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Easter means glorious freedom from sin – Part 1

By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
01 April 2018   |   3:25 am
Today is Easter Sunday, and it is widely celebrated across the world as a holiday. Many, however, revel in the festivities of Easter without ever knowing the true essence of the day. They are unaware that Easter is the bedrock of the Christian faith, and without it, man has no hope on earth and in…

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

Today is Easter Sunday, and it is widely celebrated across the world as a holiday.

Many, however, revel in the festivities of Easter without ever knowing the true essence of the day.

They are unaware that Easter is the bedrock of the Christian faith, and without it, man has no hope on earth and in the hereafter. 

Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary so that men will experience and possess a glorious freedom from sin. As our Redeemer, He bore our sins, shame and suffering on the cross.

Christ was “manifested to take away our sins” because He was sinless, perfect and had no penalty or punishment to pay for.

Therefore, He only was qualified before the Almighty God in heaven to make the sacrifice for our sins and to “destroy (all) the works (properties, characteristics, attributes and nature) of the devil” in man, so we can get to heaven. 

Through His perfect sacrifice, Christ forgives the penitent sinner, brings him nearer and makes him a child of God. When we are saved, Christ gives us peace, makes a change in our lives, turns us to new creatures and gives us eternal life.

Thus, being “born of God”, we receive power, grace and assurance to overcome and live above sin. Compared with that of the Old Testament, we have a better covenant that is “established upon better promises.” 

The new covenant that Christ sealed on the Cross, and which we now have, provides conversion, redemption, freedom, a new heart, the divine nature, purity, holiness, baptism in the Holy Ghost, sonship and a heavenly inheritance.

Being beneficiaries of these blessings, we must not live like the Old Testament people so that we do not render ineffective, the ultimate and vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.

Easter means something, when a truly regenerated believer shows the evidence of the new life of the “sons of God”. People around him must be truly convinced that he has become one of God’s children. They do this, when the life of Christ is seen in our character, comportment and lifestyle.

Our interaction with other believers in business, conversation and manner of life should also mark us as children of God. We must manifest the life of the transformed in times of temptations and trials in the family, market and workplace.

As believers, we should practise righteousness despite the evils of this present generation.

We must anticipate difficulties, criticisms, confrontations and deliberately act righteously. We must be conscious always of our status as children of God and not live, act, eat, drink or behave like the people of the world. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”.

For sinners to be referred to as the sons and daughters of God, they must “come out” from all forms of sin, repent and acknowledge Christ as the only Saviour. The Holy Ghost then bears witness of their salvation, which is confirmed by the assurance in the heart. The Spirit of God leads the believer and he no more lives the old life. 

Those who are still led by the spirit of the age, the world, Satan, the natural man, anger, fighting and violence are not children of God. Only those whose lives have been taken over by “the Spirit of God… are the sons and daughters) of God”.

He controls our actions, words, intentions, friendship and relationship, “that (we) may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom (we) shine as lights in the world”.

We should be very thoughtful in our behaviour and actions, so that we do not harm others. 

Transformed sons of God are led on the path of grace and glory. They are obedient to the truth and love others “with a pure heart”.

Further Reading (King James Version): Psalm 16:11; 1 John 3:1-10; Hebrews 8:6; 1 John 3:1-3,6,7;John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Galatians 4:6,7; Romans 8:14; Philippians 2:15,16; Hebrews 2:9,10; 1 Peter 1:14-16,22,23; 1 John 3:4,5; Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; 5:14; 8:11; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 4:1-4; 1 John 1:5-7; 1 John 3:9,10; 5:18; Romans 6:1,2,6,7,12-14,16-18,22; Psalms 4:3-5; 119:1-3,11; 1 Corinthians 15:34; Titus 2:11,12; 1 Timothy 6:6-11; 2 Peter 1:3,4; 3:11-14; Hebrews 12:14,28.

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