true beauty.

We Can Enjoy Beauty as Christians

The second truth we glean from Exodus 28:2 is that, even though we live in a fallen and broken world, as believers in Christ, we can enjoy the glimpses of beauty that still exist in the world. We indeed await a new heaven and earth promised in Revelations 21, but God, in his kindness, enables us through the eye of faith to see his creation in a beautiful light in Christ Jesus. Though the garment of Aaron was part of the sacrificial system designed to atone for sin, he still designed it to display glory and beauty. Why would he do that? He could have made Aaron’s garment just for utility purposes. But no, he is a God of glory and beauty and so that which was part of atoning for sin had beauty and glory about it.

This means that as Christians, we are free to enjoy the beauty in all of God’s good creation. Though fallen, the world is still the creation of God; and he created it for our enjoyment. We can enjoy the landscape, stop by and smell the flowers. We can take our families to the beach and enjoy the cool and gentle breeze that blows off the water. Whatever it is that you enjoy in creation as a Christian, you must do so unapologetically, as long as you keep the cardinal rule of Christian enjoyment in mind, “so, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Christians Are Supposed to Be Creators of Beauty

And finally, you cannot be mediocre if you’re a Christian. God is a God of beauty, and we cannot be anything less as people not only created in his image but redeemed and restored through Christ. Which means “whatever your hand finds to do, [you] do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

At the workplace, our work must be marked by creativity and beauty. We shouldn’t only just do enough to get by, but we strive to imitate our Father of beauty. The product of our work must display the glory and beauty worthy of the God we serve. We must not leave the inventions and science to the world. Throughout the history of the world some of the greatest scientists, inventors, and philosophers have been Christians. That must be the case in Ghana as well.

Unfortunately, the work ethic of some Christians has been an occasion for the world to slander the name God; that ought not be the case. In refuting the mindset of some Christians who claim to be so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good, C. S. Lewis observed, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.” Being a Christian doesn’t give you a license to be mediocre in this world.

Not only in our workplaces, but in our homes and in all our dealings, we must be known as creators of beauty. Our communities and neighbourhoods must be beautiful because we live there. As Jesus said, “you are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heave.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

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Here is an offer of a collection of articles compiled in 2017 from this blog pointing to the work of Christ which we celebrate in this season as Easter:

Table of Content

1. Confounding Easter
2. Christ Our Sin Bearer
3. Jesus Paid It All
4. Christ Our Passover Lamb
5. Christ And Him Crucified
6. The King Is Risen
7. The Certainty of The Resurrection

Kindly follow this link to download a copy:

https://thegospelnetworkgh.com/2017/04/14/christ-our-sin-bearer-the-lamb-of-god/

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The word antinomianism comes from the Greek anti, against, and nomos, law. It is the unbiblical practice of living without regard to the righteousness of God, using God’s grace as a license to sin, and trusting grace to cleanse of sin. In other words, since grace is infinite and we are saved by grace, then we can sin all we want and still be saved. [1]

While Legalism says “Law”, Antinomianism says “No Law.” In the creed of the antinomian, it is all grace and no obedience.. Paul addressed this in Romans 6:1 after he had extensively spoken about the free gift of God’s grace through faith. In Romans 5:20, he made a startling statement saying “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”(Rom. 5:20). This, if superficially read will appear as a license to sin. Perhaps by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul envisaged that and quickly retorted: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace. By no means! How can n we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-2). The King James presents us a weightier rendition of Paul’s own answer to his question: “God Forbid”. Yes, God forbid that those of us who have come to faith in Christ will live contrary to what we profess (1 Peter 1:14-19).

The grace of God calls us to a higher responsible living.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in m the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14).

You see the last line of Paul’s words to Titus: “zealous for good works?” This includes obedience The question I will attempt now to answer is “What is the place of the law in a believer’s life?” I will turn again to the definition of Legalism as supplied in the previous article and from there, examine the place of the law in a believer’s life.

Legalism is the excessive and improper use of the law (10 commandments, holiness laws, etc.). This can take different forms. The first is where a person attempts to keep the Law in order to attain salvation. The second is where a person keeps the law in order to maintain their salvation. The third is when a Christian judges other Christians for not keeping certain codes of conduct that he thinks should be observed. [2]

Note the first line of the definition: “Legalism is the excessive and improper use of the law.” This tells us there is what can be a proper use of the law. Among those of the Reformed Faith or Reformed Tradition, there is what is held as The Threefold Use Of The Law. This threefold use of the law is captured differently by various authors of the tradition yet they all converge on a threefold use.

The Law Is A Mirror

This is the first use of the law. As a mirror, it reflects to us the righteousness and holiness of God and then shows us our own sinfulness. This use of the law reveals to us our wretchedness and need of a Saviour. Indeed, of ourselves, we are unable to meet up the standard of God’s holiness despite the fact that the law demands precisely that:

“You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (Lev. 11:44; 1 Pet. 1:16). So God’s law strikes us with our deadness and we seek out desperately where to find solace for our soul. The law, unfortunately is not able to give us that solace and to grace we must turn.

The Law is a kind of mirror. As in a mirror we discover any stains upon our face, so in the Law we behold, first, our impotence; then in consequence of it, our iniquity; and, finally, the curse, as the consequence of both. He who has no power of following righteousness is necessarily plunged in the mire of iniquity, and this iniquity is immediately followed by the curse.[3]

Calvin further quotes Augustine to buttress his point: “The Law orders, that we, after attempting to do what is ordered and so feeling our weakness under the law, may learn to implore the help of grace”[4]

The Law Restrains Sin

Left on our own, without the restraining power of God through his law; we would, without hesitation live out our full evil inclinations. But the law of God restrains us. It checks us. We don’t live out our evil desires because we have in us a conscience which guides and restrains us from all evil possible under the sun.

The second office of the Law is, by means of its fearful denunciations and the consequence dread of punishment, to curb those who, unless forced, have no regard for rectitude and justice. Such persons are curbed not because their mind is inwardly moved and affected, but because, as if a bridle were laid upon them, they refrain their hands from external acts, and internally check the depravity which would otherwise petulantly burst forth.[5]

The Law Points Us To What Pleases God.

But for the law, none of us would have the slightest idea of God pleases God. It is the law that tells us “Don’t murder” and hence we know murder displeases God. It is the law that tells us “Don’t commit adultery”. It is the law that tells us not to have any god apart from God. So in the law, we get to know what God demands of us. And for the believer, this is the most crucial use of the law. We turn to the law to know what God demands, then we turn to Christ for the grace to obey God’s demands.

Even in the case of a spiritual man, inasmuch as he is still burdened with the weight of the flesh, the Law is a constant stimulus, pricking him forward when he would indulge in sloth. David had this use in view when he pronounced this high eulogium on the law: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Ps.19:7,8).[6]

Dear believer, grace doesn’t obliterate obedience to the commandments of God. Indeed the evidence of our love for God is our obedience to his commands: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15). Don’t again fall prey to any system of belief that annihilates obedience in the Christian walk.
Notes
1 Matt Slick, “Antinomianism”, https://carm.org/dictionary-antinomianism, accessed 14th April 2019
2.. Matt Slick, “What Is Legalism”, https://carm.org/what-is-legalism, accessed 7th April, 2019

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I wish you a happy new year and  welcome you into 2018. As we have entered a new year, perhaps one of the most important question on the minds of many believers especially would be “what is the will or purpose of God for my life in 2018?” It is the right question to be asking because the Bible teaches us to be careful how we live not as unwise but wise understanding what the will of God is.

As good as the question is we often don’t seek the answers in the right places. Over the next several days, many will be embarking on fasting programs and attending numerous prophetic meetings in order to hear God’s will for their lives in 2018 through their pastors. I do not mean to denigrate fasting and a pastor’s role in guiding the flock under their care. But I believe God has spoken loud and clear in his word.

We worship a communicating God. He has not left us to grope in the dark with tingling ears to hear what he will whisper to us through somebody else. His word is ancient yet ever true, and it is relevant for us today as it was for the first recipient of the word. God is more concerned about you finding his will than we are, that’s why he has spoken so clear and universally. Therefore if you want to know the will of God for your life in 2018, you don’t have to look any further than what he has revealed about himself in his timeless word. He has spoken about every area of your life and all you need to do is to understand what the will of the Lord is.

The will of God for your life in 2018 goes back to the garden, where God said “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). We were created by God for God, to be his image bearers in the world. Therefore God’s will for your life regardless of the year is to live in such a way that non-Christian will know who God is through you. You are to be an imitator of God as a beloved child (Ephesians 5:1).

What is God like? He has revealed that clearly in the Bible. He is good and all he does is worthy of approval (Luke 18:19). He is love – eternally giving himself to others (1 John 4:8). God is merciful, gracious and patient, he is good to those in distress and in misery, he is good to those who deserve only punishment, withholding that punishment over a period of time that they might find repentance (Exodus 34:6). The Bible also tells us God is holy. He is separated from sin and devoted to seeking his own honour (Isaiah 6:3). He is a God of peace not of confusion, his actions are characterized by peace not disorder (1 Corinthians 14:33). He is righteous and just, always acting in accordance with what is right and is himself the final standard of what is right (Duet. 32:4). God is jealous for his divine glory and honour and seeks to protect it (Ex. 20:5). God is wrathful, he intensely hates all sin (Ex. 32:9-10). There are many more of God’s attributes we must understand and display as we devote ourselves to the study of His word.

However, imitating God is not a call to work out our own righteousness. It will take the power of God to live like God, He knows this that is why he has given us the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:11, Paul says “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” The primary role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is not for signs and wonders. He came to empower a life of daily faithfulness and obedience.

In John 14:26, Jesus promised his disciples “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Again in John 16:13, he told them, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come”. Jesus in these verses wasn’t talking about a subjective knowledge which comes through dreams and visions. No, the Holy Spirit after his coming inspired the word of God to be written, which is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16 & 17).

God’s will for you in 2018 is living a life of faithful obedience empowered by the Holy Spirit. This will require a daily intake of his word and a life characterized by ceaseless prayers and seeking to reflect his character through your actions and proclaiming his goodness to those who do not know him. Paul’s instruction to the saints in Ephesus holds true for us: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Eph. 5:15-17).

And as you live this life of faithful obedience,  “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18).

Happy New Year

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Over the weekend, in a WhatsApp discussion group I belong to, we welcomed a new member who had just joined the group. During the introductions, one group member, a personal friend, who also happened to be the one who introduced me to Reformed Theology introduced himself thus “I was born into a Christian family so I’ve never really known a time that I wasn’t a professing Christian — but I’m quite sure somewhere along the line, I made a conscious profession of faith in Christ”. I humorously responded; “Born into a Christian home? You’re not a Christian, you need Jesus.”

As I have indicated earlier, it was through this person I was brought into the Reformed faith. And my humorous comment was especially because I share his experience; and we have often spoken about how though we profess faith in Christ, we cannot put date and time to the precise moment when we came to believe in Christ.

Acquainted With The Faith From Childhood

Just like my friend, I grew up in a Christian home and hence my conversion was not as dramatic as that of others. I must confess I envy those who put time –year, date, hour, minute, place– to their conversion. I wish I could, but unfortunately, I don’t have those details. I grew up in a Christian home and as far as I am aware, I have always believed in Christ as my Saviour.

Often, I have tried to trace when I did actually become conscious of a profession of faith. After my Senior High School education in 1997, I enrolled in a discipleship and baptismal class in the church I belonged to then. After the class, with an understanding of my sinfulness and a need for a personal Saviour, I made a profession of faith and was baptised. Nothing changed. No voice from heaven confirmed my salvation. Everything seemed to be normal. With time, I became the youth leader of my local assembly and was actively involved in revitalising an almost non-existent youth group. I entered the university of Ghana in 2000 and joined a campus ministry. There also, I was actively involved. In my third year, things will change during a personal crisis.

During this period, one thing I battled with was assurance of my salvation. As I intimated earlier, I can’t put a date and time to when I was converted, and this became a major reason for me to start questioning whether I was truly saved. I had friends who spoke so fondly of their conversion experience I just started feeling I wasn’t saved. My emotions were at the centre of my lack of assurance. I needed to “feel saved” because I wasn’t “feeling saved”. I went on private retreats to seek God for him to reveal himself and give me the peace of salvation I needed badly. My doubt was the root of my crisis. I felt wretched and couldn’t see myself saved. To settle this once and for all, I began responding to what is popularly called “altar calls” to give my life to Christ. I may have given my life to Christ about 100 times altogether in many different meetings.

One day, I got tired of all the altar calls. I decided to end it. That day, I made a decision to believe the word of God and what it says about salvation. I did for the final time what I have been doing at all those altar calls. I prayed again and asked God to forgive me of all my sins and to give me the heart to believe in his word.

Faith, Emotions and The Word

What is clear in my experience is that I was basing my Christian experience on my emotions more than on the word of God. My Christian experience was all heart and no head. True, saving faith is heart faith, but it is based on the solid truth of God’s word. You see, we all come into the faith differently and our experiences may not be the same. One may have had a dramatic conversion experience like we read of Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-18); another may, like Timothy, be acquainted with the sacred writings from childhood, which are able to make one wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2Timothy 3:15, 1Timothy 1:5).

However, the most important means by which we are brought to faith is through the word of Christ. Faith is a gift from God (Eph. 2:8-9) and the medium by which this faith is administered is through the preaching and the hearing of the word of God (Rom. 10:17). One may be able to remember all the details of their conversion. Another may not be able to explain the fine details about how or when they got saved; however, they do know they have believed in Christ for their salvation.

God’s word promises eternal life for anyone who believes in Christ Jesus as Lord. It also promises that anyone who believes in Christ thus is a child of God. There are many gospel promises in the word of God and if we believe as Scripture calls us to believe (Romans 10:8-10) we will be saved. The word of God is the final authority. Our emotions and feelings may not always align with what God’s word says. But if indeed we have believed in Christ as our Saviour; then we can be “sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).

Have you believed in Christ? No one can answer that for you. If in doubt, look to the gospel promises of God in his word.

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Consider my first parents, Adam and Eve.
Created perfect, and in the image of God.
God’s communion to enjoy in the eve;
In perfect peace and accord.

Along comes the Tempter
Foolishly, the fall.
They hide from their maker:
But He draws near, in spite, He provided a way out of it all.

I was in Adam.
I fell!
My head rebelled, a rebel I am!
But in spite, God draws near, I hear His call.

Tis mercy all, immense and free!
I deserved nothing but hell and death.
Instead He loved me!
He sent Jesus, to atone for His wrath.

What do I have to glory?
None, but to appeal to the blood that was shed for me!
How can I boast?
He first loved me, in spite of me!

All we are like sheep.
We fell, we rebelled, and we hide for shame.
Herein we know His love was deep,
In spite of us, He calls us by name

As in Adam, so in Christ;
All my guilt and shame, nailed to the tree.
No more in Adam, now in Christ
All In spite of me!

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If you enter most Christian bookshops, the most popular titles on the shelves are those offering one motivation or the other on how to succeed in life, find your purpose, gain financial independence, become the best of your self or live your best life now. These titles are popular because the human heart craves for meaning and purpose in life. Indeed, there is purpose and meaning for our existence. We are not on earth by a cosmic accident or chance. There is a reason for our existence. No life is without a purpose.

Succinctly, the Westminster Shorter Catechism summarises this purpose as “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”. We were created by God and the only meaning we can find is in Him. St. Augustine, in his confessions said “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you”.

Unfortunately, many pursue what they call meaning and purpose differently from “glorifying God and enjoying him forever”. They seek rest for their restless hearts in different places — places which can’t satisfy. On the contrary, believers finds their life in Christ.

Jesus, at a point in His ministry, lost some disciples because He had said things which the Bible says they found as “hard saying”(John 6:60). These hard sayings made them walk away. Truly, there are many who will not accept truth and will walk away. When they walked away, Jesus turned to the remaining and asked “Do you want to go away as well?” (John 6:67). Simon Peter, speaking for the twelve responded,

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed , and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God (John 6:68).

Every believer must come to this point of acknowledging the all sufficiency of Christ for our life. In the words, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” Peter proclaims the Lordship of Christ and His exclusivity to eternal life. Beside Christ, there is no life in anyone else (Acts 4:12). Christ is life. He is the origin and ‘sustainer’ of every life. “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:3-4).

In Psalms 73:25, David declared words similar to Peter’s: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you”. This is a picture of a life which owes its existence and meaning to God. In praise, after God answered her prayer and she bore Samuel, Hannah similarly declared: “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides [Him]; there is no rock like our God”(1Samuel 2:2)

To Peter and the other disciples, Christ was their sufficiency: “we have believed , and have come to know…” he said. What have they believed? That Christ is the Holy One of God. Most importantly, the believer must come to a point of faith and acknowledgement of the centrality of Christ to who they are — “The Holy One of God”; the only mediator between God and man; The one from whom we derive our existence and meaning!

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Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:2‭-‬3).

Writing from Prison, Paul instructs the Philippian church about the gospel. While locked up in prison, false teachers arose preaching a works based righteousness pointing to the keeping of the law as a conduit for justification. Warning the Philippian church against these false teachers, Paul draws a sharp contrast between works-righteousness and faith. He warns against confidence in the flesh, that is,  justification with God based on keeping the law or on good works.

Just as in Paul’s days, there are false teachers today who oppose the gospel by preaching legalism. John Hendryx defines Legalism as
“any attempt to rely on self-effort (even partly) to either attain or maintain our just standing before God” Writing on the same subject, Nicholas Batzig defines legalism as “an attempt to add anything to the finished work of Christ. It is to trust in anything other than Christ and His finished work for one’s standing before God. The New Testament refutation of legalism is primarily a response to perversions of the doctrine of justification by faith alone”

World religions can be categorised  into two. Works religion and Faith religion. The former–works religion emphasises a system of  ‘do’s and don’ts’ and hopefully if our good deeds outweighs our evil deeds, then the arguments follows that we will be saved by God. Works religion thrives on good works and the keeping of God’s law for righteousness. The latter–faith religion emphasises faith and trust as the only means to be saved by God.

Christianity is a faith religion (Heb11:6). Christianity acknowledges we cannot earn our salvation or please God by ourselves and our good deeds: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law”(Rom 3:28).

Christianity emphasises faith in the finished work on Calvary by Christ Jesus for our salvation (1Cor 15:3-5): Justification By Faith Alone. This is a core, foundational message of Christianity. Anyone or group of persons or a denomination that doesn’t believe in this is not qualified to be called Christian.

Sinners that we are (Ps 51:5, Rom. 3:23), we are unable of ourselves to please God. We are dead in trespasses and sins; our will held in bondage to sin and all we can do is hit the highway of sin and move away from God. The Prophet Isaiah will say “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned— every one— to his own way…”(Isaiah 53:6).

Naturally, we are enemies of God and will not seek to please Him in anyway. This however doesn’t suppose we are incapable of any good deed. Indeed the worst of sinners still have people they feel affectionate towards. But our corruption is such that, even our good deeds are abominable before God. Again Isaiah will say; “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment”(Isaiah 64:6).

The King James describes this vividly: “our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”. When I first read this, I thought to myself: “rags are already discarded for “filthy use”. To further describe it as “filthy” means the situation is that hopeless. Works rigtheousness is indeed hopeless because in our best moments, we are lost in the brightness of God’s holiness. God demands perfection, and none of us can attain to that. This means we must look outside of ourselves to attain the perfection demanded by God. We must look to Christ; “the founder and perfecter of our faith”(Hebrews 12:2).

The gospel is under threat where legalism and self-righteousness thrives. Paul spares no harsh  words in describing these false teachers. He calls them “dogs and evil doers”. Indeed, to circumvent justification by faith alone with justification by works or good deeds is evil and a damnable heresy. “…any attempt to please God by one’s own efforts and draw attention away from Christ’s accomplished redemption is the worst kind of wickedness.”[1].

Does this mean a person who professes Christianity can live anyhow they please? No! God forbid, Paul says in Romans 6:1-2. Peter’s says “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1Peter 2:11KJV). However, none of our good works and rightful living counts towards our justification. Justification is by faith alone.

No one stands justified before God apart from Christ’s imputed rigtheousness. The righteousness that saves us is outside of ourselves. It is Christ’s righteousness. Anyone who doesn’t  know this righteousness by faith through Christ has no peace with God.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).

1:NASB(ebook): The MacArthur Study Bible; notes on Phillipians 3:2-3

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Societal versus Biblical Definition

For many, a Christian is an individual born in a Christian home. For others, a Christian is one who is punctual with church attendance. A Christian to others is a morally good person who loves their neighbour as themselves. The answers you get to this question might often depend on the culture the respondent has grown up in. With these differing notions and cultural undertones about who a Christian is, one wonders if there is indeed an accurate definition for who a Christian really is. Fortunately, we are not left in a limbo to figure out who a Christian is. There is a place to turn to−the Bible. Christianity is a faith built on the Bible as the anchor of its knowledge. Christians of all centuries hold to the Bible as its fundamental document of faith. It is therefore essential we turn to the Bible to answer the question, ‘who is a Christian?’
The word Christian is derived from the word Christ. It was first used in Antioch, an ancient city in modern day Turkey, describe followers of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26). In the Bible, we are told of the origins of the world, human life and the entrance of sin. God created man in his image and gave him authority to rule over everything that he had made.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”(Genesis 1:26) 

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16 & 17)

When God created Adam, He gave him a command to keep. However Adam and Eve chose to believe a lie about God’s intent for them. They doubted God’s word and chose the path of independence and autonomy from God. They disobeyed by eating from the tree God had forbidden them, because the devil promised them a lie of equality with God (Genesis 3:1-6). Ever since that first rebellion, all of us who have descended from Adam have inherited a sinful nature which seeks to rebel against a loving God. Theologians call it Original Sin.

Original sin is the doctrine which holds that human nature has been morally and ethically corrupted due to the disobedience of mankind’s first parents to the revealed will of God. In the Bible, the first human transgression of God’s command is described as the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden resulting in what theology calls the Fall of mankind. The doctrine of original sin holds that every person born into the world is tainted by the Fall such that all of humanity is ethically debilitated, and people are powerless to rehabilitate themselves, unless rescued by God³.

Sin and Repentance

Sin is in our DNA. Whether it is the crying baby who wants his way, or the toddler throwing tantrums or the teenager banging doors because they did not get their way or the proud self-centered adult, we all like Adam and Eve, have chosen the side of sin against God. We are separated from God by our sin (Rom 3:23). But God didn’t leave humankind to their fate, despite the rebellion. God stepped in. He issued a verdict and promised to send a deliverer who would deliver his people from bondage (Gen 3:15, Jer. 23:5). That promise was fulfilled in Jesus. He was the anointed one, of whom all the prophets had spoken about. For many Jews he did not foot the bill of the person they were looking forward to. They were awaiting a political figure who would redeem them from Roman domination. However, Jesus came primarily to reconcile humankind to God. His ministry, death and resurrection confirmed Him to be the Son of the living God prophesied about in the Old Testament. If Jesus indeed is the Christ−the anointed one and Messiah−then we must understand Christianity and a Christian in the context of what he did and taught. At the beginning of his earthly ministry, He laid out clearly the purpose of his coming as recorded in the book of Mark chapter 1:14 & 15

… Jesus came into Galilee … and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

There are three important points to note in this announcement: The first one is that Jesus came to usher in a kingdom. The other two deals with how to become part of this kingdom: to repent and believe the gospel. The question is what are we to repent from? Jesus’ message was and is that we repent and make a spiritual U-turn, to turn back to God. It is important to note that Jesus did not only call for repentance, but also to believe the gospel, because it is very easy to feel sorry without the resultant fruit. Repenting and believing the gospel means we take the side of God against our sin. In Genesis 2:17, God told man that the day he would eat from the tree he shall die. Death hangs over all of us, because like Adam and Eve we have all rebelled and disobeyed God. This death is not only a physical one, but also a spiritual one, a life lived in separation from God for all eternity. This is the state of all humanity, we are en route to hell and rightly deserving God’s wrath. Therefore our need is not a need from poverty or hunger. Our need is primarily spiritual, an abject need to be saved from the wrath of God. Though we have disobeyed and rebelled against God, in His grace and loving kindness, He made a way for us to be reconciled back to him at the cost of his own Son.

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

He who has been wronged paid the ultimate price by giving up his only Son that, whoever believes in him might not die, but be saved from the wrath that is to come. What an amazing love! Jesus came into the world and lived a perfect life, unlike us he never sinned but obeyed the Father perfectly. Although he was the only one who lived a perfect life, he was crucified on the cross. This is the mystery of salvation, that the sinless prefect Son of God should also be crucified. This is the gospel my friends! Jesus lived the perfect life we were supposed to live and couldn’t. He then was crucified for the punishment we justly deserve. This is the good news.

Believe the Gospel and Live

This is the gospel Jesus was calling his hearers to repent and believe. He said the time is fulfilled and the kingdom is at hand repent and believe the gospel. The question is, have you believed this gospel? It is possible to agree with all that I have said and still not believe. For many people this proposition makes sense, but in reality they have not believe it. Apostle Paul who himself repented and believed the gospel, tells us what it means to believe the gospel. He said in Romans 10:9-10

…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

You must first of all acknowledge that you have indeed rebelled against a holy God. The bible tells us that there is no one that does right, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. You don’t need anyone to convince you you are a sinner, just look back on your day and you will have enough evidence of how depraved⁴ you are, from our thoughts to our actions. Once we see our need, we must then come to the cross believing with the heart and confessing with the mouth that Jesus is the only solution to our sin problem and we will be saved. A Christian is someone who has repented of his/her sin and believed the good news of Christ, he or she from then becomes a part of God’s kingdom. You might have been born in a Christian home or attended church all your life or perhaps been doing a lot of good stuff. One thing is clear, none of these things have saving power. Salvation is found only in repenting and believing in Christ Jesus. There is a warning for not believing in Christ;

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God (John 3:18)

There are two final questions which you have to answer; “Are you a Christian?” “What makes you think that you are?”

To be continued…

Notes

1:http://www.statsghana.gov.gh/docfiles/2010phc/Census2010_Summary_report_of_final_results.pdf

2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_populations

3: http://www.theopedia.com/original-sin

4: http://www.theopedia.com/total-depravity

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