KEEPING DEATH AT BAY

"I am he that liveth, and was
dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore,
Amen; and have the keys of hell and of
death" (Rev 1:18).


Read: Isaiah 38:1-5


The Creator of death is greater than death,
for he created it. As a result, the one to be
feared is the Creator and not death itself.
Many people have strayed from the narrow
path because of the fear of death. For
instance, in the time of sickness, when
medication and prayers do not bring
healing, the fear of death makes some
people to yield to satanic alternatives. Yet, in
spite of the sacrifices and covenants they
enter into with the devil, they still die,
ending up in the hands of the enemy. When
this happens, they spend their eternity in
hell. Now, is it not better to die in that
sickness with your faith intact? If you are
sick and do not get healed, know that any
offer of healing from elsewhere is not worth
it. There is no sickness God cannot heal. So,
if He says you should come home as a result
of that sickness, no devil can heal you. Fight
to keep your faith no matter what. The three
Hebrew children had this understanding. No
wonder when facing Nebuchadnezzar's
furnace, they told him that their God could
deliver them. And that even if He chooses to
let them in the fire, they will retain their
faith. Are you denying the Lord through an
act of compromise?


Moreover, the Lord Jesus, the Controller of
death, can keep death away from you. Is
death targeting you? The Lord will keep it
from you. In Isaiah 38:1-5, when King
Hezekiah's appointment with death came,
he cried out to God and the Lord asked
death to keep a distance of 15 years from
him. Is death so close to you? The Lord shall
keep it several years away from you in Jesus
name. You shall not die before your time.
And like King Hezekiah, when your
appointed time comes, you can ask for an
extension and it shall be granted. However,
you must be born-again. You must have a
blossoming relationship with God. You must
obey His Word and serve Him with all you
have. Above all, you must fear Him and Him
alone. No death will come near you when
the Controller of death is inside of you.
Whenever death comes near you, it will see
you carrying His Controller and Creator and
will keep off.

Prayer Point:

Every spirit of death sent against me, my
family and members of our church keep off
and return to sender in the name of Jesus

THE POWER OF FAITH

FAITH is one of the most powerful weapon of warfare. Different people with different ways of exercising faith. Many believers are wandering around because of lack of FAITH. FAITH alcan be explained as SACRIFICE. You have to make-up your mind when exercising faith. FAITH is never a rosy act but demands inconvenience from us. The absence of FAITH is FAINT. It has been asserted in my little research that the reason why believers fails to exercise faith is that they yield themselves more to flesh than to the Holy Spirit forgetting the fact that it is the Holy Spirit that helps our infirmities.

Hebrew 11, is a chapter devoted to men and women of FAITH (GREAT HEROES) just because of their works of FAITH.

In verse one of chapter 11, we were told that "now FAITH is the substance of things HOPED FRO, the EVIDENCE of things NOT SEEN"
This explains to us that we need to make a provision of the substance we are believing God for which will eventually turn to the evidence of our miracles not seen. How do you exercise your FAITH?

There's a certain woman who has been in marriage for a long time even she has passed a menopause. On this faithful day, after that she was fed up to be recognized as a fruitless woman, she went to a market to purchase babies wears in pairs. There after on that same day, she impregnated herself with loads of clothes. Although it wasn't easy, but she made up her mind to provoke God in to action. While exercising her great exercise of FAITH, she was thanking God of all possibilities for what she knew is possible. Before the month ran out, she became obviously pregnant and after 9 months, she delivered to TWINS. WHAT A MIGHTY GOD I SERVE!!! That becomes her song from then.

In the story of that woman, we are made to understand that FAITH coupled with intense and provoking work command MIRACLES in someone's life.

My beloved wake up from the bed of unbelieve and fleshy comfort and take your place in the kingdom of God by exercising your faith.

YOU ARE BLESSED IN JESUS NAME

SHALOM

FLYING TO THE NEXT LEVEL by Hrh Alaba Ebenezer

GLORY BE TO GOD FOR THIS INSPIRATION.


What do you understand by "NEXT LEVEL"? It is simply means "other side, level, grade, rank". This next level can be achieved in various form, by walking, running or by flying.
If a man trekking, a car and an aeroplane embarks on a journey to Ibadan, there's no doubt that the aeroplane will arrive first, followed by the car then the man. However what the aeroplane would achieve in 1 hour, the car will achieve it in 10 hours, while the man trekking will achieve it in 5 days.

For someone to get to the next level, he must think of the flight he will take. The fact that flight is good does not mean he should take any flight.

If you are still walking/trekking in your journey to the next level or running, you might end up breaking down on the way, but the surest means of going to the next level is by flying.

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE FLYING

Flying needs SACRIFICE. It may not be easy but at the end is JOY UNSPEAKABLE.
1. Know that you are not your own
2. Recognize the fact that you can crash land at any time.
3. Recognize that your BANK ACCOUNT is your own
4. Recognize that you have the ultimate pilot who is JESUS.

WHAT MAKES YOU FLY!

SACRIFICIAL GIVING: This can not be overemphasized. Remember Hannah, until she told God that she would return Samuel back to Him, God did not answer her.
Also Solomon, until he gave what nobody has never given to God, God did not bless him.

What do you want to use to provoke God to fly you into your next level?

WHAT KEEPS YOU IN THE NEXT LEVEL?

1. HOLINESS
2. HUMILITY
3. OBEDIENCE

ALL THESE THREE ARE ENCOMPASSED IN "LOVE"

PRAYER:
FATHER, FLY ME TO MY NEXT LEVEL BEFORE THIS YEAR RUNS TO AN END IN JESUS NAME

FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF MARRIAGE

By the special grace of God, I'm not here to quote any scripture but to let us see our present and future marital life in the scripture. You may say, this is a small boy, he is not even married, how can this small boy be telling us about MARRIAGE. This is God talking to you not me. He just wishes to use me for you, also for myself. I'm not married yet, but by His grace, I know what it takes to be in marriage. The grace of God has shown me insight of MARRIAGE, that is why I always pray not to miss it in marriage, because missing it in marriage can as well determine your eternity, either HEAVEN or HELL. MARRIAGE as a common word is a very vital word which must be broken down into smallest pieces before embarking on its journey. MARRIAGE is the legal union between "only" a "mature" man and a "mature" lady. Marriage is supported by parent of the two partners involved, meaning that, the consent and acceptance of both parent must be guaranteed before wedding. If you are in marriage that your parent does not put a stamp on, you are putting curse upon yourself. WHY &HOW? It is very simple to sight an example, if you are privileged to have a son/daughter who wedded without your consent, if you don' curse the child, God who put you in her and the family will not be happy. When God is not happy with someone, imagine what will happen to the fellow. WHY DO PEOPLE GET MARRIED??? This is a question you need to ask yourself before embarking on the journey. This means that you must have a vision for your marriage because it is an institution, if you venture into it without spelling out your vision, you will bite your finger on the long run. 1. For companionship:- Some men/ladies need someone to pour their minds to and share with. Most especially ladies, they need caring heart. However, it is vice versa. 2. For child bearing:- What some people look forward to is children, once the children are being given birth to, he/she is satisfied. You must decide the number of children you want together with your partner. If a partner is saying he want male child(ren) consistently against your wish, you will understand you may end up biting you finger in future. You must spell out how you want your children to be trained in all ramifications with your partner. Iron it out very well! 3. For business companionship:- Some people want to marry so that they can venture or collaborate with only his wife or her husband, thinking that it will be safer and trustworthiness will be there. However, check the trustworthiness in him before embarking into "I WILL MARRY YOU". 4. For Sexual purpose:- This is a very good reason for christians who don't want to fornicate, they rather get married. PAUL also butress that in one of his writings to the churches. However, you must make sure iron this out very try well. This breaks most marriages. The complaints come from both the man and woman. 5. For spiritual aid:- this is one of the vital reasons for marriage as 1 will chase a thousand and 2 will chase ten thousand. Honestly, this one of my reasons I want to get married. If both of you can't help yourself spiritually, there will be porosity. Thereby, allows devil to torment you. I pray that it will not be so in Jesus name. Looking at these reasons, as a mature man or lady, all the reasons must be your reason for marriage. MATURITY IN MARRIAGE MATURITY can be explained as the capability to withstand any trial and challenges. Women are not slaves, therefore men in particular must be able to complete at least 80% of the maturity needed for marriage of which there are two paramount maturities needed for marriage. MATURITY IN MAN 1. Financial Maturity:- Mind you, you don't need all the money in the world before you marry. However, you must make sure there's is undisturbed continuity of expenses required by the family. Therefore, the work you do must be able to sustain your your marriage before you venture into it, so that your wife and children will not suffer. 2. Emotional Maturity:- You must be able to give decisions that are worthy of being called a husband. You must be able able to control your ANGER. You must be able to console your wife. 3. Spiritual Maturity:- you must be able to intercede for your family. You must be able to call into worship. You must be a man of faith (not seeing by sight). You must be a problem solver. WEDDING IS DIFFERENT FROM MARRIAGE WEDDING is the celebration of the joining together of the two parties. MARRIAGE is the practical of wedding. Wedding is done once but Marriage is "until death do us part". Research asserted, that most couple/man/lady spend millions of money on wedding forgetting the marriage. I heard of someone who after his wedding start paying debt and borrowing money to settle wedding debt. The money that supposed to be for honey moon and continuity of marriage was spent on payment of debt. My Advice: NEVER LAY PRIORITY ON WEDDING BUT MARRIAGE. MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS OUR MARRIAGE IN JESUS NAME SHALOM

INSIGHT ON GOD THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT by Hrh Alaba Ebenezer

This was revealed to me by God, when I was teaching during our Sunday School.


INSIGHT ON GOD THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

There is something I want you to know about God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. If anybody asks or challenge you that you serve three gods, this is what you will tell them.

GOD IS GOD, HE DOES NOT CHANGE. GOD IS LOVING AND ALSO DISCIPLINES, HE CREATED THE HEAVEN AND EARTH AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN, THAT MAKES HIM OUR FATHER. GOD IS A SPIRIT (JOHN 4vs24). IN GENESIS CHAPTER 1 WE WERE MADE TO REALISE THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED ROUND THE EARTH. THIS SAME SPIRIT WAS INVOKED UPON VIRGIN MARY SO AS TO CAME PREGNANT. THIS MEANS, GOD ENTERED INTO MARY SO AS TO COME TO WORLD LIKE A MAN IN ORDER TO SAVE MANKIND. THE SPIRIT GOD PUT IN MARY WAS LIKE A GRAIN OF SAND, THAT IS WHY THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAN BE SENT TO THE UNIVERSE IN A SECOND. WHEN THE SPIRIT THAT BECAME PREGNANCY WAS BORN, HE WAS NAMED JESUS, WHICH MEANS "OUT OF GOD" THAT IS THE REASON HE COULD BOASTFUL CONFRONT ANY SITUATION HE IS THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.
THIS IS WHAT MADE HIM TO BE GOD THE SON. HOWEVER. HE IS STILL THE SAME.
IN HEAVEN, HE'S OUR GOD/FATHER, ON EARTH, HE IS GOD THE SON, IN THE GRAVE-BENEATH THE EARTH, HE IS THE MIGHTY WARRIOR(THE GRAVE CAN NEVER HOLD HIM CAPTIVE).
HE IS THE WORD (JOHN 1:1-2)
HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE (JOHN 14:6)
HE IS THE TRUE VINE (JOHN 15:5)

MASTURBATION! IS IT BIBLICAL? CHECK IT OUT! WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT MASTURBATION?

"What does the Bible say about masturbation?"

Is one of our most frequently asked questions. Many Christians have found it difficult to answer this question according to the Bible, because the Bible never mentions masturbation specifically. To understand how God feels about this subject, we must examine other verses that deal with issues such as lust, self-control and purity. Also, we must examine its fruit to see if it is from God. We have tried to address this issue by answering some of the most frequently asked questions. Our prayer is that God will use this page to bring freedom and deliverance. "Does God care about what we do in the privacy of our bedrooms?" Sex is God's invention. He is the mastermind behind it—and His creation is worth far more to Him than it is to us. This beautiful expression of love was created out of His own heart, as a gift to be experienced between a husband and wife. It is only in marriage that this manifestation of intimacy can be fully enjoyed in the depth for which it was created. "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and the sexually immoral" (Hebrews 13:4, NIV). "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4, KJV). The more beautiful and unique something is (like sexual intercourse), the more power it holds over our lives, either for good or bad influence. That is why it is so easy for the devil to corrupt the most precious of God//'//s gifts. When we become more in love with the gifts than the One who endowed them, the things that were designed to bless us begin to destroy us instead. Yes, God cares about what we do with our bodies, in public or in private. He doesn//'//t want us to abuse ourselves in any way. In fact, an older definition of masturbation is "self-abuse." Although more modern dictionaries may no longer carry this definition, they are still linked together under self-abuse: Self-abuse noun¹ 1. Abuse of oneself or one//'//s abilities. 2. Masturbation. 1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV) further confirms this, saying that unlawful sexual relations defile our own bodies. "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body." "Isn't it still better to masturbate than to commit fornication?" The easy answer to this question would be, "Yes, it is better to masturbate, because at best it corrupts only one person. It certainly is the lesser of two evils." However, why would a loving, holy, all-powerful God abandon you to a situation in which you have to choose any evil, whether it be "lesser" or "greater?" To really answer this question, we must again go back to God's original plan for sex. First of all, masturbation will not truly relieve the sexual pressure that one may feel. It may for a short moment, but in the long run it only creates a deeper desire and capacity for sex, which will lead to more masturbation. If you let yourself become enslaved to a sexual high, you will find that you need to go to increasingly extreme acts to maintain the same degree of excitement. There are even ungodly sex therapists who recommend masturbation as a way of increasing sexual desire, not lessening it. This creates a vicious circle, like the junkie who craves a "fix," but is only temporarily satisfied. The more he indulges in his dependency, the more ensnared by addiction he becomes. This is the nature of all sin. That is why Jesus declared that all who sin become a slave to sin (John 8:34) . Furthermore, masturbation usually involves fantasy, visualization, and often pornography. The Bible is very clear as to what God expects of us in these areas of fantasy and lust. It teaches that we must not look lustfully at each other nor should we behave in such a manner as to entice others to lust after us. "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a girl. I know full well that the Almighty God sends calamity on those who do" (Job 31:1-3, The Living Bible). "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). While the above verses refer to men lusting after women, all women know that it can very easily be reversed to apply to themselves as well. Men may be more easily visually stimulated than women, but women can be just as vulnerable to sexual fantasy in the emotional realm. Both are sin in God's eyes, and both can be brought into subjection by controlling our thoughts through Christ's power. All sexual immorality begins with a thought. A lustful thought not taken captive, will eventually lead to other perversions, because sin reproduces itself in increasingly greater measures. If we do not deal with our evil thoughts, they will take root in our hearts. It is for this reason that God is so concerned with our thought life. Jesus came not only to deliver us from our "outward" sins, but also from wickedness that begins in the heart. Since masturbation begins with sin in the mind, it might be called an "affair of the mind" because it brings about sexual sin inflicted against one's own body. Although it brings a short lived gratification, it makes one feel defiled when continued on a regular basis. In fact, it is a form of fornication because fornication is more that just sex with someone before marriage, it includes many other sexual sins such as pornography and the use of sexual toys for gratification. People who are not satisfied with God's plan for sex commit idolatry by using evil things to experience weird and unlawful forms of sexual intercourse. Some verses in Ezekiel actually describe this kind of fornication. Ezekiel 16:15-17: 15But you trusted in and relied on your own beauty and were unfaithful to God and played the harlot [in idolatry] because of your renown, and you poured out your fornications upon anyone who passed by [as you worshiped the idols of every nation which prevailed over you] and your beauty was his. 16 And you took some of your garments and made for yourself gaily decorated high places or shrines and played the harlot on them-- things which should not come and that which should not take place. 17 You did also take your fair jewels and beautiful vessels of My gold and My silver which I had given you and made for yourself images of men, and you played the harlot with them. "Isn't God unreasonable to demand sexual purity after giving us sexual drives that seem to overwhelm us at times?" Our loving God never demands from us what is impossible for us to do. We are so weak within ourselves that it may seem impossible, but He will equip us with His holy power to overcome any sin, if we ask in faith. Of course, sexual urges in and of themselves are not wicked. They are natural. God created us that way. He desires that we get optimum pleasure out of them by using them the way they were created to be used. However, many desires for physical gratification (whether it be food, sex, etc.) stem from a deeper need that is unfilled deep inside us. Gorging our flesh can never fill a hunger that grows out of our spirit. Only intimacy with God can fill the deepest needs inside of us. No other created thing has that power. God is no more unreasonable than any caring parent who lovingly disciplines their child. It is only because He knows what is best for us. He sees a mighty potential in each one of us that far supersedes our wildest dreams, and He loves us enough to do all He can to bring it to pass. "I agree with all the theory, but living it out on a day to day level is another story." This is the place where we need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. The Holy Spirit is not a vague "force," but the very power of God to comfort you and strengthen you against the sins that used to rule you before you were born again. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the very ability that Jesus had to resist temptation. He depended completely upon the Father and so must we. Something you must know is that God is not the one who is tempting you in this area to "test" you. God is on your side and wants to set you free from these things, not lead you into them! "When tempted, no one should say "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (James 1:13-14). God wants us to overcome every sin and temptation in our lives. Please slowly read the following verses and let their message seep deep inside your spirit. "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). "For though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). "In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master for you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:11-14). "For we have not a high priest which cannot 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" (Hebrews 4:15-16, King James Version). "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). "Can I really be set free?" "In (this) freedom, Christ has made us free— completely liberated us; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery—which you have once put off " (Galatians 5:1 Amp). If you are in a real struggle with any form of sexual sin, we do not believe it was by accident that God led you to this teaching. He wants to set you free, starting right now! We would like to share several things that you can do to break loose from this stronghold: 1. Confess this sin first to God, then go to a committed Christian you trust, such as your pastor. Ask God to lead you to someone that you can be accountable with, who will be faithful to pray with you and for you. This will take humility on your part, but it will lead to life. James 5:16 says: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (You may not feel "righteous" but if you have admitted your sin to God and received His forgiveness, you are! That means your prayers are powerful and effective!) 2. Flee from and reject anything that aggravates this sin. For example, you may need to get off the Internet for a season or purchase software that blocks out pornography. This may sound too drastic, but it certainly is mild compared to Jesus who said, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to go into Hell" (Matthew 5:30). His point was that we must be willing to part with anything that causes us to sin —even if it hurts temporarily. 3. You may need to seek healing and deliverance from qualified Christians who are anointed in this area of ministry. If you have been deeply involved in sexual sins, the devil probably has a stronghold in that area of your life. If you can, find some people who can help you stand against the devil, for he is the one who seeks to lead you into temptation, and whispers lies of hopelessness and shame into your ears. If he drops a filthy thought into your mind just when you are trying to pray (he has used this tactic on even the holiest saints of God), tell him to leave in the name of Jesus! Recognize his voice for what it is, and submit yourself to God. As you do this and resist the devil, he will flee from you! He is deathly afraid of those who are submitted to God in brokenness and humility. 4. Don't give up! Deliverance might take time. Self-control takes effort. You may slip occasionally —or even a lot. But remember that God loves you and He will be faithful to perfect His character in you as long you keep submitting to Him. Eventually you will win—and not because of your best efforts, but because of God's mercy (Titus 3:5) . Just as salvation is received in faith, so deliverance must be received in faith. This has nothing to do with our character, strength, or failings. The only thing it is dependent upon is you receiving it in humility. If you should fail, recognize it quickly, ask God to forgive you—and then receive His forgiveness! He is faithful to do that which He promised, not just in a select few mighty men and women of God, but in all who are willing to come humbly before Him. That includes you! We want to encourage you to hold on to this scripture as your anchor: "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). If there is anything else we can do to help you, please let us know. In closing, we would like to pray for you: "Father, we thank you for bringing this person into our website. We know that it was your Holy Spirit that led them here and we thank you for your faithfulness to them! We lift them up to you now and ask that You fill them with a desire for You that transcends every other desire they have ever known. Let them know your cleansing love and power. We thank you that he whom the Son has set free, is free indeed. We speak this freedom into the life of this one whom the devil has bound in shame. We speak healing and deliverance and we break every tie that has kept them under a spirit of addiction and perversion. We stand against the Evil One and his every plan to bring destruction in this one's life. Father, in faith, and by the power and authority You have given us, we declare that this one is FREE in the name of Jesus! We commit them to Your care and we loose Your Holy Spirit to minister to them at this very instant. We ask these things in the precious name of Your son, Jesus Christ."

WHO IS JESUS??????? IS JESUS REALLY UNIQUE??? IS JESUS QUALIFIED TO BE THE ONLY SAVIOUR???

Why think that Jesus is the only Savior?

Of all the people who have lived and ever will live, Jesus alone qualifies, in his person and work, as the only one capable of accomplishing atonement for the sin of the world. Consider the following ways in which Jesus alone qualifies as the exclusive Savior.

1. Christ alone was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin ( Isa 7:14 ; Matt 1:18-25 ; Luke 1:26-38 ), and as such, he alone qualifies to be Savior. Why does this matter? Only as the Holy Spirit takes the place of the human father in Jesus' conception can it be true that the one conceived is both fully God and fully man. Christ must be both God and man to atone for sin (see below), but for this to occur, he must be conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a human virgin. No one else in the history of the world is conceived by the Spirit and born of a virgin mother. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.

2. Christ alone is God incarnate ( John 1:1-18 ; Hebrews 1:1-3 ; 2:14-18 ; Phil 2:5-11 ; 1 Tim 2:5-6 ), and as such, he alone qualifies to be Savior. As Anselm argued in the 11th century, our Savior must be fully man in order to take the place of men and die in their stead, and he must be fully God in order for the value of his sacrificial payment to satisfy the demands of our infinitely holy God. Man he must be, but a mere man simply could not make this infinite payment for sin. But no one else in the history of the world is both fully God and fully man. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.

3. Christ alone lived a sinless life ( 2 Cor 5:21 ; Heb 4:15 ; 7:23-28 ; 9:13-14 ; 1 Pet 2:21-24 ), and as such, he alone qualifies to be Savior. As Leviticus makes clear, animals offered as sacrifices for sin must be without blemish. This prefigured the sacrifice of Christ who, as sinless, was able to die for the sins of others and not for himself. But no one else in the history of the world has lived a totally sinless life. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.



4. Christ alone died a penal, substitutionary death ( Isa 53:4-6 ; Rom 3:21-26 ; 2 Cor 5:21 ; Gal 3:10-14 ), and as such, he alone qualifies to be Savior. The wages of sin is death ( Rom 6:23 ). And because Christ lived a sinless life, he did not deserve to die. Rather, the cause of his death was owing to the fact that the Father imputed to him our sin. The death that he died was in our place. No one else in the history of the world has died because he bore the sin of others and not as the judgment for his own sin. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.


5. Christ alone rose from the dead triumphant over sin ( Acts 2:22-24 ; Rom 4:25 ; 1 Cor 15:3-8 , 16-23 ), and as such, he alone qualifies to be Savior. The Bible indicates that a few people, other than Christ, have been raised from the dead ( 1 Kings 17:17-24 ; John 11:38-44 ), but only Christ has been raised from the dead never to die again, having triumphed over sin. The wages of sin is death, and the greatest power of sin is death. So, Christ's resurrection from the dead demonstrates that his atoning death for sin accomplished both the full payment of sin's penalty and full victory over sin's greatest power. No one else in the history of the world has been raised from the dead triumphant over sin. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.

Conclusion: Christ alone qualifies as Savior, and Christ alone is Savior.

Jesus' own words could not be clearer: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" ( John 14:6 ). And the Apostle Peter confirms, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" ( Acts 4:12 ). These claims are true of no one else in the history of the world. Indeed, Jesus alone is Savior.

Faith in Christ is Necessary to be Saved

Why think that faith in Christ is necessary to be saved? The teaching of the apostles is clear, that the content of the gospel now (since the coming of Christ) focuses directly upon the atoning death and resurrection of Christ, and that by faith in Christ one is forgiven of his sin and granted eternal life. Consider the following passages that support the conviction that people are saved only as they know and trust in Christ as their Savior.