Posts in category: Top Stories

The Great Commission Charge is a helping mandate to the ‘least’ among us. It is refreshing and inspiring to know that man has always been on the agenda of God right from the beginning. As an approved and certified representative of Him on earth, to continuously live the life of God without fail, God chose man as His own rightful human ambassador, formed to function as planned, equipped to reflect His image and likeness, taking rulership and dominion over every creature on earth – Genesis 1:26-30.

Contrary to God’s plan and vision for man, the act of sin through Adam’s disobedience watered down the supposed glorious image of man, by separating man from his source of life and sufficiency, creating in man a gap of insufficiency. The soul of man, which was once filled and satisfied with all spiritual blessings in the presence of God, has now become contaminated: thirsty, hungry, naked, ill, and imprisoned. Man was shortchanged as a result of sin, falling short of the glory of God as mentioned in Romans 3:23. Like sheep without a shepherd, the soul of man had no water to quench his thirst, no food to fill his hunger, no cloth to cover his nakedness, no balm to heal himself, and above all, no authority to free him from the shackles of slavery and imprisonment. In essence, man became hopeless.

To the glory of God, like the days of old, in the Garden of Eden, where God was in search of man after disobedience, God through His son Jesus Christ demonstrated greater love to the world. But glory be to God, who through His son Jesus Christ, has demonstrated great love to the world. That while we were still sinners, Christ was sent to die for us – Romans 5:8.

In John 3:16, the Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life,” Amen. An escape plan was made available through the blood of the Lamb of God, a sacrifice that took care of our lost glory in the beginning, serving as the answer to the lack and insufficiency created by sin in us. Through His death and resurrection, a greater opportunity was made available to mankind, that, “to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” – John 1:12-13. To become a child of God is for one to cross from death to life, the past nature of thirst, hunger, nakedness, illness, and imprisonment is filled with the gospel of Christ that one receives and accepts.

In John 8:12, Jesus testified about Himself when He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” You will have the authentic light that ends the darkness of thirst with everlasting water – Isaiah 55:1, the darkness of hunger with food from the very mouth of God – Ezekiel 34:14, John 6:50-51, the darkness of nakedness with the cloth of glory – 2 Corinthians 5:2-3, the darkness of illness with the balm of Gilead – Isaiah 53:5, the darkness of imprisonment with the truth that gives perpetual freedom – John 8:32.

It is against this backdrop of truth that God, through His son Jesus, is charging us as Christians and believers to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We are being charged with the mandate to be helpers to the many out there who are thirsty, hungry, naked, ill, and in the bondage of prison as a result of being in the darkness of sin.

In Matthew 25: 31-46, Jesus gives an account of His epic Judgement to take place when He returns as King with His angels and takes His place on the throne. In His narration, He described a group of people who needed different kinds of help as “least brothers and sisters of His” (emphasis mine), emphasizing how important it is to Him that His ‘least brethren’ will be helped by His servants while He was away and how rewarding it will be to them (servants) for the help rendered.

 ³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ ⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ ⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ ⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ ⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

From the passage, the phrase ‘least of these brothers and sisters of mine’ is not to say that some humans are less valuable than others, as if there were a hierarchy of worth in being human, with some, such as the wealthy and self-sufficient, at the top while others, such as the poor or the materially and financially dependent, at the bottom. Not at all!

The tag ‘least’ is akin to the metaphoric description of anyone in sin (darkness), who is insufficient due to their lost glory, and are found to be spiritually thirsty, hungry, naked, ill, and imprisoned. Such people have not come to the knowledge of Christ yet and His saving power. They do not know Him (Jesus), let alone accept Him as their Lord and personal savior. Despite the fact that they find themselves in the ‘least’ category, does not negate the truth about their association with Christ. They are His (Christ), “through Him they were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made” – John 1:3.

On the strength of the fact that they belong to Him despite their state of ‘least,’ God is expecting all His servants to extend a hand of help to these people (least brothers and sisters) out there in the world. Like the passage, the king in the position of God was counting on His faithful servants to extend a hand of help to the least brethren with whatever needs they had; be it water to quench their thirst, food to fill their hunger, cloth to cover their nakedness, balm to heal them and authority to set them free from prison.

Now to the church, our unleashed mandate after coming to the saving knowledge of Christ is a responsibility to carry the gospel to the world of least brethren in our sphere of influence. To go back into the world with the unleashed gospel of truth. The gospel is the help the world needs in this life. It has the power to fill all forms of insufficiency and gap created by sin. It mends the heart of the broken-hearted, to the thirsty and hungry man out there, who is desperately in need of help for the salvation of his soul, the gospel is your water and food. The gospel to the blinded soul is the light that brings vision and life. The gospel is the glory that covers the ‘nakedness’ of a depraved man, restoring him back to his original status in God. In the same way, the gospel is the authentic authority to set the imprisoned free from the perpetual bondage of sin slavery.

We can’t afford to sit on the fence aloof, doing nothing, pretending not to care about the dying souls out there. If we claim to love God, then we are to step out there and help others into the safe haven provided in Christ, lest we risk being thrown into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Through the saving knowledge of God, we have become disciples of Jesus, crossing from darkness to light, from a place of insufficiency to a place of sufficiency. Being charged to go into the world; a place where people are considered ‘least’ due to the fact that they have no Christ in them. To bring them to a place of light, freedom, joy, covering, satisfaction, etc., according to their needs in Christ Jesus.

David said in Psalm 119:105, ‘Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path,’ drawing our attention to the fact that the word of God, which is the unleashed message of God (Gospel), is everything we need in life. To David, it was a lamp for his feet, meaning a help in decision-making, and a light on my path; thus an insight and knowledge reference when a step is taken. If we believe in the gospel as the good news for the world, then we need to preach it, for the gospel not preached is no gospel. But a preached gospel has the divine power to meet anyone and everybody according to their needs both physically and spiritually in accordance with God’s riches in Christ Jesus – Philippians 4:19. Whatever the unbelievers need is, the word of God has the solution to that.

To the Samaritan woman in John 4:1-42, the gospel to her became a living water that quenched her thirst from many years. Hitherto, she could not live with one man, let alone her own husband, now a satisfied soul, a firebrand evangelist who cared less about her past but rather the brightness of her future through the Messiah. Many of such least people like the Samaritan woman are out there, who need help from the unleashed church. Our task is therefore to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to obey everything Christ has commanded and to assure them of His very presence to the very end of the age – Matthew 28:19-20 (emphasis mine).

God’s focus is on the ‘least’ among us, His delight is to see them saved through our unleashing agenda, that they may also come to the place of light, a place of salvation and eternal life, that none shall be lost. For this reason, He is counting on us to help these ones, by going to them (helping them) with the gospel of truth, that quenches, feeds, clothes, heals, and sets free – ‘truly I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ – Matthew 25:40.

In conclusion, do not think of what to say, as you go out there to preach Christ. With faith, boldly declare the saving knowledge of Christ unto the world of ‘least’ and see how the Spirit of God provides answers through your message to the multitude who listens to you in Jesus’ name. Be rest assured faithful unleashed arrow (servant), as you wholeheartedly champion the heartbeat agenda of God, your labor will never go unrewarded. An inheritance prepared for you since the creation of the world awaits you, for truly you have done good to the Lord through your HELP to the ‘least’ in your sphere of influence. AMEN.

God bless you!

Written by Elder Owusu Sampah (Odikoman District)

The death, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus undoubtedly are central tenets of the Christian faith. They form the foundation of Christianity, providing the reason for the hope, assurance, and confidence in what Christians believe. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 clearly states that “Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” Atheists, in an attempt to water down this celebration, have proposed numerous false theories over the years to explain the events surrounding Jesus’ resurrection. These theories vary in their complexity and plausibility, but all seek to provide alternative explanations for what is typically viewed as a mysterious, miraculous, and supernatural event in Christian theology. They have argued that the resurrection of Christ is nothing but a theory and mythology and must not be accepted. This article seeks to examine a detailed account of some of the most prominent false theories on Jesus’ resurrection and try to set the records straight.

1. THE SWOON THEORY: One of the earliest and most enduring alternative explanations for Jesus’ resurrection is the swoon theory, which suggests that Jesus did not actually die on the cross but merely lost consciousness and later revived in the tomb. This theory became very popular in the Western world after it was first proposed by some 18th–19th-century Western authors and philosophers, including Oscar Wilde and Friedrich Schleiermacher. According to the proponents of the swoon hypothesis, Jesus’ death was not fatal, and he allegedly fell unconscious (“swooned”) on the cross, survived the crucifixion, and then regained enough strength to appear before his followers while he was still alive. They argue that the appearances of the risen Jesus to his disciples following his physical resurrection from the dead after three days in the tomb were merely perceived to be resurrection appearances by his followers. This over 200-year-old theory continues to be the subject of debate in popular circles. However, since the last decade of the 19th century, all of these theories have been discarded as baseless and unacceptable by the majority of biblical scholars. This is because of the eyewitnesses’ account of Jesus’ death and burial in the tomb. On the evening of the Crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body, and after Pilate granted his request, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid it in a tomb. According to Acts 13:28–29, he was laid in a tomb by “the council as a whole”. This debunks the swoon theory that Jesus didn’t die.

2. THE STOLEN BODY THEORY: Another popular theory proposes that Jesus’ body was stolen from the tomb by his disciples in order to perpetuate the belief in his resurrection. This theory has existed since the days of early Christianity. Matthew’s gospel raises the hypothesis only to refute it; according to it, the claim that the body was stolen is a lie spread by the High Priests of Israel. According to this theory, the disciples secretly removed Jesus’ body and then claimed that he had risen from the dead in order to gain followers and promote their own agenda. While this theory has been used to explain the empty tomb in the Gospel accounts, it fails to account for the numerous eyewitness testimonies and historical evidence supporting the resurrection of Jesus.

3. THE HALLUCINATION THEORY: Some critics of the resurrection have suggested that the appearances of Jesus to his disciples were merely hallucinations or visions brought on by grief and emotional turmoil. Gerd Lüdemann, an atheistic German New Testament scholar, is one of the proponents of this theory. According to this theory, the disciples were so overwhelmed by the loss of their leader that they began to experience shared hallucinations of Jesus appearing to them after his death. While this theory may offer a psychological explanation for the post-resurrection appearances, it fails to address the physical evidence of the empty tomb and the multiple eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ resurrection. Richard Bauckham, in his book “Jesus and the Eyewitnesses,” provides many arguments to support the claim that there is eyewitness testimony behind the Gospel accounts and that the events described in the Gospels were not corrupted by the interests and biases of the early Christians. There is nothing hallucinatory about the resurrection of Christ.

4. THE MYTHOLOGICAL THEORY: Another alternative explanation for the resurrection of Jesus is the mythological theory, which posits that the story of his resurrection was a later embellishment or fabrication added to the gospel accounts by early Christian writers. According to this theory, the resurrection of Jesus was a literary invention designed to enhance his divine status and promote the spread of Christianity. While some scholars have questioned the historical accuracy of the gospel accounts, most agree that the resurrection of Jesus was a central belief of early Christian communities and not a later addition to the biblical narrative.

5. THE SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION THEORY: Some critics of the resurrection have proposed a spiritual interpretation of the events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection. According to this theory, the resurrection of Jesus was not a physical event but a symbolic or metaphorical expression of his continuing influence and presence among his followers. This theory views the resurrection as a spiritual experience rather than a literal resurrection from the dead and relies on allegorical interpretations of the biblical texts to support its claims.

FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE RESURRECTION

In the midst of all the controversies and heresies circulating around the death and resurrection of Christ, the records must be stated clearly. Below are some facts to note:

RESURRECTION IS NOT IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL: Greek philosophers saw the body as the prison house of the soul. The material world was considered corrupt, fallen, and evil. Thus, the goal of salvation was to escape the physical realm and to be freed from its shackles. But in Hebrew thought, the material world is considered good. The soul without the body is incomplete. A human being is a body and soul in unity.

RESURRECTION IS NOT REINCARNATION: Eastern religions teach reincarnation, the rebirth of the self (consciousness, soul, mind, etc.) after the death of the body. Reincarnation is considered a curse, not a blessing. Depending on the specific tradition, the goal is to escape the cycle of reincarnation and experience nirvana or personal annihilation. In contrast, the biblical view is that human beings live one life and then are raised to be judged by God (Hebrews 9:27).

RESURRECTION IS NOT RESUSCITATION: As mentioned by the skeptic in the opening story, the Bible records many instances of people coming back to life. Elijah raised the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:17-24). Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44). Peter raised Tabitha (Acts 9:36-42). Paul raised Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12). But here is the difference between these people and Jesus: They would each die again, but Jesus was raised to immortality and glory.

RESURRECTION IS NOT TRANSLATION: The Bible records at least two instances where people were taken directly to God without dying. Enoch lived 365 years and then was taken up directly to be with God (Genesis 5:21-24). The prophet Elijah was taken to heaven by a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1). These are not examples of resurrection because there is no evidence that they have both experienced death.

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central belief of the Christian faith that refers to Jesus rising from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. According to the Gospels in the New Testament as discussed, Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried, but on the third day, he was raised to life, conquering death and sin. The significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is profound and carries several key implications for Christians.

VICTORY OVER DEATH: The resurrection demonstrates Jesus’ victory over death and sin, offering hope and the promise of eternal life to believers. It affirms the belief in life after death and the resurrection of the dead.

FOUNDATION OF FAITH: The resurrection is a foundational belief in Christianity and serves as evidence of Jesus’ divinity and messianic identity. It confirms, establishes, and validates his teachings, miracles, and claims about himself as the Son of God.

RECONCILIATION WITH GOD: The resurrection is seen as the ultimate act of reconciliation between humanity and God, providing a way for forgiveness of sins and restoration of the relationship between God and His people.

EMPOWERMENT AND TRANSFORMATION: The resurrection of Jesus empowers believers to live in the power of his resurrection, transforming their lives and enabling them to experience new life in Christ. It offers hope, strength, and a new perspective on life’s challenges and struggles.

COMMISSION FOR MISSION: After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples and commissioned them to spread the good news of salvation to all nations. The resurrection serves as the foundation for the Christian mission to share the message of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection with the world.

In conclusion, it must be noted that Jesus’ resurrection was never a myth or theory as propounded in the various theories but a mystery that keeps unfolding year by year. Jesus was not resuscitated, reincarnated, or translated in any way, and his soul did not escape to an immaterial realm. Jesus was resurrected and will never die again. And since Jesus is the first fruits of those who are yet to come, if we trust in Christ, we too will one day have transformed, resurrected bodies and be able to experience eternity with Christ.

Written by Pastor Prince Augustine Ababio