JESUS SUFFERED AGONY

What brought agony?

"And we know that the whole world lieth in wickedness." (I John 5:19). This grieved the heart of God (Genesis 6:5-6). The wickedness did not originate from God because everything that He made was very good (Genesis 1:31). Man becomes sinner when he transgresses the law of God (1 John 3:4); and or commits unrighteousness (1 John 5:17); and or does anything that is not of faith (Romans 14:23) and or fails to do good having known it (James 4:17). The scriptures declared that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23). You are included in the list of sinners! And the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). Your sins brought the agony which Jesus bore for you. You can benefit from this agony and death if you can just trust Him for His love.

God's Love Made Jesus to Bear the Agony

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). God's love for and to mankind was exhibited by sending Jesus Christ of Nazareth to the world as a ransom for the sins of the world that the world through Him might be saved and not actually for condemnation of mankind (John 3:17-18).

 
 

Jesus, the Christ left His father's house of light, His glory circled throne for earthly night, for wandering and sadness in order to lay His life for mankind, He suffered the highest degree of molestation (Matthew 27:36-44), pains (Matthew 27:27-31; John 19:28-29), bitterest agony (Luke 22:44), and humiliation. Jesus Christ gave His life a ransom on Calvary; he bore all those sufferings, pains, agony, molestation and death for mankind to have the opportunity of crossing from death to life. He received the crown of thorn on His head, and spear that pierced His side, He bled and bore all the agony that you might live, and He took the place of death for you that you might live. He, being innocent, was crucified among two thieves (Matthew 15:27-28; 1 Peter 2:22). Jesus Christ died for ALL ... and rose again (II Corinthians 5:15).

All of these and several others stated in the New Testament are summarized under this phrase -The Gospel of Christ. The gospel of Christ is the goodness about the kingdom of God and of salvation through Christ. It is the powerful means appointed of all who believe and embrace it. It is the power by which God saves men (Romans 1:16).

The gospel has basic facts to believe. They are the death of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-3; John 19:33); burial of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:4; Matthew 27:59-60); and resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:4; Matthew 28:5-6) for the purpose of saving men. These facts are to be preached (Mark 16:15), be heard (Romans 10:13-17), and be believed by anyone who is willing to enjoy the benefits accrued from the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Behold the Goodness of God

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God (Romans 11:22). Anyone who can just believe the gospel of Christ will benefit from the death of Christ, but anyone who has not believed that Jesus Christ was sent by God (John 3:16); to die and that He died for our sins and that He was buried and that He rose again from the dead the third day (I Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Matthew 28:5-6) has not appropriated the benefit of the death and resurrection of Jesus to himself. "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" and "... the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:18, 36).

Promise of the Gospel To be Received

If anyone should believe the submission of the scriptures, such will receive the promises of God. God promised remission (forgiveness) of sins (Romans 6:17-18); gift of Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 5:32); eternal life (I John 2:25).

Commands of the Gospel to be Obeyed

The gospel of Christ has commands to be obeyed. In order to receive the promises of God pertaining to the gospel of Christ, one must first believe the facts of the gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ - Mark 16:16) and must repent of his sins (Acts 17:30-31; 2:38; Luke 13:3), must confess his faith in Christ (Acts 8:37; Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:8-10) and be baptized in water (Acts 8:38; 6:3-4; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; 1 Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:26-27) for remission of his sins.

Whenever these steps are taken by anyone, God adds such a person to the body of Christ (Acts 2:47; 1Peter 1:18-19; Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:18, 24) which is the church of Christ (Colossians 1:18, 24), the kingdom of God (John 18:36; Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23-27). God writes such person's name in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 20:15; 21:27). Without obedience to the gospel, one is eternally lost (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).

Our Plea

That body of Christ is not a denomination of men. God denounces denominationalism (1 Corinthians 1:10); God wants His people united (John 17:21; 13:35). This group of people; will not bow down to the erroneous teachings of men neither will they teach for doctrines the commandments of men (Matthew 15:8-9). They worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). They speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where it is silent (1 Peter 4:11).

The agony that Jesus bore was for the purpose of saving mankind from the horror of hell fire. Glory be to God who commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Jesus Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

You too can appropriate the benefits of Christ's death to yourself by following the New Testament pattern as enumerated above. You too can be part of this body of Christ today if you can just believe the simple truth of the Gospel, repent of your sins, confess your faith in Christ, be baptized and remain faithful to Him and renounce all forms of denominationalism. Answer the call of Jesus today who says "all things are ready, come" (Matthew 22:4; 11:28; Revelation 3:20) by showing your love to him by being baptised. Baptism is the point at which faith makes one a child of God by putting one into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). It is for remission of sins (Acts 2:38). It is when one's sins are washed away in Jesus' blood (Acts 22:16)

Conclusion

Will you accept God's wonderful news that Jesus died for your sins and be baptized into Christ to put on Christ so that all your sins will be forgiven in His agony and death?

For more information:

Visit church of Christ, Olubi Construction Company Area, Oke Onitea, Osogbo, Osun State. or any church of Christ meeting in your area.

Kola Ajibola, Box 35478, Agodi Gate, Ibadan, Oyo State. 08056048209, 08060194463, 08132990742 www.ksajibola.blogspot.com; ksajibola01@yahoo.com.