By Pastor Lazarus Muoka

Text: 1Timothy 2:19 (KJV): “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

The Christian life is not merely about belonging to a religious group or outwardly professing faith; it is about a real and total transformation that comes through Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul reminds us in the opening text that God’s foundation is firm and unshakable. He knows those that truly belong to Him and there is a clear mark upon their lives. They depart from iniquity.

Salvation is not simply a confession of words, but a divine work of transformation that changes the heart, the mind and life. Many people claim the name of Christ, yet their lives remain unchanged. But the gospel of Jesus Christ brings a power that completely transforms a sinner into a new creature.

A Call To Depart From Iniquity
The second part of our opening text carries a serious command: “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” This statement reveals an important truth: true salvation produces a changed life.

Many people want the blessings of God, but are unwilling to abandon the sins that separate them from Him. Yet the Word of God clearly teaches that sin is the greatest barrier between man and God.

Isaiah 59:2 says: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Sin is not something to be taken lightly. It destroys fellowship with God and leads to eternal separation if not forgiven. Romans 3:23 declares: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

No one is exempted. Whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, religious or irreligious, the truth remains that all have sinned. The natural human condition is one of spiritual corruption. Jeremiah 17:9 says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Because of this sinful nature, humanity cannot transform itself. Good works, moral efforts and religious activities cannot cleanse the heart. Proverbs 20:9 asks the question: “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” The honest answer is no one.

That is why salvation is necessary. It is the divine intervention of God to rescue mankind from the bondage and penalty of sin.

The Transforming Power Of Christ
The good news of the gospel is that what man cannot do for himself, Jesus Christ has done for him. Romans 5:8 says: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus did not come for the righteous; He came for sinners. His mission was to bring salvation and transformation. Matthew 1:21 declares: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Notice that the scripture says from their sins, not merely in their sins. Christ does not simply overlook sin; He delivers people from its power.

When a person truly comes to Christ in repentance and faith, a supernatural change occurs. The Bible describes it, as becoming a new creature.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

This transformation affects the whole life. The desires change, the priorities change, and the direction of life changes. The things that once controlled the person begin to lose their power.

A thief begins to hate stealing. A liar begins to love truth. A person bound by sinful habits begins to experience freedom. This is not merely human discipline; it is the transforming power of Christ at work within the soul.

Ezekiel 36:26 speaks prophetically about this inner transformation: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh.”

This is what God does in salvation. He replaces the hardened heart with a heart that desires Him.

Evidence Of True Salvation
Returning again to our opening text, the Bible says: “The Lord knoweth them that are his.”

Many people may claim to know God, but the real question is whether God knows them as His own. Jesus warned about this reality in Matthew 7:21:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Profession without transformation is dangerous. Christianity is not merely about words; it is about a life that reflects the work of God.

Titus 1:16, describes some people this way: “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him.”

True salvation produces visible fruit. When Christ changes a life, it becomes evident in conduct and character.

Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the spirit: “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”

These qualities begin to appear in the life of a person who has experienced genuine transformation through Christ.

This does not mean the believer becomes perfect overnight, but there is a clear change in direction. Instead of pursuing sin, the believer now seeks to please God.

1 John 3:9 says: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him.” This means that the person no longer lives comfortably in sin because the nature of God now works within him.

The Urgency Of Salvation
The message of salvation is not something to postpone. Life is uncertain, and eternity is real.

Hebrews 9:27 reminds us: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

Every person will one day stand before God. On that day, religious titles, social status, and earthly achievements will not matter. What will matter is whether a person has truly experienced salvation through Jesus Christ.

Jesus, Himself, spoke about the narrow way of salvation. In Matthew 7:13-14, He said: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction.”

Many people are travelling the broad road because they refuse the transforming work of Christ. They want religion without repentance, blessings without obedience, and heaven without holiness.

The Gospel Calls For Repentance
Acts 3:19 says: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”

Repentance means turning away from sin and turning toward God. It is a change of heart that results in a change of life.

Romans 10:9 says: “That if thou shalt 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.”

Salvation is not earned; it is received by faith. Yet the faith that truly saves produces a transformed life.

Testimony Of The Lord’s Doing

‘God Used Commercial Motorcyclist To Save Me From Armed Robbers/Kidnappers’

My name is Nwaeje Samuel, I joined The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries in 2003, since then, God of Chosen has been keeping me.

I titled my testimony as “Deliverance,” and it took place on July 6, 2026. After the workers’ meeting on July 4, 2026, which was on Saturday. I decided to visit Odolowu Warehouse to buy some items. After making the purchases, I kept the goods with one of our Chosen sisters there.

I told her that l would pick them on Monday, while going to vigil. On that fateful Monday, as I was about to leave office, l called the sister and told her that l was on my way, getting to Oshodi, l called her again, and told her to arrange the goods accordingly. I called her the last time when I was at Odolowu Warehouse.

As I parked my car, and was about to alight from it, a young man wearing a T-shirt on a pair of jean trousers and a face-cap greeted me very politely. He asked me about the programme we just concluded, titled: “And The Enemies Submitted.” I was still wearing the apron of that programme then.

Suddenly, in the course of the greeting, the man said I should look at the other side and asked whether the man standing there was with me. It was at this point that l looked at the right side of my car and saw a young man standing with a gun in his hand pointing at me. While that was happening, another one entered the car and sat at the back seat.

In no time, the one that was sitting at the back, brought out a handkerchief and used it to cover my face and my mouth, and they took me out of my car into their own and zoomed off. But God of Chosen is so great and does mysterious things. There was this commercial motorcyclist (Okada rider, an Hausa man) who was going to Cele Bus Stop to drop his passenger, but when he saw what the unknown persons did to me, he quickly discharged his passenger and was watching.

As soon as the robbers/kidnappers whisked me off, he followed them with his bike, as he got to Ijesha bus stop, he alerted other bike riders there and they joined him to pursue my assailants. They blared their horns, while their headlights were fully on. This created chaos and drew attention on the expressway. As the robbers were getting to 2nd Rainbow, they saw that the attention was increasingly becoming higher, they then told me to alight from their vehicle, while on a high speed.

l told them to reduce the speed of the vehicle to enable alight and they refused, but sensing the dangers that laid ahead of them, the driver had to reduce his speed and pushed me out.

Moreover, l did not know that as they kidnapped me, one of them wasdriving my car along. It was the same Hausa man that God used to save me that was also used to recover my car.

They divided themselves into groups; one group pursued the car that was carrying me, while the second group pursued the one that was driving my car and recovered it. God of Chosen is so great. We need to serve this God with more commitment, dedication and fervency. P-r-a-i-s-e, the Lord!

I pray for our G.O., may the Almighty God that called him never depart from him. May God in His mercy continue to give him abundant grace to fulfill the vision and mandate in Jesus’ name…Amen!