Princewill Njong

Princewill Njong: I've been away for so long; great to be back!

2011-03-05T14:27:00.000+01:00

Princewill Njong: I've been away for so long; great to be back!: "How time flies; and how much a day means in a world of politics. In Tunisia, Ben Ali announced that he will not be standing for reelection, ..."

I've been away for so long; great to be back!

2011-03-05T14:23:00.000+01:00

How time flies; and how much a day means in a world of politics. In Tunisia, Ben Ali announced that he will not be standing for reelection, but the pressure grew unbearable overnight and he fled power the next day. Mubarak tried in Egypt to show that he was the tough guy and to portray protesters as US and western tools; guess what happened a day after his last and desperate show of defiance: he resigned. Gadhafi has hung on so far; doing every thing he can to survive; even spilling "rivers of blood" in Saif Gadhafi's words. How long will this "delusional" ruthless dictator shed his people's blood, how many streams of blood will Gadhafi and his son's shed before they realise power and leadership is given and not taken and confiscated? How many more rambling intervies and speeches doe Gadhafi want to give before he goes? Anyway, he has very limited options for exile because not even other fucking dictators will think it wise to host him; not even Hugo Chavez.

Hey, I learned some policrites wore our dear flag in Douala and carried posters with nonsense like "nous some tous les Tunisiens". Who do they want to deceive? As cunningly intelligent as they are, they would want to use and spill the blood of Cameroonians for the wrong reason:their ulterior motives. By the way, if they are not comfortable with our Cameroon the way it is, they should either effect change (if they can) peacefully or go create their own country. We won't allow them hijack our country! Besides, Biya is not yet 30 in power, when he reaches 30, we'll consider supporting those who think they can incite revolts in Cameroon. For they moment, we'd rather prefer a bad situation ; a worse one is not an option.

Princewill Njong: I respect ALL churches irrespective of doctrines

2011-01-05T00:56:00.000+01:00

Princewill Njong: I respect ALL churches irrespective of doctrines: "Thanks for your post TJ. I am sorry if the way I expressed my views in my last post makes you misinterpret my feelings towards Witnesses. I ..."

I respect ALL churches irrespective of doctrines

2011-01-05T00:53:00.001+01:00

Thanks for your post TJ. I am sorry if the way I expressed my views in my last post makes you misinterpret my feelings towards Witnesses. I do not in any way disrespect any church, even if I disagree with its doctrine and neither do Witnesses sound odd to me. The truth is, to me, no one is absolutely certain when it comes to questions of redemption, it is guess work and no church can claim sole ownership of the truth.

That said, I'll rephrase my questions because your answers are not as clear as I'd love: Do you worship Jesus Christ? It appears you don't believe that humans have a soul which goes either to heaven or to hell after a person's death: Do sinners pay for their sins? If they do, is it while alive or after death, and how? During the resurrection as you say sinners will rise, will they be judged? and then what? What will happen to those found righteous, both resurrected and living? Do you believe in some abstract supernatural habitat called "heaven" or "hell"? If I get satisfactory responses to these questions, I promise you won't be getting any further questions from me on this subject matter. Take care TJ, expecting to read from you.

Princewill Njong: The nature of the world

2011-01-04T12:39:00.000+01:00

Princewill Njong: The nature of the world: "Thanks TJ, thanks for your post and safe trip wish. I must say I'm so waoed by how 'superstitiously' suspicious Witnesses are of every..."

Princewill Njong: Glad to be back

2011-01-04T12:38:00.000+01:00

Princewill Njong: Glad to be back: "My trip to Kekem, and then Jumbe in the Mongo Division was nothing short of an rated R-movie. I left Yaounde on the 2nd of January at 7am an..."

The nature of the world

2011-01-04T12:37:00.000+01:00

Thanks TJ, thanks for your post and safe trip wish. I must say I'm so waoed by how "superstitiously" suspicious Witnesses are of everything. Remember, even the world we live in has a superstitious and violent history, but we're trying to give it an "alternative" meaning; the cloths and shoes we wear may have been produced by slave labour, yet we try to give our use of them an "alternative" essence; if you wear jewelry, their raw material may just be from some of the blood fields in Africa (if you've heard about "blood diamonds"); the greatest invention of recent history, the internet, is used by many for unspeakable immorality, superstitions and evil, yet you're using it for an alternative purpose, even creation is shrouded in superstitions, it just depends on which you choose as "good" or "bad" superstitions...these are the choices the world makes to be convenient for habitation and aspiration...Yet I must say cynical superstitions that Witnesses seem to tag to everything just make me wonder if they would not rather seek another planet that's void of such "superstitions", "pagan" practices; a "sanctimonious" world. I am a liberal and respects everybody's reasoning or belief. I also believe that the world and everything on it is absurd; we simply give the absurdity a logical commonsense, an alternative essence, reason why the world is habitable. This is my viewpoint about religion and spirituality: I believe in God and his only begotten son and in the trinity (however liberal this belief may be) and do not believe in radical and extremist religious doctrine, spirituality matters more to me ("spirituality" to me may be far from what you consider it to be). That said, I would love that you give me simple answers to the following questions:
1-Who is Jesus Christ and what does he represent to you?
2-Do you allow only some bible verses to interpret themselves to you and then you interpret other verses for the bible?
3-What happens to people after they die (sinners and righteous, if any, alike)?

Many Thanks TJ. Forgive my frankness, yet I have to be. I should be very satisfied with a direct and precise response.

Glad to be back

2011-01-04T11:36:00.000+01:00

My trip to Kekem, and then Jumbe in the Mongo Division was nothing short of an rated R-movie. I left Yaounde on the 2nd of January at 7am and reached Kekem at 3:30pm where I left my niece. I left Kekem 30 minutes later and reached Jumbe only 2 hours 30 minutes later because I took a terrible bus...Luckily for me, my brother had arranged my stuff and started transporting them to the road before I arrived, so I reached and just said hello to a few friends and was again on the road. Though it was difficult for me to get a car for Bafang from where I would get a transit bus to Yaounde, I finally got one at about 8:30pm. Leaving Jumbe at this time and hoping to catch an 11pm bus at Bafang was risky because it was the end of the holiday and consequently so many people would be traveling. Secondly, I had a very big cupboard and food and few drivers would be willing to take me...to spare you the prosaic details, my cupboard and food was transported to Yaounde on a different bus and I followed later at midnight on another. I may not be great at narrating dramatic events, but the journey was quite eventful...still feeling so tired

Princewill Njong: The worth of Jesus' sacrifice

2011-01-02T05:00:00.000+01:00

Princewill Njong: The worth of Jesus' sacrifice: "Thanks for your quick response TJ. You didn't reply my happy New Year wish; do I suppose you don't mark the beginning of the new year, and w..."

The worth of Jesus' sacrifice

2011-01-02T04:57:00.001+01:00

Thanks for your quick response TJ. You didn't reply my happy New Year wish; do I suppose you don't mark the beginning of the new year, and why, if I may?

While I find your argument in favour of the theory of collective resurrection in the second coming (if that's what you mean) as opposed to the theory of life after death in heaven or hell interesting and attractive (because I'd rather think about how to live rightly on earth than bother about the afterhere which is not so certain), my opinion on Jesus' status vis-vis Adam and the worth of His sacrifice is this: Though Jesus and Adam are invariably referred to the second and first Adam respectively, Jesus (the second Adam) was an extraordinary MAN; GOD who came in human form to reside amongst human beings whereas Adam was simply the first ordinary man ever created. The bible makes Jesus' Godly status clear when it says "I and the father are one" (Jesus speaking) (please help me find the bible verse if you can). In addition, if you believe in the Trinity you'd see that the inclusion of "son" amplifies Jesus' extraordinary status. Secondly, Adam sinned, reason why we're here today, at risk of penury, but Jesus did not sin, rather, he bore the sin and shame of the first Adam and his succeeding generations and atoned them ALL on Calvary.

As for the value of Jesus' death, he did not die simply to buy back what Adam lost, he came and died to show mankind the light to God. Jesus' himself declared "I am the way and the light, no one comes to the father except through me" (again you'll have to help me find the verse, not really a bible savvy). You'd remember that there was no middleman or necessity for sacrifice during Adam's stay in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve did not know suffering and in Eden, they lived the live God had wanted for man, until they sinned. Adam's sin to me, started the shedding of blood, as seen in the first animal killed to make clothing for them, whereas Jesus came to stop the shedding of animal blood for sacrifice because he was the ultimate sacrificial lamb. In essence, I am saying that the act of sinning and the (re)action (of atonement) are not proportionate: the worth of Jesus' sacrifice was worth more and by far accomplished more than just atoning for our sins. Thanks TJ, I should be interested in reading your thoughts on this. I am traveling for two days and I'm not going with my laptop, will be able to reply to any further posts on my blog only when I return, on Monday, 3rd January 2011.

Princewill Njong: New Year Resolutions

2011-01-01T02:30:00.001+01:00

Princewill Njong: New Year Resolutions: "2010 was fairly good to me; I defended my MA, got admitted into the PhD program and started my thesis. Above all, my relationship with my gi..."

New Year Resolutions

2011-01-01T02:30:00.000+01:00

2010 was fairly good to me; I defended my MA, got admitted into the PhD program and started my thesis. Above all, my relationship with my girlfriend got stronger and grew to a better level.Though I might not have achieved all the more important things I wanted to achieve, I ended the year positive and cheerful, and thanked God for all answered and unanswered prayers! Just as I ended 2010, I'll start 2011 by thanking God for such a beautiful life He's given me, and for a new year. As He guides and guards me through the challenges of the year, I will think about him everyday and thank Him for successes and apparent difficulties.

In 2010, I was really wasteful with money and resources. In 2011, I intend to follow my girlfriend's advice and cut my spending by putting a cap on how much I can spend in a week. I will also rigidly regulate how much and how often I spend on luxury stuff, especially cloths.

Secondly, I intend to significantly progress with my thesis and look for a scholarship in Europe or the US to go and complete my PhD studies.

I will also work hard to get a meaningful job in one of the ministries

Furthermore, I will work harder toward my relationship with my girlfriend and hope that 2011 takes us to where we want to be.

In addition, I will listen more and say little. I especially will complete my transition from being a reactive person to a responsive person. I've learned through out the years that reacting is negative and responding in positive. In 2011, I'll strive to always respond rather than react to situations.

In trying to do the above and more, I'll compromise the compromisable, but will give away not even an atom of my values I consider nonnegotiable. I will always do what I judge is right according to the situation at hand, and will never budge on what I believe, not even in the face of an irrational majority.

Above all, I will keep the charm greasy, and get hotter, if I was hot in 2010. If you're looking for a hot gentle guy in 2010, well, you've got one coming your way. Hope you can handle me!

Princewill Njong: I need more clarification

2011-01-01T01:39:00.000+01:00

Princewill Njong: I need more clarification: "Hey TJ, Happy New Year! Forgive me for my tardy reply. I was away from my blog for a few days busy with other things and trying to make prop..."

I need more clarification

2011-01-01T01:38:00.000+01:00

Hey TJ, Happy New Year! Forgive me for my tardy reply. I was away from my blog for a few days busy with other things and trying to make proper sense of your post. If I understand you well, you're saying that we can actually live that perfect life Jesus atoned for us here on earth; that there is no hell or some form of life after our time here on earth. I may not have understood you well, you know, you're getting more and more into church theology which somehow deprives me of understanding. I'd be glad to learn more. Thanks a million, happy and prosperous new year; that is, if you recognize it!

Princewill Njong: Happy New year

2010-12-29T22:17:00.000+01:00

Princewill Njong: Happy New year: "Hey Jupiter Family, thanks for your New Year wishes. I love the fireworks; light up more!"

Happy New year

2010-12-29T22:15:00.000+01:00

Hey Jupiter Family, thanks for your New Year wishes. I love the fireworks; light up more!

Princewill Njong: Which do you feel more comfortable doing: what is ...

2010-12-29T02:40:00.001+01:00

Princewill Njong: Which do you feel more comfortable doing: what is ...: "Is it safer to always try to do what is right or what is correct? Doing what is correct may always get the admiration of the society and may..."

Which do you feel more comfortable doing: what is right or what is correct?

2010-12-29T02:40:00.000+01:00

Is it safer to always try to do what is right or what is correct? Doing what is correct may always get the admiration of the society and may leave you paranoid and mostly uncomfortable. However, ignoring societal norms for correctness and doing what you believe is prompted by the need or situation at hand (what is right) may earn you societal scorn and self satisfaction that you're doing what is necessary. Would you, or do you feel more comfortable doing what society requires rather than what you think is necessary?

Princewill Njong: Jesus' death atoned for our sins and Jesus is GOD

2010-12-29T02:20:00.000+01:00

Princewill Njong: Jesus' death atoned for our sins and Jesus is GOD: "Thank you TJ for such a swift and interesting post. I should say at the end of your comments I find myself confused as to your standpoint. M..."

Jesus' death atoned for our sins and Jesus is GOD

2010-12-29T02:19:00.000+01:00

Thank you TJ for such a swift and interesting post. I should say at the end of your comments I find myself confused as to your standpoint. Maybe I need some clarification whether you are saying that the death of Jesus was a valid and appropriate sacrifice for our sins or otherwise. However, I have a few worries with a couple of thinks you said, starting with your quoting of Psalms 49:7&8 which you interpret to mean Jesus was a normal human being. I sincerely think your interpretation of that bible verse is, should I say, misplaced. I do not think Jesus was just a normal human being; he was God. In Phillipians 2:5-11, the bible says:

5"Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ: 6Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the mention of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father"

Furthermore, Romans 14:9&10 says:
"9For every reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10...'As surely as I live', says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; and every tongue will confess to God"

and 1Corinthians 1:18 says "for the message of the cross is foolishness for those who are perishing..." The whole chapter and chapter 2 are also informative.

If you and I believe in the above biblical messages, is the magnitude of Jesus' death to mankind still questionable or is his status as God? I think not. The bible says God is a merciful and just God. He loves man so much but his justice also provided that he punished man for his sins and Jesus was the only rightful propitiation because he was pure and sinless.

The second thing I differ in opinion in is your idea of God's standard for justice. Of course the standard you portray here was in the Old Testament, in the time of Moses. The coming of Jesus brought a new dawn, a new order and a new beginning. This is not to say the Old Testament is invalid today though, it simply means some of the practices of the Old Testament, e.g. burnt offerings, teeth for tat, an eye for an eye rules become obsolete and unchristian with the coming and death of Jesus Christ. The shattering of the temple alter blind when Jesus died and resurrected clearly indicated a break from the past and the break of a new dawn where there were no longer any barriers between man and God; the link between man and God was reestablished and all those who were willing to live a Godly live could now make heaven.

I hope I did understand your comments well; else, would you mind clarifications if necessary? Thanks a million TJ. I am actually writing this post at 2:15 am because I just find reading your comments and posting an immediate reply irresistible. I was reading. Thanks a million.

Princewill Njong: Reasons Jesus came and died

2010-12-28T14:35:00.000+01:00

Princewill Njong: Reasons Jesus came and died: "Hey TJ, when I read your comments at times I feel obliged to give up my position: your logic on the status of the Magi, the notion of the ma..."

Reasons Jesus came and died

2010-12-28T14:22:00.001+01:00

Hey TJ, when I read your comments at times I feel obliged to give up my position: your logic on the status of the Magi, the notion of the magi itself and the way you relate it to magic is just amazing. As somebody studying language, I really find your sense relation between magi and magic interesting.

That said, the argument over the birth of Jesus has been interesting and informing; I would have loved to leave the subject feeling more convinced that I won; if only I knew the bible as much as you do, or was more comfortable discussing biblical issues: this does not mean I've changed my view and position on Christmas though, it means you've given me something to think about in relation to that and I've sincerely learned some useful things. I hope for same there; thank you.

Now to the issue of scriptural evidence as to how Jesus' death saved man from sin and condemnation; I think I may need the help of a bible savvy here. However, I'll love to share a few things I found which I believe express my belief and thinking on the issue of Jesus' life and death. Below are first scriptural evidence that the shedding of Jesus' blood actually saved us from eternal condemnation and gave every man, who truly believes in God a chance to reconnect with Him, through Christ, and avoid eternal condemnation.

Why did Jesus shed his blood?
Matthew 26:28 ...this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
The Lord Jesus Christ shed his blood for the remission of sins. As we examine scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments, we can gain a better understanding of the significance of the blood of Jesus.

When we turn back to the Old Testament of the Bible, we see that after sin entered into the world, God required the blood sacrifice of animals for the atonement of sins.

Leviticus 17:11, For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Leviticus 4:3-5 If the priest that is anointed do sin...then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering....he shall... lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD. And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation...

But the blood of the animals still couldn't do the trick. The Israelites were still unfaithful to their God as evidenced by their awhoring after other gods. A better sacrifice was needed.

Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

God promised His people, the Jewish people, a new covenant about 600 years before the coming of Christ. We will see that this covenant would also require blood.

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and 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.

In the Bible, we have the Old Testament (or Hebrew Scriptures) and the New Testament. Both were ushered in by blood. The Old Testament came by the blood of animals. The New Testament by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Exodus 24:8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
Hebrews 9:18-20 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

New Testament
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were only a picture of the ultimate sacrifice. When Jesus Christ went to the cross almost 2,000 years ago, He was the ULTIMATE sacrifice.

His skin was whipped off by scourging,
His beard was torn out of his cheeks,
His head pierced with thorns,
His face marred more than any man. He was unrecognizable. The Bible says he was more marred than ANY man.
His hands and feet were nailed through with thick spikes,
His side pierced with a spear after he died.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, completely abolished the system of animal sacrifice forever. The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were only a picture, a figure, of the true sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Their blood was only a figure of the blood of Jesus that would be shed thousands of years later on a cross outside the city of Jerusalem. The animal sacrifices were...

Hebrews 9:9 ...a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience... 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The blood of animals had to be shed over and over but the blood of Jesus was shed only one time. The Catholic religion does not understand this and contends that the blood is shed over and over again in the mass, but the Bible says something different:

Hebrews 10:12, ...after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. Hebrews 7:27 ...this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 9:28 ...Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many...
Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

The blood of Jesus is powerful. It is a saving, healing blood. Look at what the blood has done:

What the blood of Jesus does	Bible Reference
The blood pays for our sins so we don't go to hell.	Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The blood bought us. [3]	Acts 20:28 ...feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23 ...ye are bought with a price...
The blood justifies us before a holy God.	5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him..
The blood redeems us.	Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
The blood brought us Gentiles into a relationship with God that we didn't have before.	Ephesians 2:11-16 ... ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh ...without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus...are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.
The blood brought Jew and Gentile (regardless of race or nationality) into a right relationship with God.	Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.
The blood brought peace.	1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
The blood purges our consciences from dead works.	Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The blood lets us enter into the holiest place before the throne of God.	10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
The blood forges an everlasting covenant between the believer and God.	Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
The blood sanctifies us.	Hebrews 10:29...the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified...
The blood cleanses us from all sin.	1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The blood washes away our sins.	Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
The blood causes us to overcome this old wicked world.	Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

In addition, John Piper also provides the following reasons, from the bible of course, Jesus came to die.

Why did Jesus Christ suffer and die? I believe that is the most important question of the twenty-first century. Here are ten answers from the Bible.

Jesus came to die…

#10) To destroy hostility between races

The suspicion, prejudice, and demeaning attitudes between Jews and non-Jews in Bible times were as serious as the racial, ethnic, and national hostilities today. Jesus died to create a whole new way for races to be reconciled: he “has broken down…the dividing wall of hostility…making peace…through the cross” (Ephesians 2:14-16).
It is impossible to build lasting unity among races by saying that all religions can come together as equally valid. God sent his Son into the world as the only means of saving sinners and reconciling races. Only as the races find this reconciliation will they love and enjoy each other.

#9) To give marriage its deepest meaning

God’s design was never for marriages to be miserable, yet many are. That’s what sin does…it makes us treat each other badly. Jesus died to change that. He knew that his suffering would make the deepest meaning of marriage plain. That’s why the Bible says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).
God’s design for marriage is for a husband to love his wife the way Christ loves his people, and for the wife to respond the way Christ’s people should. This kind of love is possible because Christ died for both husband and wife.

#8) To absorb the wrath of God

God’s law demanded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). But we have all loved other things more. This is what sin is—dishonoring God by preferring other things over him, and acting on those preferences.
The seriousness of an insult rises with the dignity of the one insulted. Since our sin is against the Ruler of the Universe, “the wages of [our] sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Not to punish it would be unjust. So God sent his own Son, Jesus, to divert sin’s punishment from us to himself. God “loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation”—the wrath-absorbing substitute—“for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
Then God publicly endorsed Christ’s accomplishment by raising him from the dead, proving the success of his suffering and death.

#7) So that we would escape the curse of the law

There was no escape from the curse of God’s law. It was just; we were guilty. There was only one way to be free: someone must pay the penalty. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).
The law’s demands have been fulfilled by Christ’s perfect law-keeping, its penalty fully paid by his death. This is why the Bible teaches that getting right with God is not based on law-keeping: “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16). Our only hope is having the blood and righteousness of Christ credited to our account.

#6) To reconcile us to God

The reconciliation that needs to happen between man and God goes both ways. God’s first act in reconciling us to himself was to remove the obstacle that separated him from us—the guilt of our sin. He took the steps we could not take to remove his own judgment by sending Jesus to suffer in our place: “While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10). Reconciliation from our side is simply to receive what God has already done, the way we receive an infinitely valuable gift.

#5) To show God’s love for sinners

The measure of God’s love is shown by the degree of his sacrifice in saving us from the penalty of our sins: “he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). When we add the horrific crucifixion that Christ endured, it becomes clear that the sacrifice the Father and the Son made to save us was indescribably great!
The measure of his love increases still more when we consider the degree of our unworthiness. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Our debt is so great, only a divine sacrifice could pay it.

#4) To show Jesus’ own love for us

The death of Christ is also the supreme expression that he “loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). It is my sin that cuts me off from God. All I can do is plead for mercy.
I see Christ suffering and dying “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). And I ask, am I among the “many”? And I hear the answer, “Whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus paid the highest price possible to give me—personally—the greatest gift possible.

#3) To take away our condemnation

The great conclusion to the suffering and death of Christ is this: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). To be “in Christ” means to be in relationship to him by faith. Christ becomes our punishment (which we don’t have to bear) and our worth before God (which we cannot earn).
The death of Christ secures freedom from condemnation for those who believe that Christ has served their death sentence. It is as sure that they cannot be condemned as it is sure that Christ died!

#2) To bring us to God

“Gospel” means “good news,” and it all ends in one thing: God himself. The gospel is the good news that at the cost of his Son’s life, God has done everything necessary to captivate us with what will make us eternally and ever-increasingly happy—namely, himself. “Christ…suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

#1) To give eternal life to all who believe on Him

Jesus made it plain that rejecting the eternal life he offered would result in the misery of eternity in hell: “Whoever does not believe is condemned already....the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:18, 36).
But for those who trust Christ, the best is yet to come. “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). We will see the all-satisfying glory of God. “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

For all these reasons and more, Christ suffered and died

TJ, I hope you find this scribbling informative in some way. I should be anxious to read what you have to say. Thanks a million

Princewill Njong: The measure of a man's character

2010-12-27T23:21:00.000+01:00

Princewill Njong: The measure of a man's character

2010-12-27T22:50:00.000+01:00

Princewill Njong: The measure of a man's character: "I came across the following inspirational quotes by some of the world's greatest minds which reminded me of events in Ivory Coast and the ..."

The measure of a man's character

2010-12-27T22:48:00.000+01:00

I came across the following inspirational quotes by some of the world's greatest minds which reminded me of events in Ivory Coast and the way African statesmen view power and thought I should share with you guys:
1.
Norman Vincent Peale:
The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.

I wish I could deliver this great quote to Laurent Gbagbo and other dictators and statesmen in Africa. Just maybe somebody is given Mr Gbagbo the wrong advice; why he's still hanging on.

2.
Martin Luther King, Jr.:
The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where the stand in times of challenge and controversy.

If Laurent Gbagbo wants to lead again, he must show maturity, responsibility and restraint; that's what makes a good leader, not just the desire to hang on to power even when one blatantly loses an election.

3.
G. K. Chesterton:
The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.

In any democratic system where there are rules, laws and the rule of law, leaders are elected by subjects and only those who win stay in power. Those who lose should be brave enough to acknowledge defeat and cede power; this is the only way they can save a positive legacy for their tenure in office.

thanks and happy holiday.