[Ben]

Absolutely sister Wechie. The expression “bride of the Lamb” which is feminine for the Church, is a function of metaphor and imagery to communicate our union with the Lord Jesus Christ and the futuristic culmination of this union. Just like how we can get a proper understanding of a fact by engaging our imagination, the idea of referring to the Church as the bride of Christ can be fully appreciated by understanding the marriage system practiced in the days of Jesus (Jewish tradition). This further explains why we are best seen as the Lord’s bride.

In Jewish tradition, a wedding began with the betrothal. The bridegroom would pay a dowry to show his dedication to the bride. Spiritually, this is mirrored by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, where He paid the ultimate price for the sins of humanity, securing His Church as His bride (Ephesians 5:25-27). The Church has come into union with the Lord Jesus Christ by virtue of her acceptance of the price Jesus paid to have her to himself (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, John 15:5).

Right after the betrothal, there was a period of preparation. The bridegroom would leave to prepare a place for his bride. The bride, during this time, would prepare herself for his return, not knowing exactly when he would come to get her. This time of preparation parallels the current state of believers, as Jesus, the bridegroom, has ascended to heaven to prepare a place for us (John 14:2-3). The Church, as the bride, is in a period of anticipation and preparation, waiting for Christ’s return.

Old Testament saints in heaven are best referred as friends of the bridegroom and guests during the feast. John the Baptist, a good representative of these saints was referred to as a friend and not part of the bride (John 3:29, Revelation 19:9).

[Ben]

My response to Femi

Indeed, when the Lord Jesus Christ returns, Satan and his cohorts will be taken out of the scene. His evil influence will be out of sight completely and we shall walk in the fullness of our redemption in Christ (Isaiah 11;8, Micah 4:1-4, 5:2-5). Fullness, not just as it is within our spirits but also in our changed bodies. Sin and its repercussions or effects will be dealt with pertaining all things.
When Jesus shall return again, the sons of God will be made manifest and the whole creation that have been in bondage due to the sin of the first Adam, will be set free (Romans 8:18-24).
There’s indeed so much to be grateful and joyful for as we hope for his second coming.
1. Satan and his influence put away completely.
2. Our bodies redeemed and found in glory.
3. The earth and all there is in creation that was left in bondage; completely restored.
4. We will reign on the earth with our Lord and king Jesus. A reign of truth and glory.
This joy goes hand in hand with our daily commitment to keep running our race, having our eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus.

[Ben]

When I Think of the Coming of Christ.

When I think of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, I’m left in awe and full of anticipation. I will get to see my Lord and will have to deal with life from a new reality. I want to say unimaginable but thank God I have something to feed my mind with and a reality to be imagined as I live in full anticipation of that day. The word of God puts my heart and mind in the following spiritual realities:

1. The reality of seeing my Lord and Savior Jesus 1 John 3:2, and being changed bodily. My body will eventually catch up with my spirit. My body will be redeemed and I’ll forever be with my Lord.

2. The reality of being called forth and rewarded. Revelations 22:12, Philippians 3:14, Matthew 25:20-23. I recall the song, “when the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there”. What will it be like? I ask myself. Nothing really on earth can fully or best describe this moment. But I’ll be called upon and rewarded for my works in his name. Hence, I am guided to do what he calls me to do. I will see him smile and say to me, “I’ve always known you…I know you Ben” And he will say to me, “well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord. So, I’m off and running my race for the price. Not that I have attained like Paul said (Philippians 3:12-14). Emphatically no! But this I do every day, to let go of my past and of any weight or sin and run with patience my race. I’m therefore mindful of my works.

3. My joy of presenting the souls won. Romans 10:15. It will be like bringing in the sheaves during harvest. I know there will be joy and rejoicing to see souls I ministered to by his enablement. Everything I do, everything he leads me into, even at this phase of my life and ministry, is to draw all men unto him. That’s basically what I live for.

4. Urgency! Urgency! 2 Corinthians 5:20, Ephesians 5:15-17. There’s a call to answer. A call to minister the gospel and to lead men in the way of truth. A call to walk not as a fool, but wise and understanding the will of God for the times I am in. Just like Jesus, I must be about the work of my Father. If he is coming again, then I will give account of my days. I want to give a worthy testimony. I want to say I did and finished what you sent me to do and not another business. This makes me sober and keeps me guided in my ways. I don’t live anyhow not because I earned my salvation by my performance but because I am set on a course that I must follow. It is my desire to follow through to that end when I see him.

[Ben]

“Good works that stem out of a relationship with Christ Jesus are witnesses for Jesus.” The following, validates this statement:
The word witness in the Greek is the word martureo which means to be a witness, i.e. testify (literally or figuratively):–charge, give (evidence), bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness. The word from the dictionary means, evidence, proof.

So a witness, is a proof provider. Therefore, a witness for Christ Jesus is someone or anything that reveals Christ- his nature, his testimony, his message and his power. These works that stem from a relationship with Christ Jesus are termed firstly, “good works” which means that there are bad works. But for a work to be termed good, means it’s acceptable by God and not just by men. (Philippians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 3:18).

1. Sharing the Gospel: a good work that serves as a witness for Christ Jesus to men. The good work of preaching the gospel of Christ reveals to the sinner the unconditional love of God (God as love) and not a judgmental God or a sadist who is out to send men to hell at the slightest provocation. ( John 3:16-18, Romans 5:6-9). When we preach or share the Gospel around and to sinners, we give proof of the love of God and the grace of God that is available unto them in Christ Jesus. So that they can be changed by the same love and grace (Titus 2:11, 2 Corinthians 5:17).

2. Walking in the light: a good work that bears witness for Jesus Christ. Having no part in works of darkness will reveal Christ to men. Living an exemplary life wherever one finds themselves will communicate the testimony and the character of Christ Jesus. ( Ephesians 5:8-11, 1 Timothy 4:12, 2 Corinthians 3:2-3).

3. Walking in love: a good work that bears witness for Christ Jesus. In a world filled with people more interested in themselves and their self-interests, walking in agape love will impact the lives of others in godly ways and will reveal who Jesus really is to them. They begin to see Jesus not only in the message we preach but also in our actions and attitude towards people. (1 John 3:16-18)

4. Walking in the Spirit: a good work that bears witness for Christ Jesus. When we walk in the Spirit, we will be sensitive to take steps and carry out inspired actions that will end up blessing the lives of people; even handling terrible situations which might be going on in their lives. This good work, will bring Christ and his power to a reality in the lives of those who will put faith in him. (Acts 4:13, Acts 5:12-14, Romans 8:14).

In summary, good works that are as a result of the believer’s relationship with Jesus will bring about the revelation of the character of Christ in them (men will surely confirm that they have Christ in them), bring glory to God with their lives and turn men from death to life.

[Ben]

A discussion on “Faith in the Finished Work of Christ” showing what four vital things faith in the finished work of Christ entails and how to utilize this faith.

What is faith?

According to Hebrews 11:1, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Romans 10:17, declares that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Therefore, faith is the response of the human spirit to God’s word (that gives evidence to unseen but real things).

Faith calls as real facts what the word of God has addressed and has provided for. In this sense, faith is a supernatural force. It has no bearing or development on any natural or physical evidence.

What is the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ?

First, as believers in Christ Jesus we have been born anew into God’s family. We have become awaken to the Fatherhood of Almighty God and in God’s family, there are provisions made available for all God’s children; through the vicarious death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Now, we have the legal grounds to claim God’s provision for the life that God would have us live ( John 10:10) because Jesus has fulfilled all requirements on our behalf.

Our faith is required now as the only way we can have a part in the finished work (provisions of God upon the payment made by Christ on the cross) of Christ. And this faith is not self motivated but word-birthed.

Four vital things faith in the finished work entails and how to utilize this faith can be seen as follows:

1. Believing that God’s promises in his word towards us, are no more there as promises but that they have been fulfilled now in Christ Jesus. So the finished work of Jesus is like the full payment of God to bring about the fulfillment of all his promises to us (2 Corinthians 1:20). These promises are no more there for us as promises but they are fulfilled because Jesus has made full purchase by his substitutionary death. Hence, if we will receive any of these already all expense paid promises, we must say yes to them and live accordingly-that is, we must have faith (be convinced, assured, persuaded, trust) in what the Bibles says God will do for us and in us.

2. Believing that our victory over any situation in life is already established (2 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Timothy 6:12). Our default state is all round victory irrespective of what is going on in our bodies or around us. Faith in the finished work of Christ is knowing and believing that as a believer the only fight you have to make in life, is the faith of faith- holding dearly to God’s report against all odds. We are in faith in the finished work of Christ when we choose to maintain our stance of victory.

3. Believing that the sin problem has been eternally solved (Hebrews 9:12-14). Sin is no more a barrier between God and man. Faith in the finished work of Christ entails dependence on God’s testimony of the type of redemption that we have in Christ and even when we sin due to our un-renewed mind, we should go boldly before the throne of mercy to receive God’s help instead of thinking that we have lost it all, or that we can’t live up to God’s expectations. Therefore subtly allowing for guilt, condemnation and the fear of God’s wrath ( Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 2:1-2). Faith in the finished work entails an assurance in the remission and total forgiveness of our sins.

4. Having an attitude of rest from all self works and receiving the grace of God ( Hebrews 3:19, 4:1-3). The rest described here as God’s rest for us, is to remove our trust from our works in order for us to earn what God’s grace has provided for. Our faith translates into our obedience to the things God says he has done in Christ. If he has done it, then we must not try to earn it again but receive it.

There are two kinds of faith.
1. The human faith (John 4:48).
2. The God-kind of faith (Mark 11:22).
The human faith is a function of human provision but the God-kind of faith is a function of God’s provision made available in Christ. Therefore, the believer does not have another kind of faith and should not seek to have faith outside the God-kind of faith. The believer is born by the word ( 1 Peter 1:23) and is supernatural. Therefore, his faith must be supernatural ( from the word of God only) (2 Corinthians 5:7).

[Ben]

Here, are some lessons from the prayer of Jesus at Gethsemane:
What is prayer?
Prayer is simply communication, conversation, fellowship with God that is borne out of the love of God with a consciousness of what God has already done in the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.

Lesson One: Jesus prayed to the God he had a relationship with. Matthew 26:39, 42. Jesus began his prayer by calling God Father. He showed us right there, that we should pray not as an obligation (a religious one at that) but because we have a relationship with God. The word Father, explains a connection that exist between God and the one praying.

During the Old Covenant and in the Old Testament, the people of God did not have this close connection with God and didn’t really know him as Father. The writers of the Old Testament lay greater emphasis on our distance from God and the reserve we should feel before him. God is revealed more as separate from us and beyond us, and he is seen less as intimate and close to us. But in the New Testament, although God remains holy and majestic in our eyes, Jesus adds a strikingly clear emphasis on God as Father—both his Father and our Father (John 20:17). It is the Spirit of the Son who leads us into intimacy with God as our own Abba Father (Gal. 4:6). It is therefore with this understanding that we should approach God in prayer and if we know that we have a relationship with him, we must also realize that he is interested in hearing us pray and to answer our prayers; even as a way of being involved in our lives.

Lesson Two: Jesus prayed according to the will of God (Matthew 26:39, 42). Often, we are faced with difficult situations and even life threatening issues that we want to talk to God about. However, we must realize that we do not belong to ourselves. Our relationship with the Father shows that we belong to God. It also shows that there are provisions made according to the will of the Father for his children. Every good father has intentions which often are good for their children.

God has good intentions in his will for us. So when we go to him in prayer and like Jesus did, we must look pass the overwhelming circumstances and seek his will in prayer as well as pray his will for our lives. We can trust him to deliver us and to come through for us according to his good pleasures in his will for us. At the moment, it might not seem realistic or effective praying his will but we must refuse the temptation of praying our situations as there is no faith in them to give us victory/the answers we need. Since we need answers and we want God to fix things up, let us pray his will (the word) for our lives.

Lesson Three: Jesus took his burdens to God in prayer (Matthew 26:36-39). In stead of thinking, complaining or worrying over his burdens, Jesus took them all to God in prayer. Philippians 4:6-7, tells us how to address the things that come against. We must learn to take whatever that is before us to God in prayer and leave it there with him.

It is already looking or seeming overwhelming. Why worry over it? Why allow it be your nightmare and fixed thought. We can turn to the Lord in prayer and trust him to fix things up.

Isaiah 38:2-6, Hezekiah got a very terrible news about his death but he immediately turned to the Lord in prayer and that report was changed. God is able to step in, lift burdens off our shoulders and strengthen us with the might that comes from him even when we need to go through a phase in life. There’s always an input to get from God. He never refuses us help when we need his help or intervention. Let us always create the time to pray about things that trouble us and not try to fix things all by ourselves.

[Ben]

A discussion on the “subtlety of legalism”

When something is said to be subtle, it means it is making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something. Therefore the subtlety of legalism is an aim to achieve something in which another (grace by faith) has achieved; of which legalism is not designed to achieve and cannot achieve. However, legalism has all the appearance that seems to suggest it can achieve the same thing.

What therefore is the “thing” sought to be achieved by legalism of which another has achieved as found within biblical context?

Let’s see what Paul the apostle said in Galatians 3:1-6.

” 1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

1. What legalism is trying to achieve, has already been achieved by grace and can be accessed through faith. Galatians 3:5-6. Christianity is not morality but in Christianity, there are morals. The goal of Christianity is largely about a restored relationship with God ( 2 Corinthians 5:19). Now, in getting into this reality of acceptance before God, one has to be righteous. Men have come up with all sorts of ways to reach/please God, which is the birth of the religions in the world (the efforts of men). However, these efforts of men, God has discredited and termed as filthiness (Isaiah 64:6). Only one man can fix our relationship with God and make us worthy, chosen, accepted and loved in God and that is the man, Jesus Christ; through his vicarious death, burial and resurrection (identification and substitution). This therefore, is God’s provision for man to accept so that he can come into an approved and loving relationship with God.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” Romans 5:1.
This is what is known as grace- that God has stepped forward to act on man’s behalf to give man passage into what he never deserved or could qualify for.

A. Albeit, believers who came into this relationship with God not by anything they did but by God’s grace just like the foolish Galatians, slip often from continuing in this grace into legalism (work based mindset). So believers pray, fast for days, dress in a certain way, and give not because they are responding to grace and out of a grateful heart but to earn God’s acceptance. Once a believer has a performance based mentality, he will often be legalistic.

He can’t be satisfied if his hand didn’t “toil” or earn what he is given to enjoy freely.

PETER AND LEGALISM
Acts 10:11-15.
God had prepared something and was delivering the same to Peter (which is another way of seeing the grace of God). But Peter being used to the traditions of men (how a child of God should be according to men) and who was still conscious of an identity God had left behind (being a Jew) (Galatians 3:28).
He became adamant and the traditions handed over to him was more true to keep than what God had said at the moment.

B. Here is another aspect in which believers slip into legalism- by keeping the traditions of men above God’s word and provision in grace ( Mark 7:8). So we hear believers say things like, ” this is how it has always been done in the church “, even when these practices don’t align with the truth after the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. So people copy traditions, hold unto doctrines and experiences of men while keeping what the word says, aside. Yet, they seek to get something in return from the same God who has made all things available by his grace.

2. Legalism is trying to achieve what the supply of the Spirit of God started. Galatians 3:3.
It is worthy of note that Legalism is not the counterpart of the Living Spirit of God who is the Spirit of grace. In stead the word of God is the counterpart of the Spirit and the word of God declares as the Spirit of God declares, “through grace and faith”.

In Galatians 3:3, we see what both the Spirit and legalism seek to achieve- TO MAKE ONE PERFECT.

The word perfect there means accomplished. It is the Greek word, “epiteleo” from epí = intensifies meaning, in the sense of meaning “fully” + teleo = to complete, bring not just to the end but to the destined goal from télos = end, goal.

Note: télos originally meant the turning point, hinge, the culminating point at which one stage ends and another begins; later the goal, the end. It is a word that conveys the intensified meaning; to fully complete or to fully reach the intended goal in the sense of successfully completing what has been begun.

That is to say, that having begun this new life and all it presents in Christ Jesus, our lives have been set up on a new plane that is to continue even experientially until the day of our Lord Jesus. However, much importance is placed on how we began this life and Paul is rebuking the Galatians on continuing in the Spirit unto perfection (bodily). This work began in our spirits and by the Holy Spirit. We cannot now begin to look at our flesh to arrive at perfection. We must live from inside out.

C. Some believers think it is by how fervent in their works or “holy” in appearance they are, that makes them arrive at this perfection ignoring how they started. Did you start by keeping laws or doing things perfectly? Or by the Spirit, in your spirit which got recreated as you believed the word of grace? ( Ephesians 2:10 Amplified).

So we see believers say they have lost their salvation once they sin and they end up having multiple conversation experiences. They never accept their worth in Christ because their works have become their standard for qualification. So they say, “no one is righteous…we are all sinners” and so on.

2 Timothy 3:7
“always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

They just can’t call themselves who God calls them no matter how much they hear the word because they are looking at how they have been living lately instead of the word of grace, in faith.

As much as the practice of sin should not be condoled. For grace is no a license to sin. What was begun in the Spirit should be sustained, continued in the spirit, by the Holy Spirit and by the word ( daily renewal of the mind- Romans 12:2).

Philippians 1:6
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

HOW A BELIEVER CAN PREVENT LEGALISM.

1. Appreciate your new life as one founded by grace and to be lived out by faith. I am who God says I am no matter what! A word ruled mindset. (Ephesians 2:8).

2. Focus on the work of the Spirit to perfect you in every way ( he will cause you to experience in full (bodily) what he started in you (spirit) ). Choose to yield to the Spirit and not your flesh. (Romans 8:14).

3. Renew your mind through meditation by the word of God (Hebrews 4:12, Acts 20:32, Joshua 1:8).

[Ben]

The roles played by angels in the life of the early Church as seen in the book of the Acts of the Apostles are as follows:

1. Encouragement. During the ascension of Jesus into heaven, his disciples were left bewildered seeing him go from them a second time (Acts 1:10-11). As they stood there gazing steadfastly into heaven, two angels appeared to them and encouraged them with words of assurance. That Jesus was going to return from heaven again. In Acts 5:19-20, we see a divine intervention through an angel who opened the prison doors of where the apostles were imprisoned; and the angel encouraged the apostles to keep preaching after releasing them from prison.

2. Rescue and delivery from danger. We see in Acts 12:1-19, that Herod who had killed James and saw that it pleased the people, went on to take Peter and put him in prison. He sought to do the same as he did to James, to Peter. But there was divine rescue and delivery through an angel and Peter was not killed neither did he remain in prison. In this case also, it is clear that this angelic intervention was an answer to the prayers of the church who had engaged in prayers upon hearing that Peter had been imprisoned by Herod. So God answered the prayers of his church by sending an angel.

3. Divine guidance. In Acts 10:1-8, God brought divine guidance through an angel to Cornelius who wasn’t a believer as at the time. God had seen the devotion and generosity of Cornelius and through an angel gave him directions on how to reach for the apostle Peter who would preach the gospel to him for his salvation. Through this angelic visitation resulting to guidance, Cornelius and his household got saved after they had heard the gospel from the lips of Peter.

Also, in Acts 8:26 we see another provision of divine guidance and this time around, it was to Philip. The angel guided Philip to a man that needed to be saved. When Philip followed that guidance, he actually met with a man who he preached and explained the word to and the man was saved.

In summary, angels carried out supportive and intervening roles in the lives of believers, the apostles and even an unbeliever for the benefit of the early Church. They aided the work of the Church and the apostles and brought about the will of God in which men executed to the glory of God.

[Ben]

Two instances where the grace of God was manifested in my life can be seen thus:

What does Grace mean to begin with? Grace is the goodness of God, freely given. It is not a loan. Grace is also, God reaching out to us and giving us what we do not deserve. Furthermore, Grace is God’s unmerited favor- It is what God does for me independent of me.

The first instance of the manifestation of the grace of God in my life even according to Psalm 102:13, “ You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come.” was when I got a Job I didn’t apply for. This Job came at the right time, immediately after my graduation from the University. I was in my house the day I got a call of a Job for me that I didn’t apply for. Interestingly, I didn’t deserve that job because I had no experience in that area, no skill for the job as it was not really what I had studied in the university or apart of any program I had done. I began to discredit myself before the caller; trying to be sincere, but it seemed like the caller didn’t care to know about my disqualification. The caller added that the Holy Spirit ministered to him that I was the one to be reached. That right there was the grace of God.

It didn’t stop there. After that call, I began to prepare for an interview or even for an exam at least but to my greatest surprise, I got to the office and was received warmly and shown my office to resume work immediately. Protocols were broken and the favor of God was visibly at work. The next phase of the manifestation of God’s grace (involvement beyond my no skill for the job and inexperience), was when I was expected to commence work and continue from where the former staff had left off, without any guidance or training. I guess my direct boss felt I was the best at the job.

The caller was a respected partner with the CEO of the company, I got to find out. The CEO had trusted him with getting the best candidate for the Job and there I was, a Historian and Diplomat by profession in a construction company with Engineers. I totally depended on God as I meditated on relevant scriptures to be courageous and to learn on the job. Few weeks into the job, I excelled so well that the CEO from Abuja called me to know how I knew so much about the job when I didn’t have any prior experience. It was all the grace of God.

The second instance would be when I was in my final year in the University. My experience goes in line with Isaiah 41:13 and Psalm 94:18. I received God’s grace in the form of his help where I would have failed. The course I was writing was one you could not wave off. I found out just immediately after taking the exam, that I had written the opposite of virtually all I was asked. I was not confident in the exam hall while writing even though I had prepared. Truly, the notes showed it, after finding the right answers after my exam.

I refused to be worried but took it to God in prayers. To God’s praise, there was a divine intervention. I had an A when the results came out. Sadly, there was massive failure in that course which proved the natural state of things with the course but God helped me out.

These two instances in my life show how the grace of God has played out for me amongst many other instances. It played out in giving me unmerited favor before men and brought me a good opportunity. It played out also, in the help of God in my studies, where my own strength stopped.

[Ben]

To look into the origin of the human soul, one has to acknowledge that the human soul doesn’t exist on its own but is part of what makes up a man. In this sense, we begin to look at the various arguments of theologians towards man’s make up. There is a general agreement that man consists of a material part- his physical body and an immaterial part- non physical part of man which is his spirit and soul.
Our focus now, is to tell on the origin of the soul which is a part of the immaterial part of man (an aspect of man that exist but cannot be seen or handled physically).

Dichotomists believe that the immaterial part of man cannot be distinguished, for to them, soul and spirit are one. They view any distinction between soul and spirit as merely functional.

Trichotomists, on the other hand, believe that soul and spirit are different and distinguishable, viewing a distinction between spirit and soul as substantial. Perlman states, “ both groups cannot be declared as totally wrong because one may say that though the spirit and soul are separate, they are not separable. Krama says apparently, then the relationship may be thus summed up. Body and spirit may be separated. Spirit and soul can only be distinguished.

Hebrews 4:12, tells us that only the word of God has the supernatural ability to bring about a division between soul and spirit.

So the human soul, is an immaterial part of man, the possession of the human spirit and could be termed as the inner man (because it is not visible to the physical eyes but is real).

The origin or creation of the human soul has thus been explained or argued by certain theories:

1. The Preexistence Theory. This view teaches that God originally created a number of souls and some are joined to human bodies at conception. Obviously, there is no clear statement in Scripture that supports this view.

2. Creation Theory.
Creation theory teaches that the human body is transferred from the parents, but the soul, since it is immaterial, comes from God. At conception, God creates a soul and places that soul in the forming baby (Ps 139:13). Support for this is found in the fact that after creating Adam, God breathed life into his body—giving him a soul (Gen 2:7).

3. Traducian Theory. This theory teaches that both the body and soul come from the parents. It is argued that God’s direct creation—making things out of nothing—stopped on the sixth day of creation, as proved by the fact that God rested on the seventh day. Certainly, God is still involved with the creation of the body and the soul in humans, but he does that through secondary means—human parents. This view takes this stand so as to exclude God from the sin nature present in each new born child. Holding the belief of hereditary traits which includes the sin nature that affects the inner man to come from parents passed unto their children.

However, Pearlman suggests a cooperation between Creator and parents as the solution. He says, “ in the beginning of a new life, a divine Creator and a creative use of means work together “. Man begets man in cooperation with the Father of spirits. Therefore, the normal process of human reproduction set in motion those divine laws of life which cause a human with an inner man to be born into the world.

I would totally agree with Pearlman’s view on the origin of the human soul. Which is hinged on the cooperation of a divine Creator and man to birth a human being from whence we have the origin of a soul. My reasons would be thus:

1. The human soul is an immaterial part of man. The human soul originates from God who is Spirit. Genesis 2:7, tells us that God breathed into man from himself (the substance of life) and man became a living being. So the origin of the human soul is from God.

2. God is the Father of spirits but man the means to begets another man. Hebrews 12:9. In other words, just as we see also in Genesis 2:7, the soul of man can only be created by God’s creative ability and in that state, his creation is perfect (without sin). However, the human soul isn’t created in thousands and stored up for a body to assume them. It therefore means, that the laws of procreation which must be triggered by man as designed by God must take place for a soul to exist. It is through this means that a human soul can be created. That the human soul takes on a sin nature from birth is a function of the means set by divine laws which is already condemned.

In summary, man in himself cannot create a human soul and God though he has the creative ability to make a soul, has put forth divine laws that would require the cooperation of man with him to birth one. Man, becomes hence the means for a possible existence of a human soul as designed by God.

[Ben]

Replying Paulpraise.

Oh Hallelujah! Adding to what you shared especially when you talked about God adapting to man in order for him to fulfill his purpose. Yes, God’s change of mind in his dealings with man doesn’t contradict who he is- his essential character from whence we can say that he is unchanging.

The ways of man are like shifting shadows. The strength of man outside God can fail. And so God takes the position of one who wants to relate. However, this would be on his plane and through the sacrifice of Jesus, he got down to our plane( the God who cannot behold iniquity). He took upon himself the sins of men for the purpose of making man his friend. And now, instead of death being the wages of sin… God’s judgment becomes forgiveness and the revelation of his unchanging nature (love) to that man ( who was a terrible sinner) who has now repented and has put faith in Jesus.

This is all about being able to still relate with the changing man yet being unchanging in his nature.

[Ben]

God doesn’t change. He is Omniscient (all knowing) and immutable (unchanging). God is perfect. He cannot get better or worse. He said to Moses about Himself, “I am who I am”. That means he cannot change as to his essential character. He cannot gain or lose his attributes as God. Malachi 3:6 says, ” I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore, you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob”. God will never be wiser, more loving or more holy than he has ever been. However, there are a number of scriptures to site as an example of God having a change of mind concerning something he planned to do or had done.

These scriptures are as follows:
Exodus 32:14 “So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people. ”

Jeremiah 26:19
“Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord, and the Lord changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them? But we are committing a great evil against ourselves.”

Amos 7:3
“The Lord changed His mind about this.
“It shall not be,” said the Lord.”

Jonah 3:10
“When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.”

Jeremiah 42:10
“If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down, and I will plant you and not uproot you; for I will relent concerning the calamity that I have inflicted on you.”

These scriptures seems to show a God who changes his mind and that is a function of the changing nature of men. God’s desire is for fellowship with man and he becomes relatable not static in his relationship with man. When people sin or repent of sin, God “changes” his mind- for the purpose of relationship with changing men yet he is unchanging.

With the case study of the people of Nineveh, God was not pleased with their sinful way of life and the consequences of their sins was to come upon them except they change. Eventually they repented and God changed his mind towards them unto forgiveness. This provoked Jonah who knew that God will change his mind towards the people once they repented even though he wanted God to punish them.

What do we see in this?

God is unchanging in his nature but will change his mind ( there will be changes and development) in his relationship with his repentant creation (changing men). Thus, we who were once enemies of God, are now his own people. He changed his mind to relate with us when we yielded to his will.

[Ben]

Ways in which Jesus operates as the High Priest for the believer today are as follows:

1. He stands before the Father as our High Priest to grant us constant access to the Father and to deliver unto us grace needed for our walk in the faith. Hebrews 4:15-16, ” For we have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
As believers who through the blood of Jesus, got redeemed and have access to God’s presence. We are always assured of that same access to the Father even when we sin or make a mistake. Jesus, stands to defend us with his blood of eternal redemption and so we must not allow the enemy fill us up with guilt or a sense of unworthiness. When we sin, we should come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain (receive) mercy…where we confess that sin committed and receive forgiveness instead of condemnation and wrath.

B. In receiving the mercy of God, we have access to God’s help in the grace of God to live above our shortcomings. Asides that, we have access to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to help us in times of need( for whatever situation). So, we are not left all by ourselves to figure out our lives after being saved but we have a high priest who has made provisions in his mercy and grace for us.

2. He as our high priest has obtained for us a more excellent ministry. Whereby we have access to better promises and the blessings of God.

Hebrews 8:6, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. ”

Hebrews 6:19-20, ” Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
Jesus as our high priest and in being our mediator, ensures that what he purchased for us( the blessing without any curse (the blessing only) , is what we get. So now, we can be healed, be prosperous, be blessed, be full of peace, be victorious and assured of a good future. Now, we can have life to the fullest until it overflows. We can be assured of having the true righteousness ( declared justified) and much more. All better promises which we can lay claims on because our high priest have offered up the sacrifice for them.

3. Jesus in being our high priest, is the guarantee of the eternal life we have and he makes intercession for us before the Father.
Hebrews 7:25, ” Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Many people have fears of the rapture, some are unsure of their stand with God even as believers and there are yet others who say that salvation can be lost. However, Jesus as our high priest carries out the role of an Intercessor ( standing on our behalf) before God to “preserve” the work of redemption he carried out especially for the believer. To keep the believer saved till the end. Like he said while on earth, “the ones the Father has given to me, no one shall be able to take them out from my hands” and also, like Paul said, ” being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the end.” He will perform and keep us till the end. He holds us up so we don’t loose our salvation and eternal life.

In summary, as our high priest Jesus plays a vital role of ensuring that all he purchased for us. We get to receive and experience, even to the very end.

[Ben]

An instance of the conviction of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the new testament and three things that proves are as follows:

First, the word conviction means, to confute, admonish, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove.
Then, an instance of the conviction of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the new testament can be seen in the experience of Lydia as recorded in Acts 16:14-15, ” And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she….”

Worthy of note, Lydia was called a worshipper of God- a “religious ” fellow but at the point she heard the teachings of salvation by Paul, the Holy Spirit convicted her heart. Which lead to

1. The conviction of sin in her life hence the need for a Saviour. The scripture doesn’t tell us that she was caught in any sinful act but that she was a worshipper of God. So the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon her heart was to turn her away from unbelief in the Lordship of Jesus Christ( whom she had not known possibly), to believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ unto her salvation. This goes to prove that it is only the Holy Spirit that can make men believe on Jesus and be saved, even through His ministry of “conviction “.

2. The conviction of righteousness. This woman the bible described as a worshipper of God; which is safe to say, was a “self righteous” woman. Could only be declared truly righteous and accepted by God through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Upon what the Holy Spirit did to her heart, she had faith in the righteous One, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, having peace with God. So this proves that true righteousness comes as a result of the conviction of the Holy Spirit unto faith in Jesus. This demarcates self righteousness by works from true righteousness by faith.

3. Conviction brings Judgment. This woman who was once under the domain of the enemy walked into freedom and victory by yielding to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in her heart. This goes to prove that upon the defeat of Satan through the vicarious work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we come into the experience of freedom and victory by the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

In summary, the conviction of the ministry of the Holy Spirit will always reprove men of sin, righteousness and judgment unto their salvation.

[Ben]

Replying Wechie

Your claims is that the book of Hebrew is part of the general epistles with the reasons you have given which is good enough. However, you also alluded to the fact that some thoughts expressed or revelations given in Hebrews share likeness with some of the revelations of Christ in some of the Pauline epistles. I totally agree, however, you concluded that that wasn’t enough to prove that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews but, that the similarity of revelation could be based on same doctrinal stand of both Paul and the writer of Hebrew.

Not disregarding your stand but drawing on further similarities or traits in Paul’s writings, I would like to suggest even as some scholars assume to be the case. That the book of Hebrews could have been authored by Paul. Now, the writer might have not been Paul but anyone. However,the thoughts conveyed or the message communicated might have been Paul’s.

Now, even in these present times we have what is known as ghost writing. An author of a book can contract a ghost writer to pen down his thoughts. At the end of the day, the author of the book wouldn’t be the ghost writer but the author of the ideas. Because the ideas form the text.

Now, those traits or possible pointers to be considered for Paul to be seen as the author are:

1. The same greeting or nature of benediction with Paul is what we see closing the epistle of Hebrew, “Grace be with you all. Amen” Hebrews 13:25. And Paul had said in 2 Thessalonians 3:17-18, ” I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine,it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.”

2. The author of that work said in Hebrews 13:24, ” …they of Italy salute you.” Paul was at Italy at some point in his ministry and could it be that was when he authored the epistle to the Hebrews? Possibly.

3. The epistle to the Hebrews made mention of Timothy who was Paul’s son and companion in most of his ministry journey. Which again could be indictive of Paul writing or authoring the epistle of Hebrews.

Although, the epistle didn’t start with Paul’s normal way of greeting but it ended with how Paul said he will always acknowledge his letters. So where the usual introduction of the Pauline epistles could show that Paul wrote them, it is safe to say that the way he said he would indicate ownership of his letters in closing, should also hint us strongly that he wrote or authored the book of Hebrews.

[Author]

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