The Integrity of God's Word ... (viii)

The Sunday Conversation | with Pastor Luke Okoro

“After this , Jesus knowing that all these things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, ‘I thirst’ .
“Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar , and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, ‘ It’s finished’ : and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost…
“But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already , they broke not his legs:
“But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came blood and water.
“And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true ; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
” For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled , A bone of him shall not be broken.
” And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced”. John 19:28-37.

Apostle John the Beloved was straight in his capture of the events leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was also quick to remind us readers and BELIEVERS alike that everything that occurred during and after the death and resurrection of Jesus was in fulfilment of the Scripture which had several centuries back stated them as captured in the passage quoted above. Which is also the essential or crux of our conversation: to wit , that the INTEGRITY of God’s WORD cannot be broken.
Yes, imagine the fact that all the things said about Jesus centuries before He was born, came to fulfilment . And none of these words was lacking in it’s parts. John’s testimony is also authenticated by Peter in his own account about Jesus.
Apostle Peter puts it this way :

” Yes, I think it meet, as long as I am in this
tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.. .
” For we have not followed cunningly devised fables , when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus , but were witnesses to his majesty.
” For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory , This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
” And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy mount .
” We have also a more sure word of prophecy , whereunto ye do well that ye take heed , as unto a light that shineth in a dark place , until the day dawn , and the day star arise in your hearts …
Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.. but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” 2 Peter 1: 13-21.

While Jesus was on the cross, He was reconciling men and women , sinners alike, unto Himself. Romans 5:8. The import of this is that all people , everybody, regardless of race or color or gender has been made to be of the heritage of God in Christ Jesus . The ONLY condition is that such a person will willingly accept what Jesus did on the CROSS of CALVARY. That is to say the person who is wishing to identify with Jesus must do so based on His work of Calvary . Accordingly the person MUST believe the Testimonies of both John and Peter and others as contained in the Scripture. This is particularly important because : Jesus on the Cross also signifies the judgement upon sin and Satan: JESUS overcame sin and dispossessed Satan of his power to dominate and enslave humanity. Above all, Jesus on the Cross defeated death and hell, and Satan and made an open show of Satan’s power to hold men in the grave for ever. Because the grave could not hold Jesus captive, everybody who also believes in Him Jesus, can’t be held captive by the grave and it’s agent- the Devil. This is the meaning of Jesus exclamation of : It’s finished in John 19:30.
Other things that got finished on that Calvary include the hold of sicknesses and diseases on humankind ; the stranglehold of poverty , lack and powers of darkness and satanic and spiritual agents and rulers of this world on humans . These evils that encapsulate men and women were all dispossessed of their powers on the CROSS where Jesus died for sinful humanity – The saint for the villain. Oh, What a LOVE! So if anybody is still under their influence and power, such a person has not been to Jesus of Calvary. If you doubt, give me a private chat because I know that the Jesus of Calvary is Jesus of Power to save , to heal and to deliver from principalities and spiritual darkness. . Praise God!
Another thing that the resurrection holds for the believer is the reality of His Second Coming with it’s consequent judgement . Very often, we are minded to think that it’s ” man dies , and man goes ” . This is a lie from the pit of hell. Indeed the resurrection of Jesus and His many appearances to several persons, including His disciples , as captured in John 21, Matthew 28 and Luke 24, go to affirm that there will be judgement of God upon mankind. Jesus Himself in John 14, says so when He urged BELIEVERS to believe on Him and His Father because He goes to prepare a place for us. According to Him, there are many mansions in His Father’s house. I am working to have one by His grace. What about YOU?. Believe on Him and thou shall be saved, for with the mouth confession is made, and with the heart man believeth unto salvation. The process is simple, but men usually choose to make it rigorous. Acts 4:12. John 3:16.

Apostle Paul explains it further to the Corinthians this way:

” If in this world only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
” But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first ftuits of them that slept.
For since by man came death , by man also came the resurrection of the dead.
” For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive”. 1 Corinthians 15:19-22.

Yes Jesus’ affirms that there will be resurrection, during which the dead in Christ will receive rewards, while those who lived to the pleasure and glamor of this world shall face the consequences of their choice. Denying this reality is like mocking God who gave mankind Jesus that through Him the world might be reconciled unto Him.
Somebody may ask or wonder why it must be only ONE way. John 14:6. This is to maintain standard. This is to avoid double standards. This is to keep balance and truth in place. This is to ensure that nobody is deceived by fake prophets and fake saviors. The truth today is that those who do more than religion know what they are doing. Those who follow them too, do so because of some personal privileges that they are hardly ready to disclose or forgo. Think about those who compel others to follow their own way? Is it for nothing? The laws they heap on their followers, do they keep to them? In their heart of hearts, do they maintain justice, equity , fairness and impartiality in all things before God and man? Psalms 15. What is their position on right and holy living? Indeed the Bible is right when it says , your sins shall find you out. Every one of us shall be judged justly before God based on Jesus’ mediatory work on Calvary. Hebrews 4:13. How?

” Behold, the days come , saith the LORD, that will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.
” Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt ; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD..
” But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days , saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts , and write it in their hearts , and will be their God and they shall be my people.
” And they shall reach no more every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD, for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more”.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8 . This new new covenant is established by Jesus because God chose to make it more perfect and more inclusive. Every covenant is made effectual by the blood. Jesus on the Cross met the condition for the new covenant. Not accepting it , is again mocking God , and questioning His authority over His own creation.

As we conclude our conversation on the INTEGRITY of God’s WORD , let it be clear that the propitiatory work of Christ on the Calvary forcefully fulfils this prophecy above. And today all mankind are covered by it. It doesn’t matter whose disciple– wrongly or rightly– we have chosen to belong or follow? The law of righteousness is ONE and universal. Even Putin in his madness has insisted that marriage is between a man and a woman. You really don’t need to carry the Bible to appreciate evil from goodness. That is the new covenant as established by Jesus’ conception, birth, death and resurrection as we celebrate Him today, as always.
When He shall appear where shall He find you? The options are too few. On His side? Or on the other side? The choice is yours TODAY.” And whosoever was not found written in book of Life was cast into the lake of life”. Revelation 20:15.
Happy Celebrations. Happy Sunday too.

(Concluded).

•Pastor Okoro, a revivalist and marriage counselor, Can be reached on

08051000462.