My initial FOCUS on this very significant Bible Study, was to keep to the THEME OF T.O.C.M Truth Of Christ Ministries, which is REPENTANCE.
As l began to write, the LORD told me that it is impossible to teach about REQUISITION AND URGENCY OF REPENTANCE without explaining the ORIGIN AND EFFECTS OF SIN.
Let’s begin.
ORIGIN OF SIN AND ITS EFFECTS
GOD’S WORD (GENESIS 2:17)
The First Ever Sin – Man’s Shameful Fall And The Punishment That Followed
And God said to Adam and Eve…
But the tree of KNOWLEDGE and of GOOD and EVIL, thou SHALT NOT eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt SURELY DIE!
ln the third Chapter of the Book of Genesis, it is EVIDENT that SATAN (the deceiver and father of all lies) SUCCEEDED by causing Adam and Eve (God’s beloved first Human Creation) to break God’s Law. That mistake TRIGGERED the ORIGIN of ALL HUMAN SIN, thereby making ALL MANKIND SINNERS BY DEFAULT, even unto this very hour.
GOD’S WORD (GENESIS 3:6) And when the Woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Moving forward, we learn in the following verses of Genesis THE CURSE that was triggered after THE SHAMEFUL FALL.
GOD’S WORD (GENESIS 3:16) Unto the woman He said, l will greatly multiply thy SORROW and thy CONCEPTION; in SORROW thou shalt bring FORTH CHILDREN; and thy desire shall be to thy HUSBAND, and he shall rule over thee.
GOD’S WORD (GENESIS 3:17,19) And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and has eaten of the tree, saying, Thou SHALT NOT EAT OF IT: CURSED is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy LIFE.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou RETURN UNTO THE GROUND; for out of it wast thou taken: for DUST THOU ART, AND UNTO DUST SHALT THOU RETURN.
How l wish all the above events never occurred, but it did, so SIN BECAME A DEFAULT IN HUMAN NATURE. Meaning, from that time onwards every HUMAN BEING will be incapable to AVOID SIN. Sin is bound to happen, either in THOUGHT, WORD OR DEED. And this is a daily struggle for mankind. Whether one commits a minor sin or whether it is major, (e.g. murder) WE ARE ALL SINNERS AND NEED SALVATION.
The most scary part of sin is the PUNISHMENT and CONSEQUENCES that carries on to our seed, meaning our Children, Grand Children and ALL GENERATIONS to follow.
To clarify, every single member of the HUMAN RACE is born a sinner, because we have inherited the curse. Regardless of whether you THINK, SAY or DO evil in the sight of the LORD, or vice versa, you remain a SINNER until FULL REPENTANCE. That is because of the SEPARATION that took place between man and God after The Fall.
Here are a few discriptions of SIN in the DICTIONARY: An offence against moral or religious law, or divine commandments, separation from God, to violate law or principle, to offend, an action considered highly reprehensible. I totally agree with all the above, but the dictionary should have detailed or included the fact that ALL MANKIND ARE SINNERS BY NATURE AS A RESULT OF THE MISTAKE OF OUR FIRST PARENTS.
EFFECTS OF SIN
GOD’S WORD (GENESIS 4:8)
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Cain, the first son of SINNERS ADAM AND EVE murdered his brother due to covetousness.
Further effects of SIN continues in…
GOD’S WORD (GENESIS 6:5-7)
THE WICKEDNESS OF THE WORLD
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only EVIL CONTINUALLY.
And it repented the LORD that HE HAD MADE MAN ON THE EARTH, and it GRIEVED HIM AT HIS HEART.
And the Lord said, I WILL DESTROY MAN whom l have created from the face of the earth; both man and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repented me that l have made them.
As we already know, GOD NEVER LIES. He did DESTROY the earth with a flood of a hundred and fifty days. All INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH, except one righteous man of God’s choice, his family and a pair of all non human living creatures remained.
GOD’S WORD (GENESIS 7:11,12,23,24)
In the six hundred year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and NOAH REMAINED ALIVE, and they that were with him in the ARK.
And the WATERS PREVAILED UPON THE EARTH an HUNDRED AND FIFTY DAYS.
PROOF SIN IS UNAVOIDABLE TO HUMANS
In spite of God’s MIGHTY MIRACLES, PROVISION AND DELIVERANCE to His CHILDREN from persecution, slavery and abuse throughout various generations, HUMANS have not been able to avoid sinning.
Even Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whom God chose to re-establish His covenant for His FUTURE PLANS, after that He had DESTROYED the earth during Noah’s generation because of SIN, were all sinners in thought, word and deed according to the Holy Scriptures.
GOD’S WORD (GENESIS 16:1-6) teaches us about the sin of ABRAHAM AND SARAI, his wife. Please refer to the Bible.
Please also see below further Holy Bible references of DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD below.
GOD’S WORD (GENESIS 19:13)
THE TWO ANGELS SENT BY GOD TO DESTROY SODOM AND GOMORRAH WITH FIRE.
It reads as follows: For we will DESTROY THIS PLACE, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.
GOD’S WORD (GENESIS 19:24-25)
Then the Lord rained upon SODOM AND UPON GOMORRAH brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And HE OVERTHREW THOSE CITIES, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
So mankind continued to sin in the sight of the Lord from GENERATION TO GENERATION.
The most popular King (From the Holy Scriptures), King David, although he had a very good heart, which is why God selected him, he did commit very serious sins. King David committed Adultery and arranged the murder of his own soldier due to LUST.
THE PUNISHMENT THAT FOLLOWED WAS BRUTAL. He couldn’t have survived without God.
Furthermore, King David’s son, King Solomon, another giant character in the scriptures also sinned greatly during his old age by worshiping IDOLS linked to some of his several foreign concubines.
I will encourage everyone to read King David’s story in the First and Second Books of SAMUEL. Please also read the Book Of PSALMS to get a clear understanding of the life experience of King David.
THE HUMAN CONSCIENCE designed by God is able to DISCERN between GOOD and EVIL, AND, RIGHT AND WRONG.
Therefore, it is unnecessary to study all sins that took place in the Bible.
Let us rather look within ourselves, starting with our thoughts. If we do this, we will begin to set our PATH towards REPENTANCE, which will lead to SALVATION through the GRACE OF GOD thereby securing our place IN THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF GOD.
GOD’S WORD(LAMENTATIONS 3:26)
It is a good thing that a man should both HOPE and WAIT QUIETLY for the SALVATION OF THE LORD.
Amen.
God bless you all.
Thank you for reading.
Evangelist Levi A A Osew – Truth Of Christ Ministries
Why, because the world is about to reap the full penalty of its sins.
THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST IS IMMINENT.
THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of THE DAY OF THE LORD; the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
That day is a DAY OF WRATH, a day of TROUBLE AND DISTRESS, a day of wasteness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of THE TRUMPET and ALARM against fenced cities, and against the high towers.
And l will bring DISTRESS UPON MEN, that they shall walk like BLIND MEN, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
NEITHER THEIR SILVER NOR THEIR GOLD shall be able to DELIVER THEM in THE DAY OF THE LORD’S WRATH; but the whole land shall be devoured by the FIRE of his jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land (GOD’S WORD) ZEPHANIAH 1:14-18.
Let us now examine the above Bible Prophecy from the Old Testament, focusing on “THE DAY OF THE LORD”.
Throughout the Holy Bible, the above phrase has been repeatedly used in various writings by different PROPHETS AND SERVANTS of God Almighty. The following Bible Verses confirm the same message with accuracy.
The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD come (GOD’S WORD JOEL 2:31).
For the DAY OF THE LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low (GOD’S WORD ISAIAH 2:12).
In the same book of ISAIAH chapter 13, we can confirm the same message in verse 9 and 10. “Behold, THE DAY OF THE LORD COMETH, cruel both with WRATH and FIERCE ANGER, to lay the land desolate: and HE shall DESTROY THE SINNERS thereof out of it.
For the STARS OF HEAVEN and the constellations thereof SHALL NOT GIVE THEIR LIGHT: THE SUN SHALL BE DARKENED in his going forth, and THE MOON shall not CAUSE HER LIGHT TO SHINE.
AS CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, GOD WILL DEMONSTRATE HIS AUTHORITY AND POWER over everything He has created during these times.
Moving forward to the New Testament, Jesus Christ emphasized on the significance of two or three WITNESSES when making a case.
GOD’S WORD (MATTHEW 18:16) reads: “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, THAT IN THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES every WORD MAY BE ESTABLISHED”.
This “GOLDEN RULE” expressed by Jesus Christ is APPLICABLE to almost all LEGAL CASES/DISPUTES in the free and civilized world.
Let us now APPLY this same rule to God’s SEVERAL WITNESSES, whom God used as VESSELS FOR COMMUNICATION TO THE WORLD VIA THE HOLY SPIRIT.
And as the scriptures confirm BY MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS, the work of the HOLY SPIRIT has always been accurate and truthful.
Here are two more verses from separate Books confirming THE DAY OF THE LORD.
GOD’S WORD (2ND PETER 3:10)
But THE DAY OF THE LORD will come as A THIEF IN THE NIGHT; in the which the HEAVENS SHALL PASS AWAY WITH A GREAT NOISE, AND THE ELEMENTS shall MELT WITH FERVENT HEAT, the EARTH also and the works that are therein SHALL BE BURNED UP.
Next…..
GOD’S WORD (1ST THESSALONIANS 2:3)
For yourselves know perfectly that THE DAY OF THE LORD so cometh as a thief in the night.
For when THEY SHALL SAY SAFETY; then SUDDEN DESTRUCTION cometh upon them, as a travail upon a woman with child; AND THEY SHALL NOT ESCAPE.
All the ABOVE WARNINGS amplifies and expands throughout the HOLY BIBLE, and this message was repeated in different words by Jesus Christ Himself in the Books of (MATTHEW 24:29-31, MARK 13:23-26, LUKE 21:25-27).
SO, matching these Bible Prophecies to recent events and observations, particularly since the beginning of the NEW MILLENNIUM, the political chaos, hatred, lengthy wars, natural disasters, famine-food banks in wealthy countries, civil unrest, moral degradation among societies and A RECENT global PESTILENCE which successfully plagued MANKIND and in the process managed to shut down the entire global system within weeks.
Should the WORLD take this experience as a WAKE UP CALL?
YES, this is a serious WARNING, a “prelude” to what is yet to come!
LET US REMEMBER that God the CREATOR never lies.
GOD’S WORD (ISAIAH 55:6,7,8,9&11) reads:
Seek ye the lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:
Let the WICKED forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him RETURN UNTO THE LORD, AND HE WILL HAVE MERCY upon him; and to our God, FOR HE WILL PARDON ABUNDANTLY.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
So shall my WORD be that GOETH FORTH OUT OF MY MOUTH: It shall NOT RETURN UNTO ME VOID, but it shall ACCOMPLISH that which l please, and it shall PROSPER IN THE THING WHERETO I SENT IT. Amen.
Looking carefully at the above passages, we can clearly identify GOD’S WARNINGS, INSTRUCTIONS AND PLEAS OF CHANGE TO MANKIND.
REPENTANCE
FOR THIS CAUSE WAS JESUS CHRIST BORN, and during His three years of ministry, He vehemently urged the WORLD TO REPENT because He loves us.
GOD’S WORD (MATTHEW 4:17)
FROM THAT TIME JESUS BEGAN TO PREACH AND TO SAY REPENT: FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.
To give a clear illustration of God’s plea for REPENTANCE, let us briefly dive back into the Old Testament, to take a look at the STORY OF JONAH THE PROPHET AND THE WICKED SINFUL PEOPLE OF NINEVEH.
GOD’S WORD (JONAH 1:1-2)
Now the WORD of the Lord came unto Jonah the Son of Amitai, saying, ARISE, go to Nineveh, THAT GREAT CITY, and CRY AGAINST IT; for their
WICKEDNESS IS COME UP BEFORE ME.
Although Jonah’s story is one of the shortest Books in the Holy Bible, with just four chapters, it exhibits a rare but SUCCESSFUL “TRILOGY” OF PEOPLE REPENTING. Initially, Jonah disobeyed God’s INSTRUCTIONS, so he ended up in the belly of a big whale.
After realising his pitiful fate, Jonah admitted his fault by CONFESSING HIS SINS. This is the first step to REPENTANCE. So God delivered Jonah out of the belly of the BIG FISH, and gave him a second chance to live and do right.
And this is how it happened…
GOD’S WORD (JONAH 2:1-2)
Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord out of the Fish’s Belly, and said, I CRIED BY REASON OF MINE AFFLICTION UNTO THE LORD, AND HE HEARD ME; out of the belly of hell cried l, and thou heardest my voice.
GOD’S WORD (JONAH 2:9-10) reads…
But l will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; l will pay that that l have vowed.
SALVATION IS OF THE LORD.
And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomitted out Jonah upon the dry land. Amen
Part 2:
The sailors, who had no other option but to cast Jonah out of their ship into the sea in order to prevent a catastrophe, also SUBMITTED TO GOD INSTANTLY and REPENTED, first, because they assumed Jonah was dead, which is murder and second their witnessing of the tempest prior to Jonah exiting the ship and the calmness thereafter. They knew that was a display of God’s MIGHT.
GOD’S WORD (JONAH 1:15-16) reads…So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea, and the sea ceased from raging.
Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered sacrifice unto the Lord and made vows. The last three words of the above verse “and made vows” equals REPENTANCE and SUBMISSION to God.
AND FINALLY, THE LAST OF THE “TRILOGY”, THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH REPENTED.
GOD’S WORD (JONAH 3:5) reads… So THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH BELIEVED GOD, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the GREATEST of them even unto the LEAST of them.
GOD’S WORD (JONAH 3:10)
CONFIRMATION OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS OF SINS
And God saw their works, that THEY TURNED FROM THEIR EVIL WAY; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them, and He DID NOT. Amen
These TRUTHFUL historical EVENTS is a classic case of a “HAPPY ENDING” which is the exact OPPOSITE of what happened to the people in the ancient cities of SODOM AND GOMORRAH. God destroyed it with FIRE because they refused to REPENT OF THEIR SINS.
The Book of 2nd PETER 3:9 teaches us that, God’s ULTIMATE GOAL has always been to bring ALL PEOPLE TO REPENTANCE.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His PROMISE, as some men count slackness; But is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.
WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS
To “bluntly” describe what the TWO OPTIONS FOR MANKIND ARE, please see the below NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE VERSE.
GOD’S WORD (ROMANS 6:23)
For the wages of SIN is DEATH; But the GIFT OF GOD is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
And this is how REPENTANCE begins…
GOD’S WORD (ROMANS 10:8-10)
But what saith it? The WORD is nigh in THEE, even in thy MOUTH, and in thy HEART: that is, THE WORD OF FAITH, which we PREACH.
That if thou shall CONFESS, with thy MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, and shalt BELIEVE IN THINE HEART that God hath raised Him from the dead, THOU SHALT BE SAVED.
For with the HEART man BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; and with the MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION.
Thank you and God bless you All.
Please find the BORN AGAIN PRAYER below.
SALVATION OPEN TO ALL BELIEVERS!
Holy Bible Reference
Romans Chapter 10
Verse 12-13
For There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Amen!
Holy Bible Reference: St. John : Chapter 3 Verse 3
Jesus answered and said unto him:
Verily, verily, l say unto thee, Except a man be Born Again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Please recite this Prayer:
Father God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Thank you for sending Your One and Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins
I believe He died for me
I believe He rose on the third day
I REPENT OF ALL MY SINS and accept Jesus Christ into my heart, mind, soul and body as my Lord and Saviour
Old things are past away
All things have become new because l have accepted Jesus Christ with all my heart, mind, soul and strength
I AM BORN AGAIN
THANK YOU FATHER.
Amen!
Evangelist Levi A A Osew – Truth Of Christ Ministries
Please find our Holy Spirit inspired book. By the Grace of The Almighty God, it is available globally to all – Believers and Unbelievers.
This Spiritual Book comprehensively explains and teaches with Biblical Accuracy the road that led to Human Salvation. Beginning from the book of Genesis, it reflects the Omnipotence of The Almighty God, His existence and The Shameful Fall of our First Ancestors ( Adam and Eve ), which resulted to God The Spirit being incarnated into Human Flesh (Jesus Christ ) as the Only Remedy to THE CURSE OF SIN that the entire Human Race INHERITED from Adam and Eve because of their mistake…Read More
Matthew Chapter 28 Verses 18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth.
Go ye therefore and teach All Nations, Baptizing them in The Name of The Father and of The Son, and of The Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever l Have Commanded you: and, lo, I Am with you alway; even unto the end of the world! Amen.
